The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 313

311. Tired, But (1)

“Is that a real dragon?”

Kang Soyoung asked Sung Hyunjae, the Changeling, her eyes sparkling. The Changeling reflexively nodded, then stopped, answering with a semblance of dignity.

“Yes, a fairy dragon.”

“Ah, Team Leader Han must be so happy!”

‘All the dragons I know like Team Leader Han!’ Kang Soyoung thought, filled with envy.

“Can it get bigger too?”

“A-ah, Yoojin won’t like it, so I won’t. I won’t, I won’t, okay?”

The only forms the Changeling could take, aside from its fairy dragon form, were those of the individuals who contributed to its birth. A giant dragon would be Diarma’s true form, and even if Han Yoojin knew it was just an appearance, he would still feel uncomfortable. Besides, fairy dragons didn’t possess physical strength, so even if it transformed into a large dragon, it would only be cumbersome.

Kang Soyoung, unaware of the details, tilted her head, wondering, ‘Why wouldn’t he like it?’

“Let’s just broadcast the news quickly and be done with it.”

Evelyn said, still on the phone. Her gaze shifted from the Changeling to Han Yoohyun, then to Song Taewon. Finally, she looked back at the Changeling, Sung Hyunjae, and opened her mouth.

“I’ll write a simple script for you, so just memorize it and read it.”

“Understood. Um, I understand.”

The Changeling replied awkwardly. Although the appearance was the same, clear differences were evident in its behavior and expressions.

“The tone is different from the Guild Leader, but with a little practice, it should be fine. He changed his speech overnight, after all. As long as you don’t do anything too strange, people will just overlook it.”

“That’s right. You can even call Team Leader Han ‘Dad’!”

“Soyoung.”

“No, that’s… but it would be fun, it would be okay, I think. Oh, Hyunah unni [older sister/female friend] is calling. Unni! Yes, the Guild Leader’s house is completely gone! It’s wide open! Team Leader Han is safe, though. I can’t tell you everything; I’m a member of Sesung Guild.”

“The Breaker Guild Leader, is it? Tell her to come in person if she’s curious.”

“She says she doesn’t like it because Evelyn unni [older sister/female friend] is here.”

Kang Soyoung slowly retreated, then leaped over the rubble of the building. She exaggerated, calling herself a weak A-rank amidst S-ranks, but a high-level hunter is still a high-level hunter. She effortlessly climbed over concrete chunks taller than herself, as if flying.

“Is there anything you need me to do?”

“Director Song needs new clothes most urgently, I think.”

Kang Soyoung looked back at Song Taewon and nodded, saying, ‘Oh, really.’ Having directly confronted Sung Hyunjae, his condition was almost completely ruined. He was even buried under the rubble, making him as dirty as could be.

He was completely unsuitable for a broadcast meant to reassure the public.

“As for the Haeyeon Guild Leader…”

Han Yoohyun, noticing Kang Soyoung’s gaze, lightly ignited a flame. A dark blue flame briefly engulfed his entire body, burning away all the dust as if swallowing it. Where the flames had swept through, only a clean appearance remained, as if he had just stepped out of his house. Aside from slightly disheveled hair, no trace of the battle could be found. Kang Soyoung clapped, exclaiming, “Wow.”

“So, I just need to bring Director Song new clothes?”

“…Yes.”

Song Taewon hesitated slightly but nodded. He couldn’t appear on broadcast in his current state. However, he couldn’t leave his post to go home and get clothes. Kang Soyoung lightly leaped over the rubble and disappeared, and Song Taewon approached Han Yoohyun.

“It’s not broken, but it needs repair.”

Song Taewon handed over the Silangs River sword he had borrowed. The blade of the sword, which had been bound by the Seeker’s Chain, was chipped in several places. Still, the sword itself was intact. If it had been only A-rank, it wouldn’t have held up.

“About half of the wire remains. The charges for that—”

“I said I wouldn’t hold you responsible.”

Han Yoohyun took the sword with a short reply, put it in his inventory, and turned away. Then, he approached Evelyn.

“When will the broadcast be ready?”

“It won’t take long. More importantly, the Guild Leader owes us a favor, so the agreement for that is more crucial. I’d also like to ask for a confidentiality agreement.”

“We said we’d cooperate on the surface to handle the S-rank monster. We should coordinate our stories and say that we visited with Han Yoojin to discuss the rights ratio for the Japanese dungeon.”

“Yes. If we say that Director Song Taewon accompanied us due to some contractual issues, it will seem plausible. Then, a monster appeared at the Guild Leader’s residence and was safely dealt with. We’ll announce it like that. In return, we’ll adjust the ratio slightly. Is there any other compensation you desire? Ah, I also know about the Dungeon Root Fruit.”

Forfeiting some of the stake in the stamina potion was not a small price. However, Han Yoohyun showed no signs of satisfaction, his face remaining cold. He held out his hand to Evelyn.

“I’ll contact Haeyeon, so lend me your phone.”

“Oh dear, electronic devices don’t last long around the Guild Leader.”

“It’s physical damage.”

Han Yoohyun took the phone and contacted the Haeyeon Guild. Evelyn looked back at Song Taewon.

“Director Song, your phone probably isn’t intact either.”

Song Taewon simply nodded in response. He needed to contact the Awakened Management Office and the Association. There were many other things to do as well. He felt like he was wasting time just standing there, but Song Taewon couldn’t move, as if nailed to the spot.

His gaze turned to the damp floor. Scattered fragments of ice sparkled in the sunlight, slowly melting away. He remembered the person who had collapsed there, and the person who had tried to help them.

Song Taewon still couldn’t fully understand the exact situation. However, Han Yoojin had saved Sung Hyunjae. That simple fact scattered his thoughts. He raised his hand and wiped his face.

He was more tired than ever. It felt like his entire body was sinking into a sticky swamp. Fortunately or unfortunately, he didn’t have time to dwell on it for long.

“I trust you will keep my brother’s secret.”

Han Yoohyun, who had approached unnoticed, said to Song Taewon.

“I don’t think there’s any reason for his rank to change either.”

“That’s—”

“Isn’t it difficult to even explain the reason?”

Han Yoohyun’s voice was firm. He was determined to use his power, if necessary, to prevent Han Yoojin’s new abilities from being revealed and his rank from being adjusted accordingly. Although his skill rank was high, he couldn’t directly help with dungeon raids, and his stats were F-rank, so Han Yoojin’s official rank was still B-rank. The double sharing of attack skills was unknown, so there was no change in rank.

However, if it was revealed that he could temporarily possess the abilities of an S-rank hunter, he would be raised to at least A-rank. Moreover, in Japan, he had even revealed a support skill that could double a hunter’s stats, albeit under strict conditions. In fact, his rank should have been changed.

“It’s better for him to remain a mid-level hunter.”

Han Yoohyun handed over the phone, emphasizing again. High-level hunters received various benefits from the state but were also subject to restrictions. In particular, they could be forcibly mobilized during national crises caused by monsters. There were also special laws created based on the fact that they were humans with powers beyond the norm, which contained unfavorable content for Han Yoojin, whose stats were normally F-rank.

On the other hand, the benefits for high-level hunters were not very advantageous for Han Yoojin. They were mainly focused on hunters who raided dungeons, such as the right to bid on high-level items and the right to trade high-level dungeon rights. There were more disadvantages than advantages to raising his rank just for tax savings.

“I will answer after confirming the exact details regarding that matter.”

Song Taewon took the phone as if he wouldn’t say anything more and called the Awakened Management Office. He tried to erase unnecessary thoughts from his mind and focus on the work that was piling up.

The broadcast about the monster incident at the Sesung Guild Leader’s residence ended quickly. With Evelyn’s help, the Changeling convincingly played Sung Hyunjae. As soon as the live broadcast ended, Han Yoohyun handed the work over to the Haeyeon Guild’s legal team and went straight home. On the other hand, the Changeling was caught by Evelyn, who said he still had more work to do, and wore a tearful expression.

-Grrr!

Han Yoohyun’s brow furrowed at the urgent growling he heard even before opening the door. The Flame Mane Lion never cared who came home except for Han Yoojin. But it was out by the door, making noise. This meant something was wrong with Han Yoojin.

Han Yoohyun quickly opened the door.

“Where’s hyung [older brother]?”

-Kheuheung.

Peace, who had been pacing near the front door, turned around as soon as he saw Han Yoohyun. Han Yoohyun followed Peace without taking off his shoes. He saw Han Yoojin lying stretched out on the sofa. He was still a mess, just as he had last seen him.

His clothes were torn in places, and although his wounds had been treated, faint bloodstains remained. It seemed he had collapsed as soon as he got home without being able to do anything.

“Hyung [older brother]!”

Was it too much of a burden to temporarily use the power of an S-rank hunter? Han Yoohyun quickly checked Han Yoojin’s condition. He was sleeping so deeply that he couldn’t hear the shouting, but fortunately, he seemed fine. He didn’t have a fever, and his breathing was even. His complexion was also normal.

Han Yoohyun let out a long sigh of relief. Peace also watched Han Yoohyun’s expression and sat down next to the sofa as if guarding him, relieved. Han Yoohyun took off his shoes and put them in the entryway, then took the chip from his broken phone and put it in a new device. As soon as the phone turned on, unreceived messages came in.

[Are you okay, uncle?]

[Did the Guild Leader’s phone break again?]

[It looks like you’re safe from the broadcast.]

[Uncle, I still can’t call you, I’m going in for dinner.]

[Take your medicine]

[My phone is black other color xx]

Han Yoohyun roughly skimmed through Park Yerim’s messages and replied.

[ㅇ]

He put down his phone, knelt in front of the sofa where Han Yoojin was sleeping, and sat down, leaning over. He gently rubbed the bloodstains on Han Yoojin’s cheek with his finger. It had already hardened and wouldn’t come off.

“It upsets me that hyung [older brother] keeps getting hurt.”

It made him feel even worse when it was related to other people. Why did he try to take care of everything so much? Han Yoohyun couldn’t understand. He didn’t need anything except for one person. He was trying to accept that Han Yoojin was Han Yoojin, but it was never a welcome thing.

Irin crawled out from inside Han Yoohyun’s sleeve and patted the back of his hand with its front paws as if to comfort him.

“…Still, he was with me until the end.”

The fact that Han Yoojin had returned from the future to the past didn’t come across as anything more than a simple understanding. So that’s why there were so many questionable things about hyung’s [older brother’s] actions. That was all.

The important thing was that he had been next to Han Yoojin, and Han Yoojin had returned to Han Yoohyun. When he remembered his hyung [older brother] hugging him and saying he loved him after returning to the past, a smile naturally formed. He felt the faint anxiety in his heart disappear.

They must have been on good terms. So they were together at the last moment, and he came back to his side.

Did they reconcile safely and live in the same house again like now? He didn’t have the monster breeding skill, so there wouldn’t have been a breeding center. Then maybe the Haeyeon Guild’s house would have become our house. If it had been just the two of them, he would have envied that.

“I was scared that I would be forever estranged from hyung [older brother].”

He thought it was the best thing to do, but he couldn’t help but feel anxious. Still, it turned out well. It seemed like he had done well as a result.

However, Han Yoohyun still didn’t understand why Han Yoojin had died.

Was it the difference of five years?

“I need to wash up and change my clothes.”

Han Yoohyun’s hand lightly touched his hyung [older brother]. He couldn’t leave him like this since he was practically an ordinary person. He said that if you weren’t clean, you could easily get sick. And you had to be even more careful during the change of seasons.

“They say you’ll catch a cold if you don’t wash up well after going out. Hyung [older brother], are you very tired? I’ll take you to your room.”

Should he wet a towel and wipe him down? Then, the closed eyes slowly opened. Han Yoohyun brightened and stood up.

“Let’s wash up and sleep. …Hyung [older brother]?”

“Uh…”

The black eyes blinked once. They were vaguely directed at the air without focus. Han Yoohyun took a short breath at the movement of his eyes, which clearly couldn’t find him.

He couldn’t see. The moment he realized that fact, he panicked but soon calmed down. He had already expected that his eyesight might deteriorate since it had happened once before. He didn’t expect him to not be able to see at all. …Surely he wouldn’t be blind forever.

“Hyung [older brother]! Look at me, can’t you see me?”

Um, Yoohyun’s voice sounds very small too. It seemed like he had some problems with his hearing as well. At least his voice was coming out properly.

“It, cough, it seems like that, but calm down.”

“How can I calm down? What the heck—!”

-Kkeueung, kkiang.

Peace seemed flustered by Yoohyun’s shout and whined next to him. Bbyak and Bellare were also making a fuss.

“It’s temporary like last time. Don’t worry. Besides, I have Teacher’s Skill, you know. Peace, please help Dad.”

Where’s our Peace? Peace put his head on his groping hand. It must be his head hitting something hard. When he used Teacher’s Skill on Peace, he could see his surroundings.

“Okay, I can see clearly, Ack!”

“Hyung [older brother]!”

He could see, but because his perspective was different, he tried to get up and move, but he hit his leg on the table. He tried to pretend he was okay, but he just embarrassed himself. He had turned off Grace, so it hurt quite a bit. Yoohyun quickly grabbed him and sat him back down on the sofa. Peace, don’t just look at me, look at Yoohyun too.

“Hyung [older brother], really…”

He seemed very angry, but Peace wouldn’t turn his head. Haha.