The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 118

118. Grade S Bait (1)

Perhaps it was the gloomy, gray sky and the backdrop of collapsed, burnt-out buildings, but Song Tae-won’s eyes seemed not just sunken but downright somber. He was in a situation that would be exhausting for anyone, but he didn’t just seem tired. He was like a tiger, starved and battered by a storm, yet still holding onto the strength for one last leap. And that target was none other than me.

If I didn’t have fear resistance, I might have felt a chill down my spine from that gaze.

‘Still, Song Tae-won probably isn’t involved in this.’

If he were the type of man to frame innocent people with underhanded tactics, he would have lived a much easier life. He wouldn’t be a high-ranking government official and an S-Rank Hunter while also acting like a self-flagellating ascetic [someone who practices severe self-discipline and abstention].

As a former ordinary citizen, I felt a sense of human sympathy for him, but at the same time, I also understood Sung Hyun-jae’s tyranny in blowing up his car, at least a little. It’s stifling.

‘He’ll be incredibly difficult to deal with.’

Seeing how sensitively he’s checking my condition, I’m hesitant to even apply a keyword. In reality, just abandoning him would be the easiest and fastest way. If Song Tae-won were gone, the Hunter Association would naturally lose power.

Even so, I still didn’t want him to meet the same end as he did before my regression. What should I do? Should I try talking to him? But Song Tae-won turned away. I watched his retreating figure as he briefly spoke with the people setting up a barrier around the wreckage and then stepped beyond it.

The broad but heavy-looking shoulders gave me a strange feeling.

“Yoo-hyun, you’re not tapping my phone, are you?”

I asked, turning my head.

“I’m not. The range of what I blocked isn’t that wide, either. More than anything, the backlash from those around you would be severe, so tapping is impossible.”

Considering the people I’m in contact with, that makes sense.

“Was there no backlash about blocking my calls?”

“I said it was only for your vacation. Sesung and Breaker both agreed. I was going to handle it while you were resting, but…”

Yoo-hyun glanced back at the collapsed building.

“It seems the Breaker Guild Leader has a loose tongue.”

“He wasn’t going to tell me. I forced it out of him.”

“What did you give up this time?”

The look in his eyes as he turned to me was sharp. I was trying to act nonchalant, not wanting him to find out that I had caused this mess, but it seemed my younger brother wasn’t in a good mood. What did I give up? He must be talking about the price for demolishing the building.

“Just what I usually do. I was going to stay quiet this time, but they were being too underhanded.”

If I had just torched the whole building in a blaze, he would have thought, ‘Oh, Yoo-hyun must be a little angry,’ and watched the fire. …Well, probably not. He would have been racking his brain to clean up the mess. But at least he wouldn’t have come and overturned it himself.

“I understand.”

I had braced myself, but my brother backed down surprisingly easily. What’s going on? Just then, another car arrived. The person who got out of the car started filming the wreckage of the building with an expensive-looking camera. Just as I thought it might be a reporter, another person got out of the car, holding a large bouquet of flowers.

I had never seen them before, but I knew which organization they belonged to.

“Mr. Han Yoo-jin.”

The bouquet was presented to me. Roses. The thin raindrops clinging to them made them look even fresher.

“The Sesung Guild Leader said to tell you that he is very sorry he could not be an audience member for your wonderful performance.”

“Ah, yes.”

Sending only a messenger after hearing the news? That doesn’t sound like him.

‘Was what he said about being light and easy just a simple excuse?’

There must be another reason he couldn’t come. What is he doing, and where? I was about to accept the bouquet without much thought when—

Whoosh—

The roses burst into flames.

“You shouldn’t accept things like that carelessly, hyung [older brother].”

“That’s right. Bouquets are especially dangerous. You never know what might be hidden inside.”

Have you ever received a bouquet with knives in it, Noah? Even if there were blades inside, it wouldn’t be bad. I could get a finger pricked and use it to write off my debt, I could argue.

“You two seem to get along well. Why don’t you become friends while you’re at it?”

At my offhand remark, Yoo-hyun and Noah frowned simultaneously. Wow, even their expressions are similar. If I put them together often, maybe they’ll develop some affection for each other. Isn’t it true that boys become friends after fighting?

Just imagining them hanging out together made me feel good. They’d be quite the visual pairing. What do young people do for fun these days?

“There is one more item that was sent.”

The Sesung Guild employee was a little surprised that the bouquet had been burned, but he quickly regained his composure and took out a small box. If he were flustered by such a trivial matter, it would be difficult to work under Sung Hyun-jae.

“Don’t burn this one.”

I said to Yoo-hyun and quickly took the box. When I opened the lid, a wristwatch appeared.

“This is a hunter’s watch that can be stored in your inventory.”

I was planning to get one anyway.

“It wasn’t a stage I prepared, but if you insist on paying admission, I’ll accept it.”

Hunter’s watches are expensive because each part has to be made from dungeon byproducts, and even if you order one, it takes a long time to receive it. So, I’ll gratefully—

“…I ordered one too.”

Yoo-hyun muttered quietly. Oh, wait a minute.

“I’ll gratefully accept the sentiment.”

I immediately closed the box and tossed the watch back. I don’t need it. The Sesung Guild employee was taken aback but readily backed down.

I wanted to talk to Song Tae-won before leaving, but he seemed busy with the cleanup. Since I reported it as an A-Rank or higher dungeon break, he’ll be swamped for a while. It’s been reported that only a giant dragon, which appeared to be the boss monster, was defeated, so they’ll be searching the surrounding area to find the remaining monsters.

I feel a little bad. I shouldn’t have made a false report. But the Association released a false article first, so let’s call it even.

“Sorry, but there’s only one seat left.”

Yoo-hyun said to Noah with a face that wasn’t sorry at all. Then he grabbed my arm and shoved me into the passenger seat of the car. He didn’t bring a car with only two seats on purpose, did he?

Before I could say anything to Noah, the car started. He won’t be able to find his way home, but still, leaving him like that is too much.

“You were supposed to rest quietly.”

Yoo-hyun said as he sped down the road, which was already sparsely populated but even more empty due to the traffic restrictions. He said he understood earlier. It seems he has no intention of letting it go quietly.

“Officially, I didn’t do anything. I just came to see my brother.”

“Hyung.”

“So, what were you planning to do? Ruin your reputation?”

With the sound of tires scraping against the asphalt, the car stopped on the side of the road. Suddenly, my hand felt empty. It would be nice if I could pet Peace or Piyo.

“If I tell you, you’ll interfere again.”

“I’ll interfere even if you don’t tell me.”

The glare was sharp. I want to touch Peace’s fur. Warm and soft.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to tell me than for me to dig around?”

“How about being dragged home as is? I’ll even let you have Peace and Piyo.”

He must be talking about Yoo-hyun’s house. If he blocks the mini-portal, I’ll be trapped. There’s the last option of having Peace break the window and jumping out, but…

“Do as you please.”

“…What?”

“I’ll tell you. You’re curious, aren’t you?”

After a brief silence, my brother opened his mouth in a much softer voice.

“There are guys within the Association, or related to it, who are trying to make deals with other countries.”

“With other countries?”

“It’s presumed to be China or Russia, but it’s not certain. Their target is hyung.”

“Hyun-ah said that the Korean government wants to put a leash on me.”

“Opinions are still divided on that. Since hyung is cooperative, the side that says not to stir up trouble is more dominant.”

Well, if they oppress me for no reason and I flee overseas, it would be troublesome. I’d be welcomed wherever I go.

“It seems the fact that hyung can know the expected awakening rank of non-awakened people has already leaked out. Being able to raise awakened people in addition to monsters is very attractive to a dictator. Especially since young non-awakened people are easier to educate.”

Are they thinking of brainwashing kids and creating some kind of awakened unit? That’s a misanthropic idea. I didn’t think they could use me like that. There are so many dirty bastards in the world.

“I don’t know which bastard it is, but how much did they get paid to sell people out like that?”

There have been people who sold out the country, so it shouldn’t be surprising.

“Still, it won’t be easy to take me away. There’s always an S-Rank Hunter around me.”

Noah is always present, and Peace is there, and the Haeyeon Guild is right next door, so there are plenty of S-Rank Hunters. And lately, I haven’t gone out without an S-Rank Hunter following me.

“In the current state, it’s virtually impossible. If it weren’t, they would have locked you up until it was resolved.”

“Sounds like you don’t have any intention of getting my consent? There are other people related to me, too.”

“You said to do as I please. And everyone will agree.”

Yeah, well. I guess so. They’ll come to visit often. I hope Sung Hyun-jae doesn’t come.

“Anyway, they can’t touch me directly, so they were trying to mess with you?”

“To be precise, I induced them to do so. The Sesung Guild Leader was the first to find out that information about hyung had leaked. Smuggling a unique special skill-possessing hunter overseas is no different from treason, so he asked for my cooperation to expose it, which would deal a major blow to the Association.”

“How did that guy find out about it again?”

“I don’t know the details, but it seems the Sesung Guild Leader has connections abroad. Quite extensively and deeply.”

That’s no joke. But considering that Sung Hyun-jae has been contracted with the lizard owner since right after his awakening and has been receiving all sorts of things, it’s not surprising. There might be countless high-ranking hunters leashed like Noah all over the world.

…I’m a little worried about my future. Should I break off the relationship now? But I can’t let go of such an outstanding man.

“I gave them a reason to attack on purpose because I knew they would approach if I showed weakness.”

“Since when? When you and Peace were exploring the dungeon together?”

“Around that time.”

“It hasn’t been long. Hey, then when you came out of the lake dungeon, was that acting?”

Yoo-hyun smiled at my question.

“No. I just didn’t hold back enough.”

Not that he didn’t hold back, but that he didn’t hold back enough?

“What about the fight with Noah?”

“I held back a lot then.”

“…Still, the isolation ward was a bit much. I didn’t even get to use the latex mattress I bought before it burned down.”

“Latex mattress? Should I buy you one?”

“I’m talking about Yoon Kyung-soo.”

I was planning to apply a keyword and keep him well-preserved.

“Ah, that guy.”

The tip of his long finger tapped the steering wheel.

“I heard something from Riette Hunter.”

“Riette? What did she say?”

“It’s nothing much. There’s no evidence for the isolation ward incident, so it’s okay. It’s just that you overreacted a bit.”

My brother said that he had done other minor things that could be criticized. In fact, the big things weren’t intentional, but perhaps that’s why the reaction came so quickly. They were trying to put more pressure on him by adding false accusations.

Once they tightened the noose around Han Yoo-hyun’s neck, it would be easier to lay hands on me, his brother.

“Even so, deliberately damaging your reputation has a high possibility of being toxic in the long run. And it’ll be hard for me to just stand by and watch. So, let’s just end it cleanly.”

At my subsequent opinion, Yoo-hyun’s expression frowned deeply.

“Let’s go home. I’ll release you in a week.”

“Hey, wait a minute!”

And persuading my brother was really, really difficult.

* * *

Filming equipment was lined up in the rooftop garden. Surrounded by the gazes of many people, I stroked Peace on my lap as if I were nervous. The male and female entertainers sitting across from me sent me friendly smiles.

“That was a really wonderful flight.”

– Kyaa!

As if he understood the words praising him, Blue flapped his wings triumphantly. Then, I was asked a few questions. As I answered with appropriate awkwardness, various exclamations poured out. It’s for broadcast, but the praise is excessive.

It was then. With a bit of commotion, the camera quickly turned to the walkway leading to us, not to us. When I turned my head, I saw a handsome young man walking towards us. It was Yoo-hyun. When he met my eyes, he gave me an incredibly refreshing smile. Whose brother is he? He’s really handsome.

“I think I arrived too early. I didn’t know you were still filming.”

“This is live, you know.”

“Really?”

Yoo-hyun widened his eyes as if he didn’t know. Then, the two entertainers, at a loss for what to do, asked if it was okay for him to appear on screen like this. The Haeyeon Guild Leader, of course, said it was okay and smiled brightly.

“You two seem to have a really good relationship.”

“We’re each other’s only family. And he’s a very proud younger brother. The only flaw is that he worries about me too much.”

“What’s wrong with worrying about hyung?”

“Still, I don’t want you to hear bad things because of me…”

I deliberately trailed off and looked at Yoo-hyun. It wasn’t difficult to make a pitiful expression. I mumbled, sighed once, and threw the bait, ‘It’s all because of me.’ The male entertainer eagerly took the bait, asking what was wrong.

“Haven’t you heard that the Haeyeon Guild Leader has been acting a bit rough lately?”

It’s all because my brother worries about me too much. I emphasized that my stats are F-Rank, no different from an ordinary person, or rather, a brother close to an ordinary person. My brother is so kind. Even though he’s an S-Rank, he protects his weak brother. We have a great relationship.

“If I were stronger, there wouldn’t have been any bad rumors. It’s my fault.”

“Don’t say that, hyung. I’m okay.”

It’s true, but it’s a bit cheesy to exchange words like this in front of the camera. The two entertainers had deeply moved expressions. Even though they must feel the pressure from Yoo-hyun at this close distance, they don’t show it at all. They’re professionals.

As the good atmosphere continued, another uninvited guest appeared. It was Song Tae-won.

“Hunter Han Yoo-jin, I am arresting you on charges of instigating injury to Jeon Jun-hwan and eight others, and violating the Dungeon Gate Special Act.”