The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 350

348. I’ll Be Right Back (4)

If I disappear voluntarily, don’t come to the place where I’m most likely to be found. I’ve told Yoohyun, Yerim, and Mr. Noah that. I couldn’t explain it in detail, but there were only a few methods I could use if I was cornered.

– Bleep!

Eunhye circled around me in a fluster. A blue gem ornament had fallen beside me as my leg was pulled, causing me to collapse. Before I could even open my mouth, someone quick-witted stopped moving.

“My leg is tearing. I’m a fragile F-rank right now.”

There must already be marks on my leg. The chain couldn’t be pulled any further and instead slackened. I turned my head. The first thing that caught my eye was a large black wyvern. Comet, with Kang Soyoung riding on its back. They must have been monitoring Blue with Comet and immediately followed as soon as they noticed something suspicious.

If they expected me to come here, it was better to let Blue loose and follow him rather than preventing his walk. If Blue wasn’t visible, I would have disappeared completely. They handled it well up to that point.

Sung Hyunjae was standing in front of the black wyvern. His light-colored hair seemed even more faded against the backdrop of the dark scales. His cool, composed gaze was directed at the blue gem ornament, Eunhye. He spoke without giving himself time to hesitate.

“Or you can just take my leg. 3, 2.”

The chain was released before the countdown finished. Unexpectedly. You won’t die even if you lose a leg. Sung Hyunjae opened his mouth with a slightly stiff expression.

“I won’t hold you back, so take Eunhye.”

What nonsense. Eunhye cried out, beeping loudly. Why aren’t you stopping me? Why did I tell the kids not to come? Yoohyun, Yerim, and Mr. Noah were definitely out. Moon Hyuna was also unsettling because the keyword was applied to her. Kim Sunghan was the same. Even if the keyword effect disappeared, the memories remained.

So I thought Sung Hyunjae, or Song Taewon, would be possible.

“…How can I trust that?”

A curt voice blurted out of my mouth. If my leg was torn off, Park Hayool wouldn’t be able to take me to China. Even if I used a potion for first aid, it would be difficult to endure a flight of over two hours without using a top-tier dungeon ticket. Since they wouldn’t be planning to kill me, they would give up. Even if Park Hayool insisted, there was a high possibility that Blue wouldn’t listen to orders. If he thought I was in critical condition, he would refuse the order and prioritize treatment, seeking help from people he was usually close to.

So just hold on to me until the end.

“Han Yoojin.”

Sung Hyunjae stood there as if rooted to the spot. There was no movement, but the air was taut and prickling. Was he going to pounce? The chain was already released, but he could restrain me faster than I could use an item. So there was still a chance.

But.

The limp chain jingled metallically as it was retracted. It disappeared into the inventory altogether.

“Please.”

Sung Hyunjae took a step back. He leaned back slightly, showing his palms to the sky as a sign that he wouldn’t do anything.

“Take it.”

I smiled at him. Instead of picking up Eunhye, I used the item I was holding in my hand. A one-time use teleportation item. If I had used it while my leg was chained, it would have been quite a miserable sight, but now I could move to Blue’s back without any injuries. Park Hayool grabbed me as if he had been waiting.

“Hyung! Let’s go quickly!”

Amidst the cheers, Blue took off. No attacks came, even before he picked up speed. I had no ability to defend myself right now. The earring’s barrier was B-rank, so it wouldn’t be able to withstand an attack strong enough to stop an S-rank monster like Blue.

In the end, the golden griffin quickly gained speed without any interference, streaking across the sky.

“I thought we were going to get caught for sure!”

Park Hayool shouted in relief as the large wyvern completely disappeared from sight.

“…I know.”

That’s what should have happened. My mind was blank. Where did it go wrong?

“I didn’t think the Sesung Guild Leader would let Hyung go.”

I thought so too. But Sung Hyunjae released me, even though he had practically caught me. He quickly realized that I was trying to resist by using myself as a hostage and gave up.

Unexpectedly.

“…Damn it.”

“Hyung?”

I expected Sung Hyunjae wouldn’t hesitate even if I got hurt a little. But he didn’t. Did I really not know this would happen? …No, that’s not true. I’ve definitely been threatened by him a few times and haven’t been treated like a human being, but recently. Recently, it had definitely changed.

Song Taewon was the same. If it was Chief Song, he might have succeeded in forcibly holding me back. But what about him? He was someone who deliberately faced his own unwanted self in order not to harm me. Whatever the reason, to think that it was okay to make Chief Song do something that would seriously injure me. How could I.

“Sung Hyunjae, couldn’t hurt me.”

“But he still caught you, didn’t he? Is your leg okay?”

Only then did I feel a slight throbbing in my right leg.

“You have to be careful of S-rank Hunters.”

“Don’t say that. I’m fine.”

“You were lucky. I saw it from afar, but it was so brutal. I thought Hyung was going to be dragged away.”

“No, even if they’re S-rank Hunters…”

“I heard that chain is SS-rank, isn’t it too much to use it on Hyung, who has low stats? It’s not just once or twice, he’s treating Hyung like an object. I’ve heard the Sesung Guild Leader is scary, but this is no joke.”

I closed my mouth because there was no point in saying more, I would only get caught up in Park Hayool’s words. If I wasn’t careful, I might end up being even more wary of S-rank Hunters than I am now, or maybe even hostile towards them. The kids were still okay because the L-rank Caregiver keyword was prioritized over Park Hayool’s skill, but it was better to be careful.

Because words gain more power the more they are repeated.

“Give me the map and compass.”

I checked the direction and gave instructions to Blue. My mouth tasted bitter.

‘…I should have at least taken Eunhye.’

But at that moment, I couldn’t trust Sung Hyunjae. It felt like he would attack again if I held Eunhye in my hand. Emotionally, I still felt the same. However, since I had already experienced him letting me go willingly, I was barely able to think rationally that it wasn’t the case.

“…You didn’t prepare well, what is this? I ended up doing everything.”

Park Hayool, who was sitting behind me, smiled awkwardly at my words.

“Well, after Choi Seokwon died, they gave up on getting Hyung out of China because there was no answer. How many S-ranks are around Hyung? Including the monsters, it’s terrifying. There are no more people among the Korean S-ranks who would come over, so there were no special preparations.”

“You’re saying you just rushed in empty-handed? To kidnap me?”

“That’s not it, since Hyung has a stealth skill, if you came out yourself and no one noticed for just two hours, it would be easy to bring you over, so that’s why I came. Other than me, all you needed was a plane to escape, so.”

But he didn’t know that you would get caught and locked up, so he thought it wouldn’t work, Park Hayool chattered excitedly. Well, if Sung Hyunjae hadn’t noticed, I would have quietly boarded the plane without this commotion. Moving several high-level Hunters would only increase the chances of getting caught, and it was more advantageous to form a kidnapping team with Park Hayool and a few lower-level Hunters with Korean nationality.

“Hey, even if it seemed hopeless, you should have quickly retreated and waited for the next opportunity. You could have created a fake culprit and sacrificed them, and then tried again when things calmed down.”

“Noona told me to do that, but I said I would try to persuade Hyung one more time.”

“…Noona?”

Suddenly, who’s this Noona? At my words, Park Hayool hesitated and opened his mouth.

“I haven’t told Hyung about this in detail yet, but there’s a cool Noona. She’s a bit older, but she’s cool, so she’s Noona.”

A cool Noona who is older, I can’t even guess. Is she an Awakened?

“Could it be the Saintess?”

I brought up the most famous female Hunter in that age range, but Park Hayool wiggled and shook his head. Who is it?

“You, weren’t you working with the Chinese side?”

“For now~ I’ll tell you later, Hyung.”

It seemed like there was someone else behind Park Hayool. Perhaps that Noona sent Park Hayool to China, and Park Hayool pretended to be affiliated with China to kidnap me. …Well, to be exact, I kidnapped myself.

As the altitude increased, the wind that was already slapping my cheeks fiercely due to the speed became even colder. My body shivered reflexively.

“…It’s cold.”

“Ah, that’s right, Hyung has low stats. What should I do, should I take off my clothes for you?”

“It’s okay. The clothes are…”

I also had them in my inventory. I took out a hot pink fur ball. It was a long cardigan. And even a long, long scarf.

“Hyung’s taste is a bit unique.”

“I received it as a gift.”

“If it goes into the inventory, it must be handmade, it’s well-made except for the color. Who made it?”

“Someone who is unnecessarily good at everything.”

As soon as I wrapped the cardigan and scarf around myself, I quickly warmed up. The stuffiness was relieved a little.

‘Right, anyway, it’s dealing with people.’

There’s no need to worry too much since they’re not Transcenders [beings who have transcended human limitations]. I’ve filled my inventory with kidnapping preparations and I also have the points store. The points are limited, so I have to use them sparingly, but I’m confident that I can take care of myself wherever I go.

Well, those who are after me will take care of my body for me. So if I don’t make Akates look like me, I’ll change my last name. It’s a shame I don’t have Eunhye, but since there’s a high chance of getting caught and taken away if I use it once or twice anyway.

“If China is after me, they must have prepared a few spirit-riding monster pups, right?”

“Yes? I guess so.”

I wonder if there are any cold resistance S-rank monsters. China has a wide land and a large population, so they must have a lot more S-rank equipment than Japan. I should empty my inventory and fill it up completely. Whatever I do, it’s the kidnapper’s fault. If I stab the kidnapping masterminds, I might be able to find out how to escape from Park Hayool’s skill. If it wasn’t for the skill, I’m confident that I can run away on my own.

‘I hope the kids aren’t too worried.’

It’ll be okay since I told them in advance. You can come slowly, guys.

* * *

– Bleep! Bleep! Bleep! Bleep!

The small blue bird fluttered up and down, crying pitifully. It couldn’t stray far from its main body, circling around and looking up at the sky. The sound of heels approached its side.

Smooth fingertips picked up the blue gem that had been thrown onto the dirt floor.

– Bleep bleep.

Kang Soyoung was torn between running away and not, as she watched her superior’s back. She felt the urge to make Comet fly away immediately, but she wasn’t confident that she could handle the aftermath. The corners of her lips were slightly pulled back with tension.

Even though she was a Hunter who had faced countless monsters, monsters stronger than herself, she felt like she was facing a real monster that she couldn’t even dare to attack. A warning based on instinct flowed down her spine with a tingling sensation. If she were an ordinary A-rank Hunter, she would have run away without looking back. Comet, an S-rank monster, was also bristling its small thorns.

“…This is the first time I’ve felt so disgusted.”

You look like it, Kang Soyoung muttered inwardly. Even she, who was usually bold, found it difficult to voice her thoughts. As Sung Hyunjae turned around, the oppressive feeling that had been weighing down even the air faded away. A sigh unconsciously escaped Kang Soyoung’s lips.

He seems to have calmed down for now.

“You should have just caught him.”

There were several opportunities. From the beginning, it was possible to mercilessly bind Han Yoojin’s entire body and make him unable to move. But Sung Hyunjae acted softly, unlike his usual self.

Sung Hyunjae, who had approached Comet, looked down at the blue gem in his hand. Eunhye, who had been beeping, disappeared into the gem as if she couldn’t help it. Then, the gem ornament transformed into its original basic form, a blue-tinged glass sword.

“I can’t push a fleeing Cinderella down the stairs to catch him.”

“If you did that, it wouldn’t be a fairy tale but a thriller, but I thought the latter suited Guild Leader better.”

“I don’t want to lose any more points with Han Yoojin. Even if the mental skill is released, the memories will remain.”

“It’s all useless without the person involved.”

Sung Hyunjae slightly raised the corners of his lips at Kang Soyoung’s words that he had ended up being kidnapped.

“I have to go deliver a lost item.”

“I have a feeling there will be a lot of dragons in China, so bring a baby dragon when you come back.”

Kang Soyoung fluttered her fingertips without tension. Anyway, there won’t be any major incidents in the country.

“I have a little bit of a desire to join in too.”

“It’s not far, so come with Ms. Riette if you’re bored guarding the house.”

“There’s no Chief Song to issue tickets in China either.”

“I can’t stop you from being arrested after returning to Korea, though.”

“Ah, Guild Leader. You’re irresponsible. Well, Guild Leader, you’ve been handcuffed a few times too.”

It’s not just once or twice that she’s headed to the detention center instead of the airport to welcome the Guild Leader who returned from overseas. But he’s been released without much happening every time.

“By the way, is Chief Han going to be okay?”

“Except that the mental skill is stronger than expected.”

“The person riding Blue cast the skill, right? You should have caught that person first.”

“Some mental skills don’t disappear even if the caster dies. If I had been careless, it would have been difficult if Han Yoojin continued to be wary of S-rank Hunters like that.”

So it was better to let him go in a way that would ease his wariness. Since Han Yoojin wouldn’t just stand by and be taken advantage of, he would try to find a way to break free from the skill himself. He just had to assist him with that. Like a partner.

Even though he came to that conclusion, he couldn’t shake off the deep unpleasantness.

Seeing her superior’s brow furrow, Kang Soyoung quickly readjusted Comet’s reins.

“Let’s go back quickly! Should I contact the Management Division?”

“No, I’ll do it myself.”

Sung Hyunjae climbed onto Comet’s back. The black wyvern spread its long wings and lightly soared into the sky.