The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 143

143. Infiltrating Shards (5)

The closed door beyond the mini-portal opened readily without much verification. Han Yoohyun took off his glasses and put them in his inventory. Sung Hyunjae would notice soon enough anyway.

The house was large, but finding Han Yoojin wasn’t difficult. He just needed to head to where his spirit was. He moved his feet and woke Irin. As he synchronized a part of his senses with the spirit, the surrounding scenery soon came into view.

Han Yoojin was asleep. His face was noticeably pale. He was still unconscious, and the location was different from before. Just what had happened?

“I thought so, it was Young Master after all.”

Han Yoohyun, who was unconsciously gritting his teeth, stopped walking with a flinch. He had been focused on checking on his brother through Irin, so his senses here had dulled. As his senses returned, a small indoor garden and a water tank with shimmering blue water came into view. And beyond that, Sung Hyunjae’s figure was visible.

Han Yoohyun revealed his anger without hesitation. Sung Hyunjae raised the corner of his lips at the coolly burning gaze.

“I’d like to say nothing happened, but that would be too obvious of a lie. It seems Young Master has already noticed.”

“What did you do?”

The voice, as if about to tear the other party apart, growled lowly. A light voice answered.

“I don’t quite remember.”

Crack, a faint crack appeared beneath Han Yoohyun’s feet. Even so, he didn’t rush in because he thought he was also responsible for sending Han Yoojin in alone, defenseless.

“Stop with the bullshit. I’m taking my brother.”

“Wouldn’t it be troublesome for Han Yoojin-gun [Mr. Han Yoojin, using ‘gun’ as a polite suffix] if you went back like this? He must have come all the way here for a reason.”

‘Isn’t that right?’ his light-colored eyes narrowed with a smile.

“To ask for a favor that Young Master would be incapable of.”

Han Yoohyun let out a short breath.

“Are you provoking me right now?”

“Just a simple fact.”

Sung Hyunjae slowly moved his feet. His feet, wearing indoor slippers, stepped onto the path crossing the garden.

“I won’t be staying for long.”

“Young Master is still young, so he will continue to grow in the future. But you see.”

Sung Hyunjae looked at the hunter who was so young he was practically a child. He clearly seemed to be holding back from rushing in right away.

“Even then, you’ll still be the younger brother. The one who needs to be protected and cared for.”

Strength entered Han Yoohyun’s hand.

“Isn’t that why Young Master leaves me alone? Because his beloved hyung [older brother] needs someone to share the burden and rely on. Han Yoojin-gun has a bad habit of almost blindly protecting those who come into his embrace.”

“…It’s only for a while.”

“Let me tell you one more time. Young Master will only ever be the younger brother. Han Yoojin-gun’s stubbornness must be considerable. So, instead of doing useless things, it would be better for hyung if you just acted spoiled─”

Thud─

Even though it was just a fist and a palm meeting, a heavy impact sound spread out. He had rushed in expecting to block it lightly, but even so, Han Yoohyun frowned unpleasantly. He wanted to tear the man’s neck apart right now. He was close enough to reach out and touch. But he knew better than anyone that it was impossible.

“Soon, when hyung no longer needs you, you better leave willingly.”

“To think you’d discard me like a worn-out shoe, that’s too much. But with you still acting so cute, it’ll be a long time before Young Master replaces me.”

The sound of teeth grinding could be heard. He was angry, but Han Yoohyun also knew well that Han Yoojin’s attitude wouldn’t change easily. In some ways, Han Yoojin worried about his younger brother now, who was unlikely to get hurt, more than when he was a child, and kept trying to shield him.

Strangely enough. It felt pleasing yet unsettling, and anxious.

“Division of roles isn’t bad either. He’s deliberately going to the trouble for you.”

Why does he keep raising his thorns? Unbearable anger flared around Han Yoohyun at the relaxed voice. He wanted to call Irin and brand another deep burn on him. Preferably on his face where it would be easily visible.

“That’s why I say you’re still young. I’d like to accept your heated feelings, but fire is strictly prohibited in the garden.”

Immediately after,

Splash─

The water from the tank poured down in an instant above the two of them.

* * *

‘One is enough, why two?’

The actual body is just one. More than that, what the hell is up with this human? I heard they’d merge, but they’re playing separately here.

“Um… first of all, Mr. Sung Hyunjae?”

“Not complete, though.”

Probably the Sung Hyunjae from before the regression spoke.

“Can I ask what happened?”

I thought the guy who threw me into the water was just a part of the pre-regression memories that briefly surfaced while the current Sung Hyunjae’s consciousness was submerged. But this feels like they’re completely separated.

“I heard they would merge. I heard sensitive people would feel a sense of incongruity, but…”

“It’s not just feeling incongruous, it’s more like being rejected.”

“…Pardon?”

“Both the current me and the pre-regression me felt a strong sense of incongruity about the merging of the two worlds. So we couldn’t mix like this and ended up separated. Of course, it’s not completely divided, and I’m a kind of collection of fragments.”

Sung Hyunjae made a face that was uncharacteristically ashamed. He was so sensitive that he felt something was wrong and rejected himself. He really does all sorts of things, but he’s the kind of person who would do that.

“Then, will it continue to be maintained like this?”

“No.”

The dissatisfied face looked definitely younger than the current him. The appearance isn’t much different, but it seems like his face would be the same ten years ago or ten years later.

“Eventually, I’ll all be eaten up. Even now, I don’t have many memories from the five years before the merge. The memories up to the current point mostly remain thanks to ‘me’ also having them intact.”

“So that’s why you feel younger.”

“Younger?”

“You feel like you’re the right age. Late thirties isn’t that old these days.”

Isn’t it still your prime? Anyway, if they merge, nothing much will happen.

“Then I’ll be on my way. Have a good time with the remaining time.”

Let go of my wrist. Let me go. But the young fragment-ssi [Mr. Fragment, using ‘ssi’ as a polite suffix], far from letting me go, instead pulled me towards himself. If I didn’t have pre-regression memories, I could beat him, but I can’t because it feels like my body will have one foot in the grave.

“You’re so heartless.”

“Are you really one to talk, after tying me up with chains and dunking me in the water on our first meeting? Any affection I had is disappearing.”

“I gently picked you up, wiped off the water, and even changed your clothes. And I even accepted you into myself.”

“That was to save you─”

“It wasn’t me, Han Yoojin.”

…I guess so. The gaze bent towards me felt ominous. He seemed to be in a bad mood. Even Sung Hyunjae wouldn’t be able to maintain his composure when faced with the imminent threat of being eaten and disappearing. He’s also mentally younger.

“Should I apologize?”

“Give me something else instead.”

“What?”

“My body.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. You two can play rock-paper-scissors or something without me. I can watch the judging, though.”

It would be fun to watch. The current Sung Hyunjae would most likely win. The fragment laughed at my words.

“It’s impossible to take the current me’s body. But.”

The tip of his finger lightly touched my chest. He traced the scar under my clothes as if redrawing it.

“You have something good to replace it with, don’t you?”

“…What? Hey, wait a minute.”

What the hell is this bastard aiming for?

“Even though the SS-grade magic stone is cracked, it’s a combination of L-grade or higher magic stones, you know?”

“That sounds good.”

“Good or not, I wouldn’t give it up even if you handed over the entire Seseong Guild!”

I can’t get another Diarma even if you give me the SS-grade magic stone. What are you even hoping to get with a fragment that doesn’t even have the ability to pay?

“In your current state, the magic stone probably can’t even awaken properly.”

The guy said with conviction.

“How do you… You don’t even have memories.”

“I don’t have none. I remember a little about the stupid lizard.”

Is it true or not? I’m suspicious, but there’s no way to confirm it. But it’s definitely true that the combined magic stone hasn’t reacted even after time has passed.

“…So, what are you going to do? If I give you the magic stone, will a Sung Hyunjae replica pop out of there… Ugh! I still hate it! Shit!”

It was a terrible sight that made me swear just by imagining it. I really hate it. I’d rather cut open the wound and pull the magic stone back out. One Sung Hyunjae is too much in my life. Of course, the performance is good, but still, it’s Sung Hyunjae.

“Aren’t you overreacting too much? It would be nice if it could be completely transferred like that, but it’s impossible.”

I guess so. If that were to happen… Damn it, could it happen? I shook my head and tried to shake off the absurd thoughts.

“Practically, it would be a completely different person, no different from a monster.”

“Then can’t you just be absorbed here?”

“It’s not in my nature to give up easily.”

And the smiling face was quite similar to the current Sung Hyunjae. He is the same person. I narrowed my eyes for a moment and opened my mouth.

“Are you going to make sure I can successfully synthesize the monster?”

“I guarantee that. The current problem is that the higher-grade magic stone of the two magic stones is not intact. Mana is faintly leaking out.”

He said that if he supplemented it, the monster would be completed within a month at the longest. It was unsettling, but it was too wasteful to throw away the magic stones like this. Besides, even if it’s a fragment with almost no memories from the 5 years before the regression, Sung Hyunjae is still Sung Hyunjae, so the monster’s stats are likely to increase.

…That Sung Hyunjae is annoying, though.

The 고민 [worry/trouble] didn’t last long. It’s good to have as many cards as possible.

“I’ll accept it. What do I have to do?”

“Just take me back as I am. I can move to the magic stone on my own.”

“You’re not going to try to take over my body, are you?”

“If that were possible, I would have asked you to find me a more sturdy body.”

Sorry for my weak body. But I think it’s above average.

I took back the skill with Sung Hyunjae’s fragment. My consciousness blurred for a moment, and then I opened my eyes again.

“Ugh…….”

The view is blurry. I quickly took out a mana potion and drank it, but it was still blurry. It seemed like my eyesight had deteriorated. I hope it’s temporary.

Of course, my physical condition was also terrible, and all the bones in my body ached. I barely managed to stand up after eating a few life force potions. The magic stone in my chest… it doesn’t seem to have changed yet.

‘…I’m going to die.’

I can’t even speak properly. Judging from the fact that I woke up in a bed instead of a sofa, Sung Hyunjae seemed to have returned properly. But why can’t I see him? The moment I thought that.

Splash─

The sound of water pouring could be heard faintly. I don’t know what’s going on, but a huge water tank immediately came to mind. As I staggered out of the room, Irin, who had already popped out, looked at me once and took the lead.

It’s Yoohyun. Well, who else would it be? As I followed Irin down the stairs, I almost fell down a couple of times. There should be an elevator. As I entered the garden, I saw the disappeared water tank and two people soaked in water.

“Yoohyun-ah! [Yoohyun, with a familiar/affectionate suffix]”

“Hyung, are you okay?”

Yoohyun turned to look at me, letting go of Sung Hyunjae’s collar. Ugh, the soil is wet and turned into mud. It’s going to be hard to clean. Why did you make this in the house? There’s a well-decorated sky garden right in front of you.

“Why did you come in without waiting a little longer? You’re completely soaked. Shouldn’t you manage the house facilities properly?”

“You put out the fire properly, though.”

Um, my brother seems to have been a little excited. But it’s understandable. Considering what Sung Hyunjae did to me, burning the garden a little isn’t a big deal, is it? I don’t know if Yoohyun knows that far.

“By the way, Han Yoojin-gun.”

Sung Hyunjae suddenly raised his finger towards me.

“How many is this?”

“…Three.”

Even if it’s a little blurry, I can still distinguish that much.

“Wrong.”

“Huh? It’s definitely three, isn’t it?”

I grabbed Sung Hyunjae’s hand and pulled it closer. What, it’s three.

“Why are you lying─”

“It seems you can’t see well, judging from the fact that you pulled it closer to check.”

The quick-witted snake said, and Yoohyun looked at me with surprised eyes. Seriously, you’re making it annoying.