The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 414

Scarlet meat landed on the hot iron griddle with a sizzle. A delicious aroma filled the air. The lid of the steamer opened, releasing a cloud of white steam, and a vibrant red crayfish was lifted out with tongs.

Scooping a generous amount of rice from the commercial rice cooker, about a third of the pot was quickly emptied. The cooker held roughly 20 servings, but I was still concerned it wouldn’t be enough. After all, there were nine of us.

As I finished serving the rice and was about to ladle out the seaweed soup, I noticed my pre-regression self standing blankly in front of the refrigerator. It was the refrigerator with the cake box inside.

“What’s wrong?”

I walked over and asked. He glanced at Yoohyun, who was busy grilling the meat, and spoke in a voice barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.

“The day hasn’t passed yet.”

“You mean the cake.”

“According to the time outside, his birthday is still far away, and also…”

My pre-regression self bit his lower lip slightly.

“…Will he be there?”

“…I don’t know.”

We both simultaneously recalled the fact we had been trying to avoid. Inside the still-blocked Haeyeon Guild, would Yoohyun be present?

“I’m going to go tomorrow. When it gets light. I think it’ll open once the Association deals with it.”

“Okay.”

I picked up the ladle, and the other me laid out the soup bowls. Lifting the lid of the soup pot, another plume of white steam billowed out. Condensation trickled down the lid. I carefully ladled the richly flavored seaweed soup into each bowl, filling them to the brim. I made sure to add plenty of meat as well. The glossy broth looked like it would warm you from the inside out.

I arranged kimchi and other side dishes on plates and washed the lettuce for wraps, shaking off the excess water. I scooped out some *ssamjang* [Korean savory thick paste used with grilled meat] and added salt to sesame oil. The savory scent tickled my nose.

“There’s more rice and soup, so let me know if you need more!”

Seeing everyone seated at the table, which was formed by attaching a smaller table to the cooking counter where the iron griddle was placed, and lining up chairs, filled me with a strange sense of satisfaction. Sung Hyunjae brought out plates of steamed lobster and sliced raw fish.

“Put kimchi on it too! You don’t know how to grill properly.”

Yerim interjected, grabbing the tongs and placing the kimchi whole on the griddle. Yoon Yoon was already happily eating, his cheeks puffed out with meat wraps.

“Yoojin, eat up. Other Yoojin too.”

Noah said softly, holding a spoon. Sung Hyunjae put on plastic gloves and began to break down the steamed lobster. From the easily separated claws, a generous portion of plump flesh was revealed. The young Chaos skillfully used chopsticks to pick up the meat and eat it.

“Hyung, sit down quickly.”

Yoohyun gestured. We grabbed chairs and sat on the inside of the cooking counter. My younger brother, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, sat me on his left and the other me on his right, wearing a satisfied expression.

“Hah, Yoohyun is so happy, look at him. He must be full just by looking. Uncle, just let him starve.”

Yerim picked up a piece of meat with a look of mock concern. Director Song, sitting at the very end, quietly but diligently ate his meal. Seeing his bowl of rice quickly disappearing made me feel good.

“Eat a lot.”

Since he was sitting far away, I placed some cooked meat on a separate plate and handed it to him, making sure to include vegetables and lobster as well.

“Yerim, should I get you another bowl?”

“I’m faster!”

“No, I’m faster!”

Yerim and Yoon Yoon, having finished their rice bowls at nearly the same speed, disappeared with their bowls. And then…

“Ack!”

“Ouch!”

They collided in front of the rice cooker. Oh dear.

“Bring some for Song Taewon too.”

In the meantime, Director Song had also emptied his bowl. He really eats well.

“Yes. Director Song, throw it here!”

At Yerim’s words, Song Taewon hesitated. Throwing a rice bowl seemed a bit much.

“I’ll go.”

“Give it to me.”

Why bother going all the way around? I took the bowl and handed it to Yerim. Song Taewon looked at me, then at the other me, for a moment. Come to think of it, even though there was another me, Director Song hadn’t said anything particularly noteworthy. He was calm, as if he had expected it.

“Should we go out to guard the front door now that it’s dark?”

At my question, the young Chaos, who was eating soup, looked up.

“It’s okay since they can’t move right now. But you’ll have to choose one of the two.”

“One of the two?”

“The moon or the dragon.”

I had seen the message that the dragon would appear. But the moon? He must be referring to the crescent moon.

“Fortunately, they won’t come out at the same time. You only have to stop one.”

“How strong is the dragon?”

Red eyes stared at me.

“The first one’s nightmare.”

My nightmare. I took a shallow breath. Rauchitas.

“It’s hard to catch even if it just appears, but it’ll have received a dungeon buff too, right? This isn’t going to work.”

How am I supposed to catch that? I can’t.

“Is the moon still a crescent moon? That one’s also a Transcendent…”

Neither option was appealing.

“Isn’t there a third option? Like quietly hiding in the hotel.”

“If you’re lucky, the hotel might hold out. About a 30% chance.”

“30% is too low!”

In the meantime, all the moving spoons had stopped. I should have brought this up after everyone had finished eating. This wasn’t exactly dinner table conversation.

“There is a way.”

The young Chaos said this and finished his soup. The others also quickly finished their meals.

“Bring the tea.”

“Tea? I didn’t buy any tea.”

“I’ll go get it!”

“Me too!”

Yerim and Yoon Yoon raised their hands again in a flash. Where are you two trying to go?

“No! It’s dark.”

“There’s a cafe right upstairs, not outside.”

“Yeah, I saw it too.”

Ah, right. That’s right.

“I’ll go with you. Place your orders.”

“I’ll just have a cafe latte. A warm one today.”

The three of them went to the cafe upstairs, and the remaining people began to clean up. Of course, except for the elders.

“Are your legs injured?”

Director Song asked my pre-regression self cautiously. I nodded, feeling a little embarrassed.

“…Yes.”

Song Taewon didn’t press further and looked at me, then at me and Yoohyun.

“Hyung, go sit down now. You too.”

Yoohyun, having dismissed me and myself from the kitchen, began cutting fruit with Noah, and Director Song gathered the dishes to be washed.

“You don’t have to do the dishes! We’re in a dungeon anyway.”

“Still, isn’t this a place we’ll be staying for a day?”

Song Taewon put on rubber gloves. I suspected he might, and he really is a neat person. I sat side by side with me at the large table, propped my chin up, and looked towards the kitchen. It’s really nice to see Yoohyun and Noah working together. They’re really good at cutting fruit too.

“If it weren’t for the fact that you’re the same person, your expressions wouldn’t even be the same.”

The young Chaos said, looking at us.

“I’m taller than this guy. And in better shape.”

“You’re only about 1cm taller, stop showing off so much. You’re just splitting hairs.”

“1cm? How tall are you?”

“…178.”

“Why don’t you just lie and say you’re 180?”

Damn it, you annoying bastard. I kicked his leg under the table. Not to be outdone, he kicked my leg too. Geez, I just nudged him, but this guy put some force into it. Naturally, I kicked him even harder.

“Second! Look at those two!”

“Hyung!”

Yoohyun lightly stepped over the cooking counter and approached us.

“Talk it out, talk it out. You’ll get hurt. No, Hyung, sit here, and Hyung, sit there.”

“We’re not fighting.”

“Yeah. We’re talking it out.”

He said it was okay, but my younger brother lifted me up, chair and all, and set me down to the side. He brought a chair and sat between us. Yoohyun grabbed my hand and my other hand.

“You have to get along.”

“We get along.”

“That’s right, we didn’t take out any weapons.”

“If we were bad, we would have already stabbed each other.”

“I’m holding back the urge to fight.”

“I’m going to win anyway.”

“What, you little…”

Song Taewon stopped washing dishes and looked back at us. Noah came running with plates of fruit in both hands.

“Eat up. And don’t fight.”

“Thank you, Noah. We’re not fighting.”

“Thank you.”

Song Taewon, having finished washing the dishes, also came to the table. Not long after, the people who had gone to the cafe returned.

“Here’s your cafe latte.”

Sung Hyunjae placed coffee in front of me and the other me.

“Grandpa, here’s your pear and bellflower tea!”

A band of water swirled around Yerim’s body. The drink glasses were lined up in that warm band of water. Tea was placed in front of the young Chaos, and drinks were handed to Director Song and Noah as well.

“Yuja tea [citron tea] and Americano! Here, Hah Yoohyun. This is especially flower tea.”

Hey Yerim, there’s half water and half dried flowers in Yoohyun’s teacup. It looked like he was going to chew on grass instead of drinking tea.

“Do you want some coffee?”

“No, I’m okay.”

My pre-regression self, after taking a sip of the cafe latte, muttered softly, “It’s sweet.” It was sweet. Even so, he didn’t seem to mind taking another sip. Yerim and Yoon Yoon were side by side, sucking on ade [Korean sweet beverage], and Sung Hyunjae had some kind of green tea.

“So, what do we do?”

I asked the young Chaos. The Chaos, who was drinking pear and bellflower tea, replied.

“The crescent moon here isn’t complete. To be exact, it’s more like a remnant of power. It has a purpose, but it’s in a state where it’s difficult to carry it out properly, and it’s constantly weakening, so it’ll try to find a shell.”

“A shell?”

“A body. There are plenty here.”

Red eyes swept over us.

“If you go out where the moonlight touches, you’ll have your body stolen.”

“Then should we hide? How about going into the basement?”

“If the moonlight can’t find a host and weakens, the dragon that’s been crouching will start to move. The dragon will target the first and second ones. Just like the nightmare.”

The hand gripping the coffee cup tightened. In front of me, again, that kind of thing.

“…You said there was a way.”

“Give it up.”

“Excuse me?”

“The body. S-Class won’t do. It’ll become too strong. But there’s an F-Class here, isn’t there?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to me, and then to the other me.

“Me?”

“Yes. If it’s you, the first one, even if the crescent moon takes over your body, it’ll only end up being about SS-Class. Maybe even just S-Class. Then the guys here can catch it.”

So, my body is too weak, so even if the crescent moon’s power dwells in it, it won’t be a big deal. That’s a relief, but it’s a little sad. On the other hand, if an S-Class has their body stolen, it’ll probably be around L-Class.

“No.”

Yoohyun said firmly.

“I can’t let Hyung do anything dangerous.”

“That’s right, Ahjussi’s not in good condition anyway.”

“It’s not dangerous.”

The young Chaos took a sip of tea and continued.

“It’s only temporarily becoming the incarnation of the crescent moon, so the main body will be fine. However, according to the crescent moon’s will, it’ll try to kill that guy.”

The young Chaos tilted his chin and pointed to Song Taewon. This time, everyone’s gaze gathered on Director Song. Yerim, Noah, and Yoon Yoon, who didn’t know the full story, tilted their heads. Yoohyun also looked a little puzzled.

Director Song put down the yuja tea he was holding.

“Then if I just leave this place, the crescent moon won’t attack.”

“Why are you trying to go alone again! No way.”

“The safest thing is—”

“That’s not true. If something happens to Director Song, the crescent moon that achieved its goal will disappear, right? Then the dragon will appear anyway, won’t it?”

I said, turning to the young Chaos. Chaos nodded.

“Probably.”

“See?”

I said, getting up from my seat.

“So it’s right for me to step up. It’s safe, you said.”

“Hyung!”

Yoohyun got up as well. Yerim, Noah, Song Taewon, and even Sung Hyunjae had expressions that showed they didn’t like it.

“We’re just fighting. This time it’s a host, so it’s safer, so there’s nothing to hold back. Don’t you like it?”

At my question, Yoohyun rolled his eyes.

“That’s…”

“Rather, you’re more dangerous, Yoohyun. I’ll probably come at you without holding back, right?”

“…Without holding back?”

My younger brother’s lips twitched slightly. I think he was trying to smile just now. Is it just my imagination?

“Yoohyun, you look happy.”

“No, that’s… yeah. To be honest, I’m excited. After fighting with Hyung, everyone else has become boring, so I keep thinking about Hyung…”

“That much?”

“Yeah, it was so good. Really.”

He liked it a lot back then too, but to the point where fighting with other people has become boring. Yerim’s eyes sparkled at Yoohyun’s reaction.

“I’d like to fight with Ahjussi too. If I really won’t get hurt.”

Yerim said, and Noah added, “If I won’t get hurt.” Of course, Yoon Yoon was disgusted.

“Then let’s prepare. If we defeat the crescent moon, we don’t have to worry about the dragon?”

“The rabbit guy will stop it.”

I became even more anxious because the newbie was taking care of it.

– Bleep.

I took Eunhye off and handed it to my pre-regression self. The bluebird landed on the other me’s shoulder without much resistance. Since they’re connected, it seems they recognize each other as the same person.

“You keep it. It’ll be harder to catch me if you have Eunhye.”

I then entrusted the lynx jacket to Yoohyun. It’ll be annoying if I get the stealth skill buff.

“I’ll take the other equipment with me.”

If I don’t have anything, I might end up using my precious points. That won’t do.

My pre-regression self, Yoon Yoon, and the young Chaos decided to stay at the hotel. The young Chaos was also in a similar situation to a host, so he said that if he touched the same host, he might have his body stolen in reverse. Yoon Yoon hates fighting, and my pre-regression self isn’t a real human, so.

“Then, Elder, please take care of us.”

It would be troublesome if we fought here and made a hole in the wall, so we decided to move to a place far from the hotel.

“You can’t let another guy touch the moonlight first. It’s okay for a moment, but if you touch it for a little longer, you’ll have your body stolen.”

“Yes, I’ll be careful.”

After listening to the detailed precautions, we went outside the hotel. Fortunately, the subway was right in front of us, so we didn’t have to be above ground for long.

Moonlight shone here and there on the pitch-black streets. It was moving at a rapid pace like surveillance lighting, looking for something, probably Song Taewon. We stuck close to the walls where the moonlight couldn’t easily reach and looked at the subway entrance.

“Yerim, I’m counting on you. If we get caught, teleport us immediately.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Is this why they say to travel with someone who can teleport or move through space? It would be tiring for Yerim to move everyone, so we decided to move one by one to the subway station entrance, and if we got caught, we would help each other.

First, Director Song ran out silently. His back disappeared safely underground, and then Sung Hyunjae also took a step. Fortunately, everyone made it down to the subway station without getting caught in the moonlight.

A small light flickered in the subway station, which was so dark you couldn’t see an inch ahead.