The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 210

210. Aberration (4)

Three chairs were placed side by side in front of the dungeon gate. The gate wasn’t yet activated, meaning the raid wasn’t over. This was because Yoohyun and Sung Hyunjae had followed me when I said I’d go and wait in advance, knowing Yerim would definitely emerge today.

Yoohyun sat on the chair to my right, and Sung Hyunjae to my left. I understood Yoohyun’s presence, but the Sesung Guild Master’s was unexpected. He seemed to have a lot of free time.

“You came out of the dungeon yesterday. Aren’t you busy? …Although, you don’t seem busy at all.”

A ball of hot pink yarn rolled once in the basket placed at Sung Hyunjae’s feet. An elaborate knitted pattern grew under his hands as he pulled the yarn. I wondered if he had finished the scarf he showed me on my last birthday; what he was knitting now was something wide. Was it a sweater?

“If the little miss’s dungeon has changed significantly, there’s a high possibility she’ll bring out more information,” Sung Hyunjae said, his voice slightly languid. The yarn wrapped around the knitting needles. The sight of him knitting with hot pink yarn looked unnecessarily elegant. No matter how impressive he was, I must be losing my mind.

“So, you have to hear it directly and immediately, is that it?”

Was he that curious? I scrolled through the screen of the phone in my hand. It contained data related to the trip to Japan sent by the Hunter Association. This morning, I received confirmation from Japan regarding the match. If Yerim came out safely, I planned to announce the news widely, along with an interview.

“One more thing.”

Sung Hyunjae’s hand stopped. He turned to me.

“Han Yoojin’s attitude yesterday was, in many ways, a disqualification.”

Oh, why again? I already got an earful from Seok Siyoung. Approaching Sung Hyunjae without caution was a problem, but I received a lot of criticism because of what was revealed. If such an image was exposed, it would only create the impression that I was being manipulated by the Guild Masters.

Seok Siyoung had emphasized several times that I should stand strong on my own, at least in public. But what could I do when I lacked the strength? I suspected that Sung Hyunjae deliberately showed that side of me. It was a warning that if I wasn’t qualified, he would immediately bring me down with this kind of image.

“I gave you advice, and you acted as you pleased. I thought you were feeling better, but what are you still dissatisfied with?”

“I’ve somewhat relieved my mood, but I still don’t like seeing things fall apart as soon as it involves children. Han Yoojin needs to be more composed.”

Was he telling me to calmly meditate like a monk when a child might be in danger? Did he think I was some kind of ascetic?

“Not being able to wait even an hour or two and forcing my way in… it was an uncomposed attitude, I admit. Still, I endured for two whole days.”

“Endured, you say? While making your little brother tremble with anxiety?”

At Sung Hyunjae’s words, I reflexively turned to Yoohyun. When our eyes met, Yoohyun hesitated and opened his mouth.

“…Because Hyung [older brother] was restless, that’s why. I also thought Hyung might do something dangerous again. It’s not that I don’t trust Hyung. But I was worried you might make a hasty decision.”

Yoohyun had been by my side for the past two days. I knew he was worried about me. But I was also worried about Yerim… Damn it.

I made my brother anxious again.

“I’m sorry. For making you worry.”

“No, Hyung. But this time, I agree with what the Sesung Guild Master said. Every Hunter is prepared for any unforeseen events that might happen inside a dungeon. I know you care about Hunter Park Yerim, but you need to be more composed. Hunter Park Yerim and I will continue to enter dungeons in the future, and we can’t keep doing this every time.”

…I know. I know it well. I had entered dungeons countless times, and I knew I could lose, and I had lost.

“But this time… it was a bit different.”

Even I could hear the lack of strength in my voice. I needed to be more composed, more calm. I knew it in my head, but my heart was shaking. It was only because of the fear resistance that I was holding on this much.

The memories of having to come out of dungeons alone kept trying to surface. There were also memories of being stunned by the news I heard late. They were people who were alive now, but the memories I had buried deep since the moment I decided to meet them again kept trying to raise their heads.

“…It’s okay, Hyung. It’s okay.”

Yoohyun grabbed my hand.

“I’m okay, so you don’t have to push yourself. Do whatever Hyung wants to do. I’ll help you somehow.”

The moment I heard Yoohyun’s words, the back of my neck turned cold. What were you going to do again? Trying to protect me again.

“Don’t do that, Yoohyun. I’m the older brother.”

I was the older brother. The tips of my fingers trembled slightly. Yoohyun gripped my hand even tighter. I wanted to close my eyes, but at the same time, I was afraid to close them. I turned my head. I looked at the dungeon gate. Fear resistance skill, it was definitely on.

“It was three years, wasn’t it?”

Sung Hyunjae said. The knitting was gone.

“It’s not a short time, and I think it’s understandable that the young master was anxious since he was young. But Han Yoojin’s attitude is excessive. Han Yoohyun and Park Yerim are by no means weak, yet you’re desperately trying to protect them.”

His gaze was directed at me. It was a calm yet sharp gaze that seemed to dig into my soul.

“Like a parent who has regained a child they almost lost forever. Based on the records I know of Han Yoojin, I still don’t quite understand your attitude.”

“…You have too much unnecessary interest. We’re just business partners.”

Don’t dig. Leave it alone.

“At this rate, it will become nominal.”

That partnership too, Sung Hyunjae said. Was I shaking that much? But so what?

“I’ve already told you that I’m unstable.”

“Hyung.”

“You’re impatient.”

I glared at Sung Hyunjae, feeling inexplicably upset. How much time had passed, and how much did he expect me to change?

He tilted his head slightly. His golden eyes looked down at me. Sung Hyunjae opened his mouth. The voice that flowed out was surprisingly gentle.

“If you don’t solve the cause of the problem, it will be difficult to change. If you leave the rotten inside as it is and just repaint the outside, it will soon crack again.”

“…The cause?”

My voice was already hoarsely cracked. Yoohyun pulled me towards him. He almost hugged my upper body.

“That’s enough.”

My brother’s sharp voice fell into my ear. Sung Hyunjae’s gaze was still directed at me. I felt bad. The cause, it was easy to say.

“It’s okay, Hyung. Don’t worry about it.”

I took a long breath. Yeah, let’s not worry about it. So what if my insides were rotten and festering? So what if there was nothing left if you dug into it? That’s why I was barely holding on to the arms that were hugging me.

Damn it, it’s not like I wanted to be like this…

No, it’s okay. It’s okay. I gripped my brother’s hand that was holding mine even tighter. It’ll be okay. I’m okay. I have to be okay.

“…Isn’t it about time Yerim came out?”

Muttering casually, I swallowed hard. The inside of my throat felt hot and stinging. She must be very tired. What should we eat for dinner? We should eat what Yerim likes. It’s been a while since all three of us were home. Did I clean Yerim’s room before I left? She’ll want to rest right away.

Woo-oong─

At that moment, the gate changed. With a low rumble, the color changed and it was activated. The dungeon raid was over. I jumped up from my seat. I hoped she wasn’t hurt. I hoped she was okay.

Before long, a person appeared from the gate. It was one of Yerim’s team members. Probably a defense type. Even if they defeated the boss monster, there was a possibility that ordinary monsters remained, so there was an order to come out of the gate. Since the situation outside the gate was also unknown, the defense type came out first, followed by the attack type, support, healer, and then the combat type Hunter again.

“Guild Master…?”

The Hunter who came out looked at us and was embarrassed. After greeting us, he stepped aside, and other people appeared in turn. As expected, everyone looked surprised. I felt a little sorry. Yoohyun was the Guild Master of Haeyeon, but why did the Sesung Guild Master follow us all the way here?

– Kkyawoo!

Then Blue energetically bounced out, followed by,

“Uncle!”

Yerim appeared, her face beaming. She looked not just fine, but pristine. Come to think of it, the other team members also looked relatively clean.

“Yerim! Are you hurt anywhere? You look perfectly fine, as if you came out in just one day.”

“I’m not! I can even raise the water temperature now, you know. So, I took showers in between. In the end, I had mana potions left, so I warmed up the entire lake as practice.”

She said she tried it because it was the opposite of freezing. It wasn’t easy to get it hot, but she succeeded in making it lukewarm, so she washed up while Blue was playing with the final boss monster. Our Yerim has so many talents.

“I’m so glad you’re safe. I was so worried.”

“Hey, why are you worrying? There’s nothing to worry about! We caught them all easily!”

While Yerim confidently assured me of her safety, Yoohyun checked on the other team members and sent them outside first. They had showered and rested in warm water, so they looked so stable that it was hard to believe they had just finished the raid.

Blue also rubbed his head against me once and then followed them out, probably because the gate room was too small.

“Still, you must have been surprised that the dungeon suddenly changed.”

“A little. But I got over it quickly. I’m annoyed that it took so long because another floor was added and it got wider. And Hanyoo Hyun came out first!”

Yerim glared at Yoohyun out of the blue. She looked ready to burst if I told her he came out three days earlier.

“Yoohyun was very worried about you, Yerim. Wasn’t he?”

“Not really.”

…You should have said it even as a formality. Yoohyun strode closer and continued.

“I would have been disappointed if you couldn’t get out just because the dungeon changed a bit.”

Yerim giggled at Yoohyun’s words.

“I would have been more disappointed if you had worried, Guild Master. How do you feel seeing me so fine?”

“Even with Blue, you were really slow.”

“Hey! That’s because there were a lot of monsters I’d never seen before, so I was catching them carefully!”

Both Yoohyun, who was teasing, and Yerim, who was retorting, looked comfortable. Yerim explaining the unfamiliar monsters and Yoohyun responding as if to say, ‘You were worried about that?’

Watching them made me feel strange. It was a good sight, a sight that would normally bring a smile to my face.

Why can’t I trust them like that? Is it because I’m weak? It’s also because I keep remembering the past, but still. If I were stronger. Even before the regression [returning to a previous state].

Back then too.

‘…Hyung [older brother], are you okay?’

A voice was heard. Not real, but from memory… No. This isn’t right. This can’t be happening yet.

This can’t be happening yet.

This is, not yet.

Thud, something bumped into my back. I seemed to have unconsciously taken a step back. I turned my head. I looked up. It was Sung Hyunjae. He was looking down at me. Our eyes met. He had a surprised look on his face. He even seemed a little flustered, unlike him.

My shoulder was grabbed and I was turned around.

“Hyung?”

“Uncle?”

Sung Hyunjae pulled me into his arms. My eyes, my face, were completely covered.

“What are you doing! Give me back my uncle!”

“What is the meaning of this!”

“I was feeling lonely because you two seemed to be getting along too well.”

Sung Hyunjae said playfully.

“Isn’t the Sesung Guild Master’s eyesight failing? Here, I’ll give you Hanyoo Hyun instead!”

“Let’s trade with Hunter Park Yerim.”

“I like Han Yoojin, so I refuse.”

The voices buzzed in my ears. It’s different now. Many things have changed. The events of the regression haven’t happened yet, and they won’t happen.

“Oh, you even took out the chains! Are you saying let’s fight?”

“If Haeyeon’s dungeon building is also destroyed, it will be fair.”

“Haeyeon too? Did you destroy Sesung’s? What fun things happened while I was gone!”

Yerim shouted as if she felt wronged. She was grumbling, but her voice was bright. I swallowed and pushed away Sung Hyunjae, who was holding me. It’s okay. It has to be okay.

“Don’t tease the kids too much.”

Sung Hyunjae readily let me go. He took a step back and smiled. I don’t know if I could smile properly.

“Why don’t you take care of your business here and leave? Yerim, did you ever feel any strange gazes in the dungeon?”

“Oh, I did. Similar to a gaze, I felt a twisting sensation, and I heard voices too.”

“Voices?”

“Yes. Someone was definitely muttering, ‘It’s not here either.’ And then monsters I hadn’t seen before popped out. Just like when that big toad popped out before.”

‘It’s not here either,’ huh. Are they looking for something?

“So far, only I, Young Master, and the little miss have encountered strange phenomena.”

Sung Hyunjae said. Just in case, he had checked with other hunters who had raided the dungeon in the meantime, but no one had felt any gazes. It could be that they didn’t feel it because they weren’t S-class hunters, but they also said that the dungeon hadn’t changed strangely.

“…Then are they looking for Hyung after all?”

“Aren’t they looking for Uncle?”

But the jellyfish said it wasn’t me. Besides, the only domestic S-class hunters who have recently raided dungeons are these three. So, the unidentified gaze may have simply been looking at the S-class hunters.

First, I told Yerim what the newbie had said.

“Everyone be careful for a while. Mr. Sung Hyunjae, please be careful for now too.”

“I will.”

After a short answer, a short silence flowed, and he quietly turned away. I thought he would interfere more, but he just left.

“Let’s go out too. Yerim, is there anything you want to eat?”

“Anything is good right now! Can’t they make the dried food more delicious? It was okay at first, but after three days, I’d rather starve.”

It was Yerim’s first time in a dungeon for this long. I grabbed both of their hands, saying let’s go eat something delicious quickly, and moved my feet. Warm warmth was conveyed. It’s okay because you guys are here.