The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 201

201. The Box (1)

“Mr. Song, you’re working hard today too.”

Moon Hyun-ah raised one hand and greeted him. Song Tae-won’s response was, as usual, not much different. He seemed calmer than when dealing with other S-Class Hunters.

‘Hyun-ah at least causes fewer accidents, I guess.’

I didn’t know what it was like before, but recently there haven’t been any major incidents. Even though she’s aggressive, she seems to stay within limits. So, Song Tae-won probably finds her the most comfortable to deal with. They don’t seem very close, but they get along quite well.

They really do get along well. Seeing Moon Hyun-ah as a Guild Leader, I think she’d be a surprisingly good fit.

“There are quite a few people. They seem to be from MKC, probably here about contract issues.”

Moon Hyun-ah said. So that’s why Song Tae-won is standing guard like that. If high-ranking Hunters who have had bad experiences get stressed out about contract terminations and something blows up, he has to stop it.

“I’ll go get a waiting number.”

“No need.”

Moon Hyun-ah made a call somewhere and turned to me.

“Someone will be here soon.”

“Isn’t that an abuse of power?”

“It’s just a different department in charge. It’s an overseas matter. That side is less busy, so you can go straight up without checking in.”

I see. The overseas department, huh? Maybe I should save their number just in case.

While waiting, Song Tae-won didn’t look at me even once. I wanted to ask why he hadn’t answered my calls, but I held back. Sung Hyun-jae’s words bothered me.

‘There are regular employees here, so it might be okay.’

Sung Hyun-jae is unnecessarily sharp, so it’s better to be careful.

“Please come this way.”

Soon, an Association employee approached and guided us. When we talked about the Japan matter, the person in charge looked troubled.

“We have received word from the Sesung Guild, but if we lose the slime dungeon in Korea, public opinion will greatly worsen.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t lose it.”

Rather, we’ll be the ones taking it. It might be good to promote this big in advance. Yerim and Haeyeon’s image will skyrocket.

At that moment, there was a knock and the door opened. The man I had encountered frequently during the ranking battles came in and greeted me with a bright face.

“Hello, Director Han Yu-jin, Breaker Guild Leader. I’m Choi Young-joon, head of the Hunter Association’s public relations department.”

He smiled, saying there was good news again this time.

“Are you going to sneakily try to get in on this again?”

“I’m just offering cooperation. You’re not against it either, Director Han.”

He’s quick to catch on. Anyway, he’s a hard worker. He handled things quickly and efficiently during the last ranking battle. We even complained about the National Assembly together.

“First, can you guarantee Park Yerim Hunter’s victory? We need to prepare for the backlash in case of defeat. It’s best to raise the heat only to a manageable level.”

“If the Japanese side proceeds according to the contract, it’s certain. Even if there are some variables, it’s manageable.”

Even if the Ama Guild Leader gave her SS-Class equipment, the momentum wouldn’t be shaken. It’s not like we don’t have SS-Class equipment, and Sesung Guild is on board, so we can ask to borrow it.

I wonder if I can borrow it for about 50 years.

The basic framework was similar to the ranking battle, just with a different country, so the discussion progressed quickly. We decided to finalize the other details once we heard from Japan.

“Let’s slowly start spreading the word now. Including the opponent’s name and the seaside location.”

“By the way, when can the breeding center portal key be replaced?”

“I’m not in charge of that, so I don’t know.”

Choi Young-joon replied apologetically. Whether he was sincere or not. Before getting up, he hinted that he was considering moving to Yeouido [a major business and financial district in Seoul].

“I didn’t think you’d be interested, but it’s surprising.”

“As you know, I’m trying to operate the breeding center independently these days. The MKC building is fine, and it seems okay to leave the house and breeding facilities as they are and move only the building and the rest.”

It was a fabricated story, but it sounded plausible. Of course, I had no intention of actually moving. With a guild that has three S-Class Hunters right next door, where would I go?

“Is it finally over? I need to use the restroom.”

Moon Hyun-ah, who had emptied two glasses of iced tea, got up and said. I had also finished my second iced coffee, so I followed her outside. Of course, we went to different restrooms.

The restroom next to the department was a bit small and clean. The corners of the sink were a bit dirty, though. Cleaning the restroom thoroughly makes a noticeable difference, which is satisfying. There are so many good cleaning products these days. I washed my hands under the automatically flowing water. Right after the water stopped.

Creak.

The sound of a door opening was heard. There was a separate door at the entrance of the restroom. It opened and closed. Then, the sound of heels lightly tapping on the tiles. Anyone can come into the restroom. Even thinking that, I had a bad feeling.

I casually turned around to dry my hands. At the same time, the figure of a man standing at the entrance of the restroom came into view. It was Song Tae-won.

‘Avoid meeting Song Tae-won alone for a while.’

Sung Hyun-jae’s words flashed through my mind. This is what happens even though I just greeted him and passed by.

“It seems like you have something to say to me.”

I tried to speak calmly. If he just came to the restroom, he wouldn’t be standing there like that.

“Why didn’t you wait outside? I was about to leave.”

I was conscious of my damp hands. Of all things, it was a dryer, not a hand towel. It was loud, and it felt awkward to hold my hand there.

“Well, it seems like you don’t have to watch the reception desk anymore.”

“There was a small disturbance, but it’s been resolved.”

“You’re working hard because of the MKC Guild. Everyone must be on edge.”

So far, the atmosphere seems okay. I tried to keep a smile on my face as naturally as possible.

“Let’s go outside and continue talking.”

“I heard you went to the restroom and came here on purpose.”

I see. How should I react here? To be honest, I still didn’t feel that much of a sense of crisis. Is it because of fear resistance, or because Song Tae-won’s attitude seems calm?

‘…I really don’t know.’

Fear resistance is good, but it’s like a warning window is turned off, so it’s troublesome in situations like this. It might be better to turn it off when there’s no one to protect me.

“Then, what brings you here?”

You didn’t answer my calls. But I shouldn’t press him about it now.

Tap.

The heels tapped on the tiles again. Song Tae-won took one step, then two steps towards me. The restroom wasn’t large, so that alone brought him considerably closer.

He’s bigger and much stronger than me. The actual difference in strength is even greater. It would be threatening, but it was only being processed in my head.

Escaping is obviously impossible, should I shout? But that might provoke him. He might even cover my mouth the moment I try to shout. He’s not someone who wouldn’t notice my reaction.

I met his eyes as he looked down at me. I couldn’t read his expression. It’s still difficult. I took a shallow breath.

‘It’s not like my life is on the line like with poison or curse resistance.’

I was still able to live when the fear resistance level went down. I can turn it on right away too.

I turned off the fear resistance skill while looking into his dark eyes.

My whole body shuddered.

My heart pounded rapidly, and my mouth went dry. At the same time, a warning instinct crashed down as if my head was dyed red.

The man in front of me wants to kill me.

I might not be able to make proper judgments because of the fear that rushed in like a dam bursting. But the heavy air pressing down on my whole body was not fake.

Song Tae-won’s figure looked blurry and distorted. My body, which was about to collapse, was held up. I reflexively reached out and pushed Song Tae-won, but he didn’t budge.

“Did you lower your skill on purpose?”

He asked quietly. Song Tae-won doesn’t know that resistance skills can be turned off, but it’s common for them to be adjustable. I tried to answer, but only rough, short breaths came out.

Should I turn it back on? But I thought it would be better to be in this state against Song Tae-won. Like an F-Class stat.

“Han Yu-jin.”

I need to check his expression. Should I call for help outside, or should I make him realize more clearly that I’m F-Class and make him back down? I thought I had to look at him to make a decision, but my head was still lowered. My whole body was still trembling slightly.

A wet mark appeared on Song Tae-won’s clothes where my hand had touched. My head is still fine, I’m still breathing, and my heart is still beating. As soon as I calmed down a little, I used Grace [a skill]. It would be the end if it was taken away, though.

‘…At this distance, I should stay still for now.’

Moon Hyun-ah is nearby. She would definitely hear me if I shouted. But Song Tae-won’s movements would be much faster. No, he might even cover my mouth the moment I try to shout. He’s not someone who wouldn’t notice my reaction.

“Han Yu-jin.”

His voice called out again. His tone was calm, and it even sounded somewhat affectionate. Or maybe my ears, wanting to live, were changing what I heard.

My body was lifted up. I was placed on the sink. It was a place mainly used by Hunters, who have a higher average height than ordinary people, so the sink was much higher than in other public restrooms. Thanks to that, I could make eye contact with Song Tae-won with just a slight lift of my head.

“…You’re not supposed to sit on the sink.”

“It’s made to be sturdy.”

Well, that’s true.

“Isn’t it better than collapsing on the restroom floor?”

“Thank you for your concern.”

I slowly raised my head. A slightly troubled face came into view. He’s hesitating. Turning off fear resistance was the right answer after all.

“If Song Tae-won reaches out, I can’t resist. It would end very easily, in an instant.”

“I know.”

“Then why me…”

Not provocatively, indirectly.

“Do you…”

Want to kill me. But why? I’m weak. Song Tae-won isn’t someone who harms the weak for no reason. On the contrary, he wants to protect them. Even high-ranking Hunters felt repulsion but didn’t try to take my life.

Then.

“Are you afraid of me?”

I’ve said something similar before. But it was for a different reason than when I applied the double attack skill effect. Back then, I was moving as an item, not a person.

It’s different now. Why now?

“Do you think I’m afraid?”

“Or is there another reason? I’d like to hear it.”

“I think you’re dangerous.”

Song Tae-won confessed calmly.

“S-Class Awakened are independent and individualistic. Until now, there hasn’t been anything to serve as a center. If there was a possibility, I thought it would be the Sesung Guild Leader.”

Certainly, Sung Hyun-jae had many connections with other S-Class Hunters. He brought Noah and Evelyn to Korea right away.

“Are you worried that I’ll bring the S-Class Hunters together? But that doesn’t cause any immediate problems. Above all, they haven’t joined hands and harmed those around them yet, have they?”

There were some separately, though. And I ordered it too… I was reflecting on the fact that destroying the New Hunter Association building and the Awakening Center was a bit much. Honestly, Hong Kong deserved to be wiped out.

“Even my brother─”

Song Tae-won’s expression wavered. Clearly. About Yoohyun, why?

“He even helped Mr. Song a while ago. At my request.”

I said, fixing my gaze on Song Tae-won’s face. Yoohyun. My brother. What happened? …During that Choi Seok-won bastard incident.

“He’s a younger brother who treats his weak, F-Class brother well and follows him very well. As Mr. Song knows.”

Was it that time? That time. My heart, which had been racing with inescapable fear, turned cold. Suppressed moans. The voice calling me.

“Did it shake you a lot? My brother, and Mr. Song Tae-won as well.”

I didn’t bother trying to imagine what it looked like. I didn’t ask anyone else either.

“How did he look? My brother.”

“……”

And one more person.

“Sung Hyun-jae.”

“He is the same.”

He spoke quickly, unlike himself. It sounded like he was whispering a wish, not stating a fact. That he wanted him to stay the same.

The moment I heard that voice, it suddenly occurred to me.

Sung Hyun-jae, in Song Tae-won’s terms, is the apex of monsters. And perhaps, in the new world that Song Tae-won was forcibly dragged into, he is the reference point that allows him not to waver.

An index that fixes the unstable position of not properly belonging to either the wolf or the sheep. As long as that perfect monster exists, Song Tae-won can also remain as a monster who doesn’t want to be a monster who has to stop him.

The reason why he can hold onto a box that is obviously disposable and doesn’t even fit him.

If there is a change in the monster who must remain as the perfect antithesis.

“Sung Hyun-jae is my partner.”

The black eyes sank heavily. My spine felt chilled, and a prickly sensation ran down my back. My throat was stinging, and my tongue was stiff, but I opened my mouth.

“But I don’t want to lose Mr. Song Tae-won either.”

As Sung Hyun-jae said, I need him. So.

Bang!

At that moment, a loud noise rang out. Followed by a huge shout.

“Did you set up a household in the restroom!”

Moon Hyun-ah, who burst into the room as if to break down the door, rushed towards Song Tae-won without hesitation.