The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 113

113. Ruler of Water (2)

“But is this safe for the people around me?”

A one-time use Mythic-grade skill item. It even has a grand name like Ruler of Water, so its impact must be significant when used. Yerim is fine since she’s the item user, but what about the others? They might not even be able to recover their bones if they get caught up in it. Even Eunhye wouldn’t last more than ten minutes, I think.

[It depends on what the user decides. They might get drunk on power for a moment, so it’s best not to give it to someone who has animosity towards Honey.]

Have I ever done anything wrong to Yerim? I don’t think so. I’ll protect Yoohyun with my body if necessary, and Sung Hyunjae will survive on his own.

“How much can I tell people about the two factions and the dungeon? I guess it’s okay to let them know that the dungeon difficulty is increasing.”

Looking at the past three years alone, the number of high-level dungeons has increased more than in the early days.

[It’s best not to mention us or the Filial Piety Addicts if possible. Even if you have to talk about them, try to be as vague as possible. The more they know, the weaker the resistance of Honey’s world becomes, making it easier to interfere. It’s like being very wary and never letting strangers into your house, but welcoming a celebrity you often see on TV even though they are clearly a stranger.]

“Then why did the Lizard Master keep it a secret? It seems like it would be better to let people know.”

[It’s simple. They are weaker than us. If we weren’t trapped, we would have already cleaned them up. If the power each of us can exert becomes stronger, we can capture and eliminate Diarma even while trapped. But then Honey’s world would be destroyed. The Filial Piety Addicts are protecting themselves, and we are protecting the world. We are both being cautious.]

In other words, both of us would be ruined if our influence in this world grew, so we’re being careful.

But the Mermaid Queen said that Diarma’s actions, in addition to the regression, have already increased the power that can be exerted more than before. That’s why she was able to create a dungeon for me. And that zombie left quite a big gift.

After answering that it was okay to briefly inform those around me about the dungeon and future events, the Mermaid Queen’s voice disappeared.

[You have to pay the price for giving Honey the skill, so Water Drop Senior will be hard to reach for a while. Do you have any more questions?]

The newbie said, bouncing around. Questions, huh?

“Sung Hyunjae was acting like he knew me, was that from before the regression?”

The face drawn on the volleyball nodded.

“Can you tell me more about it?”

[I don’t know much. Crescent Moon was the one who made contact with the Chain, but he fell asleep.]

Sung Hyunjae is Chain. But why am I Honey? What does honey have to do with me?

“Don’t Water Drop or the others know either?”

[No. It was difficult to directly contact the people of Honey’s world back then. I don’t know why Crescent Moon did it, but it’s certain that Chain helped break the contract with the Lizard Master. There might have been other deals, but Chain was caught up in Honey’s regression, and Crescent Moon is asleep, so we can’t know.]

What the heck was that guy doing before the regression? He broke off relations with the Lizard bastard, so he was trying to save the world… um, that doesn’t suit him. There must have been another reason. Maybe he just got bored or something.

“Not very helpful. Give me something in return.”

[Huh?]

“Give me something that will be helpful. A skill or an item. Do you have any fire attribute? Or a healing type would be good too. Just give me something.”

I grabbed the volleyball and shook it. Give me something to ease my guilt or whatever, something to give to the kids.

[W-wait a minute, Honey. You already received a skill.]

“That wasn’t from you. You give me something and go to sleep.”

I need at least one person who can communicate, so I’ll have to shake down the deer and the wolf besides the tree.

[It’ll be hard to manage the system if even I fall asleep!]

“…I forgot about that. Then help me in some other way.”

[I gave you a customized item when you caught the toad, right? I’ll match items or skills to you when you’re with Honey in the future. I can do that much.]

“Only when I’m with you?”

[Honey is the only one connected. Basically, it’s given automatically. The system runs on its own, and we just check if there are any problems. But it’s relatively easy to interfere with the dungeons Honey is in, so I can pick out reward items.]

Then I have to follow along every time there’s an S-class dungeon raid? …I’m too busy raising the kids for that, so I’ll just follow along for new S-class dungeon raids. No, should I run through a high-level S-class dungeon once? If I quickly raid it with everyone, I might be able to get S-class or higher items or skills that are right for each of them.

I confirmed once more that they wouldn’t forget the customized item skill and released the volleyball. The newbie cried and bounced away.

[We’ll return to the original dungeon in 10 minutes!]

Yerim, who had been chasing the fleeing volleyball for a few steps, turned to look at me. Her eyes were sparkling with curiosity.

“What is that? And where is this? There are no monsters, it doesn’t seem like a normal dungeon.”

“I’m curious too.”

“Yoohyun, didn’t you explain it?”

At my question, Yoohyun shrugged.

“I explained that it won’t harm hyung [older brother or respected male figure], so don’t bother with it.”

That’s too brief of an explanation. I told the two of them that this was a place to contact the system administrator and that the volleyball that ran away was the system administrator. Sung Hyunjae, who knew about the Filial Piety Addicts, seemed to have guessed, and Yerim opened her mouth wide in surprise.

“Wow, a volleyball was managing the system!”

“This is a secret to everyone else.”

“The world is round after all!”

…What nonsense. Anyway, I should only tell a minimum of people about the system administrator and this place. Sung Hyunjae is already deeply involved, and I have to explain it to Yerim because of the skill she received, but the others… Noah and Riet heard about the Filial Piety Addicts, should I tell them? Let’s wait and see.

“Yerim, this is an item that can only use the skill contained within once.”

I handed Yerim the jewel that the Mermaid Queen gave me. Yerim, who received the item, saying it was similar to her earring jewel, was once again surprised.

“This, this! The grade!”

“Don’t use it now. Listen carefully.”

“Oh, but if it’s the Mermaid Queen of the Azure Wave, is she the system administrator with my earring! Is that why you have such an amazing skill?”

“Yes, that’s right. Calm down and listen to me—”

“Mermaid Queen! I’m using the earring well! But you’re totally amazing! I’ll be a fan from now on!”

Calm down, there’s less than 10 minutes left. Yerim, who had been chattering, suddenly started pushing the jewel into the gap in the decoration connecting the spearhead and the blade of her spear.

“Hey, it’ll break if you do that!”

“My spear is sturdy. It feels like it’ll fit perfectly here. Done!”

The jewel inserted into the gap seemed to fit as Yerim said. Still, why are you putting it in haphazardly without asking Myungwoo.

“…Now listen to me.”

“Yes!”

She answers well. I bent down to meet Yerim’s eyes and explained.

“Yerim, skills can be learned from others. Like cooking or playing an instrument.”

“Isn’t it different from that? You can try cooking or playing an instrument even if you don’t learn it. It’ll burn or make strange noises, but you can’t fly in the sky.”

“You can’t play an instrument without an instrument. You can’t cook without fire or tools.”

You can only use skills if you have a basic tool called magic power. Even then, you can only handle it properly if the magic power you have is suitable for that skill. It’s hard to make a flute sound with a drum or cut meat with a pot.

“Your aptitude is suitable for this skill. Of course, you can’t learn the skill right away with just that. But Yerim, you already have a skill with a similar attribute, right? Ruler of Water. Learn the Mermaid Queen’s ability and feel the flow of that magic power and apply it to your skill.”

“…Is that possible with a completely different skill?”

“It’s possible. Don’t be bound by the skill, by the system’s description window. It’s the power you have. So what if it’s completely different? You can make a sound by hitting a pot, and you can tenderize meat by hitting it with a drumstick. Compared to that, you’re just playing a song for the piano on a violin.”

Yerim had a look on her face that said she understood but didn’t. I don’t even know if my explanation is correct. I’m relying on Diarma’s memories and piecing things together…

“Forget the system for a moment. Just look at the ability you wield itself.”

“I don’t know well, but I’ll try!”

Yerim answered energetically. It’s a shame that there’s only one chance. But she won’t feel nothing, right?

When I raised my head, I saw Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae with thoughtful expressions. Yoohyun also needs to break away from the framework of skills to properly handle spirits. I wonder if he’s named them yet.

Sung Hyunjae… it’s a shame to just leave him alone, damn it. Do I have to take care of that guy too? Won’t he just get stronger on his own? Let’s think about it when Yoohyun gets about twice as strong.

“It will soon change back to the original dungeon. Be prepared.”

I put the bracelet back on, which I had temporarily stopped using. About to the level of S-class. As soon as I finished speaking, Yoohyun and Yerim grabbed one of my arms each.

“Be careful, hyung.”

“You might get swept away if the water spills.”

“Where should I grab? Your neck?”

Just stay still.

About three minutes later, the snowy forest disappeared as if it were melting. In its place appeared an endlessly white space.

Clear water lapped at ankle height, and various sizes of water droplets floated in the air. It was a different, alien landscape from a typical dungeon.

“Then, ahjussi [term of address for an older man], let’s tie you up!”

“…Huh?”

“Your wrists, I mean. Does anyone have a rope?”

I said I’d tie him up, but are we really going to tie him up? At Yerim’s words, Sung Hyunjae immediately took out the Chains of the Seeker. Is he crazy?

“I don’t guarantee its durability.”

Then Yoohyun took out a leather rope.

“It’s a peace-use rein, and the size is adjustable.”

“Which one do you like, ahjussi?”

“I don’t like either. There’s no need to tie me up since I’ll be caught within a step even if I try to run away.”

At my words, Yerim flew up in the air, looking disappointed. Why are you disappointed?

“What are these water droplets?”

“Don’t touch them carelessly.”

As soon as I said that, Yerim’s hand reached a water droplet the size of an apple. The water droplet popped, and at the same time, her eyes widened.

“Oh, this!”

“Are you okay?!”

“It’s the memory of when I won the ice cream bet…”

What? Memory? Sung Hyunjae also touched a soccer ball-sized water droplet nearby and slightly raised his eyebrows.

“Around fourteen years old, I think. A childhood memory.”

Childhood, I can’t really imagine it. More than that, can you see past memories if you touch the floating water droplets?

“Ah, this is when I first met ahjussi! This is a spring picnic!”

“Stop touching them, Yerim! What if you remember bad… memories!”

I hope memories from before the regression don’t appear. I was avoiding the floating water droplets, but I saw Yoohyun touching them too. Why is everyone like this? But he’s smiling, so it must not be a bad memory.

‘That zombie definitely has mental abilities.’

And water on top of that. The Mermaid Queen gave me the Ruler of Water skill, so this water must be real, not an illusion.

“Ahjussi, touch it too!”

“No thanks.”

But it was hard to avoid all the water droplets floating around randomly. I don’t have eyes in the back of my head, so one of the water droplets touched my elbow with a splash and burst.

The scene that appeared before my eyes was a bus stop. My younger brother, wearing a tightly closed coat with slightly red ears and cheeks, smiles at me.

‘Why are you out here in the cold?’

‘It’s hyung’s birthday today.’

It was a short memory. But I could clearly see why Yerim kept touching the water droplets.

“It’s Christmas! The tree is pretty!”

…Should I touch one more? That zombie is really good at manipulating people. But it seems like there’s no problem, so just one more.

I reached out and burst a water droplet nearby.

A not-so-large living room was visible. I stood in the middle and checked the date. December 25th, Christmas. It was my brother’s birthday. But the house was coldly silent, and there was no one but me.

The moment I closed my eyes in embarrassment, Yerim shouted.

“That’s a lie!”

“Yerim!”

Swoosh— A chill spread out. The floating water droplets instantly froze and fell down. I saw Yerim helplessly descending onto the water she had frozen. Fortunately, the water hadn’t frozen all the way here, so I quickly ran to Yerim and hugged her.

“It’s okay, it’s just an old memory. It’s in the past. Don’t think about it.”

Yerim’s face looked like she was about to cry, but tears didn’t flow. Instead, she bit her lower lip tightly and leaned against my chest as if burying her head.

That damn zombie bastard, he’s evil. He makes you let your guard down and then hits you in the back of the head.

“Let’s sweep them all away with the skill you received. Coolly, without leaving anything behind.”

“…Yes.”

I patted Yerim and quietly gritted my teeth. Following the Lizard bastard, he’s making me seethe again.