The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 262

260. Hunting Mobs by Accident (3)

A faint tremor ran through the ground. It reminded me of a documentary I’d seen on TV, about a massive herd of wildebeest blackening the tawny savannas of Africa. Even through the screen, I could feel the heavy vibration, but now, monsters several times larger were stampeding toward us.

A shiver of tension ran down my spine. The sun had fully risen, and the artificial wave cliffs sparkled like diamonds. Sunlight danced among the spirits, hanging and scattering in the sky.

“Wow, Uncle, that style really suits you. It’s pretty.”

Yerim said, teasing me with a laugh.

“It’s the same color as the Sesung Guild Leader’s birthday present. Is that your taste, Uncle?”

“It is not.”

I prefer plain and simple colors. I looked down at the whale’s translucent body beneath my feet and said,

“Sung Hyunjae made it for me. He must be bored being alone.”

“Really? He’s so talented. I should ask him to teach me. It would be cute to dress up dolls.”

Yuhyun would probably want to make them too. Before we know it, knitting will become a hobby among S-Class Hunters. It’s much better than breaking things and fighting. Everyone probably has some knack for it. Maybe Chief Song would be surprisingly meticulous. And Kisung is a sheep, too. I haven’t taken him yet, but he’s still a sheep.

The thought of us all sitting around knitting made me feel good. So peaceful.

Grrr, the ground rumbled again, and I pulled a pistol from my inventory. Two shots left of Here You Go (SS).

“Wow, that’s huge.”

Yerim exclaimed. A massive monster stood out from the horde, visible from afar. It was a black-furred beast with four curved horns and long, protruding teeth, like a saber-toothed tiger that had avoided extinction. A snow-white mane cascaded from its crown to its shoulders, fluttering like a large banner.

I aimed the gun at it and the monsters around it. After using both shots, bombs fell from the snowy sky. Boom, boom, explosions and light burst forth, and the roars of the monsters deafened us.

Some monsters dodged, but many were packed together and took direct hits. However, the SS-Class and higher monsters weren’t greatly harmed, and thanks to them shielding the smaller monsters, they weren’t badly injured either.

This isn’t the end.

Next, I pulled out a Wide-Area Bait (SS).

“All the other monsters around will come running. Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course, it’s okay!”

Yerim replied confidently. She took out a round, squishy bead and crushed it. A jelly-like liquid oozed out and quickly evaporated.

– Grrr.

– Kyaa!

The monsters, scattered by the explosions, turned back toward us in unison. Watching them, I shouted to Noah below the whale,

“Noah, start it up!”

“Yes!”

I could feel mana [magical energy] stirring around Noah. Even with the mana suppression item, my skin tingled. Support skills spread out to Yerim, Yuhyun, Moon Hyuna, and Sigma, followed by a mana barrier.

Mew could continuously draw mana from the mana hole. To receive his support, I had slightly modified the engraving beforehand. I didn’t completely change it to Med’s, but created a connection that allowed mana to be transferred from Noah’s engraving and skills.

However, Yerim didn’t need to modify her engraving since the spirits were channeling mana from the Drosia mana hole in the sea.

Teacher’s skill was already in place. Yuhyun and Sigma stood on either side of the wave cliff. The approaching horde of monsters was clearly visible in their eyes.

Koo-oong! The first monster charged, ramming its single horn into the ice wall. But the ice chunk only scratched the surface and didn’t budge. It was an enormous amount of seawater, frozen solid. Moreover, it was an ice wall tempered overnight by Yerim’s skill, the power of numerous spirits, and the frigid northern sea breeze. Even an SSS-Class monster couldn’t break it in one go. The monsters eventually began to enter between the cliffs.

– Kiruk.

Flap, flap, with the sound of wings, flying monsters soared above the cliffs. Feathers, membranes, and thin, wriggling insect types headed toward the swarm of monsters covering the sky.

Kwarururung!

Lightning struck. Something sparkling laughed between the spreading electric currents.

– It tickles!

– It’s electrifying!

They were water spirits. Only the spirits with an affinity for electricity were gathered and scattered in the sky above the cliffs. Sigma’s power, riding on the spirits, covered the sky like a net. The electricity weakened as it spread, but with the help of the spirits, it was repeatedly focused and concentrated, enveloping the flying monsters.

Amid the laughter, lightning struck again, and charred fragments rained down under the dazzling sky.

Whirr, flames spread out. The dark, bluish flames scattered heat, and the ground began to explode.

It was none other than the bombs buried in advance.

I bought a bunch of primitive bombs that only exploded when touched by fire, focusing solely on power without any fancy remote controls or other effects, using up the remaining points. Yuhyun’s flames widely covered the bomb site, and all sorts of bombs screamed in succession.

Frozen soil mixed with snow shot up. It was as if dozens or hundreds of geysers were erupting simultaneously. Lightning struck in the sky, and flames bloomed on the ground. S-Class and lower monsters were swept away, and Yuhyun leaped into the air.

Stepping on willow leaves [a technique allowing one to seemingly float or lightly tread on surfaces], Yuhyun crossed the sky. The monsters bared their teeth and swung claws and tails imbued with attack skills. His flame-covered body dodged all the attacks as smoothly as flowing water. Not even an SS-Class monster could graze his clothes.

– Kyaruru.

Yuhyun soared high into the air, and an SSS-Class monster with fierce eyes lunged at him. Powerful mana flowed over the monster’s black fur. Each strand of fur contained a dark shadow.

Sreuk, the giant beast’s body scattered. At the same time, Han Yuhyun drew his sword, scattering flames widely around him. One side of the spreading bluish flames warped as if caved in, and Yuhyun, sensing it faster than seeing it, strongly swung his sword, putting all his strength into it.

Clang! A claw that appeared suddenly, as if teleporting, collided with the sword. Yuhyun’s body was thrown back by the relatively weak force. But he had prepared in advance, spinning his body around and landing far away on a willow leaf.

The monster, which had scattered into black shadows, returned to its original form and growled lowly at Yuhyun before turning its gaze toward Sigma. Sigma, who had dealt with most of the flying monsters, met the white eyes looking at him.

*Don’t rush in recklessly. That’s an SSS-Class, run. Come here.* Sigma seemed a little displeased, but he still turned around as planned. The black beast followed Sigma, stepping between the cliffs. Behind it, Yuhyun created a wall of fire.

Kwagagagak! The flames split the monster horde in the middle, melting the ground red. The monsters blocked in front hesitated for a moment, but it was impossible to completely stop them with flames that were relatively weak due to their wide spread. The monsters, led by the SS-Class, were about to follow the leading group again when…

“Dodge well, Young Master!”

Moon Hyuna shouted from the high sky. With Geochang leading the way, she jumped off the shark’s back. Mana concentrated at the tip of the spear, and the wind fiercely split, becoming a complete vacuum. Accelerating without anything blocking her, Moon Hyuna plunged into the melted ground like a ray of light.

Bang!

Everything shook. It felt like an earthquake. No, it was practically an earthquake. The ground cracked along the lines where the heat had deeply penetrated. A hole more than a dozen meters deep formed where Geochang had directly hit. The monsters within the wide crater, whether S-Class or SS-Class, all disappeared without a trace.

Moon Hyuna, covered in dirt, roughly shook her head and stood up.

“From here on out, there’s a toll.”

She said with a grin, but she wasn’t without repercussions either. Her arms and legs were temporarily paralyzed. Yuhyun stepped forward in front of her. The younger brother, lightly stepping on willow leaves, crossed the widely cracked ground and looked down at the demoralized monster horde. Next to him, Irin transformed into an Imugi [a lesser dragon or serpent], baring its teeth.

There were nearly half of the thousand-plus monster horde remaining, but the two of them could handle it.

Thanks to the bait effect, no monsters were running away.

– Let’s burn them all!

With Irin’s cry, flames soared. Now, the small monsters that slipped through wouldn’t be able to bother Yerim.

“Uncle, let’s get ready too.”

Yerim looked at me with sparkling eyes. Under that slightly burdensome gaze, I took out a cookie and ate it. My body size shrank drastically.

“Sooo cute!”

Yerim grabbed me and lifted me up. Sigh, she’s only big in size, still a kid… Ugh, don’t run, it’s making me dizzy.

“Yerim, ah… there’s a time limit…”

“Yes! Be careful and stay safe inside.”

Yerim opened the colored zipper on her waist and put me in, smiling contentedly. She looked at me with the same eyes she uses when dressing up her favorite doll. She immediately shared the double points skill with Yerim.

– Kyaruruk!

The black beast bit into the ice wall, chasing after Sigma. The ice wall, which hadn’t budged until now, cracked, and large chunks of ice broke off and rolled to the ground with a thud. Part of the monster’s body scattered and covered Sigma as if teleporting, but thanks to his combat precognition, he skillfully dodged the attacks, even with the difference in rank.

Koo-oong, the monster rammed into the ice wall as if trying to break it. The ice cliff shook greatly, but only the cracks grew larger, and it didn’t collapse. Seemingly annoyed, the monster tried to rise above the ice wall when Sigma jumped down.

Chareureuk, he slid down the extended chain, and the monster tried to pounce on him like a cat chasing a mouse. When he reached the center of the ice valley.

Yerim raised one hand. At the same time, Noah created a small warp hole near Sigma. His golden eyes narrowed as he looked up at the monster, which was thoroughly enraged.

“Hello.”

With a short greeting, Sigma’s body disappeared beyond the round hole. And at the same time.

Kugeugeugeung.

The split waves began to move. The spirits, who had been quietly holding their breath in the waves, gathered their strength and tilted the giant cliff. Of course, the monster didn’t just stand there and get hit, scattering into blackness and trying to escape above the cliff, but…

Chwaaa─

The white whale, which had already moved above the cliff, became a curtain of water. Yerim stood above it. Following her command, the water blocked the gaps in the cliff and solidified. The few remaining monsters between the cliffs, including the SSS-Class monster, were all trapped.

– Kyaaa!

The black beast roared and inflated its body. This time, its mane and entire fur took on a metallic sheen and hardened. Kaddeudeuk, the ice wall collided with the monster and shattered. Countless glittering fragments flew up.

It had succeeded in temporarily restraining it, but it didn’t seem like it would last long. The more the ice wall was pressed down, the more it was destroyed. Yerim, looking down at it, began to move her mana. She spread the precisely manipulated mana widely, remaining still as if needing concentration.

The moisture in the air trembled. The spirits, and beyond them, the sea. The frozen sea cracked, and water rose toward the ground. It was a wave that was more than just a house. No matter how SS-Class I had become, to be able to draw up that much water. The spirits moving in and out of the waves caught my surprised eyes.

Their power must have been added.

The sea mountain came right in front of me. It even blocked the sky. All I could see was water. Only endless water. Awe that even my S-Class fear resistance couldn’t suppress spread tinglingly throughout my body.

– Keureuk, Kyarureuk!

The monsters also sensed the danger and began to thrash even more. The ice wall was being destroyed wildly, but with the enormous thickness and the continuous replenishment and freezing of water, it was literally an endless battle. The SSS-Class monster was destroying it faster, but it was impossible to escape before the sea engulfed them.

In the end.

Kurururung─!

With a sound like a landslide, water poured down. Part of the sea swept away not only the ice cliffs but also the ground below, returning to its territory. A deep trace remained, as if a giant had reached out and scooped out a handful, and water pooled inside.

– They can’t move now~

– Don’t get close, it’s dangerous!

– How far down will they drag it!

– Still scary though! It’s huge and strong!

– Let’s take it to the bottom! To the deepest place!

The ice prison was dragged into the sea.

“Don’t worry, you can breathe, Uncle.”

Yerim also followed into the sea. I could see the struggling monster. It was a huge monster on the ground, like a small mountain, but it didn’t feel so big when dragged into the deep sea. The sight of it going down endlessly looked pitiful.

The spirits roamed around it. In the deep sea, a black whale and a green glowing crab slowly appeared. Both were much larger than the SSS-Class monster. Next to them, a sea serpent wriggled.

“…Are those spirits around L-Class?”

“No, even if they’re the strongest, they’re weaker than that monster. The power they hold is great, but they can’t handle it properly. Think of a large river or the sea. It’s not very threatening on its own, right?”

True, it’s dangerous when a river floods or a tsunami hits, but even an A-Class Hunter can survive.

“But things change when it goes through me.”

The black whale approached Yerim’s side. The sea serpent rubbed its head against her feet.

“The original Delta didn’t have the ability to accept them either. But I guess I’m different.”

Her black hair mixed with blue swayed in the water. Was it thanks to experiencing the Mermaid Queen’s skill? Yerim smiled.

“I still can’t perfectly handle the strong spirits, but they said I can grow more in the future. How much stronger do you think I’ll get, Uncle?”

I looked up at her smiling face. Park Yerim from before the regression came to mind again. A promising but A-Class Hunter. The spirits danced around her.

“As much as you want.”

“Then there’s no end!”

Laughing out loud, Yerim looked at the struggling monster. Her mana moved. The water moved. Without even using her skills properly, the monster began to solidify. Even when it tried to scatter into shadows, the water blocked it. Even when it activated all sorts of attack skills, they ended in futile tremors.

The crab stretched out its pincers and grabbed the monster trying to climb up. A jellyfish that appeared silently extended its tentacles one by one. Before long, the light disappeared from the monster’s eyes.

“It’s over once you come into the sea. That’s why they try not to get dragged in unless they’re originally monsters that live in the water.”

Yerim said, collecting the points. Then, a small tropical fish approached Yerim’s ear and whispered.

– The monsters that were scattered around in the sea are gathering.

“The bait effect is great!”

“Are the people outside okay?”

“I’ll tell them to let me know if it’s dangerous. But it should be fine, right? Noah said there’s no chance of running out of mana thanks to him. Han Yuhyun and Hyuna unnie [term for older sister or female friend] are probably happily collecting points.”

As Yerim said that, seawater swirled sharply on both sides of her. Two streams of water, spinning like drills, stretched out coolly.

– Kyaruruk!

They pierced the approaching monsters. All sorts of monsters swarmed behind the monsters that were instantly killed with holes punched through them.

“Uncle, shoot your gun or something!”

“Yeah, I’ll try.”

The water swirled again. The spirits automatically clung to Yerim’s hands and transformed into weapons. I really don’t have to worry here.