The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 269

Clouds swirled around the widely spread wings, parting around them. An unknown SSS-grade monster flew ahead, as if guarding the ship. Piece, in his fluid form, sat squarely on its head. He’d been wary at first, but after deciding we were on the same side, he began to treat us casually. More precisely, it felt like he regarded me as a new recruit. This was probably because I often brought new monsters with me.

Even though Sung Hyun-jae sent that monster, I was still a little worried about whether everything would really be okay. Even with the difference in grades, Piece wouldn’t be knocked out in one hit.

“I’m a little short on points to buy a skill,” Moon Hyun-ah said, staring intently at the shop window in the air, visible only to her. In the lounge with the wide front window, only our group, including Sigma, was gathered.

There wasn’t much time left until Medang. I had contacted them in advance, and preparations for evacuation should have been underway. Once Noah created the teleportation portal, the evacuation would be quickly completed, and then the final, fifth disc would be installed.

The air in the lounge was a little heavy. Everyone must have had complicated thoughts. There was the anxiety of not knowing what would happen right away, but also the knowledge that once we left, we would be saying goodbye to this world forever.

“Yoo-hyun, have you decided what to buy?”

“Since points are limited, I’m still thinking about it. I think a skill would be better than equipment.”

Yoo-hyun was also more interested in skills. Yerim and Noah were the same. Yerim had so many points that she could buy one or two pieces of equipment in addition to the skill she wanted, but she wasn’t using them for the Spirit’s Egg.

What should I do? I’ve saved up quite a few points. I was thinking of buying equipment for the kids with the points left over from buying cookies, but Hyun-ah smacked me on the back, telling me to take care of myself first.

‘…Buying my own skill wouldn’t be bad.’

Once I finished adapting to mana imprinting, my ability to handle magic would increase. However, it was difficult to find a skill that suited me and was affordable. Attack skills were out of the question unless they were low-level, and the same was true for defense skills. It was as if they were telling me that my aptitude was a million light-years away from combat.

‘There are quite a few cheap support skills, though.’

In particular, buffs could be bought with fewer points compared to their grade, but the problem was that they couldn’t overlap with similar skills. That’s usually the case. My Little One and Veteran are unusual. If overlap isn’t possible, Yerim and Noah’s skills are better.

Should I buy a skill that helps raise monsters instead? Those were cheap too. A skill to calm down an excited opponent, or a sleeping skill that helps with recovery and growth… um, this seems good. Maybe I could put my nocturnal baby monster to sleep during the day. But are there any side effects?

There was also a skill that prevents picky eating. One that makes them eat well… Wait a minute, isn’t this dangerous if abused? There was a condition that a certain level of trust had to be built up. There was also one that makes it easy to give baths. There really is everything. Perhaps because they were all based on limited conditions and situations, and on trust, there was almost no limit to the opponent’s grade.

Should I buy a few of these support skills? They’re low grade and heavily discounted, so they’re cheap.

“Before we leave,” Moon Hyun-ah said, leaning deeply against the backrest and speaking with a playful voice.

“Shouldn’t you try calling me ‘hyung’ [older brother, used by males] at least once?”

“…Excuse me?”

“And Yerim too. Yerim, don’t you want to hear me called ‘nuna’ [older sister, used by males]?”

What’s with this all of a sudden? Yerim, who had been fiddling with the Spirit’s Egg, widened her eyes and then smiled mischievously.

“That’s right! You’ve never called me ‘nuna’ before! I’m a year older than you!”

I thought I’d gotten away with it back then, but why now…? Moon Hyun-ah started to egg on Yoo-hyun and Noah as well.

“Don’t you want to hear it either, Young Master? Noah Hunter is a whole ten years older. Let’s have some fun before we leave.”

“Hyun-ah! No, you’re actually a different person. Just because the role you play is older than your actual age, do you tell your younger sibling to call you ‘hyung’?”

“You should definitely call me ‘hyung’ when you’re acting in the same play. Don’t you think so?”

“Hyun-ah is right! Come on, Mister.”

Say it already, Yerim said, crossing her arms arrogantly. Well, it’s not like I can’t, but it’s more embarrassing when you set it up like this. I glanced sideways at my brother next to me.

“…Do you want to hear it too?”

“No. Hyung is hyung. I’m not Alpha.”

Yoo-hyun’s refusal made Yerim frown, saying it was unfair.

“What about Noah? It’s okay, it’ll be hard to hear again!”

“I’m…”

Noah glanced at me and smiled shyly.

“I kind of want to hear it.”

“Right! Han Yoo-hyun, you can leave if you don’t want to.”

“Why would I?”

“You said you didn’t want to?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t want to. Don’t force hyung to do that, both of you.”

“Forcing! Ah, Han Yoo-hyun, he’s being stiff again. Isn’t he actually an ice cube instead of a ball of fire?”

Yerim jumped up, saying let’s find out. Yoo-hyun also stepped forward. Noah told them to go outside if they were going to fight.

“Hyun-ah, really.”

Moon Hyun-ah lightly grabbed my arm as I tried to avoid her, and lowered her voice.

“Hyung, what are you going to do about Dal [Sigma’s nickname]?”

At Moon Hyun-ah’s words, I looked at Sigma, who was watching Yoo-hyun and Yerim’s battle of nerves. He turned his head towards us as if sensing my gaze.

“I can’t guarantee anything either.”

If he really became the real thing, it would be simple. I could just take him with me. But if that’s impossible, I didn’t know what to do yet.

“It would be best if we could go together.”

An SS-grade Hunter would be welcomed anywhere. His uncertain identity wouldn’t be a problem. If we just confirmed his grade, they would welcome him with open arms. It would be said that he looked exactly like Sung Hyun-jae, but we could just say he was a relative.

Then his last name would be Sung. …Sung-wol? I don’t think so. Or So-wol.

“If we leave, we’ll have to change his name too.”

“Don’t even think about it, hyung.”

“…Why is everyone like this.”

“No way.”

No way. Is Ppiyak the problem? Ppiyak is cute, though. Or Hayangi… already exists, Donggeuli or Ppippi, Som-mungchi….

Bang! Cold and heat collided, and steam rose. The sound was loud, but it was just a light snowball fight for non-awakened people. Still, you shouldn’t do that inside the house. The wallpaper is crying.

I looked at Sigma again through the hazy steam. He felt very different from when I first met him. Back then, he was strangely blurry, but now he comes across much more clearly, even through the steam.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“I’m thinking about taking responsibility for you. You have no home, no money, no identity when we go to my neighborhood. I’ll take you to my house first—”

“Hyung! Why again!”

“Mister! You can’t just pick up people like stray dogs!”

“I, I’m not ready yet either, Yoo-jin!”

“…Well, there are many rooms left in the building, so you can live there.”

“Oh dear, why don’t you come to nuna, Dal?”

Nuna has a lot of money, Sigma scoffed at the joke.

“There isn’t much demand for high-level Awakened people there either. A C-grade will be in charge anyway.”

“Okay, I’ll take responsibility and introduce you to a good guild! There’s Hae-yeon, which is a really, indescribably good place.”

“Ah, hyung. You have to be fair about this!”

Where is that, whoever catches it first gets it!

* * *

“Is the evacuation preparation all done?”

The ship arrived at Medang. As he got off the plane, Noah asked the Medang Defense Agency people who came to meet him. One of them stepped forward as a representative and nodded.

“Yes, Muse. Citizens are waiting in three squares, including the central square. Just open the space-time portal to Second Medang.”

“Okay. Then everyone, go to your destination first.”

Noah left with the Defense Agency guards, and we headed to the final disc installation area. One end of the bridge that crosses the large river. That was where the fifth disc was to be installed.

“The cannons installed here are all weapons that can damage even SS-grade monsters.”

The Medang guard said proudly.

“It’s the result of adding auxiliary skills to the weapons. However, since auxiliary guards cannot be stationed here, it is disposable.”

He said that anyone could exert the same effect as long as they put in enough mana. This neighborhood is really good at that. I took out my White Weasel gun and stroked it for no reason. Can’t I take this with me as it is? I’m sad about the shoes and jacket too. I think there will be more series, but I can’t collect them all.

The Medang guards retreated, leaving only the weapons behind. Yerim went down to the river, saying that there might be a spirit here too. Yoo-hyun and Piece looked around from the sky. Moon Hyun-ah also checked her bike and made a regretful expression.

“Take this, just in case.”

I handed Sigma a mini-mini cookie.

“If you’re targeted intensively, it’s better to shrink down to protect yourself.”

I grabbed him again as he took the cookie and turned to leave without saying a word.

“I don’t think I’ve ever asked you properly. Sigma, are you okay with leaving this place?”

It’s a place where he has lived for a long time. He was being suddenly rejected and forced to leave such a place, not just moving away, but going to a completely different world.

Golden eyes looked down at me.

“You’re saying something new now.”

“That’s true.”

“C-grade, you acted like you knew me well.”

…Well, it was half because of someone. His appearance and behavior patterns were quite similar. Of course, Sigma was rougher, less refined, and more childish. But there were still many similarities.

“Oh, um. That’s right. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want to be.”

Compared to Sung Hyun-jae, he felt much younger, so I forgot for a moment. This guy is definitely not a docile character either. He wouldn’t put up with anything for the sake of others. Thinking that, I unconsciously laughed.

“Hanging out together wasn’t so bad, huh? You secretly enjoyed Hyun-ah treating you like a kid, didn’t you? You didn’t resist much?”

“…You try getting caught by Lambda.”

“It’s Moon Hyun-ah, not Lambda.”

Moon Hyun-ah suddenly approached and casually put her arm on Sigma’s shoulder.

“It’s true that you didn’t run away before getting caught, our Dal.”

“Why should I run away?”

“When you leave, it’ll be Moon Hyun-ah. Her appearance will be a little different from now. What a waste, this body!”

Weapons! Bike! Alcohol! Moon Hyun-ah made a playful face. But there seemed to be some sincerity in it.

“When we leave, the contract is over.”

Yoo-hyun, who had landed behind me, looked at Sigma and said.

“Hyung isn’t even C-grade.”

Yeah, my stats are F-grade. …I’m starting to feel bad too. What a waste, this body! Of course, Eun-hye is better, but still, it was a shame. I have three lives left, but can’t I take them with me?

“So I’ll give this back. Take it with you.”

Give it back, what did he mean, but Yoo-hyun took out the Doppelganger Doll. That, was that still there?

“Huh? What is that?”

Yerim shouted in surprise, and Moon Hyun-ah also widened her eyes.

“What is this… Ah, is that a Doppelganger Doll? I’ve heard of it.”

“Wow, it’s exactly the same! It’s a doll? Give it to me, Han Yoo-hyun. I want to see it too!”

Yerim waved her hands and Moon Hyun-ah also showed interest. No, stop it. It’s just a simple dummy doll, but it’s kind of embarrassing…

“It’s nothing, Yerim. It’s just an item that comes out sometimes.”

“It’s the same as Mister’s hand! It’s a little cooler, but it has fingerprints?”

“There’s no heartbeat and the energy itself is different, so it’s obviously fake, but the appearance is exactly the same. How far does it go?”

“Hyun-ah! Don’t lift up his clothes!”

What are you doing, really! He said if you’re curious, make one yourself and check it out, and tried to take the doll away… but he didn’t have the strength.

“…Yoo-jin?”

Noah’s voice was heard. He appeared through space-time and looked back and forth between the doll and me, who were being held by Yerim and Moon Hyun-ah.

“…Ah, the Filial Piety Addict [Yoo-hyun’s nickname] said he was targeting Yoo-jin, so he made a fake one. But it looks very fake. But the appearance is the same.”

“Well, it can fool you for a while during battle. Yerim, Hyun-ah, give it back!”

“To whom?”

Moon Hyun-ah held the doll and shook it lightly. Stop it, I feel dizzy. Yerim raised her hand, saying she wanted it, but the doll returned to its original owner, Sigma. Well, it’s mine.

“Okay, let’s get ready. Get ready to go home.”

Even though not much time may have passed outside, it felt like a long time. I wonder if Myung-woo is worried. I wonder if Ppiyak and Bellare are getting along well. Director Song Tae-won, will you be a little more comfortable without us? But Riet is still there. I hope Riet didn’t cause an accident.

“Sung Hyun-jae, if you’re watching, come out before it’s too late.”

I waved my hand in the air and took out the disc. Piece stood next to me as if protecting me. The SSS-grade monster also stepped forward. Noah finished preparing and I used Teacher’s skill.

I wouldn’t want anything more if I could get in touch with the newbie right away and leave safely. But it won’t be that easy.

I took a breath and pressed the button on the disc. Immediately, a message window popped up.

[Honey, the connection with that side is not good!]

Huh? Still? And then.

[You have installed the second disc! Can’t you see the message yet?]

Another message popped up in succession. The second disc, wait a minute. When did you send these messages?

[It’s Chatterbox!]

[There is someone among the Filial Piety Addicts who can tamper with the system!]

[Jellyfish and Chatterbox!]

[Honey, the King of Innocence has contacted that place!]

[It’s better to install the disc a little slower—]

[The King of Innocence, the information of the Transcendentalist there and!]

[Not ready yet!]

[The fifth disc is!]

[A little later!]

The disc has already been installed. After a moment, a new message popped up.

[Our little Dal.]

The sky darkened as if it were breaking. It was clearly a daytime sky, but moonlight leaked through the darkness.

Like when I last met Sung Hyun-jae.