The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 221

221. The King Imprisoned in the Tower (2)

I reflexively drew my weapon. It was just a short sword that wasn’t even high-grade. Even if I had an S-class weapon in my hand, my stats wouldn’t allow me to use it properly.

At least the earring had a shield skill, but its grade was only B. Its range wasn’t wide either, so it would be over after hugging one or two people at most. How much could I shield Eun-hye by blocking with my body?

Even knowing there was no way to win against the opponent who brought us here like this, I stood between Yoo-hyun and Ye-rim for now.

“Honey!”

The voice was heard again. If it’s Honey, there’s a high possibility it’s a Filial Disobedience [someone excessively devoted to their parents, often to an absurd degree]. That would be a relief, though.

“It’s okay! I’ve blocked it for now!”

A small human figure appeared from the air with a rustle. The first thing that caught my eye was the beige, curly hair. Ears drooped down on both sides of the head, long and fluttering… like a puppy. A Cocker Spaniel, exactly like that puppy.

The eyes were round and red without any whites, making it look like a rabbit with drooping ears. The round face and small height made it look about fourteen or fifteen years old. The body looked like layers of lilies turned upside down. Several long, flowing, round petal-like fins that looked like clothes were floating slightly in the air, swaying. Legs were not visible, but the arms seemed to be two as usual. As expected, long fin-like sleeves drooped down, concealing the hands.

Anyway, it’s not an ordinary human.

Without lowering my guard, I used the Sprout skill on the opponent. Instead of a window popping up here, it was directly conveyed to my mind.

The King Imprisoned in the Tower.

That was all I could read. King, huh. The Mermaid Queen and the Harmless King came to mind. A Filial Disobedience and a Filial Piety Addict, it seems like they’re from that group. The modifier ‘imprisoned in the tower’ was unique, though.

“Honey!”

“State your business.”

“Huh?”

The puppy tilted its head, then opened its mouth roundly, saying, “Ah.” It’s unnecessarily cute, making me feel like my tension would be relieved.

“I’m a newbie! Wilson! Volleyball!”

“…What? You’re a newbie?”

“Yes! It’s me!”

It answered brightly, raising one arm and waving it. The fins fluttered and danced. A newbie, really? As I couldn’t shake off my suspicion, the puppy said with a sulky expression.

“I made the dungeon for Honey, you know. I’m the owner of the Toy Soldiers, and I was the first to find Honey and cause the error.”

The contractor’s name for the Toy Soldiers was definitely five characters long. The King Imprisoned in the Tower. It’s true that he was the first to find me and cause the error. He also rattled off the things that had happened so far. There were no incorrect parts.

“…My brother, what happened to the others? Are they safe?”

“They’re safe! I took quick action!”

“Explain properly.”

The newbie was very dejected at the series of cold replies. Seeing that, I felt a little sorry. The newbie hesitated, then opened its mouth in a much calmer tone.

“The Filial Piety kids interfered. In the dungeon Honey entered.”

“You said it would be okay.”

“I, I really don’t have the ability to do this to the Jellyfish! It seems like another Filial Piety member joined, but this doesn’t usually happen.”

“But it did happen.”

“That’s right,” the newbie said, drooping its shoulders. Still, it said it blocked it.

“So what happens now?”

As I asked, loosening my hardened expression, the newbie answered with a brightened expression.

“The Filial Piety kids were trying to seize the system by interfering with the dungeon. It seems like a Filial Piety member who knows how to handle the system, but there are only a few people who can do that. Among them, there’s only one Filial Piety member close to the Jellyfish, so this won’t happen twice. It takes a lot of power, so they’ll have to rest for about four or five years in Honey’s world time.”

In four or five years, either I’ll be ruined or I’ll be out of the apocalypse, one of the two. As the newbie said, it won’t happen twice.

“Anyway, they were planning to steal the Black Cow Forest dungeon system and harm Honey’s party, but I quickly pushed in the system I had prepared! I completely changed the Black Cow Forest dungeon into a different dungeon system.”

Roughly, it’s like throwing away the entire file infected with a virus and replacing it with a new file.

“Quick response.”

“It’s our job to prevent things like this. Besides, it was easy because I happened to have a dungeon prepared for Honey. A dungeon system where you can get items and skills.”

“Is that here? But why aren’t they waking up?”

I asked, looking around. It only looks like an empty room.

“That system I prepared was a virtual reality system.”

“Virtual reality?”

“Yes! In other words, a virtual reality game. It’s a more common system in the future than in Honey’s world. You leave your body behind and only your mind enters the game, the dungeon. Unlike the dungeons in Honey’s world, there are people, NPCs [Non-Player Characters], and you can interact with them. You know computer games, right? You directly enter the game! I created a system where you can earn points through quests and exchange them for the items and skills you want. It’s also safe because only your mind enters!”

It sounded pretty good. Above all, the fact that it was safe was attractive.

“Couldn’t you have made our dungeon a virtual reality system too?”

“Uh, Honey’s world has a lower level of civilization. And the system is applied based on virtual reality games made by humans, so the safety is much lower than what I made. There are more dangerous parts than the dungeon system. Anyway, Honey’s party is now in the virtual reality dungeon. They’ve become people in that world. Their bodies are here, so it’s a kind of possession.”

But, the newbie said with a troubled face.

“I couldn’t put only Honey’s mind into the system.”

“Why? …Is it because my stats are too low?”

“No, it’s the opposite. Honey’s magic stone.”

The newbie’s fin sleeve pointed to my chest.

“It’s strong. More than I expected. Even if the Lizard’s magic stone went in, I thought it would be incomplete, so it would likely be SS-class, or SSS-class at most. But it feels like at least L-class, right now.”

“L-class?”

“…At least. I don’t know for sure. I think I can confirm it for sure when it’s born, but it’s completely unexpected, Honey. So I couldn’t properly touch Honey. The magic power of that magic stone blocked me from trying to separate only Honey’s mind.”

At least L-class. I unconsciously put my hand on the scar on my chest. If it’s that strong, is it okay? Can I control it? I was worried that if it exceeded the grade of the Caregiver title, it would become uncontrollable, but there was nothing I could do now.

“So, Honey has to enter that world directly.”

“Directly? Can’t I just get out of the dungeon right away?”

“I lost control of the system because I hurriedly changed the system that wasn’t completely made yet! So, uh, you have to clear it!”

“…It seems like the promised time has passed, you didn’t finish it?”

“Well, I told you it would be delayed more at that time! That’s what Honey wanted!”

That was true. It was instead of looking at the dungeon Ye-rim entered. I didn’t know things would turn out like this at that time.

“Originally, I was planning to put in a moderately peaceful medieval era as the background. But now I don’t know what kind of world it is. Because it’s a world inside a dungeon…”

“One of the worlds that has already been destroyed, huh.”

“Yes. It’s a world based on the old information of the disappeared world and the people who lived there.”

My heart fluttered slightly. It’s not just a dungeon with traces left. It’s a world where people and the situation at that time are left intact. A world that was destroyed before us.

The newbie rolled up its drooping sleeves and took out its hand. It was an ordinary hand. From the back of that hand and wrist, dozens of thin tentacles, ugh.

“…Why tentacles.”

“This is super convenient. Please recommend it to Honey’s blacksmith. It’s essential for creators. You can do delicate work at the same time.”

What recommendation are you talking about? As someone who has used tentacles before, I agree that it’s convenient, but it doesn’t look good.

The tentacles groped quickly in the air. I couldn’t see anything, but it seemed like it was manipulating something. The movement became faster and faster, and soon it became a speed that I couldn’t keep up with. And after a while.

Thud, thud.

Round, flat discs appeared in the air and fell. They were small, black metallic discs that looked about 5-6 centimeters in diameter. The tentacles picked them up and handed them to me.

“Please install this in a specific area in the dungeon. Then I can interfere. I’ll let you know the installation area through the quest window. Just press the middle part.”

“How to clear the dungeon?”

“It depends on the dungeon. After the installation is complete, I’ll check the dungeon information and send you a message. And Honey, you have five lives to give to Honey.”

“Lives?”

“Yes. Honey’s party is also in there, but you don’t know when you’ll meet them. It may be difficult to join them depending on the situation. Actually, I don’t want to let Honey in because it seems dangerous, but…”

The newbie turned its head and looked at the people who were collapsed.

“I can’t give this to other people. Honey’s system window has been connected several times, so it’s easy to touch. But not the others. Sending situation messages was all I could do. I wish Honey could have safely sent only her mind in.”

The newbie hesitated and turned its gaze back to me.

“If it’s just Honey alone, it’s possible to take you out without clearing it. But you won’t go out alone.”

“Of course not. I’m definitely not going.”

I answered immediately without even thinking about it. I can’t even deliver the clearing information without me, how can I get out alone?

“You can join the others before you die five times. You don’t come back to life right after you die, do you?”

“Huh? You come back to life right away?”

“Hey, then that won’t work. With my stats, I’ll just die again. You have to revive after a while to avoid facing the opponent who killed me right away.”

“Ah, that’s right! Then…”

The tentacles moved busily again. The red eyes also rolled around.

“One hour. You can wait up to one hour. You can also check the situation while you’re dead.”

“Okay, thank you. I guess it’s worth trying with that much preparation. There’s also Grace.”

The newbie made a troubled expression at my words. What is it this time?

“About the items, you can’t use anything that doesn’t exist in that world.”

“What?”

“If there’s an item with similar abilities, I’ll change it for you, but there definitely won’t be anything like Grace. Also, I think the skills will be slightly modified to fit that world.”

“Even if the skills are like that, it’s a problem if I can’t use Grace!”

My stats are F-class. Even if I put on all the equipment I have, it’s about C-class level 1, practically an experienced E-class hunter level. If it’s a world like ours with dungeons, I can just not go in, but if it’s a world without dungeons and monsters just wandering around, it’s perfect for dying a meaningless death.

The newbie tapped Grace with the end of its tentacle at my pleading eyes and opened its mouth.

“Uh, um, the same ability is impossible after all. Instead, I’ll temporarily convert it into equipment with stats or other abilities.”

“What’s the grade?”

“The stats can probably go up to C-class. About level 30. The equipment is S-class weapons or armor.”

Stats and equipment. Even if it’s an S-class weapon and armor, it’s only useful if the stats support it.

“Give it to me as stats. And lend me the equipment.”

“Huh?”

“Lend, lend. You have equipment, don’t you? Isn’t it possible to lend it? I’ll return it obediently.”

“But.”

“Honestly, I didn’t know it would be like this, so I didn’t bring any decent weapons, but I can get S-class equipment anytime. You know I’m close to the blacksmith. Not too much, just lend me one S-class weapon. If possible, armor too. I didn’t bring it because I only trusted Grace.”

The newbie hesitated and took out a weapon and something like a long cardigan from the air. The weapon is a sword for now.

“It’s a mangosh [a type of dagger].”

It’s a short dagger with a guard for defense. It’s awkward to use a dagger. Besides, I couldn’t check the options for both of them.

“When you enter the dungeon, it will be transformed to fit that world. You can see the options at that time. Both are S-class.”

“Thank you. Is there a time limit or something?”

“There’s plenty of time! Virtual reality games are basically 5x speed. You can adjust that from the outside.”

That’s a relief. With this much preparation, I can hold out until I find anyone. Just before I said to send me into the dungeon, I asked one more thing.

“I want to hear the exact reason for gathering 50 Caregiver keyword applicators.”

The newbie closed its mouth tightly and shook its head.

“I can’t tell you yet.”

“I can’t unconditionally follow without knowing the reason or the method. Frankly, I don’t completely trust you.”

The two red eyes blinked greatly. It also seemed a little surprised. Is it because I don’t trust them? But how can I trust them? They’re deceiving and hiding things.

“It’s to save Honey’s world. It’s true!”

“So how? With those 50 people, how exactly? If even a slight harm comes to the keyword applicators─”

“No harm will come to the keyword applicators! It’s certain! I can swear on my name!”

The newbie jumped up and said. To the keyword applicators, huh.

“For sure?”

“For sure! Absolutely!”

“Then to me.”

“Honey.”

The newbie’s drooping ears lifted slightly and then drooped again.

“We’ll try to minimize the harm to Honey as much as possible. That’s what we’re preparing for. In a year or two, the preparation will be complete. I’ll let you know then, Honey.”

We’ll try to minimize the harm as much as possible, huh. The lack of certainty made me feel more relieved. It seems like the keyword applicators are really okay.

“What, you’re saying you didn’t even finish the preparation and told me to gather 50 people.”

“That’s why I said you can gather them slowly. I can’t tell you in detail because it’s also for Honey’s safety. Please trust me. It’s real. And when the time comes, we’ll follow Honey’s decision. We won’t force you. We can’t either.”

I was still uneasy to believe it completely, but the newbie’s expression and voice felt sincere. Still, this guy has helped me a lot in many ways. As I looked at the earnest eyes, I unconsciously reached out and stroked the newbie’s head.

…What should I say, even the eyes are like that, so it’s really like a puppy. The newbie opened its eyes wide and grabbed my hand.

“Uh, sorry if it was unpleasant.”

“No, Honey is…”

The newbie fiddled with my hand. The body temperature is quite high. It’s warm. The fur was also soft.

“Be careful, Honey.”

The hand was released. Like when I came here, my eyes turned black and after a while, my vision cleared. No, it was still dim. It was a dark alley. A gap between tall buildings.

‘…It seems like modern times?’

It was hard to see because it was dark, but it was definitely a painted building. The long cardigan I received from the newbie had already turned into a leather jacket. Just as I was about to check the options.

– Grrr.

A threatening growl was heard. I quickly turned my gaze to the direction of the sound. On top of the head of a monster that looked like a leopard that appeared at the end of the alley.

‘…Huh?’

[C-class Gamoea

Health 1,370/1,370

Mana 155/155]

The opponent’s grade, name, and health and mana were displayed. What is that? Is that what pops up because it’s a virtual reality game system? Or maybe.

‘Sprout skill.’

I was told that the skills would definitely be modified to fit this world. I quickly used the Sprout skill, but nothing came to mind. Then is that how the status window automatically pops up the effect of the transformed Sprout skill?

– Keheong!

Without even having time to think for a long time, the monster rushed at me. Sharp fangs gleamed eerily at close range.

I was told to give it to me as C-class stats. If it’s the same C-class, it’s worth trying. Even this side has an S-class weapon! I quickly took out the S-class mangosh that the newbie gave me from the inventory…

“It’s a gun?!”

Not a bow, but a gun! Wait a minute, I think this is a pistol. The shape is similar to a Glock [a brand of pistol], but is there a separate safety device? Can I just pull it? Is the bullet loaded? What the hell is this?

While I was panicking, the blueish leopard rushed to my nose in an instant. Sharp fangs gleam eerily at close range.

Teong, the monster kicked off the ground and jumped. It was in a position to aim at my head accurately. I quickly bent my knees as if half lying on the floor and leaned my upper body back. At the same time as the guy brushed over me, I aimed the muzzle at the leopard’s exposed lower jaw. Then I pulled the trigger with all my might. I felt the mana being sucked in.

Peok.

The bullet was fired quietly as if it had a silencer. But unlike that silence, the leopard’s head burst in an instant and even its body was pushed far away and tumbled. I also couldn’t overcome the recoil and fell to the ground.

“…Ugh, my back.”

What the hell is this neighborhood? It seems close to modern times because guns are popping out.

At that time, a message window flickered in front of my eyes. It was a quest.