The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 172

172. Goods (2)

“Evelyn Hunter, what are you doing right now?”

Myeongwoo spoke with surprising coldness.

“You’re not thinking of starting a fight with someone who’s practically a non-Awakened right in front of you, are you?”

Evelyn slightly furrowed her brow. However, her attitude toward Myeongwoo was quite polite.

“Hunter Yoo Myeongwoo may not be aware, but revealing information about another person’s skills is tacitly forbidden. Especially among high-ranking Hunters, disputes can easily escalate to violence depending on the nature of the skills. It’s an issue that shouldn’t be interfered with unless you’re involved.”

Her tone was calm, almost gentle, but in short, it meant to stay quiet if you don’t know. However, Myeongwoo didn’t back down.

“What did Noah mean by saying it was dangerous a moment ago?”

“It’s an overreaction.”

“No! Evelyn Hunter is…”

Noah hesitated, trailing off. He seemed to be considering how much he could say. Seeing Noah’s hesitation, Myeongwoo spoke again.

“I think you need to tell me properly, Evelyn Hunter.”

“Regarding skills, no matter─”

*Thump*. Myeongwoo threw the arrow he was holding onto the mana furnace. Evelyn’s eyes widened at the sight of the arrow melting away instantly without a sound.

“W-wait a minute. Hunter Yoo Myeongwoo?”

Evelyn hurriedly gathered the arrows with both arms as Myeongwoo’s hand reached for the pile of arrows stacked on the table.

“Why waste them so carelessly? Just say it!”

“It won’t end with just arrows.”

“…Pardon?”

“I will also reject any requests for bow production. Of course, the same goes for other equipment. I will ban anyone associated with Evelyn Hunter from entering the smithy.”

Evelyn’s face was filled with embarrassment at the series of words. Not accepting equipment production was one thing, but the last statement was tantamount to rejecting the Seseong Guild itself. Even I thought it was an excessive declaration.

“J-just for not talking about a skill…”

“I don’t intend to say much.”

Myeongwoo’s face hardened as if drawing the two letters ‘determined.’ Seeing his expression, which seemed to not listen to any words, Evelyn was perplexed and eventually opened her mouth.

“I trust you won’t leak it. My skill is to subtly manipulate the actions of others. It’s a mental skill that can be used with the simple condition of making eye contact, but as such, it only works on non-Awakened or those with F-grade stats. Under normal circumstances, that is.”

Myeongwoo frowned at the mention of F-grade. Seeing this, Evelyn added an explanation as if making excuses.

“It’s not that dangerous of a skill. It simply makes what I say sound more persuasive.”

Evelyn said it wasn’t dangerous, but it didn’t feel that way at all. Adding persuasiveness to her words, it was a useful and dangerous ability depending on how it was used.

“Besides, I usually block it with glasses. It’s a skill that’s always active. Since I have to make direct eye contact, even ordinary lenses can block the effect just by covering the eyes.”

So don’t worry, Evelyn smiled gently. When the fierce momentum completely disappeared, she was like a typical kind teacher who would appear in a fairy tale. Not a Korean one, but a foreign fairy tale… a tutor? Come to think of it, her accent was easy to understand and sophisticated. I don’t think she’s using a translation item, but she speaks Korean well.

“Evelyn.”

At my call, she widened her eyes as if looking at a student who raised their hand to ask a question.

“Yes, Candybox.”

…I wondered what she was saying, but that was what she was calling me. Riet also made up her own sounds.

“The fact that it works on the non-Awakened means it can be used to lead negotiations advantageously with opponents other than Hunters. Especially at the guild level, it would be quite useful.”

Even if you look at the government or the Hunter Association, the upper echelons are mostly ordinary people. It was still a world where Hunters, whether high-ranking or low-ranking, were a minority. And it was a time when defenses against mental skills were weak.

“A little bit. Ah, I’m also scheduled to attend the negotiations with Japan.”

“I should tell them to take good care of you.”

Seseong announced that they had just signed a contract with Evelyn this time, but haven’t they actually had a relationship for a long time? With her power, it would have been easy to extend her influence to various countries from the early days of the dungeons.

“Anyway, it’s a skill that can be easily blocked with just glasses, so you don’t have to be so wary, everyone.”

“…It works much more strongly if the opponent is in an unstable state.”

Noah whispered softly from behind. Mental skills are usually like that. Although he whispered, there was no way it wouldn’t reach the ears of an S-Class Hunter at this distance. As expected, Evelyn frowned slightly and then put on a gentle face again.

“Don’t worry, my guild leader wouldn’t dare to lay a finger on Candybox, even if he was scared of me.”

“Yoojin, wear glasses or lenses just in case. I’ll try to make an item with mental skill defense effects too.”

“Skill defense won’t be easy. Usually, they block it by raising their mental stats as much as possible.”

I also had some items with mental stat bonuses for the teacher’s skill. I don’t usually use them, though.

“Evelyn, wouldn’t you like to use that skill on me once?”

“Yoojin?”

“Yoojin, what are you doing?”

“No, I’m just trying to see how strong it is. It’s not like it’s continuous, and you can block it if it seems dangerous.”

Why are you all so surprised? At my words, Evelyn took off her glasses. A faint blue light swirled in her exposed eyes.

“If I show you, Hunter Yoo Myeongwoo will be able to reduce his anxiety. S-Class weapons are already scarce, and ranged types are even rarer, so I’d be in trouble if I got kicked out of here.”

With that, she made eye contact with me. Other than the fact that her eyes were quite pretty, I didn’t feel anything special.

“Could you please put in a good word for me with Hunter Yoo Myeongwoo? I really need a bow.”

“It’s not hard to say a word. It would be really difficult if weapons were rare.”

I nodded, then realized. What nonsense am I talking about with someone I just met today? What do you mean, put in a good word? Even as I thought that, I felt like asking Myeongwoo. I’m wavering even though I know. If I didn’t know, I’d be completely charmed.

“I can easily make you grant such a light request. But, you mentioned Peace, right? I also need a ride, so could you hand him over to me?”

“Are you crazy? No, no way. Absolutely not.”

Peace, who was sitting next to me, seemed to understand that his name was called and tilted his head as if asking what was going on. Hand him over? No way. Even as a joke, it’s annoying.

“If it’s too excessive, the rejection becomes greater and the skill doesn’t work.”

“I need to adjust it appropriately. Still, it’s a threatening enough skill. So much so that I feel burdened that you’re telling me so easily.”

“It’s not easy. I’ll continue to be indebted to Hunter Yoo Myeongwoo, so what choice do I have?”

At those words asking for recognition of her sincerity, Myeongwoo replied that he would keep it in mind.

“And in fact, it’s not a skill that can be used for a long time. It’s already known little by little, so it’s going to be useless soon. It’s too easy to block.”

Evelyn was about to put on her glasses, but she made eye contact with me again.

“By the way, Candybox, what do you think of the Seseong Guild Leader? Honestly.”

“Huh? Well, he’s a dangerous person. His abilities are good, though. He’s so good that I have to be careful not to rely on him carelessly…”

The problem is that I can’t completely trust him, but if Seong Hyeonjae has a firm will to stop the dungeons, it might be better to entrust everything to him. He might use me better than I do. If a new opportunity and ability were given to someone who had already failed and regressed, rather than someone who had acquired everything on their own.

At that moment, Noah’s hand covered my eyes.

“Stop it.”

“I was just a little curious, Puppy.”

When Noah’s hand was removed, I saw Evelyn smiling and wearing her glasses. She put the arrows in her inventory and said she would leave now, asking me to keep the secret well.

“But why do you call me that… in that way? Please call me by my name if possible.”

That’s a pretty embarrassing title.

“Everyone calls you that.”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s more common in English-speaking countries than in Korea. After the incident in Hong Kong, you’re known as Candybox and Honeypot.”

“…Pardon?”

No, why? How did that happen? Evelyn told me the unwanted fact that Honeypot was more dominant, but she liked Candybox, and then left. No, really, why… who spread such embarrassing words?

“Yoojin, are you okay?”

Myeongwoo approached me and asked. Noah was also looking at me with a worried gaze for some reason.

“Evelyn’s skill is temporary, right? Of course, I’m fine.”

“You looked a little… unwell.”

“Yeah. Did the Seseong Guild Leader harass you or something? So much that you don’t even want to think about it?”

At Myeongwoo’s words that he would cut off trade with Seseong if that were the case, I hurriedly shook my head.

“No, not at all. He’s being nice for now. And Myeongwoo, don’t say such things so easily. No matter how much you’re the boss, he’s an S-Class Hunter, what if he gets angry and rushes at you without thinking? Safety is the most important thing. Even if there’s something to be angry about, you should send him away first and notify him later.”

“I’m not usually like this.”

Myeongwoo shrugged and said.

“I don’t really like being bossy. I used to be the one being taken advantage of, so I have no desire to wield my power over others at all. Unless it’s about your business.”

His hand, which seemed bigger than before, smoothed over the table that had cracks due to hammering.

“There’s only one thing to keep. Don’t touch my friend. I can’t accept anyone who can’t keep that one condition, whether it’s the Seseong Guild Leader or anyone else.”

My heart stirred for no reason at his words that he would never back down against any opponent. Why is Myeongwoo so good to me? It keeps making me feel sorry.

“…If you say that much, I’ll lose face. I came here today because I have something to ask you. I feel really materialistic.”

“What’s so materialistic about it? You can openly ask me for anything. I can accept being treated badly for about ten years.”

“Hey, what’s with ten years… Gratitude alone is enough and overflowing.”

“I’m the one who received it from you, so what. But if you want to go for a lifetime instead of ten years…”

Myeongwoo smiled and continued.

“Please and thank you. Those two words are enough.”

I was momentarily speechless. I felt like a bad guy for approaching Myeongwoo just for his skills, but at the same time, I felt like I did a really good job. Really.

“…Myeongwoo.”

“So, what do you want to ask?”

“Oh, take a look at this.”

I took out an SSS-Class magic stone, Choi Seokwon’s magic stone, from my inventory.

“Is it possible to make a weapon with this magic stone? Eunhye was made with a magic stone, right?”

“SSS-Class? It’s possible to make it. But it depends on the main body of the magic stone. Like the abilities it had.”

“He was a guy who used a sword. He also had an armor skill.”

“A monster? That’s unusual. I heard humanoids are rare, and even more so at SSS-Class. With those abilities, it should be possible to make a weapon. A sword would probably be a good fit.”

“A sword is good! Is it possible to get an SS-Class?”

“The base is good, and if I use SS-Class materials from what I have, so-so? My skills are still lacking, so the performance will be lower compared to the materials. Are you giving it to your brother?”

“No. It’s for a prize for now. A winning prize. I’m thinking of holding an event soon.”

To find the remaining two born S-Class Hunters, as well as those with abilities who need protection from the jellyfish’s demonic energy among the S-Class Hunters around the world. To do that, a ranking match with an eye-catching prize is the best.

And if Yoohyun wins and gets the SS-Class weapon, that’s the icing on the cake. …How do I deal with Seong Hyeonjae? The other Hunters can be easily suppressed by Yoohyun, but Seong Hyeonjae is the problem. Combat prediction is really a cheat. I want to ban it with the ranking match rules.

“It will take some time, but I’ll make it as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, really. If you need anything, anything at all, tell me anytime.”

“Um, Hunter Yoo Myeongwoo.”

Noah, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, carefully spoke to Myeongwoo.

“If it’s okay with you, could I request a saddle?”

“A saddle?”

“Yes. It’s a saddle for Yoojin.”

I turned to Noah in surprise at the word saddle.

“Noah, I don’t need a saddle. This is enough for now. I’ve been relying on you a lot, but you’re not a monster.”

“But it would be more comfortable with a saddle, right? Or at least something like a leash.”

“A leash… surely not a dog collar… no, that’s not it either.”

Even if it’s when he’s a dragon, he’s originally a person, so a dog collar is out of the question. Myeongwoo shook his head and took out a tape measure.

“Then how about a harness? Like a climbing harness.”

“A harness?”

“Yeah. It would be more comfortable since you can wear it even in human form.”

“That’s right, that sounds good! Can you make a harness that can be used simultaneously in human and dragon form?”

Noah looked at Myeongwoo with expectant eyes. A climbing harness… would that be okay? What is it like?

“Of course, it’s possible. Coincidentally, Seseong sent me S-Class monster leather as a gift when they commissioned the arrows, so I can make it with that.”

“Thank you, Hunter Yoo Myeongwoo.”

“You’re welcome. Please take good care of our Yoojin in the future. If you need anything else, tell me anytime.”

With that, Myeongwoo skillfully measured Noah’s chest and waist. Then he measured the size of his dragon form.

“I’ll add options and make it sturdy.”

“How much will it cost?”

“It’s free, of course.”

Myeongwoo answered coolly, and Noah smiled brightly, thanking him. They get along well, in a way.