The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 373

371. Beneath the Lake (2)

Park Yerim’s eyes widened, brimming with emotion. Then, she exclaimed,

“My Sanho, Mareu, Suri, Haerang, Parang, Doran!”

Park Yerim rattled off the names she hadn’t settled on yet. The baby Water Dragon flinched, its little ears drooping at the sudden outburst. Startled, Park Yerim quickly lowered her voice and turned to Han Yoohyun.

“Oh my gosh, it’s so cute! Did you see it? Huh? It’s a Water Dragon, a Water Dragon!”

*My* Riding monster! Park Yerim’s lips curled into a smile. She knew the situation was serious, but she couldn’t suppress her joy.

She wasn’t jealous of the bond between Han Yoohyun and Peace, his Riding monster, but seeing them made her long for a partner of her own. *Her* Riding monster, not just anyone’s.

“If it’s a dragon, it’ll grow big, right? I hope it learns to become incorporeal like Peace. I bet there will be incorporeality skill items as dungeon rewards, right?”

While chattering excitedly, Park Yerim carefully approached the water’s edge. As she neared the Water Dragon, she quieted her voice and held her breath.

“Hello.”

– Ggyuk.

“It’s okay, I’m not a bad *unnie* [older sister or female friend]. Or maybe *nuna* [term used by males for older sister or female friend]? I’m not sure which to use.”

As Park Yerim crouched by the water, the baby Water Dragon slowly approached. It looked at Park Yerim with curious eyes, then splashed water.

“It’s cold!”

– Gyureureuk!

“It might be dangerous here, so I’ll move you somewhere safer. Is that okay?”

The baby Water Dragon tilted its head, seemingly uncomprehending. One of the goblins held out the owner’s mark received from Han Yoojin. Park Yerim thanked them and took the mark from the outstretched arm, the goblin still wary of the S-Rank Awakener.

“Okay, lifting you up.”

The water rippled, and the Water Dragon’s body, along with the surrounding water, slowly rose as if scooped up by an invisible ladle. The baby Water Dragon, contained in a large hemispherical bubble of water, spun around in confusion.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Should I warm it up a little?”

As she gently warmed the cold lake water, the baby Water Dragon blinked its round eyes. It seemed to enjoy it, wagging its tail fins.

– Kkeureureuk.

“Good, right? I still think it would be better to leave it with the Murim Alliance [a martial arts association]. I’m worried about leaving it outside.”

“Don’t trust them.”

Han Yoohyun replied coldly to Park Yerim’s suggestion.

“It’s a baby monster that can grow into an S-Rank. The chance of them stealing it is high. Even if they can’t raise it without hyung [older brother], they could propose a trade.”

Finding a baby S-Rank monster with a matching attribute wasn’t easy. So, they might feign its loss or theft and demand a high price for its return, disguising the transaction through another party. Considering the current state of the Murim Alliance, it was even more dangerous.

At his words, Park Yerim pouted, as if resigned.

“Or I want to send it straight to Korea. Peace, do you not want to go home?”

– Geureureung.

Peace glared at the baby Water Dragon spinning in the water bubble, wrinkling his nose. His eyes showed his dislike for the Water Dragon.

“Look at him. He’s angry that there are only baby monsters and no uncles… Han Yoohyun, are you the same?”

Somehow, the Riding monster and its owner shared similar sullen expressions, transcending species.

“No. Hyung [older brother] is the problem, not the Water Dragon.”

“That’s true.”

Park Yerim nodded in agreement.

“It would have been dangerous if you got caught trying to sneak it out. But knowing *ajusshi’s* [term for older man, often used affectionately] personality, there’s no way he would have ignored a baby monster. It’s a relief there’s only one; if there were several, he would have tried to carry them all out somehow.”

Han Yoohyun sighed softly at Park Yerim’s words, as if saying, ‘What can you do, *ajusshi* is like that.’ It was indeed a relief there was only one.

“First, hide it in an uninhabited place as planned. There’s still time until midnight.”

Then, Han Yoohyun’s gaze turned to the goblins huddled together. Han Yoojin had instructed them to evacuate the goblins to a safe location. But he hesitated to send away the goblins who were friendly to hyung. They possessed stealth and short-range teleportation skills, and although their stats weren’t high, they were still mid-level. If used strategically, they could be helpful.

“Are you really unable to harm people?”

“We can’t!”

“No way!”

The goblins retreated, shuffling backward.

“We don’t like that.”

“Killing is even worse.”

“If we kill, we become scary!”

“Very scary!”

“They said they can’t. Leave them alone. Besides, do you think *ajusshi* would let them get hurt? Even if their stats are lower, he’d protect them.”

Understanding Park Yerim’s point, Han Yoohyun still looked displeased. Seeing the goblins shrink back, Park Yerim quickly waved her hand.

“Don’t worry! They may look like that, and they’re definitely not nice and have bad tempers, but they listen to *ajusshi* well. It’s worse because they have separation anxiety. And they haven’t been sleeping well lately. Go get some sleep.”

“…….”

Instead of answering, Han Yoohyun looked towards the lake. Light faintly flickered beyond the lake, perhaps from the watchtower’s lights.

“Then I’ll go!”

Park Yerim took the Water Dragon and flew away with the goblins. The surroundings became quiet in an instant. Only the sound of rippling water could be heard faintly. Peace trotted to the lakeside. He seemed to have noticed Han Yoojin on the other side, as he whined softly as if urging him.

“Wait.”

Han Yoohyun commanded briefly. He wanted to cross the lake right away, but it wasn’t time yet. He took out a chunk of meat and mana stones from his inventory and gave them to Peace, and he also lightly quenched his thirst. He wasn’t hungry, but he chewed and swallowed some dried food.

‘…There’s no way I can sleep.’

Park Yerim simply assumed he couldn’t sleep because he was separated from Han Yoojin, but the reality was more complex. Of course, he couldn’t sleep properly unless he was in a space he recognized as home. Still, he could at least get some light sleep, but the problem was the dreams.

Since the battle with Han Yoojin, the events of that time often recurred in Han Yoohyun’s dreams.

Hyung was engulfed in black flames, spreading wings that had turned black. He scattered thick poison and quickly closed the distance, mercilessly wielding sharp claws. The stench of blood, the smell of burning, thick smoke. Hyung freely used Park Yerim and Noah’s skills, as well as Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon’s skills.

Arms and legs were torn, and his neck was strangled. Just when he thought he had cornered him, the tail struck from an unpredictable direction. He used the plunder skill to take away SS-Rank weapons, and at the exact timing when sword met sword, body met body, he increased the weight to create an opening.

Poison quietly seeped in, and the moment he stepped, slippery ice was laid out. In addition to his combat experience with Han Yoojin, all the experiences Han Yoohyun had gone through were imbued in the Han Yoojin in his dreams.

It was a chillingly enjoyable fight.

And the end was always the same: Han Yoohyun’s hand pierced through Han Yoojin’s body. Unlike reality, he wore a dark smile, unable to control himself.

Han Yoohyun slowly clenched and unclenched his hand. Dreams are just dreams. Still, if he had such a dream again in this situation, it would be difficult to just wait for time to pass quietly. Irin slid onto Han Yoohyun’s shoulder. Unable to speak because Han Yoojin wasn’t there, it circled around anxiously.

How much time had passed? Park Yerim reappeared. Unlike when she left, she was alone.

“What time is it?”

“Eleven twenty-four.”

“Not much time left.”

Park Yerim sat cross-legged in the air, looking at the lake alongside Han Yoohyun. Then, a faint green goblin fire approached them.

“Huh? A goblin? Why didn’t you follow me? It’s dangerous here.”

At Park Yerim’s words, the goblin fire wavered. After a long deliberation, it cautiously opened its mouth.

“I shouldn’t say this…”

“What is it?”

“I shouldn’t…”

Park Yerim tilted her head, then remembered something and said, “Ah.”

“If you signed a contract or something, go to *ajusshi*. He’ll help you.”

“Park Yerim.”

“I didn’t say anything specific. And *ajusshi* would want to solve it too. There’s still time, so go quickly.”

But the goblin shook its head.

“Can Little Kim enter the water?”

“Yes.”

“Are you very strong?”

“Of course! I’m the best in the water.”

“Then will you follow me?”

Park Yerim glanced at Han Yoohyun. At her questioning look, Han Yoohyun replied.

“Thirty minutes left.”

“…I have a strong feeling I won’t be back in time. But I feel like I have to go.”

“Then go.”

“Really go?”

“It doesn’t seem like a trap. And it’s possible it’s related to the original goblins, so it would be good to check.”

If that goblin, Yoon Yoon, was helping the military, whether forced or willingly, they could lose Han Yoojin again after saving him. They could just grab him with teleportation. Han Yoojin had also worried about that and left a message to be careful. At those words, Park Yerim nodded.

“*Ajusshis* will join too, so it should be okay, right? I’ll be back as soon as possible. If you have time, leave some for me.”

Park Yerim urged the goblin to hurry. The goblin entered the lake first. Park Yerim also slipped into the water silently. The lake at night was very dark. Even with the eyesight of an S-Rank Awakener, it was hard to distinguish the surroundings properly.

“Can I turn on the light?”

“No.”

The goblin replied and turned off its own light as well.

“Little Kim, shh!”

Then, the goblin, telling her to be quiet, swam diligently right in front of Park Yerim. Even though it couldn’t see anything, it accurately grasped the direction and moved forward without hesitation.

‘Can goblins breathe underwater?’

But the speed was slow, so Park Yerim gently pushed it with her hand. The goblin, startled by Park Yerim’s touch, widened its eyes. It didn’t seem to like it, but it didn’t refuse the push.

How long had they been swimming like that? Just when she thought it must be past midnight, a faint light appeared in the distance.

“Little Kim.”

The goblin whispered softly.

“I am a bamboo flute.”

“Huh?”

“And there is a flowerpot where chrysanthemums used to bloom.”

“A flowerpot? What are you talking about?”

The lightless goblin fire swayed in the water. It was so faint it seemed like it would disappear any moment.

“The chrysanthemum flowerpot can’t escape. So I’m going with you.”

“Going, where to?”

Park Yerim asked, even though she guessed something. The goblin fire, shrunk small, landed on her palm.

“Save me, Little Kim. And there is something very scary. Be careful.”

The whispering voice grew fainter and fainter. The goblin fire scattered, and the form that resembled a small human collapsed. An old flute was left on Park Yerim’s hand. Park Yerim blinked.

“…I could have just gone to *ajusshi*.”

She said that, but she knew why the bamboo flute goblin had done this. She had heard that there were weak goblins who couldn’t teleport. Cursed contracts that trapped those goblins who couldn’t escape, and harmed both sides if other goblins tried to rescue them. Something like that must have been placed.

As Park Yerim guessed, the military had captured weak goblins and imprisoned them beneath the lake. They could have captured strong goblins with contracts to prevent them from escaping, but instead, they paired them with weak goblins, made contracts to prevent them from saving their kin, and then released them. And the strong goblins naturally took care of the trapped goblins without being told.

Hidden deep in the lake, there was no possibility of their location being exposed. There was no need for guards to monitor and care for the goblins, making it even safer. They just needed to install surveillance cameras and leave them alone.

“…So what if I survive alone.”

Park Yerim’s hand carefully held the old flute so it wouldn’t break. Colorful lights flickered within a large cage submerged beneath the lake. The water around Park Yerim churned. Streams of water, like thick vines, stretched out and grabbed the cage’s dense bars. The sturdy metal bars, which couldn’t be broken with mid-level stats, twisted and were soon torn off.

A large, chipped and cracked flowerpot was placed among the goblin fires moving around in surprise.

Twelve o’clock.

Willow leaves scattered around Han Yoohyun. Peace also took out his wings. At that moment, when the second hand precisely aligned.

Kwaaaang─!!

A roar erupted. Once, then twice, three times, continuously, endlessly.

Peace flew up, and Han Yoohyun kicked off the ground. Stepping on the leaves drifting on the water’s surface, he crossed the dark lake like a swift swallow. Soon, an island engulfed in flames came into his sight. Something golden flashed and disappeared for a moment in the flames that burned so intensely they stung his eyes.

A smile formed on Han Yoohyun’s lips as he clearly confirmed it. The Ruler’s Sword was drawn long in his hand, and the island quickly approached.