The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 228

226. City of Day (2)

“No, I’m not! My eye color is different. I even have a citizen ID here.”

“What white skin? No way!”

This sandwich is pretty good. I don’t know what kind of meat it is, but it’s similar to chicken thigh meat, yet chewier and goes well with the sweet and spicy sauce. The bread is also moist and soft for a pre-made one. However, I wish the vegetables were lettuce from back home.

‘Black hair and black eyes are rare in this town.’

Hair can be dyed, so I see it occasionally, but most eyes are blue or green. The skin tone is also slightly darker than Koreans. I was a bit creeped out by the talk of white skin and good looks, but if it’s relative, I’ll accept it.

I squatted down by a flower bed on the street and finished my sandwich, using my stealth skill, of course.

‘The citizens have high loyalty.’

It might be because of the bounty, but they’re all diligently looking at passersby. That fake Hyunjae bastard knows I have an S-class stealth skill, so why did he only issue a simple wanted notice? It would be hard to find me unless you’re SS-class.

‘It’s hard to live properly in the city in this state, so he wants me to crawl in on my own accord, huh?’

Or maybe he’s aiming for when my mana runs out. There are no mana potions in this town, after all. But my inventory is full of mana potions. When I went into dungeons with S-classes, mana potions were the only things I could reasonably take. I shouldn’t have taken dungeons so lightly and packed plenty of weapons, a tent, and a sleeping bag.

‘Let’s sort things out.’

To get out of this place, I need to clear a dungeon. To figure out how to clear a dungeon, I need to install five discs in each area and make them connectable to new recruits.

The problem is that the disc installation areas are likely in five different cities. The cities are probably protected by barriers, and monsters roam outside the barriers. To move to another city, I need the escort of an S-class guard.

Lastly, the fake who I thought was Sung Hyunjae put a bounty on me.

‘I could use my stealth skill to go to another city, but I don’t know how far it is.’

Judging by the fact that they prepared a truck in the drama, it seems like it’s too far to walk on foot. I need a vehicle after all.

Get a vehicle with stealth skill applied and break through the barrier.

…How am I supposed to do that? In my current situation.

‘It would have been a little better if I had been dropped off in Akates City from the start.’

Meet Yoohyun right away, install one disc right away. If he’s in the body of an SS-class guard, he’d have a lot of assets, so he could prepare a vehicle and go to another city to install the discs smoothly. It wouldn’t be impossible to communicate between cities, so it would have been easier to find the other members.

As expected, the fact that Sung Hyunjae is a fake is the root of all problems. Damn Sung Hyunjae. Where did the real one go, the real one?

Rustle, I crumpled the sandwich wrapper in my hand. That fake bastard. Do you think I’ll be caught so easily? Of course, I can’t do anything to him.

‘It seems like even C-classes are treated as low-level hunters here, but don’t underestimate me just because I’m low-level.’

I may not have the strength, but I have the brains and experience. Compared to SS-classes, there’s a big realistic wall that I’m only a C-class no matter how much I struggle, but it’s not like I can’t even make a peep. I’ve already torn his clothes, you know.

So, then. What should I do?

I looked at the passersby on the street and racked my brain before getting up.

There were public phone booths scattered along the city streets. They weren’t ordinary phone booths. They also served as a kind of temporary shelter, with thick walls that blocked the outside view and sturdy doors. And in front of the door, in large letters:

[City Defense Agency Reporting Number 11G

Please report any monsters or suspicious Awakened individuals during the day!]

It’s natural to report monsters if there are any left that couldn’t be dealt with at night, but what about suspicious Awakened individuals? Is the management of Awakened individuals in this town more thorough than I thought?

Taking advantage of the fact that there was no one nearby, I went into the phone booth and closed the door. The light automatically flickered on. The public phone consisted of a receiver, a touchscreen, and a surveillance camera. The surveillance camera could be used wirelessly, apparently for filming monsters or suspicious Awakened individuals.

I turned the surveillance camera in a direction where it wouldn’t show me.

’11G.’

I pressed the City Defense Agency reporting number.

[The City Defense Agency, your kind protector. Please wait while we connect you.]

Are there many people making reports because of me? After a while, I heard a man’s voice saying, “This is the City Defense Agency.” Then, an employee’s face appeared on the screen.

“Hello, thank you for your hard work~ I’m calling to inform you that we have successfully captured the C-class Awakened that Sigma is looking for.”

[Yes? You’ve captured him?]

“Yes. We’ve caught him without a single scratch.”

He’s doing very well here. Other than being a little thirsty from eating a sandwich without a drink, he’s perfectly fine. I want a cool soda.

“However, this guy wasn’t wearing an earring, probably because he was planning to hide. So, I’d like to have his face confirmed to avoid a wasted trip.”

[Ah, confirmation. Please wait a moment.]

The screen went black along with the Defense Agency employee’s words.

There’s probably only one person who knows my face there, Sigma. There were some stragglers I ran into along the way, but it’s unlikely that they would come forward and say they know me. They were trying to lay a hand on an Awakened who was about to be affiliated with Sigma! They’d probably go into hiding for fear of retaliation.

If they tell me to bring him in right away without confirmation, how should I explain it? I was thinking of a few excuses.

[His surrender came faster than expected.]

A low, heavy voice echoed in my ear. The screen that had turned black also lit up. A familiar face. It’s that damn fake. I was momentarily speechless because I didn’t expect to be connected so quickly.

[C-class.]

“…Yes, that C-class. You must be very free. You’re answering the phone so quickly.”

The fake raised the corner of his mouth at my words.

[Is it possible that a seasoned Awakened with an S-class stealth skill could be captured so quickly?]

“It could be a false report aiming for the reward money.”

[There probably aren’t any guards with that much guts, but I’ll check. Show me his face.]

“Yes, yes.”

Following his order, I turned the camera towards me. I even drew a V with my fingers.

“Did you confirm it clearly? The C-class you wanted, he’s perfectly fine. His condition is very good. He’s lively.”

The guy’s face, which had confirmed me, became indifferent and blurred again. Yeah, right. It seems like it’s not fun because I was caught too easily. If I obediently crawl in like this, I’ll probably just be used for my stealth skill.

It wouldn’t be bad to make him lose interest and slip away in the gap that arises.

“You said I’d be affiliated with you, right?”

[For now.]

“I’ll take a vacation until tonight.”

I’ve always wanted to take a vacation right after getting a job.

“So, please correct the broadcast that you found me. I want to go sightseeing in peace.”

[Are you trying to run away in that gap?]

There was a slight hint of interest in the voice coming from the receiver.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be walking around with my route clearly visible without using my stealth skill. When the sun goes down, come pick me up at the agreed-upon place with 100 million L [currency of this world] prepared to be paid directly from my card. It’s my money since I caught myself, right?”

[You’re still fearless.]

“There’s no reason to be afraid. You’re the one who should be anxious, not me, Mr. SS-class who seems to have seen it all.”

I’m so bored, living is. If this fake’s boredom is deeper than the Sung Hyunjae I know, it’s not that hard to guess how far he’ll humor me.

“If you obediently follow my words, I’ll pay you handsomely. It’ll be fun, for sure.”

The golden eyes beyond the screen narrowed. Even though he’s not right in front of me, but far away, I felt a slight chill.

If I don’t meet his standards, that bastard will break my neck without hesitation. Unlike someone who I don’t know where he is. Here, I’m just a C-class with good skills and no background. If he’s not satisfied, he’ll lightly trample me and erase me from his mind before leaving.

[I hope you don’t disappoint me. If my expectations are too high and it ends with a trivial trick, I might get a little angry after a long time.]

“Don’t be surprised.”

I set a specific meeting place and time and hung up. I’m doing this because I have five lives.

Anyway, I’ve laid the groundwork. So now, it’s the start of a short but enjoyable time.

“Please give me the most expensive and delicious thing here~”

I said as I sat down in a fancy-looking restaurant. The employee took my order without any suspicion at my confident attitude and brought the food after a while. I also asked for a cool drink as a bonus.

I drank a lemonade-like drink and started eating. The meat I didn’t know melted in my mouth. The flat noodles still boasted a chewy texture even though they had absorbed enough sauce. The soup that came with it was moderately spicy and had a refreshing aftertaste.

I thought it wouldn’t suit my taste because it was a completely different neighborhood, but the seasoning was just right, and above all, it was clean, which was good. Is it because it’s expensive? The menu I glanced at had plenty of amounts in the tens of thousands [of L].

I carefully ate the vegetables and emptied the lemonade glass last. When I went to the cashier, the restaurant owner and the employees stared at me intently. Familiar impression, right?

“As you may have already heard, I’m a C-class guard who has newly joined Sigma’s affiliation.”

“Ah, I knew it!”

“I received a vacation to look around the city during the day, but the processing wasn’t done properly, so the broadcast went out, mistaking me for an escapee.”

Hehehe, the restaurant owner and employees smiled along with me as I laughed. It seemed like everyone had seen the correction broadcast.

“Please bill the food to Sigma. That’s what he told me to do. Is that okay?”

“Of course, it’s okay! Seeing that you’ve offered a reward of 100 million L, it seems that Sigma cares a lot about the guard.”

“I have a special skill that’s a bit outstanding. Sigma himself! made me an offer to recruit me.”

It’s not a lie. It’s true. I left the restaurant after receiving greetings from the restaurant owner and employees, asking me to take good care of the city’s safety in the future, even after eating for free.

My stomach is full, so next.

“Please bill it to Sigma!”

With that one word, I was able to step into the hotel’s finest suite. I wanted to lie down and laze around, but I washed up, brushed my teeth, and packed a toothbrush and toothpaste to prepare for the hardships ahead. My body is real, so I have to take good care of it.

I went out into the street again, feeling sad about when I would be able to wash with warm water again, and caught a car that was presumed to be a taxi. This time, I also put it on Sigma’s tab. I think I’m starting to like Sigma a little.

The place I arrived at by taxi was a department store for guards. It was similar to a hunter market, selling items that could be put in the inventory. When I entered, the employees and guard customers looked at me at the same time. I smiled brightly at the stabbing gazes.

“Hello~ I’m a C-class guard who has newly joined Sigma’s affiliation! The very C-class that was on the broadcast.”

Hello, everyone. Hello, hello. At my words, an employee quickly approached and bowed.

“Welcome. What are you looking for?”

“I’m just starting out as a guard. I’d like to look at as many different types of equipment as possible. Could you recommend items with high grades? Oh, please bill the equipment costs to Sigma. He told me to shop as much as I want.”

“Yes, I understand. Please come this way.”

The employee kindly guided me inside the department store. I sat in the VIP room and opened the product catalog with a pounding heart. There were items similar to those back home, but there were more that I had never seen before. It was a pity that S-class or higher equipment was not sold to the general public here either. The only items that weren’t equipment were S-class.

I didn’t care about the price tag and carefully looked at the performance.

“What is this Inside Bag here?”

How can a bag be S-class?

“It’s a bag that reduces the volume and weight of the items placed inside. It can hold up to 5 times its external size and the weight is also reduced to 1/5. It’s a popular product because it can also hold everyday items that are not magic items. However, it cannot be put in the inventory with everyday items inside.”

They actively recommended it, saying that there was only one left. Wow, there’s even something like that. Is it possible to take out only the items I bought here? I want to take it with me.

I bought a bag worth a whopping 50 million L, which was very popular with high-level guards. That’s about 600 million in Korean money [roughly $500,000 USD]. Of course, this was also scheduled to be paid by Sigma.

“Show me the daggers too. With high grades.”

A-grade knives were lined up in front of me. I took all five knives with various effects and shapes. Another tens of millions of L flew away in an instant.

I also bought a higher-grade wire, gave up on the tent considering the inventory capacity, but bought a sleeping bag, and also bought a trap package. My capture reward money was already gone, but who cares.

“You have clothes for hunters, no, guards, right?”

Most of the guards here are active at night, so most of them were dark colors. I bought a set of tops and bottoms just in case, and also took shoes and gloves. In addition, I filled it with this and that, leaving only a little inventory capacity.

I don’t know exactly, but I think I spent billions of Korean won [millions of USD].

Then a message window popped up.

[☆★Hidden Quest Achieved!!☆★]

What hidden quest? I went to the bathroom and opened the quest window. There were two quests that had been achieved, not just one.

[You are the Emperor of Shopping!

You are a true shopaholic who spent 100 million L on shopping in an hour!

Reward: 100,000P, Point Shop Exchange Ticket (S)]

[If you’re going to rip someone off, do it in units of 100 million^▼^

If you’re going to scam, you have to do it big! You ripped someone off for hundreds of millions by selling their name, amazing! You should be careful of getting backstabbed.

Reward: 100,000P, Fake ID, Golden Lynx’s Shoes]

Wow, what is all this! Thank you, Sigma, I love you! Hooray for quests! I quickly received the Emperor of Shopping quest reward first. 100,000 points isn’t bad, but an S-class point shop exchange ticket. S-class items start from a minimum of 10 million, so that means I can exchange it for anything. Ah, my heart is fluttering. I wonder if there are SS-class exchange tickets too. Just thinking about it makes my heart beat faster.

Then I also received the quest reward for ripping someone off for hundreds of millions. As expected, 100,000 points, a fake ID, and Golden Lynx’s Shoes were in my hands.

[Fake ID

Identity registration is possible with the information desired by the owner. There is a chance of being discovered by those with S-class or higher stats and related S-class special skills.]

This was also good. Even if the average grade is higher than back home, S-classes can’t be common, and general institutions or city gatekeepers will be guarded by A-classes or lower.

Thank you, I will continue to scam well in the future. Can I use this even after returning home? Please let me take it with me.

The S-class equipment, Golden Lynx’s Shoes, were sleek black combat boots, unlike the name. But why golden?

‘…The bottom of the shoes is gold.’

Is it perhaps that? Cat jelly [cat paw pads]. Suddenly, I wanted to see Peace.

The Golden Lynx’s Shoes also had agility-focused stats like the Black Lynx’s Jacket. The option skill was Nimble Adhesion. It was a skill that allowed you to walk on right-angled walls like flat ground and even walk on the ceiling.

‘Is this perhaps a set item?’

I thought that two could overlap, but I was suspicious when the third one came out. I wonder if there are more Lynx series such as gloves, bracelets, or necklaces. If I collect them all, will the set effect be activated?

The S-class boots were better than the newly bought shoes, so I immediately changed into them. I was worried that the golden bottom would be too noticeable, but it turned black when I wore them. It’s a stealth activity-specialized equipment, so it shouldn’t be flashy with gold.

‘I did a lot of item shopping~ and even got S-class equipment~’

Even if you add the point shop exchange tickets, there are two. I’ll take good care of the exchange tickets and buy the equipment that Yoohyun or Yerim needs.

I happily left the guard department store, receiving greetings from the employees. I took a taxi again and headed to the outskirts of the city this time.

The streets became more shabby as I went to the end of the city. After driving for a long time, I arrived at a place where a tall barrier was blocking the way. Even an S-class Awakened couldn’t jump over it in one go, and watchtowers with large weapons were set up at intervals at a dizzying height.

“It’s dangerous to walk around here alone.”

The taxi driver said with a worried expression. He was very reluctant to come here. Flying monsters occasionally crossed the barrier near here, so other than the very poor, no one lived nearby.

I sent the taxi away and approached the watchtower entrance. The B-class guard guarding the entrance looked at me.

“Hello, Sigma recommended a tour of the barrier, so I came to visit. Is it okay to take a look?”

“Yes, of course. Please come this way.”

Perhaps because I belonged to the great Sigma, he was kind to me, even though I was a C-class. I followed the B-class guard into the elevator and went up to the top of the watchtower. I approached the window of the watchtower, which was pierced in a circle.

The vast wilderness and the sparsely visible forest in the distance. The appearance of other cities was nowhere to be seen. Like a city dropped in the middle of the desert, only a desolate landscape came into view.

‘Yoohyun, it looks like I’m going to have a hard time finding you.’

But wait a little longer. Your brother will be there soon.