The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 126

126. Irin (2)

The ceiling light shines brightly. I remember replacing it myself a few times. The living room wasn’t very large: a sofa and a TV. The wall clock was stopped.

“…Why here, of all places? More importantly, you can use mental skills?”

Or maybe it’s one of the Spirit Contract skill effects.

[Yuhyun likes this place!]

“Yuhyun does?”

[Yes, it’s the house he lived in with Hyung. So Irin likes it here too.]

The lizard spun around as if chasing its tail. I could feel the affection in its voice when it spoke about Yuhyun. This guy is a good lizard.

[This skill is Hyung’s.]

Irin, who had been spinning around, stopped and looked up at me. Its black eyes gleamed like jewels.

“Mine?”

[You don’t seem to be able to use it properly yet, so Irin helped.]

“I don’t have a skill like this.”

[You do. That kind of power.]

No, this isn’t mine, it’s more like that lizard owner’s… Suddenly, I remembered the zombie calling me a successor of Diarma. At the time, I thought it was because I had combined the Curse Poison Dragon species.

‘…Have I become able to use Diarma’s other skills too?’

It’s not in the skill window though. And I don’t know how to use it. Should I consult the unfilial sons [referring to his teammates]?

I looked up and took another look around. It felt strange that it was a place he liked. I couldn’t stand it and ran away. When I was here, the past came back so vividly everywhere I looked. I hated every corner of the house—even the plain white cup, the empty desk, and the bathroom slippers—so I moved out almost as if I was just escaping with my body.

But now that I’m here, I feel like it was a waste.

“Irin.”

[Yes?]

“Yuhyun seems a little strange right now. Is it related to you by any chance?”

[Irin a little, Hyung a lot.]

“What?”

[Hyung, hug Irin.]

I picked up the lizard as it wanted. It was just the right amount of warm and soft, yet squishy. It would feel really good to hold in the winter.

[Spirits are pure power. Accepting Irin has made him more honest. And because of the attribute, he’s become a little violent? He wants to get rid of things that bother him, and he has the power to do so, so he’s not holding back.]

“…Did Sung Hyunjae hate him that much?”

[Sung Hyunjae would have tried to kill Yuhyun too! Because he would have thought Hyung was very useful. Yuhyun noticed that.]

Irin wagged its tail.

[Yuhyun is suppressing it a lot, but their natures are similar. He received double the effect of the attack skill and realized what Sung Hyunjae was thinking: that he would kill everyone else and try to take Hyung away.]

If that had happened, Sung Hyunjae wouldn’t have survived either. To be exact, he would have died by my hand. When I asked if Sung Hyunjae would really go that far, Irin nodded vigorously. He shared it twice, but there were no problems.

“Yuhyun is anxious. It’s a shame, but I have to keep that human far away somehow.”

[No, it’s okay! Yuhyun will think it’s better to have him around once he calms down. He’ll keep protecting Hyung as long as Hyung is useful. And the others too. Yuhyun will feel less burdened if there are many people to protect Hyung.]

“He says he feels less burdened, but he feels like he’s being taken away from me, so he’s lonely.”

[Just make him feel less lonely. Tell him he’s the best.]

“Of course my brother is the best. How can he be compared to someone like Sung Hyunjae?”

[Tell him often. You two had a falling out once. He’s anxious and doesn’t know what to do because it could happen again. Yuhyun is still young!]

“You’re younger.”

[Irin knows a lot since birth!]

“Still, young is young.”

Irin tapped my arm with its front paw as if complaining. It’s quite cute. I stroked its head and it laughed as if it was ticklish.

“I thought I expressed myself a lot, but I guess not.”

[How many times have you said you like him and love him?]

“Um… No, I don’t really say that openly.”

[Why? You can do it a lot! It’s not fake. It’s real! Doesn’t he like it? Do you not want to do it?]

“It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just a little awkward? It’s not like when we were kids. You don’t do it often when you grow up.”

Irin narrowed its eyes and glared at me as if blaming me. No, really, you don’t usually do that. Especially between brothers. If it’s between parents and children and it’s a very harmonious family, you might say it often. I raised Yuhyun, but we’re still brothers.

[Hyung.]

“…I’ll try. Will that make it better?”

[Maybe!]

Maybe. What an irresponsible thing to say. I poked the lizard’s soft cheek. It flapped its tail and pretended to be in pain.

[Yuhyun was always with Hyung! But suddenly you were separated! To really get better, you have to go back to the way it was!]

At that, I looked at the place I had run away from. I left. My brother left even before me. But even so, was he still here?

I sighed without realizing it. He’s a great guy unlike me, so he’ll just eat well and live well. I was really foolish, but Yuhyun seems to be just as bad. Even if the grades are different, blood can’t be fooled. I don’t need to resemble him in this way.

“I lived for my brother, but why is he like that when he has so much?”

[No one hates being loved, Hyung. Not humans or anything else. It would have been okay if he had never known that feeling in the first place. But once you know it, you can’t give it up. You’re the only one who loves Yuhyun!]

“He’s twenty now. I don’t know what will happen in the future.”

[No! No!]

“Are you cursing him?”

Why not? It shouldn’t be. I have to see my brother, whom I raised even after the regression, get married, have children, and live well. Now I can proudly sit in the host’s seat. Come to think of it, do I have to sit for Yerim too? Oh, wait a minute. Yerim also has a bride’s entrance. It’ll be about ten years from now, so it’ll be pretty plausible when I’m over forty… Ah, no. I’ll still be in my thirties then. I don’t know which bastard will take her, but I’ll kill him if he does anything wrong to my kid.

“I want to see the kids. I have to live for another twenty years.”

[Hyung?]

“So, if he calms down and I comfort him well, will he be okay in the future? He won’t do that every time you use your power, will he?”

[It won’t be like today!]

He’s going a little crazy.

[It’s because he’s not used to Irin yet. If it’s severe, pour water on him! That’ll calm him down a bit!]

Yerim, I’m counting on you.

“You have a skill called Spirit Contract. Can you tell me exactly what kind of skill it is?”

[Just Spirit Contract! The contracted grade is the spirit’s maximum grade. Hyung, Hyung. What’s Irin’s grade?]

Its black eyes sparkled with light. Can’t it check its own skill?

“L grade.”

[Wow, Irin is amazing! Irin is amazing!]

Irin shouted excitedly. I chimed in and praised it, saying it was really amazing. It can grow up to L grade.

“Our Irin will become very strong in the future.”

[Yes! Irin is the strongest!]

“Get along well with Yuhyun too. The contract won’t be terminated, will it?”

[It won’t be terminated until one of us disappears!]

Irin, grow up quickly. If it grows up, all worries about the future will disappear.

“How long will it take to grow up completely?”

[Irin hasn’t been born for very long, so about a thousand years!]

…It’s really slow. I was happy for nothing.

I stroked Irin and slowly moved my steps. The kitchen still had all the dishes. There are two chairs at the dining table. The calendar on the wall is from three years ago. I flipped through a few pages. My birthday was circled.

I turned around and headed to the room. Added to the time before the regression, it’s been a long time. But even so, I felt like I could find it even with my eyes closed. I grabbed the doorknob and slowly turned it. The scenery inside the room was the same as before. However, unlike the last time I saw it, there was a sense of life. The desk wasn’t empty either. I could see textbooks and writing utensils.

“It feels like Yuhyun will call me from behind any minute now.”

‘Hyung, what are you doing standing there?’

[Yuhyun is outside, Hyung.]

“Yeah. I have to go.”

I wanted to look around a little more, but I didn’t know what kind of chaos was going on outside. I have to ask Yerim to pour water on my brother.

“See you next time, Irin.”

[Irin can talk outside when it grows bigger!]

“Okay, then.”

…How do I get out? I remember it being released when both of us wanted to go out, but it’s not working.

[Hyung?]

“Wait a minute, I think it might work…….”

Let’s recall Diarma’s memories. First of all, there was mutual consent—ah, this is a little different from that bastard’s!

“Irin, it seems like you intervened and it’s been altered…….”

[Really?]

“Yeah.”

There’s nothing I can do. We have to put our heads together and solve it. A skill that’s not standardized by the system is subtly dangerous.

The mental space skill was released after a long time. But thanks to that, I properly studied the skill. If I practice a little, I’ll be able to use it without Irin’s help.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the ceiling. It’s indoors, not outdoors. How much time has passed? The light beyond the curtains is dim, so it’s not night. It seems to be on the bed, and both arms were being held. When I turned my head to the right, I saw Yuhyun. He was turned towards me and seemed to be fast asleep, with only faint breaths without any movement.

‘He seems fine for now.’

On the other side, Yerim was sleeping. She was holding my wrist with one hand, kicking off half of the blanket, and sprawled out in a starfish position.

‘Yerim also looks fine.’

Fortunately, nothing happened. I took out the arm that Yuhyun was holding to get up. At that, the eyes that were closed opened slightly.

“…Hyung?”

“Yeah, sleep more.”

‘Don’t get up.’ He fell asleep again with a light pat… Something must have happened. Something that would tire out an S-Class Hunter. Hong Kong must be safe.

“Yerim, let go of my hand and sleep.”

“Ugh… Guild Leader bastard, come on…….”

Yerim was mumbling in her sleep. Yeah, okay. The two of them must have fought. I’m glad they’re safe. I wonder if Sung Hyunjae is alive.

I carefully got out of bed so as not to wake them up. Looking back at the huge bed that could fit not three but four people, I couldn’t help but smile.

‘They’re both sleeping well.’

Ah, how cute. They’re angels when they’re sleeping peacefully. And next to the bed on the floor, there was a young man curled up, perfectly suited to be the model for an angel.

‘Noah, why are you sleeping on the floor? There’s plenty of room.’ Is there no other bedroom here?

“Noah, go up and sleep.”

At my call, Noah groggily got up. He rubbed his tired face and was horrified when he saw the empty space I pointed to.

“Ah, no. I’m awake.”

“Yuhyun has a gentle sleeping habit, but I don’t know about Yerim.”

“It’s okay. I’m going to wash up.”

Noah gave the two of them a slightly disgusted look and left. The kids must have made a fuss yesterday.

After checking on Ppiyaki sleeping in the basket, I quietly went out of the bedroom and a wide living room appeared. The sea was visible beyond the full-length windows, so it seemed like it was still Hong Kong. Is it another hotel? There’s also a staircase leading to the second floor. I looked around and turned on the TV. A news screen appeared with the voice of a tense reporter.

“…Wow.”

That was definitely land. The place where the hotel was located had disappeared in a circle and the seawater had filled it. Here and there, there were traces of melted and solidified stones. The reporter’s explanation that the foundation had collapsed and melted to a depth of more than ten meters stung my ears.

[The entire Hong Kong is in shock at the traces left by the Rank 2 Giant Sea Monster Kraken. □□□ Hotel has completely disappeared and the current number of missing persons—]

It’s known that the Kraken did that. That guy is big and has a skill to summon waves, but he can’t make that kind of mess. But what did he really do to make the land disappear? The area including the hotel site and the beach is quite large, but he destroyed it all.

“You’re awake.”

Sung Hyunjae came down from the second floor. It wasn’t very surprising that he was here.

“…What about the healer? Why are you in that state?”

The fact that there were traces of wounds on his exposed neck was quite surprising. The area covered by his clothes would be even larger.

“Was it a spirit? Thanks to the young master’s fierce flames, it has a power that slows down the recovery speed, so it will take a few days to heal completely.”

It seemed to have an effect similar to Blood Flame. It’s amazing that he was hurt before that.

“Did you sell the Wings of Silencia somewhere in the meantime?”

If he had S-Class fire resistance, he wouldn’t have been burned so badly.

“I lent it to the little miss [Yerim] for a while.”

“…Pardon?”

“If something were to happen to the little miss in the young master’s hands, my item wouldn’t be safe either. I hope it doesn’t break yet.”

Did my ears go bad? What nonsense is this? So, is this human in front of me protected Yerim? While getting hurt himself? I thought he was crazy, crazy, but it seems like he’s finally gone crazy.

I stared blankly at his smiling face and turned my body. I should wash up too.