The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 401

399. Sunset (3)

[Time until sunset: 1:57:35]

A message box popped up, helpfully telling me the time. It was only visible to me, so the others took out timers from their inventories and set them.

“Almost two hours, that’s plenty of time. Did they make the sun set slowly on purpose?”

Someone mentioned a certain hotel in Gangnam was good. We swept away the minor Hunters and arrived at Gangnam Station in about ten minutes. With no traffic and ignoring the signals, it was quick even riding the motorcycle leisurely. Traffic jams are really the problem.

콰과과과-!

Water shot up from Gangnam Station Exit 1. The most powerful surge of water yet created huge letters high in the sky.

[Here!]

Yoon Yoon approached the ice sign, the letters inside made of yellow ice, the border a mix of blue and green to make it stand out. Then, she started sticking the glow-in-the-dark stickers she had in her arms all over the ice. Since it was quite dark, the stickers emitted a faint light.

Every Hunter in Seoul will flock here. We should pick a hotel a bit further away from here.

I went to a nearby bus stop and sat on a chair. The me from before the regression was also sitting on a chair, a cake box on my lap. He kept a slight distance from me.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Yoohyun said, looking around.

“I wonder if there are any ingredients left at the hotel. Is there anything you want to eat? We have plenty of time, so I can look for a mart [convenience store].”

“There’s a hamburger place over there.”

“It’s cold, so something warm would be better, right?”

My brother ignored me. What’s wrong with a hamburger? Of course, it’s not a recommended diet, but it has meat and vegetables. If you take out the fries and soda, it’s a pretty healthy menu, I heard.

“…You, you make your brother cook for you?”

The me in the dungeon looked at me like I was a terrible person. Well, I did when Yoohyun left home, but that’s because he was still young. He’s still young now, though.

“Yoohyun wants to, you know.”

“He’s twenty years old. Even if he’s working, shouldn’t you take care of him until he’s at least the age to graduate from college?”

“Of course, I mostly do!”

“I like doing it, hyung [older brother]. I want to take care of you.”

The me from before the regression closed his mouth at Yoohyun’s words. Then, he glanced up at Yerim and Yoon Yoon, who were decorating the ice sign with all sorts of things. Even though he’s definitely bigger than me, the guy buried deep in his black padding felt strangely small.

He must be feeling really strange in many ways. But he wouldn’t want to show any weakness. I’m quite stubborn too.

“But from my point of view, tomorrow is your birthday. Until tomorrow, um, maybe it’ll be okay. So.”

“That’s true. Hey, let’s stop by a mart and buy seaweed [traditionally eaten on birthdays in Korea].”

I said it lightly on purpose. Yoohyun looked at me and the me quietly before nodding.

“Okay. And hyung, tomorrow will be the same.”

Unlike the faint smile on his lips and around his eyes, Yoohyun’s voice was firm. He wouldn’t easily let go of me, no matter what happened. My brother.

“Ahjussi [term for older man, like ‘mister’]! A lot of Hunters are gathering!”

Yerim, who was making a large bear doll out of ice, shouted, waving her arms. It’s a bear doll, even if it’s a bit distorted, right?

“Which way?”

“That way!”

As soon as Yerim pointed, Yoohyun moved. He rushed towards the building in an instant and drew his sword long. With the momentum, the blade smoothly cut through the building.

기이이잉─!

With a sword hum that rang in my ears, the air vibrated fiercely. Dark blue flames wrapped around the lower part of the building, following the trajectory of the sword, melting and digging into the direction he wanted to knock it down. As one side of the building began to collapse, Yoohyun spun his body around, and the sword, which had already turned into a chain sword, struck down hard. The black blade roughly cut through the wind, hitting the side of the building.

구그그긍, With a heavy sound, the huge building tilted sideways. Before one building completely collapsed, Yoohyun moved to another building. He seemed to be planning to block the eight-lane road that was wide open without a single car.

In addition, if he cleared the tall buildings that blocked the view and blocked the alleyways with the debris, it would be easier to prevent Hunters from escaping towards us.

“Hunter Park Yerim.”

“Yeah, it means it’s your turn this time, right? Yoon Yoon! Let’s go to the ahjussis.”

It seemed like they were going to take care of them for good, not just tie them up like when they came here. It wouldn’t be good to make Yerim do that, and Yoon Yoon hates blood, so it’s better for Yoohyun to handle it. Still, Yoohyun does think about Yerim.

“Ahjussi, you’re praising Hanyuhyun in your head again.”

Yerim, who flew in front of me, narrowed her eyes. She’s a psychic.

“No, well. But Yerim, did anything happen to you?”

“It did.”

Yerim looked at the me next to me. Then she smiled.

“I met the most amazing person in the world.”

“Huh? Amazing person?”

“Yes. So I think I’m going to like that person more than ahjussi, is that okay?”

“Well, it’s up to you, Yerim. …But who is it?”

I was purely curious. A person that Yerim evaluates so highly, is it perhaps Ms. Hyunah? Or Ms. Soyoung, who was practically the head of Sesung Guild?

“Um, I’m a little shy to say it yet, so I’ll tell you later.”

“Shy?”

“There’s that!”

What on earth happened? Yoon Yoon was covering her mouth with both hands next to Yerim. Yoon Yoon seems to know. It would be easy to poke her and make her spill, but I shouldn’t. I was curious, but it’s right to wait until Yerim tells me herself.

I’m curious, though. Who is it? It’s not a strange person, is it…….

“Yerim, I haven’t seen that ring before.”

“I got it! From that person.”

“What? A ring?”

Who is it, really! No, it’s just an item, but still, who is it! A ring, a pair of rings. Who had it? Accessories like rings or bracelets were easy to hide, so they weren’t shown off well. There’s no point in letting others know the performance. That’s why I couldn’t remember.

“It’s an item, right?”

“Yes, it’s SS-grade [highest rank]!”

Yerim proudly shook her hand with the ring on it. She poked the me sitting next to her to see if he knew, but he didn’t seem to know.

“Oh, and I’m going to college.”

“Of course, you should go.”

“I’m going to study properly. Not just a college student in name only like the Guild Leader.”

…Oh my god. Just who is it that changed the kid like that. To make a middle schooler who said there’s no need for an S-class Hunter to have good grades say that she’s going to study on her own. Shouldn’t I hand over the title of perfect caregiver?

Yerim said she was going to look into architecture. Yeah, it’s good to study hard. You never know how the world will change, so it’s safer to have a place for yourself besides being a Hunter.

In the meantime, the smell of burning wafted from beyond the mountains of buildings. Rising smoke, collapsed buildings, faintly audible screams. It was truly a battlefield. Of course, the inside of the dungeon was always a battlefield.

“It’s about time for the others to come too.”

They’re late. Surely the dungeon isn’t limited to Seoul or anything. Like Mr. Noah being dropped in France. Ms. Song is from Seoul, but I don’t know about Sung Hyunjae. Did he start in Seoul, Korea from the beginning? Or was he somewhere else and came to Korea, which was considered a suitable base? I wonder if he’s in Italy or something.

“Ahjussi! Peace doesn’t know letters! Maybe……?”

“Peace said he couldn’t come in.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

“Mr. Kim! What do you want to drink?”

Yoon Yoon, who had disappeared for a moment, tore off a vending machine. It seemed fun to take things that had no owner. She shouldn’t do that when she goes outside.

“Ahjussi, your hands look cold, should I warm up a canned coffee for you?”

“Huh? It’s okay.”

“Not ahjussi, you.”

Ah, the me over there. Come to think of it, the tips of his fingers were slightly red from holding the cake box without gloves all along. It’s nothing much, though.

“I’m okay too.”

“It’s not okay. There’s sikhye [sweet rice drink] here too.”

Yerim took out a dagger and neatly cut off the side of the drink vending machine. Then she made a large water droplet. Canned coffee, sikhye, and honey water were plunged into the warm water droplet. Yoon Yoon shook the cider wildly next to her and opened it. Don’t play with food.

“I’ll have coffee, please.”

“Ahjussi is honey water.”

“No, I want to drink coffee.”

“It has red ginseng in it too. Should I give ahjussi honey water too?”

The me from before the regression quickly shook his head.

“I’m healthy.”

“No, you’re not, Yerim. Give him honey water too. He always drank instant coffee at home.”

Alcohol was more of a problem than that, but I didn’t want to say that in front of Yerim. In the end, we both ended up holding honey water with a tiny bit of red ginseng in our hands. I also took off my gloves and wrapped my hands around the warm drink bottle. Since the place was a bus stop, I felt like I had returned to before the dungeon appeared.

“I used to buy warm drinks on my way home from work sometimes.”

“You just fiddled with it and it got cold.”

“Whenever I saw a bus stop, I thought of my brother and didn’t want to take the bus for a while. No matter how many times I told him not to come out to meet me in the winter, he wouldn’t listen.”

“…That’s right. It’s really a long time ago.”

We unconsciously opened the bottle caps and took a sip at the same time, then frowned at the same time. It tastes weird. We closed the drink caps and just wrapped our hands around them again.

“Ack! Hanyuhyun! The ice is melting! My puppy!”

Yerim shouted and flew into the air. It wasn’t a bear?

“I worked hard to make it! It’s different from simple letters… Oh? Ahjussi, Hunters are coming over there too! Should I go?”

“Leave them alone unless they’re close. Yoohyun will take care of them soon and come back─”

콰르르릉! A loud noise echoed. I quickly used Teacher Skill on Yerim. A flash of light entered Yerim’s vision. Golden currents of electricity bounced around madly along the black asphalt road. Covering all directions like a wave, scattering brilliant light.

Then, the chains that had stretched out wrapped around the streetlights on both sides of the road. The streetlights that had been turned off lit up dazzlingly at once and burst with a 퍼버벙, explosion. Even though they weren’t working, the electricity was flowing, so was the power increased? It was a particularly big explosion.

“One person has arrived.”

I put the drink bottle down on the chair and got up from my seat. The me from before the regression also got up.

Seeing him using chains properly, it’s definitely the current Sung Hyunjae, and it seems like there were no problems. Yoohyun returned, crossing over the collapsed building first, and soon Sung Hyunjae appeared. His eyes are fine too.

“I’m not the last one…….”

Sung Hyunjae trailed off rarely. His golden eyes, looking at me and the me, widened slightly. The smile he habitually wore became even thicker, and his gloved fingers lightly pressed against his lips. That, that, he’s definitely interested. Let’s see, it’s 26 minutes now.

“There are two Hanyujin guns [referring to the two versions of the protagonist]. I can take one.”

What is he saying, I thought, but it hadn’t been 3 minutes yet, so I only thought it inside. Yoohyun went behind us and stood as if he would embrace us at any moment, saying.

“Hyung is all mine.”

Yoohyun, what are you talking about again.

“Yoohyun, you shouldn’t do that to people.”

“But I’m hyung’s too.”

– That’s right, hyung! They said it’s originally give and take!

Where did you hear that again, Rina.

“Hanyuhyun is naturally Hanyujin gun’s, but don’t I have a stake in Hanyujin gun? We’re partners, after all.”

“Partner?” The me from before the regression muttered softly. Yerim also joined in on Sung Hyunjae’s words.

“Me too! Hanyuhyun can be ahjussi’s as many as he wants, and I have a stake in ahjussi too! We’re in a guardian and ward, protector and protectee relationship.”

“Huh? Then me too! I have a contract relationship with Captain Kim!”

When you say it like that, it sounds like I’ve become a debtor. And it’s still not been 3 minutes. 3 minutes is long. So I smiled at Sung Hyunjae.

“Mr. Sung Hyunjae, really. Of course, we’re business partners, but. Ah, this is the twenty-nine-year-old me. That’s my kind partner, Mr. Sung Hyunjae. He’s the Guild Leader of Sesung, you know him well, right?”

When I spoke in a kind and gentle voice, Sung Hyunjae, of course, as well as Yerim, Yoohyun, and the me, all looked at me strangely.

“Hyung, are you sick? Did you get hit by a strange skill or something?”

“Ahjussi, you’re the ahjussi who was with us, right? You didn’t change clothes, did you?”

“I’m me and I’m fine. Mr. Sung Hyunjae, are you hurt anywhere? Thank you for taking care of the Hunter group. As always, you’re so reliable… 3 minutes have passed.”

It’s liberation. I grabbed the arm of the me from before the regression, who didn’t know what was going on, and urged him.

“Be careful of that dangerous human.”

“…What?”

“I’m talking about the Sesung Guild Leader, the Sesung Guild Leader.”

“I won’t deny it, but.”

Sung Hyunjae looked at me, the me next to me, with a face that was really as kind as his face.

“Dear Hanyujin gun. If we get out of here safely, you’ll need a place to stay, won’t you.”

“We have a spare room at our house? Haeyeon Guild has more.”

“It’ll be hard.”

Sung Hyunjae’s voice continued quietly.

“The closer people are, the more they compare each other. Colleagues, relatives, friends, couples, siblings. The more often they meet and the more similar the environment they’re in, the more they unconsciously think about who is better or lacking. But even more so if it’s the same person.”

…Not just distinguishing, but discrimination will inevitably occur. Also, there was a clear difference between what the me from before the regression and the current me could and could not do. As Sung Hyunjae said, it would definitely be too harsh an environment for me.

It’s still a matter of whether we can get out safely. But it’s definitely not wrong.

“So you’re saying Mr. Sung Hyunjae will take care of him? Don’t talk nonsense. You’re just interested now because it’s new. But how long will that last.”

Because strong emotions are shared and I’m deeply connected, Sung Hyunjae is probably really feeling the me in the dungeon. So he must be interested. I pulled the me from before the regression closer as if to protect him. He couldn’t be weaker than me, but he willingly came.

“Don’t fall for that nice-looking face. The Sesung Guild Leader is famous for being briefly interested and then abandoning people after a few months. There are more than one or two victims, they say.”

“As Hanyujin gun says, I can’t guarantee that I’ll continue to be interested.”

“See, that’s what he’s like.”

“But I promise that protection and care that exceeds what is needed will not be cut off.”

“What do I believe?”

“Even so, I’m proud to say that the guild members’ trust in me is high.”

That, that’s true. Suddenly, the Sung Hyunjae in the dungeon came to mind. He took responsibility to the end. For his guild. In some way.

“So, you’re saying you’ll take him to Sesung Guild.”

“Isn’t it a good contract for each other.”

Since it’s me, there’s naturally nothing bad about taking him as a Sesung Guild member. The relationship between Sesung and the Breeding Center will become stronger, and he can be taken hostage if necessary. And it would definitely help the me from before the regression. Rather than suddenly going to the Breeding Center and being dropped into a familiar yet unfamiliar environment, it would be better to slowly adapt in a completely unfamiliar place.

But.

“…I refuse.”

I said. I didn’t make eye contact with Sung Hyunjae properly, as if I was intimidated, but I stubbornly continued to speak.

“I don’t know why you’re saying that someone needs my care without permission. I can take care of myself enough. I’ve lived like that. You too. I’ll take care of myself.”

The last words were firm without a single tremor. Yeah, that’s what I was like. Just because my situation has improved a lot, I carelessly thought of myself as weak. I was always the same.

And Sung Hyunjae was rejected twice. Since it’s the same me, what can I do.