The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 627: Breakfast

A soft carpet covered the floor, and the big fireplace with its bright red flames filled the room with gentle warmth. In the center stood a round dining table, and in front of a large window framed by snow covered branches sat a long, comfortable looking sofa. It was probably a sitting room originally, but now it worked as a dining room that was neither too wide nor too cramped, just comfortably snug.

Mr. Vantes and another person, Ms. Charlotte Gray, had kindly insisted that we eat first. They said they would answer our questions afterward. We were dying to ask about a lot of things, but both of them were extremely courteous while being razor sharp and firm, so in the end all we could do was obediently take our seats for breakfast.

If some young punks had tried to threaten us, I would have happily grabbed a weapon and gone “you little punks” right back at them. But what are you supposed to do when adults smile kindly at you? Especially when all they want is for you to eat. You just follow along and behave.

“Some hot tea. If you feel like you might be coming down with a cold, please let me know. I can prepare medicine that will not be affected by any post–meal poison resistance.”

Pouring with practiced hands, Mr. Vantes filled our cups as he spoke. A moment later, Ms. Gray returned from having stepped out for a bit. A line of serving carts followed behind her. The smell of food tickled my nose and then… hold on, wait a second.

“Is that doenjang soup?”

Yerim’s eyes went round as she spoke. Spoons and chopsticks had been set in front of each of us, along with bowls of freshly cooked, glossy white rice. No way. Korean food?

“Instead of plating individual portions, we prepared it so you can take as much as you like on your own.”

Ms. Gray set down a long container filled with tongs, ladles, and scissors as she explained. The first dish placed in the center of the table was galbi jjim, braised beef ribs. Next to it came smoked duck roasted inside sweet pumpkin, then doenjang jjigae and kimchi jjigae set to either side. There were assorted seasoned greens, stir fried anchovies, stir fried shredded dried squid, and three different kinds of kimchi. Cold jellyfish salad, japchae, bulgogi, salted seafood and marinated crab, grilled fish… the side dishes just kept coming. Peace also got a bowl of monster meat mixed with ground magic stone. Lastly, a serving cart with a rice cooker was parked to the side, complete with a rice paddle, as if to say we could have as much as we wanted.

“How did they even… get all this ready already? It hasn’t even been a few hours since Seong Hyunjae and the Sesung Guild Leader went out…”

No matter how you looked at it, this spread had to have been flown in from Korea. There are Korean restaurants in France, sure, but this was way too authentic. Just getting a call from Seong Hyunjae and then preparing all this should have taken a long flight. When I asked, Mr. Vantes answered.

“As soon as we heard they were going to look for the Guild Leader, we prepared in advance and departed. The Guild Leader would most certainly wish to take care of both you, Mr. Han Yujin, and you, Chief Song Taewon.”

…Being Seong Hyunjae’s aide is clearly not a job for just anyone. Still, wow.

“Then please enjoy your meal.”

Everyone, including Vantes and Gray, filed out of the room. The door closed firmly behind them. It felt a bit awkward, but food was food.

“Just in case, I will serve everyone. That must be why they gave us so many small plates.”

Anything I handled would be detoxified. I got up, took the tongs and ladle, and started with the galbi jjim. Going in order of age, I held out a side plate toward Chief Song, only for him to quickly shake his head.

“I am fine. I can serve myself.”

“Aw, don’t be like that.”

“Even if there is poison, as an S–rank my chances of dying instantly are extremely low. So even if I get poisoned, you could help afterward.”

“It would still hurt. Why put yourself through that for nothing? Here, the biggest rib for you.”

He was the oldest and had gone through the most, so he needed to eat a lot. I added a shiitake cap prettily scored in a cross on top.

“I am fine sharing a plate with my brother.”

– Gyeol too. Gyeol only eats a little.

Holding a fork sized for his fairy form, Gyeol spoke up. Yuhyun and I had shared a single pot since we were kids anyway. I piled galbi jjim into a little mountain on Yerim’s plate, then heaped on a bunch of bulgogi as well.

“Chief Song, kimchi? Doenjang? Or both?”

“…From the kimchi stew, the potatoes and tofu, please.”

After hesitating a bit, Chief Song answered honestly. So he liked potatoes and tofu. They are good when the seasoning has soaked in just right.

“I want doenjang jjigae! And lots of tofu and potatoes for me too!”

“Sure, sure. Eat up.”

I wrapped my hand around each rice bowl and small side dish bowl in turn, then set them back down. Only after that did I sit and pick up my own spoon and chopsticks. I bit into a piece of galbi jjim, and the meat practically melted in my mouth. Not tough at all. Delicious.

“Mister, it’s really good if you eat the meat together with the cold salad.”

Yerim emptied her bowl of rice in an instant. Maybe we should have had Noah come too. It was almost nothing but Korean food, which might have been a bit much for him, though. They really had prepared things separately for me and Chief Song: the fried egg in front of me was runny, while a pile of wrap greens sat in front of Chief Song. His plate was empty again in no time.

“Eat a lot too, Yuhyun. Here.”

“Yeah, you too.”

“Gyeol, want me to cut it into smaller pieces?”

– No, I can eat it by myself.

Slicing the duck meat with a tiny knife, Gyeol answered. As I ate, my thoughts wandered back to Seong Hyunjae for no good reason. I wondered if he was eating properly.

“…I still feel bad toward him.”

Even if he is quick on the uptake, it was basically the same as being kicked out without knowing the details. And here I was, being treated to a feast. When my hand slowed, Yerim rushed to reassure me.

“I bet Mister Seong will not care at all. I do not really know what is going on, but still. And he would like it more if you eat well and enjoy it.”

“Well, that is true, but…”

“Or just call him later. By now he should have a new phone, and if it is you calling, he will pick up right away.”

“Calling is too much. No, forget it.”

It had not even been a full day since I sent him away. If we talked on the phone, I felt like I would end up saying, “I was wrong, come back.” And then once he actually showed up, I would just torment myself again. I was fine now, warm and full, but if things got hard again later, I knew I would hesitate.

In the end, I had to settle things with Crescent Moon somehow, but I still had no answer. At this rate, I might as well start roasting sweet potatoes in the fireplace.

“We should go to the nearby dungeon and see what the situation is. By now there may have been some changes on that side as well.”

We might be able to get more information about Crescent Moon. I wondered if Rookie had realized something about this wedding. And since when was it okay for her to meddle that much? I was definitely going to complain about that.

“And… I would like to send the kids back to Korea first.”

– Gyeol will not go!

“I am not going either!”

“I am not talking about you, Yerim. It would be nice if you went too, though.”

“Not me? Then Peace?”

“I said the kids.”

Tilting her head, Yerim scooped her third bowl of rice. A good appetite is the best thing.

“So, the thing is…”

I cleared the empty dishes in front of me and raised my hand. On my open palm—

– Kkyut!

A little one popped out. Yerim jumped up from her seat with a shout.

“A new monster? When did you get it? It is so cute!”

“Actually… wait! No!”

The little one darted straight for the galbi jjim. I grabbed for it in a hurry, but the round puff of fur slipped right out of my hand with ease. It was about to tumble headfirst into the dish of braised ribs when—

– Pwiik!

Yuhyun snatched the little one out of the air. Squeaking in protest, the kid puffed out the fur on its tail.

“Hyung said no.”

– Beep, piit!

“Good boy, Daddy will cut it up for you. Here.”

I held a chunk of meat to its mouth, and only then did the little one calm down. This kid really liked eating. Not that it was surprising. After chewing a bit, the kid must not have liked the taste much, because it set the rest of the meat down and looked around.

– Kyui?

It spotted Gyeol, who had frozen awkwardly.

– Uh, h–hi?

– Beep!

– Th–that is not food!

“Stop!”

The kid grabbed Gyeol’s sparkling wings and just stuffed them into its mouth. They were translucent and glowed a pretty pink, like candy, but you cannot eat those!

“Those are wings, wings! That is your brother’s, no, your oppa’s wings!”

– I–it tickles!

“Be good, not everything pink and shiny is candy. Somebody get something sweet, quick!”

“Here.”

Yuhyun, looking reluctant, took out a small glass bottle from his inventory. Two pieces of dried fruit sat inside.

“You still had that?!”

I was pretty sure the last time I gave him any was more than two months ago.

“I will make a bunch more when we get home. Here, kiddo. Try this. It is sweet.”

I held a piece of fruit up to its mouth. The little one twitched its nose, let go of Gyeol, and chomped down on the fruit instead. Staggering a bit, Gyeol hopped down from the table and turned into a human child. The little one stared at him, then transformed as well into a human and— hey! Kid!

Clatter! Plates crashed into each other and fell as the kid’s suddenly grown body pushed them aside. Peace, who had been sitting under the table, quickly dodged out of the way and stared at the kid. Thankfully, the carpet kept anything from breaking, but the table and floor were a mess. The kid did not care, happily chomping the now tiny piece of dried fruit in one bite.

“Wow! Is it the same as Gyeol? It kind of looks like you, Mister!”

“I want to do it too.”

The kid looked at Gyeol and spoke, then waved a hand.

“Huh? Hi.”

“Yeah, hi. So I am Oppa Gyeol. Han Gyeol.”

“I am the aunt! Aunt Yerim! Is it a girl? Really?”

Unable to contain her excitement, Yerim bounced on her feet. Gyeol, on the other hand, looked a little embarrassed. The kid stared at its empty hands and then fixed a very clear, expectant gaze on Yuhyun. Cornered by that look, Yuhyun sighed and took out the remaining piece of fruit. My little brother really is kind.

Maybe it was hard to keep a human form, or maybe the kid wanted to save the one last dried fruit. Either way, it turned back into a tiny baby monster. Hugging the fruit between its front paws, it sucked on it with obvious bliss. Yerim watched, entranced.

“You have not given it a name yet, have you?”

“For now I am just calling it ‘the kid.’”

“It has to be a proper person name, like Gyeol. It is so, so cute. I have to buy clothes.”

“Gyeol will take good care of it too.”

Gyeol looked like he wanted to say something more but just mouthed silently instead. Right…

“Now that I think about it, I should give you an allowance, Gyeol. Regularly.”

“Really?”

“Of course. And New Year’s money on Lunar New Year too.”

He must have wanted to buy something for his little sibling with his own money. He had gotten some New Year’s money, but that was a one time thing. Now that his human form was out in the open, it was about time to fake him a civilian identity. Something like: a distant relative of the Sesung Guild Leader, awakened after losing his parents, with a monster related ability, and being protected by Dodam for that reason. That should work.

The kid tugged on my hand, as if to say it was time to go back. As soon as I sent it in, Yerim, who had been waiting for a chance to pet it, groaned in deep disappointment.

“Once it gets a name, it will stay out all the time. Right now it is dangerous, so I have been deliberately putting off naming it.”

“You are absolutely not allowed to name it by yourself, Mister! But it really does like food.”

“Well… it also did not get to eat much before I brought it here.”

Those bastards back then clearly had not taken proper care of the little one. Magic stones are expensive even in low grades, so they had probably only fed it enough to keep it alive. Once it can eat its fill properly, that food obsession should naturally die down.

“Is it only… that one?”

Chief Song had quietly stood and watched the chaos, and now he spoke.

“There is one more, but that one still seems unable to come out.”

“Sending them separately to Korea would be difficult, so please delay naming for now. If you return to Korea together with them, that is another matter.”

“It is fine. There is no rush for a name. What about you, Gyeol?”

“Not going, not going, not…”

Acting like he was throwing a tantrum, Gyeol suddenly straightened his posture and spoke again.

“I am not going, Dad.”

He had been acting like such a little kid, but now that he had a younger sibling, he was trying to act grown up. Adorable.

“Right, I would be worried about sending you alone too. Let us wrap things up quickly and all go home together.”

Gyeol returned to his fairy form, and once Yerim finished the rest of her meal, she pressed the call bell. People streamed in to clear the table and brought out dessert. Yerim and Gyeol quietly pocketed some cookies and chocolate. I handed the empty bottle that had held the dried fruit to Gyeol, who was struggling to carry two chocolate bars that were too big for his small body.

“I will hold onto this for you as your aunt.”

The bottle filled up with cookies and chocolate, clearly meant for the kid. After I finished about half of my cold drink, Vantes and Gray returned.

“A car and a helicopter are available.”

“The car, please. And why are you two still here? Where is the Sesung Guild Leader?”

“We were ordered to attend to the meals and needs of you, Mr. Han Yujin, and you, Chief Song Taewon.”

Which explained the lavish treatment, but still.

“…As far as I know, this is the mansion of the people who kidnapped the Sesung Guild Leader.”

I glanced at Gray as I spoke. We were basically hanging out with the kidnappers. That did not strike anyone as odd?

“That is correct, but there is no problem.”

Gray, not Vantes, answered this time. Wearing a gentle smile, she continued.

“Our master also told us to treat you well, if that is what you desired. Since our goals are the same, we simply chose to cooperate.”

…Sure, I know sometimes people who were at each other’s throats end up joining hands depending on the situation, but this felt a bit fast.

“And who is this master of yours? It does not seem to be Mari.”

“You have already met her, Mr. Han.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Ms. Marisa Moore.”

Marisa Moore… I had heard that name somewhere. The woman from the British Association? Wait, then—

‘…Was that an invitation to Seong Hyunjae’s wedding?’

I had wondered why I was suddenly being invited to some stranger’s wedding, but she was not a stranger? More importantly, that person? The older sister of Park Hayul, Mari’s mother, and almost Seong Hyunjae’s mother in law?

She had just seemed like a pleasant lady and nothing more, but seriously?