The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 116

116. Even If I Tell Him to Rest (2)

So, Yoo-hyun has a bad reputation.

‘Is it because he blew up the dungeon building last time?’

He did clean up the surroundings neatly, though. Or is it because he and Peace trashed the Association right after clearing the dungeon? But I stopped him then. The quarantine incident yesterday must have been mentioned too. And he made Song Tae-won evacuate people when dealing with Noah. It’s a bit old, but there was also a meeting with Song Tae-won during my kidnapping.

‘But this… it’s almost all because of me.’

Ah, damn it.

“…How bad is it?”

“Hyung, you really don’t do things like web surfing, do you?”

Moon Hyun-ah said, sounding a bit surprised. Then she turned away abruptly.

“Yerim said you should rest well during your vacation, so I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

Her long legs strode along the promenade. I quickly followed her, gesturing to Blue beside me. Blue leaped forward and blocked Moon Hyun-ah’s path.

– Kkyak kkyak.

“You trained him well.”

“Rather than training, Blue just focuses on my movements, thankfully. More importantly, you’ve already brought it up, so tell me properly.”

“I didn’t think you’d be completely in the dark. What are you planning to do during your vacation?”

Moon Hyun-ah turned, pivoting on her heel, and asked.

“I don’t have any plans. Why is Yoo-hyun—”

“Don’t you have anything you want to do? Like a hobby?”

My hobby… I don’t really have one right now.

“I’ll probably just laze around at home. Maybe take a walk sometimes. Is that okay?”

“You’re so dry, Hyung. You don’t seem like that.”

“Just tell me about Yoo-hyun.”

“You’re cute when you make that sulky face.”

Cute my foot. I’m thirty… well, I’m younger than Moon Hyun-ah now, but still. I thought the keyword was applied as a senior, but the way she looks at me now is closer to how she treats a junior. I wonder what kind of senior I was.

“Stop beating around the bush.”

“Want me to tell you what Sung Hyun-jae hates?”

“Something boring and uninteresting?”

“There’s something else too.”

I’m curious. But I didn’t want to keep being led around. I called Blue back to my side. The griffin, as big as a large dog, wagged its tail. Even though it’s bigger, its playful expression is still the same.

“The reason I called Hyun-ah today is because I have something to say about Blue.”

“Blue? To me?”

Moon Hyun-ah leaned towards me unconsciously. The Breaker Guild still hasn’t found a monster hatchling. Even if they find an upper-class one, who knows when they’ll get their hands on a top-class monster hatchling.

“Yes. It’s too wasteful to keep him guarding the house, and I thought he’d get along well with Hyun-ah.”

I dangled the bait with a friendly smile. I was originally going to give him up willingly, but you brought this on yourself, Hyun-ah.

“Of course, it’s a waste! So, Hyung, what do you need? Just say the word!”

Seeing her face beaming brighter than the summer sun, I almost wanted to say, ‘I don’t need anything, just take good care of him.’ She’s so happy.

“Let’s finish the story you were telling first.”

“It’s a secret that I told you… but you’ll probably figure it out soon anyway. Ah, I might end up fighting your brother over this.”

“I have an elixir.”

“There are too many old geezers attached to him, so I can’t use it freely— wait, are you saying I’d lose?”

“It’s not like that.”

Yoo-hyun would win, though. Moon Hyun-ah made a displeased face and then opened her mouth.

“You know we’re managing our image, right? Even if high-ranking Hunters cause some trouble, we can cover it up as long as there are no casualties among non-awakened people. Even if a non-awakened person gets hurt, we can get away with it if we settle well [compensate them generously].”

I roughly know. Even just watching the news, Hunter-related accidents don’t come out often. Instead, they mainly talk about successful dungeon raids, reduced raid times, and stable dungeon management.

It’s only been three years since the Dungeon Shock, so the government wants to reassure people. The existence of dungeons alone is unsettling, so they try to hide the dangers of high-ranking Hunters as much as possible.

“But recently, they haven’t been covering up for the Haeyeon Guild at all. They’re not openly talking about it on the news, but rumors are spreading, and even internet articles are expressing concern about the Haeyeon Guild Leader.”

Is his public reputation getting worse? The incident at the Awakening Center opening before my regression came to mind. As the number of casualties among clumsy Awakeners increased and various side effects prevailed, the arrows of worsening public opinion were turned towards several guilds and high-ranking Hunters. Haeyeon Guild was among them. Of course, I got hit a lot too.

But there’s no reason for that now.

“What’s their goal?”

“Probably you?”

“Me?”

“You’re cooperating with the giant guilds quickly, declared neutrality, and are quietly preserving your position with almost no external activities, so they can’t touch you. But think about it. How appetizing would you be to the Association?”

Wiggling her fingertips, Moon Hyun-ah continued.

“There’s no better bait than you to control high-ranking Hunters. You’re even F-grade, so you’re easy to manage. They’re probably desperate to put a leash on you somehow. So, be careful of Song Tae-won. You might wake up in a cage and be mistreated.”

“Surely they wouldn’t go that far. There’s the law. Chief Song seems like someone who would follow the law.”

“Doesn’t it seem like he would if he’s laying the groundwork? Your brother, who listens to you so well, seems unstable these days, but he’s an S-grade Hunter, so they can’t stop him. So, wouldn’t you have to take responsibility for him? Look at this.”

Moon Hyun-ah showed me an article on her phone. The photo that took up the entire screen was none other than me and Yoo-hyun. Peace was also in my arms. It was a photo taken that day when we walked from the Haeyeon Guild to the breeding facility.

“…Isn’t this a violation of portrait rights [right to publicity]?”

“You’re practically a public figure, Hyung.”

Then I inadvertently frowned at the comments she showed me. I don’t want to see them.

– Didn’t they say the Haeyeon Guild Leader doesn’t get along with his brother?

– He looks like a crazy 20-year-old lololol

– Han Yoo-hyun is handsome. He’s even more handsome when he smiles, I love him~♡

– Even S-grades walk around normally

Most of the comments were surprised by Yoo-hyun’s new appearance. There was a lot of talk about his relationship with me, who is F-grade. But he’s different in front of his family, I guess. He’s usually cold in official settings, so he’s hardly ever smiled on TV.

Then an article with photos of Yoo-hyun and me from that afternoon, when we just came out of the dungeon, was shoved in front of my face. It was a photo of me blocking Yoo-hyun’s path.

– Wasn’t Han Yoo-hyun’s brother F-grade? Is he protecting his brother even though he’s S-grade?

– lololololol F-grade lololololol

– Peace is cute! Peace!!!

– An S-grade Hunter is walking his dog so obediently after coming out of the dungeon

The comment reactions were similar to the previous article.

“Does it change when I’m around? Is this Ryu’s groundwork?”

“Maybe? Doesn’t it seem plausible?”

“It’s good for giving justification.”

If they keep laying the groundwork like this and Yoo-hyun causes a big accident, or if they make it look like he did, it would be perfect for swaying public opinion. We should be joining hands and working together, but I don’t like this.

“Your brother isn’t the type to just take it, but he’s still young. So, what are you going to do, Hyung?”

“Ah, I’m on vacation.”

Moon Hyun-ah looked surprised.

“Are you just going to watch?”

“Yoo-hyun isn’t that easy to deal with.”

Even before my regression, there were many problems, but he grew up safely. He’s not a filial piety addict [obsessed with honoring his elders], and if it’s a matter between humans, he won’t get hurt at least. Besides, he’s a guild leader, so even if he’s young, he’s better than me, who was always at the bottom.

“Well, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll just flip the table at the last minute [take drastic action].”

“I like that.”

Moon Hyun-ah smiled and hit my shoulder. It hurts. Peace growled, and she exaggeratedly stepped back, shaking her hands.

“Opinions are divided within and outside the Hunter Association. Some say high-ranking Hunters should be tightened, and others say they should be released. In addition, it seems like the Association’s power will be focused on MKC.”

“MKC?”

“Yeah. The guild leader’s authority is already small, but he’s been messing up continuously, making it easier to interfere. They’re probably planning to put a leash on him and make him deal with other giant guilds. Actually, Sudam was about to become like that, but they were all wiped out yesterday. It won’t be easy to eat MKC because of Sung Hyun-jae.”

She laughed, saying that the Association might even get a big bite taken out of it. She also said that they’ve already taken a lot from MKC. The remaining chunk of Sudam is being divided between Seseong and Haeyeon.

“Are you just watching, Hyun-ah?”

“If I interfere, it’ll just fill the bellies of the guys behind me. I might as well just run away.”

“You’re always welcome. Blue is here too.”

– Kkyau!

Moon Hyun-ah’s expression melted again at the sight of Blue spreading his wings. She’ll probably treat Blue really well.

“What does Sung Hyun-jae hate?”

I asked, walking a bit while talking about Blue and then sitting at a table under the pergola.

“It’s nothing much, but he’s secretly bothered by the fact that he looks too young.”

Moon Hyun-ah rested her chin on her hand and smirked.

“He said he had a lot of annoying experiences because he looked young even before he awakened. That’s why he deliberately tries to look weighty. His clothes and hairstyle too. But changing his 말투 [manner of speaking] is an overreaction.”

“He changed his 말투?”

“Yeah. It’s been about a month? He wasn’t using a light tone before, but the current one would only suit someone in their forties at least. It’s natural as if he’s been using it all along, though.”

He doesn’t seem like the type to change his 말투 even if he’s bothered by looking young. It hasn’t even been a month, but there’s no awkwardness. It’s like he’s really been using it all along…….

‘Wait a minute. Hasn’t it been a little over a month since I regressed?’

And forty is Sung Hyun-jae’s age before my regression. Of course, it’s too much of a stretch to think that this is due to the influence of my past life with just this.

‘He definitely said that sensitive people might feel a sense of incongruity.’

He’s someone with the skill to sense the opponent’s movements one step ahead, called Combat Prediction. There’s no way someone with such a sensory skill wouldn’t be sensitive.

If, just if. If Sung Hyun-jae was influenced by the future version of himself that merged.

If he could even recall memories of the future, beyond just being influenced.

‘…That guy would have much more information than me.’

There’s no comparison. He’s even associated with that parricide [someone who kills their father], Crescent Moon. Of course, this is all just a flimsy guess.

…It’s annoying because it feels like that guy would somehow remember it.

“Hyung, what’s wrong? You don’t look good.”

“Sung Hyun-jae is annoying.”

“I agree with that.”

Should I check it out? What should I say? ‘Do you happen to remember the future?’ That sounds like a cult. It would be better to just ask why he changed his 말투.

“Let’s go out if you have nothing to do. I’ll buy you something delicious.”

“Let’s stop by the Association while we’re out.”

“I thought you were on vacation.”

“I am. I won’t do anything.”

That is, if they don’t do anything. Will they approach me, or will they just leave me alone?

“Can Noah come with us?”

“That Giseungsu [a type of monster] young man? Of course!”

“He’s a person. Don’t target him.”

Noah is popular, but he’s popular in the wrong way. He’s a person, everyone.

* * *

The clear sky in the morning turned dark rapidly as lunchtime approached. It looked like it would rain soon.

Han Yoo-hyun stared at the gray sky beyond the window and loosened the tie that was choking his neck. He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and let out a short breath.

He was used to enduring. But he couldn’t help the sudden feeling of suffocation. It was like a flame flickering quietly in a lamp, with a parched mountain right in front of him due to drought. If he took just one step, it would spread endlessly.

But a fire that has grown cannot return to the lamp. Perhaps it may have already melted the lamp.

‘I can endure for about five more years.’

Muttering inwardly, he turned his body. There would be people who frowned at his disheveled attire, but that was what he wanted. To get rid of those with foolish intentions, he needed to be appropriately annoying and out of favor.

He moved with light steps towards those who were waiting.