The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 633: Children (2)

[It’s a relief you look healthy!]

Rookie shouted as he spun circles around me. I could see a fireplace, colorful stockings, Rudolph and his sleigh, little cherub ornaments and the like. Looked like the newbie really liked Christmas. I wondered if his original world had anything like Christmas too.

“We really did almost never see you again, though.”

At my words, the volleyball made a teary face.

[We really had no idea Chatterbox would pull something like that! We were shocked too. We even drew up a really strict contract so no one at the party could hurt you and your group, but if Chatterbox stops being Chatterbox, then it all becomes invalid!]

Not just the Chatterbox thing either… My lifespan might just have been because the item broke. There’s no way it suddenly shot up that much overnight; it had to be a malfunction.

“Whoa, the star’s bigger than my whole body!”

Yerim flew all the way up to the top of the tree, waving both arms down at us as she shouted. The tree was so huge it was basically building–sized. I held out a card toward Rookie, who was mumbling excuses.

“Here, a Christmas card and New Year’s card.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I’d deliberately picked one that looked more like a Christmas card. A winter forest with pearl and silver foil, and Santa’s little cabin. Rookie’s babbling cut off. The pair of eyes drawn on the volleyball locked on the card and froze.

“You too, Rookie, I hope you get lots of luck this year.”

[…This is the first time I’ve ever gotten something like this.]

So his world must not have had a culture of sending cards or letters. A tentacle slid out of the volleyball and took the card. Are tentacles really that convenient. The pink glitter and little flowers decorating it were already bad enough, and somehow that just made it creepier.

[Thank you, Honey! Ah, I didn’t prepare anything for you!]

“This is just a custom where I’m from, it’s fine.”

[Honey, I hope you get lots of luck this year too!]

The card vanished from the tentacle’s grip. And quit sticking those things at me.

“So, what’s the situation?”

[Everyone was pretty thrown by the Chatterbox thing. It’s really rare for a Transcendent to give up their own status. And for another Transcendent’s revenge, at that! Some are saying it’s amazing he’s acting like that at his age. He’s way too emotional.]

“What’s wrong with being emotional. Feelings aren’t a bad thing.”

I never thought I’d be taking Chatterbox’s side, but still. If everyone were purely rational it’d probably be peaceful. And that’d be the end of it. A world that quiet and unshaken, like it was dead, didn’t sound all that great. Even the fact that something is “good” is an emotion.

Sure, if you have “like,” then “dislike” naturally follows, and that’s a problem. But instead of erasing “like” just to get rid of “dislike,” I’d much rather live holding on to both. You just make sure you see, talk about, and express the things you like more, right?

“Obviously you can’t go overboard and cause a ton of harm to other people just because you want to do something good for yourself. Instead of some wild revenge, how much better would it have been if he’d just remembered the ones who went ahead and piled up good deeds. It’s not like I did anything wrong in the first place.”

It was self–defense. I’d get it if I’d broken into his place and cut the head off a jellyfish while it was sleeping, but they’re the ones who tried to drag me off when I was just minding my own business. Emotional or rational, what matters is where you point it. At my words, Rookie fidgeted and rolled his eyes around.

[We are trying to save worlds, though.]

“Yeah, so help me out properly. A new Filial Duty Addict is coming? Can’t you guys drop it already?”

[Normally by this point one side would have given up, yeah.]

Rookie threw up a barrier so the others couldn’t hear. Peace got pushed out and scratched at it with his front paw in protest.

[We directly manage four Sources, and on average each Source swallows worlds one by one, but sometimes it tries to swallow two or three at once.]

“Greedy much. So how many worlds are there on our side? I mean the fifth Source.”

[It changes each time. These days, even at the highest, it’s hard for a single Source to have more than a thousand civilized worlds.]

…That’s a crazy number. Even if you lowball it at a billion people per world, how many is that. No wonder the Unfilial Children treat individual humans lightly. They even think it’s fine to toss a whole world if they have to.

[There was a time when the second Source just kept swallowing and got reduced to around a dozen worlds too. It was a close call. If the System doesn’t manage to root properly early on, a world can get swallowed in under a year. And they say the rate they’re shrinking is getting faster and faster.]

“Faster?”

[Yeah. A long time ago, way before there was even a System, a Source used to create around ten worlds and swallow about one. But now it only swallows. So forcing it to spit things back out has become important.]

It doesn’t create any and just eats them? That sounds dangerous.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘forcing it to spit it out’?”

[We partially break the Source. The fragments that come off become new worlds. Worlds born from a broken Source settle into civilization faster. If it goes well, you can get a few hundred new ones at once! So these days…]

Rookie looked at Yuhyun, who was standing a little behind me, then Chief Song beyond him, then Yerim and Noah up in the tree, before turning his gaze back to me.

[More than just saving worlds, it feels like they’re more focused on digging up new Transcendents. That’s why there’s more interest in Honey’s world. And especially in you, Honey.]

“Because of my traits?”

[Yeah. After the regression, your little brother’s been growing faster, you’ve got a kid with the power of Mr. Blacksmith and Senior Droplet, plus Dragonkin and the Goblin King showed up. Overall growth among Awakened is way better than before the regression too. When the top tier climbs, it pulls the layers underneath up with it.]

“…So that’s why they told me to gather fifty?”

[…That’s part of it. Anyway, yeah. A new Filial Duty Addict is scheduled to come over. But we’ll try to make sure Honey takes as little damage as possible.]

Rookie mumbled. They could just leave us alone, but no, another one had to show up.

“At least this one isn’t some guy out for revenge like Chatterbox, right? I can handle some indirect interference.”

[It’s just–!]

Rookie started to say something. At the same time, the barrier shattered.

Thunk!

“Don’t do anything rash.”

A pine cone that had been part of the fireplace decorations smacked into the volleyball. A small hand belonging to Young Chaos appeared almost like it teleported and pressed Rookie down.

“Right now, even if the Firstborn hears of it, he can’t block or dodge it. Breaking restrictions just to give that kind of information is meaningless. If you’re going to break them once anyway, then do it later and help him with your actions. That’s better.”

…I wasn’t sure what was going on, but still.

“Yeah, Rookie. If it’s something I couldn’t really prepare for even if I knew, I think the elder’s right. And I don’t want you having trouble working because you broke the rules.”

[…Honey.]

Don’t look at me like that. Sorry, but it’s not like I said that purely out of concern for you. I at least need you; I can’t trust the other Unfilial Children at all.

“Elder, here’s your New Year’s card. I hope you get lots of luck this year.”

I bowed and held out a card to Chaos.

“I wish you a happy New Year.”

Yuhyun read the room and bowed too, and Yerim and the others followed with New Year’s greetings. And then,

–Um, hello.

Gyeol, who’d been hiding in Yerim’s shawl, poked his head out a bit. I’d figured it was about time we showed him to Rookie, so I’d brought him along. Turned into a human child, Gyeol politely greeted Young Chaos.

“I’m Han Gyeol. Happy New Year, Grandpa.”

“He’s my son.”

He might have been born a monster, but that didn’t matter. Chaos looked at him quietly, then reached out and patted his fluffy hair.

“I knew he existed.”

Well, he would have noticed back when Gyeol still belonged to me.

[He’s way weaker than the power I felt back then.]

“It was Gyeol who cleaned up the mess Ru Ga Pheya made. The power you felt was what he used that time.”

Thankfully, neither of them seemed to feel any particular problem with Gyeol. His tense face slowly broke into a smile.

“He’s technically still a monster. If the world changes again or something, will that affect him?”

[Don’t worry. The moment a monster gets tamed, they’re recognized as a member of Honey’s world. This kid also belonged to you, so even if dungeons and monsters disappear there’ll be no problem!]

That was a relief. So Peace and the other Breeding Facility monsters would be fine no matter how the world changed. I should stock up plenty of magic stones just in case, though.

[And Honey.]

Rookie spoke like he’d made up his mind about something.

[Give me a present.]

“Huh?”

[If I receive something I personally feel has enough value, it’ll be easier to help you later. It’ll count as payment, so the burden on me will be lighter.]

“Yeah? Then of course I should give you something!”

I should, but… I opened my inventory. Something Rookie would consider valuable – he was a Transcendent.

‘Even S–rank, SS–rank items are probably going to feel like junk loot to him.’

The Drawer… was way too precious. And I couldn’t exactly give him Grace either. Something with enough value, value… No matter how I looked, there was nothing I could really hand over.

[The card did refill things somewhat, but.]

The card? That was just a Christmas card… Ah. Something Rookie doesn’t have. Something Rookie can’t have. I brought to mind everything that had happened with him so far, and how he’d reacted.

“Rookie, close your eyes for a bit.”

[Huh?]

“You’re supposed to do that when you get a present.”

Rookie spun in place.

[I’m not looking at anything!]

“Yeah, yeah. Good boy.”

I went over to a table off to the side and spread out a sheet of paper. Then I took out a pen.

“Oh? Is that–”

“Shh, Yerim.”

Let’s see, Rookie… Drawing him as a volleyball felt a little wrong. I pictured what was probably his original appearance that I’d seen before – hair and ears like a cocker spaniel, clothes like a drooping flower bud. Hm…

“Mister, I don’t think you have much artistic talent either.”

Harsh. I still thought it came out recognizable. Honestly, a big part of it was that Myeongwoo’s skill was just too good. Since I was drawing anyway, I put in Gyeol in his fairy dragon form. That turned out pretty decent, so I added the little one in his baby monster form, and the Black Dragon too…

“…Are those supposed to be Noah and Liette?”

Yerim whispered to me, sounding like she couldn’t believe it.

“…No, that’s Chief Song. Their hairstyles are kind of similar, right?”

“Ah… and this one’s Mister Seong, right? The chains and coat.”

So she couldn’t recognize them by their faces. To be fair, neither could I. Still, I somehow squeezed this person and that person and even the elder into the drawing. Hm, brutal. I mean, it wasn’t that bad, but compared to the photo–level piece Myeongwoo gave us…

“Things really have changed a lot.”

Even though it was a mess, seeing the drawing brought a rush of feelings. Back on the day Myeongwoo drew us – the day Noah and Liette fought – a lot had already changed compared to before the regression. And then things had changed a lot again.

Embarrassed, I rolled the drawing up and went back to Rookie.

“What I want isn’t anything big.”

I handed him the drawing.

“I just want the people I care about to all live together, happily and having fun.”

The tentacle holding the drawing unrolled it. With how distinct the features were, he should at least recognize himself.

“And I want you to be one of them too, at least for now. At first, honestly, I didn’t really trust you and you creeped me out a bit, but now I do.”

The kid was kind. I’d grown attached to the volleyball look, and his original form was cute too. It wasn’t just because I wanted help; that was how I really felt. Rookie stared at the drawing for a long time before he spoke.

[Me too.]

The volleyball’s shape changed. Since no one else reacted, it must have been something only I could see.

[I wanted to save worlds, and I have.]

Round red eyes looked up at me. A small hand, not a tentacle, was holding the drawing open.

[Because it’s the right thing to do. It’s what I obviously have to do.]

“It is a good thing.”

[Yeah. But Honey, not once did I ever wish for the happiness of the people living in those worlds.]

Just a natural burden he had to carry. Nothing more, nothing less.

[I want you to be happy, Honey.]

“Thanks.”

[I’m wishing for it. I am.]

Rookie gave me a shy smile. The drawing disappeared, and the volleyball started bouncing again.

[A new Filial Duty Addict will be here soon. They might already have reached out to the ones Chatterbox left behind!]

“Yeah, they wouldn’t just leave them lying around. I’ll have to wrap things up as fast as I can.”

I was especially worried about Cho Hwawoon, who held a grudge against me. Even taking care of Choi Seokwon had taken Rookie’s help, and if Cho Hwawoon – empowered by Chatterbox – ended up backed by a new Transcendent, that’d be really dangerous.

[We’ll protect you, Honey, but please be careful anyway!]

“Yeah. And do you know anything about Crescent Moon’s movements?”

[I heard she’s fully awakened.]

“Well… Crescent Moon made me an offer. I turned her down.”

I didn’t mention Seong Hyunjae. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Rookie, but rather because he liked me, I had to be even more careful. He’d been told that if we handed over Seong Hyunjae, our world would be safe. That the Source could even be completely blocked. So there was a nonzero chance that, in the name of protecting me, he’d just hand Crescent Moon Seong Hyunjae.

Rookie bounced high.

[No way! What kind of offer?]

“I can’t say right now.”

[Some sort of contract? I’ll look into it. Quietly!]

“Please do.”

We’d finished our business and were about to leave when Young Chaos spoke to me.

“Name the Black Dragon the opposite of his attribute. That’ll dampen his temper.”

“Huh? Uh, he doesn’t seem that bad–tempered yet, though.”

“It’s because you, Firstborn, are obviously going to dote on him and fuss over him again. If he’s going to stay in your world, it’s better to curb that temperament. By nature, he’s the sort that doesn’t get along with others. If you’re going to let him live alone, it doesn’t matter.”

…I didn’t want to blame anything on innate temperament, but the image of the Black Dragon doting on the little one came to mind. If we were going to live together, maybe I should follow the elder’s advice. In the end, the one who’d have to accept the name was the Black Dragon himself, so I could just ask him.