The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 371

369. Kidnapped, But Still Working (3)

“Bring the Pegasus too.”

The soldier said as he propped himself up with his crutches.

What?

“Can’t you see the kid’s sleeping?”

“Wake him up.”

“No can do.”

As the soldier took a step closer, the wyvern, who had been lying down, rose to its feet.

– Grrr.

The soldier flinched at the low growl and took a step back. I had mentioned that the sub-adult wyvern had B-grade stats. It wasn’t a high stat since there seemed to be some A-grades among the soldiers here, but the aura the dragon exuded was considerable.

Well, it’s actually S-grade.

“Hah, we need to take one! Not the wyvern, but a safe baby monster.”

“Leaf, come here.”

I called Leafnil, who was still flying around energetically. The white fluffball flew over and clung to my hand like a bat. Its tail, similar to a cat’s, wrapped around my wrist. Purple bean-like eyes blinked as it looked up at me.

Makes me think of Bbyak. I hope he’s doing well.

“Is this okay?”

The soldier wore a disgruntled expression but reluctantly nodded, glancing at the increasingly sharp fangs of the dragon. Bringing a monster—is it for some kind of showcase?

And as expected, I was given new clothes, seemingly to prepare for welcoming guests. It was obviously Chinese-style clothing. I guess they’re not filming a video this time.

“Looks like you have guests coming. Now they’re even making me play host. Does this place even have a conscience left? But what’s with these clothes?”

“They like that kind of thing. After sweeping away all the tradition, culture, and history.”

Hwangrim, unusually in uniform, said with a smile. Shouldn’t a person belonging to the Chinese military not say such things? Anyway, I changed into the clothes as instructed.

“You seem awfully free, sir.”

“I am working.”

“Usually, you’d have subordinates do this kind of thing, wouldn’t you?”

“This is quite important to me.”

Hwangrim, who had been sitting on the table because the chair didn’t fit his physique, stood up. Then, he took out a luxurious metal box from his inventory. Opening the box revealed rows of cigarettes. His thick fingers picked up a cigarette.

“Here.”

“I don’t smoke. It’s useless anyway because of my poison resistance─”

The end of the cigarette was thrust between my lips. Then, he even kindly lit it for me. Seriously.

“Ugh, cough, hack!”

What the—it’s strong. I quickly pulled the cigarette out and coughed heavily.

“The aftertaste is sweet.”

“…It does seem like it. Wait, does poison resistance not work on this?”

“It’s made for high-level Awakened. It works even if your stats are high, not to mention poison resistance. The lower your stats, the better the effect, but even S-grades can feel the taste.”

“Are you crazy! Why are you giving me something like that! I have kids to take care of!”

I waved my hand at Leafnil, who was flying nearby, telling it to stay away, and then hesitated to put out the cigarette. I swallowed a few times, savoring the faint sweetness in my mouth.

“…It’s a bit different from regular cigarettes, isn’t it?”

“Well, the toxicity is weak. It also has a calming effect and relieves stress… Since cigarettes are essentially addictive substances, this is similar.”

Instead of putting out the cigarette, I put it back in my mouth. If it has some effect even on S-grades, it would be a strong sedative for F-grades.

“That must be expensive. Is this cigarette-related deal?”

“It’s a chance to monopolize a luxury item that works even for high-level Awakened.”

“It would be useful in places like the military, not just for money.”

Cigarettes were often used as currency in the military and even in prisons. So, it would be a useful tool for controlling an army made up of Awakened.

“Still, isn’t it a bit much to call people here? It’s a situation where things could go south any minute.”

“They asked for high-level monsters instead of the cigarette recipe. An exchange for five or more A-grade monsters specialized in flight. That’s the condition.”

“Not S-grade?”

“A large number of A-grades are more useful than one S-grade for smuggling.”

Ah, so they’re those kinds of people. Smuggling with a few A-grade monsters specialized in flight—it’s a good method. It’s a bit slower than a plane, but much faster than a ship, and there’s no risk of getting caught in quarantine. Whoever it is, they’re smart.

“So, you’re showing me off as evidence. But you’ll probably raise flight-specialized monsters as slowly as possible, making excuses here and there.”

“I’m really curious about what kind of life you’ve lived.”

Hwangrim stroked my head again. But this time, I didn’t even feel like trying to brush him off. I felt a bit languid, like I was submerged in a bathtub full of warm water.

“Could you give me some more cigarettes?”

“I offered it, but it’s not good for F-grades. You were just jumping up and down saying you didn’t want it.”

I grumbled, looking up at Hwangrim askance. Of course, I’ve never even touched cigarettes. I have a younger sibling at home; why would I smoke? I tried not to even expose them to the smoke.

“It has a good effect, so I’ll just go out and smoke a little when I’m stressed. So, give me a little. Just one, no, two.”

“Are you unexpectedly weak in this area?”

Hwangrim handed me the entire case of cigarettes.

“Wow, all of them? Thank you! I sincerely love you this time, Elder Hwangrim!”

I quickly reached out. But before my hand could reach, Hwangrim snatched the case back.

“If this goes well.”

“What?”

“I don’t know what you’ll do again. Keep your mouth shut and stay still. Then I’ll give it to you.”

He shook the cigarette case tauntingly. I’m getting annoyed even with the sedative.

“If you promise to give it to me right away after it’s over, I’ll sit still like a decorative doll.”

“Good.”

Hwangrim took out a cigarette as a down payment. One is good, but it might not be enough, so it’s safer to get the rest. I pretended to hide the cigarette in my clothes and put it in my inventory. I don’t want to go around smelling like cigarettes when there are kids around, but this time I can’t help it. Fortunately, everyone’s stats are higher than mine.

After listening to a few precautions from Hwangrim, I headed to the dinner. Just before entering the restaurant, the soldier at the entrance took my crutches, saying they didn’t look good. *I didn’t know the person inside was Hitler, what an honor*, I thought, but I held it in.

Inside, I saw a long table and people sitting around it. There were also S-grade hunters, Cho Hwa-un and Gwan Nangja. People I had tried to meet but failed. There were two men in their 50s or 60s wearing changpao [traditional Chinese formal gowns], and a man in his thirties.

The young man was dressed like he had just stepped out of a mafia movie. He was even wearing a fedora indoors. The police would be waving handcuffs from a hundred meters away.

‘Watch your mouth, watch your mouth.’

With Hwangrim’s help, I limped over. Everyone’s eyes were on me. I sat down in a chair, called Leafnil, stroked it, and put on a smile full of service spirit.

“I want to see the Pegasus.”

An older man said. Did I come to a zoo?

“The Chowon Pegasus sleeps even more when it’s a juvenile on the main planet, and it falls asleep as soon as the sun sets. If it doesn’t get proper sleep, there’s a possibility of stat degradation during growth, so I ask for your understanding.”

Cho Hwa-un raised the end of her eyebrow slightly as she looked at me, who was explaining politely and kindly. What, why, I’m doing well.

A few more questions were asked, and the food came out. Honestly, using different forks, knives, and spoons for each dish is a waste. Still, I’m glad they didn’t line them all up and say, ‘Match the right utensils!’ This sauce with plenty of flying fish roe is delicious. Savory. It tastes like crispy rice that’s softly crunchy.

I ate hard because I’d be busy from midnight. Is it because it’s in season? Pine mushrooms popped up everywhere. Since it’s a place like this, it must be wild. It’s disgustingly expensive, but I don’t know what it tastes like. Shiitake is more delicious. Wow, this shiitake mushroom is really chewy.

‘They’re staring too much.’

I cut the shrimp meat into small pieces for Leafnil, who was showing curiosity about the food, and glanced at the mafia man sitting across from me. Even though I’m the target, the probing gaze felt unpleasant.

“Is it good? Do you want to try some mushrooms?”

– Kkyareuk.

“What’s this? It must be chicken. You’ve never seen a chicken, have you? It’s delicious. It’s even more delicious when it’s fried.”

I want to eat chicken. I refused the offer to pour wine. Instead, I asked for a side plate. It eats well like Blue. Still, I should sprinkle some magic stone powder on it if possible.

Wine was poured into the glass of the man across from me. The movement of raising the glass was quite elegant and strangely familiar. I wondered if it was him, but he wasn’t wearing glasses. Judging from his cool expression and the way he was speaking Chinese without a translation item, it probably wasn’t him.

The trade negotiations were going smoothly. The mafia man didn’t seem to be in a good mood, but that was natural since he was the one getting fleeced. Developing a smuggling route using monsters isn’t bad, but it’s not as good as monopolizing cigarettes for hunters. But what can you do against the military? You have to sell it off as well as possible.

After a slow meal and dessert tea time, a few more words were exchanged, and the contract was drawn up. Hwangrim couldn’t hide his satisfied expression and shook hands with the mafia man, Chu Su-un. Then, he greeted the older men in a friendly manner.

‘…Hwang is more confusing than Cho.’

Even though Cho Hwa-un is prickly, he’s easier to understand. Hwangrim is too enigmatic. He seems relaxed and cheerful, but if that’s all there is to his personality, it would have been difficult for him to hold a position in the military. Above all, the fact that he’s close to Cho Hwa-un means he’s not ordinary.

Anyway, I handed it over quietly, so it should be okay. As I got up from my seat, Chu Su-un, who had approached me, supported me.

“Ah, I’m okay.”

“You seem to have difficulty walking alone.”

“I can walk slowly.”

I was about to say again that I was okay, but he lifted me up. I barely swallowed the exclamation of ‘What are you doing?’ Let’s just bear with it a little longer. Besides, he’s holding me quite steadily…….

‘…Uh.’

Something’s familiar. I’ve been carried around by S-grade hunters several times, and each person carried me a little differently. Even if the posture is similar, there were slight differences. And this is definitely…

‘Hat.’

So that’s why he was wearing a hat indoors! There’s no rule that you have to wear glasses that change your appearance on your eyes. You just had to ‘wear’ the glasses, and there was also a way to wear them on your head like sunglasses. Yeah, it’s a bit strange for an S-grade hunter to wear glasses.

I unconsciously swallowed hard. Surely he’s not going to take me out like this.

“Just, put me down.”

I said, pushing away the man’s arm. Of course, he didn’t budge. I can’t escape yet. When I’m sure that I’ll get out because of Park Ha-yul’s skill, I’ll reveal the man’s identity with my own mouth. Besides, I have to take care of the kids.

“Or just to the front door. There are crutches outside.”

“…Crutches?”

“I’m not badly injured. I can walk slowly on my own. I’m okay.”

I tried not to look up on purpose. Now that I’ve noticed his identity, he’ll definitely show his original face. Then I wouldn’t be confident that I wouldn’t show a welcome, or another emotion.

“The caretaker is under my jurisdiction.”

But Cho Hwa-un, who had sensed something, approached. A low voice replied to the hand reaching out to hand me over.

“I thought I’d build a friendship with someone who will be a close business partner in the future.”

“Talk to Director Hwangrim about business matters. There’s no need to pay attention to a mere caretaker.”

“That’s right, put me down.”

I said quickly too. What are you trying to do here now? Not yet. Chu Su-un reluctantly released his grip, and Cho Hwa-un took me. Just put me down─

“Aaaagh!”

A scream burst out at the sudden, unexpected pain. Cho Hwa-un’s hand had tightly grabbed my injured leg. I quickly clenched my teeth to suppress the sound, but the force on my leg didn’t lessen.

“Ugh, stop…….”

A cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck. You crazy bastard, really. Since it’s come to this, I just pretended that I couldn’t stand the pain and shouted.

“Why, ugh, I won’t, run away, so! Ack! I’m not, going! I’ll stay, still! You son of a bitch!”

I shouted, mixing in the current situation, saying that I was raising the baby monsters well, that I knew I couldn’t get out of here anyway, and that I was being obedient now, so why was he acting up. He probably understood. I can’t go now. Cho Hwa-un released my leg and looked at Chu Su-un.

At that moment, a soldier rushed in and whispered to Cho Hwa-un.

“Nanjing Airport has been attacked.”

Cho Hwa-un’s eyes narrowed slightly. The soldier continued in a low voice.

“It is not presumed to be from the Murim Alliance [a martial arts association].”

“It’s not.”

In other words, it wasn’t the same person as the two in Shanghai, and another Korean hunter had attacked the airport. Quickly assessing the situation, he lightly bowed his head to Chu Su-un.

“Excuse me.”

Then he turned around with me. With this, all the surrounding airports were blocked.