The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 361

359. Goblins (1)

‘An S-Rank Hunter, huh?’

They said there were at least three S-Rank or higher Hunters stationed here. One was that Cho Hwa-woon brat, another was that Gwan lady I saw briefly at the airport, so there had to be one more. It seemed like that last one was this man in front of me.

Even when crouching, he was disgustingly huge, looking to be about 2 meters or taller. He also seemed a bit mixed, not quite fully East Asian. His hair color was also closer to brown. Outwardly, he didn’t seem like he’d have a bad personality.

I went to the edge of the pool and held out my arm towards the man.

“What, are you just watching?”

“Hm?”

“Someone wrecked my leg so I can’t get out on my own. Haven’t you heard yet?”

It wasn’t really impossible, but it would be a bit difficult. If it were Cho Hwa-woon, he wouldn’t even let the soldiers help me and would just watch me struggle to climb out, but what about this person? As I stared at him, the man chuckled and pulled me out of the pool in one swift motion.

“Thank you.”

He was mild-mannered, at least for now. Coming out of the lukewarm water, I felt a bit cold. I looked up at the man, who was much taller than me.

“Could you also get me my crutches?”

The man brought me the crutches without a word. I was really grateful that he treated me like a person.

“I’ll come again tomorrow. Be good.”

– Kkyuk!

I said goodbye to the Water Dragon and turned back to the man.

“Hello, I’m Han Yoojin. Though you probably already know.”

“Hwangrim.”

His gaze towards me was mixed with curiosity. There wasn’t a hint of wariness, just the expression of someone looking at an easy and harmless opponent. Well, that was to be expected.

‘Unlike Cho Hwa-woon, I’ll be able to communicate with him.’

Cho Hwa-woon was the type of bastard who would just ignore whatever I said like a dog barking. Judging by how he only inflicted punishment instead of showing any sign of feeling offended even when cursed at, he definitely didn’t treat me as an equal human being. More like, ‘A dog is trying to bite, let’s train it.’ That kind of feeling.

An opponent impossible to have a conversation with. I couldn’t even hold a candle to him in terms of strength, and if I couldn’t even communicate, there was almost nothing I could do. That’s why I deliberately acted out more. To make him recognize me even a little bit more.

Of course, it was also because I felt too disgusted to back down.

“Are you an S-Rank Hunter? I heard there were three of you here.”

“That’s right. I heard you’re bullying the kids?”

What nonsense was this all of a sudden?

“Isn’t it the opposite? Take a look at my state.”

“Looks like a drowned pheasant chick.”

Why a pheasant? Hwangrim lifted my wet clothes and clicked his tongue.

“Did you roll down the stairs or something? Want a potion?”

“This body shouldn’t be using potions or healing skills carelessly. So please tell Cho to handle me gently.”

“He doesn’t listen to me either.”

“Why is his temper like that?”

“Because he’s a precious only son from a wealthy family.”

A prince, huh? Or a little emperor, as they say. Among them, only someone from an extremely wealthy family with a terrible personality would turn out like that bastard.

“I’m going to catch a cold if I stay like this, can I change my clothes first?”

I frowned at the soldiers standing blankly as I moved my feet with the crutches.

“Aren’t you guys here to manage me? You should have at least guessed that water would splash if I’m taming the Water Dragon, so why are you empty-handed? You’re a complete disorganized army—oh wait, this is China, so is that even the right saying? If I get sick and it disrupts the training, it’s your responsibility. Got it?”

At the word ‘responsibility,’ the soldiers panicked and said they would bring towels and dry clothes right away.

“You are bullying them, aren’t you?”

Hwangrim said, tapping my shoulder. It was just a tap, but I almost fell over. His hand was like a pot lid.

“They’re not doing their jobs properly.”

“What do you expect from soldiers? They usually only produce as much as you input. That’s even encouraged. A pawn is best when they only do what they’re told.”

That was true. If it was the military, a soldier with frequent unexpected actions would be a headache for the commander, no matter how outstanding their individual abilities were. They’d be perfect as a movie protagonist, though.

“If a guy with a slippery tongue like you joined the military, you’d either get cut off or rise to the top.”

“But aren’t even the soldiers here Awakened? And they seem to be mid-grade.”

“Because they’re Awakened, we have to tighten the regulations even more. Besides, the guys who come here should be thought of as machine parts. They don’t think of anything else and are loyal to orders. Even if they’re told to dig a pond, fill it with water, and then fill it back in tomorrow, they’ll follow without question.”

A typical military. So, I can assume that all the mid-grade Hunters and below are narrow-minded.

In the meantime, the soldiers brought towels and clothes. Just that.

“…You don’t have the sense to bring a chair? Even after seeing me with crutches?”

Logically, it’s hard to change pants while standing. I could just sit on the floor, but ugh. Hwangrim helped me change, as if to say, ‘See?’ How kind.

“I shouldn’t get attached to you like this. I’m planning to escape.”

“I’m curious how you’ll get out.”

Hwangrim slung me over his shoulder like luggage. Since he was so big, his shoulders were like the Pacific Ocean. He climbed the stairs two or three steps at a time.

“Honestly, my treatment is too harsh for me not to run away. Why are they doing that? What if I just say I can’t raise the Mythical Beast and offer my neck to be killed? It’s something you can’t force me to do.”

“Because there’s a more important purpose than raising the Mythical Beast.”

There’s another purpose?

“…What is it? I guess you won’t tell me.”

“To capture and kill the Korean Hunters who come to save you.”

I was speechless for a moment. It felt like being hit hard in the back of the head because it was said by someone who had been acting so gentle until now.

“They’re coming to save you, right? Aren’t they?”

“No, that’s… not certain. Are you okay with revealing that?”

“It’s not really a secret. Even a child could guess it. If they come, they’ll fight, and then one of us will die.”

That was true.

“You sound so confident. I could secretly be smuggled out, or you could be wiped out.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll keep your brother alive as a possible hostage. They’re planning to bring all the Mythical Beasts affiliated with Haeyeon [a prominent Hunter Guild in Korea], have you raise them again to increase their power, and then, after cleaning up the Murim Alliance [a fictional martial arts association], take over Korea, where the number of S-Rank Hunters has decreased.”

So, because they have a useful hostage, it doesn’t matter if I resist or have complaints? Yoohyun, he’d definitely be good to use as a hostage. If they can catch him, he’s an S-Rank Hunter, so he won’t die easily… Damn it.

I tried to calm my churning stomach. There’s no way there’s anyone in China capable of capturing my brother. So it was an impossible delusion.

“The Haeyeon Guild Leader will definitely come, and there’s a high possibility that Sesung will come too, what do you think? They’re planning to try to win over the water user from Haeyeon since he’s young. Will he come with them? I don’t want to fight a kid.”

“…I don’t know. Seriously, what’s with all the confidence? Is having a large number of people always advantageous?”

“It is advantageous.”

…Yeah, that’s true. Still, I didn’t think Yoohyun or Sung Hyunjae would lose. Especially since this is a lake. Yerim can also handle two or three S-Ranks alone in this environment.

…Besides the simple numerical advantage, could there be some other preparation? Maybe not, but what if there is? But before the regression, China was fighting internally and then collapsed. There wasn’t anything special. There wasn’t, but there was a possibility that it changed.

‘Wasn’t the dungeon that Noah and Riet entered also in China?’

Maybe they obtained special items or titles from those special dungeons that should have appeared in the distant future. Maybe the newbie mismanaged things again. Even so, Yoohyun has become much stronger than in the original timeline. New skills and different weapon grades.

“Hey, why don’t you be generous and tell me exactly how you plan to capture my precious brother?”

“No way. I know the difference between what I can and can’t say.”

“What can I do with my strength anyway?”

“You even made a phone call.”

“I won’t. I can’t without permission.”

“Maybe.”

It didn’t seem like it, Hwangrim smiled as he leaped up the last flight of stairs in one go. Then he put me down and said.

“I’m going to order them not to react to anything you say from now on.”

Huh.

“No, you saw it, I need to ask them to get them to work properly.”

“Here.”

Hwangrim handed me a communicator.

“Tell them exactly what you need through this. Then they’ll relay it to the soldiers.”

Damn it, he’s even blocking my mouth. He’s as big as a bear but surprisingly cunning. ‘If something happens to me because they don’t listen to me, the higher-ups won’t stay still~’ That kind of effect is good, but this blocks it. Of course, they’ll be slightly swayed as long as they have ears, but it won’t be easy.

If what Hwangrim said is true, then bribes won’t work well on the soldiers here, unlike on the plane. This has become troublesome.

“You’re more annoying than I thought.”

As I snatched the communicator and grumbled, Hwangrim wore a good-natured smile.

“And don’t provoke that Yun guy too much. You should be careful while your limbs are still intact.”

“…Does it look intact?”

“It’s still attached.”

This place is really brutal. I sighed deeply and looked at Hwangrim.

“Usually, S-Rank Hunters don’t want to be affiliated with the military, don’t you have any complaints? Don’t you want to create your own guild? Or maybe your family is being held hostage.”

Cho Hwa-woon joined the military from the start, so that’s understandable, but the man in front of me didn’t look like a soldier. Even his clothes aren’t a uniform.

“I was in the military even before I Awakened.”

“…Really?”

“I’m the second son of a wealthy family. It’s convenient to have a line connected to the military. Nice try, but I’m too well-fed and well-off to have complaints. I’ve had a lot of money spent on me since I was born.”

“Ah, I see.”

So things aren’t always what they seem. Hwangrim waved goodbye and swaggered away. Still, wouldn’t it be worth trying to apply keywords to him, unlike Cho Hwa-woon? If he’s well-fed and well-off, he probably doesn’t have any resentment towards his caregivers.

Cho Hwa-woon, he probably wouldn’t spare his parents either. He just seems like it.

“If you’re going to keep making me work, at least give me some food. My stomach is sticking to my back.”

At my words, a soldier silently led the way. I was guided to a restaurant. Not for ordinary soldiers, but for officers. That’s where that son of a bitch was sitting.

“Sit.”

“It’ll probably just give me indigestion if I eat─”

“Is the floor better?”

Alright, the food hasn’t done anything wrong. I sat down in the seat as ordered. Soon, the food came out. The outside was egg, and I don’t know what was inside, but anyway, there was only one sitting alone on the plate. The taste was, not bad. And then abalone and sea cucumbers, a large steamed fish, and soup followed.

Overall, the flavors were unfamiliar and strong, but it was edible. Actually, it was quite delicious.

“I ate well, but I’m suspicious of you suddenly being so nice.”

What change of heart, I should say, but Cho Hwa-woon’s gaze towards me remained the same. Not even as a subordinate, but at the level of looking at a wild animal that needs to be caught and tamed. Should I have flipped the table?

“Humans adapt quickly.”

Cho Hwa-woon said, putting down his long chopsticks.

“They adapt to pain surprisingly easily.”

“…So, it’s more painful when the body is comfortable, something like that… Ugh, you son of a bitch.”

Even at the curse that came out on its own, he was indifferent. Instead, one of the soldiers waiting approached and.

Slap─!

Slapped my cheek. I’m a little pissed. Even before the regression, they didn’t hit my face because it was obvious.

“Thank you for the meal. Can I go now?”

Cho Hwa-woon nodded in permission. This isn’t a place to stay long, not a place to stay long. What Hwangrim said is also bothering me. I returned to the room given to me and took off my jacket.

“I only changed clothes after going into the pool, so I’m going to take a shower, can you prepare it?”

I spoke, but the guards didn’t even twitch an eyebrow. It seemed like Hwangrim’s orders had already been given. I deliberately sighed loudly and requested towels and pajamas through the communicator Hwangrim gave me.

“You’re not thinking of helping me wash either, right? Yeah, yeah.”

I went into the bathroom, leaving the door half-closed, and then only stuck my head out to look at the guards.

“Should I close the door all the way? Or should I leave it open this much?”

“…….”

“Ah, what do you want me to do. You have to answer at least this much.”

They even bothered to ask the higher-ups and told me to leave it open. The bathroom door was slightly open, but it wasn’t in a position where the shower booth was visible. They didn’t seem to be thinking of coming in either. I turned on the shower and made the sound of water while looking around.

‘I think they followed me.’

I tore off some toilet paper, took out a pen, and wrote.

[Goblins?]

After waving the toilet paper for a while, faint white objects appeared in the corner of the shower booth. They whispered softly.

“Hello, Mr. Kim!”

“We didn’t say we saw you.”

“Can we trust you?”

“Can we?”

The goblins spoke cautiously. I also lowered my voice, muffled by the sound of the water, so that it wouldn’t be heard outside.

“Do you know Yunyun? The Goblin King.”

The goblins jumped and then acted as if they were covering their mouths with their hands.

“No.”

“Can’t say.”

“Can’t.”

So they do know him. But why can’t they say? Did something happen to Yunyun?

“I’m Yunyun’s friend.”

“Really?”

“The humans here are good at lying.”

“Mr. Kim here also lied.”

“I didn’t.”

At least not to them. Yunyun, I did trick him a little. Hmm. More than that, it seems like the goblins had a bad experience in China… I made a mischievous expression and whispered to them.

“You guys, want to do something fun?”

“Something fun?”

“What is it?”

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing much.”

I took out a bomb from my inventory and shook it.

“It’s a prank to blow up this island~”