The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 604: Peak Wedding Season (2)

“People already know you’re here! Nothing good’s gonna come from you wandering around alone!”

Samir’s voice came from behind. From high up where he’d slipped away in advance, using Gyeol’s vantage point floating in the sky, I saw him heading into the alley. Yeah, it would definitely be dangerous.

If I still looked like Han Yujin, anyway.

‘Good thing Delroux looks like an ordinary house cat.’

At first I’d thought, this is all an S–class item set can do? But it was way more useful than I’d expected. Even if they figured out this skill, I could just dye my fur a bit and no one would recognize me. I could probably recycle this a few more times. White cat, calico, orange tabby, mackerel tabby, chaos cat.

I walked a bit in the opposite direction from where Samir had gone and soon enough, Gyeol came over to me.

– Dad!

With a look of pure wonder, he grabbed my tail.

– Dad, you have a tail now too!

– Meow.

Yeah, it’s a tail. I wagged it back and forth for him and kept an eye on our surroundings. I didn’t feel anyone nearby, but walking around in human form would be risky. Better to make one call, then hide in Delroux form.

First I needed to get my phone out… which wasn’t happening with cat paws.

– Mrrrp, meow.

Human words wouldn’t come out either. Maybe I could talk mentally, like Ru Ga Pheya did. Even if we’d split after he got his own name, Gyeol was still a magic beast connected to me. I thought of Ru Ga Pheya’s mana and tried to speak to him. Noticing that, Gyeol boosted me with his own power.

[Hey, Gyeol!]

– Yeah, Dad!

My voice reached him. The little fairy dragon squealed in delight and clung to the back of my neck. Hey, your scales are getting all over my fur.

[I’ll get the phone out. Can you call your uncle for me?]

– Yeah! Should I do it in human form?

[Yeah, that’ll be safer.]

A pink fairy dragon sticks out way too much. Gyeol turned into a little kid. He must’ve thought pale–pink hair would stand out too much, because he went with a silvery color with the pink washed out. I hurriedly pulled out the phone and handed it to him.

“…Dad, it’s not working.”

[Huh? W–wait. I’m pretty sure I set it to do international roaming automatically…]

Did they block it? It was an emergency phone, so who knew. Maybe it was a phone or a plan that didn’t allow overseas calls.

[How about the internet?]

“Nope.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. The phone I’d been counting on was a paperweight. While I was freaking out, Gyeol spoke up.

“I’ll go find a store and ask if they’ll let me make one phone call.”

[No, that’s not happening. I’ll look around.]

“But it’s dangerous if you’re in human form. If you get caught again, they might make you get married.”

[It’ll be fine.]

“No. I can do it.”

[This is a foreign country where we don’t know anybody. It’s dangerous!]

“Dad, I’m not a little kid. I’m not gonna get hurt. I can at least make a phone call. I want to help you too.”

He said it seriously.

“And you’ll be right next to me.”

[Still…]

It was just a phone call, and I would be right there. I looked quietly into his clear golden eyes for a moment, then pulled a translation item out of my inventory.

[Hide this under your clothes and put it on.]

“Okay.”

[Someone might notice from your mouth moving, so cover your mouth with your hand when you talk. If you run into bad people, don’t you dare fight back. Just obediently go with them.]

“Obediently?”

[Yeah. Unless they’re non–awakened, they’ll be low–rank Hunters. We can have them take you somewhere quiet, and then I can beat them up.]

And borrow their phone while we’re at it. Gyeol nodded hard and said okay. Contrary to my worry, he couldn’t hide the excitement on his face. He was like a kid the night before a field trip. He must’ve been thrilled at the thought that, in a crisis, he was taking the lead and helping me. He insisted he wasn’t a little kid, but in times like this he was so obviously still a child.

[It’s an international call, so we’ll have to pay. We don’t have local cash, but they’ll take magic stones.]

“I have magic stones.”

He took a bag out of his own inventory and slung it over his shoulder. He looked every inch the rich kid.

‘Getting all the way to a store without trouble’s gonna be tough.’

If we were lucky, a nice adult might help us. Maybe. He took the lead, and I padded right up alongside him. The street was lined with boxy houses and pretty empty. Looked like a residential area, and I figured everyone was off at work. The people we did pass just gave him odd little glances; no one approached us easily.

‘He really doesn’t look like a local kid.’

No adults around, bright expression that didn’t suit a lost child. His whole vibe and situation, on top of his looks, gave him this unreal feel.

“I don’t think there’s any stores around here.”

He spoke quietly, one hand partly covering his mouth.

[There’s probably a town center somewhere around here. Want me to take a car out of my inventory and drive us?]

“No, I can go. I can ask for directions and then secretly fly. I’m stronger in human form, so I could carry you and fly too.”

That would draw a ton of attention. He jogged over to a woman carrying some bags a little ways ahead.

“Hello!”

He bowed deeply and then asked his question.

“I want to make an international call. Is there a store around here where I could borrow a phone?”

“…Over there, if you follow this road straight, there’s a shop with a bunch of boxes stacked up. They import stuff from America and sell it.”

Her answer came back a little flustered but kind, with gestures to match. She added that since they brought in American products, he’d probably be able to make international calls. He bowed again and thanked her politely. Kid’s got good manners.

“Are you by yourself? It’s about a thirty–minute walk.”

“I’m fine! My dad’s nearby.”

The wary glances from before were gone like they’d never existed. The second he started talking, the worry came pouring out. People fussing over kids really is a universal thing.

We headed in the direction she’d pointed and soon left the little village behind. We walked along a dirt road with tire tracks pressed into it.

“Dad, if your feet hurt, tell me. I’ll carry you in my bag.”

He said he was totally fine himself, of course. I was fine too, obvio─

“It’s dangerous to wander around alone when you’re not from here.”

Someone cut in. Both of us turned around at the same time. Samir was there, his upper body slightly bent toward us.

What, when did he catch up?! Gyeol scowled and stepped in front of me.

“Dad told me not to talk to strangers.”

“You already did, though.”

“I’m not gonna anymore.”

He whipped around and scooped me up in his arms. Even though I was a bit heavy for him, he walked fast. Samir just matched his pace with lazy steps right beside him. The difference in their stride length was pretty big.

“Who did you come here with, kiddo?”

Gyeol clamped his mouth shut. Did he think we were suspicious? Officially, there was no connection between me and this current version of him. A foreign kid showing up out of nowhere might be weird, but there was nothing tying us together.

“Want me to carry your bag?”

“No.”

“What’s your name?”

“Go away, hey!”

My body, precariously balanced in his arms, slipped out between his hands. I was about to land lightly when that bastard Samir grabbed me first. Hey!

– Hisss!

“Give him back!”

Gyeol punched Samir in the leg. He didn’t even flinch, just petted me like nothing. Hey! Put me down!

“Cute cat.”

“You’re a bad grown–up!”

“I’m trying to help you.”

“You’re a bad Mister! Bad human who picks on little kids! Grown–ups aren’t allowed to pick on little kids!”

He yelled like he was giving a lecture. Samir frowned slightly, looking troubled.

“You don’t seem like you’re lost.”

He definitely felt like something was off about Gyeol, but he clearly had no idea what it was. And really, who’d ever think the fairy dragon turned into a human? Unlike Noah or Liette, everyone knew from the start that Gyeol was a monster.

“Fine. I’ll take you just up ahead. I’m going that way anyway.”

What about your car, Your Highness. I guess he planned to observe him on the way.

[Let’s just go with him for now, Gyeol. We don’t have another option.]

At my words, he huffed but nodded.

“Give me back my cat.”

“He’s heavy. It’ll be easier on him if I carry him.”

– Hissss!

I chomped hard on his arm. I only managed to punch a hole in his sleeve. S–class, of course he’d be disgustingly tough. I gnawed on his clothes, tugging, and noticed he had an in–ear in one ear.

So he’d sent people out to look for me?

[I’m okay, Gyeol. Walk a bit ahead of us. I want to listen in on what this Mister’s saying.]

He puffed out his cheeks and looked up at me.

“…Take really good care of him.”

“As you command.”

He marched ahead and Samir followed at a lazy pace behind him. Well, at least that meant there wouldn’t be any danger.

“This area’s relatively safe, but sometimes paramilitary soldiers patrol around.”

Paramilitary? I didn’t know the details, but it was probably dungeon– and Hunter–related conflict. This country probably had the same issues with high–rank dungeons and mid– to high–rank Hunters spilling over. At least low–population places tended to have lower–rank dungeons.

I kept chewing on his clothes and snuck a look at his face. Maybe because of his skills or awakening attribute, his hair had this metallic dark–blue sheen. He was probably originally black–haired. Come to think of it, he hadn’t put his headcloth back on.

“No, tell them to come straight here.”

He tipped his head slightly, speaking quietly. I guessed there was a mic in his collar.

“We can’t let this leak. I’m not interested in a swarm of S–class Hunters.”

There was a short silence. I really wanted to know what sounds were coming through that in–ear. Should I act like a curious cat and try to sneak it out? Either way, I’d need Gyeol to listen for me.

“…Right.”

His navy eyes went cold for a moment. Before I knew it, he’d set me down, then lengthened his stride, passing by Gyeol and walking ahead. His pace quickened and he put ten–plus meters between us in the blink of an eye, and then─

SCREEECH!

A heavy military vehicle appeared in a cloud of dust. Someone jumped out of the roofless truck in one smooth motion. At the same time, a spear appeared in Samir’s hand. The big man’s white turban veil fluttered in the sandy wind, twin curved blades flowing like waves as they slashed down toward Samir.

CLANG!

Spear and twin blades crashed together with a loud metallic shriek. Samir slid back a bit.

“They said you found him.”

“You’re quick on your feet as always, brother.”

Samir dropped his stance low and spun to the side, flicking the twin blades away. So this was one of those adopted S–class princes with no blood relation. CLANG! The sound of weapons colliding rang out again. I grabbed the hem of Gyeol’s pants in my teeth and pulled him back.

[Let’s stay out of the way, kiddo.]

No need to get dragged into this. Let’s pretend we don’t know either of them. Keeping a close eye on the two S–class, we slowly backed away. The dust made it hard to see, but Delroux’s vision was a lot better than mine. Probably because I was a cat; I could more or less track the S–class movements.

KIIIIIIII–!

‘Ugh!’

“…My ears.”

Someone must’ve used a skill, because a horrible noise exploded around us. It stretched on, making my ears ring. Whichever one of them it was, could they keep it down─ wait. I looked up at the sky just in case. A helicopter had snuck close, its sound completely masked.

I knew it! They were covering the heli noise!

The heli door opened high up in the air and something flashed, gleaming.

Tap. Samir stepped on the other Hunter’s shoulder and vaulted up. He cut across the air lightly, opening distance, and then─

KWAANG!

Someone jumped out of the helicopter and slammed into the ground at terrifying speed. A massive battle–axe hammered down on the crossed twin blades. The big Hunter’s feet sank into the earth all the way up to his ankles. Long black hair streamed like a flag as the newcomer spun the axe one–handed and planted her bare feet in the dirt.

“Isabella!”

The Hunter took his cracked twin blades back and leapt away, scowling.

“You’re showing your hair again!”

Isabella… so that was Samir’s technically–cousin who was actually a stranger?

Isabella stared straight at the Hunter who’d be something like her cousin, then tugged up her loose top. Her waist showed under the hem.

“You…!”

He scrambled to look away, yelling. Samir stepped in front of us, blocking our side, and gave a short, embarrassed laugh.

“Good thing Korean women dress freely.”

For the record, where I’m from, everyone would stare if a grown man or woman walked around barefoot too. No one cares what you do with your hair, but still.

“She’s S–class. She’s not gonna get sunburned. She could walk around naked if she felt like it.”

“Isabella, you! As if wandering off by yourself wasn’t enough!”

“Yup. Because I’m S–class. Thousands of monsters have gone down to my hair. Over ten Hunters too.”

Isabella flicked the long hair she’d tied up high in a ponytail. Hair imbued with mana would be insanely tough. Most people cut it short, though, because it was too hard to control and just got grabbed or tangled.

“You won’t be reporting this outside, I’m sure. So how about you fall back here.”

Samir tapped his spear lightly as he spoke. Two against one was a definite disadvantage, especially with his opponent’s blades already cracked.

“As you’ve been briefed, Hunter Han Yujin is currently missing. Chasing me around is less useful than sending out people to search for him.”

The other Hunter’s gaze swept the area. He clearly thought I was hidden somewhere nearby. But he obediently got back in the truck and pulled out.

‘And now I’ve got two S–class left.’

Could we really get out of this without being found?

“Kitty.”

Isabella stored the giant battle–axe in her inventory and came straight over, crouching and reaching out a hand. Wait, wait. Don’t squeeze!

“That’s weird.”

“Knew it.”

At her words, Samir nodded, looking between me and Gyeol.

“A child and a cat who aren’t afraid of S–class Hunters. It’s not impossible, but having them show up together is suspicious.”

…Crap.

Both of us flinched at the same time. We’d gotten so used to S–class Hunters we’d totally forgotten.

“And the kid’s face is oddly familiar.”

Samir gave him a long, searching look. Damn. What now. Keep bluffing to the end? Didn’t feel like they were planning to let us go easily.

“…I am.”

Gyeol clenched his fists and opened his mouth. Then he made a face that was, annoyingly, really familiar.

“Since you’ve figured it out, there’s no helping it.”

He spoke in a tone suspiciously like someone I knew very well.

Gyeol! Hold up!

He shrugged off his bag and transformed into his adult form. He turned into the spitting image of Seong Hyunjae.

Gyeol!

[What are you doing, kiddo?!]

“…Guild Leader Seong Hyunjae?”

“That’s right. And the reason I’ve come here quietly is…”

He hesitated for a second, then looked at Isabella.

“To propose to Ms. Isabella.”

H–Han Gyeol?!