The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 284

282. Burning It Clean (1)

Naturally, SiShio couldn’t arrive immediately. He had preparations to make, and all I needed from the Lion King was his signature on my labor cost payment agreement. Of course, that didn’t mean I’d just sit around twiddling my thumbs.

“You all seem to be lacking in patriotism. Here I am, setting aside my concern for my beloved homeland to help you out.”

I threatened to leave and used the Amaterasu Guild members as my personal errand runners.

“No mid-level Hunters. It has to be a hundred upper-level, S-Rank or higher Hunters who can withstand the chaos of those monsters. If you can’t meet that standard, you’re doomed.”

“B-but, is there really a way to solve this…?”

“If you don’t trust me, you can quit. I can just go back to Korea, you know.”

I glanced at the items in my inventory as I spoke.

[Wide-Area Bait – SS-Rank

A bait set that can attract all monsters of SS-Rank or lower within a 200km radius. 10 pieces, 10 different scents.

One-time use]

Covering the entire country of Japan was impossible, but if I could identify the locations of the S-Rank or higher monsters, find a good spot, and use the bait, I could gather them in one place. If they strayed too far, I could lure them separately.

“Don’t you have reconnaissance satellites or something? Anything to confirm the current locations of the S-Rank or higher monsters. I need to gather them within a 200km radius.”

“A 200km radius, you say?”

“I won’t be responsible for any stragglers. And also, a place where it’s okay to wipe them all out. After figuring out the monsters’ locations, make the central area within that range suitable, even if it isn’t already.”

Even if that place was Tokyo. Evacuate everyone and clear it out. The Amaterasu Guild members’ expressions turned subtle, as if they roughly guessed my plan from my explanation.

“There are already five confirmed SS-Rank monsters, but how can we deal with them all at once…?”

“That’s not many. Move quickly before the damage gets worse. And somehow drag any S-Rank or higher monsters outside the range into it.”

Get to work, get to work. The Japanese Hunters, with uneasy faces that showed they didn’t trust me, began to move busily. They were in a situation where they had to grasp at any straw.

Since it wasn’t inside a dungeon, they could use various modern equipment. Figuring out the monsters’ locations wouldn’t be difficult. Even an SS-Rank monster would have a hard time catching up to a supersonic fighter jet in an instant, unless it had teleportation-type skills.

In fact, before the regression [MC’s return to the past], when an overwhelming SS-Rank monster popped out of a dungeon, they used fighter jets to lure it. Ordinary shells didn’t work, but they were enough to irritate the monster.

“Oh, and high-level monsters don’t react well to drones! You need to embed high-level magic stones. The best reaction is from high-level Hunters. When attracting SS-Rank monsters, use at least S-Rank magic stones. And Yu-Hyun.”

After giving instructions, I turned to my brother.

“You should rest from now on.”

“I’m not tired. I’m fine.”

“Still, rest. You’re the main player, so we need you fully prepared.”

Under the current conditions, Yu-Hyun was the most suitable. Ye-Rim wasn’t bad either, but to maximize the bait’s range, the hunting ground would be inland, not the coast.

“I’ll ask them to clear out the floors above and below where you’re resting. It’ll be distracting if there are other people.”

“I’m okay with Hyung [Older brother]. You said you were sleepy earlier, let’s go together.”

“I have to stay here and watch if the things I ordered are being done well. And I have to get the Amaterasu Guild Leader to sign the contract when he comes. I’ll come to pick you up when the preparations are done.”

As I sent my brother up to the guest room, Ye-Rim sparkled her eyes and raised one hand.

“Ahjussi [Term for older man, like uncle], what about me? Should I help lure the monsters?”

“No, you can leave that to those people. The monsters aren’t going to jump 200km in an instant, so you’ll have to help hold out until they’re all gathered.”

I had to check the monster distribution, but I’d have to hold out for about an hour. S-Rank monsters wouldn’t be difficult, but the problem was the SS-Rank monsters.

“Please check the SS-Rank monsters’ information in as much detail as possible, besides their current locations. Especially their appearance. If possible, take photos or videos and send them to me.”

It would be good if they were guys I knew. I had to calculate their locations and movement speeds and position them so they could arrive at the very end, right after the preparations were complete. If it were just one or two, it would be manageable, but if five monsters rushed in at once, it would be dangerous even with a large number of S-Rank Hunters.

“Ye-Rim, you should rest until then too. Noah, as well. Would you like something to eat?”

Food was prepared on one side of the spacious lounge. I should have fed Yu-Hyun and sent him up. Eating right before sleeping isn’t good, though. The hotel staff were quietly moving, watching us carefully. Even in this situation, they couldn’t leave work, but this place would be much safer than outside.

– Pi-yak!

Looking at the buffet-style food, Pi-yak cried as if demanding food.

“No. You overate.”

I figured it had used up almost all the power of the magic stones it ate, but I couldn’t be sure. Instead, I put Bellare on the table and gave it a magic stone.

– Pii.

– Shiit.

Bellare glanced at Pi-yak and took the magic stone, wondering if it would try to snatch it. But for once, Pi-yak was quiet. How well-behaved.

“Our Pi-yak is so admirable. It knows how to be patient.”

As a reward, I gave it a C-Rank magic stone, which it snatched and swallowed with its beak. Then, feeling happy, it began to trot around the table with Bellare.

“Meat again?”

“Yes, meat! Do you have any Korean food here? Drosia’s food wasn’t bad, but I miss rice.”

“That’s right, that’s right. What kind of Korean food do you have, or just lend me the kitchen. Noah, what about you?”

“I’m fine with what’s here. I’m not picky.”

“Still, tell me if there’s anything you want to eat. There’s not much I can make, though.”

Noah hesitated and opened his mouth.

“Then I’ll have Korean food too. What do you call it, home-cooked meal. Please make it simple, like what Yu-Jin usually eats.”

Simple, huh. I usually just throw something together when I’m alone. Myung-Woo followed me as if it were natural and sent all the kitchen staff out.

“We actually didn’t come out in just two days.”

All I needed were side dishes since there was rice. While I grabbed eggs, a frying pan, and salt, Myung-Woo quickly prepared the ingredients for stew.

“There was a problem, so the inside of the dungeon, the virtual reality thing, it became similar to a game. Time flowed much faster. Games usually have faster time than reality, so we were there for over ten days.”

“That long?”

“Yeah. Almost two weeks? But other people went in using avatars like in a real game, but I was in my real body.”

Thunk, the meat on the cutting board was sliced.

“Only Yu-Jin, of course.”

Myung-Woo’s voice dropped sharply. I hadn’t even brought up the main point yet, but I couldn’t let him get like that already.

“No, that’s… It’s not my fault this time. It’s not like I wanted it. Really.”

I’m telling the truth. But Myung-Woo didn’t seem to be in a good mood. …He’d get angry if I asked him to check my mana imprint. I have to tell him, but he’ll get angry. I got the imprint because I wanted to, so if I told him the details, he’d really get angry.

There are listening ears here, so let’s talk about it when we get home. I deserve to be scolded, so there’s nothing I can do.

“Oh, and they had mana guns there.”

“Firearms?”

“Yeah. I’ll take one out and give it to you later. There were weapons that could produce firepower regardless of rank if you just put in mana, so it would be useful if we could make them in our world.”

It would be impossible for low-level Hunters to produce A or S-Rank power because of the amount of mana, but an F-Rank could have about C-Rank attack power. That alone would make it much safer to run low-level dungeons. At the same time, support-type Hunters could also have effective means of attack.

“Upper-level Hunters would be better off with weapons tailored to their abilities, but it would be a huge help to mid- and low-level Hunters.”

“I’m curious how they’re made. Can I take it apart?”

“Of course. Go ahead!”

He seems a little less upset. I’ll have to take out the items from the other world and talk about the imprint when we get home. If I convince him that it will definitely help my safety, I’ll be scolded less.

Moon Hyun-Ah, who had gone to contact the Breaker Guild, also returned while we were cooking. She said it had been a while since she had Korean food and asked me to make something spicy. I should have fed Yu-Hyun and sent him up. Should I call him now? Is he already asleep?

“Wow, the broth is amazing. I shouldn’t drink now, should I?”

“You don’t get drunk anyway.”

Moon Hyun-Ah smiled at my words.

“I had some points left over, so I exchanged them. It wasn’t much. There are only two bottles.”

“Then save them.”

“Should we call Song Director for a drink when we get back? I didn’t tell him that there’s alcohol that can get even S-Ranks drunk.”

“Then I’ll join you too. Ye-Rim, of course, you can’t.”

Ye-Rim, who was trying to join in, pouted and scooped up a big spoonful of rice. I’ll make him sign a contract saying that he’ll take responsibility for the baby sheep when Director Song is drunk. Or maybe I can talk to him openly even without that. If he’s strong against alcohol, one or two bottles won’t work, will they? I should have brought a few bottles myself if I had known.

I stroked Piece on my lap and took a few spoonfuls. It was really delicious to eat rice after a long time. While we were eating, the Japanese Hunters brought out photos of the SS-Rank monsters.

“Fortunately, there are no flying types.”

Except for one, they were monsters I remembered. The one I didn’t know didn’t seem to be able to fly based on its shape.

“Keep tracking their locations, and did you find a place?”

“Yes! We’re discussing about three places.”

“Don’t think about reducing the damage in front of you, and look far ahead. Even if there are important facilities, ignore them all and make it a place where you can attract as many monsters as possible safely.”

There are cases where people ruin things by saving unnecessary things. The Japanese Hunter replied that he would keep that in mind, and the Amaterasu Guild Leader also said that he would arrive within thirty minutes.

Hearing about SiShio-nim’s news makes my heart flutter. How should I rip him off so that I can keep eating well for a long time? First, I’ll have him hand over the list of all the equipment he has now, and if there’s not much that catches my eye… what kind of dungeons and equipment will come out in Japan in the future.

“I’m really curious how our Han Director will solve this. I wonder if I can lend a hand.”

“Of course, Hyun-Ah-ssi’s help is also needed. Would you like to tour the Amaterasu Guild’s warehouse later?”

“Of course, I’d love to!”

To hold out until the monsters enter a certain distance, the help of S-Rank Hunters is essential. Fortunately, there are many skilled people. Like Sung Mo-ssi sitting over there.

‘…But he’s really quiet.’

I turned my head and looked at Sung Hyun-Je, who was sitting on the other side of the lounge. I thought it was strangely quiet even in the Black Cow Forest dungeon. He didn’t ask about the changeling or the magic stones. He didn’t say anything until I spoke to him first.

It was the same even after we came out. He usually took the initiative to move, but he felt like he was taking a step back the whole time. He didn’t even say anything when I was talking nonsense. He should have teased the kids, saying things like, ‘I’m honored that you chose me,’ or ‘Let’s make the next tourist destination a deserted island.’ He didn’t interfere with the call with Song Tae-Won, and he only said one word about So-Young-ssi’s matter. He didn’t even say things like, ‘I didn’t know you were having such a conversation with Ye-Rim, I’ll remember it well.’ The person who used to do the first verse, second verse, and third verse ended up finishing with just one verse, let alone the first verse.

Even now, he wasn’t involved in anything other than contacting the Sesung Guild and was sitting separately. The way he had a coffee cup next to the front window with a good view and settled in looked like he was doing a photo shoot. It felt really strange. Awkward, and unfamiliar.

In the end, I couldn’t stand it anymore and put down Piece and got up and approached the table where Sung Hyun-Je was sitting. There was no way he wouldn’t notice my presence, but he only turned his head and looked up at me after I stood right next to him.

“Is it because of the Crescent Moon?”

People who don’t know the inside story wouldn’t understand this much.

“Anyone would feel terrible.”

Forcibly holding onto someone who doesn’t want to, erasing their memories, and making them repeat lives countless times. It seemed like Sung Hyun-Je would lightly brush even that off, but at the same time, it seemed like he would be even more angry because it was him.

Sung Hyun-Je, who had only been looking at me for a moment, took out an item from his inventory. His long fingers dropped a sound-blocking item on the table with a thud.

“Are you worried?”

“What kind of worry is that, with my status. It’s just─”

I stopped talking.

“…Yes. I’m worried.”

Honestly.

“The more I think about it, the more angry I get. Not at Sung Hyun-Je-ssi [Honorific], but at that damn Crescent Moon. I’m also in a position where I’m being dragged around, so I get annoyed even if it’s not my business.”

No matter how noble the intention, the person who is harmed is just angry.

“Is Sigma’s escape definitely helpful to Sung Hyun-Je-ssi? If you can’t hit that Crescent Moon, it’s a waste of your hard work. In the end, the special quest had nothing to do with our escape, did it?”

Rather, it was a hindrance. If I hadn’t protected Sigma, the monsters wouldn’t have chased us, and the horse head wouldn’t have popped out. If I had just installed all the discs, the newbie would have opened the escape route. Sung Hyun-Je took care of me from time to time and I got additional points, but that’s not enough.

“Even if there was no special quest, Han Yu-Jin-gun [Honorific] wouldn’t have left me alone.”

“Well, that’s… I’m partly responsible too. Anyway. …But in the first place, if you didn’t look so much like him, I would have just passed by. I got involved because I thought you were Sung Hyun-Je.”

To be exact, we’re the same human, but anyway. If I didn’t have a friendship with Sung Hyun-Je, I would have just passed by, thinking, ‘Oh, he looks just like the Sesung Guild Leader.’ I wouldn’t have gone into that dungeon with him.

I was going to go to the opposite chair, but I just sat on the table. If I sat on the chair, my eye level would naturally be lower, but I didn’t want to do that now. It’s impossible psychologically, so the balance has to be right, even if it’s physically. …I don’t think it’ll be right with just this, though.

“You haven’t even touched your coffee. Is it for decoration? …Ugh, it’s disgusting. It tastes terrible.”

What the hell is this taste? I told him not to drink it because it would ruin his tongue, and Sung Hyun-Je curved his eyes.

“I don’t have any memories yet, so I don’t know the details, but the relationship with the Crescent Moon must be like a difficult contract that has been tied up several times. You can think of it as cutting off one strand of that tangled thread.”

“It’s tangled, but the middle is cut off, so there’s a way to untangle it?”

“It won’t be easy, though.”

The thread that is wrapped in several layers will not be untangled immediately just by cutting off one strand. Still, it would be much better than having no gap.

“That’s a relief.”

“You should say thank you.”

“Oh, what for. I’ve already received what I’m going to receive. Besides, I, not Sung Hyun-Je-ssi, but anyone around me… I don’t want to be taken away.”

I’m sick and tired of transcendents looking down from outside the world and manipulating people. You guys are good, but can’t I do the same thing again since I’ve already sent two guys?

“You won’t be able to approach me right now, so don’t worry too much. And Sung Hyun-Je-ssi will be fine.”

The Crescent Moon is currently asleep. Sung Hyun-Je is probably the cause of that. On the other hand, Sung Hyun-Je did not die before the regression. If he had died or been dragged out of this world, the memories before the regression would not have remained in his body.

He was missing, so he may have been hit hard. But that meant that he wasn’t unilaterally defeated by the Crescent Moon. Rather, he must have hit him back.

“The fact that I don’t know the past is annoying, but.”

Golden eyes looked up at me.

“What I’m worried about now is something else.”

Huh? What else is there?