The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 128

128. The Association President (2)

[He is a precious person. Even setting aside his national importance and value in the Hunter world, he is personally so.]

Seok Si-myung said from the laptop monitor. It wasn’t a live broadcast; it was a recording. His calm voice held a sorrow that wasn’t excessive, seeping softly into the ears and digging into the heart. They must have spent a fortune on the sound system.

Dressed in a wrinkle-free suit and wearing unnecessarily thin-rimmed glasses, he already projected a strong intellectual image. The carefully chosen coordination and hairstyle further enhanced the persuasiveness of his voice. It felt like I would unconsciously nod even if he claimed the sun revolved around the earth.

‘That con artist, really.’

I asked him to lay the groundwork while I was kidnapped, but isn’t this a bit much?

I scanned the documents on the table again. They were summaries of major articles and their reactions. Look at the stock index plummeting. If I had traded options… Was I kidnapped on purpose, or is this a scam?

‘Anyway, that old man has not only ignited the flames of public opinion but made them blaze.’

The method was simple.

First, they acted like people who couldn’t control their emotions towards the Association, which was calmly and politely trying to defend itself by saying they had done enough. The Association was at fault, and Haeyeon had every right to be angry, but Seok Si-myung’s slightly excessive attitude led to a flood of articles blaming him.

Just when public opinion was leaning towards Seok Si-myung going too far and the Association doing all it could, the national apology speech appeared.

A perfect apology, scoring a hundred out of a hundred, admitting his attitude was excessive, along with an appeal to the Association—actually, to the public—about the Association’s problems, Haeyeon’s sorrow, the regret over the kidnapping, and the enormous national loss.

And the media fluttered again, with content completely opposite to before.

The handsome face and unnecessarily good voice, in league with the media, instilled nothing less than guilt in the public. That person was a bit excessive, but he wasn’t wrong, and when I thought about it calmly, it made sense. I got caught up in the moment and cursed him along with everyone else.

Originally, it was someone else’s problem. Even if it was a national loss, it had no direct relevance. But once guilt set in, people would step out of their bystander position and add their voice to ease their conscience. In addition, it allowed those who weren’t swayed to stand on moral high ground and raise their voices.

He’s already a pitiful victim, and we did something we shouldn’t have. It’s all the Association’s fault. Leading to the idea of taking down the Association, the culprit, wouldn’t have been difficult.

‘There must have been some pressure on the media too.’

Seeing how smoothly things progressed, Haeyeon alone wouldn’t have been enough; Seseong must have cooperated as well.

And that led to ‘Han Yu-jin is pitiful. We should have protected him. How could the country let a precious Hunter be sold off? Let’s protect him now!’ Damn it.

I asked them to hand out some flyers in the neighborhood, and they’re scattering high-quality CFs [commercial films] on public broadcasting. And I’m the main character, not even a famous celebrity. How am I supposed to show my face in the future?

‘…Still, it would be a waste to throw away the stage they’ve set.’

I have to use it. I stroked Peace on my lap and turned to look at the man sitting at the wine bar on one side. The laptop and stack of papers in front of him must contain far more gruesome content than mine, things like hotel salvage.

“Seong Hyun-jae.”

He must have noticed my gaze, pretending not to know and then turning to me.

“I have something I want to ask.”

“My little brother threatened me not to even talk to you, let alone approach you, so I can’t answer.”

Yu-hyun went to the night market with the other kids. When I said I was tired and would skip it, he didn’t want to go either, but the oldest adult forced him to take care of the kids. His true feelings were that he wanted the kids to play together.

I even set a time in case they came back too soon. I hope the four of them have fun.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Since when have you cared about that kind of thing?”

“Han Yu-jin can’t stand to see his brother running wild. The burn marks are still here.”

“Are you going to keep bringing up those burns for the rest of your life? Anyway, what about Song Tae-won?”

“It won’t be easy.”

Seong Hyun-jae got up from his seat. He picked up a bottle of wine and two glasses and approached me. Neither of us would get drunk, but I accepted it anyway.

“He’s a man who would be second to none when it comes to being twisted.”

“Are those words coming from Seong Hyun-jae’s mouth?”

“Distorting those around you is completely different from distorting yourself. Above all, I don’t deceive myself.”

That’s something to be envious of. I’ve lied to myself a lot. I suddenly wanted to turn off my poison resistance. I absolutely can’t get drunk here.

“What I’m curious about is how much our dear Chief Song can endure. I saw you provoking him quite a bit before.”

“I’ve poked him several times.”

“How far have you gone?”

“To the point where he knelt and begged in front of me?”

…Crazy, what did you do? I stared at him in disbelief, and the crazy bastard, who was leaning back leisurely on the one-person sofa, smiled playfully.

“What did you do?”

“Vacation due to poor condition.”

“…An S-Class dungeon is about to explode? The other S-Class Hunters must have gone in to attack it, and Song Tae-won couldn’t leave his post. Were two S-Class dungeons in a precarious state at the same time?”

“It would be more accurate to add that the Association was being greedy.”

The Hunter Association was forcibly holding onto an unmanageable number and grade of dungeons, and then things went wrong. Song Tae-won was caught in the power struggle between the Association and Seong Hyun-jae.

“Then make the Association President kneel. Why are you harassing an innocent person?”

“He’s not an innocent victim. Isn’t Chief Song the biggest reason the Association can stand tall?”

That’s not wrong. No, to be honest, it was Song Tae-won’s fault.

He knows his own power but acts as a mindless weapon, entangled in a flimsy thread called a public official that can be cut off at any time. As a result, those being hindered can’t help but shout, ‘Cut it off!’

“Still, he showed some sincerity and dragged his tired body out. Originally, I was just going to watch until the end.”

“Please think about the civilian casualties.”

“It wasn’t me who took the safety of the people hostage, leaving aside the easy and quick method of handing over the rights to the unmanageable dungeon to Seseong.”

“The power struggle must have been fierce.”

“I wonder if I was too lenient at the time.”

When was it? Until the beginning of my second year, there weren’t many S-Class dungeons, so about a year to a year and a half ago? It’s likely to be the time when high-level dungeons suddenly increased.

Yu-hyun must have suffered a lot in the midst of that infighting. He’s still young.

“My little brother was quite battered around during that time too,” Seong Hyun-jae said as if reading my mind.

“The adults had no conscience against a child. Well, they still don’t.”

If I listened in more detail and thought more deeply, I would go up to the second-floor terrace and jump into the swimming pool, so I went back to the original topic. Or should I pour the wine over my head?

“If I grab him by the collar and drag him out of the cave, put him in a position he hates, and threaten him, will he try to kill me?”

“Unless Han Yu-jin has an F-Class stat and no attack skills, he won’t try to take your life no matter what you do. Conversely, you might see the absurd sight of him trying to protect Han Yu-jin.”

That sounds plausible. Even if I’m his mortal enemy, he’ll protect me as long as I’m no different from an ordinary person? It’s not normal, but it’s a crazy personality that I welcome.

I emptied my wine glass, turning the thoughts in my head this way and that.

Currently, a significant portion of the responsibility for my disappearance is focused on Song Tae-won. He must have volunteered to be the scapegoat, as he told me on the day I was kidnapped. The Association must have thought, ‘Great, that’s perfect,’ and accepted it without hesitation. That’s how they’re trying to protect the Association.

‘No way.’

I’m sorry, Song Tae-won, but I want to cut off the Association’s head more than yours.

The video had stopped a long time ago, and only the sound of paper turning flowed out quietly in the silence. There’s one more thing I need to address. I tapped the paper with the tip of my pen and opened my mouth.

“It seems that skill sharing was still happening even after I fainted in Babar. Were you trying to kill the other people there?”

Seong Hyun-jae smiled at my casually thrown question.

“Oh, it seems my little brother noticed.”

That’s a yes. I expected it, but the inside of my chest felt a little chilly.

“Should I apologize?”

“No need. It was my fault for being foolish.”

“I deeply regret breaking Han Yu-jin’s trust.”

“I never trusted you.”

I’m disappointed in my own naivety.

“Let me make it clear this time: don’t touch the kids. Keep a reasonable line. I believe you know the location of that line better than I do.”

“Isn’t my little brother an adult?”

“It’s not allowed as long as Yu-hyun is younger than me.”

Not until five more years have passed, even if dirt gets in my eyes. No, if I die right now, I’m only twenty-five. I guess it has to be over thirty.

“So, where is Han Yu-jin’s line?”

“Let’s adjust it appropriately between the adults.”

“You’re like a sandpiper.”

What’s that supposed to mean? Anyway, I warned him that if he did anything stupid, he would lose the item in front of him. I wanted to threaten to kill him cleanly, but I couldn’t let him notice any hint of the last favor.

The reason that man is lenient with me is only because I’m an F-Class stat. If he knew I could become much stronger than him, would he just leave such a dangerous element alone?

At least it would be difficult to maintain the moderately loose relationship we have now.

“Song Tae-won’s personal number is registered, right? Can I borrow your phone?”

I don’t have my phone or even a business card.

What time is it in Korea now? Is there about an hour difference? Seong Hyun-jae unlocked his phone and handed it to me. As I scrolled through the contact list, an unusual name caught my eye.

[My Item]

“Don’t use possessives, please.”

“To modify it arbitrarily like that. That’s too much.”

“If you want to get attached, pay the price.”

I won’t accept it unless you give up all your skills. I found Song Tae-won’s number and called him. Not long after, a polite but distant voice answered the phone. Perhaps because it was Seong Hyun-jae’s number, his tone asking what was the matter already had fatigue seeping into it.

“Hello, Chief Song. It seems you’ve had a lot of trouble.”

[…Han Yu-jin.]

“I’m sorry, but I’m not Han Yu-jin. I’m a nameless extortionist.”

Silence answered, as if he was flustered. I already feel sorry, but what can I do? I threatened him with a smile.

* * *

The only ones who entered the airport with me were Yu-hyun and Kang So-young. Yu-hyun was listed as having come to Hong Kong to save me, and Kang So-young was listed as a collaborator of the Seseong Guild. Yerim and Noah didn’t even have departure records, so they quietly slipped out with Peace and Piak. Both can fly and have teleportation and stealth, so they escaped easily.

“Do I look tired?”

I deliberately stayed up all night.

It was hard trying not to fall asleep during the flight.

“Yeah. Your complexion isn’t good. Your lips are dry too.”

“I want to put a bruise somewhere visible.”

It’s too obvious to have two high-level Hunters and not use potions. It’s not worth pouring potions on a few bruises.

I swallowed a sigh and turned off my fear resistance. The creeping tension doesn’t feel bad. A victim rescued from a human auction house.

“Yu-hyun, stick closer. I’m still scared, and it would be good if you still looked a little sensitive. But don’t scare the people around you unnecessarily.”

Moderately, moderately.

With Hunters from Haeyeon and Seseong forming a human barricade, I stepped forward to the people waiting at the airport. Camera flashes went off everywhere. The crowd was as dense as a market on market day. Once this is over, I really need to stay home for a month. It will be noisy for a while, but if I stay quiet, I’ll be forgotten soon.

“Han Yu-jin! Do you remember the faces of the kidnappers?”

“I heard you were rescued from a dungeon auction house, can you tell us more details—”

“Is it related to the Kraken that appeared in Hong Kong? There are also rumors that the auction was held in a submerged hotel!”

Where did that information leak from? The higher-ups of the auction participants are still intact, so did the story come from them? With a tired expression, I turned my head as if avoiding the camera and grabbed Yu-hyun’s sleeve.

I was prepared, but I feel worse and worse. Then Song Tae-won appeared. Along with some Association officials, he stopped ahead, following a path that the reporters knew to avoid. Questions poured out towards him as well, but his lips, pressed tightly into a line, wouldn’t open.

‘He doesn’t look happy.’

I ordered him to come to the airport. I pressured him by saying I didn’t know what bad things I would say about the Association if he didn’t obey. The tongue of the hottest victim in Korea is a sharp knife that can stab anyone and inflict fatal wounds.

“Chief Song Tae-won.”

Amidst the gazes, mostly filled with criticism towards him, I smiled. I approached Song Tae-won with a welcoming expression. The oppressive feeling pressed down on my shoulders, but I could endure this much.

The surrounding noise, which had been bustling to listen to our conversation, subsided. I stared straight at Song Tae-won’s eyes, which were subtly distorted, and deliberately raised my voice.

“Thank you so much.”