The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 152

152. Entrusted (2)

Kim Min-ui, a B-class Hunter affiliated with the Haeyeon Guild, was, in many ways, an easy target. He possessed useful support skills that made him desirable for recruitment by a large guild, but support was ultimately just that—support. Especially among mid- to high-level Hunters, there was a widespread tendency to downplay the value of ‘skill advantage’.

The prevailing opinion was that a Hunter’s primary purpose was dungeon raiding, and rankings should be determined solely by stats. Combat types were placed at the top, with others often seen as mere accessories.

If someone had distinctly low stats but possessed useful high-grade skills, they might receive better treatment, but that was only because they posed no threat. No matter how good their skills, they could be easily suppressed, so they were viewed with amusement.

On the other hand, if someone had mediocre stats with high-grade skills, they were seen as an annoyance. Kim Min-ui fell into this category, and it was only natural that he was often ignored in Haeyeon, where combat-type high-level Hunters were the majority. He didn’t seem to mind, content with his safe support role, considering it an easy job.

“Is he really A-class or higher in stats?”

“There’s even talk that he fought an S-class Hunter.”

Amidst the rapidly spreading rumors, Kim Min-ui entered the lobby of the Haeyeon Guild. A security guard who usually greeted him tried to wave hello, but Kim Min-ui didn’t even glance at him.

His expressionless face, which felt almost cold, made him seem like a completely different person, and the guard awkwardly lowered his hand. People glanced at Kim Min-ui’s back as he headed straight for the elevator.

“…He’s got the same aura as the Guild Leader.”

“Did he really hide his stats? We’ve never seen him fight since he’s in the support division.”

An A-class Hunter from the security team muttered. They had been on dungeon raids together, but the support team mainly received protection in the rear. Naturally, there was no opportunity to directly observe Kim Min-ui’s stats.

Under the watchful eyes of the people, Kim Min-ui and Han Yu-hyun went straight to Seok Si-myung.

“You entrusted Han Yu-jin to Seseong?” Seok Si-myung asked, surprised, after dismissing the people around him.

“It will be more comfortable for my brother there,” Han Yu-hyun said, trying to sound calm. To be precise, Sung Hyun-jae was someone Han Yu-jin didn’t need to feel burdened by. He didn’t need to take care of him, and even if he caused trouble, it wouldn’t be as concerning.

Unlike the others who wanted to hold him close and protect him, even at the cost of their own lives.

“…The rumors about Hunter Kim Min-ui should be spreading quite a bit,” Han Yu-hyun said, forcibly pushing away thoughts of his brother and changing the subject.

“Let it be known that Kim Min-ui wants to be treated according to his abilities. Then, someone will take the bait.”

“From the side that targeted Han Yu-jin this time?”

The Dongju Rotary Guild had hired the truck driver [referring to a previous attack], but the person who commissioned the Dongju Rotary Guild was still unknown. Initially, they suspected the Hunter Association, but it wasn’t them.

“Currently, Kim Min-ui is in charge of Han Yu-jin’s protection, and if they determine that he is considering leaving Haeyeon, they will surely approach him. It’s a good opportunity since the Guild Leader is away.”

Seok Si-myung nodded slightly and continued, “It’s true that he’s been looked down upon by other combat-type Hunters for being in the support division, so we should emphasize that point. We can also use this opportunity to change the atmosphere of disregarding support-type Hunters.”

“The Seseong Guild Leader will block it, but just in case, be careful that no word gets to my brother. If he finds out, he’ll try to interfere somehow.”

He could already picture him insisting that it would be safer for him to act as bait as well.

“It would be easier if Han Yu-jin helped… but he needs to rest,” Seok Si-myung said, regretting it but changing his words. It would be much easier with Han Yu-jin, but the Guild Leader, who had entrusted his brother to the Seseong Guild, would never accept it.

After a rough discussion, Han Yu-hyun headed to Han Yu-jin’s house. The sound of the TV was coming from the empty house. He remembered his brother saying there was a monster that turned on the TV and watched it on its own.

– Peep!

The white chick occupying the center of the sofa chirped at Han Yu-hyun. The baby dragon hanging from the artificial vines on the ceiling flapped its wings drowsily. Han Yu-hyun lightly grabbed Comet.

– Kee!

The baby dragon struggled and bit the hand that held it, but it only left a slight mark. Then, he picked up Peep and looked around the living room.

‘Entrust the baby dragon to the breeding facility and take the chick to Seseong. And was there anything else to take care of?’

‘…They’ll take care of most things on their own.’

That’s why he asked, but that’s why it bothered him more. Han Yu-hyun sat on the sofa. Comet, who had been squeaking, became quiet as if sensing something. On the other hand, the chick lay sprawled on his palm without hesitation, chirping.

Monster Taming skill. And the Caregiver title.

Han Yu-hyun knew about the Caregiver title. It was a common title easily obtained by caregivers of C-class or higher Awakened beings, so related information was easy to find.

A title that gave a small growth buff for a short time. The growth rate and application time increased with the rank, but even the best-known title wasn’t of great value.

But what about Han Yu-jin?

Han Yu-hyun knew that he was different from other humans. The sense of alienation he had vaguely felt since childhood became clear after meeting Sung Hyun-jae after awakening. That annoying man was of the same kind as him, close to being a fellow species.

A being who wore the shell of a human but had a different standard.

Han Yu-hyun thought that Han Yu-jin had acquired the Monster Taming skill because he had raised someone like him. Instead of a typical Caregiver title, he had gained the ability to raise something inhuman.

‘But my brother, he even tried to embrace humans.’

Park Ye-rim and Noah, and even himself. It was understandable up to Park Ye-rim, but his attitude towards Noah was clearly excessive. It was called Monster Taming, but could it also apply to humans? Or was it that Noah was recognized as a monster because he was a dragon?

He wanted to get rid of either one. Whether it was a monster or a human, he wanted to get rid of it cleanly.

Han Yu-hyun looked at the two monsters in his hand with cold eyes before getting up. He couldn’t touch them yet because his one and only blood relative was so precious that he wanted to get rid of all of them.

* * *

A person came directly to fit him with glasses and lenses. He felt reluctant to put something in his eyes, but since glasses could break again, he decided to try lenses.

“I know that you have some kind of trusting relationship with Yu-hyun.”

He said sullenly, putting the lens on the tip of his finger. He had said before that he could go to Seseong, and they had even tried to eat MKC [a type of food] together. He must have had some kind of relationship with that man over the past three years, so he understood that Yu-hyun trusted that human to some extent, but he still hated it.

“But I got angry just a while ago because I was attacked after going into your house alone. And yet, you just entrust me and leave.”

He even entrusted Peep to a Seseong Guild member and just left. He looked at Peep, who was walking around on the table, and then turned his gaze to Sung Hyun-jae. He couldn’t see his expression well because he hadn’t put in the lenses yet.

“Trust is the most important thing in a deal.”

Sung Hyun-jae came up to him and held up a mirror. He said to just put it in gently, but his eyes kept closing. Even when he tried to open his eyes with his other hand, he flinched unconsciously.

“It’s not like I’ve only been dealing with Young Master for a day or two. If we’ve even written a contract, then I have enough trust to believe in the other party.”

‘Trust him completely, huh?’ That made his stomach churn. It was largely due to his low stats, but he didn’t trust him that much. He was worried first.

“In addition, I’ve helped Young Master in many ways.”

“Helped me?”

“You were at an age where you had many problems starting out on your own. It was also more interesting to have someone who grew up quickly.”

He said he had just removed some weeds.

“Of course, you got annoyed and tried to pay me back every time. Young Master has paid back everything he noticed. Such a cute personality.”

“There are things you don’t know left. I’ll pay them back instead.”

He was a human who could be taken out and used as a weakness whenever needed, so there was no point in leaving him alone.

“Young Master wouldn’t like that.”

“My brother was still a minor at that time, and I’m his guardian. So it’s right for me to pay it back. Don’t even think about bringing up old things to Yu-hyun.”

He blinked his eyes after putting in the lenses. He was his brother and guardian, but the fact that he couldn’t do anything made him upset.

“…You didn’t corrupt a child, did you?”

“There was nothing to corrupt.”

That answer had an unpleasant nuance. Sung Hyun-jae handed him two books. The books in his hands were ‘A Parent’s Mindset for Proper Childcare’ and ‘Overcoming Empty Nest Syndrome.’ What was this?

“It’s reading time for peace of mind.”

“Why these books?”

Shouldn’t you give me self-help books, novels, or poetry collections? He picked up the one about proper childcare. He had a lot of work to do, so how long would he have to be stuck here? What was Yu-hyun planning to do?

He wanted to escape. Send him home.

‘I could slip out using Stealth.’

Of course, it wouldn’t work on Sung Hyun-jae, an S-class Hunter. He could escape if that man just moved aside. He flipped through the book roughly and looked up at Sung Hyun-jae.

“Are you going to keep sticking by my side? You’re too free for a Guild Leader.”

“That Guild Leader is currently raiding a dungeon. What would you like for lunch? Tell me anything you want to eat.”

“I want to eat the tteok-kkochi [spicy rice cake skewers] that they sold in front of the elementary school I used to go to. It closed down ten years ago, though.”

“I’m sorry, but lunch is tight on time, so I’ll prepare it for dinner.”

‘Prepare what, you crazy bastard?’

“It’s okay. Don’t even think about causing trouble for innocent people.”

Why did he say that? He should have asked for the natural raw fish that the Seseong Guild Leader had caught himself. He didn’t really like raw fish, but he could run away while he was out fishing. Of course, he would refuse such an obvious request by saying he was raiding a dungeon.

The unnecessarily free Seseong Guild Leader dragged him around. Thanks to that, he learned how many convenience facilities were in the Seseong Guild building. What was he going to do with that information?

It was often inconvenient for high-level Hunters to use external facilities. First of all, their bodies were so durable that they couldn’t cut their hair easily. It wasn’t as strong as wire, but it took more effort, and dyeing and perming were impossible at normal levels, so there was a professional beauty salon in the guild.

Come to think of it, Yu-hyun had said that he couldn’t get his hair done properly until he could control his fire resistance. Since he ignored the heat, he couldn’t straighten his slightly curly hair.

“Is it okay to walk around like this?”

“I can easily block any words that leak out of here, so don’t worry.”

There were quite a few eyes watching, so was it really okay? Well, it wasn’t his concern. A breeding facility was already prepared in case Comet grew up. The breeding facility was large enough for a fully grown Thorned Winged Wyvern to live comfortably, and a full glass window was opened so it could fly out immediately.

He said that moderate exercise was essential for health, so he assigned a professional trainer and had a simple health checkup at the guild’s medical facility. He refused a detailed examination with all his heart. Still, blood was drawn.

“I’m still fine. How old am I?”

He had no problems with his health until he was thirty. He had been injured, though.

And in the evening, tteok-kkochi was served along with other foods.

“…You didn’t really find the owner of that snack bar and have them make it, did you?”

“Fortunately, both the owners are healthy.”

Sung Hyun-jae said, taking a picture as proof that he was eating properly, saying that he had promised to send it to Yu-hyun. He was glad they were healthy.

“You know very well that I didn’t really want you to bring it, so why are you doing unnecessary things?”

“There’s no need not to do what I can do. It’s not difficult either. Show a brighter expression. You’ll get your contract terminated.”

He didn’t care about getting his contract terminated, but he couldn’t worry his brother. He tried to put on a smile and fed Peep a mana stone. ‘Peep, can’t you use your space movement skill to move together? Just try it once.’

“Is there any news about my brother?”

“I promised not to say a word about work.”

“I’m curious, frustrated, and worried, so I feel like I’m going to get indigestion.”

“I’ll prepare some digestive medicine.”

“Please let me make a phone call.”

His cell phone had been confiscated for a long time. He had tried to call Noah and Myung-woo, but it had been taken away. He had grumbled that he felt like he was trapped in prison and was about to die of suffocation, and finally got his cell phone back. He called his brother, who answered soon after.

“Yu-hyun, I’ll stay put, so can’t you send me home? I’ll postpone Noah’s work as much as possible and rest.”

[No. Stay there a little longer.]

“Hey! You’re not trying to do anything dangerous, are you?”

His brother laughed softly at his question.

[Don’t worry. Nothing will put me in danger outside the dungeon.]

Well, that was true. There was no one who could harm Yu-hyun except for Sung Hyun-jae or Riet. There were two more S-classes by birth, but they wouldn’t suddenly appear. Even if they did, he could protect himself. They were on the same level.

“Still, don’t do anything weird. Eat well. Go home early. Are you outside?”

[Yeah. I’m going home soon.]

“Okay. Please take me away soon if possible.”

[If you behave yourself.]

Look at how that brother talks to his older brother. Still, he felt relieved to hear his voice. After the call, Sung Hyun-jae took his cell phone again.

“Now, after a light evening walk, I’ll wash you and put you to bed, and today’s schedule will be over. You’re expected to go to bed before eleven o’clock. Should I sing you a lullaby?”

“No way.”

What lullaby? Even the sleep he was about to get would run away. And that night, an uninvited guest appeared.