The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 470

“First of all…”

I swallowed hard. The wind brushing past my back felt strangely cold. It was November, so the nights were quite chilly. It was the beginning of summer when I regressed [referring to when the protagonist went back in time].

“How much… do you know, and… since when?”

Moon Hyun-ah wasn’t here. There was no sign of her appearing. She wasn’t someone who would leave me without a reason, so something must have happened to hold her back.

“…Damn it, was it fun?”

Preparing to separate Moon Hyun-ah from me meant, in the end.

“You must have contacted her before the banquet today. But you just watched? You wanted to see me get dumped?”

“For now, I’ll answer that I didn’t see anything.”

Sung Hyun-jae said, slightly lowering the corners of his eyes.

“I headed to the rooftop as planned, confirmed Han Yu-jin’s presence, and then parted ways with Moon Hyun-ah and came down here. So, I didn’t see or hear anything from then on. You’re not going to start dating, are you?”

“…No.”

I was going to be dumped anyway, but I was really getting rejected cleanly.

“More than that, you deliberately came outside, but you took your eyes off me? Was Chloe that trustworthy?”

Even though the distance was considerable, he could have attacked Chloe directly from the rooftop if necessary. But he calmly went inside, took the elevator down… no. Even if Sung Hyun-jae was capable, he didn’t have X-ray vision.

“I trusted Han Yu-jin.”

“You shut your mouth and spout nonsense. Sorry, Gyeol. Cover your ears for a moment.”

As I tried to cover his sharply perked ears with my hands, Gyeol shook his head. When I whispered again, ‘Just a moment,’ he reluctantly made a sulky face and used his front paws to pull down the tips of his ears to cover them. The sight was so adorable that the tension inside me eased a little.

“I knew you were shameless. Ah, right. I’m the idiot for not suspecting you even though I knew. You brought the data so damn quickly, was it from then? Did you two meet that very day?”

It was possible. Sung Hyun-jae had no reason to report or meet with Chloe or anyone else to me. He wasn’t deceiving me now, just not informing me. I should probably thank him for stepping forward like this when he could have kept his mouth shut until the end.

Even so, I felt more than just disappointed; I was angry. Recently, Sung Hyun-jae had been very considerate of me. Was that why? I must have been under the illusion that he would easily help and tell me everything. There was no reason for him to do that.

“Well, never mind.”

I took a long breath.

“I think I was too comfortable with you, Sung Hyun-jae. This cold water woke me up a bit.”

Sung Hyun-jae simply raised his eyebrows slightly without saying anything.

“If it’s a decision you made out of necessity, I can understand, so please tell me.”

If they had a way to escape the Crescent completely, I could go along with it. Honestly, if you told me you could get my brother back and keep my loved ones safe, I’d be tempted too.

“I thought you’d stop me.”

“What, is that for real? And I said I’d understand, not that I’d let it slide. Don’t think I’ll let you off the hook if you get in my way. I’m cherishing you because we’re on the same side for now, but if you’re on the other side, I’ll be the first to crush you.”

I won’t be able to close my eyes and sleep peacefully until I deal with that man. Really. It wasn’t just his abilities, but he knew too much. As soon as I thought that, a chill ran down my spine.

Two S-ranks [the highest rank for hunters]. Eun-hye was tied to me, and that damn Sung Hyun-jae knew it too. The distance to the lounge was quite far, but even a small bomb would bring them running. Was Jason on Chloe’s side too? Excluding Moon Hyun-ah, that’s three, four.

Double sharing of attack skills was possible. Sung Hyun-jae would know that too. Noah’s skill… I couldn’t use it yet. The cooldown was long because the effect was incredibly good. If I used it, our side would practically win, so it made sense.

“Sung Hyun-jae.”

To catch him for sure.

“Back then, I was being quite lenient with you.”

“If you say that, I can’t help but feel excited.”

“So, tell me honestly. What are you up to?”

Sung Hyun-jae took out a letter from his inventory. Both the stationery and the envelope seemed to be dungeon byproducts [items or materials obtained from monster-filled areas].

“I received the offer before the banquet started. To be exact, just before Han Yu-jin came down.”

The tension that had been building up eased slightly. If it was then, I could understand why he didn’t tell me. There wasn’t enough time, and he probably thought it was better to check on Chloe first rather than change the plan there. It might be more accurate to judge if I probed Chloe without knowing anything.

“Then what about Hyun-ah?”

“Miller’s hunter doesn’t know the situation well either. But she had no reason to refuse.”

Sung Hyun-jae said, ‘She doesn’t even accept my requests if she doesn’t like them.’ He’s a guild leader, but she’s an S-rank hunter. Yerim was also a member of the Haeyeon Guild, but Yoohyun couldn’t arbitrarily order her around.

Anyway, he must have set up the situation for Evelyn to bother Moon Hyun-ah.

“What do you mean by ‘no reason to refuse’? She doesn’t even know the situation.”

“It means the guild leader is responsible even if an accident happens. It seems they didn’t clash much, unfortunately. Or did they move the location?”

So… he set the stage for Evelyn to comfortably pick a fight with Moon Hyun-ah? I thought Hyun-ah unilaterally disliked her, but Evelyn also avoided Hyun-ah? What do you mean by ‘unfortunately’? Are you trying to incite them to fight?

“I’m not asking how you held Hyun-ah back, but the reason.”

If he took her away to show me that letter, I’d welcome it. Show it to me. But Sung Hyun-jae put the letter back into his inventory. And then.

“……!”

Before I knew it, my wrist was grabbed. It was a speed I couldn’t keep up with my eyes. I was pulled as if dancing, spinning halfway around, and my position was moved from the railing to the glass door. The light from the railing illuminated his back, casting a dark shadow over his face.

“Only to inform Han Yu-jin.”

“…Are you breaking up with me? Are you leaving?”

“You’re only thinking negatively.”

“Then act properly. If you suddenly come out like this without even giving me a hint, what do you want me to do? Tell me exactly, clearly, what you want from me.”

“Be selfish.”

Sung Hyun-jae said in a monotone voice.

“…Excuse me?”

“Or how about erasing your mind completely?”

“…What nonsense are you talking about?”

Chloe, who was standing slightly away from us, frowned. If she was similar in personality to Chief Song, she wouldn’t turn a blind eye to an F-rank [the lowest rank for hunters] being threatened by an S-rank, even if she disliked the person. Ironically, she might protect me from Sung Hyun-jae.

“I also have such impulses. It’s been quite a while since I returned from China.”

The corners of Sung Hyun-jae’s lips turned up. It was a painted smile.

“Should I say I’ve been waiting? For a big commotion to occur.”

“I really don’t understand.”

“It’s meaningless if I say it first.”

“…I really don’t know what you want, are you waiting for me to do something?”

“Yes.”

The gaze looking down at me felt somewhat cold. At the same time, I wanted to grab him by the collar and ask what he wanted from me. Damn it, does he think he’s some ancient god? He throws out a few vague words and watches, then praises me if I go the way he wants?

“Why should I do what you want?”

“It’s not just me.”

Now it was an incredibly kind voice.

“Many people want it.”

“…I really want to punch you.”

“I thought it might be okay to play the villain for that.”

Sung Hyun-jae said playfully, changing his tone.

“It would be fun too.”

“You crazy bastard.”

I thought he had changed a bit, but he’s still the same. I don’t know what he’s thinking, I can’t grasp him, and I can’t even guess where he’ll bounce next. What do you want me to do before that, really? Did I do something that bothered you? I may have many shortcomings, but I worked hard. If you say it’s not enough even after all that effort, then just cut open my stomach.

“I cannot understand the conversation, but please do not commit evil lightly. Especially if you are the head of the Seseong Guild, the damage will be too great.”

Chloe interjected with a serious expression. …She’s even saying things like that. Is she really not on Park Ha-yul’s side?

“By any chance, Chloe, do you know anything about my abduction to China?”

I threw it out vaguely. There’s no way she’d reveal anything just because I asked like this…….

“I am sorry about that matter.”

“…Huh?”

“This is also unexpected.”

Sung Hyun-jae also turned his gaze to Chloe, slightly surprised. Chloe continued to speak calmly, as if she had no intention of hiding it from the beginning.

“Officially, I came to deliver a letter to the head of the Seseong Guild, but privately, I also wanted to check on Director Han Yu-jin’s condition.”

“Oh, I thought you hated me?”

“Regardless of personal feelings, Director Han Yu-jin was a victim.”

“Are you admitting that you were involved with the kidnappers? Can I record this?”

“I was not involved. But I did not stop it.”

It seemed to be guilt for not stopping it even though she knew.

“I also agreed that it was the least damaging solution. If Director Han Yu-jin was kidnapped, the military’s risk factors could have been eliminated.”

“…I’d like to hear more details.”

“The first to contact me was Hwang Rim.”

…What? No, I expected it a little, but that man really wasn’t on the military’s side.

“He told me that if the military could perfectly control the Goblin King, the confrontation with the Murim Alliance [a martial arts association] would completely collapse. He said that was unacceptable. Also, long-range portals had a high possibility of leading to the invasion of other countries.”

Thinking about it, it was chilling. If they released undead hunters through long-range portals……. Moreover, there were many unknown high-level hunters in China, so they would be helplessly attacked by high-level undead from who knows where.

“So, you kidnapped me to attract Korean hunters? There could have been a way to request cooperation.”

“That would be an international dispute.”

That wasn’t wrong. Because I was kidnapped, the Korean hunters could go to China and cause a ruckus while covering their eyes, and no one would say anything.

“Also, only by kidnapping Director Han Yu-jin could we naturally head to Nosando. The plan to capture Korean hunters there could also be realized.”

“It was successful, but if it had failed, wouldn’t we have been the only ones sacrificed?”

“The Korean hunters were stronger than expected. Originally, Hwang Rim and some of his faction were supposed to cooperate, but there was no need.”

…So, Hwang Rim only took Cho Hwa-woon with him and left at that time? Once the goblins escaped and Yoon Yoon ran wild, his business was over?

“Is it okay for you to tell me all this?”

“I was planning to tell you before leaving the country if Director Han Yu-jin’s condition was okay. There is also a letter from Hwang Rim, but would you like to receive it?”

Chloe said, carefully watching my expression. I sighed weakly and held out my hand. Honestly, hearing Chloe say she disliked me was more shocking. Hwang Rim is just a passing memory. Chloe took out a letter from her inventory and handed it to me. I was curious about what nonsense he had written, but I put it in my inventory for now.

“So, the conclusion is that kidnapping me was out of good intentions?”

“Of course, it was wrong.”

Chloe said firmly. Then maybe.

“Have you broken up with Park Ha-yul’s sister, whose name I still don’t know, or something like that?”

“No.”

…What is that.

“I cannot tell you any more details than this. I understand if you want revenge. But I will resist.”

She apologized for the rudeness, bowed to me, and then looked at Sung Hyun-jae this time.

“Please reply before I leave the country.”

Then Chloe turned around, opened the glass door, and left. I felt even stranger than when the system message appeared in front of me. The sound of ‘the intention was good, but the method was bad’ scratched my heart even more. I’d rather she just be a bad person.

“If I may add a word.”

Sung Hyun-jae said, turning his gaze to me.

“Even good people can become enemies at any time.”

“…I know. There must have been many good, kind people among those who were cursing at me.”

“And anyone who tries to harm Han Yu-jin is an enemy, no matter what their intentions are.”

What’s he saying when he just said he’d play the villain? I just swallowed the words that Sung Hyun-jae could also be like that.