The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 186

186. Seong Mo’s Birthday (4)

“This is the third time. Will I get a proper answer this time?”

Seong Hyeonje said it like he was being quite generous, as if he was giving me a choice, even though he was the one pressuring me for an answer.

“I believe I’ve already explained it.”

“I let it slide that day.”

He was suspicious but didn’t pry too deeply. His golden eyes looked down at me, as if asking if I would run away again. The sea breeze, cool for summer and carrying the scent of salt, felt particularly strong today.

The wind constantly and lightly ruffled Seong Hyeonje’s hair. Pale moonlight shone on his light-colored hair, mixing together and making it look almost silver. He was waiting for my answer with his usual leisurely and relaxed expression.

Was it arrogance? But that damn Seseong Guild Leader had the qualifications and ability to be so. It wasn’t arrogance, just his natural attitude, because he was so capable.

On the other hand, I was…

“…I thought you said you’d treat me well. Was that just empty words?”

“That’s why I’m only asking with words, isn’t it?”

How kind of you. How do I make an excuse? What excuse can I use to get out of this? Just as I unconsciously swallowed, Yoohyeon’s arm reached out from behind me.

“Hyung.”

My brother said, pulling me close as if to protect me.

“I’m here.”

His voice was soft, unlike the sharp tone he had a moment ago. The anxiety that had been gripping my whole body loosened at that voice. Our Yoohyeon had nothing to be ashamed of. And I said I believed in him, I accepted him. It was okay to rely on him. My brother wouldn’t abandon me. He never had.

“…Seong Hyeonje-ssi.”

Leaning halfway on Yoohyeon, I looked at Seong Hyeonje again. His expression hadn’t changed. His gaze looking down at me was the same as ever.

How far would he be okay with? The thought suddenly crossed my mind.

It was true that Seong Hyeonje was lenient with me, because I was valuable, quite interesting, and useful. Also, and most importantly, I was mostly harmless to him.

Of course, I could become threatening if I fell into someone else’s hands. But he wasn’t such a coward as to destroy a useful item preemptively for fear it might fall into the hands of others. Even if he were to lose it completely, he was the type to devise a way to get it back intact.

He even seemed to think that I was already half in his grasp, or that he could have me whenever he wanted. So he would accept almost anything. Like a puppy raised at home, even if it bit his heel, he would only find it cute.

“Since you want to know so badly, I’ll tell you the truth.”

But what if the puppy had already finished teething? What if it had bitten him hard without him knowing?

“It is related to you.”

No particular reaction came back, as if he had already guessed it.

“It’s related to your déjà vu and ennui, Seong Hyeonje-ssi.”

Finally, the look in his eyes changed. The habitual smile he wore turned cold. He reached out and grabbed Yoohyeon’s arm.

Even though it was blocked by fear resistance, I could clearly feel that I was standing right on the line. I could step forward or step back.

It might be better to just keep bowing down to Seong Hyeonje. After all, he was disgustingly capable, and as long as he was on my side, he would be reliable and very helpful. It had been quite comfortable so far. If I backed down now, it would continue to be comfortable in the future.

There was no need to be annoying. It was a pretty good relationship. Even if he regained his memories and lost interest in me, my skills were useful, so he would give me basic treatment. Adding in my relationship with the unfilial sons [disrespectful or rebellious subordinates], there might not be much difference from now.

So there was no need for this. No need.

“You probably don’t remember, because I took it. When I went to your house, the memories that disappeared then—no, not just the memories, but a part of you at that time. I needed it to combine magic stones. But don’t even think about getting it back. It’s only a small part, and it’s already mine.”

I bit you and even swallowed you. What are you going to do about it?

Clang!

Sparks flew before my eyes. Seong Hyeonje’s hand moved, and Yoohyeon raised his sword to block it. The blade of the long sword diagonally blocked my front. The hand that had reached for me retreated without any damage.

It was Yoohyeon who blocked him, but his golden eyes were still fixed on me. The color was sharp and intense, as if trying to pierce through me.

“Are you going to fight? My skill cooldown just ended.”

I said it as if it was nothing. What if I was no longer harmless?

Fortunately, my voice came out normally, but my head was complicated. If Seong Hyeonje turned his back on me now, that would be the end. If he tried to take back the magic stones from me without giving me any more chances, it would be difficult to stop him. Everything I had built up until now would be ruined.

“Why are you suddenly baring your teeth?”

“I was getting a stiff neck from bowing all the time. You need to stretch your neck once in a while.”

It seemed like a pointless act. It felt like he would have accepted it if I had just tried to gloss over it. But until when? I didn’t want to keep sitting quietly at Seong Hyeonje’s feet forever. I had enough of keeping my eyes peeled, as if engraving in my mind that it would be over if the other person decided to end it.

“I’m not yours. I can bite you like this time, or I can cut you off first.”

My voice trembled a little this time. The arm of my brother embracing me tightened a little more.

“And I might be able to help with that déjà vu. It’s not you taking it, but me giving you help.”

Seong Hyeonje’s mouth opened slightly. He seemed about to say something, then closed it again. Then he laughed silently.

“Really… an unexpected birthday present.”

“…A birthday present? Well, I’m not really sorry for feeding you *yeot* [Korean taffy, traditionally given as a prank gift] on your birthday.”

Originally, I was just going to offer a bribe and back down, but life doesn’t always go as planned. I looked straight at Seong Hyeonje as if asking what he was going to do about it.

He knew about him that he didn’t remember. It would be unpleasant enough just knowing that, but I said that even a part of him had been taken away without him knowing.

…Was that too much? It felt like I started a fight too openly.

“To be honest, Han Yoojin-gun, I want to take out that magic stone in your chest and check it right now.”

As soon as those words were spoken, Irin climbed onto Yoohyeon’s sword. The lizard on the blade flicked its tongue of fire.

“I’m also thinking of using some not-so-good methods to hear a more detailed story.”

The not-so-good methods flashed through my mind.

“You’re talking so long, so I guess you don’t really want to do it.”

“Well, I cherish Han Yoojin-gun very much. I’ve said it many times.”

“That cherishing, it only applies when I’m yours anyway, doesn’t it? I’m not your property, and I have no intention of giving myself to you.”

“Thoughts can change at any time.”

“They won’t change. So what are you going to do?”

“Well, what should I do?”

Seong Hyeonje sighed, making a troubled expression.

“I want to touch you, but at the same time, I don’t want to.”

A small sound of chains rattling was heard. He really had a troubled face. Seeing that made my heart flutter. A smile also crept out. So I was worth worrying about, huh?

“Whether I should avoid Seong Hyeonje-ssi in the future or not depends on this, so please make a decision as soon as possible.”

“…Avoiding me, that’s not good either.”

“Hide-and-seek might be fun, but you’ll get tired of it quickly.”

“Oh dear.”

He slightly spread his hands. Then, folding one arm inward, he bowed his head in a polite greeting. Because of his attire, it looked like a scene from an old classic movie.

“How dare a mere S-Class harm Han Yoojin-gun?”

“…Isn’t that getting old now?”

“Just when it’s about to get old, someone reminds me of it again.”

Smiling brightly, unlike his usual self, Seong Hyeonje took a couple of steps back.

“The skill cooldown, hasn’t it passed yet?”

“It has. I must have misread it.”

So he knew. But there was more to dealing with Seong Hyeonje than just sharing the double attack skill effect. Our kid was so capable, skill. There was a skill left that increased skill effects and stats by the number of intelligent beings around who heard the keyword.

There were about fifty spectators. It didn’t reach the maximum of 100 percent, but 50 percent would be enough. It seemed like a skill that was easy to expose, so I wanted to save it if possible, but what could I do if I had to use it?

Seong Hyeonje stared at me for a moment as I answered nonchalantly, then raised the corners of his lips.

“I’ve never bowed down to anyone before.”

“It’s new and good. You’re going to strangle me as soon as you change your mind anyway, aren’t you?”

The tightrope walk was still there. I had just moved a little further, and I could fall at any time.

“Still, I need to relieve myself since I did something that didn’t suit my temperament.”

Before I could even say wait, feeling uneasy…

콰과광!! [Sound of a massive explosion]

A terrifying explosion was heard from below the ship. I could tell because I was still connected to Seong Hyeonje and Teacher’s skills. That human, he figured out even a little bit of the electrolytic magic control method before I fainted.

The huge ship shook like a sailboat caught in a storm. As I had told them in advance, people evacuated to the smithy.

“How many birthday presents are you going to take! There won’t be any next year!”

“It’s not even a proper one, why are you making such a fuss? I’ll need a lot of practice in the future.”

As he said, the power was definitely weak. The magic power didn’t seem to be properly mixed either. Nevertheless, the huge cruise ship…

쾅! 퍼엉, 펑! [Sounds of explosions]

It was enough to sink it. The explosions that burst out in succession began to engulf the hull along with the flames. The deck also cracked.

“Hyung, we need to avoid it. Even if the explosive power is manageable, there’s no point in getting swept away.”

“Ah, okay.”

Then, a familiar voice was heard from above my head.

“Ahjussi!”

It was Yerim.

“Why aren’t you running away!”

“I thought it would be okay if I floated in the air in advance. I was very high up. Hey, Han Yoohyeon! I’ll catch you.”

“I don’t need it.”

Yoohyeon, wearing blue willow leaves [referring to a skill or item that grants flight], hugged me and jumped into the air. Seong Hyeonje also used an item. It wasn’t flying, but it seemed to be an item that allowed him to float in the air. They were usually disposable, so they were too expensive instead of being effective, but that human had a lot of money.

…Enough to smash a cruise ship as a way to vent his anger. I felt like crying because it was all so wasteful.

기이이잉, [Sound of metal creaking] The sound of the hull distorting was heard amidst the continuous explosions. Another huge explosion occurred above the sinking ship.

“…Can you please stop?”

“Just now, it wasn’t me who did it, but the magic power that should have been mixed in the original hydrogen explosion was running wild a little late.”

“Huh?”

Before I could ask what he meant, a hot air mass rushed in. All four of us were instantly caught up in it, close to a whirlwind.

“Ah, that damn human.”

It was a beach somewhere. Yerim, who was using her flight skill, as well as Yoohyeon and Seong Mo-ssi, had a hard time enduring the oncoming gusts of wind in the air. Thanks to that, they couldn’t even get their bearings and were pushed out for a long time.

In the middle of the sea, I couldn’t tell the front from the back, and my cell phone died in the midst of the electrical storm. Seong Mo-ssi, who had attribute resistance, didn’t have a cell phone. Even if he had one, it was likely that communication would have been impossible.

In the end, I had no choice but to look at the stars, roughly find my way to land, and head towards the land. Seong Hyeonje didn’t have a flight skill, and Yoohyeon’s blue willow leaves consumed too much magic power to keep using them. It wasn’t simple flight, but materializing leaves made of magic power, so it was difficult to use them for a long time.

On the other hand, simple flight skills consumed relatively little magic power, so mana potions were given to Yerim. Then, the three of them fell into the sea, floating while holding onto a rope, and Yerim pulled them to land.

“Fortunately, it’s Korea.”

Yerim said, looking at the closed sign of a raw fish restaurant. I, Yoohyeon, and Seong Mo-ssi were naturally in the form of drowned rats. Irin, who didn’t like being touched by water, had been sitting on top of Yoohyeon’s head the whole time and tapped her tail.

“I’m tired to death. Hey, Seong Mo-ssi, did you really have to make such a fuss?”

“Wasn’t it a perfect environment to test it out?”

Seong Mo-ssi, whom I didn’t even want to call by name, said with a brazen face. I should have abandoned him in the middle of the sea. He dripped seawater and slipped as he tried to get on the road. Yoohyeon quickly grabbed me.

“Are you okay?”

“…To be honest, I’d be lying if I said I was okay. What time is it now? I didn’t even have a proper dinner, and are there any stores open?”

I also had to call Haeyeon or the Association. But the raw fish restaurants that were sparsely visible were all closed.

“There’s a convenience store with the lights on!”

Yerim, who was looking around in the air, said. That’s a relief. Let’s go to the convenience store, borrow a phone, and fill our stomachs.