The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 345

343. Peaceful For Now (1)

On the table was something resembling a miniature perfume bottle. I’d seen Yerim display similar things before. She said they were for decoration, not for actual use. Inside the small bottle was a bluish liquid.

“…Am I supposed to drink it?”

I had specifically asked for a mana imprint adjustment item.

“No.”

Myungwoo said, picking up the small bottle.

“The item is inside this.”

“That liquid?”

“Liquid metal.”

Was it like mercury? When the bottle’s cap was opened, the blue liquid inside slowly rippled. The heavy movement made it clear that it wasn’t an ordinary liquid.

“It’s a method of overlaying it onto the imprint. To remove it, you just bring the bottle’s opening close, and it’ll be sucked back in. In other words, without the bottle, you can’t remove it through normal means.”

“You wouldn’t happen to *not* be giving me that bottle, would you?”

“You know me well.”

Myungwoo laughed.

“Yujin, it will automatically adjust to a level that won’t burden your body.”

“What should I do when there’s a situation where it *needs* to be a burden, teacher?”

“Here.”

This time, two small beads were offered.

“Using these will temporarily switch it to manual. I’ll give them to you, but use them as little as possible.”

“I’ll try.”

Myungwoo looked at me a bit disapprovingly as I put the beads into my inventory. Then, he poured the liquid metal onto my neck, where the imprint started. A cold sensation spread along the imprint on my back.

“You need to check it at least once a month. Put it in your phone as a reminder.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Did you ask about what to do with the weapon?”

“We decided to upgrade Yerim’s spear.”

We talked about it that day at the aquarium in front of the manatee tank. I said that since I can’t always be by Hyung’s side, it would be better for Yerim to have an SS-Rank weapon. As much as I want to keep being together, it’s not easy.

And I didn’t buy her ice cream. My little brother watched the manatees eating cabbage and said that cabbage is good for the stomach. It seems like unnecessary knowledge keeps increasing for an S-Rank, is Sung Han-ssi [Mr. Sung Han] the culprit? In addition, Yerim went into the large tank with sharks and made bubble hearts. She also took pictures with the rays.

“Then tell her to bring the spear around this weekend.”

“Will it take long? Yerim doesn’t have any spare weapons.”

There are cases where weapons get damaged during battle, so it would be good to have at least one spare S-Rank weapon in case of emergencies, but it wasn’t easy to match the attribute and characteristics.

“If it’s a spare weapon, it would be good to have a different type besides a spear as a secondary. Ask her what she wants to use.”

“Are you going to make it for her? I’d feel too bad……”

…Yerim, custom-made weapons are hard to get even with money. Even if you get into more debt, you’re an S-Rank Hunter. I want to help you if I could, but you wouldn’t accept it. Of course, Yerim will be happy to hear the news. If it’s a different type of weapon, it has to fit her well, so I should tell her to try out various things in advance.

“I still have plenty of water and ice attribute materials, and Evelyn Hunter’s weapon production is finished.”

“Evelyn Hunter, is that a bow?”

“Yeah. I can’t tell you the details though.”

“Of course, you shouldn’t. You took on Evelyn Hunter’s request.”

“To be exact, it’s a request from the Sesung Guild Leader. It’s a bit difficult to talk about this in detail too.”

I waved my hand, telling Myungwoo, who was apologizing, that it was okay. Security is important for business targeting Hunters. I guess it’s the price for bringing Evelyn Hunter to Sesung. I’m a bit curious about what Sung Hyunjae did for Myungwoo.

“About recruiting the item creators I mentioned before. I’m planning to put out ads overseas if possible. Exactly how should they be awakened?”

Myungwoo asked. I thought too many people might flock to it if it included overseas, but it would be okay if the first round had strict conditions.

“First of all, they absolutely must not be directly attacked by monsters. Otherwise, there’s a high chance that combat or combat-support skills will pop out.”

If you could awaken by being attacked by a monster, you could just go to the Awakening Center without preparing anything difficult. Only the building collapsed, the awakening system is still intact. But in 999 out of 1000 cases of awakening during combat with monsters, you’ll get a combat skill. You might get a production-related skill by luck, but the probability is too low.

“So, it’s like… yeah, it would be best to create something like an escape room. A monster is lurking behind iron bars, and the countdown starts, but you have to make a key with the tools in front of you within the time limit to escape.”

To awaken just by being threatened by a monster, not directly attacked, it had to feel as real as possible. So, even if it’s actually safe, I’d have them write a pledge saying it could be dangerous and give them an emergency bell.

“It’s like configuring a special dungeon where you directly make a ladder to escape, repair the chains the monster is tied to, and choose the right items.”

“Sounds fun.”

“Non-awakened people will be scared. It’ll take some time to make, though.”

“I’ll make it.”

“You, Myungwoo?”

“Such a dungeon is also a type of item if you think about it. Like this Golden Blacksmith Shop. With my current abilities, it’s hard to create a separate space itself, but I’ll try to work on at least the building.”

Come to think of it, Shinwoo had created a dungeon. Transcenders are on a different level than Myungwoo, but Myungwoo might become like that someday.

After getting an extra lecture to take care of my health, I returned to the breeding center. Comet and Kang Soyoung, who had fully grown, were waiting in the rooftop garden. The Thorned Winged Dark Dragon, boasting smooth black scales and long wings, brought its large head to me.

– Krrr.

S-Rank stats and all optimized skills were obtained. Kang Soyoung was smiling so brightly that she looked like she would fly away any moment.

“The building where Comet’s house was located collapsed, so we’re going to the Gyeonggi-do breeding facility for now.”

“Is the remaining building safe?”

“Yes, the safety inspection is over. That’s a relief.”

Kang Soyoung sighed deeply.

“Guild Leader, if you’re going to destroy something, you should destroy someone else’s building like mine.”

I think you shouldn’t destroy someone else’s or your own.

“The blacksmith said Comet’s equipment will be completed tomorrow, so we’re planning to enter the dungeon together the day after tomorrow. As an S-Rank.”

“From the beginning?”

“I can enter at least a lower-level S-Rank. It’s a dungeon with enough data accumulated, so there’s no problem.”

“Still, be careful and have a good trip.”

Kang Soyoung, who answered yes, grabbed my hand tightly. Her sparkling eyes were a bit burdensome.

“Director Han, I really like you a lot.”

“Ah, yes…….”

It was a word that could make my heart flutter a little, but it was just an expression of how very, very, very grateful she was for raising Comet well. And it probably meant to continue to take good care of her in the future.

“Call me anytime if you need anything. I can do anything for Director Han’s request! You know I really appreciate it, right?”

“Yes, yes.”

“I can even aim for the Guild Leader’s back of the head for Director Han. I can’t hit him, though. Because my ability is A-Rank. And please take good care of our Guild Leader too.”

Why is Sung Hyunjae coming out here?

“He seems to be in a bit of a bad mood these days, but he won’t think about touching Director Han, so please keep an eye on him.”

“…A bad mood?”

“A few annoying gnats are sticking around. The Guild Leader hates being bothered when he’s not having fun. It’s okay for him to bother others, but others can’t do that to him.”

Gnats. Is that what he was dealing with when we talked on the phone? I tried to pry a little more, but Kang Soyoung kept her mouth shut. She said she would do anything, but she keeps what she needs to as a guild member.

Kang Soyoung jumped onto Comet’s back. The wings spread wide, and then the huge body lightly soared into the sky. The black dragon’s back disappeared quickly.

‘That makes three S-Rank monsters.’

Now, except for Bellare and Sorok, there were only A-Ranks. It seems like it will take a while for Sorok, and Bellare strangely doesn’t grow… Should I start receiving S-Rank monsters from overseas? I’ve received requests from two places so far.

‘It was America and India.’

They didn’t tell me the species, just the rank. Yerim also needs a ride, I wonder if there are any monsters with cold resistance among the two. Even if there are, they wouldn’t easily give up a baby S-Rank monster, but I’m the only one who can raise them, so negotiation wouldn’t be impossible.

‘Before that, I need to be able to use the Sprout Skill to check the status of the baby monsters.’

When will the system be fixed? I looked up at the sky and stretched. Still, it’s peaceful since the system is down. If it weren’t for the countdown to destruction, it would be nice to keep going like this.

“Oh, it’s Yoohyun.”

My brother sent me a text. He told me to take a walk since I’m out, huh. Is he watching? Is it that open window over there? I think so. I waved my hand, and he waved back.

What should I eat for dinner tonight? Yerim went to school for the first time in a while, should I go pick her up? No, she might be hanging out with her friends. Yoohyun came straight home after school, though. If I go in late, he’ll be waiting at home alone… Ugh, my brother.

‘…Should I go to college with him?’

Surprisingly, you can take classes in the same classroom even if you’re in different grades in college. What’s more, students create their own schedules. Thanks to that, you can attend as if you’re in the same grade and class, so I was a bit tempted.

Noah-ssi [Mr. Noah] and Soyoung-ssi [Ms. Soyoung] are there, so I could get along like school friends. Even if it’s just on the surface.

‘At this point, I wish the Transcenders would negotiate for about ten years.’

They have a lot of time. Just spend all their time negotiating, and we’ll stop the destruction on our own. Can’t we do that? Shinwoo, drag it out.

I took a lap around the garden as my brother told me to and went downstairs. It’s almost lunchtime.

“Hyung.”

“…Oh.”

It was Park Hayool. This time, he came in alone. I wondered if that was okay, but he knows me.

Park Hayool smiled brightly at me.

“I heard Hunter Park Yerim went to school?”

“Yeah. She’s a student.”

“Then is no one here right now? No one who would come looking for Hyung.”

“Not really, but I’m going to have lunch with my brother in a little while.”

Park Hayool was greatly disappointed at my words.

“Can’t you cancel it?”

I felt a little sorry as he looked at me with wide eyes, but I refused.

“I can’t. If I leave my brother alone, he’ll eat alone or not eat properly.”

He nags me to eat well, but he says he’s an S-Rank so it’s okay. Especially when he’s working at the guild, he says he’s too lazy to go out and eats simple dungeon food. I heard it from Seok Simyeong and got angry, but he said there’s no problem nutritionally and tilted his head, wondering what was wrong. I couldn’t just leave him alone.

It’s better for his body than instant food, but still. It doesn’t taste good, it doesn’t taste good!

“…Do you have meals together every day?”

“Unless something comes up. He’s still a kid. He’s actually young. I can’t have lunch with you, but I’ll give you something to drink.”

I gestured for him to follow me.

“However, I only have coffee beans and capsules.”

I can’t touch instant coffee. Other drinks were also sugar-free. Park Hayool hesitated as I opened the door to the reception room.

“Are there security cameras here?”

“There aren’t any here. This place was made to mainly deal with S-Rank Hunters.”

I put a coffee capsule into the machine and brewed coffee. It really looks bad. I put in a moderate amount of water and handed it over, and Park Hayool took a sip and wore a slightly distorted smile. I’m good at making instant coffee.

“If you come in without contacting me like this…….”

“Can’t I?”

I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t say I couldn’t. I just said to contact me in advance and sat on the sofa.

“Hyung, you had a stealth skill, right?”

“I didn’t tell people, did I?”

“I didn’t. You secretly left the Haeyeon Guild before, so it works on A-Ranks, right?”

He seemed to have already noticed, so I nodded. Park Hayool nodded in satisfaction at my answer.

“Do you still go out alone sometimes these days?”

“Then there’s an uproar.”

“An uproar, it’s not like you’re locked up. Aren’t you suffocated?”

“A little?”

It’s annoying to have surveillance even when going to the convenience store right in front of me. But I can’t help it. Park Hayool frowned at my words.

“Everyone’s too much.”

“No, it’s not that much.”

“It is too much. Hyung’s stats are low and your skills are useful, so they’re locking you up and using you. Even the Haeyeon Guild Leader is your younger brother.”

“Hey, that’s not true.”

Using me, I was momentarily taken aback, but I couldn’t get angry when I saw Park Hayool’s face. He’s saying it because he’s worried about me. But that’s not true.

“My brother is trying to protect my safety.”

“Hyung seems to care a lot about the Haeyeon Guild Leader.”

“Of course. He’s my brother who I practically raised.”

I see, Park Hayool nodded.

“What about the other S-Rank Hunters? I heard the Sesung Guild Leader is a dangerous person.”

“Even if he’s dangerous, well.”

“Have you never been threatened? I feel like you would have been. He didn’t inflict violence on Hyung, did he?”

No, why are you asking something like that. But I couldn’t say no. With a strangely uneasy feeling, Park Hayool, who had been sitting on the opposite side, got up and came towards me.