The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 331

329. The Black Dragon’s Heart (4)

“If that’s the case, hurry up and finish it.”

The young Chaos waved his hand at us, looking utterly annoyed. Hurry up and finish it, he says.

“What… how do we do it?”

“What have you been listening to all this time?”

“Um… should I turn off my skill for now?”

Since this isn’t the real thing, I should do it outside, right? But Chaos shook his head.

“If you just go out, that lizard will fall asleep again. Even though it’s a mental realm, it’s still connected to reality, so you need to move that guy’s consciousness from here first.”

– Take out my heart fragment.

Following Chaos’s instruction, the Black Dragon spoke. As instructed, I took out the Black Dragon’s heart fragment from my inventory. It was a sharply broken obsidian shard, slightly smaller than my palm. A red aura faintly shone on the jet-black surface.

‘…Isn’t this similar to the Changeling incident?’

Back then, I entered Sung Hyunjae’s mental realm and received a fragment. The newbie said that ordinary humans wouldn’t have much of an impact, but Sung Hyunjae wasn’t an ordinary human, and in the end, the Changeling was born.

“Originally, it’s a monster combination skill, so instead of just growing the heart to enhance the sword, will a Black Dragon be born?”

“Think of it as getting a pet. With that fragment, you’ll only get an F-grade one.”

– A pet, you say.

“What if I add an S-grade or higher magic stone?”

“The grade will increase, but that guy’s self-awareness will become mixed up.”

Still, if it’s F-grade, it’ll be a hassle for me. I can barely take care of my own body, let alone look after an old dragon. I can’t just leave it to Yoohyun because of the sword.

“Mr. Black Dragon, it’ll be inconvenient in many ways if it’s F-grade. Instead of being pushed around like that, how about adding a magic stone to increase the grade? I’ll give you an S-grade magic stone for free. I’ll even match the attribute well.”

The Black Dragon pondered for a moment before answering.

– With just an S-grade magic stone, it won’t have much of an impact.

“That’s how that guy got screwed over, being so careless.”

– It’s more strange not to underestimate a human who hasn’t even lived that long! And not even a Source Vein User [a person with a unique connection to the source of mana]!

The Black Dragon shouted, feeling wronged by Chaos’s words.

“You weren’t a Source Vein User?”

“I told you, there were fewer Source Vein Users among the Transcenders back then. Ah, Crescent Moon was a Source Vein User, though.”

“Crescent Moon? Could you tell me what attribute they had?”

“I don’t know. I barely even encountered them.”

They weren’t close. That’s more welcome for me, though. The young Chaos wasn’t a Source Vein User. Even so, he seemed like someone who was born great. Even if he wasn’t a natural S-grade, he must have been an S-grade Awakened [a person who has gained supernatural abilities]. The Black Dragon grumbled, letting out hot breaths.

– They called him the calamity of the Central Continent, but for me, that guy was the real calamity. I barely managed to protect the world, and then some random guy popped up!

“You protected the world, from the Source?”

– All the monsters the Source released were weaker than me.

The Black Dragon boasted. Well, if a monster like that was holding out, the Source wouldn’t be able to release monsters and swallow the world. So, if there’s an L-grade Awakened, it means the world can definitely be protected. As long as the Transcenders don’t cause trouble.

“What’s the point of protecting it? In the end, it was all falling apart. That lizard was sitting in the Central Continent, melting mountains and filling rivers with boiling molten metal, causing droughts because of the heat.”

“That was a real calamity.”

Even if you escape from the Source, there can be such side effects. The hero who saved the world becomes a new destruction? It would be better with a team play. Since they can keep each other in check.

Anyway, since the Black Dragon saved the world, I put on a respectful look and asked him sweetly.

“Was it very difficult to fight the monsters the Source sent? Were you L-grade back then? What were the monster grades? You didn’t take them all down alone, did you?”

– I caught all the strong ones.

The young Chaos poured cold water on the Black Dragon, who was boasting again.

“You won’t get anything out of asking. He was just hunting, not even knowing he was saving the world.”

The Black Dragon was also a fire attribute, so he must have burned everything without any companions, true to his nature. The young Chaos whispered to me in a low voice, but loud enough for the Black Dragon to hear.

“He’s a bit dull for a Source Vein User. They say that if a naturally strong dragon species is also a Source Vein User, such side effects sometimes occur. Their existence becomes too much, and they get eaten up by their own ego, sometimes even losing their reason and becoming a monster.”

Come to think of it, Diarma also seemed a bit dumber than other Transcenders. The Black Dragon, having heard all of Chaos’s words, snarled fiercely. But he didn’t refute, as if he agreed, and suddenly closed his eyes. At the same time, the heart fragment on my palm became hot. The red aura intensified for a moment, then disappeared as if absorbed, leaving only a completely jet-black light.

“…Did you move it?”

As soon as I asked, the Black Dragon’s head slowly began to crumble. The same was true for the body, limbs, and tail that were far away. It crumbled away like snow melting under the summer sun. Beyond the giant body, the land with the sea completely opened up.

“When you implant the heart into your back, put some of that guy’s essence in as well. Blood should be enough.”

At Chaos’s words, Yoohyun’s already sullen expression became even stiffer.

“Why me again?”

“Yoohyun.”

“Can’t I do it instead?”

“Do you think you can? If you don’t like it, just give up on the sword.”

Give up! I quickly stopped Yoohyun before he did something stupid.

“It’s just using a skill I have, a skill. It leaves some scars, but I’m a Hunter too. It’s nothing compared to risking your life in a dungeon raid. Besides, if you look at my experience, it’s more than yours─”

“Experience?”

Yoohyun’s voice sank even colder.

“Experience, hyung [older brother]? Don’t tell me, before regressing, you went into dungeons? You said you didn’t have any special skills back then.”

“Of course I went in.”

My heart stung, but I answered calmly, as if it were nothing.

“Hey, would I have stayed still with my personality? I’m like this even now. That’s why you had a hard time too.”

“…….”

“But I didn’t die.”

At those words, Yoohyun finally relaxed his expression, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I need to watch my mouth.

“Please. You heard what the Black Dragon said earlier. If an L-grade could stop the monsters alone, then there should be several SSS-grades, but I can’t throw away a weapon that can grow to L-grade.”

“…I know. I would have given up otherwise.”

My brother said gloomily. Still, maybe because we had a fight, he didn’t seem as resistant as I expected. Even if it’s not reality, he already stabbed a knife into my body.

“Elder, thank you for helping us in many ways.”

As I was about to say goodbye to leave, Chaos stared at me and Yoohyun with a sulky look, then took a step forward. And then suddenly.

“Yoohyun?!”

My brother lost consciousness and collapsed. Chaos, who was standing next to Yoohyun, lightly grabbed the back of Yoohyun’s neck with one hand to prevent him from hitting the ground. Then he handed my brother over to me. I supported Yoohyun, who was thrown at me, and sat down on the shaky floor. My stats must have dropped back to F-grade; I have no strength.

“I just knocked him out for a moment.”

“Why suddenly!”

The young Chaos said bluntly.

“You damn brat. Do you really plan to live a long life?”

“Yes.”

I answered, looking up at him. Chaos’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“You’re good with words.”

“I’m confident I’ll live quietly once the world is safe. I’ll also try to live a long life. My goal is at least a hundred years, how much is left?”

Instead of answering, a small hand stroked my head tightly. It was painful, but at the same time, it was a warm touch.

“You reckless colt.”

“After the cow, it’s a horse? I might become a dog at this rate.”

“Dogs at least listen well. More than that, if the first colt goes, won’t the second colt follow?”

“That’s the biggest worry.”

I looked down at Yoohyun in my arms. My brother is making me worry more and more.

“But there are people who get along with him. We have a third one at home.”

“What? There’s more like you guys? It’s the end of the world.”

“He’s a good kid!”

“You said the second one was good too.”

No, Yoohyun is good too… I felt sorry for Yerim.

“Anyway, he’s also close with Peace. He’ll change little by little. You said there’s a possibility for the Elder too.”

“Even if he changes, his roots will remain the same. He’ll still only look at you. That’s his nature. Even if you abandon your brother, it’s still a lifelong attachment.”

“Abandon him…….”

I unconsciously bit my lip and grumbled, changing the subject.

“Elder, your speech is getting older and older. You’re even using Chinese characters. Come to think of it, you seem to be fluent in Korean, do you have a language-related skill or something?”

“It’s not a skill, the system synchronized it for me. Getting older? Is it that rabbit’s doing?”

“If you’re talking about the newbie, he looks like a puppy. Just because his ears are long doesn’t mean he’s a rabbit. There are rabbits with droopy ears too, but if you look at their teeth structure, they’re carnivores or omnivores.”

“What would a kid who hasn’t even seen a carnivorous rabbit know?”

“I’m telling you, he looks like a puppy to anyone.”

“It’s a rabbit.”

A meaningless argument went back and forth for a while. No conclusion was reached. I stopped the useless talk and asked about Yoohyun again. I need to find out as much as possible since I don’t know when I’ll see him again.

“Elder, you must have seen many Source Vein Users like Yoohyun, could you tell me a little more in detail? What were they like? Someone said he has a short life, but have there been people who lived long?”

“Eighty percent die young.”

“…That many?”

“Most people abandon even Source Vein Users, let alone the Source Vein itself, even if they’re newborns. If it’s a world where child protection is well-established depending on the social system or ethics, they survive.”

…No matter how talented a natural S-grade is, they won’t be able to survive if they’re abandoned before they can even walk. Fortunately, in modern times, in our country, it’s not easy to abandon children. It was a great relief that he wasn’t sent to an orphanage.

“Were there any cases where the guardian was also a Source Vein User? I think Source Vein Users could get along well with each other.”

“Most Source Vein Users move according to their desires. There’s no way those guys would raise a boring kid without any reaction. Even if they’re curious for a moment, they’ll soon abandon them again.”

Come to think of it, Sung Hyunjae knew that Yoohyun was special and was interested for a moment, but soon withdrew his interest. …Thinking about it makes me angry again. Don’t even think about touching our kid again. The same goes for other people. Don’t tell me he’s interested in Yerim. Yerim isn’t an ordinary S-grade Hunter either. Should I tell them not to go near the Breeding Center and Haeyeon Guild?

“There were occasionally cases where ordinary people noticed their talent and raised them with the intention of using them, but most of them were killed by the Source Vein. They’re not the type to be tamed. As far as I know, your brother is the first.”

And all of them died before they reached 50, let alone 100, said the young Chaos.

“It’s impossible for a being with only one instinctive nature and no desires to live long. Your brother is different, so cheer up. If you live long, that guy will live long too.”

“…Yes.”

I couldn’t help but make a sad face at the stories that weren’t exactly positive. Chaos looked at me as if I was a headache.

“You only talk about your brother when you open your mouth.”

“I can talk about it for three days and nights.”

“Talk about yourself.”

Me? Well. Um.

“I’m living hard.”

I was trying to live hard while raising my brother, but I failed. So I’m trying not to fail a second time. That’s all.

“I’m living hard.”

“Okay.”

“What about you, Elder?”

I looked down at Yoohyun and then raised my head. A face similar to Yoohyun’s came into my eyes. He’s making a nonchalant expression, but he’s still looking at me. It’s only the third time we’ve met. But still.

“Can I trust you?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

“Why are you helping me so much? You’re caring, aren’t you?”

“It’s just that I’m dumbfounded by the sight of a weak little thing struggling to crawl, not even knowing that its own flesh is being torn off.”

“Are you helping me because you pity me?”

Pity was fine too. Being pitied and feeling offended by my pride only matters if I’m alive. If you pity me and reach out your hand, I’ll welcome you anytime.

“Do you think you’re the only pitiful kid in the world? It’s just that you caught my eye, and I wanted to do it.”

Chaos stroked my head again.

“That’s all.”

The hand on my head slid down and tapped Yoohyun’s cheek. Then my brother’s closed eyes opened.

“…Hyung?”

“When you get out, take your brother to the hospital right away.”

At the young Chaos’s words, Yoohyun stood up from leaning on me as if he had been splashed with cold water.

“Hospital?”

“Yes. Don’t use potions or healing skills, as they’ll only be poison. Recover him with methods that don’t involve mana or magic.”

“Are there any other precautions?”

Yoohyun asked seriously. He didn’t seem to have even a fingernail’s worth of dissatisfaction, even though he had just been knocked unconscious.

“Refrain from relying on such things even in normal times, and feed him well and let him sleep well. It’s hard to touch the first colt, and the second one is.”

Chaos stroked his smooth chin without any fluff and looked at Yoohyun with narrow eyes.

“Want to learn from me?”