The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 439

437. You’ve Worked Hard (1)

“What happens if we go outside the designated area?” Sung Hyunjae asked over the loud helicopter rotor noise.

“Why do you ask? Don’t cause any trouble.”

“I might accidentally step on the line.”

“This isn’t dodgeball. Do you have urgent business? I’ll ask the newbie first.”

*Does he want to leave Korea that badly?* Come to think of it, according to Soyoung and the people around him, this is the longest he’s stayed in Korea. He’s been to Hong Kong, Japan, and China, but those are nearby countries and he didn’t stay long. Except for the time difference in the Japanese dungeon.

“Just stay close for now, close. How about Russia?”

“My relationship with them isn’t good.”

“…What did you do?”

Before the filial piety addicts even get involved, isn’t it already swarming with enemies? If Chatterbox [referring to a character known for gossiping and stirring trouble] throws out bait saying he’ll help Sung Hyunjae get revenge! They’ll swarm and bite. I’m already hearing that there are a lot of abandoned people.

Sung Hyunjae slightly raised the corner of his lips.

“It was enjoyable enough. Back then.”

Is it that serious? No wonder Song’s expression brightened when he heard Sung Hyunjae couldn’t go abroad.

“When we go back to Korea, please organize the dangerous and noteworthy people. We’re in the same boat now.”

“Sorry I’m so popular.”

Sung Hyunjae spouted nonsense. I don’t know much about Russia except that it’s the most advanced in hunter liquor. There are many high-ranking hunters, and the mortality rate for mid- to low-ranking hunters is relatively high.

“Anyway, please don’t do anything that will make me and Director Song’s stomachs churn.”

“I should gift Han Yoojin a hand mirror.”

I wanted to retort, but my conscience locked my mouth. I’ll be really well-behaved for a while.

“Soyoung said she once caught king crabs in Russia.”

Yerim, who was leaning halfway out of the helicopter to look outside, turned to us and said.

“King crabs, huh.”

“She also caught lobsters.”

I wonder if she practiced cooking back then. I don’t know if she boarded a normal fishing boat or overturned the sea. Or maybe it was a ship hijacking.

“Weren’t there many S-Rank hunters in Russia? There’s a pretty famous one, too.”

“Come to think of it, there was an ice-type S-Rank hunter.”

“Really? Who is it?” Yerim asked, curious.

“Yuri Radayev.”

“Is it a woman?”

“No. A man who is older and younger than Han Yoojin.”

He must be between twenty-five and thirty years old. If he’s an S-Rank hunter, he must have ice-attribute items. Of course, I have no intention of robbing a good person of their equipment.

Yuri Radayev. I think I’ve heard of him. Yuri is short, but many Russian hunters have difficult names, so it’s hard to remember all the S-Ranks. It’s the same in other countries if the names are long and unfamiliar.

Anyway, he wasn’t in the top ranks. He didn’t have any special history either.

“I went to Russia last year,” Noah said.

“It was the Moscow dungeon. There was a bit of a dispute over the dungeon rights, and one side hired my sister…” Noah trailed off and smiled. It must have been a mess. Moscow is on the opposite end of our country, isn’t it? I turned to look at my brother, who was sitting quietly next to me.

“Yoohyun, how about you go to Russia?”

He had never been abroad until he went to Hong Kong, Japan, and China because of me. My brother frowned slightly at my words.

“Don’t say unlucky things.”

“Huh?”

“I want to stay in Korea. With you, hyung.”

“Han Yoohyun going abroad is the same as saying Ahjussi [a respectful Korean term for ‘uncle’ or ‘older man,’ used here as a familiar nickname] is going out.”

“No, I could go sightseeing. Does he have to be kidnapped to go out?”

If it’s sightseeing, a warmer place than Russia would be nice. Hawaii or Bali? Somewhere like that. Or a light trip to Jeju Island [a popular vacation island in South Korea]. A real vacation with the family without any incidents.

The helicopter, which had been flying for a while, finally landed. Peace jumped out of the helicopter first and shook his body. He didn’t seem to like the helicopter. I guess he’s wondering why he’s riding this when it’s noisy and he can fly himself.

The helicopter landed on the mountainside. Mountain peaks soared everywhere the eye could see.

“Welcome!” Someone shouted loudly and laughed heartily. I thought I’d heard it before, it was that man. The one who attacked the airport, the white-clothed Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance]… what was his name? Anyway, that person.

“Young Master Han, the Beast Tamer! I’m glad you’re safe!” Perhaps because it was a formal invitation, his tone was more polite than before. His voice was still hearty, though.

“Ah, yes. Um…” Name, what was his name? His gaze shifted to Yoohyun, who was standing next to me.

“This must be the Hae Dong Hwa Ryong [East Sea Dragon of Painting], Young Master Han Yoohyun! I am Sa Mokwol, the leader of the Murim Alliance Special Forces.”

“I am Han Yoohyun, the Guild Leader of Haeyeon.”

Yoohyun ignored the Hae Dong Hwa Ryong nonsense and answered. Right, it was Sa Mokwol.

“And this is the Ice Fairy, Young Master Park Yerim, is it not?”

“I’m not a fairy,” Yerim said sullenly.

“Han, the Guild Leader is a Dragon, so why am I a Fairy? Call me Ice Dragon or Water Dragon!”

“Ah, the Murim name is─”

“There’s no one stronger than me among the hunters who handle ice and water! So, of course, I should be a Dragon. Because I’m the best!”

That’s right, of course. Sa Mokwol scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed.

“I apologize for my rudeness, Hae Dong Ice Dragon, Young Master Park Yerim. Is the person next to you Hunter Noah Luhir?”

“Our Noah is a Gold Dragon.”

He’s a real Golden Dragon. Then Sung Hyunjae is a Thunder Dragon? Sa Mokwol looked at Sung Hyunjae last. He clasped his hands in front of him with a more serious expression than when he greeted us.

“It is an honor to meet you, Thunder Emperor.”

…Putting aside the cringe.

“Why don’t you attach Hae Dong to Seseong, Guild Leader?” Yerim protested before I could. Good job, our Yerim. She even crossed her arms and furrowed her brows.

“Not attaching a region to the Murim name is the highest honor, isn’t it?”

“Young Master, fame is─”

“I fought and won against S-Ranks in Japan and China. And so did our Guild Leader! He crushed the Chinese S-Rank who was bothering Ahjussi!”

“That’s right. The Haeyeon Guild Leader lightly suppressed Supreme Commander Cho Hwayun, so it’s absurd to attach Hae Dong.”

Or attach it to Sung Hyunjae too. Yoohyun and Yerim are so strong that they have no rivals in China, so why discriminate? And our Yoohyun was the Flame Emperor before the regression. If I had to choose between Emperor and Dragon, I’d prefer Dragon.

“Would you like to check my skills right now?”

“No, Young Master,” Sa Mokwol stepped back, looking flustered.

“Let’s go inside first,” he mumbled and turned around. Then he led the way up the path leading to the mountain.

“Honestly, Beast Tamer seems the most old-fashioned.”

Yerim tilted her head at my quiet murmur.

“Ahjussi, you used to say that Monster Dad was childish and that Beast Tamer was better.”

“No, it’s because it’s stuck between Dragon and Emperor. It seems like I don’t have any abilities…”

I don’t have stats, but.

“I think Landlord is the most ordinary. It’s like a job.”

Or a leisurely building owner. If Director Song came here, what would he be called?

“Hyung, the path is narrow and steep, should I hold you?”

“I’m okay for now. And Peace is here.”

“Please refrain from straying from the path,” Sa Mokwol, who was walking ahead, said.

“It may look like a simple mountain path, but it is actually a skill applied with formation [a strategic arrangement or pattern]. It won’t be dangerous for S-Rank Awakened, but you will get lost.”

What’s a formation skill? If we get lost, is it some kind of hallucination? I asked Yerim to hold Peace. We can’t stray to the side. And in the end, I slipped the end of my cane a couple of times and was held by my brother.

After climbing the mountain path for about ten more minutes, a large mountain gate finally appeared. It felt like I was visiting a temple. Although I’ve only been a few times.

As we entered the Eastern-style building, a long table was prepared. A woman sitting at the end of it stood up.

“Welcome. I am Dan Unbi, the leader of the Murim Alliance.”

She was a woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties. Judging by her impression alone, she didn’t seem like a mastermind. I stuck close to Yoohyun and used the Seedling Skill while avoiding Sa Mokwol’s gaze.

[Awakened – Dan Unbi

Current Stat Grade: B

Awakening Possible Stat Grade: B~A

Optimized Initial Skills

Acquisition: Gentle Negotiation (A)

Acquisition: Diligent Educator (B)

Acquisition: Mental Focus (B)]

She acquired all the optimized skills. Negotiation, educator, and mental focus. Was her original job an educator? It felt similar to nurturing skills.

*She doesn’t seem like Park Hayul’s sister.*

Besides, mid-thirties wasn’t that old. It might seem old to Park Hayul, though.

*If she can give me optimized skills, B-Rank is low.*

If she were that sister, she would have that Diligent Educator skill, but the grade was low compared to the skill effect. It should be at least A. Still, to confirm for sure.

“I am Han Yoojin, the director of the Unusual Beast Breeding Center. I am very pleased to meet you like this.”

Smiling brightly, I greeted her and looked at the man standing guard next to Dan Unbi.

“May I ask who that person is?”

“He is Gu Yooyoung, the leader’s bodyguard.”

“Ah, so he’s an S-Rank hunter?”

“He is A-Rank. If he had the abilities of an S-Rank, he would not have been able to devote his heart to the leader.”

If he were S-Rank, he would have to be busy running around in the field. The leader’s safety is important, but seeing as they have security measures like formations, A-Ranks are usually enough.

Anyway, as expected, he’s an A-Rank and a close aide to the leader.

[Awakened – Gu Yooyoung

Current Stat Grade: A

Awakening Possible Stat Grade: B~A

Optimized Initial Skills

Acquisition: Scale Armor (A)

Acquisition: Hammering Blade (A)

Acquisition: Sharp Ear (B)

Acquisition Failure: Stillness Spring (B)]

Acquisition failure. He didn’t acquire all the optimized skills.

*He’s not her after all.*

If Dan Unbi were Park Hayul’s sister, she wouldn’t have left her close aide without acquiring all the optimized skills. There’s a possibility that the skill conditions weren’t met, but it will become clear if I check a few more people around her.

It’s dangerous, so excluding S-Ranks.

“Please sit down.” The leader of the Murim Alliance gestured lightly towards us. She also asked if we would like to have lunch. It’s forbidden to eat food offered by other forces carelessly, but I’m here. It’s easy to distinguish friend from foe if they mess with the food.

Still, I refused the meal and only accepted some refreshments. It was a bit chilly in the mountains, so drinking warm tea made my stomach feel better.

“The military is currently in a state of emergency,” Dan Unbi continued calmly.

“A large number of high-ranking hunters have become undead and are attacking our allies. S-Rank hunters are also included, but their combat abilities are weaker than when they were alive.”

“We experienced it on the island. The problem is that they don’t die.”

People get tired, but the undead don’t. Dan Unbi nodded.

“Yes. It’s difficult to contain even high-ranking hunters. Is it possible to know what happened to the military hunters in Chaohu?”

“We drowned them in the lake. They might crawl out someday.”

It would be nice if they stayed quietly in the water. Shouldn’t we evacuate the people in the nearby cities? Dan Unbi replied that she would contact them at my worried words.

“We are not without connections to the government.”

I guess so. There must be people within the Chinese government who dislike the military gaining power.

“Then what will happen to the military? It seems like it will be a big blow.”

“If all the hunters in Chaohu have been neutralized, it’s only a matter of time before it collapses. Are you also aware of Supreme Commander Cho Hwayun?”

“Yes, that’s…” I briefly explained the situation at that time. Dan Unbi and the people around her looked at Yoohyun with surprised eyes.

“Supreme Commander Cho Hwayun is one of the most skilled people on the continent, that’s amazing.”

Our Yoohyun is quite amazing.

“In my eyes, Hwangrim seems the most suspicious. I heard he was originally from a merchant family?”

“Yes. It is highly likely that he is also involved in this incident. To be precise, he would have been standing at two crossroads. Either cooperate with the military as is, or bring down the military and increase his own power.”

It would have been safer to stick with the military. But as a merchant, various restrictions would have been annoying.

“Since we got the tobacco, after all.”

Sung Hyunjae looked at me and said. Ah, tobacco. Will that now pass into the hands of the Hwangrim family? What happened to Cho Hwayun, whom he took with him?

“We hope to maintain a good relationship with you as much as possible,” Dan Unbi said with a gentle expression and voice. Is she using a skill right now? Even though it’s nothing special, I strongly wanted to answer yes, let’s do that.

“If the Chinese hunter society becomes more free, it will definitely benefit the Korean hunters as well.”

Of course, just being able to trade freely would be helpful.

“Frankly speaking, the Murim Alliance will gain enough profit from this incident, won’t it? Thanks to us.”

Dan Unbi nodded.

“So let’s start formal negotiations.”

Give what we should give and take what we should take. And we’ve already given a lot. Right?