The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 144

144. Removing the Beehive (1)

“You just overdid it. It happens sometimes.”

It doesn’t really happen *often*, but it’s a phenomenon that *can* occur when you push yourself beyond your limits. Of course, even if you try to exert more power than you possess, it’s usually impossible. It’s more likely to happen when a specific monster sucks away your mana and life force.

“Healers aren’t much help; you’ll get better with rest.”

Probably. It’s like a temporary drop in eyesight stats. If it’s a permanent drop, I might need to get glasses. My level will recover it a bit, though.

“Why did you overdo it, anyway?”

Yoohyun glared at Sung Hyunjae with eyes that clearly identified him as the culprit. It’s true that the man was to blame, but I was also half at fault for not restraining myself.

“I was using mental skills on Sung Hyunjae, and I kind of overdid it.”

“So, the Guild Leader of Sesung is at fault, isn’t he?”

“Not exactly, but let’s just say that.”

The cause is Sung Hyunjae being unnecessarily sensitive. At the same time, that’s probably why he seems to have memories from before the regression. Judging by how he recalled them during the fight, the absorbed parts haven’t completely mixed or disappeared.

I still want to poke at him a bit, but I can’t handle it right now. Should I look for someone with hypnosis skills?

“Why did you change your clothes again? And your hair is wet.”

“Thanks to someone who chained me up, dragged me to the third floor, and dunked me in a tank.”

Instead of answering, Yoohyun swept his wet hair off his forehead. The fire lizard on his shoulder flickered its flames slightly. Then, I quickly stopped Yoohyun from taking off the inventory sealing bracelet he was wearing. Did I say too much?

“Hey, we’re indoors. If you take out weapons, the building will collapse. Think about the regular employees of Sesung.”

I soothed my brother and turned to look at Sung Hyunjae, who was also soaking wet.

“Anyway, thanks to him, I’m perfectly fine. I almost drowned, but not really. Calm down, Yoohyun. I helped him even after going through such a rough time.”

“I sincerely regret that I don’t remember.”

“Don’t even think about skipping out because you don’t remember. Please track down the monster honey sales route. And if there’s a Hunter who can extract information from corpses—and there definitely should be—send them to Haeyeon.”

I need to check the truck driver’s body. At my words, Sung Hyunjae took out his phone.

“If we catch them properly, they’ll burn for a long time.”

“I wasn’t planning to turn them to ashes. I hope it ends with burning down an old roof, at least for my sake. And please get me some clothes to change into, both for me and my brother.”

“As you wish.”

He’s really useful. That’s why I put up with him, really.

My feet were covered in mud, so I went into the bathroom to wash them off and changed my clothes. Poor tropical fish. It’s their fault for having the wrong owner.

“Hyung [older brother],”

My brother called me after taking a quick shower to wash off the muddy water that had splashed up during the water bomb.

“Do I still seem… young to you?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? You *are* young, though.”

“As someone to rely on, I mean.”

“Blood is thicker than water; family is the most trustworthy. What’s new about that?”

Yoohyun didn’t look satisfied with my answer at all.

“Then, if something difficult and complicated happens, who would you contact first?”

“Well—”

“Tell me honestly.”

Yoohyun looked me straight in the eye. Honestly, huh? *Really* honestly.

“…I wouldn’t want to involve you.”

I’d probably contact Sung Hyunjae, those rebellious kids, or Suk Simyung or Song Taewon first.

“Not just you, but I wouldn’t tell Yerim or Noah or Myungwoo if I could help it. It’s not because I don’t trust you, but because I don’t want to involve you in difficult things.”

Even if they’re S-Rank Hunters, they’re still kids. If adults who are S-Rank can handle it, there’s no need to make the kids suffer. Actually, if I had the leeway, I’d want them to do dungeon raids after graduating college. Like getting a job.

Especially Yerim, I need to help her grow because I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I’m still worried about her from time to time. She seems to enjoy raiding dungeons more than going to school, though. Skip class moderately.

“I don’t like that you think that way.”

“Yoohyun.”

“I’m stronger. There’s a higher chance that I’ll be safer no matter what happens. I hardly ever get hurt. I can protect myself and have plenty to spare. But you seem to be overly worried.”

…Isn’t that a bit much? If I were *really* overly worried, I wouldn’t let you go into dungeons at all. Of course, it would be better if you didn’t go.

“It’s natural to worry since you’re my brother.”

“Sometimes, it feels like our roles are reversed. Like when I deceived you because I was afraid you’d be in danger… back then. Maybe I’m pushing you away, so—”

“That’s not it. I don’t blame you.”

It’s not like we’re at a point where things have gone completely wrong. Of course, I was shocked when my brother suddenly left and pretended not to know me, but until then, there was still hope. Our relationship didn’t really start to deteriorate until after the Awakening Center was established.

“No matter what anyone says, the most important person to me is you, Yoohyun. I admit that’s why I try to protect you more. But it’s the same for you, isn’t it? That feeling of wanting to protect me. That’s why you even distanced yourself from me.”

“…That’s true, but.”

“So, please understand my position too. I’ll try not to hide anything from you as much as possible. Rina told me that you’re feeling insecure, so I know.”

“Irina? She told you?”

Yoohyun looked down at the lizard wrapped around his wrist, slightly flustered.

“Yeah. She used a mental skill. It’s like an evolved version of Teacher’s skill.”

“…What did she say?”

My brother’s expression stiffened slightly for a moment. Does he think she told me some secret story?

“She said to express my affection for you more often. That it would ease your anxiety a bit.”

“Was that all?”

“Yeah. Are you hiding something?”

Since he’s always with Rina, there must have been some invasion of privacy. Extremely personal preferences… I’m a little curious. He pretends not to have any special hobbies, but maybe he actually has a favorite celebrity. Does he play games? Yerim said she plays some decorating phone game.

“No, nothing.”

“Really? You don’t look like you’re hiding nothing?”

“Nothing.”

Yoohyun turned his head away abruptly. Judging by his reaction, there’s definitely something. Even family members should have their privacy, but what could it be? I hope it’s a secret relationship.

I took out my phone and looked for Song Taewon’s number. It’s hard to see, which is inconvenient. Should I get glasses temporarily? He answered the phone this time, whether he bought a new phone or connected the number to another phone. When I said I wanted to meet him about yesterday’s incident, he replied that he was currently at the site of the dungeon break.

“Then, would it be okay if I went there?”

[…Yes. However, it won’t be a comfortable place.]

There were hardly any casualties, but it’s an accident site, so the atmosphere wouldn’t be good. I hung up and was about to leave the room when Yoohyun grabbed my arm.

“You said you can’t see well. I’ll help you.”

“I’m not blind. It’s not like I can’t walk.”

I stumbled a few times on the stairs, but I’m fine on flat ground.

“If you couldn’t see at all…….”

“Huh?”

“No, nothing.”

My brother mumbled, but it wasn’t hard to guess what he was thinking. He already has a history of not fixing my leg on purpose. It hasn’t happened yet, though.

“I can’t *not* see. I don’t want to *not* see you, Yoohyun. Or the others, either.”

My kids are so cute; if I couldn’t see them, 80% of the joy in my life would disappear. I’m already sad that I can’t see well now. I should get glasses on the way.

When we went outside through the mini-portal, Kang Soyoung and a few other Sesung Hunters were waiting. Was it because I asked them to run errands for clothes? Their faces were filled with worry and concern.

“Did anything… happen?”

Kang Soyoung asked with a look that hoped nothing had happened. Something *did* happen, actually a lot, but I can’t say it in detail.

“The water tank just burst.”

“Ah, I see! The water tank… that’s not something that just bursts…….”

“Due to the refraction of light, a fire broke out in the garden below the tank, so it was used for fire suppression.”

“Ah… yes…….”

Let’s just pretend that’s the case. But strangely, Kang Soyoung and the other Hunters kept glancing at Yoohyun. He should look like Kim Minyi right now, so why are they doing that? Is there something wrong with the glasses item’s effect?

The strange gazes towards Yoohyun, towards Kim Minyi, continued until we left the Sesung Guild building. They weren’t approaching, but they were watching intently.

“Did you cause some kind of accident again?”

“No. Nothing happened. I even got proper permission to enter the Sesung Guild Leader’s residence.”

Then why are they like that? Is it because of the accident on the road? He cleaned up the scene too easily for a support-type Hunter.

“Nice to meet you, Hunter Kim Minyi. If you don’t mind, would you accept this business card?”

I even ran into an employee from another guild handing out business cards in the parking lot. Approaching a Hunter who already belongs to a guild is not polite. Especially if it’s a high-ranking Hunter, it could lead to a fight, but Kim Minyi is a B-Rank support type, so it was a position worth probing.

Is it because of what happened at the accident site that they don’t think he has B-Rank support stats? Kim Minyi is going to be bothered a bit.

I politely declined the business card, stopped by an eyewear store to get glasses, and then headed to the site of the dungeon break. The area was still restricted because there might be unhandled monsters left.

It was a mess at night, but seeing it in the bright daylight, it’s even more like a battlefield. The rain had stopped, but the sky was still cloudy, making the collapsed buildings and broken pavement feel even more desolate. It was like watching a scene from an apocalyptic movie.

It’s a reality where we could really face the end of the world if we’re not careful.

“You’ve arrived.”

Song Taewon found us and approached. His gaze stopped on my face.

“Are those prescription glasses?”

“Yes. It just happened.”

“What on earth…….”

He stopped talking and looked around.

“Let’s move to another place for now.”

“There’s a convenience store right in front that looks like they evacuated without locking up. Let’s go there.”

There were tables and chairs inside. There were quite large fragments around the convenience store, but the glass walls were fortunately intact. I chose a coffee and placed a wet bill on the counter.

“This much is okay, right?”

I handed Song Taewon a coffee. It’s a two-for-one deal, so it’s less than 2,000 won per coffee. I just paid 10,000 won.

As we sat down, Song Taewon asked what had happened again.

“It’s nothing much.”

“It’s because of the Sesung Guild Leader.”

Yoohyun, who was sitting next to me, blurted out. At the same time, Song Taewon’s brow furrowed.

“Is it about last night?”

“No, last night, he took me home safely without anything happening. Today, I had to go to the Sesung Guild Leader’s house—”

“Hanyujin went in alone and suffered a mishap.”

My brother said in a sulky tone.

“…Alone?”

Song Taewon sighed and looked at me with a similar gaze. Ah, what. Yoohyun is one thing, but Song Taewon’s gaze is a bit scary, so please don’t look at me like that.

“I’m fine, except for my eyes. More than that, I’m thinking of tracking down yesterday’s dungeon break.”

I put a straw in my coffee and continued.

“Will Director Song Taewon cooperate, interfere, or stand by?”

Song Taewon, who had been staring at me, tore the plastic off the straw. He took a sip of coffee and opened his mouth.

“I already said I would protect you.”

If I offer my safety as bait, you’ll side with me at that time, is that what you mean? I’ll gratefully accept your protection for now.

“Oh, by the way.”

It’s a bit much to ask this, but I can’t help but be curious.

“If Director Song were to, hypothetically, give the Sesung Guild Leader… something precious before he died, what would be the reason?”

“…Excuse me?”

Song Taewon looked at me with eyes that couldn’t believe how absurd I was. Even Yoohyun was looking at me like I was sick. How do I explain this?