The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 279

277. When Accepting (1)

“…Is it okay outside? Everyone will worry if too much time has passed.”

The Jellyfish bastard forcibly broke in, creating a hole. It wasn’t a direct exit to the outside, but an intrusion through the dungeon, so one couldn’t be sure. At my quiet question, the Changeling nodded and descended in front of me.

– This place is a kind of gap, so time hardly flows. It has a slight impact on Daddy’s world, but it’s okay.

“Slight?”

– Daddy’s place is fine.

“…What about elsewhere?”

The pinkish-silver scaled dragon sat like a person, gathering its two front paws demurely in front of its chest. Its large, blinking eyes seemed to be acting cute.

– It’s not easy to perfectly cover the entire world, so I made Daddy’s country thick. The rest are a little thin.

“Even if it’s thin… is it okay?”

– The original protective power still remains. If that all disappears, will the dungeon difficulty rise faster in other countries?

Faster, you say. It was already supposed to be faster because of the regression.

“When does the original power disappear?”

– I don’t know either. It could disappear in a few days, or it could last a few years. The hole is still there, so you have to be careful, Daddy. It’ll be safe if you’re only in Daddy’s country. I made it sturdy there.

The Changeling wagged its tail, asking me to believe it. No, if other countries collapse, our country won’t be unscathed either. It’s not a remote island, and monsters can cross over as much as they want. Even if it’s an island, flying monsters will fly over.

Still, if it weren’t for this kid, we would have just been ruined right away.

“Good job.”

As I stroked its head, it tilted its ears back in satisfaction. The small purring sound made it seem like a kitten.

I blankly stared at the Changeling. I felt empty. Even though the Changeling’s power was being maintained, I felt like I was returning to F-rank, or even weaker than that. I tried not to think deeply. This is over. It’s over. Everyone is safe with this, and no big problems arose.

“Now… I have to go back.”

– The barrier hasn’t fully settled yet. Just a little longer.

“Okay. Once the barrier settles, you won’t be able to use that power, right?”

I didn’t have much expectation. Even the King of Innocence was surprised by the ability. If it wasn’t one-time use, it would be completely fraudulent. Should I call it a one-time wish stone? Unsurprisingly, the Changeling nodded.

– I can only use my original ability.

“Original ability?”

– The ability to materialize illusions. The one I’m using on Daddy now. But I can’t do it as perfectly as now.

Even if it’s not perfect, it would be very useful to me.

“To what extent is it possible?”

– To use one person’s ability for a moment? The strongest person, Uncle’s, is difficult. Daddy won’t be able to handle it. The Guards’ would be possible, but it would still be a big burden on Daddy. The same goes for the powers of the S-class Hunters around Daddy.

Hearing that, the words Luga Peya had babbled came to mind. Because of skills that my stats couldn’t handle, I was doomed to not live long.

It wasn’t a surprising sound, anew. I had heard a similar story before the regression. Like Hunters who died of exhaustion from using combat skills excessively. High-level Hunters have basic stats, in other words, the durability of their bodies supports them, so they can withstand doing unreasonable things from time to time, but mid-level or lower, especially low-level Hunters, are in danger.

Still, my skills are support-type and don’t physically affect my body, so I thought it would be okay. Healing types are healthy even if their skills are high compared to their stats, so I thought support types would be fine too. But it seems that wasn’t the case. 50 years, isn’t that too short? I have to live longer than Yoohyun. I don’t know if it’s until I’m 50 years old or 50 years after getting the L-class titles. If it’s 50 years from now, I’ll be 75, so it’s not a small amount.

It’s a relief that Myungwoo’s stats are rising. Could it have been a consideration from Mr. Shallos, hoping that the successor wouldn’t die young? He’s a good person.

“Don’t say unnecessary things outside. Don’t just talk about what you saw and heard here.”

– I can’t talk because I have to sleep for a while. But Daddy.

“If I just protect myself and the world collapses, I won’t even live for 5 more years anyway. If I succeed in saving the world, well, I might get an item that extends my lifespan. Other methods might arise too. In a world where they revive the dead, lifespan is nothing.”

I have no intention of dying early. At the same time, I didn’t want to just be protected by the people who worry about me. If they find out about this, there will be more than one or two people who will grab me so I can’t do anything.

– Don’t overdo it.

“Of course, I won’t overdo it. When I go back, I should take something good for my body. And exercise.”

Even if stamina potions are made, it would be better to refrain from working all night. And, um.

‘How to seduce the newbie.’

Our world was about to collapse, so I should try to threaten and coax him with that. The newbie was trying to help us, so I feel a little sorry, but I’m not in a position to be picky. If the Transcendents [beings from other worlds] notice something suspicious because of this, if the Crescent Moon awakens, I can’t handle it.

Honestly, I don’t care about other worlds, so I’ll let the unfilial bastards take care of whatever they’re plotting, and it’s enough if I save our world. Don’t even think about using our kids and me to take care of other neighborhoods, you bastards.

‘Come to think of it, isn’t it possible that the conditions to save our world have already been met?’

Yoohyun before the regression was stronger than the SS-class Guards. And the current Yoohyun had a high probability of becoming stronger faster than that. Because I have my skill. The same went for other people.

I don’t know exactly how strong the dungeon will become, but in about 2 years, it will be able to handle not only SS-class but also SSS-class. Could even L-class come out? Even in the world of the destroyed Guards, L-class didn’t come out.

If it didn’t appear due to a lack of information about L-class monsters, it meant that only SSS-class appeared until the destruction. At that level, we can stop it with our own strength without the help of the unfilial bastards. If enough time is given.

‘The unfilial bastards don’t even tell us exactly how much preparation we need to protect our world.’

You can tell me that much. Why are you hiding it? Is your real purpose to use us to save other worlds? If the conditions to save our world are met, you won’t try to do more work.

It’s ridiculous that the filial piety-addicted bastards give more information than the so-called same side unfilial bastards. Just gather 50 S-class people, then we’ll solve everything! What are you trusting in? You have to act trustworthy to be trusted.

But I don’t have the ability to catch and kill those guys… After all, it seems like the only way is to target the newbie, as Luga Peya said. Should I buy him a gift? What does he like?

As I racked my brain about the frustrating future, my mind became calmer. Being busy is the best way to avoid useless thoughts. So.

– Peep!

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, I heard nonsense. There’s no way Ppeep is here…

– Peep peep.

“Ppeep?!”

It was really Ppeep. The white, round baby bird had somehow appeared and was trying to swallow the magic stone diligently, Ack!

“Ppeep! No!”

It’s Luga Peya’s magic stone. Ppeep was stuffing the fallen magic stone into its beak, Ack! It was using its wings and had almost swallowed it all, with only a slight end sticking out. I hurriedly got up and snatched Ppeep, but.

– Ppeep.

“Ppeepaa!”

It was already too late. What if you get sick! Originally, even A-class was a size that Ppeep couldn’t swallow whole, but Luga Peya’s was unusually small, so it ate it on its own. I turned Ppeep upside down and shook it, but it only fluttered and showed no sign of spitting out the magic stone.

– Ppeep beep!

“Are you not sick anywhere? How did you get here again! I told you to wait quietly!”

– It’s hard to come here.

The Changeling said, climbing onto my shoulder.

– The space movement skill is very, uh, Daddy!

The Changeling was surprised, and I also felt it. The sight in front of me suddenly darkened, and a strong pressure pressed down on my whole body. For a moment, it felt like the water pressure of the deep sea was rushing in and squeezing me from all sides.

– Ppeep.

The view cleared. White snowflakes brushed past the tip of my nose.

– Daddy, here is!

It was snowing. Constantly. Ppeep was floating through it. It was a scenery I had seen somewhere.

A white bird is flying through the white snow. Beyond that, a huge tree is visible. A white tree with countless branches.

Before I could even understand the situation, my heart ached first. This is, could it be.

– With Daddy’s current stats, you can endure it, but still, to bring you here.

The time I can maintain my ability is not much left. I have to go back before that. As soon as I heard the Changeling’s words, I moved my steps. Ppeep was flying ahead. The accumulated snow was caught at the tips of my feet. I hadn’t walked a few steps, but my breath was already up to my chin.

And I saw it.

“…….”

My mouth opened, and it moved in the shape of my brother’s name, but no voice came out.

He was lying there quietly. As if sleeping. With a slightly pale face.

I.

“…Ugh.”

Honestly, I. I didn’t fully realize it. The influence of fear resistance must have been there too. Making the sense of reality blurry. Even the fact that I was holding my breathless brother was only for a very short time. And soon I faced my brother who was alive and well.

“…Heu, eu…….”

Yoohyun was constantly laughing, crying, getting angry, and standing by my side. He was warmly held in my hand. His gaze, voice, and breath were all clearly felt.

He’s alive right in front of me like this. So, isn’t it my delusion? Am I wrong? Is it all just a dream or delusion and I’m crazy, and nothing happened to us.

“…Ah…….”

All those escape routes collapsed. The reality in front of me pierced my lungs. The time I had been doing well so far suddenly dug into my whole body.

I knelt on the snow. I reached out my hand. The tips of my fingers were cold as if they would freeze. It’s so cold, but it didn’t feel like a corpse at all. His cheeks were soft, and there wasn’t a single flaw, and it was too perfect, clean, but.

My heart broke.

“…Really.”

He died. He really died.

…I don’t remember what I said last. I wouldn’t have resented him, would I? I wouldn’t have said anything bad, would I? If only I could have said the best things to you last.

But at that time, I, I, to you. You smiled at me last, but I.

“I should have said it was okay….”

Because Yoohyun, you saved me, I’ll be okay, and thank you. I’m sorry. I love you.

I love you, several times.

– Daddy. We have to go back before we become F-class again.

The Changeling said that my body couldn’t handle it. I hugged my brother’s body.

“How can I. Leave Yoohyun behind…….”

– You can’t take him. He’s just a simple corpse, so he definitely won’t be able to endure it. Or Daddy, rather here now.

“No.”

I could finish it here. I could use Yoohyun’s skill to send him off. But my brother.

“I have to… take him. Home.”

I remembered Yoohyun who was happy to be back ‘home’. How much he wanted to come back. During that long time. For years, lonely and alone, in a place he didn’t even think of as his home. Until the end like that.

So I have to go home. I have to go now, even if Yoohyun doesn’t feel or know anything… If I can’t even do that, I.

“Let’s go home, Yoohyun. Hyung [older brother] will take you no matter what.”

If you wait just a little longer, then.

– Ppeep.

– Daddy.

“Wait just a little longer, just a little longer…….”

It’s not that there’s no way to bring you back safely. So I’ll take you home no matter what.

Ppeep climbed onto my head. The Changeling tapped my shoulder with its front paw. If you get hurt by being caught in the space movement. So I let go. I got up from my seat, repeating several times that this was the last time I was letting go of my brother.

“I’ll, come again.”

Let’s go together then. Surely.

The sight in front of me blurred. My brother’s figure disappeared.

White snow fluttered. The snowfield, where even the sudden visitor had disappeared, was just quiet. The branches covering the sky were desolate without a single small leaf. The white wings that brushed through it were also long gone.

Occasionally, only the wind blew, dancing with the snowflakes. In that breeze, a small bead was caught. It was half buried in the snow, and then it was pushed out by a breath of air. It rolled around and touched the tip of my hand.

The sparkling little bead soon disappeared.