The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 133

133. Drawn (3)

The quadrupedal wolf stood up. Its size, which used to casually carry a person in its mouth like bubblegum, decreased. Its fur became tougher, transforming as if into armor. The long, sharp claws looked like several scimitars drawn simultaneously.

It would have been perfect with a full moon as the backdrop. Unfortunately, it’s only a half-moon, and the moonlight isn’t very bright.

– Grrr.

The Lycanthrope, though smaller, still towered over Song Tae-won, glaring at me. More precisely, at my heart. Yeah, it must look pretty tasty.

“The Lycan form is specialized for human combat. It’s disgustingly tough, has no elemental weaknesses, and its instantaneous speed is faster than the wolf form. Plus, its smaller size makes it harder to hit.”

Fortunately, I pulled out my intact phone and reported the appearance of an S-Class monster to the Association, saying, “I hope you make it to the end, phone.”

‘Song Tae-won caught that guy before the regression, too.’

Because it was so quick and didn’t bother ordinary people, Yoo-hyun and Sung Hyun-jae were told not to interfere since they were more at risk. They were walking infernos.

“Just maintain contact?”

Song Tae-won said, not taking his eyes off the Lycan.

“Yes. But I can’t hold it. As you know, my stats are low, so I don’t know when I’ll lose it.”

I don’t have the strength to hold it, so I have to be carried around, yes.

“I’ve raised damage nullification to SS-Class, so you can use me as a shield.”

At the words that it would be useful if used well, Song Tae-won’s gaze shifted to me. Wait a minute, if you take your eyes off it like that…

*Kajik*, with the sound of claws scraping the ground, the Lycan leaped. Song Tae-won hardly moved from his spot, extending his free arm towards the sharp front claws. The arm, wrapped in black shadows, twisted slightly, going under the claws.

Tear.

The claws tore through the thin summer shirt and skin. A red line was drawn on his arm, and blood splattered. Even though the S-Class skill was properly scratched by the young claws, the wound was shallow. This was because the skill was nullified by the surrounding shadows, leaving only simple physical force.

*Thud*, Song Tae-won’s grip caught the Lycan’s wrist. Veins stood out as his bent fingers dug into the fur. The SS-Class defense skill, Black Dark Mode, was also neutralized.

– Keek!

The panicked Lycan tried to pull its arm away, but Song Tae-won’s movements were faster. *Thud*, the beast’s arm twisted and was pulled in. Then, a powerful knee kick penetrated the joint in the opposite direction. Again, shrouded in shadows. The sound of bones shattering echoed loudly.

In the blink of an eye, the bastard’s arm was mangled and dangling.

– Kyareureuk!

The Lycan, barely pulling its arm away, retreated and growled. Song Tae-won lightly shook his fingertips. The blood and flesh that were on them fell off.

“Originally, it’s a skill with an extremely narrow range. I can’t use it on more than two places at the same time.”

He said quietly. He must be talking about nullifying the opponent’s skills. It would be a cheat if the range was wide.

Hooking me with one arm, Song Tae-won moved. Weight settled on his feet. A skill to control the mass of the body and weapon.

It was unleashed in two batches.

Bang—!

With tremendous pressure, the asphalt shattered. The ground beneath it caved in. It was power hard to exert with a human’s size and weight, even an S-Class, especially while standing in place.

Amid the flying black fragments, Song Tae-won’s body shot towards the Lycan. The wolf reflexively bent its body to dodge. At the moment when Song Tae-won seemed to barely graze over the beast’s body,

Crack!

The outstretched hand grabbed the Lycan’s neck. The tip of his foot, which had made a large circle in the air, slammed down on the back covered in black fur.

– Kyaak!

The beast, its spine deeply gouged and half-burst, spewed blood and screamed, inflating its body.

Whir—

The wire, which had been pulled out at some point, wrapped around the neck of the creature as it turned to flee. Of course, it wasn’t an ordinary metal wire. It wasn’t even a weapon of a grade that an S-Class would use. It was a common one that even mid-level Hunters used as a support.

As the wire tightened, the Lycan quickly swung its claws. Just before the claws touched, a black light flowed through the wire.

Ting!

The metal wire, which should have been cut instantly, was half-cut but held on. The Lycan, its posture disrupted by the unexpected situation, was dragged in. At the same time as Song Tae-won pulled the wire wrapped around his hand down, he raised his foot high.

Kwaduk!

The heel slammed down, tearing nearly half of the thick wolf’s neck like an ax blade. Even that was because the Lycan barely twisted its body to avoid instant death.

Even though it was an S-Class monster with a tough and sturdy body, he was turning it into mincemeat without any weapons. In the face of unilateral violence, the Lycan rolled on the floor, sticking its tongue out long.

– Kyaaang!

Bloody hands shot upwards, seizing the Lycan’s exposed lower jaw. Upper and lower jaws crunched together as Song Tae-won’s powerful wrist twisted in a wide arc.

Thud!

The Lycan’s head slammed into the ground, flipped over by the force. Fragments of asphalt scattered like blood. Song Tae-won pressed his knee into the wolf’s neck, twisting the remaining intact arm in his grip.

– Krk, krrr!

Even with differing stats, both were S-Class Hunters. Despite the Lycan being more than twice his size, implying a significant strength difference, it was pinned, unable to move, only flailing its legs.

Currently, Song Tae-won’s weight bore down on the Lycan, exceeding its own.

Because its back was bent at an awkward angle, the Lycan’s kicks couldn’t connect properly. Song Tae-won coldly broke the remaining arm. Then, he drew a knife, tinging the tip with the black shadow of his Nullification skill [a skill that cancels out or weakens other skills], and stabbed it up under the Lycan’s jaw.

Kuduk.

The blade pierced from under the jaw to the crown of its head. He twisted the knife as if stirring, and the Lycan’s struggles beneath Song Tae-won’s knee gradually ceased.

In the thick stench of blood, Song Tae-won released the knife and stood up. Since I had been held up by one arm, I also rose, following him.

“Then, you should finish dealing with the gate [a portal to another dimension, often the source of monsters], right?”

I said, watching Song Tae-won’s expression. His face remained impassive and calm. Outwardly, he didn’t seem particularly moved by the skill sharing. Rather than coveting it like Sung Hyun-jae, he seemed wary and pushed it away.

So, he should let me go soon.

‘Why isn’t he budging?’

A dark, sunken gaze turned to me. His eyes slowly traveled downwards, stopping on my chest, on the wound exposed through the torn clothes.

“What is that wound?”

“It’s nothing much.”

“If it were nothing, it wouldn’t still be there. You can use healers and potions as much as you want. More than anything, the Haeyeon Guild Leader [the leader of a powerful Hunter organization] wouldn’t have left it alone.”

Well… that would be the case now.

“It’s a wound that even Yoohyun doesn’t know about. As for me, I’m the type to save potions.”

“If he doesn’t know, it hasn’t been long since it happened. You lost your top in the Lake Dungeon, so.”

If the wound had occurred before that, many people would have seen it, so it would have reached Yoohyun’s ears already, is that what he was thinking?

“Sometimes, you get hurt while living.”

“It’s not common to get slashed in the chest, not the hand.”

Saying that, he took out a potion. The potion flowed over the scar, but there was no change.

“The wolf kept targeting Han Yoojin-ssi. The swarm of bees also seemed to chase Han Yoojin-ssi, not Noah Hunter. The drone even came out and attacked.”

What did you do? A voice filled with weight asked.

“I have no obligation to answer.”

Song Tae-won’s hand firmly gripped my arm. Please calm down and resolve this through conversation.

“You were composed not only against high-level Hunters but also in front of monsters. Not feeling fear abnormally is also a skill, isn’t it?”

I didn’t come here to be interrogated. It seems like I made a mistake by being fine even when the wolf was gnawing at me, trying to eat me. I should have pretended to be a little scared.

When I didn’t answer, Song Tae-won grabbed the area around my neck.

“My skill is called Permeating Plunder. In a short contact during combat, it can nullify a skill of the opponent for a moment, only a part of it, but if you take the time, it can exert more effect.”

“…Wait a minute.”

The moment I thought this was ominous, Song Tae-won used his skill on me. At the same time, the effect of the contract was activated, but.

‘…This is useless.’

The penalty of the contract was none other than temporary paralysis. With that much, another allied Hunter who was attacked would be able to pull me out. But now, I was alone, and it was impossible for me to break Song Tae-won’s grip with my strength.

I didn’t even think that the person who shared the skill would attack me. If he uses an attack skill on me in the corner and breaks the contract, there’s no one to save me, so the skill sharing continues and there’s no penalty, right? I should exclude myself from the fellow Hunters in the contract, geez.

While I was engraving the lesson that writing a contract is not easy, Song Tae-won was released from paralysis. And the skill that had stopped for a moment was activated again. Although it was an attack skill, it was directed at a skill, not a Hunter, so damage nullification didn’t work.

“This, the effect is…….”

“It can lower the grade of one of the skills the opponent possesses.”

I opened the status window in panic.

[Fear Resistance(L)(SSS) – Nullifies intimidation below the legendary grade]

The grade of the Fear Resistance skill has dropped. It seems temporary, as L-grade also remains.

(SS)

Again, one more step, the grade dropped, and not long after, it went down to S-grade. Now that he was on the same level as Song Tae-won, I felt a slight chill. But it’s still okay.

“How far can you lower it?”

“Usually about 3 grades.”

Then, since the double effect is applied now…….

(A)

My heart sank. Shit, wait a minute.

“I’ll explain, so stop it.”

Song Tae-won didn’t even listen to me. And B, then C again. The smell of blood came to me again, repulsive. My heart was beating a little faster. Damn it.

“The duration depends on the opponent’s grade. I haven’t used it on an S-grade yet, and it lasts about half a day for an A-grade. If it’s an F-grade, I think it would last at least three days.”

“So, are you going to threaten me to reveal everything I’ve been hiding now?”

“Then stop playing the role of an item for monsters. Before I break you.”

“Excuse me?”

Song Tae-won continued calmly.

“I fully understand why the Guild Leader of Sesung [a powerful guild] is interested in you. You are very useful. To the point of being a bit too stimulating. I even felt a slight urge to go monster hunting as is.”

*That* monster doesn’t mean a monster, does it? Noah, don’t ever come this way.

“At the same time, I thought I shouldn’t just leave Han Yu-jin alone.”

“I’ll revise the contract and use it diligently.”

“At least be scared. Enough to refuse being dragged to dangerous places. And enough that I don’t feel like harming you.”

“I can’t touch someone who is normally afraid of Song Tae-won, uh…….”

The oppressive feeling suddenly intensified. My body trembled involuntarily. But what was worse was the Teacher skill. As the opponent’s strength was directly conveyed, my whole body felt chilled, and I felt like I was being mentally strangled.

As soon as I withdrew the skill, I could finally breathe. I can’t use the Teacher skill without Fear Resistance.

“Song Tae-won, sir. Whether I feel fear or not, I will do my job.”

I said, gritting my teeth. I survived well for 5 years without the Fear Resistance skill. If I were going to stay home because I was a little scared, I would have done so a long time ago.

After all, what I’m most afraid of isn’t just the threat of an S-grade Hunter.

“And isn’t it Song Tae-won who’s really scared? Don’t blame others; you want to get rid of me because you’re attracted to me.”

He mixed the excuses of others into his words, but in the end, the impulse and the desire to harm me came from Song Tae-won himself. I reached out and grabbed Song Tae-won’s collar. When our eyes met, I felt more than scared; I felt like my insides were turning upside down.

“Just tell me honestly. What do you want to do? But you’ll have to choose. If you want to maintain your current position, I will erase your influence. Because it’s a hindrance. If you want to live a normal life, just live as a normal public official.”

“Do you have the ability to do that?”

“Well, somehow. I’ll tie you up in a dead-end job and block you from asking Song Tae-won for help by using all sorts of methods. You’re a public official, so you have to follow orders from above, right?”

It won’t be easy, but if Song Tae-won really acts like a public official, it won’t be impossible.

“Quietly, forget about what happened today.”

“…You’re really a difficult person.”

He muttered quietly and brought his hand to my wrist. To be exact, on the bracelet. My heart beat loudly at that moment. His thick fingers gripped the bracelet. At the same time, a blue bird popped out with a flutter.

– Beep! Beep!

After a loud cry as if warning.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, flames erupted. The bright red flames separated Song Tae-won and me, and Song Tae-won, unable to withstand the fire that exceeded the range of the Predation skill, quickly stepped back, releasing me.

– Beep beep!

Eun-hye landed on my wrist. Next to it, a red lizard, Irin, appeared.

“Rin? How did you…….”

– You said you wouldn’t go outside. What are you doing here, hyung [older brother/term of endearment]?

“…Yu-hyun?”

The voice coming from the lizard was definitely Yu-hyun’s.