The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 242

240. Han Yu-hyun’s World (3)

“Please come again if your body changes.”

Yu Myung-woo said, retracting the measuring tape. He had taken measurements of Han Yu-hyun’s height, shoulders, arm length, and even made a mold of his hand. Unlike equipment worn on the body, weapons rarely changed to fit the user’s physique. It was possible to make them that way on purpose, but for durability and other reasons, it was better if they didn’t change.

So, it was best to make them to fit the user’s body from the start.

Han Yu-hyun looked at Yu Myung-woo with a slightly puzzled expression. Frankly, he didn’t think they were on good terms.

“Weren’t you just supposed to make the weapon my brother asked for?”

Yu Myung-woo stared back at Han Yu-hyun as if he were talking nonsense.

“If something happens to Han Yu-hyun, Yu-jin will get hurt too.”

Han Yu-hyun didn’t feel too bad at the matter-of-fact way he said it. And soon after, Yu Myung-woo handed Han Yu-hyun the Nullification Bead. It seemed like he was lending it, but he didn’t ask for it back.

He knew that he wasn’t particularly fond of him. It was all for Han Yu-jin. Han Yu-hyun liked that even more.

He wasn’t quite ready to accept him into his world yet, but Yu Myung-woo was alright.

Crack. Sharp nails scratched the wall. Han Yu-hyun let Noah’s wrist slide off, making him scratch the wall instead of his shoulder, and then struck Noah’s side hard with the back of his open hand. It was an attack that took the opponent into consideration, but Noah’s body was easily pushed away.

“Use partial Beast Transformation right before you strike.”

Han Yu-hyun said, immediately correcting his slightly disheveled posture.

“It will be more difficult for the opponent to defend because the size of your hand and the point of attack will suddenly change.”

“Yes, but the transformation speed—”

“Practice.”

Noah quickly nodded at the cold gaze that told him not to be lazy and waste a good skill.

“It’s the same in Full Dragon Transformation state. Being able to quickly change the size of your body can be used to your advantage in battle. The same goes for switching between Beast Transformation and Human Transformation. Hunter Riette seems to use it skillfully.”

“Yes, my sister is… fast.”

Han Yu-hyun looked displeased at Noah, who still showed a lack of confidence from time to time, even though he had improved a lot since the duel with Riette. Noah was still lacking in many ways to meet his standards. He also didn’t like the way he unconsciously bristled at him from time to time.

“Then let’s go again.”

But Noah wasn’t so bad either. He was improving little by little anyway.

‘He’s also a little helpful to my brother.’

He wanted to be more helpful to Han Yu-jin, so instead of avoiding sparring, he even asked if he had time first. If things continued like this, it would be pretty good.

Those who had entered his world. Those who hadn’t entered yet but had one foot in, those who weren’t bad. In the midst of them, Han Yu-hyun enjoyed his trip to Japan. He didn’t have to worry about Park Ye-rim, and it was as expected. It was like a vacation with his brother, and he enjoyed it to the fullest as he entered the Black Cow Forest dungeon.

And then, in an unexpected situation, he was helplessly captured.

“I’ll be waiting.”

The moment he heard those words, Han Yu-hyun was terrified. He was scared that his brother would come back to save him. As he became anxious to figure out a way out, what came to his mind in his drug-addled head was none other than Peace and Park Ye-rim.

‘Those two are there. They definitely won’t let Han Yu-jin move alone.’

Han Yu-hyun stopped struggling. He couldn’t help but be anxious, but deep down, he also felt a sense of relief.

Peace and Park Ye-rim both have the ability to protect my brother safely. Noah was there too. The three of them were more than enough to help Han Yu-jin and save Han Yu-hyun. Park Ye-rim would definitely brag about it for a long time after receiving help, but he was even looking forward to that.

‘…Take your time, brother.’

With other people. If Peace and Park Ye-rim were by Han Yu-jin’s side, he could wait with peace of mind. He had even seen firsthand how strong Park Ye-rim and Noah became under Han Yu-jin’s lead. He had raised Peace, grown Park Ye-rim, and Noah had broken away from his sister. All of them were under Han Yu-jin’s care.

So it was okay. He believed it would be okay.

And finally.

“I’ll get you out of here soon.”

His brother had returned. Han Yu-hyun smiled. He waited for the dissatisfied growls and the scolding about what a mess he was in. But what rang in his ears was…

Bang!

A short gunshot. The smell of blood spread quickly. Han Yu-hyun’s eyes widened. Why? He couldn’t understand. Peace, Park Ye-rim, or Noah—it was an attack that could have been easily blocked. The healing skills, the potions, why didn’t anyone—

“B, Brother…!”

Han Yu-hyun somehow managed to lift himself up and support the collapsing Han Yu-jin. He took out a potion, but he knew it was already too late. He hugged his brother and looked around. There were only unfamiliar faces.

“…Why.”

An unfamiliar person tried to approach. Han Yu-hyun forcibly gathered his depleted mana [magical energy]. Whirr, a black flame swirled around him protectively. The heatwave violently pushed away the person who was approaching, as well as those standing behind him.

“Ugh!”

“Be careful! It’s best not to approach for now—”

The A-Ranks [high-level hunters] were not greatly affected, but the B-Rank [mid-level hunter] in the corner was pushed back and hit his head against the wall, knocking him unconscious. As people retreated as far as possible, Han Yu-hyun looked down at his brother in his arms with a pale face due to mana exhaustion.

It was silent.

He couldn’t hear breathing or a heartbeat. If they were this close, there was no way his senses wouldn’t be able to hear it, but Han Yu-hyun doubted his own hearing for a moment. And then he admitted it.

His brother was dead.

Han Yu-hyun accepted that fact. Surprisingly obediently, quietly, without a single objection.

He acknowledged that his world had ended.

Therefore, there was no need to do anything. There was no need to wail or shed a single tear. His world was already over, and nothing, no action, was meaningful.

Han Yu-hyun’s rough breathing calmed down, gradually decreasing until it was almost, completely, inaudible.

Then, a new footstep was heard.

Crackle, electricity sparked and the lock on the mana-protected door was released. Then, with a thud, the door burst open.

“Who is it!”

“Wait, that guy is!”

Gnosi tried to stop his colleague from stepping forward, but before he could, golden chains danced. The chains, swung like whips, struck the A-Rank guards in an instant. The guards, lightly swept away, crashed into the wall and collapsed like straw. Sigma didn’t glance at them from beginning to end, only looking at the center of the room.

The corpse that Alpha was holding.

“C-Rank [low-level hunter].”

Of course, there was no response. That one was already dead. Sigma shifted his gaze to Alpha, who was holding the corpse preciously and stopping his breath as if he were about to die. It would have been interesting, for sure, if the C-Rank had been alive.

But now it didn’t matter much. Sigma inadvertently let out a sigh. Suddenly, everything seemed pointless.

“…Without even paying the contract price. It ended too easily.”

He didn’t think it would be like this. It was a much faster and easier ending than expected. It felt like the film of an exciting movie had been cut off in the middle. Even worse, only films that had already been watched were scattered around, and that was the last unwatched movie.

It was futile.

A sense of emptiness washed over him, so strong that he was surprised himself. Unlike movie film, it couldn’t be connected—

‘…Wait a minute.’

Was he really dead? Sigma recalled Han Yu-jin’s actions. He had already offered his life once before. When he tried to engrave the seal, he acted as if he wasn’t afraid of death at all. Was his life really not precious to him?

‘That can’t be.’

Sigma looked at Alpha and the young man in his arms again. Han Yu-jin had been planning to go to Akates from the beginning, from the moment he couldn’t have known about Alpha’s rampage due to distance and security. Was he really planning to take Alpha? Wasn’t he planning to save him from the start? If they were complete strangers, would Alpha even show such a side?

If Han Yu-jin was precious to Alpha, and Alpha was precious to Han Yu-jin… As far as he knew, Han Yu-jin would not easily give up his life, leaving Alpha tied to Akates. He could easily be sure of that just by watching him for a short time.

So why did he try to give up his life so lightly? Was it because he wasn’t really dying…?

A dead person cannot be revived. But there may have been an item that made him look dead when he suffered a fatal wound. Or a skill like that.

Sigma took a step forward. His sunken chest seemed to beat again.

“Han Yu-jin.”

At the same time, Han Yu-hyun’s head shot up. It was a reflexive movement. Red eyes captured Sigma’s appearance. It was a familiar face, but now it was meaningless.

But.

Han Yu-hyun recalled the voice of another person calling his brother again. There were people left. People who cherished his brother.

“Heuh, cough!”

With a coughing sound, Han Yu-hyun’s breath burst out. Physiological tears also welled up. Panting, he hugged his brother’s body even tighter.

To Peace, to Park Ye-rim, and to others. He had to take his brother with him.

“Heuk… Ugh…”

There was still something left in the world that should have ended completely. Han Yu-hyun forcibly lifted his body. It was painful. It was hard to breathe. It would have been much easier to just stop there. But he had to move one more time, one last time.

Those who would know that his world had ended. Comrades who would feel something similar and share it. He wanted to take his brother to them, to go back. And then face the end.

Tears overflowed. Unnecessary sadness, all kinds of emotions filled his chest, his whole body, up to the top of his head, and beyond. It felt like he was drowning. Han Yu-hyun gasped heavily. It was hard. Why did he have to do this? His brother was dead. He could have just ended it together.

“Give it to me, Alpha.”

The chain hit the floor. Sigma took another step closer. Han Yu-hyun staggered and straightened his posture. Give it to him.

“Hand over that corpse.”

“No… way.”

Han Yu-hyun said, grinding his teeth. His voice was completely hoarse. He knew very well that he was no match for the man in front of him. But he could never be taken away.

Wham!

Two offers were the end. The third was a chain that flew instead of an invitation. If Han Yu-jin could be revived, he would have been interested in the relationship with Alpha, so it wasn’t a fatal force.

The chain hit the floor and wrapped around Han Yu-hyun’s body. Han Yu-hyun barely dodged the chain, which lunged like a snake preying on its prey. At the same time, he took out a dagger from his inventory and threw it at Sigma. Clang, the chain moved lightly without even needing to dodge, knocking the dagger away.

“You can’t even use your skills or weapons properly.”

Many of the weapons in this world consumed mana. Most of the weapons that occupied Alpha’s inventory consumed a lot of mana, as much as their high rank. As Han Yu-hyun was now, he could only use a few relatively low-ranked melee weapons.

Bang! Wham! The chain continued to hit the floor and walls, driving Han Yu-hyun into a corner. The walls and floor, which were receiving the power of the mana hall more strongly than the previous confinement room, did not even crack.

“Keuk!”

Breaking the sword blade that blocked his path, the chain eventually struck Han Yu-hyun’s shoulder roughly. His clothes were torn and flesh was torn away in an instant. Han Yu-hyun’s body rolled on the floor. He wrapped his whole body around his brother’s corpse to prevent it from being damaged, and slid all the way to the end of the wall.

It hurts. It wasn’t because of the wound on his shoulder. He didn’t even feel anything like that. His brother was dead, and the fact that he was still alive hurt. As he forcibly lifted his body again, Han Yu-hyun muttered several times.

‘Why do I have to do this.’

He wanted him to just kill him. But at the same time, he had to protect him. He had to go. There was still something to do… but why.

“…I don’t want to.”

If it was going to be this painful, this difficult, it would have been better to be alone. Let’s stop now. This.

Han Yu-hyun swallowed his tears. But he still couldn’t let go of Han Yu-jin. He couldn’t stop either. He avoided the flying attacks and was scorched by the rising electricity, but he was still trying to escape. Thud, his body slammed into the floor again. A long wound appeared along his back. His back was quickly soaked with the blood flowing out.

The vision, covered with a film of tears, became even more blurred.

He had to give up, but he couldn’t. He wasn’t just enduring it. Just, for some reason, just… he couldn’t let go. Han Yu-hyun hugged his brother tightly with one arm and struggled to get up, scratching the floor. Blood was mixed with the tears that were dripping down, as if he had a wound on his head.

“…Brother.”

I want to quit. But why am I trying to go back? I already have everything in my arms. Everything ended here.

It was the limit now. It was too much to handle his own body. Even so, why can’t I let go? Why wasn’t I alone, why did it turn out like this—he was even about to resent that fact.

[Yu-hyun.]

A message window appeared in front of Han Yu-hyun’s eyes. His chest, which had been weighed down by sadness, beat loudly.

[I’m here, brother.]

New messages were continuously imprinted on his eyes. They fall in circles down his cheeks.

[I’m okay, Yu-hyun. I’ll go back as soon as possible. So.]

“…Brother.”

[Protect me.]

Let’s endure safely until Han Yu-jin revives! Protect Han Yu-jin’s body for 5 minutes against a powerful enemy ^▽^

[Reward: Small amount of mana automatic recovery]

5 minutes had already passed, and the quest was retroactively applied and completed at the same time as the window appeared. If he had received a mana potion, he would have prevented Sigma from drinking it. But the quest window was not visible to him.

Han Yu-hyun immediately received the reward. A little mana was recovered. Sigma looked at him with a slightly surprised expression as he lifted his body.

“I thought you gave up.”

“I still have to wait more.”

The last tear was shed under the blink of an eye. Han Yu-hyun carefully hugged Han Yu-jin’s body again. He said he would come back. His world was not over yet. He was glad he didn’t give up. He was glad he didn’t quit.

Because he wasn’t alone, so he could keep waiting—he was really glad.

Whirr— Flames rose around Han Yu-hyun. Flames that were fainter than usual, faintly bluish.