The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 266

264. Water Spirit (3)

“Wow, I’ve never seen such a huge core before.”

Yerim said, gazing at the pearl held by the giant clam, a pearl so large that three adults couldn’t wrap their arms around it. The milky white pearl looked really small compared to the clam’s massive size.

“Core?”

“Yes. They say that as spirits age, their accumulated power turns into something like that jewel. It’s also called a Spirit Stone. Even if a spirit loses its core, it doesn’t die, but it does become weaker. It’s like losing all the power they’ve built up over time.”

Yerim made a circle with her arms, saying that the biggest one she had ever seen was about this size.

“It’s a white whale. I heard whales can live for over five hundred years.”

Then how long has that spirit been alive? Thousands of years?

– Welcome.

A low, weighty voice was heard. Descending further, it felt like standing before an endlessly tall, white wall rather than a clam. A hazy mist flowing from the spirit swirled around our feet.

“Hello.”

Unlike when dealing with other spirits, Yerim used honorifics [formal language]. Since it’s the oldest, I felt a little intimidated too.

“Um, I just told the other spirits that you were from another world. But actually, it’s a bit more complicated than that. So…”

Yerim stopped talking and looked at me. She had an expression that said she didn’t know whether she should say it or how to explain it.

“This world was created by bringing in information from a world that had already been destroyed in the past. It’s not real; it’s artificially created. The original world is gone.”

– I see.

“…Huh?”

– I realized it when the world shook for the third time.

Is she talking about when we installed the third disc? The mist surrounding us grew even thicker. Even Yerim, who was standing right next to me, blocking the water, looked slightly blurry.

– But there is a way. You know about the Spirit Eggs, don’t you?

“Ah, yes. The eggs of various colors.”

– Those are created by the spirits of the dying world, gathering their power. They are itemized so they can go to a new world.

Suddenly, I remembered Irin saying that she knew a lot from the moment she was born. Could it be that the knowledge of the spirits who created the eggs permeated them?

– However, it takes a long time for the eggs to hatch. In a place where the corresponding attribute ability of that world is strong, it takes at least several decades, or even over a hundred years. If they are cared for by a spirit of the same attribute in a world where the original spirit exists, it will be faster, but it still takes more than a year.

“More than a year? But the Fire Spirit that came with us hatched as soon as it touched the power of the same Fire Spirit.”

– That’s because it received help from a nurturer.

“Huh?”

– The hatching speed is even faster with the help of a nurturer. There were nurturers in our world too, but you seem to have much stronger power.

…I did use My Brat skill on Irin’s egg. Nothing showed up, but did it have an effect?

“So, if you create an egg as an item, we can take that egg out, right? And Mister can hatch it.”

“Maybe…?”

Even if it’s not a quest reward or an item purchased from the points store, Shin-nip should be able to do something about one egg.

“They might take points as a reward.”

“I have a lot of points!”

Yerim shouted excitedly, then her expression turned serious as she looked at the giant clam.

“But will the spirits accept it?”

– Of course. It’s a continuation of a part of themselves. Is there another Water Spirit in Yerim’s world?

“I think there’s only the Fire Spirit. Right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Irin said she was the first.”

– Then it will take a little longer to hatch, but if the nurturer helps, it will hatch quickly. And that Fire Spirit is the first, I see.

The area in front of me became hazy. It’s mist. Now, I couldn’t even see Yerim’s face properly, let alone my own hands. This is too thick. I didn’t feel good either. Suddenly, Choi Seok-won’s, that jellyfish bastard’s, mist came to mind. At that time, Yerim…

…Huh?

“I’m home!”

The door burst open and Yerim ran in. She fanned herself and opened the refrigerator door first.

“Ah, it’s hot. Uncle, you finished work early today?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

Yerim chugged a glass of water and plopped down on the sofa. A hunter-related broadcast was on TV.

“I want to awaken quickly too! I want to become a hunter!”

“The Awakening Center doesn’t accept minors. And why would you want to do something dangerous?”

Even if she awakens, it’s better not to become a hunter. Even though the world has changed a lot, there are still far more people living ordinary lives like before.

Yerim picked up the remote and changed the channel. The head of the Seseong Guild briefly appeared, saying that a new S-Class dungeon had been awarded to Seseong.

“I wonder if the Seseong Guild Leader is actually handsome? Or is it just the camera?”

“He’s disgustingly handsome. He looks even better in person.”

“Huh? Have you seen him, Uncle?”

“Well…”

I was about to answer that I had met him several times, but I stopped. Why would I know the Seseong Guild Leader? But I feel like I’ve seen him. Did I dream it?

“The Haeyeon Guild Leader is the most popular among the kids, but there are a lot of Seseong fans too.”

“He’s a total old man to you guys. The Haeyeon Guild Leader is much better.”

Isn’t he old enough to be your dad? I’m twice Yerim’s age, but Seong Hyun-jae is even more… No, I’m only twenty-five years old. That’s why I was often mistaken for Yerim’s older brother, not her uncle. My sister is only one… No, I don’t have one.

…Or do I?

Something was strange. I definitely didn’t have a sister. Yerim was like a sister, though. I’ve seen her often since she was little, played with her, and taken care of her. I lived with her since she was left alone. People around me were worried about how I, still young, would raise my niece, but she was the most precious thing to me.

It would be a lie to say it wasn’t hard, but our Yerim was so kind. My sister, really.

…It’s still strange.

“Yerim, Mister—”

…Not Uncle?

“I’ll, uh, be right back.”

“Okay, see you later.”

I left the house. It was an apartment. An apartment I’ve never seen before. I didn’t live here. Then where was it? Where do I have to go now? Trying not to think about anything, I grabbed a taxi and said whatever came to mind.

“Haeyeon Guild, please.”

Haeyeon Guild. I didn’t know when I got out of the taxi, but I was standing there. I could see the Haeyeon Guild Leader too. Han Yu-hyun.

“Yu-hyun.”

My brother. The moment I thought that, mist surrounded me. Mist. Spirit. Just as something was about to come to mind.

“It’s dangerous, Uncle!”

Yerim grabbed me and pulled me back. A hot blade grazed past my face.

“Fire Spirits are dangerous! Their contractors are just as violent!”

“What?”

This was really strange. Why is Yerim saying Yu-hyun is dangerous?

“Yerim, ugh!”

The back of my neck was roughly grabbed. I was thrown and rolled across the floor. It’s fortunate that I’m C-Class now… Huh? Wait a minute, I’m F-Class… No, in the first place, I haven’t awakened… Ah, damn it!

“Don’t mess with other people’s heads! Ack, wait, Han Yu-hyun!”

Flames surged through the mist. I barely dodged the attack by rolling. The heat passing right next to me was intense, but surprisingly not that hot. Yu-hyun’s flames couldn’t be this weak. Before that, why is my brother attacking me?

“I’ll save you, Uncle! That person is really dangerous, so we have to get rid of him—”

“…Stop talking nonsense in Yerim’s form, Spirit.”

A white gun appeared at the end of my outstretched hand. I pulled the trigger. It’s an attack that wouldn’t even leave a scratch on the real Yu-hyun. But the fake one scattered like mist. As I got up, I threw a bomb anywhere.

Bang, a small sound was heard. Since this is underwater, the explosion and firepower would be weak.

“Hey! Our Yerim wouldn’t treat Yu-hyun as a dangerous person! She might say he ate something wrong, though!”

And she’d try to slap the back of his head to make him come to his senses. Get rid of him? Not a chance. The same goes for Yu-hyun.

“What’s your purpose!”

Could it be those filial piety addicts from this world? Maybe it’s related to the guys who tried to invade the Black Cow Forest outside this dungeon. The mist is similar to that jellyfish bastard’s. I was too careless.

If installing the discs allows Shin-nip to interfere, then those filial piety addicts could do the same. There’s still no news from Shin-nip, though.

– Yerim is better.

“…What?”

The spirit said something out of the blue.

– Fire Spirits are really dangerous. That’s just their nature. They greedily devour everything they want. So, like Yerim the most. That’s better for the nurturer too. I’ll protect you from the Fire Spirit and its contractor.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

I was so dumbfounded that I became calm. It doesn’t seem to be related to the filial piety addicts, though.

“My brother would never hurt me, no matter what his nature is. Yerim doesn’t need to protect me either.”

– You won’t be able to suppress yourself forever. That’s what fire is like. It devours and burns, and no one can approach it. The nurturer likes Yerim too, right? I won’t tell you to abandon the fire. It’s better for the nurturer to keep Yerim closer.

The words, ‘It’s for Yerim,’ stung my ears. Along with my conscience. But just because you say that—

Thud! At that moment, the sound of something dull being struck was heard. Then, thud, thud! A heavy shaking was felt in succession.

“Mister!”

It was Yerim. The mist dissipated and a part of the sea was frozen long. A huge pillar tilted greatly and thud! It struck the clam’s shell.

“Yerim!”

“This idiot did something weird, didn’t he!”

– It’s not weird!

The spirit said as if it was wronged.

– Yerim is also anxious! Because she’s not a real family, she’s worried that she’ll be left behind. She also wonders how far it’s okay to go. If Yerim wasn’t an Awakened [a person with supernatural abilities], if she became an ordinary person, wouldn’t everything be for nothing…

“Hey!”

Yerim shouted. Her face turned bright red.

“Don’t say all that embarrassing stuff!”

Thud! A large chunk of ice struck the clam again.

“Yerim.”

“I just felt that way sometimes, sometimes!”

“I will never…”

“I know! I know.”

Yerim patted her red cheeks with her palms and said as if it was nothing.

“Well, I did have those thoughts sometimes. Before, I said it was something I imagined, something I dreamed of. It’s been a few months already, but it still feels like a dream. I’m afraid I’ll suddenly wake up, and I don’t want to lose this because it’s so good right now. You know how it is.”

Ah, how embarrassing, Yerim grumbled.

“I did read the room a little [being aware of others’ feelings]. But I’ve been reading the room much more and for a longer time, like when I first met Mister, and I’m not just holding back. I just want to *match* with Mister and Han Yu-hyun because I like them, and that’s it. …You’re going to ask why I’m reading the room, aren’t you.”

“No.”

“…I don’t want to lose it again.”

“Me too. Me too, Yerim. It’s not as bad as you, but I’ve been separated from Yu-hyun for years. I don’t want to go back to that time. Never.”

“I still find that amazing no matter how many times I hear it. How could Han Yu-hyun do that?”

Yerim smiled slightly.

“It would have been nice if Mister was my real family.”

“You’re family now.”

“New family, right. Hey, you!”

A spear made of ice appeared in Yerim’s grasp. Its tip poked the clam.

“It’s true that I like Mister a lot. I’m a little jealous of Han Yu-hyun. But my mom and dad loved me the most! I already have them, you don’t need to create them artificially!”

– But. But if you occupy the nurturer, you don’t have to be anxious!

“I want to bring Han Yu-hyun here and show you his head, really. You have no idea how anxious our Guild Leader was because of Mister.”

…Why are you suddenly stabbing my heart.

“Besides, I’m really okay. I’m a little anxious, and that’s okay. I was worried when my report card was announced too. I was afraid Han Yu-hyun would look at me pathetically. I poked him first because he didn’t say anything, and he said I was growing fast as a hunter. I have other worries too, and there are more. But these days, I don’t even cry much when I think of my mom and dad. Mister, don’t say anything!”

I quickly shut my mouth. But, still.

“So don’t try to help me on your own. I’ll tell Mister if it’s really hard. Han Yu-hyun will help too. Hyun-ah unnie [older sister] will roll up her sleeves and help, and So-young unnie will definitely do that too. There are a lot of people who are close to me in Haeyeon and Breaker. Eun-ha unnie, Song Hye unnie, and Yu-jin unnie who has the same name as Mister. And…”

Not only people I knew, but also names I was hearing for the first time were rattled off.

“There are so many people who will help me if I say I’m having a hard time.”

– …I wanted to help too.

“Yeah, you can, but tell me. And I came to ask for help, already.”

Yerim held out her hand towards the spirit.

“Help me take the spirit with me. I’ll love it very much.”

– …Yes, Yerim.

The spirit’s huge body trembled faintly. The clam shell disappeared as if scattering, and only the pure white pearl remained, shrinking smaller and smaller. The pearl, now small enough to fit in the palm of her hand, landed on Yerim’s palm.

– My pearl will be the foundation of the egg. Tell everyone. Tell them you’re taking the Spirit Egg. Then they will gather their strength.”

“Thank you, really.”

Yerim hesitated for a moment, but didn’t ask the spirit if it was okay. Instead, I asked.

“Could you tell me in detail how you realized this place wasn’t real when the world shook for the third time?”