The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 211

211. Blue’s Move (1)

– Prrr!

White and black unicorns chased each other. Even though the yard was quite spacious, it felt small due to their speed and energy. Whitey dashed across the lawn in an instant, then,

Thump!

Leaping and kicking off the wall, it dashed back in the opposite direction as if flying. It had the leaping power to easily jump over a fence more than 2 meters high, and that was just pure strength without using any skills.

‘Should I make a track around here?’

If I made a path around the breeding center, they could run to their hearts’ content. Or maybe move Whitey and Blacky to a wider place.

[Hunter Park Yerim is scheduled to depart for Japan tomorrow.]

The TV installed on the wall of the breeding room was broadcasting news about Yerim. The screen showed excited people and those already holding placards and cheering.

“That’s the school Yerim went to.”

A large banner wishing Park Yerim victory hung over the main gate. The kids swarmed in front of the camera, all with bright smiles. Their cheerful, high-pitched voices seemed to roll out of the TV.

I smiled involuntarily as the phone rang. It was Dohamin. When I answered, he said that he had finished investigating almost all the information I had requested and told me to come and get it.

“…Oh, I’ll pick it up after I come back from Japan this time.”

I hung up, saying I would take care of it then. At the same time, I felt like I had been doused with cold water. The thought of meeting those people directly made my stomach feel cold. Even setting aside the fear, a deep-seated, stained emotion clawed at my chest.

Did I think too easily? I thought it would be okay now even if I faced the people I had lost. But rather, even Seoksimeong and Kim Seonghan, who had been fine until now, were becoming more awkward.

Seong Hyeonje’s words came back to me. That I had only painted over it. In my current state, those words hit me even harder. That’s right. That’s right. It’s painfully true.

‘…Avoiding and covering up is never a good method.’

But what am I supposed to do? What should I do? As soon as I know something is wrong, I can’t just shout and step forward to fix and change it in the right direction. It would be nice if I could. Everyone would want that.

But not everyone can solve every problem neatly. In fact, aren’t there more people who can’t? Afraid that things will get worse if they step forward when they could have just endured it. Afraid that it will grow to a point they can’t handle. Because of many other worries and fears.

And I was a weakling who couldn’t easily speak out, even in the past, even further back.

‘It’s okay, Yoohyun.’

How old was I? That’s what I said while hugging my brother.

I knew there was a wall between my parents and our siblings. I couldn’t not know. But I had to maintain it to protect my brother. Both Yoohyun and I were still young, so we needed our parents’ protection and support.

So, our house is ordinary and peaceful, our parents have a good relationship, and the siblings get along well. Without any particular problems, this is a sufficiently harmonious family, it had to be.

‘I took care of everything. I’m doing well. There are no problems.’

If I didn’t dig up problems or wrongdoings and just covered them up, it was really okay. …Even if it wasn’t okay, I would lose everything if I wasn’t careful. If my parents gave up completely and abandoned us, there would be no way. What could a child have done?

It was the same now.

All that’s piled up. That, all of that. How. When will I ever get to it? They won’t wait for me.

It would take more than a year or two to take it out, examine it, and heal it. I even doubted whether I could ever go back to normal.

But I can’t just sit still, so I have to paint over it and move on. I have no choice. If it cracks, I’ll fill it again and paint it again. That’s what I have to do. I have to pretend I’m okay and move on with stubbornness as if nothing’s wrong.

…If there’s another good way, I want to know too. Really.

– Bbiang.

“…Huh?”

Sorok grabbed my sleeve and pulled, then collapsed. It sprawled on the grass, stretching its neck out and pulling at my pants leg this time.

“Why, you want me to sit with you? Okay, let’s sit.”

The grass was still green. When I sat down on it, the smell of grass felt even stronger. Sorok rested its head on my leg. I stroked its soft ears and the pair of round spots where horns would someday sprout.

It eats dried fruit well, but that’s only enough to give it some exercise. There’s a limit to how much it can eat, and I can’t feed it too much.

“I gave up on training you. Hyuna said it’s okay to take it slow. Thank Blue.”

Because it’s going to run dungeons instead of you. Of course, Blue seems to like that more.

Its pure white ears fluttered. The baby deer half-closed its eyes and lay comfortably as if it didn’t care how the world was going. It was like a white cloud floating as if it was moving or not.

Making even the person watching it feel relaxed.

“But Sorok, you’re going to grow up really cool. Originally, building up slowly, leisurely, and calmly makes it even stronger. You’ll become a very cool deer. Unwavering, always relaxed.”

A giant deer with magnificent and beautiful antlers like a crown seemed to appear before my eyes. Its black eyes would be deep and gentle.

A breeze blew gently. The sound of running hooves could be heard. I could sit here for a few days like this. But I have to get up. Just in time, another call came in. This time it was from Haeyeon.

“Yes, I’ll take it right away.”

I couldn’t keep the completely grown Blue in the breeding center’s garden. So, I built a new breeding facility near the Advanced Hunter Training Center. It was still just a wide open space with only a house for Blue, but other adult monsters would be moved there later unless they were small or could be miniaturized like Peace.

I also suggested to the Association that the entire mountain near there be used for Seungsoo’s walks.

When I went outside and called Blue, it soon flew down.

– Kkyaa.

I stroked Blue’s beak, which was as lively as ever.

“We’re moving now, Blue. I wish you could understand.”

I don’t know if it’ll be okay since we can’t communicate. But the people who usually feed Blue and clean its house decided to move with it. Visitors to the nearby Advanced Hunter Training Center would also play with it.

The environment is much better here. You can fly around the mountain as you please without worrying about anyone.

“Why are you here again?”

When I went to the building’s parking lot with Blue, Yoohyun was waiting with a container truck. Blue doesn’t belong to Haeyeon, so I decided to just borrow the car and driver.

“This is where Haeyeon’s Seungsoo will be moving to in the future. I wanted to take a look.”

I’ll go when Whitey and Blacky are all grown up, but what’s the point of going before the facilities are all set up? And that’s the guild leader.

Seoksimeong had already asked me to subtly ask the guild leader to come to the guild for work yesterday because he’s been sticking next to me lately. So I sent him, and he’s back in half a day.

“Aren’t you swamped with work?”

“I’ve taken care of all the urgent stuff. Anyway, right now, attention is focused on Hunter Park Yerim, so even the new S-class dungeon conquest record was lightly passed over.”

I wonder if it was really lightly passed over, or if he made it pass over. But he said he came after working.

I went into the container with Blue, and Yoohyun followed. It’s going to be uncomfortable because it’s almost a two-hour drive even if the traffic isn’t bad. One side of the floor is cushioned and there are cushions, but still.

The container door closed and the car started. Blue lay down quietly and yawned.

“Yerim was so excited about going to Japan. It’s a formal overseas trip as well as a match. It’s also a kind of family trip.”

She said she was going to buy a swimsuit with Hyuna and had a hard time refusing when she asked the uncle to come with her.

“And, it’s our first time too.”

I looked at my brother sitting next to me. We haven’t had a chance to go all this time. We couldn’t afford it. Except for the occasional trip to Hong Kong, it’s the first time.

“If nothing had happened, I was going to go after you took the college entrance exam.”

These days, the world has changed and the demand for overseas travel has decreased a lot, but back then, everyone went.

This trip to Japan will provide a private plane and the entire hotel for accommodation for safety. Of course, the accommodation will be top-notch and everything else will be luxurious.

If we had gone on our own, it would have been a normal plane and the accommodation would have been normal. Maybe it would have been shabby. Saving as much money as possible and just giving meaning to the first overseas trip. But I think it would have been really nice.

“We can go anytime, hyung [older brother]. As long as it’s not too far, I can take a few days off. Hunter Kim Seonghan will soon become the vice guild leader, and we also have Hunter Park Yerim, so it’s okay to leave for a few days. We can change our appearance and go quietly.”

“Yerim will be angry.”

“I’m your brother. She has to put up with that much.”

A smile crept out at his matter-of-fact attitude. Yeah, Yoohyun, you’re my brother. There’s only you. Only you. …My brother.

“Um, hyung.”

Yoohyun called me carefully.

“I think I said something wrong.”

“Huh? What?”

“I told you not to worry too much about me and Hunter Park Yerim. Even if you have a high-grade skill and get help from them, your stats are no different from those of an ordinary person. I unconsciously thought you would be okay because it was hidden by the fear resistance skill and you know too much about dungeons and hunters.”

“I’m really okay.”

“No, hyung.”

If it’s not, I actually have more experience than you if you only count the years.

“And there’s a possibility that the skill has side effects. There’s a similar case to hyung.”

“…A similar case to me?”

“Yeah. It often appears in mid-level hunters. They often don’t feel a sense of reality when they first awaken and become hunters. It’s like the world suddenly changes from an ordinary life. They feel like they’re dreaming or playing a game? So, on the outside, they seem fine and calmly enter dungeons and act as hunters, but one day they suddenly feel a sense of reality.”

I had heard of that story before. I’ve actually encountered a similar case.

“If the fact that this is reality rushes in all at once after a few months, all the past experiences come as fear, and some people can’t overcome it and retire. So, recently, guilds have been specially managing new mid-level hunters.”

Special management is actually about rolling them around appropriately in the first dungeon conquest to make them feel a sense of reality, right? That’s the most sure way.

“The fear resistance skill may have made hyung unable to feel a sense of reality like that case. It seems like hyung has been more anxious lately, and considering the characteristics of mental resistance skills, it’s highly likely. If you’re okay with it, why don’t you turn off the skill and get counseling?”

“Counseling?”

“Yeah. There’s even a professional hunter counselor. Originally, she was a qualified and experienced counselor, but she awakened and became an expert with more than two years of hunter experience.”

Yoohyun said that he had looked into it separately. He said that confidentiality is also guaranteed.

“…No, I’m okay.”

What am I going to say when I go there? I have nothing to say. I can’t bring it up to anyone, not even a counselor. Even if I try to tell it like I’m crazy, I can’t handle it.

“If you ever feel like it, tell me anytime. I can make sure no one but me knows.”

“I’m really okay. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

Yoohyun stared at me for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Don’t say you’re sorry. I’m happy to be able to worry about hyung by your side. …It’s a bit strange to say I’m happy, but yeah.”

“…You too.”

I don’t know what to say. Suddenly, what Myungwoo had said came to mind. Please, thank you. He said two words were enough. And Yerim, and Noah.

“Thank you.”

My brother smiled brightly. A sweet and warm feeling filled my chest at the sight of his eyes folding gently as he smiled. I couldn’t help but hug Yoohyun tightly and stroke his head.

“Why are you so cute even when you’re twenty?”

Full in my arms, overflowing. I’ll be okay because I can hug you like this. It’s only 5 years. I can endure it. I’m used to pretending I don’t know, enduring, and avoiding it. I managed to endure it somehow even without anything, even alone, so I’ll be able to do it again for another 5 years.

It’ll be okay. I’m not alone, and I just need to endure a little longer.

“I love you, my brother.”

Just a little more.

* * *

The car stopped. When I got out of the container, I saw an unfinished wall. The new breeding facility was planned to be as large as possible so that adult Seungsoo could be active enough. We also decided to draw water from nearby to create a large artificial lake. Because I don’t know what kind of monster I’ll be bringing.

Blue’s house was built first. The playground and other facilities have a long way to go before completion, but since Blue is a flying type, the fence was useless anyway.

“Blue, that’s your new house.”

That tall building similar to a birdhouse made at the end there. A jar-shaped bird’s nest-like house was placed on top of a long and sturdy base like a tower. A wide plate was also prepared in front of the nest so that it could land.

“House, you know? House.”

– Kkyawoo.

Blue tilted the end of its beak and flew up. It landed in front of the nest, put its head in and looked inside, then jumped in. The size is just right. It was big enough to fit two or three golden griffons. I might bring another griffon besides Blue. It said that they live in groups, so it would be happy if it had a friend.

“Director Han! Your brother came with you?”

At that time, I heard a familiar voice along with the sound of a car. It was Moon Hyuna. A jeep with an open roof stopped next to us. She jumped over the car door without opening it.

“What brings you here?”

“What else, I came to take a look around because Blue is coming today. There’s not much to see yet, though.”

She said she came to check on Sorok’s house, which is under construction. Moon Hyuna looked at Blue, who was sticking its head out of the nest, with a satisfied expression.

“Yerim said that the flying speed is no joke?”

“I haven’t measured it, but it must be amazing since it can reduce air resistance with its flying skills.”

S-class stats and strong wings. That alone would probably reach hundreds of kilometers per hour. Even ordinary birds can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour in horizontal flight. If you add skills to that, it would be enormous.

At my words, Moon Hyuna’s lips curled up even more.

“The descent speed is usually faster, so isn’t it breaking the sound barrier?”

It’s still a living thing, so I don’t think it’ll go that far, but you never know. Someone blew up a large cruise ship.

“Why don’t you take a look around while you’re here, hyung?”

Moon Hyuna opened the back door of the car and said. I nodded and got into the car with Yoohyun.