The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 112

112. Ruler of Water (1)

“Even if water is your advantageous attribute, Yerim, you absolutely can’t go alone. Other people probably have underwater mobility items too.”

Since we don’t know what the environment of the first dungeon will be, most upper-level Hunters have those items as a basic requirement.

“And I also—”

“Uncle, you especially can’t go.”

Yerim said firmly.

“Since it’s a dungeon made by a zombie, something cute might come out instead of water, like before. Then you’ll fall head over heels.”

“No, I think I was a bit… excessive, but at that time, what should I say, it was sudden, I was off guard…….”

The blurry figure from distant memory suddenly popped out vividly. If I saw it again, I could be much calmer…….

“Ten Peace chicks. Fluffy and round. Playing tail-tag in a sunny, blue grassy field.”

Ugh.

“Gathering together with a chick on their heads. The chick chirps and dances cutely.”

“W-wait a minute.”

Just imagining it made the corners of my lips lift involuntarily. If it were actually in front of me, I definitely wouldn’t be able to resist. I shouldn’t be like this. But it’s cute. The current juvenile state is small, but it was even smaller when I first saw it. Even rounder. Lying on its back, wagging its tail. And a chick on top. The chick is dancing… Ah, damn it. The destructive power is too strong. My heart seems to hurt again.

“…Yerim, that’s too much of a cheat.”

“And the tiny Guild Leader holding Peace in his arms. It’s too big for a kid, so he holds it with both hands. With a chick on his head too.”

“Should I tie up your wrists so you can’t run out?”

“What if they ask you to make a contract that’s disadvantageous to you? Or order you to attack your companions?”

“If they say something like that, it’ll be too obvious that it’s fake. It’ll be creepy, not cute.”

I suddenly felt like I had been splashed with cold water. If they openly said they were going to use kids’ appearances, I might get angry. No, I’d definitely be pissed. Just thinking about the zombie saying something about putting them out like that makes me feel disgusted.

Yerim, as if reading my mind, shrugged her shoulders, watching my expression.

“You’re surprisingly firm.”

“It’s not surprising, I obviously hate that kind of thing. Anyway, you absolutely can’t go alone. Um, Yoohyun, you’re not so good in the water, are you?”

“There’s not much difference in close combat.”

Still, the power will be reduced. Can’t use it for checking either. He does have swordsmanship skills, but speed and strength are bound to be different in the water.

I don’t know what kind of dungeon it will be, but it’s certain that it will be full of water. The lake is gradually widening even now. So, we need a Hunter who is skilled in underwater combat, but Kim Sunghan is defense-oriented, Liete’s poison is neutralized and weakened, Noah is similar, and Moon Hyuna is weak in the water…….

“How about our Guild Leader?”

Kang Soyoung said.

“Since he’s following the chains anyway, there’s not much difference even in the water. If it’s pure water, it’s non-conductive, so it’ll be easier to concentrate. I don’t know if he’ll come, but should I contact him?”

Aside from the skill’s main attribute, he’s a helpful person. Still, it’s a bit annoying. What’s his weakness? Why is he so good at everything? Is there a monster that’s an insulator, both inside and out? But even then, that human would probably handle it easily somehow.

“Yes, please.”

Kang Soyoung made a call, and not long after.

Tatatata—

A helicopter appeared in the sky. A man in a three-piece suit, as if invited to some fancy banquet, jumped out of the helicopter that circled around the lake. He landed lightly as if stepping down a flight of stairs, despite the considerable height, and swept back his hair that was ruffled by the wind. He’s really annoying.

“It seems you liked the lake tour very much. You even invited me because a new lake appeared like this. As a guide, I couldn’t be more proud.”

“I gave you half a star out of five, but you haven’t checked it yet.”

“Oh dear, I’ll have to arrange another meeting to restore my honor. How about the sea this time?”

“Ah, I’m allergic to seawater.”

“I didn’t know you had that.”

“I just developed it.”

I plan to develop more in the future. Sung Hyunjae, with a smile on his face, handed over a sealed plastic bag he was holding. It contained spare clothes and a towel that I had requested through Kang Soyoung. Clothes made from dungeon items or byproducts are comfortable, but I didn’t want to add more to my shirt debt. It’s okay to skip out on paying for regular clothes.

“I even do errands like this myself, but your rating is too stingy, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t expect you to bring it yourself. Then one and a half stars.”

I thought he would definitely make someone else do it. Your unnecessary over-kindness is ominous, not just burdensome. After briefly explaining the situation to Sung Hyunjae, he looked back and forth between Yerim and Yoohyun.

“I can understand the little lady, but is the young master going too?”

At Sung Hyunjae’s words, Yoohyun suddenly raised the end of his eyebrow.

“Is there a problem?”

“The young master soaked in water, that’s not a bad appetizer. I’ve been wondering what it would be like sometimes. I wonder if it will properly ignite.”

“I’ve caught several electric eels in the swamp, so don’t worry.”

You’re almost twice his age, don’t pick on the kid, you old man.

“Please play the role of a good adult today too.”

“Unfortunately, the free trial period is over.”

“Shouldn’t you give it a week? That’s too short. How much is the paid service—”

“What are you doing, hyung [older brother/term of endearment for a close male friend]?”

Yoohyun cut me off with a dumbfounded expression. No, I felt like I had to blurt it out. Yerim also looked at me and Sung Hyunjae with a similar expression to Yoohyun.

“You’re surprisingly close with the Seseong Guild Leader, uncle.”

“We’re not close.”

“We are close.”

“Don’t pretend to be close.”

“I’ll extend the free trial period for another week instead.”

“Let’s consider us close for the next week.”

After saying that, I felt like I had been scammed. It’s paid after all. But I can’t back out now, I can’t leave that unpredictable human to pick on the kids. Feeling uneasy, I approached Song Taewon.

“It would be better for Chief Song to stay here.”

“Yes. Since it’s a similar phenomenon to a dungeon break, we don’t know when monsters will pop out. At least one S-Rank Hunter should be here to guard the place.”

“If you think you’re short on manpower, contact Hunter Liete. If you say I asked, he’ll help you at least once. Ah, Hunter Noah will also be helpful in many ways. Please use me as an excuse as well. However, please avoid putting the two of them together. If you’re going to call Hunter Noah, then Hunter Kim Sunghan instead of Liete, or… I wonder if Hunter Moon Hyuna would come too. Should I give you Hunter Noah’s contact information?”

“It’s okay. I remember the contact information of all S-Rank Hunters who have entered the country.”

He’s a diligent public servant as expected. Reliable.

“Are you really going with them, Hanyujin-ssi [Mr. Hanyujin]?”

I smiled awkwardly at the worried question.

“There’s an adult who can’t act his age if I just send them. There are other reasons too.”

“Please be careful. And… thank you for your concern.”

“You’re welcome. It’s a natural cooperation.”

A faint smile flickered across Song Taewon’s face, who had been consistently stiff. He must be glad since there’s a chronic shortage of manpower. I bowed slightly to tell him to take care and approached the waterfront.

“Don’t go straight into the gate.”

Even though we’ve gathered three S-Rank Hunters, it’s uneasy to enter an unknown, suspicious dungeon without any information. The filial piety addicts can’t directly set foot in our world, but didn’t they send SS-Rank monsters?

Besides, we needed countermeasures for the continuously pouring water.

“Just trust me, uncle!”

Yerim said confidently and grabbed my arm, entering the water. The items that allow you to act underwater also have different grades and effects. Some are so free that it’s easier to move than outside the water, while others are low-grade items that simply allow you to breathe.

Yerim’s earrings were top-notch, so she moved forward quickly, even with me. The flight skill also helped a lot. Since it wasn’t a very big lake yet, we soon saw the gate. I could feel the water flowing slowly from beyond the gate.

“You’re both slow~”

Showing off. But she deserves it. Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae soon arrived. After confirming the two, I approached the gate and knocked three times. The shape of the gate remained the same, but the flowing water stopped.

It works after all.

“Let’s go in. It’ll be cold inside.”

“Cold?”

If it’s the same as last time, it’ll be cold. Just in case, after Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae entered first, I stepped into the gate with Yerim. Immediately, an icy wind covered my whole body.

“Ugh, even cold resistance items are not very effective.”

“If you didn’t have the item, all your wet clothes would have frozen. But it’s a snowfield, not water? Did it melt and flow out?”

I wanted to explain, but my clothes came first. I’m glad I prepared them just in case. While I was quickly taking out the tent, Yoohyun sent a fire lizard. It’s a little better. After telling them not to fight, I went inside to change my clothes—

Kwagwang!

“I told you to stay still! If it’s a volleyball, it’s not an enemy!”

Then I heard a thumping sound and the tent was hit with a thud.

“Rookie, wait!”

Aigo [expression of frustration], really. I changed into dry clothes and put on the thick outerwear that I had prepared for coming here. If you’re going to make it, why a snowfield instead of good weather?

When I came outside, Yerim and Sung Hyunjae were giving the volleyball curious glances. One seemed to want to kick it, and the other seemed to want to dissect it.

[Honey honey honey! I know that person too!]

The Rookie said, bouncing around Sung Hyunjae. He’s going to get struck by lightning again.

[He took his hand off quickly this time! Well, the lizard’s owner knew too!]

“More than that, can you connect me with the water droplet?”

[Ah, yes!]

The volleyball bounced to me. As soon as I was about to ask Yoohyun to explain, the sound was cut off. Then a much more mature voice was heard.

[Hello, Honey.]

The image of the Mermaid Queen suddenly seemed to appear before my eyes. That dazzlingly blue wave. I took a small breath and continued.

“Are you aware that a successor has come?”

[Of course.]

“She told me to tell you that she’s going to make a bet. And she left a strange dungeon gate as a gift and disappeared.”

[She’s not very belligerent. However, if you pique her curiosity, it could be dangerous.]

…The zombie bastard, he showed interest in Yoohyun. I have to be careful.

“Are you aware of the dungeon she left behind? Water keeps coming out.”

[I have a guess. However, it might be a little tricky for Honeys to handle—]

“Then please help us.”

[You know I can’t do that.]

What do you mean, you can’t? You have a lot. Give me anything.

“The Mermaid Queen helped me catch the lizard, but I was the one who caught it. But I didn’t get anything except mana stones. Give me the forgotten reward now.”

[That was outside the system, and didn’t you get his skill?]

“I just combined it based on the abilities I originally had. If you say that’s the reward, I’ll be more than just disappointed, I’ll be wronged. I’m not asking for too much.”

I glanced at Yerim, who was poking the barrier around me with the tip of her spear.

“Give me your skill that can solve this problem.”

[…My skill?]

“Yes, Mermaid Queen of the Azure Wave. Whether it’s ice or water attribute, it doesn’t matter.”

Silence fell. As expected, the owner of the earrings Yerim has is the water droplet. After a while, she opened her mouth.

[The earrings that child has are the ones I wore when I was young.]

“Since we have such a connection, please help us.”

She’s an S-Rank Hunter, but she’s still young and relatively weak. But she’s not the type to be quietly protected, so what can I do? I have to make her strong enough to protect herself from future dangers.

[Honey, this is an unreasonable request for me. But I…….]

Again, a short silence permeated, and then a calm voice, as if wet, continued.

[I have no choice but to listen. Instead, I’ll alleviate my guilt a little.]

“Thank—”

[This is a deal. Don’t express gratitude.]

It was a firm and cold word. Guilt. If she only alleviated it a little, could I squeeze more out of her in the future with what’s left? I didn’t ask the reason for the guilt. She wouldn’t answer anyway.

[I can’t fully pass on the skill. You can only use it once. But if you accept it properly, it will be of great help. You already know, Honey, right?]

“You can learn by experiencing it, right?”

[It won’t be easy though. It all depends on that child’s talent and effort.]

“Can’t you do it about 10 times?”

It’s not that I don’t trust Yerim, but once is too little. But the Mermaid Queen refused, saying that even once was too much.

[Even if you acquire only a part of it, it will be more than enough.]

A jewel appeared in front of me. It was a blue jewel similar to the Mermaid Queen’s earring decoration. When I held it in my hand, an explanation window popped up.

[Ruler of Water ? Mythic Rank

The power that the Mermaid Queen of the Azure Wave used to establish herself as the source of water in a world.

Limited to 1 use]

Just looking at the rank, the word “too much” was not enough for just one use. At the same time, I felt deeply how far away transcendent beings who can attack the source are.