The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 678: What Life Is (1)

“You okay? What happened to your arm?”

As he loosened his arms from around me a little, my younger brother’s gaze quickly swept over me. That damn newbie, seriously, what was that. I roughly brushed off the glitter and nodded.

“All better now. You’re okay too, Yuhyun? No serious problems?”

The Elder and the newbie were nowhere to be seen, and Chirp had vanished as well. Chirp had been with Chaos at the end, so I figured they’d gone together. If it was the Elder, I could trust him.

“Was I gone for a long time?”

Worry was brimming in Yuhyun’s eyes. My little brother was always worrying about me anyway. He checked my arm with his hand and nodded.

“More than a day.”

“A day? It felt like maybe a couple of hours at most.”

“Even the newbie couldn’t properly find you.”

[I did find you once! You just got bounced away…]

A message blinked into the air.

[I am the system administrator, sure, but the system is based on the power of the Source, and there’s still more about the Source’s mechanisms we don’t know than what we do, so an error like this… is really hard to respond to! Even Mr. Blacksmith helped out and ended up completely wiped out.]

“I’m not blaming you. Thanks. You worked hard. Tell Myungwoo that too. And tell him not to overdo it.”

The more things went on, the less position Myungwoo was in to say anything to me. A big heart popped up with a little poof.

[Yes! We did our very best, Honey! This time was even weirder. It wasn’t just a simple error – it was like someone, with a clear intention, um, to put it in Honey–world terms, hacked it.]

“Hacked it?”

[It was hacking, but not just some simple intrusion. Something more fundamental… it’s hard to explain, but, like, if it’s a system error, how can a time period from before the system was created show up… that makes no sense, right? That time period doesn’t exist in the system at all.]

“Ah…”

Right. I had gone to a time before the system existed.

[Of course, it’s not completely impossible. The foundation is the Source. The Source has existed from the very beginning, so you can draw out any point in time from it. But if that’s the case… then ultimately…]

The newbie trailed off, mumbling, then fell silent.

“Newbie?”

[I’ll investigate more thoroughly and tell you after that! More importantly, Honey, there’s a penalty!]

“What?”

[Because Honey was missing for a whole day, we couldn’t progress–]

“That was a bug, a bug! It wasn’t my fault, so why!”

[Well, at first it was an error, but then Honey wouldn’t sit still and started poking at things…]

Yeah, but it’s not like I could just sit quietly in that situation. I had gotten something out of it anyway, so I nodded for now.

“Even then, if it’s 10 percent my fault, it’s 90 percent the bug’s. You know that, right?”

[Yes. It’s not that big a penalty. For now, you’ll be progressing in a dungeon that Chain created. You don’t have enough room to generate a new dungeon yourself, Honey.]

Up to that point, it wasn’t so bad. It was just the backdrop. Even if Seong Hyunjae picked an environment favorable to his own team, there were limits. Above all, our team had both fire and water. Whether it was cold or hot, forest or sea, it didn’t really matter. The desert would be the worst, I guess. No water and not much to burn.

‘Our team’s balance really is good.’

Yuhyun was close–range offense and could handle both single–target and AoE. Yerim was long–range AoE offense. Noah was support–healing with combat capability. And Liette could switch from close–range offense to defense. Add Shishio on top of that and you had another defensive support. The balance was just right. Even among S–class teams, it would be hard to put together a lineup this well–rounded.

More than anything, Noah was a rare one. You could shake down the entire world and probably still not find another support–healer who could join S–class battles. And Noah had originally only been A–class.

“If that’s all, then it’s not so–”

[And, also.]

Tch. Should’ve known there’d be more than one.

[In deciding turn order, Honey’s team will be unable to attack or tag for 10 minutes! Combat–type skills are banned for both sides! Item combat effects are also banned! Stealth, teleportation, and Mini–Mini Cookies are banned too! Flight is allowed. The team that taps three people out with their hands first wins! 10! 9!]

“Hold on! Hey!”

What the hell, all of a sudden!

[I’m sorry, Honey! But we’re short on time. It’s already been over a day! 5! 4!]

What are we even doing. And what’s with the turn order. Yuhyun slung me over his shoulder. First, I used the teacher skill on my brother.

“Yuhyun, Yerim and the others?”

“They said we’d all start apart. I won the draw, so I got you–”

[1! 0!]

Driiing, something like a chime rang out. So we’re playing tag, huh. Simple’s nice enough, but still.

[Start!]

At the same time, Yuhyun took off running. A long corridor in some unknown place flashed past, and the wall rushed up at us.

Crash! Behind us, something slammed, the sound of a door being smashed to pieces.

“Han Yujin~. Oh my, you’ve got an arm again?”

It was Mari. I caught a glimpse of her long, shining blond hair swaying as Yuhyun kicked the wall blocking our way. Through the gaping hole, tall buildings came into view. For a second I thought it was our world, but it was subtly different. Another world with a similar level of development. Maybe a place where Seong Hyunjae had stayed before.

Thump! Still carrying me, Yuhyun leaped into the air. Blue Willow Leaves was a combat support skill, which meant it counted as combat–type and couldn’t be used. We dropped straight down and—

Thunk! Landed on top of what looked like a bus. Skills were restricted, but our stats were fine. We skimmed across the bus roof like we were flying, then he leaped again, up onto a bent streetlight.

“With the others–”

“It’s better if we regroup. Hold on tight so you don’t fall, hyung.”

Adjusting me on his back, Yuhyun jumped toward the long, sagging power lines. Right before landing on the line, he threw a chunk of wall he’d grabbed somewhere along the way to check if it was safe. If there were birds in this world, they would have made sure it was safe to perch on.

“Should I fire a flare? Everyone will come running, though.”

“You decide.”

Yuhyun said as he ran along the power line. In the distance, I could see Mari chasing after us. No combat skills and no combat item effects. For ten minutes we couldn’t attack or tag first. I pulled a flare out of my inventory.

“They don’t have any flight skills on that side.”

We, on the other hand, had two. The best move was to regroup fast, get high up in the air, hold out until the restriction ended, then clash. Even aside from that, with our team’s composition, grouping up was better.

Pop! I fired the flare high into the sky. It burst with light and a plume of black smoke. In broad daylight the light was barely visible, but the smoke stood out clearly.

“I wonder what kind of skills Mari has.”

I’d seen Samir fight, but I knew nothing about Mari. She didn’t look like a combat–type on the surface, but you couldn’t judge a Hunter by appearances.

“Your little brother’s fast, Mr. Han Yujin!”

Mari shouted, sounding delighted. Then she spread both arms out to the sides. Her fingers sank into the sides of two cars with a crunch. With a grinding sound, the low, curved tips of her shiny red heels scraped along the road as the two cars sliced through the air in succession.

It wasn’t even the kind of attack I needed to warn Yuhyun about. But instead of aiming for us, the cars—

Crash! Thud!

—slammed into a utility pole. Spinning as they flew, the two cars smashed through not only the utility pole but every street tree and streetlight in their path, snapping them one after another. As the power lines bent sharply along with them, Yuhyun’s toes kicked off them and we shot upward.

“Bike!”

Catching my meaning, Yuhyun swung me around in front of him midair. I pulled the bike out of my drawer and it landed with a thunk on the ground. The moment I started it, the bike roared and shot forward.

“Isn’t that kind of cheating?”

I heard Mari grumble. Standing on the back of the bike, Yuhyun took out a wire. The thin black cable skimmed the equally black pavement and kicked up shards that rained down toward Mari. But the shards were completely blocked by a transparent barrier.

“So that’s what they meant by no attacking, huh.”

I fired another flare to mark our exact position.

“The streets in this place are weird.”

It was straight all the way. The buildings were packed so tightly without even side streets that it felt uncanny. With a straight line like this…

“Yuhyun!”

Right after my warning, rumble! A building up ahead began to topple. Either Chief Song or Hyunah. It was a perfect way to block the road. Yuhyun spun the bike around to face forward. An obstacle appeared that we could never clear with the bike, but I trusted my brother and kept the speed up.

Yuhyun bent his knees and lowered his upper body. Two wires wrapped around his arms, and the moment the falling building was right in front of us—

Bang!

With a gunshot–like crack, the pair of wires slammed hard into the ground. At the same time, I lifted the bike’s front wheel. Using the recoil from the wire, the bike bounced and sprang up like it had a giant spring attached.

The rubble of the collapsing building passed beneath our feet. Just as it seemed like we’d fly clean over—

Swish–!

With a sound slicing through the air, a utility pole came flying straight at us. I hastily stowed the bike away in a panic, and right after that, Yuhyun grabbed me and spun our bodies in midair. Twisting around, Yuhyun’s toes landed on the tip of the utility pole and we came down onto the debris.

“Hi, hyungnim!”

It was Moon Hyunah. Moon Hyunah rushed us, beaming, another utility pole hoisted like a spear. I mean, that’s actually kind of terrifying! With every step she took, the fallen building heaved and gusts of wind kicked up. Still holding me, Yuhyun dodged away in a hurry.

“We’re touching palms! Palms!”

“Why are you trying to turn people into kebabs!”

Boom! With a sound like a lightning strike, the utility pole slammed into an intact building. Crack–crack–crack, fissures spread through the whole building as it shook.

“So over there–”

Before Moon Hyunah could finish her sentence, I pulled out a bomb and tossed it down. I had Grace, and Yuhyun had Fire Resistance. With a roar, the blast flung our bodies away, right toward—

Scrraape– her heels dragged a long groove through the rubble and came to a stop. It was Song Taewon. He was bare–handed, but no less threatening than if he’d been holding a utility pole.

Rising into the air, Yuhyun threw his wire toward a building. Even without a hook, it bit into the wall with a crunch, deep enough that he could brace his feet on the building’s side and stand using the line. Below us, Moon Hyunah waved enthusiastically.

“I heard you went missing, but you just went to get your arm fixed?”

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

Chief Song said. His words and actions were really not matching.

“Mr. Han Yujin.”

Seong Hyunjae stepped up onto the rooftop ledge of the building where Yuhyun and I were. He looked down at us, eyes narrowing in amusement.

“You look like you’re in a precarious spot. Allow me to lend you a hand.”

“I’ll pass.”

At my refusal, his dagger struck with a crunch, cutting the wire embedded in the wall. What a temper. I hurriedly braced my feet on the building and grabbed Yuhyun’s hand. Yuhyun also kicked into the wall, breaking it to make footholds.

“I’m good at standing on my own, thanks.”

“Sometimes it’s fine to lean on someone.”

Well, that’s true. I spread one arm toward Seong Hyunjae.

“Come on over here. With both hands tied behind your back, lean into my arms. I’ll give you a nice pat.”

Guess the 10 minutes weren’t up yet. Seong Hyunjae’s eyes went wide. It was moments like that that made him look a bit younger. Not as much as Sigma, of course.

“That’s quite the tempting offer.”

“And yet why are you pulling out a chain while you say that. Your tastes are pretty hardcore.”

“Since I can’t use combat abilities, it’s just a simple, sturdy chain.”

Saying it like he meant don’t worry.

“Yuhyun!”

Crunch! The chain slammed straight into the rooftop. So deep you couldn’t see the end of it. Cracks raced through the front section of the building – the part we were standing on – and it sheared off in an instant.

Carrying me, Yuhyun kicked off the crumbling wall. Below, Moon Hyunah and Song Taewon were waiting. Mari was closing in too. The wire in Yuhyun’s hand whipped as he threw it. High toward the sky.

“Nice catch!”

Yerim’s cheerful voice rang out. Our falling bodies jerked to a stop and were hauled upward. But of course they weren’t going to just stand there and watch that happen. From below, a curved blade spun toward the wire like a pinwheel. It was Samir, appearing before we knew it.

Clang!

Just before the blade could cut through the wire, golden–glinting claws blocked it. Golden feathered wings glinted in the sunlight.

“Hi, sweetie!”

– Mr. Yujin! Thank goodness!

Along with those welcome voices.

“Noah~.”

Liette, clutched in Noah’s hind claws, shouted.

“Ten minutes!”

– Yes.

Noah released his grip. Liette bared her teeth in a grin. Her sharp teeth grew even sharper, her body swelling.

Kwoooom!

A gigantic black dragon crushed a building underfoot. In the billowing cloud of dust, Liette leaped again.

– Let’s kill them all!

No, we’re tagging, actually. Palm tagging. Seriously, these people. Have none of them ever played tag as kids? Why are they all so determined to catch and kill people.

‘Though I feel like about half of them probably really haven’t.’

It was honestly hard to picture Seong Hyunjae at it. Liette probably hunted the other kids down like actual mice. Noah had likely been caught by Liette. And Yuhyun too… yeah… He’d never played tag with me. We’d played hide–and–seek, though. He probably never played with other kids. I should have played with him more when he was little.

“You’re leaving way too many openings!”

Amid the trembling ground, Moon Hyunah charged at Liette. Size was a disadvantage. But Liette instantly shifted back to human form and easily dodged her attack. Anyway, since the ten minutes were up—

“Guys, let’s go!”

I used the teacher skill on everyone on our team.