The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 338

336. The Second and Third (5)

“Isumaru.”

At Myungwoo’s call, the Fire Spirit approached. A burning heat prickled my skin.

“This engraving, it’s based on a fundamental mana circuit, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Fundamental? I was clueless, but Myungwoo’s voice barely contained his anger.

“There’s nothing inherently wrong with applying it to a person, but…”

“Um, could you explain a little…?”

“Is it forced, or voluntary?”

The question was sharper than a cold blade. An answer didn’t come easily. I kept my mouth shut and shifted my gaze, and a sigh washed over me. Then.

*Slap!*

“Ouch! That hurts!”

“It hurts? You can say it hurts after putting yourself in this state?”

“No, ouch! Eunhye!”

– Beep.

Eunhye zipped in front of my face, tilting her head as if asking why I’d called.

‘Tell your dad to stop!’ I considered using Eunhye as a shield, but that would only fuel his anger. I had messed up, but still!

“T-that’s what everyone does in that town!”

I wasn’t the only one doing it, so why single out the mana engraving? The engraving itself is common and safe, or so they said.

“I didn’t actually go inside, but everyone was doing it. Really! Awakened people usually do it, so…”

“Even F-ranks do this?”

“No. F-ranks in that town aren’t treated as Hunters or Guards. I was a C-rank there, ouch!”

Stop hitting my back. Even my parents never hit me! It wasn’t so much that they didn’t scold me, but rather they weren’t interested, the opposite of now. My back was burning. Not quite a bruise, but there would probably be a red mark. Did Myungwoo use some kind of magic like the young Chaos? It hurt far more than the force of the blow suggested.

“C-rank? Even an S-rank could die!”

“H-how could you tell…?”

He just looked and knew. Myungwoo took a series of breaths, trying to calm his emotions. Then he continued his explanation.

“This is a basic mana circuit used when making items. It’s a bit different, but the fundamentals are the same. The mana circuit is needed to receive the user’s mana and operate.”

“…It goes into items?”

“Yes. After laying the basic mana circuit, you give it characteristics. The higher the grade, the denser and wider it is laid, but if the material’s durability is insufficient, it may break during the process. That’s why it’s difficult to make high-grade items from low-grade materials. Usually, items end up being a lower grade than the material.”

I see. That’s why Myungwoo recognized the mana engraving right away. He must use it every day.

“The mana circuit applied to you, to a person, is the same. There’s a limit to the amount it can withstand depending on the grade. But this is!”

“L-let’s talk. Calm down.”

“It’s a size that would be dangerous even for a C-rank if it went below the neck!”

“It’s dangerous, I know, but in that dungeon, I had five lives! That’s why I did it. It wasn’t reckless. I had proper anesthesia, and I only died once, ouch!”

“That’s a great thing to do, really!”

“No, but if you get a mana engraving, it’s good for handling mana. Wait a minute, you raised your hand just now, wait a minute!”

“Do you know what happens if you overload the mana circuit compared to its grade? It becomes a consumable item! It breaks after a few uses!”

Ah, so that’s how consumable items are made.

“I know it’s a burden, so I blocked it. Even the elder who made the sword for you scolded me!”

“Let’s erase it.”

Myungwoo said firmly. I wanted to jump at those words, but I still couldn’t move.

“Wait a minute, wait a minute! It’s a waste! I can’t do it again. They said it’s okay if I slowly release it so I can adapt, and use adjustment items. Huh? That’s why I was going to ask you to make it, and it won’t be easy to erase it either.”

“It’s not difficult to paralyze the circuit.”

“No way! It’s better to have it than not to have it! I’ll use it safely! Really!”

“How can I believe that?”

Do I have that little trust? I probably deserve it, though.

“Even if you say you’ll use it safely, you’ll push yourself again if something happens. I don’t even have to look to know.”

“But Myungwoo, if I don’t push myself, I might just die right away. Isn’t it better to have a way than not to have one? Our situation, I mean.”

I have to hold on to something to even struggle. Even if I push myself, I would have died about three times already if I hadn’t. At my pleading words, Myungwoo let out a sigh for what felt like the hundredth time.

“…I really wonder why it has to be you, Yujin.”

“I want to start my day by saying I don’t want to go to work.”

Maybe someday it will be possible. Or I could just become a rich, unemployed person. The hand pressing down on my neck lifted. As I got up, Myungwoo gestured towards the workbench.

“You said you needed an adjustment item. Lie down here.”

I quickly lay down on the workbench. Turning my head to the side, Myungwoo’s face was still stiff. I have fear resistance, but I don’t know why I get so nervous in front of Myungwoo.

“I’m going to take a mold, so don’t move.”

“Okay, but…”

“Don’t say anything.”

I obediently shut my mouth. Isumaru melted some kind of liquid without being told. Then Myungwoo took out a thin plate and floated it above my body. I couldn’t see it well, but judging from the fact that I had no sensation on my back, he seemed to have sprayed the liquid onto the plate.

After a while, Myungwoo peeled off something like thin beeswax from the plate. I could see the bluish mana engraving imprinted on it.

“I’ll put in a safety device. Don’t release it unless it’s really necessary. I’ll make it obvious if you do.”

“Okay.”

“You can get up now.”

As I sat up on the workbench, Isumaru brought me my clothes. I asked as I put on my top.

“By any chance, can you give mana engravings to other people? Only to a safe degree.”

“It’s impossible now. Items are refined with mana heat, but the human body isn’t. So I need to create a working environment with a large amount of mana, but there’s no way to draw out that much mana at once.”

“Where I got the engraving, there was a place called a mana hole where mana overflowed. Can’t Eunhye do it? Eunhye got a mana spring thanks to the mana hole.”

“That’s limited to you, Yujin. The fact that it can be erased is also possible because of Eunhye. If a place like a mana hole appears in our world, we might be able to give engravings to other people. It would be useful if you kept the appropriate amount for the grade, but you…”

The glaring gaze stung. It’s a shame that it’s not possible. ‘Eunhye, can’t you make an exception? Yuhyun and Yerim, even if it’s limited to family. If it’s family, we usually share everything.’

“Your brother has become too soft these days. He used to act like he would lock you up if anything happened.”

“You shouldn’t lock people up.”

“You’re an exception.”

I also have human rights.

“It’s the same with other people. He’s too soft for how much he cares about you. I don’t understand it, but everyone needs you.”

“Does that sound like you don’t?”

“I need you, so there’s no need to worry about saving your body.”

“That’s right.”

Well, Myungwoo, even if I helped him get skills, I’ve repaid him enough. Eunhye alone is enough and overflowing. Besides, unlike other people, he didn’t need my abilities. Other Hunters have a lot to gain from the growth buff, connections with Myungwoo, stamina potions, and other information, but Myungwoo was different. If I broke up with him, I would be the one who would regret it.

“Is that why I shrink in front of you?”

“I won’t leave you.”

“You never know what will happen. I never imagined that I would be separated from my brother for so long. At most, it would be the military.”

“I won’t.”

Myungwoo handed me a snack as if telling me to stop talking nonsense.

“But the snack is a bit different from before?”

“They told me not to give you sweets before meals because you don’t eat. And not to feed you too much. This is the last one.”

It’s delicious even though it’s plain… Those kids, really.

“Oh, would you like to meet the elder? He said he would teach Yuhyun swordsmanship.”

“He’ll teach him?”

“Yeah. At that dungeon with the newbie. About once a week.”

At my words, Myungwoo made an interested expression.

“Then can I learn too?”

“Huh? You, Myungwoo, swordsmanship?”

“No. From the newbie.”

Newbie… I looked at Myungwoo with slightly surprised eyes.

“Something system-related, you mean?”

“More than the system, it’s about the entire production. You saw that the newbie made the dungeon himself. I’m a blacksmith, but there are no restrictions on the act of creating. Look here.”

Myungwoo pointed to his smithy, to the greenery beyond the window.

“This space, this small world, was also made by the blacksmith, Mr. Shallos. There’s no reason I can’t do it.”

A breeze blew in. It was a small place, but it was clearly an independent space like a dungeon.

“Making items is fun, but after seeing the newbie’s dungeon, I became greedy. Even if I’m the best in this world, I want to go further. And if I know more about dungeons and systems, it will help you too.”

“Of course. Absolutely!”

My heart was pounding for no reason.

“I’ll talk to the newbie. He’s nice, so he’ll listen. I should pack something to eat when I go this time… Can’t eat a volleyball.”

Should I gift him leather polish?

“But don’t put tentacles on it.”

“Huh?”

“It’s convenient, but still.”

I was a little worried that tentacles seemed to be in fashion. I should tell the newbie not to give Myungwoo any vain hopes.

* * *

After returning to the hospital room and seeing Myungwoo off, I took out two magic stones. Next to the SS-grade magic stone, Blackie’s magic stone looked small and shabby. Still, Blackie will be the main one.

‘Where should I put it this time?’

The heart has both front and back, the waist? Stomach? Or shoulders or limbs? As I pondered, my palm suddenly caught my eye. He liked it when I stroked him.

‘Should I do it with my palm?’

If I cut it slightly, it won’t be as noticeable.

I went into the bathroom and Peace followed. Even though I told him to go out, he didn’t listen this time.

“Then don’t be surprised. Dad’s just using a skill.”

– Kyawung.

“Because I’m making Peace’s sibling.”

Peace doesn’t like it when new monsters appear.

As I took out the dagger, Peace, who had been sitting, got up. Reassuring him that he was anxious, I put my hand in the sink so that Peace couldn’t see. As soon as I cut it slightly, I smelled blood and he groaned. I quickly put in the two magic stones and showed Peace the wound.

“See, look. It’s okay, right?”

– Kkeang.

Peace stuck out his tongue and licked the small remaining wound. Blackie will be born faster than the Changeling. I was already curious about what he would look like. …What about the Changeling’s name? Should I go to a naming center?

* * *

“You should rest more.”

“Yeah, hyung [older brother/male friend]. Just three days, or even better, how about resting for a week? I think a month is good, and a year of long-term care is fine too.”

“That’s right, uncle. Guild Leader, let’s make a nursing home at Haeyeon this time. The prospects are good in this nuclear family aging society.”

“Guys, I’m still in my 20s.”

If you only listened to them, you would think I was taking care of elderly parents. Yuhyun and Yerim were worried, but I was discharged as planned. My physical condition had improved and my eyesight had almost fully recovered, so there was no reason to lie down any longer.

“I’ll take good care of my health and work slowly, so don’t worry. We’re going to hire staff too.”

“You said you’re going to find them yourself? Why are you making work for yourself? Just leave it to Haeyeon. Or have them come for an interview.”

It wasn’t something I needed to do, but I wanted to go myself. I wanted to greet them personally instead of in a stiff interview room.

“It’s like a walk. I’ve only been at home and in the hospital. By the way, Yerim, you said you’re leaving tomorrow morning, right?”

“Yes. This time it’s A-grade, so it’ll be over soon. It’ll take a while if I’m in charge of S-grade.”

She was even taking Blue to the large lake environment, so it would take at most two days.

“Blue is very fast. He might come back the next day.”

It was to showcase Haeyeon’s dungeon management ability, so Yerim alone would enter and attack as quickly as possible. The goal was to prevent unnecessary complaints by showing off the overwhelming attack speed. Of course, adult team members would accompany her to Japan.

“Several overseas hunters are visiting because of the research lab, so be careful while I’m gone. When hiring staff, be sure to go with S-grade Hunters and Peace. Hanyuhyun, do well.”

“Don’t worry.”

As Hyunah said, Yerim seemed to have become my guardian. I wondered if this was okay, but she said it would make her feel more comfortable. In fact, she was enjoying nagging Yuhyun and me, and was diligently thinking about what else she should say.

* * *

The next day, after seeing Yerim off, I left the house with the address book given to me by Dohamin.

“Please take care of me, Noah.”

The person who was going to protect me was none other than Noah. Noah had been avoiding me these days, and he was protecting the building and lab where the number of visitors had increased, so I was going to ask Yuhyun or Sunghan, but he was the first to offer to accompany me. Did Myungwoo give him advice?

Anyway, I thought it was a good thing.