The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 477

475. The Letter’s Owner (2)

I opened the already torn envelope, took out the letter, and slowly unfolded it. Inside was…

“…It’s in English.”

“Of course, it’s from America.”

It was a letter from America, and even though English is a global language…

“I know some English, like… ‘This is Sesung, Guild Master.’ Um, ‘we are, something. Hunter… Skill… Youth…'”

…It’s been almost ten years since I last studied it. I could recognize hunter-related words like ‘dungeon,’ ‘item,’ and ‘inventory.’ I stared intently, but there was almost nothing I could understand. Should I study English a bit? Or join forces with Yerim and make Korean the global language?

“Don’t just stand there looking. You clearly said you’d give it to me in a state where I could understand the contents. So, a translation service should come with it.”

“Didn’t you understand it?”

“Huh? I don’t understand it at all!”

“‘Sesung Guild,’ ‘Hunter,’ and even my name. You read those directly.”

“But that’s just a tiny part!”

But it was true that I had understood a tiny bit of the letter’s contents. I should have said, ‘All of it, so I can understand it clearly.’ I narrowed my eyes and glared at Sung Hyunjae.

“Ah, whatever. You can do image translation with your phone these days, right?”

“Good then.”

“Even if the translation isn’t great, I can refer to a dictionary. It’s not hard to look up English in a dictionary.”

My English grades weren’t that bad. I couldn’t say I was in the top percentile nationwide like Yoohyun, but I was at a decent level. I placed the letter on the table and started translating the first sentence. Hmm, it’s a greeting. Not ‘Hi’ or ‘Hello,’ but something else. Then came an apology for not sending a birthday gift. It seems the idea that you hold a grudge if you don’t get a birthday gift is known overseas too. Well, many foreign hunters have come. And… the translation is a bit strange.

“…Just translate it for me, please?”

“The price for the bet has already been paid. If I provide more active assistance here, the contract will be broken.”

That was true. I couldn’t take the letter and entrust it to a translator. And I shouldn’t show it to anyone other than myself. This sentence translation is really weird, so I’ll check the words in the dictionary… It’s hard to go back and forth. I took out a notepad and pen. At this rate, I’ll be up all night.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“We’re indoors. And it’s still autumn.”

“Still, if you stay wet like that, you’ll catch a cold.”

“I’m going to change. Ah, why does it have so many meanings? ‘Brass’? Why is ‘brass’ coming up? Is it item-related?”

“It’s an idiom [a phrase where the words mean something different than their literal definitions].”

“Huh? Ah, that thing where the meaning changes.”

I wanted to quit. Besides, even at a glance, it seemed like there were more roundabout expressions like Sung Hyunjae used, rather than direct ones.

“…Could it be that you agreed to the bet because you knew I wouldn’t be able to translate the letter even if I snatched it?”

“Of course not. And…”

Sung Hyunjae trailed off. Surely he didn’t *not* know that I couldn’t translate the letter, or something like that.

“Well, if you’ve been on bad terms with studying for ten years, you might not know!”

“People’s abilities are different, so don’t worry about it.”

That was true, but it felt annoying coming from Sung Hyunjae. I grumbled and tried to continue translating, but the letter on the table disappeared in an instant. Sung Hyunjae had taken the letter and immediately put it in his inventory.

“What are you doing?”

“The only person who can see this letter is…”

*Bang!* The door was thrown open violently, almost breaking in half.

“Hyung!”

“Only Han Yoojin-gun.”

Yoohyun had come. He came quickly. As soon as I turned towards the door, my brother strode over and hugged me tightly.

“Your clothes are getting wet. I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

“…Hyung.”

“Yes, Yoohyun-ah.”

“The smell of cigarettes.”

My brother’s voice turned cold in an instant. Ah, I forgot.

“No, that’s…”

“You’re flustered, so you must have smoked it.”

Damn it, I should have said Sung Hyunjae smoked it, and I just smelled it. Yoohyun stepped back from me. His sharp gaze, as if trying to dig into my soul, slowly went from my head to my toes.

“Why are you wet? And your shoes.”

“I fell into the water, it’s not related to Sung Hyunjae. It’s in the drawer. I lost my shoes back then. Heels come off easily, you know.”

Yoohyun held out his hand.

“Give it to me.”

“…Huh?”

“The cigarettes.”

“Ah, that. I smoked them all.”

“There were more than ten left in the case. All of them?”

He remembered. As I hesitated, Yoohyun’s eyes became even fiercer. Sung Hyunjae didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping him.

“…Hey, it’s just a personal preference. How old am I? I’m actually thirty.”

“Hyung.”

“I don’t really plan to smoke, it’s like an emergency medicine. I have poison resistance, so you never know. There might be a situation where I need it. And it’s going to be sold to the general public soon anyway.”

It would be a matter of moments before it spread to the point where it could be easily bought. At my words, Yoohyun narrowed his brows but withdrew his outstretched hand.

“If you smoke again when it’s not an unavoidable situation.”

“I won’t smoke, I tell you.”

“I’ll smoke too.”

“Hey!”

I reflexively shouted.

“Why would you do something that’s not good for your body!”

“I’m an S-Class. It won’t even tickle me compared to hyung.”

“You’re still young! Why are you already smoking!”

“Hyung, you just have to not smoke.”

My brother didn’t back down at all. It’s true that I just have to not smoke, but still. I really have to be careful from now on. I raised my arm and put it to my nose. It doesn’t seem to smell much.

“Does it smell a lot?”

“It’s completely different from usual.”

“Really? Mr. Sung Hyunjae, do you have any perfume or something?”

Sung Hyunjae showed his empty palm. I thought he would carry at least one. Myungwoo might not notice, but Yerim and Noah would, so I was wondering what to do when Yoohyun looked down at the flower petals rolling on the floor and said.

“Use Grace. About S-Class level.”

The Ruler’s Sword, which had been taken out at some point, transformed into a flexible sword and swept the floor in a circle. *Whoosh,* the flower petals that soared into the air burst into flames. Then small flames poured down onto my head and shoulders.

“The smell of burning will be stronger, so it’ll cover it up.”

The ashes left over from the burnt petals stuck to various parts of my body. I must look like I rolled around in the ashes with my wet body.

“If I walk around the hotel like this, I’ll get complaints.”

I need to wash up and change quickly. At that moment, a golden griffin burst in, completely smashing the half-hanging door.

“Uncle!”

– Daddy!

– Kkyawoo!

Yerim and Gyeol were looking for me with Blue. Or maybe they headed straight to the Gyeonggi-do breeding center because they were worried I’d ride Blue and escape Korea like last time. Yoohyun, who arrived the fastest, must have been searching nearby. Myungwoo and Noah probably went to Incheon Airport?

“I’m perfectly fine, without a scratch, so don’t worry.”

“You’re not perfectly fine, though?”

Yerim said, jumping off Blue’s back. Gyeol also flew towards me quickly.

– Daddy-ah!

“You’ll get ashes on you.”

– That one did it! Ung?

The golden eyes glared sullenly at the golden eyes. Gyeol’s eyes seem to be a bit darker.

“No. This time, it’s not Sung Hyunjae’s fault… well, it’s not that he doesn’t have any fault, but he didn’t kidnap me or hold me captive.”

He just made it seem like I was honestly speaking, causing misunderstandings. He made people worry and run around because of that misunderstanding. …I wanted to smack him on the back of the head.

– Kkeureureuk.

“Blue, you shouldn’t come in here. Did you break anything?”

At my words, Blue flapped its wings, and Yerim avoided my gaze. There was something. I didn’t think he would have quietly opened the front door and come in. He probably smashed a front window.

Not long after, Myungwoo and Noah also arrived with Chief Song. As soon as I made eye contact with Myungwoo, I quickly explained.

“This time, it’s a real misunderstanding! The Sesung Guild Leader misunderstood!”

“I was just telling the truth.”

“Are you in a position to feel wronged? So, we were playing tag, and I ran away so well that he said I disappeared!”

“Okay. Do you think I’m going to eat you or something?”

Myungwoo waved his hand, telling me to calm down.

“Why are your clothes wet?”

“I fell into the water. It’s a bit of a long story, but I’ll tell you in detail later.”

I should show Myungwoo the drawer and ask if he can help. It’ll be similar to a blacksmith’s.

“But were you two with Chief Song?”

“We went to pick him up. The traffic is quite heavy around here.”

Noah said. It would have taken a long time for Chief Song to come alone. He doesn’t have a flying skill, and he doesn’t have a substitute skill like Yoohyun. If it’s a street with many pedestrians, running is dangerous. That’s not to say he can jump between buildings, because later there would be cases where they would come and say there was damage and ask for compensation. Other S-Class hunters have separate legal teams to deal with it, and they have plenty of money to compensate, but Chief Song… he has to be careful.

“I was planning to take the subway.”

Chief Song explained, as if he felt my pitiful gaze.

“I also take the subway when traveling to congested areas where vehicle control is not possible.”

He can ride a bike like Soyoung, even if he can’t ride a helicopter like Sung Hyunjae. It wouldn’t be big and heavy, but for some reason, a small, round scooter came to mind first. A sleek black bike would suit him well.

“Helicopter─”

“No.”

“Then a bike─”

“No.”

“Isn’t a fast means of transportation absolutely necessary for the safety of the people?”

“We operate a helicopter in emergencies.”

I see. Well, of course, there was a helicopter belonging to the Special Management Division. It’s just that they can’t use it usually. Does it cost a lot for fuel? I still think it would be perfect to have a bike. A big black one.

“It seems you don’t intend to treat it as a simple false report.”

Chief Song said, looking back and forth between me and Sung Hyunjae.

“Yes. First of all, please handle it as if we’ve glossed over it appropriately. Don’t reveal the details, but make it sound suspicious.”

S-Classes are popping out everywhere, and it seemed like something big happened, but they’re quietly covering it up. This will look very suspicious.

“Are you planning to deceive Chloe Hunter?”

I nodded at Yoohyun’s question.

“To be exact, that older sister. Chloe Hunter saw me suspecting Sung Hyunjae. The next day, you guys made a fuss, so she’ll guess something happened.”

I didn’t know how much information the older sister had. But if she’s involved in China, she wouldn’t be completely unaware of our current situation.

“Especially between the Sesung Guild Leader and me. She might even know that I went to meet Sung Hyunjae.”

There were no other guests, but there were several hotel employees left. They even prepared the table, flowers, and refreshments like this. So, there was a good chance that my and Sung Hyunjae’s actions were leaked.

“I just thought of it, so I don’t have a detailed plan, but it wouldn’t hurt to pretend that there’s a problem on our side. At least she might let her guard down a bit.”

Saying that, I turned to look at Sung Hyunjae.

“Will you cooperate?”

“If I refuse here.”

Sung Hyunjae slowly looked around us with a leisurely gaze.

“Wouldn’t it be quite enjoyable?”

“Don’t say nonsense.”

“Which side will Chief Song Taewon take?”

Song Taewon’s brow furrowed slightly.

“I will mediate. Please do not take any rash actions.”

“In the end, I don’t have anyone on my side. It’s quite lonely.”

“Ah, we’re not fighting, okay?”

At my words, Sung Hyunjae smiled, curving his eyes.

“Are you going to let me go willingly, Cinderella-nim?”

Yes, I’m covered in ashes. Instead of answering, I bit my lip tightly. I shouldn’t let him go willingly, but. As the atmosphere turned strange, Yoohyun stood close to my side. Yerim also gestured for Blue to go out and approached me.

Sung Hyunjae, who had been smiling quietly, let out a soft breath.

“Han Yoojin-gun still has business with me.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I still have to translate the letter. I need to know the contents for sure so I can decide what to do.

“First, wash up, and instead of the ruined tea time, let’s have a new dinner invitation. I can give you until midnight.”

Is he giving me time to persuade him? Or maybe he’s just going to help me check the letter.

“I understand. But I’d like to go right now.”

I said, brushing off the ashes and petals on my sleeve.

“Let’s pretend the situation isn’t over yet. Let’s pretend I haven’t returned to the breeding center.”

As soon as I said that, Gyeol started grumbling.

– Are you going alone again, Daddy? No way!

Gyeol-ah, let’s just bear it one more time. You can’t see it either. Good boy.