The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 136

136. More Mountains to Climb

“Yes, it’s the Dungeon Break area. Your Guild Leader’s car is totaled, so please send a new one. They’re asking what kind of car you want.”

“Anything you want.”

“Do you have every car model in the world in your garage?”

“If it’s currently on sale, it’s as good as being in the garage.”

Show off, really. I almost told him to bring a tractor. …Should I really? I kind of want to see it. But it would be uncomfortable for me to ride, so I asked for something comfortable and suitable.

I ended the call and handed the phone back to Sung Hyunjae. My phone is dead. Eunhye blocked the direct damage from Sung Hyunjae’s rampage, but it seems she couldn’t handle the indirect effects. Maybe I should get an electrical resistance item. He’s like the nemesis of electronics.

“What’s with the magnetism again? You can do everything with electricity. Do you even charge your phone battery directly?”

“It’s easier to plug it in than to use skills to match the voltage and current. Adjusting it isn’t as easy as you think.”

So it’s not impossible. How precisely can he adjust it? I was about to think about what else he could apply with electricity manipulation, but I stopped. I’m too tired. My whole body feels like waterlogged cotton, and I just want to go home and sleep.

Thump!

Then I heard the sound of something heavy falling. I opened my half-closed eyes and turned my head towards the sound.

– Yoojin-ssi!

It’s Noah. A golden dragon lands on the corpse of a giant monster, presumably an A-class dungeon boss. Isn’t that where the sports car was? No need to even go to a junkyard press [a machine that crushes cars].

– Are you hurt anywhere?

Noah looked at me worriedly as Sung Hyunjae held me. His eyes are gentle, but his half-spread wings and raised claws are full of tension, as if he’s about to pounce at any moment. Still, Noah’s presence is weaker than Sung Hyunjae or Song Taewon. Probably thanks to the keyword application.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

– But you have a wound on your chest.

I should have changed my clothes, even if it was a hassle. Noah used a healing skill on me. Even with a B-class healing power, the wound on my chest remained unchanged. Only the scratches from rolling on the ground were healed. Noah was embarrassed, and the curiosity in Sung Hyunjae’s eyes deepened.

– My skill… doesn’t seem to work. My grade isn’t high enough…….

“No, Noah-ssi is good enough to be a healer. How much would you be treated even with just a B-class single healing skill? It’s just that the wound is unusual.”

“How is it unusual?”

A slight chill ran down my spine at the mumbling, which sounded like a soliloquy. Give me back my fear resistance grade.

– This is the last one, and the gate has stabilized. Let’s go back now.

Noah said, stretching out his front paw. I want to go home quickly too.

“Thank you for your hard work, Noah-ssi. But I’ve already called a car, so I’m going to ride back.”

I didn’t feel like being carried by Noah in my current state. It’s scary without a safety device. Of course, Noah wouldn’t drop me easily, and there’s Eunhye, but it’s still scary.

“And if you don’t mind, please heal Song Taewon-ssi. He’s badly injured.”

– Are his injuries severe?

Noah tilted his head, seemingly surprised. He fought an S-class monster, but he looked strong, he said, so I just gave him a small smile. He defeated the monster quickly, but there’s a human who’s worse than a monster.

“I’d appreciate it.”

– But, I can’t just leave Yoojin-ssi here…….

His gray eyes narrowed sharply as he glanced at Sung Hyunjae. I understand his anxiety, but what can I do?

“Guild Leader Sesung, you came because I called you. Don’t worry.”

– Yes… please be careful on your way back.

The hesitant golden dragon spread its wings wide again and soared into the night sky. He probably has potions, but Song Taewon wouldn’t use them easily. Now that the situation is roughly settled, he would have only done first aid with low-grade potions at best.

Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae… To properly heal the wounds from those violent attack skills, you need a high-grade potion, but he’s definitely going to save potions and ask a healer.

“As far as I remember, Hanyujin-gun shouldn’t have such wounds.”

Sung Hyunjae, who had been staring intently at the wound on my chest since earlier, said.

“I was chopping green onions in the kitchen, and my hand slipped.”

“Hanyujin-gun cooks with items that create wounds that cannot be healed with a B-class healing skill.”

“The green onion was S-class.”

“Can I cut it open?”

He’s not talking about the green onion. A chill ran down my arm.

“I’ll die, you crazy bastard.”

“I can adjust it well, so don’t worry.”

“That’s enough, let me down. I’ll call a taxi and go.”

There’s no way a taxi will come here. In the first place, my phone is dead. Is there a public phone anywhere? Sung Hyunjae obediently let me down. I still didn’t have strength in my legs, but I could stand somehow.

I was about to move to find a convenience store that hadn’t locked its doors yet, but Sung Hyunjae grabbed my shoulder and turned me towards him. It’s the same height as usual, looking down at me, but it feels further away for some reason. It must be nice to be tall.

“You’re being unusually distant today.”

“I think it’s more than enough to be kind by not cursing at someone who says they’re going to cut open someone else’s chest.”

“Didn’t you curse?”

“That’s just stating the facts.”

“Then, kind Hanyujin-gun.”

His smiling face is scary. The reason I’m not running away from here is because I’m just a flea even if I run. Should I have just chosen the precarious flight? But there’s no way Sung Hyunjae would have let me go willingly. Noah would have been added to the list of today’s victims below Song Taewon. And my name would be below that.

“Is the reason your condition is different today because of Chief Song Taewon?”

“I’ve been feeling weak lately. I’ve been busy with this and that.”

Sung Hyunjae doesn’t seem to know the details about Song Taewon’s plunder skill. He probably only knows about damage nullification during combat.

“Oh dear. I should have paid more attention.”

“Why would a busy person go that far? It’s enough if you just ignore me. If possible, right now.”

“We can’t do that between us.”

I shouldn’t have called this guy. Yoohyun, this time you misjudged… No, if I had known that the fear resistance skill grade had decreased, I wouldn’t have told you to call him. I should have told you.

“How did Hanyuhyun come?”

“You must not have heard, but Guild Leader Haeyeon has entered a dungeon raid. The fire was just a fire caused by a gas explosion. Someone must have forgotten to close the valve and evacuated.”

“It seems like your tongue is not only not having trouble moving, but it’s too light [talking too casually].”

He’s still smiling, but he’s not someone who has endured much, so how thick is his patience? But all the questions are difficult to answer. I can’t talk about Song Taewon’s skill, and why would I tell you the details of Yoohyun’s skill? The same goes for the magic stone in my chest.

A short silence fell. Sung Hyunjae, who had been staring intently at me, opened his mouth.

“It can’t be helped.”

At the same time, my knees bent involuntarily. My breath tightened, and my mind went blank for a moment. As the dizzying vision barely cleared, I saw my two hands on the ground. My panting breath sounded distant, as if it wasn’t mine.

“Hanyujin-gun.”

Sung Hyunjae lowered himself, putting one knee on the ground. He stroked my head as if I were a dog, then made me lift my lowered head. My eyes met his in my still confused mind. The eyes, curved as if being kind, conveyed a terrible fear.

“Yoojin, you have to answer honestly.”

The gently whispering voice came as an absolute command that could not be refused. My fingertips scratched the ground.

“How did you get the wound on your chest?”

“The magic stone…….”

The magic stone of Diarma. The moment I thought of it, my head cleared a little. Diarma. And the mermaid queen. I remembered that time.

The gigantic cursed poison dragon that seemed to swallow the stars and the ruler who controlled the water.

Damn it, me. Even though my stats are F-grade, I’ve experienced all sorts of things, but just this kind of pressure. I’ve benefited a lot from the fear resistance skill, but that doesn’t mean the things I’ve experienced directly disappear.

‘The opponent is only S-class at best.’

I gritted my teeth. I tried to escape from the chains that bound my body, but it wasn’t easy. Fictional characters solve these situations with willpower alone, but reality is cold.

“Stop being stubborn and tell me.”

Then it will be easier. It was quite tempting.

The difference in grade is inevitable. There’s no way to escape with my power. My stats are only F, and there’s a huge difference between me and Sung Hyunjae, and I don’t have a suitable mental resistance item.

F-grade is not enough. So, a higher grade with an even higher grade.

‘Sung Hyunjae, you son of a bitch.’

In the suffocating pressure, I moved my magic power. Diarma’s mental skill. It wasn’t aimed at the crazy bastard in front of me. I can’t even use it properly yet, and with the difference in grade, it won’t work unless he accepts it first. The target was me.

Barely drawing out only a part of the skill’s effect, I recalled the memory. The memory of Diarma and the mermaid queen facing each other. That enormous presence.

S-class? Isn’t that a well in front of the sea [a small thing compared to a large one]?

And the sea crashed down. The well was swept away, and I was swept away with it.

“Keuk, cough!”

Crazy, damn it. I’m really crazy. I should have done it with Diarma before the dragon transformation. For a moment, my breath completely stopped. I collapsed completely on the floor and looked up at Sung Hyunjae, my face covered in tears. This time, he definitely looked surprised.

Seeing that, I unconsciously burst out laughing.

“What are you looking at with just an S-class, huh?”

Why are you laughing, damn it. Sung Hyunjae picked me up again. I feel completely tattered mentally. Peace… is not here, I want to hug Ppiyak. Ppiyak, I think Dad is going to die.

– Ppiyak!

“…Ppiyak.”

He really came. Oh my god. I wrapped my trembling hands around the baby bird floating in front of me. The soft and warm touch slowly calmed my frantically beating heart.

“So you have a space movement skill, huh.”

“Mind your own business with someone else’s pet.”

– Ppiyak ppiyak!

“Ppiyak, I’m glad you came to find Dad, but you can’t just wander around like this. It’s dangerous.”

It would be a problem if he appeared during a battle. I need to teach him not to teleport recklessly, but how?

While feeding Ppiyak, who was chirping, a car arrived. The driver quickly got out and opened the back door. I wanted to fall asleep as soon as I sat down, but I held back. Instead, I glared at Sung Hyunjae, who was sitting next to me.

“If you have any conscience, get out.”

“I’m going straight back to the guild.”

Sung Hyunjae ignored me and spoke to the driver. Wait a minute, that guild isn’t Haeyeon, is it?

“Shouldn’t you take me first? Are you telling me to go back by taxi?”

“I can’t leave Hanyujin-gun alone in that state. I’ll protect you for the time being.”

“You’re the most dangerous!”

– Ppiyak!

“Thank you for overestimating a mere S-class.”

“That’s enough, drop me off on a road with cars.”

I don’t know if I can walk, but I’ll crawl home. Or at least let me make a phone call to Haeyeon.

“Even if my condition is a bit bad, I can just stay home and not come out. In the first place, do you even have the right to worry?”

“I’ll erase one debt.”

“Two. Let’s settle everything related to Noah this time.”

“You’re being too much to a insignificant S-class.”

Sung Hyunjae put on a pitiful face. Whether he did or not, I insisted on two. Knowing that he was guilty, Sung Hyunjae gave in without much resistance and accepted the deal.

The car fortunately turned towards the breeding facility. Noah, who had arrived earlier, was waiting anxiously in the parking lot.

“Yoojin-ssi!”

Noah rushed over and supported me. Then he suddenly glared at Sung Hyunjae.

“Why does he look paler than before?”

“Hanyujin-gun overworked himself as always. Let him rest well.”

It’s all because of who. Before getting back in the car, Sung Hyunjae looked towards my chest.

“I wonder what kind of excuse you’ll make to the young master.”

“Wait a minute! Are you going to tell him!”

The damn guy disappeared into the car without answering. What kind of excuse will he really make? Still, Yoohyun has a few days left before he comes out, so I was going to get something like fake skin to hide it.

* * *

“Are you not hurt anywhere, hyung?”

My brother appeared as soon as I got home, washed my messed up body, and came out. Irin, who had regained his form from the tattoo, sat on my shoulder and looked back and forth between me and Yoohyun.

You used a gate stone [a stone that allows one to bypass gates], you bastard brother.