The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 308

306. It Was Your House (3)

“The more high-grade mana stones that have lost their original properties and have been aged for more than six months, the more you can store.”

“Do you two happen to have any S-grade mana stones that are more than six months old?”

“…No, we don’t.”

Chief Song answered. Well… I figured. Why did I even ask? I felt a little foolish. On the other hand, Sung Hyunjae took out mana stones from his inventory. Four of them, no less.

“It’s a kind of emergency fund. It can be easily converted into cash in any country. But does this thing eat mana stones too?”

He held out a mana stone to the kid.

“It doesn’t eat it.”

“Then how about bread? Should I give you a snack?”

“I don’t need it.”

The Changeling glared at Sung Hyunjae and transformed into a small dragon, climbing onto my shoulder. It bared its tiny teeth and growled.

-Don’t make Dad work too hard.

Sung Hyunjae wore an aggrieved expression, but considering what we had to do from now on, it was true. No, I’m already tired.

“So it was a monster after all.”

Song Taewon said with a strangely relieved voice.

“It’s a fairy dragon. A bit unique. Thanks to it, we have a safe method, so don’t worry. …It is safe, right?”

-Yeah. I can stably transfer and store mana stones through me. It won’t die or explode.

It must be because it was originally a part of Sung Hyunjae. And the Changeling’s attribute probably helps too. To switch something out, you need to take out the original first.

“How do we do it?”

-Same as me.

Does that mean I have to combine and insert two mana stones into my body?

“…Then another monster will be born.”

-No. It’s an old mana stone. To combine monsters, the mana stone must have the original owner’s information left. Anything over half a year old is like a dead seed. It’s just a container, so you can’t do anything but store it.

I see. Oh, Blackie! It hasn’t been half a year yet, but I need to ask Myungwoo to preserve it first.

“It doesn’t matter where, right? Hey, Sung Hyunjae. I was going to say this anyway, but the heart area on my back has to go to Yoohyun.”

Sung Hyunjae looked surprised.

“I doubt the young master would accept it.”

“I’ll have to persuade him, somehow.”

“Good luck with that.”

That was a terribly insincere encouragement.

“So, let’s replace your reservation with this. Do you want a specific part? Where should I put it?”

Since I’m storing a part of you, I’ll give you some choice. I spread my arms and turned around. Sung Hyunjae shrugged.

“Even if I survive now, the young master and the little miss will try to kill me. I can already hear them complaining about why I didn’t just die alone.”

“Quit whining. We can do it somewhere hidden. How about the side? Or the pelvis.”

The butt is a bit much.

“Let’s do it quickly. If Yoohyun comes, it’ll be a disaster. The explosion probably carried outside.”

“I didn’t make it that sloppy. They probably don’t know yet. They might have noticed the movement of mana, but if they’re near the entrance, it’ll be difficult.”

Well, since we’re entering through a mini-portal, it might be quite far from where Yoohyun is.

“Anyway, he’s not one to endure for long. Give me the mana stones, I’ll do it.”

As I reached out, the Changeling tapped my shoulder with its front paw.

-He has to do it. It’s a sign of permission to give up a part of himself.

“He’s an adult, you shouldn’t call him that. That’s what it says.”

-Don’t make Dad bleed.

“The Merchant of Venice, are we?” [Referring to the play where a pound of flesh is demanded as payment].

Sung Hyunjae reluctantly took out a dagger from his inventory. Song Taewon flinched reflexively. The tip of the knife touched just above my elbow. A faint red line was drawn. At the same time, I moved my mana. The two mana stones touched the wound, absorbing the blood that seeped out and permeating through the gap. Thanks to Grace, I didn’t need to use a mana potion this time.

The slightly opened wound soon closed, leaving only a small red mark. Is it because I’m not combining monsters? Unlike the chest, it’s such a faint scar that you wouldn’t notice it at first glance.

The Changeling, grumbling that it bled, fluttered up.

-I’ll turn into a dagger now. Stab me into that person’s chest, Dad.

“…I won’t die, right?”

-You won’t die.

An S-grade Hunter won’t die from getting stabbed in the chest. There are potions, and Sesung has high-level healers. It’ll be okay. The silver little dragon’s form changed. A dagger with a blade like a dragon’s fang fell to the floor with a thud. So now.

-Dad!

“Hanyujin-ssi!”

Before I could even bend down to pick up the dagger, I was grabbed by the neck at the same time as their shouts. My feet floated in the air, and my body, pushed away in an instant, slammed into the wall. Right in front of me were murderous golden eyes.

“Kuh, Mu… Ugh.”

Thanks to Grace, I avoided having my neck broken, but it was tightened to the point of being slightly suffocating. With one hand gripping my neck, Sung Hyunjae lowered his other hand. Towards my legs, where Grace was. He grabbed the scarf. A beat late, a chill ran down my spine.

Then suddenly, Sung Hyunjae jumped back. Still holding my neck. Immediately after, an explosion erupted where Sung Hyunjae had been standing.

“Song, Kueut…….”

Barely managing to turn my gaze, I heard a sound like a hunted beast. Song Taewon was standing in the middle of the greatly distorted floor. He was looking at us with tense eyes. I didn’t quite understand what was going on. But, he looked fine…….

A sound of gnashing teeth was heard. And my body was thrown away. Song Taewon quickly caught me as I rolled across the floor. The Changeling also flew back in dragon form.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, uh, I am. But…….”

-I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t know either.

The silver dragon said, holding my arm as if hugging it. Didn’t know, what? I was helped up by Chief Song. I saw Sung Hyunjae standing next to the island bar over there. Cracks were spreading across the marble countertop his hand was resting on. His eyes and mouth were distorted.

It was the first time I had seen him look so precarious.

“It… won’t work, this…….”

The voice that leaked out, suppressed, was very unstable. Could it be too late?

“Sung Hyunjae-ssi!”

-Dad, it’s because we’re the same! I’m mixed a lot, so it’s usually okay, but now it’s threatening his existence…….

“I’m sorry, Hanyujin-gun.”

Sung Hyunjae said, barely catching his breath. The marble was still crumbling from his fingertips.

“This method, it won’t work. As long as I am a human with a self… I can’t help but resist.”

-Because we’re the same existence, I can stably take out what’s accumulated, so the rejection is stronger! I’m sorry, Dad…….

“Why are you sorry.”

So, it’s like a doppelganger. Not just taking a part of himself, but threatening the identity itself, that kind of feeling? The uniqueness of existence, or… well, I don’t really know, but it means Sung Hyunjae is strongly rejecting the Changeling digging into him.

“There’s no other problem besides that, right?”

“…What?”

“You just don’t want to give up your chest willingly, isn’t it? I understand.”

The conclusion is simple. One more process has been added. The rather tricky process of subduing Sung Hyunjae. And I, with my F-grade stats, have to stick the knife in myself.

“Someone else can’t stab it in for me, right?”

-No. But Dad, could it be…….

The Changeling folded its round eyes like a crescent moon. What else can I do? I have to.

“Chief Song, please help me.”

“…I refuse.”

I sat down on the floor and looked up at him. His hard face was shadowed. He put on the Golden Wildcat shoes that didn’t cost any points to take out.

“This has a higher chance of success. I’ll call Yoohyun too.”

No answer came back. Instead, Song Taewon turned towards Sung Hyunjae. I quickly grabbed his leg before he could put on his shoes.

“If we mess up, we’ll both die, and even if we don’t, Chief Song will die!”

“Hanyujin-ssi, I have a duty to protect you. I can’t allow it anymore.”

“I don’t need protection, not with the Changeling’s help. And, ordinary people will risk their lives when they need to!”

I’m weak, that’s right. In Chief Song’s eyes, it might look like a child is clinging and begging to help when there’s a perfectly fine adult. But we’ve been living like this. Unless every household has a Chief Song, it will continue to be like this.

“What I need right now is not protection, but help. Sung Hyunjae-ssi too.”

Song Taewon looked down at me. His firm eyes flickered once.

“Why, Hanyujin-ssi.”

“Please help me. Assist me.”

Song Taewon gritted his teeth and reluctantly nodded.

I finished putting on my shoes and stood up. I also put on the black wildcat jacket. I thought about matching the set, but I stopped for now. It would be a waste of points if the newbie confiscated it.

“I don’t have pants… You don’t have any either, do you, Chief Song?”

“…No.”

“I’m going to use Teacher’s skill, so please don’t refuse. You too, Changeling.”

-Uuuuuh.

The Changeling made a dissatisfied noise and clung to my shoulder. It must not like that using the power of an S-grade Hunter in reality puts a burden on me. How thoughtful. But I can’t leave Sung Hyunjae like that. If I mess up, we’ll all be swept away. I have to push myself when I need to.

“I’ll only use it briefly when necessary, so please assist me well.”

Sung Hyunjae was silently watching us. He seemed quite displeased. He couldn’t control himself and attacked me, so he must be feeling bad, given his personality. I took out my phone, which had some cracks on the screen but thankfully still worked. It won’t last long either.

“Yoohyun-ah.”

[Hyung, are you okay?]

“Yeah. But I need you to come over. First, evacuate people from the Sesung Guild.”

[I’ll be right there!]

“Evacuate first!”

The call was cut off. He must have heard since he’s next to Evelyn-ssi, right? It’s a phone that won’t survive anyway, so I threw it behind me without adding to the luggage. The Changeling turned back into a dagger. At the same time, Sung Hyunjae’s eyes narrowed. I used Teacher’s skill.

“I will never get hurt. You can use me as a shield if you think it’s dangerous.”

“Even so, it is impossible for Hanyujin-ssi to directly attack the Sesung Guild Leader.”

“No, it’s possible. I can use the power of the S-grade Hunter around me for a very short time. With the help of this Changeling.”

Song Taewon looked back and forth between me and the silver dragon, surprised. Sung Hyunjae also showed interest while suppressing himself. I wondered if I should hide that I can’t use the S-grade power for long, but he’ll notice it in an instant anyway.

I held the dagger in one hand. The opponent has combat prediction above all else. That means he can read all attacks. In other words, to accurately stab the knife into his chest, I have to create a situation where he can’t avoid it.

“Try to endure as much as possible.”

“If you come any closer than that, it’ll be difficult. No, even now…….”

Pajijik, electricity sparked. Song Taewon slowly distanced himself from me. He seemed to be trying to trust me for now. It’s too much with just the two of us. It’s practically just Chief Song alone. So, wait a little until Yoohyun comes. Should I have contacted Yerim too?

Sung Hyunjae let out a short breath. Immediately after, golden lightning struck. The table and chairs instantly became fragments and flew up. The floor also cracked, and stone fragments scattered in all directions.

‘Ugh!’

Being directly hit caused no damage, but even a graze left lines on my skin. Amidst the scorched wallpaper and ceiling and the shattered decorations, Sung Hyunjae rushed towards me.

“Dodge!”

Song Taewon shouted. I know that too. But instead of moving, I looked straight at Sung Hyunjae. I was trying to directly confront him to see how strong he was,

Kagagak─

Something black intervened between Sung Hyunjae and me. Sung Hyunjae twisted his direction and stepped aside from the black Yeon-geom [Yoohyun’s sword] that menacingly sharpened its blade and cut through the air. At the same time, Song Taewon’s sword flashed its blade. Karang! The sword and chain collided, scattering light.

“Why is that one acting up again.”

Yoohyun landed next to me. The Ruler’s Sword, which had been writhing and scratching the floor, shrunk into a long sword. Yoohyun glanced at Song Taewon, who was receiving the sweeping chains with his fists, and turned his gaze to me.

“Let’s go home, Hyung.”

“No, I have to stab Sung Hyunjae in the chest. Right now─”

“What?”

Yoohyun’s eyes immediately distorted. His face was surprised to the point of being flustered.

“Just what did Sung Hyunjae do that Hyung is trying to kill him… Damn it! Still, let’s go back for now.”

“No, it’s not that, I have to stab him to save him. It’s too long to explain, help me!”

Yoohyun looked at Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon again and then lifted me up.

“He can die. Let’s go.”

“Hey!”

“Chief Song will take care of it.”

It’s not that I didn’t expect it, but you really don’t care what happens to Sung Hyunjae, do you, Yoohyun.

“If we don’t stop him now, I’ll be in danger too!”

If the power accumulated in Sung Hyunjae explodes and sweeps away the world, I’ll die too, so it’s not wrong. At my words, Yoohyun frowned but put me down. Then he tried to put the Thunderbird’s Vestige on me.

“No, Grace is here, so this jacket is better right now.”

It was possible to wear equipment on top of each other, but if I messed up, the mana flow and effects would get mixed up and become useless. So, the basic rule was to wear them so that they didn’t overlap beyond a certain point. The Vestige’s defense power overlap and all-attribute resistance are unnecessary for me, so the jacket is better.

Then, with a loud roar, Song Taewon was pushed away and slammed into the wall. Sung Hyunjae, gathering the chains around him and circling them, looked at us.