The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 181

181. Mine (1)

[The winner of the 1st Korean A-Class Hunter Ranking Match has just been decided!]

The subtitles filled the screen in large letters. The winner was Lee Hyo-yeon, who wielded a large two-handed sword, a Claymore, over 2 meters long. As the Guild Master of Guild Woods, her skill in handling the Claymore both offensively and defensively was outstanding.

She was originally a kendo athlete, yet she used a weapon with a very different form and swordsmanship as if it were an extension of her own limbs. I wondered if she had any sword-related skills, as she exhibited precise yet powerful movements. If she had been affiliated with a large guild, she might have led a lower-tier S-Class dungeon team.

And that Lee Hyo-yeon.

[I have proudly won, defeating prominent A-Class hunters from large guilds, those known as A-Class teams that raid S-Class dungeons.]

In the winner’s interview, she expressed dissatisfaction with the reality that large guilds with S-Class hunters as guild masters virtually monopolized S-Class dungeons.

[I believe that even a guild composed solely of A-Class hunters should be able to obtain S-Class dungeon management rights if they have the ability. I have already demonstrated that ability before the entire nation.]

Following her, Park Bo-ra, the Guild Master of Guild Water Spout, who took third place and stood next to Lee Hyo-yeon, also agreed with Lee Hyo-yeon’s words. They then announced that the two guilds would join forces to challenge for S-Class dungeon management rights.

‘Even before the regression, A-Class guilds started to gain a majority of S-Class dungeon management rights from about two years from now.’

This was because the large guilds alone could not handle the increasing number of S-Class dungeons. Of course, even before that, there had been attempts by mid-sized guilds to manage S-Class dungeons, just like those two guild masters. However, they lacked justification.

S-Class dungeons for S-Class hunters. Even though there were A-Class teams raiding lower-tier S-Class dungeons, it seemed unsettling to people that a guild composed solely of A-Class hunters would take charge of an S-Class dungeon.

But the Ranking Match provided an opportunity to clearly demonstrate their skills.

“What do you think?”

Seok Si-myung asked, as he was organizing the list of Yerim’s prospective team members with me.

With only the finals, semi-finals, and the 3rd and 4th place matches left, all other matches had ended yesterday. So today, instead of going to the stadium, I was at Haeyeon Guild with Seok Si-myung, wrapping things up. Yerim was the only one attending the stadium in preparation for any accidents. Of course, Riete and Kang So-young also went to volunteer.

“I think it’s a good attempt. The number of dungeons will continue to increase, and the difficulty will gradually rise as well. It’s much better to foster mid-sized guilds in advance than to hastily come up with measures after it becomes too difficult to handle.”

The same goes for small guilds. People easily dismiss them as insignificant lower-level hunters, but if they didn’t exist, mid to high-level hunters would have to raid lower-level dungeons. You can’t just abandon dungeons just because they’re low-level.

So, at the very least, we had to prevent lower-level hunters from senselessly suffering tragic deaths. Things like basic education at the guild level, low-cost supply of basic equipment, and the enactment of laws for the safety of lower-level hunters would be necessary.

‘Of course, I won’t be the one doing it.’

That’s the Hunter Association’s job. Before the regression, they only took care of mid to high-level hunters and turned a blind eye, but I wonder if things will be a bit different now. As for me, I’ll just prod them to do their job properly and subtly help them if they’re struggling. Anything more than that is overwork.

The prospective team member list also included detailed descriptions of combat characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses observed during yesterday’s matches.

“Don’t tell Yerim that I wrote it. It’s just for reference, and Yerim has to choose herself. If I wrote it, she’ll just decide based on my recommendations.”

She’s currently receiving our help, but Yerim will soon have a much better eye than us when it comes to the people who will become her team members. After all, practical experience is the best. So, it was better to get into the habit of deciding everything about the raid team from the beginning.

Especially since Yerim is still young, even though she’s an S-Class, adult team members might try to control her. Listening to others is necessary, but not listening is also necessary. Especially if you’re a team leader and an S-Class hunter, it’s better to trust your own instincts within the dungeon.

Listen to advice, but the basic conclusion should be your own.

“Once the team is formed, it would be good to run through a few A-Class dungeons to get in sync.”

“Yes. S-Class dungeon raid equipment is often rented while affiliated with the guild or MKC [Monster Korea Corporation, a major supplier of hunter equipment], so we’ll have to acquire new equipment. In the meantime, we’ll have to raid A-Class dungeons.”

“There isn’t much cold resistance equipment in the country… I might have to check overseas auction houses.”

Since there hasn’t been a hunter with high-level ice skills until now, everything that has come out has been exchanged or sold overseas. It’s better than keeping it stored away.

Come to think of it, Moon Hyun-ah said she’d be returning soon. I just heard yesterday that she successfully bid on a top-tier monster cub.

I need to make stamina potions quickly. Blue isn’t fully grown yet, and it looks like the kids will keep increasing. Evelyn and the relevant Sesung personnel were in Japan. It seemed that the condition adjustments were taking longer than expected.

Handing over dungeon rights overseas is rare and a sensitive matter at this point, so it was understandable.

“But don’t you wear a watch? You don’t necessarily have to use it only in dungeons.”

“Huh? A watch?”

Seok Si-myung also asked, puzzled by my cluelessness.

“Haven’t you received it yet? It’s been quite a while since the watch that the Guild Master ordered as a gift for Han Yoojin arrived.”

“Ah…”

When I had Riete destroy the Shin Association building. Yoo-hyun had said that he had also ordered one after seeing the watch Sung Hyun-jae sent.

“When did you order that?”

“That’s…”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing. He’ll give it to me soon.”

No matter how I think about it, it seems like he ordered it after that day. Let’s pretend I don’t know. But why hasn’t he given it to me yet? Did he suddenly become shy? Maybe it’s because I’ve been too busy lately. It’s a bit awkward to give a gift in the midst of all the chaos.

Now that there’s nothing special going on for a while, he’ll probably give it to me soon. I should pretend I don’t know.

The Breaker Guild’s private plane arrived at the airport. I was curious about the identity of the monster, which was still hidden for security reasons, and I wanted to strengthen my relationship with Moon Hyun-ah before the keyword effect wore off, so I went to the airport to pick her up.

The monster was scheduled to be transferred directly to a car after completing quarantine at the airfield. When Noah and I arrived at the airfield, I saw Moon Hyun-ah standing near the cargo hold of the plane. It seemed the monster hadn’t been unloaded yet.

“Yo, Hyungnim [term of respect for an older male], long time no see. You seem to have lost some weight?”

Moon Hyun-ah waved her hand at me with a welcoming smile.

“I’ve been busy lately.”

“I heard about the Ranking Match. I wanted to come in time, but there were many things holding me back. If I had known this would happen, I would have just come after Sung Hyun-jae’s birthday.”

“That damn birthday, I didn’t even receive an invitation.”

Noah looked apologetic at the mention of the invitation. Noah had received an invitation. It just didn’t come to me.

“Um, I’m sorry, Yoojin-ssi [polite suffix].”

“Why are you sorry, Noah-ssi? Sung Hyun-jae should be the one who’s sorry.”

“I haven’t received it yet either.”

At that moment, a car drove towards us. The person who got out of the car approached Moon Hyun-ah, greeted her politely, and handed her something. It was an invitation. I had seen it countless times, but that damn invitation hadn’t reached my hands.

“Hyungnim, you look like you’re about to set fire to the Sesung Guild?”

Moon Hyun-ah said, fluttering the invitation. Fire, my ass.

“I wouldn’t waste a single matchstick. It’s more comfortable not to go anyway. He even put up advertisements on buses for his birthday, it’s really ridiculous…”

“Ah, that was done by Sung Hyun-jae’s guild fans.”

“…Huh?”

“Fans often do birthday ads for celebrities, right? It would have been up for your brother’s birthday too, right? Me too.”

…I don’t go out much around Yoo-hyun’s birthday. I hate the Christmas atmosphere itself, so I only visit convenience stores near my house.

Anyway, so that’s what fans do. I thought Sesung had done it and thought it was typical of that shameless human, but it’s unexpected. He’s popular. Well, he deserves to be. Ordinary people wouldn’t have the chance to see him up close, so they would just feel like he’s disgustingly handsome and talented.

“But why didn’t he invite Hyungnim? Is it because it’s dangerous?”

“Dangerous?”

“For Hyungnim, I mean. Domestic S-Class hunters all know each other well, so it’s okay, but overseas is different.”

“They’re just guests who are well acquainted with the Sesung Guild Master. I don’t think they’ll cause any problems.”

“Not all of them are like that. Originally, it was a place for exchange. In the early days, it was difficult to gather without an excuse because overseas and even domestic people were a bit wary. Besides, that human has a wide network, so quite a few people come from all over. There will probably be even more this time. There have been several issues in the country.”

It’s a good opportunity to pretend not to know and assess the situation, Moon Hyun-ah said with a smile. Certainly, many things have happened that would interest overseas hunters.

The breeding of Ki Seung-soo and Myungwoo’s weapon production would be the first, and they would also be very interested in the Ranking Match. The reshuffling of the Korean Hunter Association would also be something that large guild masters would have to pay attention to, and the increase in S-Class hunters and deaths would also be eye-catching.

It would be worth coming to Korea under the guise of attending Sung Hyun-jae’s birthday party. Above all, the people Sung Hyun-jae invited are at the center of the issues… But why did he leave me out?

‘I even prepared a birthday present.’

That damn bastard. I took the time to prepare it even in the midst of my busy schedule, and he didn’t invite me. Should I really go and set it on fire? I’m a bit annoyed.

“Oh, it looks like the inspection is over. It’s coming down.”

At that moment, our cargo was unloaded from the plane’s cargo hold. The size of our cargo was considerable, so it didn’t seem to be a small magic beast. As we got closer, we saw a baby monster curled up on a fluffy bed.

“Is it a deer?”

That’s what it looked like on the outside. A baby deer with a pure white body and only black hooves, nose, and eyes. Large eyes blinked innocently under long, dense eyelashes. It yawned, opening its mouth as if it still had some sleepiness left. The baby deer was bigger than an average calf, but it had a cute appearance.

“They said it’s a snowfield reindeer, but it looks like a deer to Hyungnim, right? The adult looks like something between a deer and a reindeer.”

If it’s from the snowfield, does it have cold resistance? I used the Seedling Skill on the baby deer.

[2nd Grade Branch Horn Species? Snowfield Reindeer (Infant)

Current Stat Grade: C

Potential Stat Grade: A~S

Optimized Initial Skills:

Slippery Charge (S) Acquired after growth
Horn Spear (S) Acquired after growth
Cold Resistance (A) Acquired
Sprint Enhancement (B) Acquired after growth
※Grows under the protection of the herd leader]

As expected, it had cold resistance. But due to the nature of the initial skills, it didn’t seem to suit Yerim very well. A charging melee attack would be perfect for Moon Hyun-ah’s style.

“Please take good care of it, Hyungnim.”

She smiled, saying as quickly as possible. Considering its size and skills, that deer seems like it will be even more energetic than Blue. I really need to make stamina potions quickly.

* * *

Even the day before Sung Hyun-jae’s birthday, there was still no invitation with my name on it. There was no contact either. The only news I had about that human was from Kang So-young, who came to see Comet.

‘The Guild Master seems to be in a bad mood these days. He wasn’t like this last year, but he’s strangely indifferent, so the birthday party staff are feeling like they’re walking on thin ice.’

That’s all she told me. Why is he in a bad mood when he’s the one having a birthday party?

“It suits you well! You look great.”

Myungwoo had a new suit made. His old clothes didn’t fit him anymore, and to be honest, they looked cheap. Even to someone who doesn’t know much about clothes, it was obvious that he had bought them as cheaply as possible.

But now, he could spend as much money as he wanted. The only flaw was that he couldn’t have it custom-made due to time constraints. Still, maybe it’s because his body has improved, but ready-made clothes also suited him well. After all, the hanger is also important for clothes.

“Get a few new suits made while you’re at it. You’ve only bought work clothes and casual clothes so far.”

“But my stats keep increasing. I won’t be able to wear this suit for long either?”

Myungwoo said, adjusting his tie, that it was a waste of money to use it as a disposable item.

“It’s not a burden for you right now.”

“Still, a waste is a waste. I can easily spend money on materials and equipment, but when it comes to buying things for myself, I still end up checking the price tag?”

“Ah, I’m the same.”

We both laughed at the same time, saying that people don’t change easily. Even though it’s not even my card, I still hesitate to buy everyday items for myself. Not that there’s anything I particularly want to buy in the first place.

“Several overseas S-Classes are coming, so make sure to make yourself known. There’s no reason to feel intimidated, so go confidently.”

Myungwoo seems to have gotten used to high-level hunters now, but just in case. Considering his stats, he’s not at all intimidated by Noah, let alone Yoo-hyun or Yerim. Could it be because he’s a contractor of Ismual? That spirit seems to be at least an S-Class.

“I’m not really keen on it since you’re not going.”

“Who knows? Maybe an invitation will come even tonight. But even if it does, I don’t want to go anymore.”

I didn’t expect it, but there was no news that night either. And not the next morning either.

But what’s more concerning than the invitation is.

‘…Why isn’t he giving me the watch?’

It was the watch that Yoo-hyun had prepared. My brother still didn’t seem to be planning to take out the watch. I’ve been free for the past few days. There have been several times when we were alone together.

I even went out to eat with my brother alone, prepared to hear Yerim’s grumbling. I’ve set the stage several times, but my brother didn’t say a word.

‘Could it be that it’s not for me?’

Seok Si-myung clearly said it was my gift.

“I’m off!”

Yerim went out first.

“What’s wrong, Hyung?”

Then, Yoo-hyun, standing at the entrance, tilted his head, looking down at me. Did I stare too intently?

“No, um… Do you happen to have someone you’re close to? Someone you personally give gifts to… Of course, you probably do, but someone more special?”

“I don’t personally take care of other people. Usually, the secretary’s office or Team Leader Seok takes care of it instead.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Should I just ask him outright? But it’s not right to directly poke him, saying, ‘What about the watch you were going to give me?’ It seems like I’m wanting a gift too much.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. Have a good day.”

After sending my brother out, I sighed deeply. I guess I can’t help but feel gloomy. I should just throw the gift at Sung Hyun-jae and come back. I’ll decide whether to set it on fire after seeing that human’s face.