The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 369

367. Working While Kidnapped (1)

I felt wronged. Very, very wronged.

“I’m just normal, right?”

So why was everyone, except my brother, telling me not to name them? Isn’t it most common to name pets after their eye or fur color in the first place? Like Choco for black fur. …Black sounds a bit uninspired, though. I should have gone with Choco Cream instead of Black White.

Anyway, among the names submitted for the Giseungsu [a mythical creature] Breeding Center contest were some that I had presented to Seok Si-myung. I remembered Seok Si-myung’s expression, which started with a warm and generous smile but gradually became unmanageable. His eyes were saying my sense was terrible.

“Look at this. It’s the same name I came up with, and it even got recommended.”

And it’s not just one or two people. Doesn’t that mean it’s a good name? Could it be that Seok Si-myung still holds a grudge against me? He didn’t seem like it, though. Park Ha-yul, who was looking at the laptop with me, wore a subtle expression.

“Um, hyung [older brother or male friend]. A recommendation isn’t always what you think it means……”

“Huh? Then what?”

“…Ultimately, the final decision is made by the Haeyeon Guild, right?”

“Hey, I’m the head of the breeding center, you know?”

“Hyung gets to decide the names?!”

“Well, not exactly, but my opinion will be heavily reflected.”

When I said that I couldn’t be excluded from my own breeding center, Seok Si-myung seriously pondered it before asking me to pick the candidate winners. As many as possible. And they would filter and select from those. I suspected they might keep making me choose new ones until a candidate they liked came up…… I should have limited the re-selection of candidates to three times.

“Why can’t I name my own business as I please?”

I grumbled and looked at the contest page again.

My request for a laptop with internet access because I needed to work was naturally rejected. But if they were going to use me as bait anyway, there was no reason to completely cut off external contact. On the contrary, if I unofficially let them know, ‘I’m here~,’ they would come looking willingly.

‘Changing the network address is easy enough, you guys can connect it wherever you want. I won’t lift a finger on the keyboard. Should we just tie him up?’ After such persuasion, I managed to get a laptop.

“Han○Deli? It’s strangely catchy.”

“It does sound familiar.”

“Still, it would be better if it were Korean. And anything starting with H overlaps with Haeyeon, so exclude those.”

Kim Ha-yeon, the team leader, cut off Seok Si-myung, who suggested choosing an English initial H to tie H&H together, and advised me to avoid overlapping with large guilds to maintain the image of an independent facility. So, S and B were also excluded.

…I still think H would be good, though. Should I put a couple on the candidate list? Since my hands shouldn’t touch the laptop, Park Ha-yul logged into my email for me.

“Is the number after the password the Haeyeon Guild Leader’s birthday?”

“Well, it’s a habit. The English letters at the beginning are all different anyway, and I’ll change it when I get back. But why do you know Yoo-hyun’s birthday?”

“It’s easy to remember. They even put up a birthday ad last year. But the birthday party was on Christmas Eve.”

“Oh, yeah.”

The memory of my brother appearing in my dream came to mind.

“…He’ll probably do it on Christmas Eve again this year.”

I want my brother to mingle with many people, but Yoo-hyun probably doesn’t want that. So, I was planning to make sure we could spend this birthday alone together, just like before. Because that’s what my brother would like the most. I even offered him a bonus for working consecutive Christmas shifts on the 24th and 25th, but every year, we spent the 25th together doing nothing.

He used to get quite a few birthday presents from school, and when I asked if he wanted to invite friends, he shook his head. His face, smiling and saying he only wanted to be with his brother, was still vivid in my mind. I had been separated from such a brother for years.

‘So, more than any gift, he’d want to be alone with me.’

Have a big party the day before, and as soon as it hits twelve, clear the whole day. It’s been a while since I made seaweed soup; should I practice? And make glutinous rice. As I imagined Yoo-hyun being happy, the corners of my mouth naturally lifted in a pleased smile.

“Hyung, you seem to really like the Haeyeon Guild Leader.”

Park Ha-yul said while sending an email to Seok Si-myung.

“He’s my brother. And he’s so kind. And he was such a good student. If the dungeon hadn’t broken out, he would have gone to medical school. He never missed first place without even going to a cram school. The nearby cram schools even offered to let him attend for free.”

Yoo-hyun said he had to wait for his brother at home and would rather work part-time than go to cram school, so he refused. What part-time job? But the dungeon, that damn awakening……

‘I was originally planning to let Yerim slowly get into dungeon raids, too.’

Since it’s not a safe world, it’s necessary to awaken, raise her level, and get her equipped. Besides, I can’t stop her from wanting to become stronger, and since her life is more important than her age, it’s right to help her grow… but sometimes my heart gets complicated.

Yerim is actually having a good time, but that’s just how people’s hearts are. And in China, she’ll be clashing with people, not monsters. But if I tell her not to come, she’ll feel left out.

I shouldn’t be doing this in the first place. Getting kidnapped. Or, am I still being kidnapped?

“…Ha-yul, are you pretending to be clueless on purpose?”

I said, looking at Park Ha-yul, who was closing the laptop. He was such a clumsy guy that I couldn’t possibly be wary of him with Fear Resistance activated. It seemed possible to rationally dislike him because he had dangerous skills, but his grinning face and seemingly reckless attitude were the problem.

“Oh, hyung. Did you notice my skill condition?”

“Well, roughly.”

“Amazing!”

Park Ha-yul exclaimed purely. I don’t know if it’s really pure, but why are you exclaiming? Here. If your skill condition is exposed, you should be wary. And then he smiles again.

“But hyung is still the same as ever.”

“Huh?”

“I expected it. Well, it’s not that I expected it, but they said hyung gets along with S-ranks [the highest rank for hunters] without any problems, so you wouldn’t be able to escape my skill.”

Was the person who expected it perhaps that noona [older sister or female friend]? Who is it? I deliberately put on a pitiful, tearful face and said to Park Ha-yul.

“As you said, I can’t escape even if I know the condition. So, Ha-yul, please, take care of me. Look at my state.”

When I tapped my thigh to show him, Park Ha-yul looked like he was about to die of guilt.

“Should I tell Elder Chohwawoon not to resist hyung and just obey him? Then it’ll be okay─”

“No! No! I refuse!”

Are you crazy! I’d rather have my remaining leg broken than follow him! It was a sound that would have sent shivers down my spine if it weren’t for Fear Resistance. Is he really a bit dim?

“Then how long are you going to leave me like this?”

“Well, it seems like hyung knows roughly everything now, and it’s hard to escape my skill.”

Park Ha-yul pulled me closer and whispered in my ear.

“There’s something dangerous in the Chinese military.”

Is it Yoon Yoon?

“So, they want to weaken the military by bringing in Korean hunters and also get rid of the Seseong Guild Leader.”

The place Park Ha-yul belongs to is the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance], or another force aiming for China. Wait a minute, didn’t the kids say they joined hands with the Murim Alliance? I hope they’re not doing anything reckless.

“…Why the Seseong Guild Leader?”

“That’s just resentment or affection? Not the noona, but other people.”

Oh, um. I have nothing to say about that part.

“Are there that many people who hold grudges?”

“I told you, there are many people who were abandoned. They suddenly turned their backs, so it feels like their value is plummeting, and no matter how much they struggle to regain attention, it’s useless.”

“…Strictly speaking, it’s not Seong Hyun-jae’s fault.”

“Still, it’s easy to go crazy. The Seseong Guild Leader still looks perfect, so it’s even harder. It feels like being abandoned is their own fault. Hyung, be careful too. On average, it’s one month, or at most three or four months. The Chief of the Talent Management Office is the only exception.”

I’ve heard that until my ears are sore. But why is Chief Song the only exception? Even though he’s unique for an S-rank Awakened, he’ll eventually get tired of him.

‘Anyway, the noona is aiming for a windfall. On the surface, it looks like the Murim Alliance, but…….’

It’s strange for the Murim Alliance, which is being pushed back by the military, to target Seong Hyun-jae out of personal grudges. Seong Hyun-jae is going back to Korea anyway, so it would be much better to cooperate and inflict even more damage on the military. So, it’s likely another external force unrelated to China.

America? Like the CIA or FBI? I don’t know the American hunter system well. Or the EU. Since it’s private revenge, it could be an individual guild or a multinational guild alliance. …A guild alliance is quite plausible. Damn partner, how much did you abandon people to get to where you are now? I should grill you about it.

“But you’re telling me all this; aren’t you being suspected?”

“Me? I can’t fight at all!”

Park Ha-yul said brightly.

“My stats are high, but I’m a pushover. I even signed a contract with the people in the military that I can’t use my skills without permission. And there’s more.”

A low chuckle reached my ear.

“I’ll tell you in detail when it becomes more certain that hyung can’t escape my skill.”

“Oh… okay.”

“Are you going with me when this is over?”

“I have to go home.”

“No, you have to come with me.”

I followed you and broke my leg, rolled around, and got a hole in my hand. As my expression became uncomfortable, Park Ha-yul picked up the laptop and slowly moved away. If it weren’t for that skill, I would have hit him once, no, three or four times. Although only my hand would hurt.

‘Is that real acting or not?’

He’s a strange and confusing guy. I clicked my tongue and got up from my seat. As if waiting, the blue dragon followed suit and rose. Its two wings spread out long and covered me.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable not being able to move?”

– Grrr.

“You’ll have to just watch no matter what happens in the future.”

Fortunately, the water dragon has grown! There hasn’t been anything special since then. I slowly stroked its lowered head. Then, a faint figure appeared in front of me, between the dragon’s two front paws. It’s a goblin. Taking advantage of the fact that the guards couldn’t see it because it was hidden by the wings, the goblin shook a piece of paper.

[Hyung.]

It’s a familiar handwriting. A smile naturally formed at that short word. So, you came nearby. I quickly took out a pen and wrote on the back of the paper.

[Preparing. Wait. How about the baby sheep’s dad?] (Note: 새끼양 아빠 쪽은? can also mean ‘What about the guy who looks like a baby sheep’s dad?’)

I wrote as briefly as possible because there was a possibility that the goblin would drop the paper if it got distracted.

“You’re so kind! You listen to requests so well. You’re the prettiest in the world! I’d buy you everything you want if we could just go outside. You’re the best, the best!”

As I made a fuss, pretending to praise the dragon, the goblin widened its round eyes and smiled silently. The part that seemed to be its shoulders shrugged as if dancing.

“Please continue to take care of me, okay? You’re the only one I have. If it weren’t for you, I’d be stuck in a small room. Thank you, I love you!”

The goblin beamed, then took the paper and disappeared. Did the baby water dragon go to the kids too? The cookie effect has worn off for a long time, so they might not have been able to move it. I hope they’re feeding it well.

“Our dragon, are you not hungry? Should I ask for something to eat? It must be stuffy, but you’re being so good.”

I stroked the dragon’s wing joints and praised it, so that I wouldn’t be suspected even after the goblin disappeared. I’ve been doing this several times a day, so the guards were just turning a blind eye. However, the blue dragon was embarrassed every time. You’d think it would get used to it.

‘The best way would be to blow up the island, ride the dragon to escape, join up with the kids and partner, and then find Yoon Yoon.’

The problem was that I couldn’t last long with Fear Resistance turned off. If I messed up, I might escape only to crawl back in and interfere with the kids.

‘Should I turn off Fear Resistance and Poison Resistance and swallow a sleeping pill?’

Wouldn’t it be okay even if I wasn’t there? …What if it’s not okay? I was also uneasy about giving up double attack skill and double stats. I thought Hwawoon and his people were relying on Yoon Yoon, but there was a possibility that they weren’t.

‘…I should try applying a keyword to Hwangrim after all.’

It’s a bit dangerous, but if I do it well, it’s a way to find out Yoon Yoon’s location as well as Hwawoon’s hidden card. He doesn’t seem like the type to hold a grudge against his caregiver, so wouldn’t it be okay?

At that moment, a signal sounded on the communicator held by the guard. The guard, who had received the order, said to me.

“Come with me. Leave the Biyong behind.”

What’s going on? After soothing the anxious dragon, I followed the soldiers and moved my steps. As I went up the stairs while being carried, I heard the sound of helicopter blades. The soldiers were taking a large cage out of the helicopter.

– Kyareureuk!

That sound, could it be. Hwangrim, who had come out earlier, approached me.

“You said you could raise several at the same time, right? It seems they’ve swept up all the baby monsters, saying there’s been progress.”

…No, it would be a bit difficult if more baggage is added here now.