The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 343

341. It’s a Secret (1)

-Baaah.

I held the baby lamb in my arms. It looked quite big on the outside, but that was all fluff, so it wasn’t heavy. It was also very fluffy. I had just given it a bath yesterday, so its fur smelled nice and cozy.

“It’s so cute.”

-Baaah.

“Right, Yoohyun?”

My younger brother opened the car door instead of answering. When we arrived at the airport, there were a few reporters loitering around, though not as many as last time. A couple of them tried to point their cameras at me holding the Volcanic Black Lamb, but they hurriedly backed away after receiving Yoohyun’s cold glare.

“Welcome, Chief Han.”

As I entered the controlled waiting room, Choi Youngjoon, the head of the Hunter Association’s public relations department, greeted me warmly. He had ambitions to quickly use the Volcanic Black Lamb as a mascot and make dolls, but Chief Song blocked him, and he was just stamping his feet [frustrated]. I heard he had a meeting with Team Leader Kim Hayeon as well.

“Has Chief Song not arrived yet?”

“Of course, he has. He went out to the airfield. Even though Hunter Park Yerim is less likely to cause an accident than the Seseong Guild Leader last time, he insisted on waiting.”

You could say he’s diligent, but is he avoiding me? Did he notice that I was bringing the baby lamb? I’ve been whining a lot in my texts lately.

“Chief Song doesn’t have to come out every time S-Class Hunters go abroad and return, right?”

“Of course not. He usually only comes out when there are special international issues like last time or this time. However, the Seseong Guild Leader…”

“Ah, yes.”

I nodded my head emphatically. I know without you saying it. He must have caused one or two big accidents every time, so you had to pick him up every time. There must have been many times he went straight to the detention center. I might have been dragged on overseas business trips and returned with him. It’s heartbreaking just imagining it. I wonder if he’s ever been handcuffed. I’d like to see that once.

There was a generous spread of refreshments in the waiting room. I was a little bored, and it’s polite to have something to eat on the table when having a conversation. I looked at my brother. Yoohyun smiled gently.

“No. We’re going to lunch when Hunter Park Yerim arrives.”

…I wasn’t usually one for snacking. But the more you stop me from eating, the more I want to eat. But I endured it like an adult. Not that I could win even if I didn’t endure it.

“How has it been lately? Do you think they’ll come over?”

Choi Youngjoon furrowed his brow deeply at my question.

“They’re still the same. They even think it’s better to keep them affiliated with the Hunter Association rather than the Special Authority Office. On the other hand, we insist that they should at least be affiliated with the Special Authority Office. We do.”

“So, there are many people who want to take them to the Association.”

“Of course. But if they become affiliated with the Association, there’s a high possibility that they’ll be used for pointless things. At least in the Special Authority Office, we can focus on targeting Chief Song Taewon, but the Association is different. The Association Hunters want to use Ki Seungsoo, of course, and they’ll take them here and there to display them like decorations.”

There are still many people like that. If we hadn’t done the purge [internal reform], the opinion wouldn’t be divided like it is now. They wouldn’t have tried to hand over Ki Seungsoo to Chief Song, let alone the Special Authority Office. Even if they went to Chief Song, they would have made all sorts of excuses to take them away.

It’s because some people were replaced that they’re taking care of Chief Song.

“It would be more advantageous in many ways to have Chief Song confirm them as his personal skill.”

“It’s not that the Chief doesn’t know that, but he seems to have something on his mind.”

“Something on his mind?”

“He doesn’t say it, though.”

I guess I should create a drinking party and talk to him. How do I lure Chief Song out? Should I tell him that if he doesn’t drink with me, I’ll go abroad with Sung Hyunjae?

“Uncle!”

At that moment, Yerim burst through the door. She looked healthy without any injuries.

“Yerim! Welcome! Nothing happened?”

“I swept it clean in an instant. There was a huge river on the first floor, and I flooded it and froze it all.”

Yerim chattered about how she cleared the dungeon, saying it was very easy.

“The only thing I regretted was that I didn’t have enough Blue cold resistance items. It was a bit cold. So, I didn’t freeze it much after the first floor.”

“It’s hard to cover with just items. What about Blue?”

“He went straight to the breeding ground. The lion uncle told me to say hello to you. He also packed a gift.”

“…Didn’t he say anything else?”

“What do you mean?”

Fortunately, he didn’t say anything strange to Yerim. I patted Yerim, who had worked hard, and looked around. But I couldn’t see the person I was looking for.

“Didn’t Chief Song come to pick you up?”

“He said he was busy and just did a quick check and left.”

I guess he noticed. He ran away to avoid the lamb. I waited for Yerim, who was giving a short interview, feeling disappointed when I received a text.

[Hyung, I don’t think you’re at the breeding center today.]

It was Park Hayool. Was he thinking of coming to visit? I replied that Yerim had returned and I came to pick her up.

[Then Hunter Park Yerim will be at the breeding center for a while?]

[She’ll be resting for two or three days, so probably?]

He liked Yerim a lot before, didn’t he? When I asked if we could meet with Yerim, he declined, saying it was burdensome. Is it a bit much to see her privately?

[That’s too bad. I didn’t tell anyone else that I went to visit, did I?]

[No.]

[I’ll be in Korea for a while, so if you’re bored when you’re alone, please contact me!]

…I don’t really have time to be bored. More than that, why am I, um. It’s not bad to meet him, but. First of all, he has three A-Class skills, so I was thinking of awakening them. Should I apply the keyword or not? I have to be careful when dealing with people, but Park Hayool doesn’t seem dangerous.

“Who is it?”

“Oh, someone we hired this time.”

A lie slipped out unconsciously at my brother’s question. Park Hayool told me not to say anything, but… do I need to deceive even Yoohyun? Well, if Yoohyun finds out, he might stop Park Hayool from coming to the breeding center.

Yerim’s interview ended, and the three of us had lunch and went home. And.

“Tada, Peace!”

Peace’s exclusive cell phone arrived. It wasn’t a common smartphone, but a device that looked similar to a Blackberry phone with physical buttons. There were five large buttons: up, down, left, right, and power.

“Do you think Peace can really use it?”

“It’s simple, so maybe? Okay, look, Peace.”

I put the phone in front of Peace. Then, I grabbed Peace’s front paw and pressed the center power button with his claw.

“If you press this for about 2 seconds, the phone turns on. See?”

-Kkiang.

“The screen lights up, and here, if you press the right button like this for about 2 seconds.”

The phone rang. It was my phone. Peace’s phone was a basic video call. When I answered, my face appeared on Peace’s phone screen.

“It’s connected to Dad’s phone. See?”

-Kkyang!

“The right button is Dad. Peace’s face is also showing on Dad’s phone here. Right?”

-Kkeueung.

“And if you press this button on the other side.”

This time, the phone rang from somewhere else. It was Yoohyun’s phone.

“Yoohyun, answer the phone quickly!”

“…Hello.”

Yoohyun, who was standing a little away, answered the phone indifferently. Yoohyun’s face appeared on Peace’s phone screen.

-Kheuheung.

“Yes, Uncle Yoohyun. Don’t step on the phone. It might break.”

If Yoohyun didn’t answer the phone, it would automatically call someone else. I had registered S-Class Hunters: Yerim, Haeyeon Guild, Chief Song, Seseong Guild Leader, Breaker Guild Leader, and Noah.

“Let’s practice turning on the phone first.”

I turned off the phone and tapped it with my finger, and Peace raised one front paw and accurately pressed the center button with the tip of his claw. As expected, our baby is a genius!

“That’s right, Peace! Good job! Amazing!”

-Kkiaang.

“Now, let’s call Dad. That’s right!”

Wow, I only taught him once, and he can do it right away. Why isn’t there a monster farm? I have to go out.

“This time, Uncle Yoohyun, the left button!”

Peace hesitated. Is he confused because there are so many buttons?

“I guess he doesn’t want to call Han Yoohyun.”

-Geureureung.

Peace growled softly and pressed the left button. Oh, good job.

“Yoohyun, don’t answer this time. I’ll show you it going to Yerim.”

The connection rang a few times and then stopped, and this time the phone called Yerim. Yerim teleported to the kitchen and answered the phone excitedly.

“Hello, Peace~ Hello~”

-Kyang.

“Can you see well? Uncle! Can I capture this and upload it to SNS [Social Networking Service]?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“I’m also recording Peace making a phone call!”

Yerim seems to be the most excited. I continued to teach him how to turn it off and hung the phone around Peace’s neck.

“If you pull this, this string will lengthen, Peace.”

“Is this phone only for phone calls?”

“No, it has other functions, but it’ll be hard for Peace to use them.”

All the basic functions of any cell phone are available. To be exact, I tweaked only the basic settings on a normal phone. Besides, the buttons are different, so it would be inconvenient to use other functions.

“If you press the top button for a long time, it takes a picture. It only has a front camera, though.”

“Peace, let’s take a selfie with your phone! Did you register Peace’s phone number under Uncle’s name?”

“Peace can’t get a phone plan.”

“Can I make Peace an SNS? Can I download apps?”

I don’t care, but Peace won’t be able to use it even if I make it. Then Bbyak approached me.

-Bbyak.

“Huh? Why, Bbyak.”

-Bbyak Bbyak.

Is he hungry? I took out a mana stone and gave it to him, and he swallowed it and chirped dissatisfiedly again. Could it be.

“Bbyak, do you want to have that too?”

-Bbyak!

Did he get jealous because he only received Peace? I should buy him a toy phone.

“Uncle, Uncle, take a selfie with Peace too!”

“Oh, okay.”

“Han Yoohyun, where are you going!”

Yerim still stopped Yoohyun, saying that you’re the owner! You have to take a picture too. Don’t break the house.

I watched the kids bickering and slipped back into my room. I closed the door gently and made a phone call. Not long after, Sung Hyunjae answered the phone.

“Are you free? I should meet you once before you leave Korea.”

I was hospitalized for a while and hired employees, and time flew by quickly. I have to tell them before that. Sung Hyunjae and Yerim too.

[Unfortunately, I’ll be busy until tomorrow.]

“Preparing for departure?”

[No, a few bugs are tangled up.]

Beyond the low voice, there was a slightly noisy sound mixed in. I reflexively put my ear close to the phone.

“I don’t think you’re alone.”

[It’s as good as being alone, so you don’t have to worry.]

“That sounds brutal. Can I ask what’s going on?”

[It’s still unclear, but.]

After a short silence, Sung Hyunjae continued.

[Be careful of your safety.]

“Yes? Me?”

[I heard that a few overseas hunters have secretly entered Korea. The exact purpose has not been revealed, but it’s not unusual for my partner to be targeted at any time.]

“I’m a bit popular.”

[If a stranger approaches you, let people around you know immediately.]

It was an unusually strong warning tone. But there weren’t any strangers. Everyone is visiting the research center and the smithy.

“It’s unsettling. But I never move alone, so you don’t have to worry. No matter how high the rank of the hunters who sneaked in, they’ll be S-Class. For a while, I’ll be sure to accompany an S-Class Hunter.”

I’ll also take Peace with me. Then there’s no problem. It’s like going with two S-Class Hunters.

“I guess you’re not thinking of asking that person to help since you’re not alone.”

Skill holders who can read the memories of corpses like Yerim, Ms. Min Jisu. I hope there hasn’t been a problem in the meantime.

[I can’t kill people for illegal immigration. Like a sensible person in modern society, I have to start with a conversation.]

Sure, really. You wouldn’t have cared about simple illegal immigration hunters anyway.

“Please contact me when you have time. Before you leave the country. By the way, aren’t you having a housewarming party?”

[It would be nice to see you at home. I’ll pick you up in person.]

“Then, that, what is it, when you come, that thing.”

I lowered my voice and whispered. The kids must be listening now.

[That thing?]

“Oh, why do you know roughly if you come? Not just that, but anything.”

You’re quick-witted, so please understand. As expected, Sung Hyunjae laughed lowly as if he understood.

[I heard that the young master and the little lady are very concerned.]

“I wish you wouldn’t worry about the Seseong Guild Leader.”

[My concern for Han Yoojin’s health is-]

“Ah, come on.”

You won’t die from eating some snacks. Anyway, since Sung Hyunjae is busy, should I talk to Yerim first? When I opened the door, Yoohyun and Yerim, Peace, Bbyak, and Bellare were loitering nearby.

“Why are you all gathered here when it’s nothing special? Yoohyun, did Haeyeon hear about the illegal immigration?”

“I heard, but it’s common for overseas hunters to illegally immigrate.”

“It seems suspicious this time. Be careful.”

Yoohyun nodded. Haeyeon has grown a lot, but it’s still dark on the overseas side. It’s only just stretching its legs to Japan.

“Yerim, you’ll be resting for a few days, right? Japan said they want you to clear the S-Class dungeon quickly.”

“Until this week. I’m going to school, though.”

“Tomorrow too?”

“Tomorrow is a self-imposed holiday!”

Then I should go tomorrow. I have to find a nearby low-level dungeon.