The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 124

Dungeons primarily appear in areas where people reside. However, they occasionally form offshore, in the ocean.

Discovering a dungeon in the sea was, of course, nearly impossible. Naturally, the dungeons would break, and the monsters would either drown or crawl onto land.

Among these monsters were aquatic types, originally inhabiting the water and the sea. The boss monsters, once released into the vast ocean, became incredibly difficult to hunt.

Unlike in dungeons, where they appear and attack when conditions are met, they would randomly appear and disappear.

“That’s really big.”

A monster as massive as a hotel was crawling onto the beach at night. Its legs, covered in countless suckers, crushed everything they touched. A dark red monstrosity, a mix of octopus and squid.

The symbol of Hong Kong’s downfall, the Rank 2 Giant Sea Monster, Kraken.

First discovered late last year, it was an S-Rank dungeon boss that was abandoned due to its tendency to stay in the sea. The Kraken would quietly roam among the islands of Hong Kong for about a year. However, when a beach was evacuated due to a dungeon break, and only one building was used as temporary lodging for the hunters dealing with the dungeon break, its entire floor brightly lit.

The monster, lurking beneath the dark surface, began to move.

‘The Kraken, after starting its activity, roamed between land and sea for over half a year, turning Hong Kong’s beaches into wastelands.’

It appeared out of nowhere and fled back to the sea when at a disadvantage, making its successful hunt a long and arduous process. It even seemed to have grown in the sea, becoming an SS-Rank monster.

Hong Kong, already precarious, completely collapsed under the Kraken’s threat, which lasted for half a year.

“Yerim, get ready.”

I borrowed Noah’s headset and contacted Yerim. It would be great if we could use something like this inside dungeons, but communication equipment usable within dungeons hasn’t been developed yet.

[Yes, Uncle!]

“I wonder if you would accept the instructions from a product that is far from polite, Seong Hyunjae.”

[The treatment of a product on a display shelf is naturally different from that of my item.]

“It’s not yours.”

Drop the possessive.

In the meantime, the hotel that had been swallowed by the water reappeared. All the lights were off, and most of the glass was broken. Still, the building itself was relatively intact. It was built sturdy.

“As I’ve already mentioned, the key to capturing the Kraken is to bring it completely onto land.”

Once it goes into the sea, there’s no way to deal with it. Both its defense and recovery increase, and fighting a monster in the vast ocean is not easy, even for hunters experienced in underwater combat.

We can melt it down in an instant with the double attack skill buff, but even so, it’s safer to pull it completely onto land and tie it down. It would be troublesome if it escaped.

“Let’s start then.”

To time it perfectly, I linked Yerim and Seong Hyunjae’s senses with the Teacher Skill. Yerim, who was floating near the hotel, shot a surge of water upwards. Following this, Seong Hyunjae sent electricity along the rising water.

Each water droplet contained a sparkling light. Small clusters of light, like tiny light bulbs, began to settle along the thoroughly soaked building.

The current, which should have scattered, circled within the water droplets. The outside was wrapped in pure ice, and the inside was the seawater as it was, a sphere of light.

“It’s like a Christmas decoration.”

I took out a blue shawl from my inventory and wiped the wet chick, looking down at the beautifully shining hotel. Drawn by the light, the Kraken began to move.

The Kraken is drawn to a single point of light in the darkness.

Hong Kong’s beaches were full of countless lights, so the monster had been quiet for a long time. To lure it out for sure, we scattered A-Rank magic stones in the water in front of the hotel and turned off all the lights in the buildings except for the hotel.

‘Fortunately, the lure was successful. With this, the guys who came to buy people will become victims of the Kraken.’

Once we deal with the Kraken, it’ll be a clean finish. We’ll deal with the human traffickers, save Hong Kong’s future, and pick up items. One stone, three birds [a saying meaning to accomplish multiple goals with a single action].

The light, filled with plenty of magic power, would be an irresistible jewel for the Kraken. The monster’s long legs stretched out towards the hotel building, wrapping around it as if embracing a lover after a hundred years.

Crackle.

The wall, unable to withstand the pressure, caved in, and long cracks appeared. Under the dreamy lights, the slippery skin of the mollusk glistened. It was a bizarre sight, a strange combination. Christmas and giant seafood don’t really go together.

“Is there anything you want for your birthday?”

It suddenly came to mind because it was Christmas. Yoo Hyun, who had been looking down at the Kraken with a slight frown, shifted his gaze to me.

“…I’ve never thought about it.”

“Tell me anything that comes to mind.”

So many years had just passed by.

“When is Noah’s birthday?”

Noah, who had been listening to our conversation with his ears perked up, turned his head in surprise. His gray eyes looked at me, and he answered a little shyly.

– It’s April 5th.

“It’s the same month as Yerim. It’s Arbor Day in our country [a day dedicated to planting trees]. A day for planting trees.”

[My birthday is August 30th. Not much time left.]

…Why is this old man butting in again? We were talking about the kids’ birthdays. Act your age. So what if there’s not much time left.

“Instead of talking nonsense, quickly grab what you need to grab. We’ll have to evacuate soon. What about the chain?”

I took off the Seeker’s Chain from my neck and asked. Since it’s in my hands, I checked the item window.

[Noble Seeker’s Chain – Contractor’s Rank +1 (Max Mythic)

A chain forged with the darkest moonlight of the crescent moon. It appears to be metal, but its essence is light.]

‘…Crescent moon, huh.’

It’s the parricide [someone who kills their father] who contacted Seong Hyunjae. Of course, there was no guarantee that it was the same person. Even the Mermaid Queen came forward as a water droplet as a parricide.

‘But no matter how I look at it, this crescent moon seems like that crescent moon.’

They also called it a chain. More than that, a weapon that’s one rank above the contractor’s rank. Did something like this exist? Since Seong Hyunjae is S-Rank, that practically means it’s SS-Rank. It’s a scam, as expected. God, this human seems to have broken the balance. Please check for bugs.

[Just throw it appropriately, and it’ll come back on its own.]

“Do you happen to know about a crescent moon?”

[Crescent moon? You’re not talking about the moon in the sky, and I don’t know.]

So, they haven’t made contact yet. Should I hypnotize him and ask if anything about the future comes to mind? What the hell were you doing before the regression?

I threw the chain down, and it quickly disappeared like a swimming snake. It’s really good. He really has everything.

I clicked my tongue and turned my gaze back to the monster wrapped around the hotel.

Yerim and Seong Hyunjae are at a disadvantage when it comes to fighting the Kraken due to its attributes. That slippery skin has very high defense when wet. At the same time, it has high cold resistance, is close to a non-conductor like rubber, and physical attacks don’t work well because it’s squishy.

That’s why everyone had a hard time making dried seafood during the regression raid.

‘Originally, I was going to use a poison skill, but…’

An S-Rank poison with a double effect would have severe aftereffects. To deal with that size, I’d have to pour in a considerable amount, so I was reluctant to use it outside the dungeon.

Thanks to that, I was wondering if I should go back, leaving the easy method behind, but Yoo Hyun came all the way here.

“Noah, can you take care of the chick for a bit?”

– Yes, leave it to me.

– Piak!

I handed the chick to Noah’s hand, or rather, his forepaw. The chick cried a little discontentedly, as if it didn’t like being held in a scaly paw. I told you, why did you come all the way here?

“The spirit?”

“Here.”

The fire salamander jumped onto Yoo Hyun’s hand, blazing. Its size was the same as before, but small horns had sprouted on its head.

Irin. The fire spirit, who had been picky for a long time and finally accepted the name, emitted a particularly red light in the darkness of the night.

“This guy is the first spirit in our world.”

Ismual is not affiliated with our world. That’s why it can’t come out.

“Originally, it’s a purer flame than any other fire attribute skill, but with the uniqueness of being the first, even if other spirits are born in the future, none will be able to follow Irin.”

In the knowledge I stole, the first spirit was the beginning and king of all spirits. Of course, our world, where magic exists from the beginning and spirits are born from strong natural forces, is not the same as our neighborhood. But it was certain that it would become a special power for Yoo Hyun.

“So, forget your skills for a moment and accept Irin. After all, skills are just frameworks.”

I used the Teacher Skill on Yoo Hyun. And I showed him Yerim, who was still controlling the water. She was leading ice and water together without water attribute skills.

It would have been nice if I could have shared my senses with Yoo Hyun when using the Water Dominator skill item. But I thought he would faint right away, so I had to give up. I wonder if a similar opportunity will come again. It’s a shame.

“Shall we go then?”

Kwarururung—!

As if answering, the hotel completely collapsed. Those fragments stuck to the Kraken’s legs and body.

– Kieeeek!

The startled Kraken twisted its body, but the wet stones, which were already tightly attached, were slowly freezing under Yerim’s touch. If it tried to forcibly tear them off, even its skin would be injured.

I told Yerim and Seong Hyunjae to evacuate and shared my senses with Yoo Hyun, just in case. They shouldn’t get caught up in it.

“Blue Willow Leaf.”

Blue leaves scattered, and Yoo Hyun wrapped his arm around my waist and jumped off Noah’s back. The sound of the building’s debris being trampled was heard crunching. Under the swaying of thick tentacles, spheres of light burst out.

Following the double skill sharing, I used Grace. The damage nullification rank is SS-Rank.

“Irin.”

The true power of the spirit is unleashed when the contractor calls its name.

From Yoo Hyun’s fingertips, the small flame that was in the shape of a salamander spread out like a large flower. As red and vivid as blood, the petals floated into the air one by one.

It was an unrealistically bright red fire.

“It’s not easy to control.”

Yoo Hyun muttered softly, skipping across the willow leaves. The flames, which he couldn’t control and were flying around on their own, fell on a car that barely avoided the Kraken’s path. As soon as a small flame, about the size of a thumb, the size of a petal, touched it, the large imported car instantly burst into flames. The charred car body collapsed, and soon it crumbled without a trace.

…That’s a bit much. It was just a spark, wasn’t it?

“Hey, be careful. Noah, stay as far away as possible!”

In the meantime, the flames that had only been gathered at his fingertips formed a long shape. A sword. No, longer than that. It was closer to a glaive [a polearm weapon].

Yoo Hyun weaponized the flames after his skill rank rose and he obtained Blood Flame. It was difficult to maintain a constant shape with ordinary fire.

When I glanced up, both of my brother’s eyes were red. He also had a faint smile on his face.

The flames, which were difficult to control beyond simply burning when poured out, were bowing their heads under his touch. He seemed very pleased with that.

– Kieeee.

The Kraken, which had been focusing on the remaining lights, looked up at us. Its huge eyeballs, covered in a thin, transparent membrane, rolled around as if flustered. It was clear that it had noticed the power contained in the flames and was frightened, but it couldn’t easily escape because of its heavy body.

Then, it shot out its two longest tentacles as if throwing them.

The thick legs, as thick as three or four utility poles combined, cut through the air threateningly. Yoo Hyun lightly swung the fiery glaive towards the tentacles, which were like giant spears.

Skeuk.

Very gently. The flames only lightly cut off a part of the tentacles.

– Kieeek!

The Kraken’s two legs disappeared as if melting away. What should I say, it was like an ice sculpture thrown into the sun.

Then, the flames that had transformed into a spear were thrown. The red spear crashed into the round body,

– Kyareureu.

The small salamander that appeared at the end of the spear growled and blinked its black eyes. Immediately after, the flames spread out like a wave. Swallowing even the smell of burning, it swallowed the giant sea monster in one gulp, and the fire salamander fluttered down onto the dark remains.

Irin, who had swallowed even the magic stones, licked its tongue as if satisfied.

‘…I didn’t even need to use the double skill.’

It’s still a boss monster that’s about to grow to SS-Rank, but isn’t it too easy to deal with?

The spirit approached Yoo Hyun, who had landed on the ground. It looks small and cute, but it’s a scary guy.

“Why don’t you let go of this now?”

When I tapped the arm around my waist, Yoo Hyun tilted his head slightly.

“I’ve been thinking. How about we take this opportunity to have you declared missing?”

The subject was missing, but I could understand. He hadn’t given up yet.

“I’m not hurt.”

“But the opportunity is good.”

“What’s so good about it? To say I was caught up in the Kraken’s attack, there’s Yerim, Noah, and even Seong Hyunjae.”

“We can silence all three of them.”

“Will that work? Especially that last human won’t even listen.”

“I can make him listen now. Or just get rid of him altogether. Yeah, that’s better. You also think the Seseong Guild Leader is dangerous, right?”

I looked up at my brother, who was asking for my agreement. Both of his eyes were still red. Irin was sitting on Yoo Hyun’s shoulder, not in his eyes. And the salamander’s eyes were black.

A premonition that something was wrong hit the back of my head.