The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 142

142. Infiltrating Shards (4)

I was sick of water, but the lake reflecting the white snow mountains was beautiful. So, here we were.

“Switzerland? So you were abroad after all.”

“More like I was traveling.”

“You’ve been living leisurely.”

“It was a time when staying in one place for too long felt dull, in many ways.”

I still couldn’t extract any of Seong Hyeonjae’s memories. I couldn’t move any further before that. I felt that pushing myself any more here would be dangerous. My body’s mana was already depleted, and there seemed to be other adverse effects.

‘I thought I’d be fine since I was okay with Diarma.’

But actually, Diarma used the skill back then, not me. And with Iyrin, we just had a quiet conversation. I should have kept that in mind, but I got too excited at the thought of being able to match Seong Hyeonjae.

Still, I got something out of it, so I should exploit it properly.

“Aren’t you going to tell me before we leave?”

“Tell you what?”

“What Han Yoojin is hiding.”

“Well, what is it? It’s not just one or two things.”

“I’m not talking about the trivial answer of future sight, but the truth.”

Seong Hyeonjae said. After wielding twice the power of an S-class stat and even using Black Blood Flame, I didn’t think he wouldn’t notice. Here, you can’t use any power you don’t know or haven’t experienced. But the power I used didn’t exist in the present.

I brushed it off to Seong Hyeonjae by saying, ‘You know, I think I see the future,’ but if even I do that, it’s strange. But still…

“I have no reason to tell you.”

“I won’t remember anyway.”

It was a soothing, gentle voice. There was already a significant age gap, but he seemed to treat me even younger.

“It’s hard to believe when you say that. Aren’t you just trying to deceive me?”

“If I could take my memories with me, I wouldn’t have left Han Yoojin alone like this. I would be digging into you right now.”

That’s true. At the same time, I decided never to use mental skills on Seong Hyeonjae again. I thought I could easily win, but I was wrong. I could have had my memories thoroughly devoured instead.

“So think of this as a pure bamboo forest [a metaphor for a place to vent secrets]. It’s not good to keep everything bottled up.”

“You’re pretending to be so kind. I’m almost moved to tears by your warm consideration.”

“I’ve always been kind.”

“Have you already forgotten what happened just last night? Should I gift you some knitting material for dementia prevention?”

“I appreciate the thought of celebrating my birthday, but I’d prefer a finished product if possible.”

Should I knit him a 5-meter-long hot pink scarf?

Seong Hyeonjae didn’t push further and waited. An opponent he couldn’t remember was quite alluring. Someone who would react well if I opened up. I could even have discussions about future events.

‘The troublemakers told me not to talk about regression, but it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t remember.’

I sat on a rock and looked up at Seong Hyeonjae.

“It’s nothing much.”

He won’t remember anyway. And if I keep my mouth shut, he might try to find out by force. It’s better to say it first.

“I regressed. From the future, five years ago, to the present. Using an item.”

“I see.”

Seong Hyeonjae said as if he had heard something trivial. Like it was a common occurrence that happened once a month. Thanks to that, the tension in my throat eased slightly. Words flowed out as casually as usual.

“Don’t you have any questions? Like whether the Seseong Guild Leader is alive or dead? I’ll do you a favor and answer one or two.”

At my words, a cluster of light appeared at the tip of his long finger, moving intricately according to its owner’s will.

“About five years’ worth, I suppose.”

Is he talking about skill proficiency? So he’ll still be alive in five years?

“It seems he was alive, but he was missing.”

“That’s a bit unexpected.”

“There were also suspicions that he murdered Director Song Taewon before he disappeared.”

Seong Hyeonjae tilted his head, his eyes questioning if he really killed him.

“I can’t think of a reason to do that right now.”

“He was a hindrance to cleaning up the Hunter Association?”

“It’s boring without an audience. More than that, isn’t he too precious to exchange for just the Association?”

Just the Association, he says. But S-classes aren’t pebbles rolling around, and it’s true that they’re valuable. Just looking at how he kept MKC and the Sudam Guild Leaders alive, he seems to cherish talent, even if they’re not on his side. …He didn’t treat them as people, so should I remove the ‘person’ part?

“Still, with the Plunder skill and all, you must have some connection.”

He wouldn’t have given his main skill while he was still alive. I don’t even know how he gave it in the first place. I have a slight guess, though.

“Why don’t you ask Director Song instead? What reason would he have to give me the skill and then die?”

“That’s the kind of question that’ll get me strangled again.”

He’d look at me like I’m crazy. Should I ask him once? I’m curious about his reaction.

“And besides that… if you don’t have any questions, let’s go. You won’t remember anyway.”

“Han Yoojin.”

“Ah, I lived without much going on, unlike now.”

I don’t have anything to say in particular. It’ll be a trivial story from your perspective even if I told you. I stood up from the rock, and Seong Hyeonjae opened his mouth.

“Congratulations on restoring your relationship with your brother.”

My mind went blank for a moment, and I didn’t know what I was feeling. The silence seemed long and short at the same time.

“…Your memory.”

“I don’t have any.”

“Then what, are you really going to become a fortune teller or something?”

“If you get the chance to go back to the past, wouldn’t you usually do what you wanted to do most? And that thing you wanted to do would likely be something you regretted in the future. Considering my condition, Han Yoojin regressed about two months ago, and the brotherly relationship that was once clearly defined changed around that time.”

I was speechless at the string of words. Yoo Hyeon happened to appear right after I regressed, but even if he hadn’t, I would have run straight to Haeyeon Guild. I couldn’t bear it without seeing it with my own eyes.

After that, it would have been similar to now.

“Being overly protective of your young master, to the point of accepting everything.”

Seong Hyeonjae stopped talking and looked back at me. I wish he would just keep his mouth shut. And Seong Hyeonjae didn’t continue. I was honestly grateful this time.

“…I regressed without permission, and you got caught up in it, aren’t you upset? You must have lived diligently for five years.”

“The old me is really pathetic.”

He clicked his tongue and made a pitiful expression.

“To have to listen to the nonsense of a stupid lizard and live a boring life. How could I have lived like that?”

You’re the same person. I wanted to erase my past self who felt even a sliver of pity for that man. I thought he would be a little regretful, but I didn’t expect him to put himself down. Poor Seong Hyeonjae from before regression.

“Next time, let’s hear it outside. In more detail than now.”

“Keep dreaming.”

Like I’d tell you. If I wasn’t losing my memory right now, I would have held out without saying anything… would I have been torn apart? Seriously, why is that man a cheat? I thought I could win this time, but my pre-regression combat memories popped out.

Yoo Hyeon’s double stats and attack skill buffs should have been enough, but Seong Hyeonjae also had buffed memories. Well, that’s obvious. Moreover, whether it was related to being a troublemaker or a filial piety addict, he was wrapped in disgustingly good buffs, and there wasn’t much difference in stats.

‘Then Yerim would also be incredibly strong in mental skills.’

Since she has memories of receiving the Mermaid Queen skill. Why is it only Yoo Hyeon who doesn’t have anything? I need to do something for my younger sibling too.

Muttering inwardly, I withdrew the skill. Seong Hyeonjae’s figure disappeared, and just as my consciousness was about to fade for a moment…

Thud.

Someone grabbed my wrist. Then, a familiar voice was heard.

“Hello, Han Yoojin.”

The golden eyes narrowed. Wait a minute, was it like, when that guy leaves, this guy comes in? What’s going on here?

* * *

“It’s not allowed.”

Kang Soyoung stared at the man in front of her with determination in her eyes. Kim Minyi of Haeyeon Guild. A B-class support-type Hunter. On the other hand, Kang Soyoung was an A-class combat-type Hunter who did her part even without the Dragon Rider skill.

So, naturally, Kim Minyi should have been helpless in front of Kang Soyoung. He should have shrunk like a mouse in front of a snake at her glare.

But Kang Soyoung felt the opposite. Those cold eyes staring back at her were slightly, just slightly, scary. Did he have some special skill? Han Yoojin wouldn’t have relied on just an ordinary B-class Hunter for an outing, so that was highly likely. Or maybe his actual rank was different.

“Please wait here. Didn’t you receive a message from Han Yoojin saying he’s okay?”

“It was just a text message. Anyone could send it if they took his phone.”

“Are you saying that our Guild Leader would oppress Han Yoojin? That’s very rude.”

“Can Hunter Kang Soyoung be sure that won’t happen? Really?”

Kang Soyoung closed her mouth at the chilling question. She didn’t think her Guild Leader would harm Han Yoojin. But he was also someone who would do anything if it was necessary.

“Well, still, if it’s the Guild Leader, he’d proudly announce that he did something, not deceive us with a fake message…”

She could guarantee that much.

“Instead of sending a message pretending to be Han Yoojin, he’d say… the conversation will take some time, so if you’re worried, come in… something like that……”

“Then I can go in.”

“No, I mean, it means nothing has happened yet. So it’s not allowed.”

A Seseong Hunter approached the two people who were arguing.

“That’s enough, Hunter Kim Minyi. I’ll guide you to the reception room so you can wait comfortably.”

Kim Minyi, Han Yoohyeon, didn’t even glance at the approaching Hunter. Instead, he took a step towards Kang Soyoung, who was blocking his path. The Seseong Hunter, judging that as a threat, moved.

“We cannot condone any more tyranny than this. So, excuse me—”

Just before the Hunter’s hand touched Han Yoohyeon’s shoulder, his wrist was grabbed. Then, twisting it sharply, Han Yoohyeon’s other hand gripped the Hunter’s neck.

“Keuk!”

“What are you doing!”

Kang Soyoung, flustered by the tightening grip, raised her foot to kick Han Yoohyeon’s leg and knock him over. But faster than that, the grabbed Hunter’s body was forcibly pulled up, blocking Kang Soyoung’s kick.

Thud, Kang Soyoung’s foot, which quickly changed direction, futilely tapped the floor. Using the foot on the floor as a pivot, Kang Soyoung spun around in a circle, this time aiming a hand blade at Han Yoohyeon’s nape. But Han Yoohyeon was no longer there.

Crash!

The thrown Hunter rolled across the floor. Before she knew it, Han Yoohyeon, who had gone to where Kang Soyoung originally was, looked at Kang Soyoung, who was in the position that had been switched with him. The two people’s gazes met blankly at his gesture of lightly dusting off his hands as if nothing had happened.

“Just give me the portal key. You can say I took it.”

“No, wait.”

“If I ring the bell and you don’t open the door, I’ll obediently turn around and come out.”

I don’t think that’s likely. Thinking that, Kang Soyoung bit her lower lip. Should she request more support? But Han Yoojin was a concern when it came to suppressing him with force. They seemed to be quite close. She couldn’t rashly upset Han Yoojin. Honestly, her friendship with Han Yoojin was more important to her than her position in the guild.

Besides, wouldn’t the Guild Leader, who was in a position to blame her, want her to value the latter more? He certainly would.

“…I’ll contact the Guild Leader one more time.”

If he doesn’t answer, I’ll have to let him in. Kang Soyoung quickly took out her phone and made a call. Seong Hyeonjae, who had been unresponsive all along, finally answered the phone. After a brief explanation, permission to let him in was granted. Kang Soyoung sighed deeply.

“Here’s the mini-portal key. Don’t forget to return it.”

Kang Soyoung handed the key to Han Yoohyeon and helped the Hunter, who was still sitting blankly on the floor, up. The two of them stared side by side at Han Yoohyeon’s back as he walked away without hesitation.

“…No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem like a B-class Hunter.”

“No, definitely not.”

If that person was a B-class, and even a support-type, then they would have to be demoted to C-class.

‘Haeyeon’s Hunter Kim Minyi.’

Where did someone like that suddenly come from? Why is he hiding his rank? Kang Soyoung tilted her head, unable to take her eyes off the hallway where he had disappeared.