The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 202

202. The Box (2)

Moon Hyun-ah’s movements were almost invisible to me. The instant I realized she’d entered the bathroom, Song Tae-won’s forearm blocked her punch.

Thud.

The sound wasn’t very loud, but Song Tae-won’s body couldn’t withstand the force—whether it was a charge or some other skill—and he was pushed back. The sink shattered as if it were hollow. Even in the midst of that, Song Tae-won protected me, shielding me.

Crackle. The tiles shattered, and Song Tae-won’s left foot stomped on the floor so hard it dented in about a finger joint’s depth, supporting his body. Then, his right leg bent and stabbed toward Moon Hyun-ah’s waist.

It was an extremely close-quarters attack. I didn’t think she could avoid it, and I actually heard the impact. But before I could fully process what was happening, Moon Hyun-ah jumped back with a light tap of her feet.

She didn’t seem to have suffered any visible damage. As expected, it was impossible to keep up with the movements of an S-Rank Hunter without the Teacher Skill. How were they even exchanging blows?

“What are you trying to do?”

She looked at me, shielded by Song Tae-won, and spoke as if puzzled. Pieces of the sink fell to the floor with a clatter.

“Why are you protecting him again, Chief Song?”

“I have no intention of harming Han Yu-jin.”

“After acting so fiercely that it could be felt from outside?”

Song Tae-won narrowed his brow instead of answering. Moon Hyun-ah shrugged as she looked at him.

“Perhaps you’re not aware of your own condition. Have you been overworking lately? How about taking some time off?”

“…I’m fine.”

“I’m serious, Chief Song. Your complexion isn’t good at all. I can take care of things for you for about a week. The Seseong Guild Leader, as well as Haeyeon, are all entering dungeons one after another, so why don’t you take this opportunity to rest?”

Moon Hyun-ah put one hand on her waist and spoke with a worried expression, but Song Tae-won didn’t budge.

“I appreciate the consideration, but I’ll decline. There are many legal issues that could arise.”

“And you coming after our Little Manager and threatening him isn’t a problem?”

“To reiterate, I have no intention of harming him. I simply wanted to confirm something.”

Song Tae-won spoke in a calm, even tone, as if dealing with a routine complaint. He has no intention of harming me. Both Moon Hyun-ah and I exchanged subtle glances at those repeated words.

“After baring your teeth and growling right in front of him? Little Manager also has a dumbfounded look on his face.”

“…Well, my body is intact, at least.”

Yeah, well. He didn’t touch me. Rather, he caught me when I was falling. But my heart is still pounding, and my spine is tingling. Everything felt too intense and real to dismiss it as my imagination. Moon Hyun-ah sensed that and rushed in.

“Why don’t you take a look in the mirror right behind you? See what kind of expression you have right now.”

“I’ve seen enough.”

The moment I heard Song Tae-won’s answer, goosebumps broke out all over my body.

I hadn’t noticed it, but she was right. He must have seen everything. I had been standing in front of the sink the whole time, and the mirror was large enough, like in any bathroom. It was well-maintained and clean. Everything from beginning to end would have been reflected clearly.

Could it be that what he wanted to confirm was his own behavior towards me? Was the reason he didn’t say much because he was observing himself in the mirror?

“…I want to ask for your impressions, but I also don’t want to. So, how was it, Chief Song?”

There was no answer. Instead, the arm that had been shielding me loosened. Song Tae-won took a step to the side.

“I apologize for the intrusion, Han Yu-jin.”

His polite apology only made my mind spin. He was watching all of that. In the mirror. I couldn’t even imagine what he must have been feeling.

Moreover, I had turned off Fear Resistance and was terrified like a normal F-Rank stat [the lowest rank]. As a model weakling in front of an S-Rank Hunter who was threatening me.

That was probably the sight Song Tae-won least wanted to see: his own appearance.

…Is he really crazy? Why go that far? He even confirmed with his own eyes all the reactions of being shaken by my words. With that personality, he wouldn’t have avoided eye contact. Rather, he would have engraved everything firmly in his mind.

That’s really crazy. There’s a limit to self-harm, really.

‘…In the end, I was never in danger.’

Sung Hyun-jae said that it would be safe in a place where there are many non-awakened people. That Song Tae-won would be more restrained in such a place.

But the mirror would have had an even greater effect. While directly facing his own bared teeth, he is not someone who can harm me. Song Tae-won. He would rather… kill the monster reflected in the mirror.

I felt sick with frustration. What kind of person is he?

“…Chief Song Tae-won.”

Perhaps because I didn’t have Fear Resistance, it was terrifying. I wondered if he was trying to fit himself by cutting off his own limbs rather than throwing away a box that didn’t fit him. I even had such thoughts.

…Come to think of it, a wolf that eats grass couldn’t possibly live long. It’s suicide.

“I think you’re a good person, Chief Song. And it’s obvious that you’re needed in this world.”

“I will not harm Han Yu-jin in the future either.”

Song Tae-won said quietly. It was a gentle voice.

“I acknowledge that I felt threatened by Han Yu-jin. He may be afraid. I may still want to strangle you. But it will be alright now.”

…That crazy bastard, really.

“Before I harm Han Yu-jin, I will die first.”

Remembering the monster in the mirror clearly. Before strangling me, he would recall it and stab himself in the neck?

“Chief Song, I hope you live a little longer.”

“I won’t die that easily.”

“…Can’t you loosen up a little? We were getting along pretty well, weren’t we?”

“I’m fine now. Han Yu-jin will be safe now. I’m sorry for not answering your calls. That won’t happen again.”

“I’m worried about you, Song Tae-won.”

I had a bad feeling that he wouldn’t survive this time either. That he would die because of me, not because of Sung Hyun-jae. I had such an ominous feeling.

Song Tae-won tilted his head slightly and looked down at me.

“Are you still keeping your skills lowered?”

“Yes.”

“Han Yu-jin is a good person. I know that well.”

His tone was as if he was trying to soothe me.

“It could be dangerous, so please return it to normal.”

“Chief Song. Song Tae-won.”

“It’s alright.”

It’s alright, damn it. I didn’t know what to say and was just pacing back and forth in my mind when Song Tae-won turned his gaze to Moon Hyun-ah.

“The damage to the sink will be taken care of by the Awakened Management Office—”

“Oh, no. No. I attacked first. File a claim for compensation with the Breaker [Moon Hyun-ah’s guild]. Just say I was surprised by accidentally going into the wrong bathroom and made a mistake. That way, I’ll feel better too.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

Song Tae-won bowed lightly and turned to leave the bathroom. Moon Hyun-ah approached me, who was watching his back, and whispered slyly.

“I don’t know what happened, but did Little Manager just get dumped?”

“…I guess you could say that.”

“You picked too difficult an opponent. He’s been festering for three years. To change him, you have to explode him first, but if you’re not careful, he’ll die from the infection instead of being cured.”

“But if you leave him alone, he won’t live long either.”

“That’s true. I don’t know why he lives like that. It’s amazing. He could compromise a little.”

I smiled unconsciously at Moon Hyun-ah’s words. I hadn’t been able to compromise for eight years either. Without giving up. And still without giving up now.

I’m not in a position to talk about others.

So, I wanted Song Tae-won’s end to change even more. But I became anxious, as if my actions had only tightened his noose even more.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Moon Hyun-ah tapped me on the shoulder and said.

“Even though he looks like that, he’s an S-Rank. If nothing happens, he’ll live much longer and healthier than Little Manager. Little Manager should take care of his own body first. You have to take care of your health from your twenties onwards.”

She glanced back at the broken sink and walked ahead, telling me to go back since she was done with her business. I followed behind her.

* * *

Clatter. The chain rattled. Small golden currents sparked from each connecting link.

– Grrr.

The beast growled lowly. It was a monster similar to a tiger, with sharp, thorn-like manes. Its size was about three or four times that of a normal tiger.

The claws scratched the ground, and the thorn-like manes stood on end. A cool wind swirled around its white-spotted body. Kagagak, the wind wrapped around the monster instantly turned a rock into powder. If you approached carelessly, you would end up like you jumped into a blender.

“That’s strange.”

The man standing in front of the threatening skill-clad monster said quietly. His gaze slowly scanned his surroundings, but there was nothing that caught his eye.

– Kyaaaa!

The monster leaped up, baring its sharp, knife-like fangs. The wind became even stronger, and dust rose from the scratched ground. The view was obscured, but the man, Sung Hyun-jae, moved his fingertips nonchalantly.

The chain that had been coiling around its owner like a snake soared up. Kararak, wind and metal collided, and small lightning flashed in succession. It was a wind that could even carve solid rocks, but the chain was not scratched at all. It broke through the wind shield as it was and shot like an arrow towards the monster.

Kwaduk

The chain pierced the monster’s head and came out from under its jaw. The monster, skewered on the chain like a piece of meat hanging in a slaughterhouse, began to thrash, but that was only for a moment. Golden light spread dazzlingly along the chain.

There was no scream because its large head was instantly smashed. Even as the headless body fell with a thud, Sung Hyun-jae was lost in thought. He scanned his surroundings once more and delicately moved his magic power.

Subtle currents spread in all directions—above the ground, as well as underground, and in the air. Sung Hyun-jae, who was widely groping and checking his surroundings as if searching, suddenly looked at one point. And then.

Kwagwagwang!

Lightning struck. Powerful magic poured down mercilessly, and something caught in Sung Hyun-jae’s senses disappeared. He dealt with what was bothering him, but…

“What could it be this time?”

Even he couldn’t grasp the identity. However, he had a hunch that it might be related to Han Yu-jin. As always.

“I should start looking for a mount soon.”

Sung Hyun-jae muttered, looking at the raid team members who were dealing with ordinary monsters at a distance. A mount was useful, but it wasn’t that urgent. It wasn’t that the dungeon raid was too difficult, and there was no particular reason to proceed quickly.

So, he wasn’t planning on getting his own in a hurry. He was planning on leisurely finding a monster that suited him in terms of attributes as well as everything else to his satisfaction.

He became curious about what was happening outside the dungeon. His partner must not have been staying still again. What was that annoying gaze from a while ago? Curiosity arose, and he wasn’t one to suppress such feelings. So, he had no choice but to find a way to raid the dungeon quickly.

Sung Hyun-jae looked once more at the point where something had disappeared and moved towards the monster herd.

* * *

“Are you really going to be okay?”

I looked at Yu-hyun and Peace with worried eyes. I tried to dissuade him as much as possible, but in the end, my brother decided to enter the S-Rank dungeon alone with Peace. He said it wasn’t dangerous and that he could raid it faster, but what could I do but worry?

“It’s a shorter one than last time, so the monster herd is bigger than in other wide places, but that’s more convenient when there are no team members.”

“You packed the bead Myung-woo gave you, right? Peace can become ethereal, so you can protect him. And you packed two gate stones, right?”

“I packed everything well.”

He smiles brightly, telling me not to worry. He’s been smiling a lot lately, so he looks even younger, which makes me even more uncomfortable. But I can’t not send him to the dungeon. He has to get stronger.

“Peace, you have to be careful too.”

– Kkiang.

Peace, who was still in an ethereal state, cried as if answering and rubbed his body against my leg. He spun around once and then increased his size. I used Nurturing Skill on Peace for Flame Resistance Skill growth. I need to raise Flame Resistance to S-Rank quickly so that it will be easier for Yu-hyun to use Flame Skills.

I buried my hands in Peace’s abundant mane and stroked it.

– Grrr.

“Both of you, eat well. This is dried fruit. I learned it from Myung-woo and made it myself, so take it with you. It’s from the dungeon, so it goes into the inventory.”

I gave Yu-hyun a bottle of dried fruit.

“Then I’ll be back. Hyung [older brother], don’t work too much and stay at the breeding center as much as possible.”

“You, you didn’t put Rin on me again, did you? Where is she, show me.”

A red lizard popped out on Yu-hyun’s right shoulder. It wagged its tail as if saying hello to me.

“Take care of yourself, Mister. He’ll be back without a scratch.”

Ye-rim, who came as my escort, grumbled. That’s true, but still.

“Guild Leader, have a safe trip. Peace too.”

With Ye-rim’s greeting as the last, Yu-hyun entered the gate first, and Peace disappeared after him. I hope they’ll be okay.

“I told you they’ll be okay, really. Han Yu-hyun is strong.”

Ye-rim grabbed my arm, urging me to leave quickly. Ye-rim’s team was scheduled to enter their first dungeon raid tomorrow. It wasn’t an S-Rank, but a mid-A-Rank dungeon, in the sense of getting in sync.

“Let’s eat out just the two of us this time!”

She hasn’t forgotten about the last time yet. I said I understood and looked back at the gate. I feel empty now that I’ve sent all the kids away. The house will be empty for a while.