The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 621: We’re Getting Married (4)

There was a little less than an hour left until midnight.

The Alps, stretching long across Europe, were buried in darkness. In the stillness, only the moon–soaked glaciers here and there spilled a faint, hazy glow. The countless stars scattered between scraps of cloud looked like a single, motionless painting where even a breath couldn’t be heard.

As if they were gently drifting across the black night sky.

“That mountain’s totally white. Gyeol, you’ve never seen it snow, right?”

Pressed right up against the big window of the airship, Yerim asked. Gyeol was next to her, practically squashing his face against the glass.

“No. From inside Dad, I couldn’t really see outside.”

“They say it snowed back in Korea. Want to go to a sledding hill when we get back?”

“A sledding hill?”

“I haven’t gone since I was little either, but it’s super fun!”

Seeing the two of them side by side in their matching black and white formal outfits made my mouth curve up on its own. Too cute.

What we were riding in wasn’t an airplane, or a helicopter, or a fighter jet. It was an airship. A mode of transportation once said to have drifted across the sky in place of planes, with a giant balloon strapped on top. These days they were practically obsolete, used mostly for research or, rarely, for tourism.

This one was a tourist airship we’d managed to rent. It had been painted black so it wouldn’t stand out, and perception–dampening items were attached here and there. Even the sound it made was almost nonexistent. It would show up easily on radar, sure, but aside from that, even with S–Rank senses, you’d never notice it from the ground.

‘Helicopters and cars are too loud.’

Too much noise, too many lights, too much heat – it was practically impossible to approach quietly. But this airship even had its propulsion engines shut down. We had Peace and Noah with us, after all. And there was one more advantage: an airship could hover quietly in place, staying in the air for a long time. As long as the weather was good, the interior stayed nice and stable. And tonight’s weather was perfectly clear.

“How is it, Marcel?”

I walked over to the Hunter operating the equipment in the dimmed section where the windows had been covered to keep any light from leaking out.

Marcel had once belonged to Ark Guild – Noah’s old guild. Since it had been a support–type guild centered around Noah, he had support–type skills and was closer to office staff than a dungeon–clearing Hunter.

“There are no issues with the transmission. Video quality is clear as well.”

“I’ll be counting on you. And if you ever feel like it’s getting dangerous, don’t forget – drop everything and pull out fast.”

I said that, then subtly lowered my voice.

“Noah suddenly saying he wanted to stay in Korea must’ve thrown you, huh?”

I felt a little bad, since it was pretty much my fault. Marcel scratched the back of his head.

“It was surprising, but in a different way. Honestly, if Guild Leader was ever going to leave, we all thought it would be because of Hunter Liette. Everyone had sort of steeled themselves for it. Hunter Liette never liked our guild much.”

“Ah…”

So that was why they’d been able to disband the guild without much of an issue. Thinking back on the old Liette and Noah… even without me, that guild might have gotten shut down overnight anyway. Noah had apparently tried to stand on his own, but I doubted it had been easy. I wondered what had happened, in the timeline before I regressed.

“If Noah ever decides to form a guild again, he’s not going to let Liette push him around anymore.”

“I’m glad he seems that way now. To be honest, I never thought our guild was inferior to any other. We had a unique edge. If we’d grown properly, we could’ve become the top support–type guild in the world.”

With an S–Rank support–type guild leader like Noah Luhir at the center, and top–class support Hunters gathered from all over the world – it was more than possible. Right now, aside from a small healer alliance, all the big guilds were focused on combat and dungeon raids.

It really did feel both wasteful and a bit guilty keeping Noah tied to the Breeding Facility like this. Technically, the Hunters in the building side were support–types too, so having him start fresh over there might not be a bad idea at all.

“Marcel, you said you haven’t joined a new guild yet, right? Want to come to Korea with us?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Noah’s kind of just hanging out at Dodam like a freelance Hunter right now, but he’s going to start needing someone to back him up. And it’d be best if that person was someone who’s been with him from the beginning.”

I’d, of course, treat him very well. Marcel let out a slightly embarrassed laugh.

“I’d like that. I’ll have to study Korean properly, though. I can only understand a little when I hear it.”

“Hey, that’s already something!”

“Ah, I actually have a special language–type skill. It was my field of study originally as well.”

Wow, total talent, total keeper. After thanking him in advance, I walked over to Yuhyun, who was sitting quietly on a backless chair.

Over his black formal suit, he was literally draped in the Thunderbird’s ceremonial regalia. The hem of the garment spilled luxuriously all the way to the floor. As the airship moved, moonlight alternated between illuminating his pale face and throwing it into shadow.

I reached out and gently stroked his softly curled hair. My little brother leaned his head lightly into my hand.

“I’ve hidden a lot from you too, so I’m not going to push. I know better than anyone that there are things that are hard to talk about.”

“…Hyung.”

“More than anything, I’m never going to doubt you again, Yuhyun. No matter what happens, no matter what you’re hiding. So it’s okay. Tell me when you’re ready. Even if you never manage to say it all… that’s still okay.”

After hesitating, my brother gave a small nod. Even if there was something he was secretly agonizing over, that fact in itself wasn’t bad. I would worry, sure – but it was Yuhyun.

“There’s just one thing I won’t allow – you taking on danger all by yourself. …Never again.”

“That’s not… what this is.”

“Good. People are supposed to worry and get lost and wander a bit as they live.”

That’s just life. As long as he didn’t do anything self–destructive, getting stuck now and then on a long, complicated life path, taking a wrong turn and doubling back, hesitating at a fork and taking a break – that’s something everyone goes through at least once.

“We’ll be there in thirty minutes!”

Marcel called out. At his words, I hurriedly opened the cooler.

“Let’s eat something quick before we go. I really doubt they’re going to hand us meal vouchers.”

We’d even brought a congratulatory gift. Honestly, holding a wedding right at New Year’s midnight was already questionable. And attending without so much as an invitation? At this point, weren’t we the ultimate best friends? I really didn’t like looking too chummy with Seong Hyunjae, though. I should keep some distance for a while. Just being business partners sounded about right.

We called Noah and Peace in from outside and had a quick round of snacks and drinks. Yerim drew water, Yuhyun lit a fire, and we even made some warm coffee.

“Dad, I want to try coffee too.”

“Kids can’t. If you drink coffee you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“But we’re not supposed to go to bed early tonight anyway.”

She had a point. Still, coffee wasn’t exactly health food. Fine, fine – I brewed it black and handed it over.

“…Ugh.”

“Bitter, right? That’s just how coffee is. Let’s give it to Uncle.”

I made a cup for Chief Song as well. With sugar and creamer, of course.

“Vending–machine café au lait ratio~ I might not know my beans, but I’m good with this kind of thing.”

The airship’s speed slowed, then it stopped in midair. Down below, between the deserted mountain ridges, a faint light flickered. With a clunk, the hatch set into one wall of the airship swung open.

“Everyone get ready. Gyeol, are you really okay with this?”

“Yeah. Leave it to me!”

Brimming with confidence, Gyeol turned into a small white kitten. I cast my teacher skill on him, and in the next moment he fluttered his tiny wings and headed down.

A small body, a faint presence. He could change into a cat as well, so he was perfect for recon – but he was still a kid. Thankfully, thanks to his fairy–dragon abilities and us waiting just above him, we could make sure things went exactly how we wanted. As long as safety was guaranteed, it was good to let kids try their hand at doing something themselves. And Gyeol was particularly fired up.

In Gyeol’s field of view, the light grew larger. Nestled in the darkness was an imposing mansion. According to the records, it was registered as just some rich man’s vacation home. There were so many mansions like that scattered across Europe that, if it hadn’t been for Do Hamin, finding this one before January 1 would’ve been nearly impossible.

‘Hamin really worked hard on this.’

There were rats in that villa too, which was how we tracked it down. Maybe because they kept the interior meticulously pest–controlled, or because of the oppressive aura of S–Ranks, we hadn’t been able to confirm Seong Hyunjae. But Mari often came out to the garden, so she had ended up within a rat’s line of sight.

“Lower the altitude very slowly.”

There were now a little under twenty minutes left until midnight. Behind the stately mansion, a long extension stretched out. At the very end of it, light spilled from a rounded roof. Gyeol drifted up close to the transparent ceiling.

The dome, with its clean, precise facets like a cut diamond, didn’t look like ordinary glass. A golden band circled the edge of the giant jewel–like ceiling. Hopefully that wasn’t real gold.

“The ceiling might be a dungeon byproduct. Chief Song, I’ll leave it to you.”

Gyeol cautiously peered down through the moonlit dome. The first thing that caught his eye was the sea of flowers. Under the soft lighting, countless blossoms hung in full bloom. In a normal wedding hall, that much floral decoration would have been reserved for the aisles where the guests sat. Here, it covered everything.

A red carpet ran over white marble, with golden candelabras burning along the edges.

Hanging along the walls were threads of silver, strung with crystal beads. They looked like dewdrops clinging to drooping spiderwebs. Moonlight soaked into the countless beads of night dew. It felt like if a breeze passed through, they’d all chime at once with a clear, ringing sound.

At the end of the long aisle, on a platform of five steps, stood Seong Hyunjae. He was turned away, so his face wasn’t visible, but there was no mistaking him. His back, wrapped in white formalwear, was as straight as always, and his faded hair rested on the nape of his neck.

There was no officiant, no host, no guests. It felt less like a wedding and more like some mysterious ceremony caught halfway through. And in reality, the wedding probably wasn’t the main purpose.

“We’ve got everything.”

“Same here.”

Noah and Yerim said, arms full of gear. Time passed – ten minutes to go. At last, the bride appeared.

I slowly raised one hand. Yuhyun came to my side and grabbed onto me, and Chief Song stepped to the front. Yerim, Noah, and Peace crowded in right behind us. And then—

Whoosh— Chief Song’s body cut through the darkness, and we followed, jumping down after him. For a brief moment, the freezing air slapped against our cheeks.

CRAAAASH!!

With an enormous crash, the dome shattered, glass raining down like a storm.

Mari didn’t think white dresses suited her. But on a wedding day, the bride’s dress was white. A pure white dress, a long lace veil. Regardless of the color, the dress itself was beautiful. Layer upon layer of lace, sparkling with jewels, embroidered in gold and silver. The air was thick with the scent of flowers, and moonlight wrapped the hall in a heavy glow.

But that was all.

There were no guests. No boisterous congratulations, no laughter. Bouquet in hand, Mari walked alone down the long aisle.

Things I like. And—

‘The things I have to do.’

Her heart, which had definitely once been swelling with joy and excitement, had at some point gone cold and still. Her veil whispered as it slid across the floor. The man on the platform came into view. Even as she looked at his back, she didn’t feel all that happy. It was more like a heavy stone had been set on her chest.

‘Is this what they call the marriage blues?’

Or…

Mari’s lips jutted out in a little pout. The type she liked. Her ideal type. His looks were plenty satisfying. Probably. Right? Mari lifted her gaze to the old–fashioned clock hanging high on the front wall.

This wasn’t just some simple wedding. All of these were pointless thoughts. With this, the long–awaited happy ending would—

“Ah.”

With a short sigh–like sound, Seong Hyunjae turned around. Mari’s eyes widened. He was smiling. Absolutely delighted. And then Mari felt it too – the presences rushing toward them.

“W–what is this?!”

CRAAAASH! The dome under the moon exploded into shards, and between the scattering moon fragments—

“Hello, nice to meet you!”

Han Yujin greeted her, arms spread wide.

How. There was no way they could’ve found this place in that short amount of time. While Mari floundered in confusion, Park Yerim and Noah moved fast. Yerim’s body flickered, vanishing and reappearing as she set up cameras in an instant.

“Then – cue!”

At Han Yujin’s shout, a flare went off with a pop. The broadcast started, and at the same time—

“Mari.”

S–Rank Hunters gathered around Han Yujin, and he dropped to one knee.

Facing Mari.

“I love you!”

“…H–huh?”

Mari blinked. Through the thick haze of bewilderment, her eyes went from Han Yujin, to Song Taewon, to Han Yuhyun, to Noah, and even to Park Yerim, one after another. All in black and white, in dazzling formalwear.

“Uh, um, that is, uh…?”

Groom… s?

Mari froze on the spot.

Changing public perception. Simple, yet difficult. And in the modern world, the most effective way to do it was—

‘Broadcasting, of course.’

On top of that, the S–Rank Hunters and I had already appeared on a show. With a surprise teaser, staged scenarios – the works. In other words—

“New Year’s special broadcast, ‘Your S–Rank Is?’ Ah, I’m the S in S–F~”

I gave the camera a quick wink.

The idea was, if we all came storming in like this, people would think, “Oh, so it wasn’t a real wedding, just another broadcast setup.”

Sure, crashing some rich guy’s remote mountain villa and doing a live broadcast wasn’t exactly easy, but installing the broadcasting equipment on the airship took care of that. Negotiations with the network hadn’t been hard either. Right after their highest–rated Hunter show airs, the star of that show basically goes, “Hey, how about one more live broadcast?” – what station would say no? We arranged for a simultaneous broadcast in multiple countries and streams on the big platforms.

“To ring in the New Year, the S–Rank you’d like to spend it with! Oh, not big on people? We’ve got our adorable Peace too!”

–Kkiang!

At my outstretched hand, Peace, wearing a little bow tie, tilted his head cutely. Yerim followed up, making a finger–heart.

“Come watch the sunrise with me!”

If Hyunah were here too, it would’ve been perfect.

“How about a date in the sky?”

Noah, surprisingly calm and shameless, smiled as he spoke.

“…I can’t give you much of my time, but I’ll do my best.”

Chief Song recited his line stiffly and awkwardly. And Yuhyun, of course, with his cold eyes, went:

“I have no interest in anyone besides my Hyung.”

…There are people who like that type too, okay! The world is full of different tastes!

I shot to my feet and spun around. At my signal, the S–Ranks split to either side, revealing Seong Hyunjae on the platform. With a radiant smile, he extended one hand forward in a graceful gesture.

“To the one who can capture my interest—”

“We’ll be waiting! First episode airs January 6! The S–Ranks’ super–special variety show, ‘We’re Getting Married’!”

As Yuhyun scattered sparks and leapt away, the fire caught the fireworks we’d planted all over the dome.

Bang, baang! Bang!!

Amid the loud, dazzling explosions—

“Happy New Year!”

A little fairy appeared. Gyeol, in a white formal suit, whirled down through the air, his sparkling wings fluttering. Under his soft pink hair, his golden eyes shone with a bright smile.

“Happy New Year!”

We all joined in the New Year’s greeting – even Seong Hyunjae – as the broadcast cut off.

Seong Hyunjae’s wedding? By now it had probably been neatly wiped from people’s minds. Instead—

‘They’re probably going crazy asking who that fairy–like kid at the end was.’

Ding–

The last firework burst, and the chime of the clock announcing midnight rang out.