The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 389

387. A Christmas Carol (1)

[This dungeon is influenced by fragments of the world and the memories of the Awakened Ones! Caution is advised as we are currently checking for errors!

Dungeon Reference Book – A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens]

Dungeon. Han Yu-hyun considered the system message. It stated that fragments of the world and the memories of the Awakened Ones had influenced it. And…

‘…A Christmas Carol.’

It was a book his brother had read to him when he was young, the story of Scrooge, who sees the past, present, and future on Christmas Eve. Han Yu-hyun’s gaze turned to Han Yu-jin.

‘Is that the future version of hyung created by the dungeon?’

The future and the past at the same time. More precisely, Han Yu-jin before the regression. Han Yu-hyun’s brow furrowed. If so, why is his brother in a one-room apartment he’s never seen before? It’s not a house within the Haeyeon Guild, nor a secure company residence. Beyond the half-drawn curtains of the large glass window, there were no safety devices other than old iron railings. Both the window and the railings seemed ordinary.

More than anything, it was too small and insignificant. The small space, hardly deserving of being called a living room, didn’t even have a sofa. There was only a TV, a low table, and a folding mattress. It couldn’t even be compared to their current home. It didn’t even seem to be half the size of Han Yu-hyun’s bedroom.

“…You.”

Then Han Yu-jin opened his mouth, his dry voice escaping his equally dry lips.

“Why doesn’t even the hallucination smile?”

“…What?”

“Heartless bastard. Suddenly appearing, and even younger… so it is a hallucination. Long hair, wearing some Chinese clothes [referring to Han Yu-hyun’s traditional-style attire].”

Han Yu-jin clenched and unclenched his hands repeatedly, seeming anxious.

“I’m not drunk… I haven’t been drinking lately.”

“Drinking? What are you talking about?”

*I have to go find the real hyung,* even while thinking that this isn’t the real hyung, Han Yu-hyun couldn’t take his eyes off Han Yu-jin. He stroked the smooth back of his hand, looking at his brother, who was familiar yet unfamiliar.

“I told you, I haven’t been drinking. I didn’t want to be drunk at this time. But if possible, appear as when you were younger, before you left home. But really, what is this… Did I catch something weird? How many days has it been since I entered the dungeon?”

“You entered a dungeon? With whom!”

Han Yu-hyun shouted unintentionally. An inexplicable anxiety stirred deep inside his chest. *It’s not hyung.* He was sure it couldn’t be, but it kept feeling so real. Han Yu-jin smiled faintly, without a sound.

“Just some low-level hunters, nothing serious. Nothing that will harm you.”

“Nothing that will harm me.”

“Instead of that…”

Licking his parched lips, Han Yu-jin continued.

“Just, can’t you smile once? It’s been ages since I last saw you smile, Yu-hyun. Maybe I’ve forgotten, so you can’t even appear as a hallucination? No……”

“Why……”

*Why has it been ages?* Han Yu-hyun swallowed his words. *Don’t have useless thoughts. There was no reason to linger here.* Han Yu-hyun took a step back. Seeing this, Han Yu-jin panicked, grabbed the wall, and stood up.

“Wa, wait a minute. Why are you already disappearing? Hey, now that you’ve appeared, stay a little longer. It’s not long until midnight, I’ll go out and buy a cake quickly.”

Han Yu-jin’s gaze turned to the window. It wasn’t even sunset yet.

“It’s a bit, bright……”

Han Yu-jin moved towards the built-in closet. One leg was clearly limping. Han Yu-hyun’s expression darkened at the sight. *It’s not hyung. But to say it wasn’t… he was too much like hyung.*

It wasn’t just because of his appearance. There was no way he could mistake this feeling, this aura. Was it because the memories of the Awakened Ones, of hyung, had influenced it? Or perhaps it was actually the real hyung swallowed by past memories, or a dungeon monster that had swallowed a part of hyung’s memories.

“I’ll be right back, so don’t go anywhere.”

Han Yu-jin, rummaging through the closet to take out a black padded jacket, gave a bitter smile.

“I’m really……”

*I don’t know what I’m doing.* Han Yu-jin muttered quietly and looked back at Han Yu-hyun, who was standing blankly. The corners of his lips lifted, and he smiled again faintly.

“Wait a little, Yu-hyun. It’s been so long since I’ve said this.”

*People would think I’m crazy if they saw me. But who cares when no one’s around? Han Yu-hyun, you’re a bad bastard. No, I shouldn’t say things like that today and tomorrow.* Han Yu-jin muttered, put on his padded jacket, and looked for his wallet. He was about to head towards the front door when he flinched and stopped at the sight of Han Yu-hyun standing in his way. He couldn’t approach any further, afraid that he might disappear if he touched him.

“Can you move aside a little? Are you going to sit over there? Come to think of it, you haven’t taken off your shoes. Even if it’s just an illusion, this is inside the house.”

Han Yu-hyun stared at Han Yu-jin’s face. Hyung’s eye level was slightly higher than now. His skin also looked rougher. Park Ye-rim chasing after him, saying she would give him a facial pack, and Han Yu-jin being embarrassed, came to mind. *It’s not hyung. But it was hyung.*

Every sense in his body was screaming that the existence before him was definitely Han Yu-jin.

In his complicated and tangled mind, Han Yu-hyun chose what to prioritize. This is inside a dungeon, and the hyung in front of him is F-rank [the lowest rank for a hunter]. He didn’t even have Grace [a powerful skill or blessing].

“No.”

“What?”

“You can’t go out alone. Besides, your leg isn’t even alright.”

Even if this dungeon is F-rank, it seemed dangerous. Han Yu-jin frowned slightly, as if asking what he was talking about.

“Hey, how many years have I been living alone, why are you telling me not to go out alone? Well, it would be strange for an illusion to say something normal. Just stay without disappearing.”

As he said that, Han Yu-hyun grabbed Han Yu-jin’s arm, who was trying to avoid him and get past him. At the same time, Han Yu-jin’s body stiffened.

“I said, no……”

Han Yu-jin’s eyes wavered. The sensation of the hand holding his arm was too vivid, so much so that he couldn’t think of it as an illusion. He tried to pull it away, but Han Yu-hyun’s hand didn’t budge. *It’s not an illusion. It’s an actual human.* Han Yu-jin’s expression turned fierce in an instant. The corners of his eyes sharply rose.

“Who are you! You!”

“Hyung.”

“Who are you, you bastard! Appearing as Han Yu-hyun, what are you trying to do!”

Han Yu-hyun panicked and pulled Han Yu-jin, who suddenly started struggling, into his arms.

“Calm down, hyung!”

Han Yu-hyun looked around while holding Han Yu-jin. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t fully understand the situation. Honestly, he didn’t want to understand or accept it.

“Let’s get out of here, first.”

“…What?”

“Let’s not do this here, let’s go out.”

At the word ‘go out,’ Han Yu-jin’s struggling stopped abruptly.

“What, what do you want?”

Han Yu-jin said with a pale face. His spirit also subsided.

“Just tell me. If we go out like this now, what kind of… No, Han Yu-hyun, the Haeyeon Guild Leader, has no interest in me!”

“Hyung!”

“I don’t know what your scheme is, but there’s nothing you can take from me! So don’t waste your effort, and tell me what you want. What do you want? I’ll do whatever you say, so don’t involve me with Han Yu-hyun. Please, just. That bastard hates me. And I hate him too.”

*I’m sick of it.* Han Yu-jin spat out as if vomiting blood. *I was stupid,* he also heard himself muttering in self-reproach. Han Yu-hyun took a short breath. The arm embracing his brother trembled faintly. The body wrapped in that arm was also trembling slightly.

“Why would I hate hyung……”

“Stop it.”

“I’m Yu-hyun. I’m hyung’s brother.”

“Stop it! You crazy bastard! Stop it! Shut up!”

“It’s real, hyung. Hyung, you always tried to buy me a cake for my birthday, ever since I was little. The bakery near our house even prepared a separate birthday cake for you to buy every year. When I was ten, it closed down, and you were upset that the other stores only had Christmas cakes.”

Han Yu-jin’s hand gripped Han Yu-hyun’s arm tightly. He panted a few times as if he was out of breath.

“I remember all the gifts hyung gave me. I wanted to take them with me. But I……”

“…Let go.”

“Hyung.”

“Let go!”

Han Yu-jin’s hand scratched Han Yu-hyun’s arm. His voice was calm enough to be mistaken for cold, but his fingernails, his fingers, were digging into his hand with all his might. Han Yu-hyun was startled and released his arm as he ignored his own safety and scratched and pulled.

Staggering a few steps, Han Yu-jin collapsed to the ground. He curled up in a ball, turning his back to his brother.

“There’s no place to hide here, huh.”

“Hyung. I, hyung. I never hate hyung. Rather, I don’t need anyone but hyung. Really. The only person I love is hyung. But, how.”

“I don’t know, either.”

The padded jacket rustled slightly.

“I feel like I would have told you to get lost at other times. But. Still, tomorrow is your birthday. When are you going to leave?”

“…I’m not leaving.”

“What do you mean you’re not leaving? It seems like there will only be Christmas cake, but still, you came all the way here.”

Silence fell. He heard the sound of swallowing emotions that had been suppressed several times. Han Yu-jin stood up again.

“You don’t have to follow me. Just light the candles and leave. You won’t have time to stay until midnight anyway. You’re a busy man.”

“I told you, I’m not leaving. My home is where hyung is.”

“It’s cramped. And you’re so big. Although you seem a little smaller. What’s with that half-assed disguise anyway? Anyone with eyes would recognize you.”

Han Yu-jin forced a smile and went out to the front door. Han Yu-hyun grabbed him again as he roughly slipped on his sneakers.

“It’s dangerous to go out alone!”

“Why, is there a dungeon break nearby or something?”

“…Yeah. Something like that.”

“The alarm didn’t go off. It’s quiet.”

“Anyway, no, hyung. Let’s go together.”

“No, uh, hey!”

Han Yu-hyun suddenly picked up Han Yu-jin. He left the room, carrying his brother, who was flustered, as he was.

“You, if you go out like this, what are you going to hear!”

“I don’t care what I hear. If hyung is bothered by it, I’ll get rid of it all.”

“Why, suddenly!”

“Hyung. I will never leave hyung again. No matter what happens.”

“Really, why……”

“I don’t regret leaving hyung that day. I wanted to protect hyung. But I didn’t think we would be apart for so long.”

Han Yu-jin’s lips, which seemed to want to say something, closed. In the silence, the sound of footsteps descending the stairs echoed heavily. Han Yu-jin spoke hesitantly, stammering slightly.

“…It’s a bit early, but have you had dinner?”

“No.”

“Really? There’s not much at home. Should we stop by the mart for a bit?”

“If hyung wants to, I’m happy to.”

It became quiet again. Han Yu-jin slightly raised his gaze, which had been lowered the whole time. He saw his brother’s face. Even though he was so close, completely embraced, it didn’t feel real. It felt like all sorts of things were about to pour out from beyond his throat. He swallowed them down, pressing them down because they were the kind of things that couldn’t be stopped once they started coming out.

“Hey, by any chance.”

His mouth kept drying up.

“If you change your mind, or if it’s actually fake, can you just end it here? It seems like it’s going to be hard enough as it is. I don’t think I can handle it.”

“I love you, hyung.”

“No, hey, you.”

“Any version of hyung, all of them.”

He didn’t know what had happened in the past and future, before Han Yu-jin’s regression. Except that he had saved hyung and died. Han Yu-hyun looked down at Han Yu-jin, who was at a loss. His appearance, his attitude, the scenery of his shabby home. All of that created a reality that felt like it was tearing at his insides.

Even so, hyung, Han Yu-jin.

“…Guild Leader-nim?”

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice was heard. It was right after they exited the entrance of the one-room building. Han Yu-jin reflexively flinched and covered his face with his arm.

“He seems a bit different?”

“Isn’t that Han Yu-jin? That guy?”

Hunters appeared one by one in front of the two. One of them frowned deeply and glared at Han Yu-jin.

“That bastard has been quiet for a while, what is he plotting?”

Han Yu-jin gasped as if surprised. Han Yu-hyun’s eyes turned cold. All of them felt like S-rank hunters [the highest rank for a hunter]. But since they were hunters who hadn’t awakened yet in the present, there were only faces he didn’t recognize in his memory.

“He’s similar to the Guild Leader-nim, but is he fake?”

“He’s definitely fake. Doesn’t he feel a bit easier to handle than the Guild Leader-nim?”

“What is that damn trash trying to do by creating a fake!”

The hunters began to exude a fierce aura. Han Yu-jin’s body, which was already tense, began to tremble slightly.

“Hyung.”

“Yu, Yu-hyun… No, that. It would be better for you to go inside. Or, go back.”

“No.”

Han Yu-hyun carefully put Han Yu-jin down from his arms. Then he smiled kindly. Han Yu-jin blinked and looked up at his brother.

“Just wait here for a bit. It’s dangerous, so don’t move.”

*Swish,* a sword with a jet-black blade was drawn into Han Yu-hyun’s hand.