The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 220

220. The King Imprisoned in the Tower (1)

It looked like a storm had just passed through.

Everyone was affected, even those who could fly. Luckily, the broadcasting equipment was thoroughly waterproofed, or the transmission would have been cut off.

“Uncle, you saw me win decisively, right?”

Yerim asked, flying towards us after landing.

“Yeah, you were amazing! Did you intentionally hold back your skills?”

I asked quietly. Yerim understood immediately and nodded.

“If I used everything, it would have been over too quickly. It would have been a waste against an S-Class Hunter on a beach like this.”

Yerim replied softly. Well, there aren’t many opportunities to practice your skills to your heart’s content against an S-Class Hunter, especially with a stage set up like this where you can really let loose. You can find sea environments inside dungeons, but dungeons these days just aren’t stable. After you’ve exhausted your mana and stamina, a high-level monster might suddenly appear due to some glitch.

“Congratulations on your victory, Ruler of Water!”

Moon Hyuna said playfully, and Yerim giggled. She and Sung Hyunjae, who approached with her, were completely soaked. Myungwoo and Noah were the same. It was fortunate that the weather was warm; if it had been late autumn, I would have caught a cold… well, only I would have. Everyone else is excessively healthy.

“Shishio-nim!”

Just then, Kakuto’s shout came from a distance. Wondering what was going on, I turned to see Kakuto kneeling before Lion King. Lion King was also drenched, his beard plastered to his face as if he’d been dragged through the water.

“I, Iwahata Kakuto, have betrayed Shishio-nim’s trust! I will atone for this with my death!”

What was he saying? No one would be crazy enough to kill a valuable S-Class Hunter over something like this, right? Even if they’re from another country, S-Class Hunters are precious assets.

“Iwahata Kakuto.”

Lion King said solemnly. It was like watching a staged drama.

“Winning and losing are common in war. Didn’t I say that even if you lose comrades and use a gate stone [a device for escaping a dungeon], you can always re-challenge the dungeon as long as you survive? As long as you are alive, you will always have a chance for revenge. So, instead of grieving over defeat, hone your skills.”

“Thank you! Shishio-nim!”

Kakuto shouted, slamming his head into the ground. Well, he’s not wrong, but it’s still pretty cheesy. Saying that survival is important, Lion King is definitely a better leader than the Japanese government.

Seeing the Amaterasu Guild members around him with moved expressions, I wanted to quietly slip away. Or should I clap?

“…Let’s go back and shower quickly.”

The seawater is sticky. It feels like I’ve been submerged in water for half the day ever since coming to Japan.

After returning to the accommodation and showering, I checked the public sentiment in both countries. Korea was still in a festive mood. They were replaying the battle scenes and showing people’s reactions.

[Yes! That’s the scene right there! The Izu Peninsula being swept away by Hunter Park Yerim’s gesture! It’s truly a sight befitting the title of Ruler of Water!]

[Wow, I can’t help but be amazed no matter how many times I watch it! It’s so refreshing!]

‘Yerim will be busy for a while.’

She’ll be flooded with all sorts of requests. The Haeyeon PR team’s phones must be ringing off the hook right now. Even if it’s annoying, being accommodating at times like this will benefit you in the long run.

On the other hand, Japanese broadcasts were analyzing the defeat. They repeatedly emphasized that the sea was too disadvantageous and that the Black Cow Forest Dungeon was of little value without a monster breeding skill, so it wasn’t a big loss.

[The fact that the first international S-Class Hunter battle was held under Japan’s leadership, on this Japanese soil, is a meaningful result in itself.]

[Yes, yes. I think it clearly demonstrated the influence and ability of the Amaterasu Guild.]

Ah, yes. Enjoy it while you can. Once the stamina potion is revealed, it’ll be a house of mourning. I’ll have to watch Japanese broadcasts to see what kind of mental gymnastics they’ll pull then.

“Hunter Han Yoohyun, Director Han Yoojin.”

While I was eating snacks with Peace in the living room and watching TV, an Amaterasu Guild member came to find me.

“Shishio-nim wishes to speak with you regarding the Black Cow Forest Dungeon.”

It’s not like they’re going to ask to take back a dungeon they don’t really need anymore, so it must be about the item. The Thunder Bird’s Garment must be several times more valuable than the dungeon. I was about to go into my room to change when the guild member said I could come as I was.

Yoohyun and I followed the Amaterasu Guild member. We were led to a separate building, like a detached house. Shishio and a man I had never seen before were sitting on the sofa in a spacious reception room.

“I am Sato Kiyoshi.”

He introduced himself as the advisor to the Amaterasu Guild Leader. He looked quite young for an advisor. Early forties? Hunter Guilds need people who know a lot about dungeons and preferably have experience in clearing them [攻略, a Japanese term for dungeon clearing], so most of them were young.

“First, I would like to congratulate Hunter Park Yerim on her victory. We lost cleanly. Hunter Park Yerim’s abilities were truly outstanding.”

Shishio said, raising both hands.

“We will also hand over the dungeon without any regrets. The problem is the Thunder Bird’s Garment.”

“The original plan was to announce that after Hunter Iwahata Kakuto’s victory, we would give the Slime Dungeon and express our condolences to the Haeyeon Guild side by gifting them the garment,” Kiyoshi said. They would take the Slime Dungeon, act generous, and then use that as leverage to pressure us regarding the Fire Horned Lion Dungeon. They would have said something like, ‘We gifted you an SS-Class item even though we won the Slime Dungeon fairly, so shouldn’t you reciprocate with a Fire Horned Lion cub as a gesture of goodwill?’

But we won. We already received the garment and the behind-the-scenes deal is done, so we could just wash our hands of it. But then it would be a bit awkward to openly use the garment. Since many people know that the Amaterasu Guild has the Thunder Bird’s Garment, it would be annoying if they started asking questions like, ‘What’s your relationship with Japan?’

‘It’s better to clearly state that the Amaterasu Guild gifted it to us.’

They give us the dungeon and an SS-Class item. They’ll really look like pushovers.

“Why don’t you just give it as a generous commemorative gift since things have turned out this way? You’re supposed to be the best guild in Japan. Show the world how generous you are. It’s a Korea-Japan match, but it’s also the first officially broadcasted S-Class Hunter battle, so every country will be watching. On the day of our return to Korea, the Haeyeon Guild Leader will appear wearing the Thunder Bird’s Garment, and it will be announced that the Amaterasu Guild Leader gifted him an SS-Class item. How impressive would that be? Not just an S-Class, but an SS-Class, just giving it away without hesitation – that incredible generosity!”

An incredible pushover.

“Hoo.”

Shishio looked intrigued. Yeah, you really like appearances.

“To be so generous, truly the Lion King! To lose the match and hand over the dungeon, yet still give an additional gift – that boldness evokes the image of ancient heroes. Even though you had to give one thing away, you’re not upset, but rather you give one more, a large and generous heart that everyone can admire.”

I just threw out random words, but Lion King was smiling contentedly. He’s so easily swayed. Kiyoshi next to him had a darkened face, probably because he had some sense.

“Of course, I have a broad mind and generosity. It’s not like I arranged this meeting because I was reluctant to give away the SS-Class item!”

“Of course. That’s what I thought.”

“But I can’t just give away an SS-Class item without any compensation…”

That Kiyoshi butted in without any tact. He was just doing his job, but both Shishio and I looked displeased. Nevertheless, Kiyoshi continued.

“At least, shouldn’t we receive some kind of compensation, even if it’s behind the scenes…”

You’re having a hard time too. If I push too hard here, even the appearance-loving Lion King might feel resistant.

“Well, we’d feel a bit uncomfortable if we received it for free. Haeyeon Guild Leader.”

I turned to Yoohyun, who was sitting next to me, and said,

“As a response to the Amaterasu Guild Leader’s goodwill, how about giving them priority if we obtain a new Fire Horned Lion cub in the future?”

“Priority, you say?”

Yoohyun glanced at me, awkwardly using honorifics. He doesn’t have to be so formal.

“Yes. To be precise, the right to negotiate first. There are countless guilds around the world that want an S-Class magical beast cub, and the competition will be fierce. Moreover, the Amaterasu Guild Leader doesn’t even have fire attribute skills, so their justification is lacking, and they are likely to be pushed out by simple competition. So, priority would be a significant reward.”

In response to my question, Yoohyun nodded, still awkward.

“Director Han’s words are, correct.”

He could just speak comfortably like Lion King. Anyway, since the Haeyeon Guild Leader has also agreed, I turned my head forward again.

“In addition, we will prioritize taking care of it at the breeding center. You’ve heard about the overseas guilds lining up, right? Since the Amaterasu Guild is being so generous, I want to do this and that for them, you know? That’s just how people feel.”

We’re being incredibly generous. Of course, we’ll take all the compensation, and in reality, we’re just putting on a show. It’s impossible to know when a Fire Horned Lion cub will appear, or even if it will appear at all.

Nevertheless, Shishio looked very satisfied. Kiyoshi next to him had a gloomy face, probably because he had some sense.

“Good! Let’s do that! I’ll announce it right away!”

That would be even better.

“I’d like to enter the Black Cow Forest Dungeon tomorrow to check it out, is that possible?”

Shishio readily said he would prepare it. However, he said that it might not be possible to clear it [攻略] properly since the reset hadn’t been long ago.

If you enter a dungeon immediately after it resets, sometimes the boss monster doesn’t appear, making it impossible to clear. If you defeat all the normal monsters, an escape gate appears, but it’s not considered a clear. So, to avoid unnecessary effort, clearing starts a week after the reset for A-Class dungeons.

With those minor details settled, we went outside. Returning to the guest room, I said quietly to Yoohyun.

“After the dungeon, do whatever you want. They’re announcing the garment gift right away, so there’s nothing to hold back.”

“But wouldn’t it be like starting a fight right after receiving a gift? Is that okay?”

“Just poke Lion King so that he bites. He’s not the type to refuse. It can be private too. I heard there are many islands in this area? We can use a suitable uninhabited island. Use the Fire Horned Lion cub priority as bait, or even promise to give it to them definitively. Yeah, let’s say we feel bad just receiving the garment, so let’s have a light spar as compensation.”

“Okay.”

Yoohyun replied with a smile. He looked like he was already looking forward to it. What can we get this time? Any S-Class weapons? Or maybe an S-Class coat for Yerim.

“Be careful and have a good trip.”

Myungwoo said, holding Piyo and Bellare. Everyone except Myungwoo would enter the A-Class Black Cow Forest Dungeon together. Initially, one or two people were planning to stay at the hotel with Myungwoo, but Myungwoo refused, saying that they would be a hindrance in case of an emergency.

Since they wouldn’t harm him anyway and he could always escape to the smithy, he said he felt more comfortable alone. If we split into two teams, our group would have fewer members than the Japanese S-Class Hunters, so it was better to travel together.

“Be careful of Bellare’s poison. I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry, I have poison resistance equipment and antidotes.” He lifted Bellare, who was wrapped around his wrist, saying that if necessary, he could get help from Ismual, since poison is weak against fire. Piyo chirped and raised its wings as well.

The Black Cow Forest Dungeon was about a three-hour helicopter ride from Tokyo. Guided by the Amaterasu Guild members, we entered the dungeon building.

“Please be careful in the isolated forest in the middle. Yoohyun, as well as Sung Hyunjae-ssi, shouldn’t use your skills. You might burn everything down.”

“Alright.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The dungeon clearing itself will be over quickly. How many S-Class Hunters are there? I didn’t think a single fly could approach me, but I used Grace at the A-Class level and entered the gate.

A forest unfolded with a strong scent of grass. Just as Peace was enlarging its size to stick close to me,

The space distorted. Before I could react, the surroundings changed as if they were melting, and my vision turned black.

‘What is this!’

Panicked and not knowing what to do, I groped around for a moment, then my vision cleared again. What came into view was not a dense forest, but a wide and empty space like a room.

There, everyone except me, even Peace, was collapsed and unconscious. My heart sank. A fear resistance message popped up in front of me.

“Yoohyun!”

I rushed over and almost fell as I sat down next to my brother. Fortunately, he was still breathing. His heart was beating too.

“Yoohyun, are you okay? Wake up!”

There didn’t seem to be anything wrong with his body. He just seemed to be asleep, but he showed no signs of waking up. After thoroughly checking his condition again, I checked the others. Yerim, Noah, Moon Hyuna, and Peace were all asleep. Their complexions were the same, and they were breathing well.

And Sung Hyunjae too.

“…He looks so unfamiliar.”

It’s awkward to see him slumped over as if he’s asleep. Is he really unconscious?

“Hey, Seseong Guild Leader.”

I gently tapped his cheek, but he didn’t budge. He’s really annoyingly handsome. I grabbed his cheeks and pulled, but he didn’t move at all.

“Hey, Hyunjae-ssi, Hyunjae hyung [older brother or male friend], Hyunjae-ya [Hey Hyunjae, used casually], Hyunjae you bastard.”

It seems he’s really unconscious. What should I do now? Should I use a potion, or just wait for him to wake up? I was 고민하고 있는데 [thinking about it, 고민하고 is Korean for ‘to contemplate’].

“Honey!”

A childish, unfamiliar voice was heard.