The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 2

I slashed my forearm without hesitation with the dagger’s tip. The blood that seeped out clumped together, transforming into a crimson spear. The flames that flowed from the spearhead, engulfing the shaft, were a dazzling, jet-black color.

– Kkyaaa!

Rauchitas, who had been underestimating and ignoring me, raised all three heads simultaneously. As if wary of the spear that had taken its eyes, the protrusions on its back bristled. Its gaping mouth was full of jagged teeth.

In my original state, I wouldn’t have been able to withstand the pressure and would have collapsed before even making eye contact with that thing. But now, I didn’t feel even a hint of tension.

I could be certain. That thing is weaker than me.

“You flea-bitten lizard bastard, come at me.”

– Kroaaaa!

As if answering, it roared. The entire cavern shook with the murderous intent in its cry. With a heavy rumble, the three-headed dragon fully raised its red bulk. It had no wings. Instead, it possessed a lithe, panther-like body covered in vile curses. Its long, patterned tail lashed about, raising its spines.

Thud!

Its four feet slammed into the ground. Sharp claws left long scars on the floor, and its massive bulk charged toward me. That terrifying movement, which crossed half of the wide cavern in a single leap, would have been impossible for me to even perceive in the past.

But for me now.

“Why don’t you just crawl?”

It felt like a puppy trotting over. My younger brother, who possessed the third-fastest speed among the world’s strongest, the top ten rankers, even my brother wouldn’t have easily allowed the three-headed lizard’s attack if he were alone, was slower than me at this moment.

I leaped into the air with a distorted sneer. Kwaga gagak! The lizard’s claws savagely dug into the spot where I had been. The chunks of rock that flew up tapped against the shield.

– Kkyareureureuk.

The four eyes, with their pupils narrowed, glared at me. Looking down at it, I used the skills overflowing in my status window.

“Blue Willow Leaf.”

Leaves visible only to the caster fluttered down. The gently swaying willow leaves were incongruously leisurely and beautiful.

Lightly stepping on the slender blue leaves, I soared upwards again.

– Kyaaaa.

Rauchitas, thoroughly enraged, leaped up as well, but I easily evaded its claws. The curses that shot out like poison needles futilely tapped against the shield.

Kuoong!

The lizard bastard, unable to touch even a strand of my clothing, landed on the ground and growled. If you’re so upset, why don’t you grow some wings and come back!

My brother didn’t have a flying skill, but he used these blue willow leaves to dance in the air as if he were stepping on the ground. That damn guy who was good at everything.

“No, he couldn’t cut off his useless *hyung* [older brother].”

Muttering, I held the spear in my hand sideways. Jet-black flames coiled around the spearhead, climbing to the end of the shaft. My hand and forearm were engulfed in flames, but I didn’t feel any heat. Rather, it was cool, cold.

Drawing my arm back as far as possible, I threw the spear at Rauchitas.

Swaeak!

– Kroaaaa!

Kwaduk. The thrown spear pierced Rauchitas’s left head. Black flames surged, engulfing, swallowing, and melting the head. The crazed lizard thrashed about, swinging its claws and teeth at me, but it was too slow.

Thud! Thud!

Its leaping and pounding on the floor looked like an eel dragged onto land. A ridiculous sight. That bastard is ridiculous, but so am I.

Blood trickled down my arm again. The blood pooling at my fingertips turned black, transforming into a new spear.

Kwaduk!

– Keueok! Keueooo!

Following the left, the right head was also smashed. The only remaining middle head had lost its eyes. A wound left by my brother. Eventually, the thing, having lost all sight, stopped running. As if terrified, it bristled all the scales on its body and cowered.

“…This is too easy.”

So easy it’s enough to bring tears to my eyes. To think it would curl its tail so quickly.

Even if I burned the last remaining head, even a dragon with strong vitality wouldn’t be able to withstand it, but I aimed for its legs instead. I severed each of the helpless thing’s limbs, one by one, like a fish drying out on the hot sand.

Slowly, bit by bit.

The roars became screams, the screams became groans, and fell into dying gasps.

The floor was as sticky as a swamp of blood, but Rauchitas was still alive. I squatted down on the limp bulk, sticking out my tongue.

[Duration – 00:07]

Almost out of time. When the skill effect ends, I’ll die from the poison flowing out of Rauchitas’s corpse alone.

I’m really useless, aren’t I?

“But what would I even do if I survived?”

If it becomes known that Yoohyun died because of me, wouldn’t I be publicly executed? If they tied me up in the square, people from all over the world would flock to throw stones at me.

“It’d even be recorded in history, in textbooks. I’ve already been cursed a lot, but now I’ll be a curse-rich man for generations. Haha.”

Not that there will be any generations to come. So why did you die instead of me, you stupid brother? It was a completely useless thing to do. Ah, shit. I should have just died when my leg was broken and I couldn’t be rescued. Then I would have seen less of this filth and Yoohyun wouldn’t have died. Who the hell pointlessly saved me?

I tapped the scales of Rauchitas, who was taking its last breaths, with my palm.

“I don’t think I’ll live much longer either, so don’t feel wronged. Why did you come out of a D-grade dungeon? Or did the administrators miscalculate the stats?”

Either way, it doesn’t matter to me anymore. I don’t even have the strength to avoid it before the skill effect disappears, so I lay sprawled out.

“I should have just quietly lived behind Yoohyun, waving a light stick.”

I should have just sucked honey while being protected by my talented brother, what was with that inferiority complex?

Then, as if Rauchitas had completely died, a reward window popped up.

[Impossible Achievement! You have single-handedly hunted a dragon!]

Yoohyun also landed a hit, so why single-handedly? Is it because of the time difference? Or is it because he’s already dead?

[Legendary Title ‘Dragon Slayer’ Granted!]

Dragon Slayer, huh. It seems like a title with great stats, but I didn’t even bother to check. Who cares? Drawing lines on a pumpkin doesn’t make it anything but a pumpkin [a superficial change].

Then my level rose and items appeared one after another.

[Gate Stone x 10]

[Grade 1 Empowerment Elixir x 5]

[Greatsword of the Red Dragon]

[Wish Stone]

Huh? Wish Stone?

I was skimming through the item window when the Wish Stone caught my eye. It’s an item I’ve never seen before.

“Judging by the name, it seems like it grants wishes.”

No way. No way such a scam item exists.

Even while thinking it was impossible, I 벌떡 [suddenly] raised my body. When I opened my inventory, I saw a red bead a little smaller than my fist.

Swallowing hard, I took out the bead and checked its information.

[Wish Stone – Mythic Grade

Grants the user one wish.]

Is it real!

“Then my brother—!”

[※ Revival of the deceased is impossible.]

“…Are you kidding me?!”

The last note belatedly caught my eye. No being able to revive a dead person, what kind of mythic grade is that! If you’re a god, you should be able to control life and death as you please!

“Damn it, then what can it do! Everything except saving people? I, I just……!”

I clenched the Wish Stone so tightly it felt like it would break.

The things I could do with this flashed through my mind in an instant. If it grants anything, it might be possible to become stronger than Yoohyun. I might be able to maintain this state.

Then there would be no reason to be cursed. People quickly forget the heroes of the past and praise new heroes.

I could take the place I had envied so much.

From a much more glorious position, I could rise higher than anyone else.

I rolled my eyes, caught in delusions, then let out a long sigh.

“…Yoohyun, you. You’re really screwing me over until the very end.”

I might regret it. No, I’m sure I’ll regret it.

Then I’ll regret it, so what.

I’ve already coated it with layers of regret, what difference would one more make?

“Hey, Wish Stone. Can you turn back time?”

As if answering my words, the red bead began to shine. It can’t revive dead people, but it can do this? Turning back time seems more amazing, how funny.

“Then take me back to before I came in here, no. Just take me back about five years. With my memories intact. I’ll live quietly this time.”

If I don’t step up, there’s no reason to be cursed, my leg will be fine, and Yoohyun won’t have to worry about me. Everything’s good.

I should just live as an unemployed bum, sucking honey from my talented brother.

[Do you want to turn back time?]

“Yeah.”

The bead’s light grew even stronger. My vision turned bright red, then eventually flashed white.

And.

In the restored vision, the scenery of an unfamiliar room was in place.