The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 315

313. I’m Tired (3)

“I can’t today. I’ve decided to really rest.”

“Then how about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow, I’m going to buy Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving] gifts with Yerim. I need to buy jegi [shuttlecocks for a traditional Korean game], and see what’s needed for the memorial service table.”

Yoohyun had already ordered the hanbok [traditional Korean clothing]. I was also supposed to check on Sung Hyunjae to see if he was sleeping well when I had time, but I didn’t expect my eyes to turn out like this. Should I sneak out? Thanks to the Black Lynx Jacket, even if I use the stealth skill, it’s hard for even an S-Class to notice. So it wouldn’t be difficult, but still.

“Are you holding a memorial service?”

“I’m planning to keep it simple. I’ll just buy most of the stuff, fry a few things, and make songpyeon [small rice cakes].”

“Are we making songpyeon?”

Yerim, who was eating a sandwich filled with eggs and bacon, asked.

“It’s Chuseok.”

“How many houses make songpyeon themselves these days? Really, hyung [older brother/male friend].”

Moon Hyunah said that everyone just buys them, which made me a little embarrassed, but it’s Chuseok. Moon Hyunah looked at me, resting her chin on her hand.

“You’re not going to make our Yerim do all the frying, are you?”

“What frying would she do? And I’ve worked part-time making holiday food before. I’m not that good at other dishes, but I’m good at frying.”

During the holidays, I used to go to a nearby side dish shop and help out. It was a long time ago, but I remember most of it. Their braised tofu was delicious. Besides the side dish shop, I knew quite a few people in the neighborhood, but after running away, I didn’t even go near them, let alone contact them.

If I ran into them, they would naturally ask about my younger brother, and ask all sorts of things. And I would keep thinking about the old days.

“But didn’t the Hunter Association contact you?”

“Huh?”

“For holiday greetings. They contact all the S-Class Hunters. Asking them to appear on TV and say hello.”

Ah, that. S-Class Hunters are such famous figures that they often do holiday greetings and New Year’s bell ringing. Yoohyun hadn’t appeared even once in eight years, though.

“I’m officially B-Class, you know. Yerim, did you get a call?”

“I did! They wanted me to appear with the Guild Leader and you, Ahjussi [term for older man, like ‘uncle’].”

“Me too?”

“You’re family. And it’s a holiday. Oh, and Peace too.”

Well, it would look good. As I recall, Choi Sukwon was the one who showed his face the most often, but he’s gone to the other side of the Jordan River [euphemism for death], so the people involved must be quite troubled. He must have filmed a lot of commercials too.

“There aren’t many S-Class Hunters showing their faces this Chuseok. The Sesung Guild Leader is also taking a break for a while.”

“That guy doesn’t do holiday greetings anyway.”

Moon Hyunah said. He only did a New Year’s greeting once. That was before the regression, so I don’t know if he’ll do it this time.

“Still, there’s Chief Song. This Chuseok, he’ll say ‘Have a comfortable trip home’ with a stoic face.”

“Along with civilian measures in case of a dungeon break. Yerim, are you going to be on TV?”

“Just me?”

Yerim looked at me and quickly averted her gaze.

“No, you said you’re holding a memorial service.”

“Isn’t the broadcast not on the actual day? Should I go with you?”

“Ahjussi, your eyes are like that, and you’re tired.”

“I’ll be able to see a little by then. I’ll ask Yoohyun too.”

She said he would definitely say no, but she looked expectant. It wouldn’t be difficult to just record a short greeting.

It was almost noon, but the weather was cool. It felt like autumn was really beginning. We chatted, laughed, and ate delicious things.

Ate… um.

“I’m full.”

“With just that?”

“Eat more, eat more.”

I ate two sandwiches the size of an adult’s palm. And a rich chocolate tart, thinly sliced and fried sweet potatoes, and ripe grapes and apples. It was almost a full meal. Yerim split a large dumpling filled with minced meat with her chopsticks. The juice overflowed onto the plate.

“In just three years, I’ll be taller than you, Ahjussi.”

“I think it’ll be two years. So Chief Han should also try harder.”

“I’m already fully grown.”

I might get a little taller with the level boost, but that’s it. Yerim needs to grow a lot. Yoohyun seems to have grown a little taller too.

“When are we going to have a drinking party? I was actually going to ask you to go out today.”

“I’m available tonight!”

“Yerim, no.”

Yerim pretended to be sulky at my words.

“I’m an S-Class Awakened, but there are too many things I can’t do? You said I’m equal to an adult.”

“That’s only for Hunter-related things. A minor is a minor. That’ll change soon too. The drinking party is after Chuseok.”

Chief Song must be having a complicated time right now. That’s when he needs alcohol, but it wouldn’t be good to push him too hard. Above all, with my condition like this, there’s no way Yoohyun would let me out.

“And I can buy more alcohol from that neighborhood.”

“What?”

Moon Hyunah’s eyes widened.

“I still have a point store, and they have alcohol. Keep it a secret, and since it doesn’t cost much, I can buy you three or four bottles.”

“Chief Han is really a lord!”

Following the building owner lord, this time it’s the alcohol lord.

“How many points do you have? There’s no way to get more now, is there? That’s too bad.”

“I’m going to save the rest as much as possible. There’s a set of equipment that I might use it to get.”

“A set, like that cat?”

“Lynx.”

“Anyway. The gun, jacket, and shoes, right? Collect them all, Ahjussi!”

Yerim said with a curious expression.

“Usually those things have set effects. It’s an S-Class set of equipment, so it must be good.”

“The problem is that it’s permanently bound to me. The newbie won’t take it back, but other people can’t use it, so it’s a bit of a waste of points.”

“What’s a waste? You’re using it well. Since it’s a cat set… if you collect them all, can you turn into a cat?”

No, that’s a really useless skill. And it’s a lynx.

“A cat transformation skill, what would you use that for? There’s no use…”

…Is there? If I turn into an ordinary cat on the outside, it would be good for activities. There are many stray cats, so I can go out unnoticed. If I keep it a secret, I can transform and hide in a crisis situation.

“Why, like a 10-meter giant cat monster!”

“…Really useless.”

Moon Hyunah laughed and said she would raise me if I transformed. I already have a perfectly good house.

“In the end, it means you can bring those items as you please, so it’ll be useful in many ways. We all chose skills except for Yerim’s spirit.”

“Yes. I already asked Myungwoo to check if he can produce the firearms. And explosives too. But explosives might be a bit dangerous.”

“There are real bombs in the world, Chief Han. You don’t need to worry about buying them yet. Even if you can make high-grade ones, they’ll be expensive. If you manage them well, it should be fine. It’s the same with poison or curse items.”

That’s true. Moon Hyunah loosely crossed her arms and looked towards the building with the smithy.

“Many things have changed, and they will continue to change. As always. In just a hundred years, or even ten years, dungeons and Awakened will become commonplace. To the point where the time when they didn’t exist will become hazy.”

Commonplace, huh. Well, even without dungeons, the world has changed a lot. In the Middle Ages, the appearance of dungeons and Awakened might be less surprising than bringing modern society.

“Everyone’s already adapted now.”

Seeing that, I wondered what everyday life really is. Even days with monsters appearing can become everyday life. I remembered the people who went about their daytime activities without a care and then went into shelters when the sun went down. Should I eat more grapes?

“Hyung, be careful.”

Yoohyun said, opening the car door for me. Even though Bellare was there, he was anxious that I might stumble. As soon as we got out of the car, gazes were fixed on us. Even though it was a weekday, the Hunter Market was full of customers. There were Hunters, but there were also many ordinary people today. They said it was a gift set for Hunters, but non-Awakened can also use life force potions, so they were popular. They said it was a useful luxury gift to keep at home for emergencies.

Before the regression, stamina potions were the most popular gift item. Especially for families with students preparing for exams.

“It’s Park Yerim!”

Someone shouted. Hearing that, Yerim smiled and waved her hand.

“It’s real, and the Haeyeon Guild Leader is here too.”

“Isn’t that a monster around Han Yoojin’s neck?”

“Unnie [term for older sister/female friend], you were awesome! The best!”

No, why unnie.

“…She looks like a high school student.”

“Ahjussi, if you’re cool, everyone calls you unnie. And I’m pretty cool, right?”

I guess. She is cool. Perhaps because of the Korea-Japan match, people’s attention was focused on Yerim the most. Yoohyun also showed great performance in sweeping away a large number of SS-Class monsters, but there was a big difference between seeing the battle scene live on TV and not. Besides, the fact that an entire city had melted away was a scene that was hard to accept with pure admiration. It’s a relief that fear doesn’t come first.

“First, I need to buy the highest-grade gift set. They say the quantity is limited. And I need to buy potion gift sets for the non-Awakened.”

I was planning to send Korean beef and potion sets to the non-Awakened employees. I had already ordered the Korean beef from the department store. I wanted to go and buy it myself, but it would be a nuisance to bring Yoohyun and Yerim with me when there would be so many people.

Even now, the non-Awakened and low-grade Awakened were slowly avoiding us. Yerim was fine, but my younger brother’s expression was cold, as if he didn’t like me coming out.

“Guild Leader, relax a little.”

Yerim grabbed my arm and nudged Yoohyun.

“Even if it’s annoying, suppress it a little. Or can’t you control it? I can do it well~”

“I don’t intend to let anyone approach hyung.”

Yoohyun said quietly. Then he looked around even more coldly.

“Okay, okay. Let’s buy it quickly and go. Is there anything you guys want to buy?”

“There’s nothing I can buy here that catches my eye.”

Yerim shrugged and said. Then she added in a small voice that she needed to save money.

“Myungwoo oppa [term for older brother/male friend] has items too, but the Hunter Association sent me a priority ticket for S-Class auction items this time. For promoting national prestige. But a priority ticket…”

Of course, I needed money to buy it. With a priority ticket, I could buy it for 1.5 times the lowest auction price. It was a right to benefit if I chose well.

“If there’s anything you like, just tell me.”

“It’s okay.”

“You used Yerim’s skill, you have to let me repay you.”

“Then, well. But the stuff here isn’t that great anymore. Instead, promise to grant me another favor next time!”

“Okay. Just say the word.”

We went up to the 6th floor to buy the highest-grade gift set. There were relatively few people on the 6th floor, but it was more crowded than when I came last time. People in suits were seen coming and going with packaged boxes.

“Welcome. I’m Ki Yoonseo, the person in charge of the Hunter Shopping Mall’s 6th floor.”

The person in charge greeted me warmly, saying, “It’s been a while, Chief Han.” Was this the person who was in charge last time I came? I was guided to a small reception room made of glass walls like before. Yerim said she would look around and fluttered outside.

Three types of gift sets were placed on the table in order.

“This product consists of high-grade life force potions, mana potions, and detoxifying agents. The only difference between these two is the amount, and the last one is for non-Awakened people, excluding mana potions. Originally, the sale and gifting of potions for non-Awakened people is restricted, but it has been lifted for this Chuseok only.”

It was to prevent the chaebols [large business conglomerates] from hoarding potions. Even though it’s limited to Chuseok, high-grade potions are included in the gift set, so have the potion quantities accumulated quite a bit in the meantime? Lower the price instead of doing this.

“And this is a slightly special product.”

The person in charge carefully placed a small silver bottle on the table.

“It is a tonic launched overseas and is particularly effective for non-Awakened people. Of course, it is also good for Awakened with low stats. Recommended for those with stats D-Class or lower. It’s not very useful for those above that.”

“Tonic?”

Yoohyun tilted his head. When I told him it was like a herbal medicine, he looked at the small bottle seriously. As Yoohyun showed interest, the person in charge began to explain diligently about dungeon byproducts and healers. Things like that are starting to come out now.

‘The problem was narcotics.’

But there’s nothing I can do about that. As Hyunah said, bombs and drugs already exist. Even in Korea, I have to help Chief Song to crack down on them well. What about Chief Song’s gift? Korean beef won’t work, so should I do ham? That would be better than tuna, right? I wish I could fill the freezer with Korean beef…….

“Oh.”

A familiar face was seen beyond the glass wall. It was Song Taewon. Speak of the devil, and he appears. He happened to be at the Hunter Association. Chief Song turned around the wall and entered the reception room.

“Can I talk to you separately for a moment?”

At Song Taewon’s words to me, Yoohyun frowned outright. Yerim had already returned and stood next to the sofa where I was sitting, as if guarding me.

“Yes. We don’t need to go far, right?”

“This special room has reliable soundproofing and security.”

As I got up, Yoohyun also stood up. Yerim, of course, followed closely. Song Taewon looked back at the two people who had followed me in front of the special room door.

“Please wait a moment.”

Their eyes narrowed sharply. Before Yoohyun could open his mouth, I stepped forward first.

“It’s right in front of us. Just wait a moment.”

Other things aside, Sung Hyunjae’s story might come up. Since we decided to keep his condition a secret, I couldn’t talk about it in front of Yerim, let alone Yoohyun.

“Just five minutes.”

“Give me ten minutes.”

“No.”

“Hey…….”

I appeased the two of them and entered the special room. Except for the thick door, it was a luxurious reception room. I could roughly guess what the business was.

“Is it because of my skill?”

“Yes.”

I walked towards the sofa, but Song Taewon didn’t budge. In the end, I just opened my mouth while standing.

“I can only use it for a very short time, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“Even so, it’s S-Class. Accurate confirmation is required.”

“Confirmation, huh. Um, what should I do? I can’t use it now.”

I smiled, looking up at him.

“You can really just assume it doesn’t exist. I can’t use it unless my life is in danger. That’s how it is.”

I took off my sunglasses. Perhaps sensing that something was wrong, Song Taewon’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Then I turned off Teacher Skill. Instantly, everything in front of me went dark. As my eyesight and even heat detection disappeared at once, my body inadvertently staggered. Trying to regain my balance, I bumped into the sofa with a thud. I felt a hand quickly grabbing me.

– Shh!

“It’s okay, Bellare.”

“Eyes.”

“Yes, I can’t see. It’s temporary. This is what happens if I use the skill too much. My stats are F-Class, so I can’t handle it.”

After a moment of silence, I heard a short sigh from above my head. Song Taewon straightened me up.

“I understand. It’s clear that a grade adjustment is not necessary.”

“Right now, I’d be lucky if it doesn’t drop.”

I fumbled around my neck, used Teacher Skill again for Bellare, and put on my sunglasses. Song Taewon’s hardened face was visible.

“Ham is better than tuna, right? If I secretly leave Korean beef at home.”

“That won’t do. Now that the confirmation is over…….”

He trailed off, unlike him. He seemed to have something more to say, but after hesitating, he closed his mouth and turned around. Should I grab him? But I stopped.

“Thank you for helping me then.”

Song Taewon’s hand, which was about to open the door, stopped.

“The Sesung Guild Leader is also safe. He’s probably sleeping well by now. I’ll be fine if I rest a little too.”

“…Yes.”

He opened the door and went out. At the same time, Yoohyun and Yerim rushed in.

“Are you okay?”

“Did anything happen?”

“Of course I’m okay. What do you guys think of Chief Song?”

At my words, their expressions became subtle. What do they think, really?

“Officially, I can trust him, but.”

“A civil servant ahjussi who’s trying hard to be stiff.”

Both are right.