The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 390

388. A Christmas Carol (2)

“Han Yoojin! Wait a minute!”

Han Yoojin shouted urgently.

“What on earth are you trying to do! They’re your guild members!”

At Han Yoojin’s cry, the hunters, the Haeyeon Guild members, looked at each other, slightly embarrassed.

“Fake, right?”

“Seems like it, but when he takes out his weapon, you know that feeling we get from the Guild Leader? It’s the same.”

“But we’ve never seen a sword like that. Besides, the Guild Leader should be at the guild right now! It’s Christmas Eve.”

The hunters, who had been full of vigor, stepped back hesitantly. Imitating appearances isn’t difficult with the right items and skills, but could they replicate that unique aura? Their Guild Leader, in particular, had a presence unlike any other S-Class Hunter, one that only he possessed. It might not be noticeable normally, but when he entered a combat stance, that chilling fire could be felt. At least, any high-ranking hunter would find it hard not to notice.

“…Just in case, contact him.”

“Yeah, we’ll check right away… Where are the communicators?”

The hunters looked at each other again.

“Oh, you don’t have one?”

“I don’t have my phone either.”

“How could you not bring a single communication device?”

As each of the hunters rummaged through their belongings, one of them suddenly spoke.

“But why are we all here anyway?”

“Huh?”

“We’re on three shifts.”

They all fell silent at the same time. It was strange.

After the turmoil caused by the Awakening Center subsided and Haeyeon firmly established itself as one of the major guilds, growing in power, Han Yoojin was placed under even stricter surveillance. Initially, they sent B-Class Hunters, but now, three A-Class Hunters were alternately watching over the Haeyeon Guild Leader’s brother. Some said it was a waste of manpower, but it was better to prevent the Guild Leader’s relative from causing trouble than to deal with the aftermath.

Of course, the surveillance itself could be seen in a negative light, so the observers kept their presence hidden. They were instructed to avoid intervening if possible, and in the event of an incident, to contact and report it first.

“Why are you two even here?”

“What? Wasn’t it my turn at this time?”

“You shouldn’t have come out like this in the first place! And you really don’t have your phone?”

“But if it’s a fake Guild Leader, it’s an emergency…”

Han Yoohyun listened to the confused conversation, looking at the unfamiliar faces of the guild members. They had been dragged out like monsters from a dungeon, but unlike ordinary monsters, they clearly had memories and self-awareness.

‘This is definitely different from a normal dungeon.’

Han Yoohyun’s toes dug into the ground. Crushing the pavement, his body instantly shot towards the hunters. A jet-black blade flashed in the light.

“Crazy!”

“D, did he kill him?”

Two of them barely managed to escape. But the one who was targeted fell without even putting up a fight. The two hunters’ faces changed instantly.

They were high-ranking hunters who were more than used to life-or-death battles while raiding dungeons. But openly committing murder on an ordinary street, before the sun had even set, was different. At least in Korea, it was a taboo even among hunters. Even though the Awakened Management Office and the Hunter Association had weakened, the major guilds were still upholding the existing system, so they couldn’t openly commit crimes.

But that hunter, who looked like the Haeyeon Guild Leader, killed a person without a moment’s hesitation.

“He’s not an ordinary fighter! We have to let the guild know!”

“Damn it, of all times to have the Guild Leader’s face!”

One of them, who had a flight skill, quickly soared into the air. At the same time, blue willow leaves scattered. The Haeyeon Guild members’ eyes widened.

“That’s the Guild Leader’s skill!”

“It’s not invisibility, dodge it!”

The hunter on the ground quickly applied a skill to his shield and threw it into the air. The rapidly rotating shield blocked Han Yoohyun’s path. Despite the sudden obstacle, without even a moment’s hesitation, the Ruler’s Sword was thrust out. The tip of the sword accurately pierced the center of the rotation.

Crack!

The shield’s rotation slowed for a moment, and Han Yoohyun twisted his body halfway, lifting one leg high. His heel slammed down hard on the edge of the slowed shield.

Boom!

The shield, knocked downwards, scraped along a three-story building and crashed into the basement. As soon as what had blocked him was cleared away, a dark blue flame soared up. A spear made of flames flew towards the hunter who was escaping with his flight skill.

‘Wh, what is he doing?’

Han Yoojin looked up at Han Yoohyun, utterly bewildered. Han Yoohyun, the Haeyeon Guild Leader, had killed a guild member. Dark blue flames were reflected in Han Yoojin’s eyes. The magical flames spread into the sky.

“Yoohyun!”

He was confused. Could it be a fake? But even so, it was definitely his brother. There were many hunters with fire abilities, but there couldn’t be another fire as powerful as that. The color was a bit different from usual, but it was still his brother’s fire.

Could something have happened to his brother? His sudden change in attitude, his altered appearance, the change in his skill’s state, and even harming his own guild members like that.

Ignoring the words to wait, Han Yoojin walked forward. He shouldn’t be doing this. The Haeyeon Guild Leader shouldn’t be like this.

“Han Yoo, ugh!”

Just then, something blocked Han Yoojin’s path. Han Yoojin blinked, rubbing his forehead where he had bumped into something.

“What is this…”

His path was blocked. He cautiously reached out and touched something that felt like a solid wall. A transparent barrier faintly revealed its form. Han Yoojin’s eyes widened even further.

“This, what is this?”

The wall, which he hadn’t been able to recognize a moment ago, a huge hemispherical barrier, was surrounding him. He put strength into his hand and pushed. He even knocked on it. But it didn’t budge.

“Wait, just a minute… This is.”

It was definitely in his memory. He had seen something like this before. That’s right, inside a dungeon. His breathing became rapid. Han Yoojin looked around. He saw the hunter who had been killed a moment ago lying there. In the thick smell of blood, the hunter’s corpse blurred for a moment. And then, as if being erased, it disappeared.

Leaving behind a fragment in the pool of blood.

Han Yoojin knew about that too. It was found in monsters that were extremely rare, different from the usual ones, something strange, as if there was an error. A fragment that hadn’t become a magic stone. The hunters’ disjointed conversations came to mind. Following that.

‘It’s dangerous to go out alone!’

His brother’s cry came to mind. The way he had nodded awkwardly when asked if a dungeon had broken out.

“A dungeon, it didn’t break out…”

This place was the dungeon.

Han Yoojin looked again at the wall blocking his path. A hemispherical barrier dividing a certain area within the dungeon. He took a couple of steps back. He couldn’t get out of here. A hollow laugh escaped from between his closed lips.

“Seriously, what is this…”

What should he say, what kind of reaction should he show? Han Yoojin looked down at his hands. The sound of buildings collapsing from the aftermath of the battle thundered like thunder.

“Hyung.”

Han Yoojin’s head snapped up. Han Yoohyun stepped onto the ground, treading on willow leaves. The light footsteps approached.

“It’s okay now. Don’t worry about it.”

“…Yoohyun.”

“Let’s go.”

Han Yoohyun’s hand was extended. Han Yoojin unconsciously reached out to his brother. Taking a step and stopping, Han Yoohyun grabbed his wrist. That hand that pulled him in as if it were natural.

Thud.

He was blocked. Han Yoohyun’s eyes widened.

“This… wait a minute, Hyung.”

Han Yoojin pulled his grabbed wrist away and asked again.

“Are you real, Yoohyun? I mean, are you a dungeon raider [a monster that appears in dungeons]?”

“That’s…”

“You are real, right? Thank goodness.”

Han Yoojin smiled. Yes, thank goodness. If he was real, that was enough.

“What, um, it seems like you’re getting along well with me.”

“…Hyung.”

“Isn’t that right?”

“No, we, we’ve made up.”

Han Yoohyun quickly replied, feeling helpless and a stinging sensation in the back of his throat.

“Now, we’re living together. Like before.”

“Really? That’s good.”

It was a good thing. Han Yoojin tried hard not to think too deeply about it. That was all that mattered. Han Yoojin and Han Yoohyun were getting along well. He shouldn’t want or be greedy for anything more than that. He wasn’t in a position to do so.

“Um, I don’t know much, but this is a dungeon, right?”

“That’s…”

“It’s a strange dungeon. Seeing that the Haeyeon Guild members can leave but I can’t, I guess I’m the boss of this area. That’s funny.”

Han Yoojin rubbed the wrist that had been grabbed against his padding, chuckling softly.

“An A-Class is a regular monster, but seeing you fight, it seems like you’re about an S-Class [the highest rank for hunters and monsters]. Do the ranks go up by one level each time? Then I must be an E-Class.”

“Hyung, wait a minute.”

Han Yoohyun, with a bad feeling, reached out again. Han Yoojin staggered back.

“I have to raid the dungeon and get out.”

“Hyung!”

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

His expression was clouded, but his voice was firm.

“I won’t make you do something like that, even if you’re a fake.”

“What are you talking about, what are you trying to do!”

“What else. But I feel a bit strange. Even though I’ve had a hard time, I’ve never thought about wanting to die. The world suddenly changed and became a mess, but that means it could suddenly change again, right? So I kept holding on.”

Because Han Yoohyun and Han Yoojin were alive. As long as they were alive, things could change.

“So it turned out well in the end. We’re getting along well, you and I. It’s worth holding on, I guess. So it’s okay.”

“What’s okay!”

Han Yoohyun shouted. He strode towards Han Yoojin, but couldn’t easily reach out his arm.

“I’m a fake, Yoohyun.”

“…You’re Hyung.”

“Don’t cry.”

Those kind words hit him even harder. As Han Yoojin said, he was a monster created by the dungeon. So he could just turn around and forget about it. He wasn’t real. He knew that fact, but.

“It’s Hyung’s, memories. I don’t know, Hyung. It’s definitely Hyung. Everything is. How can I possibly leave Hyung behind?”

“I’m okay, Yoohyun. I’m going to disappear when it resets anyway. If I had known from the start, I would have acted like a monster. It’s okay, so go quickly. You must have other team members.”

“The cake, is.”

“It’s across the street, way inside, so you can’t go anyway. I don’t even know if the store is open. Looking at it now, there aren’t any ordinary people around.”

Han Yoojin, who had said he was okay, sighed for a moment.

“Still, I should have bought it in advance. What’s the date outside? Has my birthday passed?”

“…No, not yet.”

“You’ll buy me a cake, right? Will you have a birthday party at Haeyeon?”

“I’ll have it with Hyung, with Hyung…”

“Yeah. Yeah.”

That was enough. Han Yoojin smiled. Han Yoohyun’s lips twisted. He couldn’t leave him behind. Absolutely not. Even if he couldn’t get out of the dungeon, he couldn’t give up this easily. The thought that he shouldn’t filled Han Yoohyun’s head.

“I can’t go, leaving Hyung behind.”

“There’s no choice.”

“Where is it, that barrier.”

Han Yoohyun stepped back. After hesitating for a moment, Han Yoojin moved and reached out his hand. The transparent wall that separated the two faintly revealed itself for a moment. At the same time, Han Yoohyun swung the Ruler’s Sword.

Kwaaaa─!

A wind blew. The road and pavement were scraped and shattered. Scars like those left by the claws of a giant beast remained on the ground, but the wall remained unchanged. The attack couldn’t even reach it.

“No. Yoohyun.”

“No. There’s a way, there must be.”

There had to be. Han Yoohyun drew out all the knowledge he had about dungeons. He anxiously bit his lip and searched his memories, but it wasn’t enough. If it was his past self, not the present, would he have known a way? Could there be a Han Yoohyun here too? Should he go to Haeyeon, grab them by the collar, and shout that they had to save his brother?

“Something, a way…”

“Yoohyun.”

“Please, Hyung.”

Han Yoojin let out a short sigh. Then he went to the broken road and picked up a fragment.

“The area boss monsters in dungeons constructed in this way can’t leave their territory. But that allows you to safely attack from outside the area.”

Continuing his explanation, Han Yoojin tossed the stone and caught it.

“So when you’re judged to be in battle with the area boss monster, the attacker’s attacks are also blocked by the barrier.”

Han Yoojin threw the stone towards Han Yoohyun with all his might. Han Yoohyun, understanding the meaning of his words, hurriedly raised his sword.

Thud!

At the same time as the stone was blocked by the barrier.

Boom!

The Ruler’s Sword was swung. With a loud noise, the black blade collided with the transparent wall. The air vibrated greatly, but the wall didn’t budge. Seeing that, Han Yoojin’s eyes drooped.

“You can attack the barrier like that, but you can’t break it.”

“…No. I can do it.”

He could break it. He had to. Han Yoohyun looked around. It wasn’t a bustling street, but there were plenty of buildings.

“Wait a little, Hyung. I’ll definitely get you out.”

The last melted word. The skill activated. Dark blue flames spread out, swallowing and melting the buildings. Han Yoohyun gripped the Ruler’s Sword again. He gripped the sword with both hands to pour all his strength into it, concentrating the fire energy.

“What are you going to do if you waste your strength here and make it harder to raid the dungeon?”

“I’m begging you, Hyung.”

Han Yoojin picked up another fragment as if he couldn’t help it. He muttered, ‘It won’t work,’ and threw the stone. At the same time, strength flowed into Han Yoohyun’s arms, shoulders, and entire body. Wrapped in dark blue flames, he struck the wall with his sword.

KWAANG!!

A sound close to an explosion echoed.

“Again, Hyung!”

The stone was thrown and the wall was struck again. But still, there was no change. Not even a tiny crack appeared. Han Yoohyun bit his lip tightly. Even if he used the Sword Devourer, it couldn’t be a higher grade than the Ruler’s Sword. Even if it was a precious SS-Class sword that he would never get again, he wanted to melt it down right now. It would be okay to lose something like that.

If only he could break the wall in front of him.

KWAANG! An explosion beyond single digits, into double digits, erupted. Han Yoohyun’s breathing became noticeably rough.

“Yoohyun.”

“No.”

“Let’s stop.”

“No.”

“I’m really okay. Really. You don’t need to struggle for me.”

For Han Yoojin. Han Yoohyun had lived like that. In the first place, Han Yoojin was the one who had created his current self, which was different from his true nature. Han Yoojin was present in every moment of Han Yoohyun’s life.

Even now, it was true that he wanted to save Han Yoojin. But.

“I, Hyung.”

He gripped his sword again. Even for an S-Class, his palms and wrists ached from the continuous attacks with all his might.

“I couldn’t give up on Hyung. I chose myself instead of Hyung’s safety. I spoke out what I wanted.”

For Han Yoohyun, not Han Yoojin.

“It’s the same now. I know Hyung isn’t real. But I can’t give up. It’s what I want. It’s my greed.”

Han Yoojin’s mouth was tightly shut. His eyes, which had been sunken as if giving up, wavered. His faintly trembling hand picked up another fragment from the road.

The explosion resounded. Flames scattered. With all the strength he had, more than he had, drawing out even the source.

The bright blue flames struck the wall. The transparently blue flames swallowed the barrier. Fire swallows everything and burns everything.

The flames that touched the barrier, this time, didn’t die down. A small hole was created, and they dug into the gap, continuing to swallow it. Han Yoohyun coughed and sat down on the spot.

“Yoohyun!”

The huge hemispherical barrier quickly disappeared. Han Yoojin limped towards his brother. He hugged his exhausted body.

“Hey! You, really…”

“You’re, really.”

“I will, never…”

“Yeah.”

“Never, leave you alone.”

“…Yeah.”

“…I’m sorry, Hyung.”

“Yeah.”

Han Yoojin’s face became wet. He couldn’t hold back what he had been suppressing and poured it out. His brother had returned. He had brought him out.