The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 239

237. Fishing (3)

Following the Inventory Sealing Bracelet, a body search was conducted. I had already removed the S-Rank Wildcat equipment, so there were only appropriate A-Ranks, but the middle-aged man admired them, saying I had good items. It seemed a bit excessive for a C-Rank to use.

I also signed a contract stating that I would not disclose anything I saw or heard from now on. It wouldn’t apply penalties to me since I’m A-Rank, though.

“Let me tell you in advance, don’t even think about backing out now that you’ve come this far.”

“Either way, there won’t be anything to back out of.”

He shrugged at my confident words. We went out the back door of the store, through a narrow alley, and into another building. After arriving at the third building in the same way once more, it was hard to guess the direction as we navigated through alleys blocked by eaves on all sides, including the top, practically just gaps. Even if I changed my mind and ran away from here, it seemed difficult to find the base again if they just blocked the alley gaps.

“This guy is…”

The A-Rank guarding the back door of the third building glanced at me.

“He’s still a guest.”

The A-Rank willingly stepped aside, and I entered a hidden room, descending the stairs leading to the basement. A normal reception room appeared, except that there were no windows. The middle-aged man left, telling me to wait a moment.

A basement, huh? It really feels like the Resistance. I suddenly wondered what had happened to the original Akates.

‘Alpha wouldn’t have gone berserk, and I wouldn’t have existed at all.’

Would the world have stayed like this until it was destroyed? I felt a little strange. It’s someone else’s neighborhood that’s already disappeared, but our world, too, might have changed quite a bit since I regressed.

“So, you’re the rumored C-Rank. Nice to meet you.”

The door opened, and someone strode in with large steps. It was a woman with short white hair who looked to be in her early twenties. The middle-aged man was also with her.

[S-Rank Vitera]

“So, you’re the rumored S-Rank. Pleased to meet you.”

I stood up and greeted her. She gestured for me to sit down. Vitera, sitting across from me, asked directly.

“So, what’s your business?”

“It’s simple. Help me destroy the Akates Defense Force and take Alpha.”

“What…”

Not only Vitera but also the middle-aged man standing slightly to the side as if assisting her, looked speechless.

“…Not simple at all, is it? Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m mostly fine.”

“Or maybe you’re a con artist trying to make a quick buck and run.”

“I am trying to make a quick buck and run, but I’m not a con artist. You guys take Akates, and I take Alpha, that’s all. The preparations are already done, so you just need to help a little. Or do you perhaps want to maintain the status quo—”

“Of course not.”

Vitera said quietly, as if growling.

“Since you’re from outside, you probably don’t know the dirty secrets of Akates in detail. My sister is also an S-Rank in the Defense Force.”

“Your sister?”

Come to think of it, I did see a white-haired S-Rank.

“Controlling the high-level Guards at will in the Defense Force isn’t easy, of course. In Akates, all children are required to attend municipal educational facilities. They enter the facilities at the age of five and receive education. The facilities themselves are excellent. They pay a lot of attention, especially to physical activities.”

“…Could it be that they’re brainwashing them from then?”

“They teach them love for the city and faith in the Defense Force, but it’s just commuting, so brainwashing is impossible. Until this point, that is. Exactly at the age of ten, they start testing children with outstanding physical abilities. Children with the potential to awaken as combat types at A-Rank or higher in the Blue Hole test become affiliated with the Defense Force from that moment on.”

“Ten-year-olds? Are they crazy, really.”

I unconsciously cursed. No, ten years old is practically a baby. Even when dungeons were exploding and causing chaos, the hunter qualification was limited to 14 years old. And that was with restrictions, and later it was raised to adulthood.

Vitera’s expression softened slightly at my heartfelt words.

“There are rare cases of high-level Awakeners who fail the test, but the Defense Force forcibly takes 99 percent of them. It’s not difficult to make young children who haven’t even Awakened loyal to the Defense Force. Rumor has it that they even use mental skills on S-Ranks. In the end, most A to S-Rank Guards are loyal to the Defense Force, and with powerful combat-type Guards, the Guards below them, as well as the citizens, have no choice but to follow them without a peep.”

“…You managed to escape the Defense Force in that situation.”

Vitera answered with a bitter smile.

“My parents, who lost my sister, took me away before I turned ten when they saw that my physical scores were also good. This gentleman helped a lot.”

She glanced at the man standing next to her. He smiled and bowed slightly, saying, “You’re welcome, Miss.”

The middle-aged man, Gnosis, was originally a Guard affiliated with the Defense Force. As an early Awakener, he couldn’t stand the dictatorship of the corrupted Akates Defense Force and started a rebellion with like-minded people about ten years ago, but failed. Since then, he has been creating resistance forces and mainly rescuing children.

“We are rescuing not only children with excellent physical scores but also those who have been taken by the Defense Force as much as possible. We hide them with their parents in safe houses, but if conditions don’t allow, they are sent to Lancia.”

“Lancia?”

“Lambda of Lancia is secretly supporting us. I also did my Awakening and Guard training in Lancia. We also trade equipment and byproducts with Lancia.”

Indeed, it would be difficult to operate as a Guard in Akates without outside help. I wondered how they handled imprinting and mana replenishment, but among those who escaped the Defense Force with Gnosis, there was an imprinting specialist. And mana replenishment.

“We’ve dug several tunnels near the Mana Hole. Fortunately, we have a Guard with high-level digging skills.”

They’re going through a lot. It would be convenient if they could make and trade mana potions. I thought about giving them a few as a gift before starting work, but my points were also scarce. Since I don’t have imprinting, I had to stock up on mana potions.

But can people in this neighborhood use mana potions from our neighborhood? Mana should be the same, so it should work.

“So, how are you going to overthrow the Defense Force and take Alpha? I’m really curious.”

Vitera leaned slightly toward me, her eyes full of curiosity.

“Sigma is even here now. Alpha is neutralized, but Sigma should be in top condition.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

I took out the contract with Sigma and showed it to them. The two were once again surprised by the content that he would not directly or indirectly interfere until Alpha was released. Their trust in me also seemed to increase.

I put the contract back into my inventory and crossed my legs. Oh, right, the scarf. I forgot again.

“If you just follow me, I’ll definitely turn things upside down. First of all, among the S-Rank Guards affiliated with the Defense Force, do you know Irico and Kubils?”

“They’re the 1st and 2nd ranked who don’t get along with me.”

“Then they’ll be easy to fish, right?”

Vitera grinned.

“Of course.”

That’s good to hear. I smiled back and began to explain the detailed plan.

“The atmosphere is somehow uneasy.”

An Akates Defense Force employee muttered while looking at the surveillance camera screen. The screen showed Blue Holes in various directions and Alpha above the mana absorption circle. Another employee nearby also nodded.

“Monsters infiltrating the Defense Force, it’s been a while. Alpha suddenly went berserk, and there have been many accidents in a row.”

“I wonder if even SS-Rank monsters will appear. It’s fortunate that Sigma is here.”

Just as I was wondering if today would pass quietly, an emergency signal flashed. A hurried voice came from the phone that was quickly picked up.

[This is Vitera!]

“What?”

[S-Rank Guards Irico and Kubils have been provoked. They specified a location and said to come out if they dare.]

“Then, of course, we have to send them! What does the higher-up say?”

[Judging by their confident appearance, there is a high possibility of a trap, but the opinion to send both Guards is strong. However, they are worried about Alpha’s imprinting, so they asked to confirm with the Alpha 담당 측 [in charge].]

“…It’s true that the two are connected by imprinting. But one remains, so it’ll be fine. Sigma is also here, so even if Alpha is released, he can suppress it.”

If Sigma wasn’t here, I would have hesitated a bit more, but with an SS-Rank Guard in top condition, and an Awakener with much more experience than Alpha, there was no reason to hesitate for long.

The order was given, and soon two S-Rank Guards departed from the Defense Force. Two bikes sped through the empty night streets with a loud noise. Following them quietly, another S-Rank Guard hid and followed. This was to ensure that if the real Vitera was at the meeting place, she would be dealt with.

“Could she really be there? No matter how bold she is, to call out two S-Rank Guards.”

– Kee-ik!

Instead of an answer, a wingless insect-type monster blocked the road. The monster, about three times the size of the bike, blocked the way, but Kubils did not slow down and continued to run, taking out a thin 5-meter iron piece and lightly swinging it like a whip.

With a thud, the monster exploded as if it had been hit by a bomb. The bike ran over the debris without stopping.

“They said they confirmed it from afar. It’s that bastard.”

“We have to root them out this opportunity! If those bugs have complaints, they should go to another city or just sit still in our city!”

A black, burnt land appeared in front of them. The place where Vitera had called them out was none other than near the commercial district where Alpha had gone berserk. Beyond the desolate ruins, a person could be seen sitting on the least affected, but half-destroyed building. Her white hair seemed to sparkle in the moonlight.

Screech, the two Guards stopped their bikes and got off. Vitera still didn’t move. The two Guards, slowly narrowing the distance, tilted their heads at the same time. Something’s wrong. The humanoid object sitting there is not real, it was right when they felt suspicious.

“Huh?”

“What is this?!”

Immediately after the sensation that the space was distorted.

– Kuoooo!

Along with a terrifying sense of oppression, the monster’s roar rushed in.

I bought an item from the point store. It cost a whopping 530,000 points. I also had to buy a doppelganger doll and a key. Points are decreasing rapidly.

[Two hunting dogs have departed.]

The news that the two target S-Rank Guards had left the Defense Force came through the in-ear [earpiece]. They took the bait well. Then I have to welcome them enthusiastically.

Vitera’s doppelganger doll was sitting in front of me. For the Defense Force employees who were monitoring from afar, I occasionally changed my posture as naturally as possible. Unless the opponent is an S-Rank, they can only notice that it’s fake when they come close.

Screech – After a while, the sound of a bike scraping the floor could be heard from afar. At almost the same time, the in-ear whispered that the hunting dogs had arrived. I smiled and took out the disc.

As expected, the second installation location of the disc was in Akates City.

‘Please take care of me.’

This time, at least two, please. If the monsters are not good enough, I’ll have to use items, but then I’ll have to use up all the remaining points here, so please, at least two SS-Ranks come out.

Praying, I pressed the button on the disc. The air, the space, shook. And.

– Kuoooo!

– Kyaaawoo!

One, two.

– Krrrr.

And three! Yes, thank you! My body was trembling even with S-Rank fear resistance, so three SS-Ranks, triple lucky! While admiring the faces of the two S-Rank Guards turning pale with shock, I generously scattered five B-Rank bombs. At the same time, I used the prepared item.

[Gallop of the Legless Horse – S-Rank

Moves silently and quickly, instantly moving a certain distance. Cannot be used if there are obstacles in the 이동 경로 [moving path].

One-time use 3Km (can be divided up to 3 times)]

In the blink of an eye, the surrounding scenery changed. Only then did the sound of bombs exploding come from afar. The monsters, stimulated by the explosion, roared fiercely. The shaking of the ground could be felt even here.

Standing on the roof of a building, I looked at the situation for a while with binoculars. The S-Rank Guards were struggling to avoid attacks among the huge monsters.

‘They won’t last long.’

Another S-Rank Guard joined, probably having followed secretly, but it’s not enough. The two SS-Ranks will take care of the aftermath well, so don’t worry and go in peace. Even though they’re not real anyway.

Running on the roof, I teleported once more. Now I couldn’t hear the monsters’ sounds at all. Everything is quiet in the sleeping city. I pressed the walkie-talkie button connected to the in-ear and changed the channel.

“Three hunting dogs have been caught. What’s the situation at the doghouse?”

[Now, that, SS-Rank monster is… no, how…….]

“Calm down.”

[It’s a mess! All the Defense Force’s S-Rank Guards are scheduled to be dispatched. It seems that a request for cooperation was made to Sigma, but it was rejected. Still, with the Solemnis Guards, they will mobilize all the S-Rank Guards to buy time until Lambda arrives! There’s also talk of letting C-Rank, Han Yoojin, handle Alpha, but, really, how did you do it?]

“With love, friendship, and hope.”

[…Pardon?]

“Just bullshit.”

I used all 3Km of teleportation, but there was still quite a distance left to the Defense Force. I crossed the roofs of the buildings. It was sloped, but thanks to the Wildcat shoes, I could run as lightly as on flat ground.

Tak, I kicked off the roof and jumped towards the wall of the opposite building. A steep 90-degree wall. I also landed stably there and climbed up the wall. Then a message window appeared, saying that I had achieved a hidden quest.

[★Successfully Defeated Multiple S-Ranks with Love, Friendship, and Hope!^▽^☆

You have successfully lured three S-Rank Guards and succeeded in the stratagem of 차도살인지계 [借刀殺人計, borrowing a knife to kill]. Your partner, who thinks highly of you, sends a congratulatory gift!

Reward: 830P, Handmade Hot Pink Fur Scarf, Mede Corporation 21st Anniversary Champagne, Wide-Area Bait (SS)]

…Hey, you, really! I thought it was a bit suspicious, but I thought, no way, no way. Even though it’s a system, I thought it would be impossible, that there’s no way.

Just advertise it outright!

“Seong Hyunjae!”

Where and how is this human holed up and what is he doing?!