The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 253

251. Medusa’s Mu (1)

Little Moon, huh. Was that like a childhood nickname? He did say he didn’t remember his real name.

“When you were little? From your parents?”

What a cute nickname. It must have suited him well. Honestly, he must have been incredibly cute as a child. A rounder face than now, chubby cheeks, fair skin, and especially red cheeks. Add to that big, pretty golden eyes, and ‘Our Little Moon’ would have been fitting.

“…Do you have any childhood photos or anything?”

“No.”

I guess not. That’s a shame. Even Yoohyun only had kindergarten group photos. And he doesn’t even have those anymore. Maybe I should offer a reward. Someone from the same kindergarten might still have their album.

“Then, Little Moon, do you remember anything besides the nickname?”

“……”

“Moon.”

“Call me what you usually do.”

“Yeah, hyung [older brother – a term of endearment]. It doesn’t suit you anyway.”

It’s rare for them to agree on something. Sigma said with a sulky expression.

“My memories from before my awakening are hazy. There are only a few vague things.”

“All childhood memories?”

Sigma nodded, then tilted his head slightly.

“Now that I think about it… it’s strange.”

“You haven’t thought it was strange until now?”

“…Probably.”

He said, sounding unconvinced. Could it be related to the fact that this world wasn’t real? That the information was too much to bring all the childhood memories, so they were deleted? I could ask other people and find out.

A short silence fell. Sigma seemed to be in a complicated mood, and I had a lot of thoughts as well. Isn’t the main quest story explanation too lacking? If this were a game, I’d just swear and be done with it, but to me, he feels no different from a real, living person. So I couldn’t just gloss over it.

Sung Hyunjae, please give me one more interview. It’s probably full of □ anyway.

“I guess I won’t be able to get answers about what will happen in the future.”

“Ah, um… yes. We will eventually leave this place. I don’t know what will happen to this world after that. If Sigma-ssi [Mr. Sigma – a polite title] has really become real, maybe he can come with us, but if that’s impossible……”

“I’ll be left behind, then.”

Sigma said calmly. But it weighed heavily on my ears. If he’s left behind here, what will happen? In a world that rejects him. Maybe it will be reset like a dungeon. A new, real Sigma might appear in this world. Then, in the end, the current Sigma is fake and can’t fit in anywhere and keeps……

That’s really not right. No matter how self-sufficient someone is, that’s not right. It’s the same as being denied by everyone in the world. It’s not like now, where there are people like me who are possessed and less affected.

“I can’t promise I won’t worry, but I’ll take responsibility somehow. I have no intention of just leaving you behind.”

“Why are you taking responsibility, hyung!”

Yoohyun shouted. His face was full of displeasure. No……

“…But what about the doll?”

“In the inventory.”

Oh, it goes in. Well, it’s an item, so I guess that makes sense. Still, there’s no need to go out of your way to take it.

“…When we get back, should I get you a doppelganger doll item? I don’t know if you can take it with you, so I’ll make you a new one.”

“No, I don’t need it. I only took it because it was already made. Why would I need one when I have a real hyung.”

Yoohyun said that and sat down close to me. The look in his eyes as he looked at Sigma was extremely cold.

“He’s not a child, he can take care of himself. In the first place, why are you worrying about that guy? You even got attacked.”

“Well, a grudging affection… and more than anything, I need him to clear the dungeon? It’s a main quest.”

“The quest is sent by the Sesung Guild Leader, right? Maybe he’s trying to protect him with a fake quest because he looks similar to him.”

“I don’t think so. He told me to protect him, but……”

I quickly shut my mouth. But suspicion was already in my younger brother’s red eyes.

“What are the exact conditions?”

“Hey, is Sung Hyunjae the kind of person who would care about someone just because they look like him?”

“We agreed not to hide anything.”

That’s… yeah, we did. I had no choice but to tell him everything honestly. My brother’s eyes flashed when he heard that as long as he was alive.

“Hyung, SS-class are tough.”

“Still, it’s better for him to protect himself. Do you want to see me protecting Sigma? I’ll make him tiny and carry him around?”

“That’s……”

After a moment’s thought, Yoohyun reluctantly suppressed his fighting spirit.

“Anyway, it’s a quest with no time limit. Putting aside all the other reasons, it’s something we need to do.”

It’s ridiculous for me to say I’ll protect Sigma. He was flustered by the sudden situation, but he’s not someone who can’t protect himself. So.

“Please let me protect you, Sigma-ssi.”

The one being protected is helping. So I asked. Sigma stared at me silently.

“Coming from a C-class.”

“So, do you hate it?”

The golden eyes curved slightly.

“Since you’re mine anyway, why would I hate it? The owner is stepping up to protect me, so should I say I’m impressed at times like this?”

“Look at the way you talk to an adult.”

“The guy next to you doesn’t seem to like it.”

As Sigma said, Yoohyun was very angry. I had a hard time appeasing him as he growled that he would kill him as soon as the dungeon raid was over. It was even harder because Sigma provoked him, saying he was welcome anytime.

Those two are a good match in that regard.

“I’ll keep the contract for now, but I’ll never do the imprint.”

Sigma said that if the contract penalty disappeared, there would be no reason to be protected, so I replied that I wouldn’t do it. Honestly, I think he’d chase after me even without that, but there’s no need to make things harder for someone who has nowhere to go.

“I’ll cancel it right away if you try to do the imprint.”

I said that, but that whole spine imprint thing was a little tempting. If I engraved it as a protection imprint without connecting it to someone else, it would be very helpful. I have low magic stats, so my magic control isn’t very good either.

If I could handle magic delicately, I could use skills more effectively. Even resistance skills could be adjusted.

‘Wouldn’t it be possible to lower the resistance to SS-class and widen the range instead?’

So that poison and curse resistance would spread to a certain area around me. There would be other ways to apply other skills as well. Giving up one life to gain magic control seems like a good idea.

‘Persuading Yoohyun will be the biggest challenge.’

I looked at my brother, who was clinging to me and radiating murderous intent towards Sigma like an angry beast. If I explain well that I can be safer, will he accept it? It’s not like I’m really dying, and I’ll get good anesthesia. Oh, Yoohyun also needs to modify his imprint. He might have to face monsters or guards with mana absorption skills.

“Then Yoohyun, tell the Solemnis Guards that you dealt with the monster that killed Sigma. Also, request an immediate eviction from the city.”

“Okay. But wouldn’t we need solid evidence? We’d have to cut off an arm or a leg to make them believe us.”

“…Just say it was burned and send them away. By the way, an SS-class guard suddenly disappeared, will those people be able to return safely?”

I was also worried about the city. Sigma told me that even if they were S-class guards, it would be easy to escape from an SS-class monster if there were many of them and they were skilled. I did hear that they hired S-class guards in the drama.

“The city has measures in place. It’s not uncommon for SS-class guards to be absent for a long time.”

He said that if an SS-class monster appeared in the absence of an SS-class guard, they would endure in shelters instead of hunting it and lure it out of the city. The city’s economic activity would inevitably plummet, but they had stockpiled supplies to live on for several years. At the same time, they would seek cooperation from other cities and invest most of the mana hole’s energy in creating S-class or higher awakeners.

I was worried even though it was just data, but that was a relief.

“You stay here quietly, and hyung will go with me.”

As Yoohyun grabbed me and got up, Sigma also got up.

“Are you leaving as soon as you say you’ll protect me?”

“Were you really planning to be protected? Think about your rank. Don’t you have any conscience?”

“The C-class said it first. Besides, you’re an SS-class guard, but you’re clinging to a C-class and acting like a baby.”

“He’s my hyung, and I’m his younger brother, so it’s natural.”

Yoohyun said proudly, and Sigma hesitated for some reason before opening his mouth.

“Is it natural? The siblings I’ve seen weren’t on good terms.”

“It’s strange if siblings aren’t on good terms.”

…Yoohyun, I don’t think you should be instilling wrong ideas in someone who doesn’t even have memories. There are many families in the world who don’t get along.

In the end, Sigma was left alone, and I went outside with Yoohyun. The Solemnis Guards surprisingly easily accepted Yoohyun’s words. Perhaps because Sigma’s existence itself had changed, everyone was certain that he was dead.

The Solemnis Guards hurried to prepare to leave, even thanking us for avenging them against the SS-class monster. They left Akates as soon as the helicopters were ready, saying they had to return quickly to prepare for the city’s defense.

“I’m a little uneasy too. Real and fake.”

Moon Hyuna, who had heard a rough explanation from me, crossed her arms loosely.

“But hyung seems to know more about the system than I thought? Only hyung knew how to clear this place.”

“Ah… that’s……”

Come to think of it, Hyuna-ssi [Ms. Hyuna – a polite title] has never met the newbie. I took this opportunity to tell her about the unfilial son [a slang term for someone who doesn’t respect their elders or family]. That there are powerful beings outside the world who manipulate the system and assist awakeners to prevent the world from perishing.

“It’s nice that they’re helping, but they’re very suspicious.”

“Do you feel suspicious?”

I hadn’t even given a detailed explanation. Moon Hyuna nodded vigorously.

“Of course. What’s more suspicious than guys who say they’ll work for free? And there’s more than one of them. If it was just one, I’d think a rare, kind person had appeared, but if there are several, it’s suspicious.”

I unconsciously agreed with her words that they were doing free labor because they wanted something. That’s right, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. They might simply be burning with a sense of justice to save the world! But they are transcendents who have lived for a long time.

Could it be that they really don’t have any other purpose? Is it really just to save the world?

“Still, it’s good that we can avoid destruction if we try. I need to collect more points even harder.”

Moon Hyuna’s energetic words made my mouth taste a little bitter. There are uselessly strong guys everywhere who aren’t trustworthy. Of course, I’ll do my best too.

“Let’s modify Yoohyun’s imprint before we leave tomorrow.”

And I should get an imprint consultation too. Akates didn’t treat combat guards well, so imprint procedures were well-developed. So I want to get it done here. The moment I was about to open my mouth to persuade Yoohyun.

– Grrrrr.

A monster’s growl was heard. It was from where the mana hole was. All three of us quickly looked over the railing towards the mana hole. A lion with two heads stood proudly, and then.

– Kiruk, kiruk!

A mantis-like monster appeared from the mana hole. Both were SS-class monsters. We were speechless for a moment.

“…Crazy, Akates is doomed. What about Doryeon-nim [a respectful title]?”

“I don’t care. Hyung, be careful.”

The lion’s head with the blue mane raised its head. Its fierce eyes were directed exactly at the top of the building on the opposite side, where Sigma was. The mouths of the two lion heads opened wide, and white and blue light gathered and mixed. Then, like a laser beam, it was fired at Sigma’s room.

Kwagwagwang!! The top floor of the building was completely blown away. Even then, the light crossed the sky in a long line.

“Oh dear. Is he still alive?”

“Unfortunately, he won’t die from that.”

“Don’t just stand there and watch, catch them! You too, Yoohyun!”

At my urging, Moon Hyuna jumped down first. The Geochang [a type of weapon] that was taken out rushed straight towards the lion. The lion didn’t even think about confronting the charge with its terrifying destructive power and jumped away. The Geochang that lost its target left a long scar on the innocent earth.

The attack power is no joke, but the problem is that the path is simple.

‘It would be great to have a teammate who can catch them.’

Not to mention Yerim, Evelyn would also be a good match if I had to choose someone else. Combat compatibility, that is. They said their personalities don’t match. It would be easy to attack if they were tied up with ranged attacks.

Just as Yoohyun was about to cross the railing,

Kureureung!

A lightning bolt struck. The mantis screamed as it was hit directly. Golden chains stretched out and wrapped around the monster that was trying to fly away with its wings spread. As soon as the endlessly long chains tied up the lion as well.

Kwagagag─!

As if waiting, Moon Hyuna charged. Large holes were created in the bodies of the two monsters, and electricity finished them off by tearing through their flesh.

It was cleaned up in an instant, but.

“Hyung, over there.”

The shadow of a new monster flickered beyond the mana hole. This time, ten, no, a dozen, no, dozens of S-class monsters appeared in a row.

“…There’s no end to it. It would be good to empty the area around the mana hole.”

Is this also because of Sigma? It seems like they’re targeting him. I went down to where Moon Hyuna and Sigma were with Yoohyun. Moon Hyuna frowned slightly.

“Everyone but Doryeon-nim will have trouble because of the mana, hyung.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s call Mu.”

“Mu?”

“Yeah. Medusa’s Mu. The memories I received aren’t perfect, but if we have Mu, half of the problem will be solved.”

Moon Hyuna confidently assured.

“He’s a guard with special abilities among the support types, he controls space.”