The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 415

413. The Moon Rises (1)

I turned on the flashlight I had brought, using the light from Yoohyun’s. It was from the hotel. The familiar scenery of the station came into view as the surroundings brightened a bit.

“We don’t have time to go far, so let’s go to Seolleung [a subway station in Seoul].”

Relying on the light from the two flashlights, we passed through the ticket gate. Yerim, who was slightly excited by the unfamiliar sight of the subway station with the lights off, pointed at the wall and said, “Oh.”

“Isn’t that Han Yoohyun?”

What Yerim pointed to was none other than Yoohyun’s birthday advertisement. As expected, the letters were erased.

“It’s here too. It seems like the time is different for each place, but the Gangnam side seems to be Christmas Eve.”

“So it’s a birthday ad? Judging by his expression, it looks like an ad for an expensive product that needs to maintain a lot of weight [implying Yoohyun looks serious and dignified].”

He was a bit like that back then. As we went down the stairs, we saw an empty platform.

“There’s not much time left until December, when do they start putting up birthday ads?”

“Why? Don’t tell me you’re going to put up an ad for the Guild Leader, Uncle?”

“No, there’s no reason I can’t, right?”

It’s because I want to do it for you, why. Yoohyun handed me a mask that he had somehow obtained.

“The air in the tunnel will be bad.”

“Thanks. Is this the only one?”

“We’re S-Class, it’s okay.”

That’s true, but I felt embarrassed to use it while leaving Yerim. Just in case, I turned to Yerim, but before I could even speak, she made an X with her arms, saying she didn’t need it.

“It would be fitting for a birthday ad if Uncle took a picture.”

“Me?”

“I want to take it with Hyung [older brother/male friend].”

“Huh? It’s a birthday photo.”

“That’s why I wish Hyung was there. Is it not okay?”

“Well… there’s no reason it wouldn’t be. Of course, it’s okay if you want to.”

It would be a bit embarrassing, though. At my words, Yerim jumped onto the tracks and waved one arm.

“Then me too! I want to put up two photos, a group photo and a solo photo!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll do as many as you want. What about Noah?”

“Me? Oh, I… I don’t want to put up an ad, but I want to take pictures with close people. Several photos.”

“That’s good too.”

Yoohyun lifted me and put me down on the tracks. Song, the Chief, took the lead and shone the flashlight into the dark tunnel. I had experienced all sorts of things before the regression, but walking along the subway tracks was a first. It feels a bit strange.

“What about Han Yoojin-gun [term of polite address]?”

Sung Hyunjae, who was walking at the very back, said.

“Me?”

“February 7th, that’s right after Team Leader Seok’s birthday.”

Team Leader Seok, you don’t mean Seok Simyeong? Why does Sung Hyunjae know Seok Simyeong’s birthday? I don’t even know.

“I don’t really like ads…….”

“Why, Uncle, put one up!”

“Should I take it for you?”

“Huh? Yoohyun, do you know how to take those kinds of photos? It’ll be different from a phone camera.”

“I’ll learn.”

I felt burdened to put up an ad, but I couldn’t refuse when I saw the children’s expressions. Well, I’ve been on TV several times. Is there any face left to sell now?

“Dear Partner, I’ll take a picture with my phone and enlarge it, then hang it in front of the Seseong Guild with an advertising balloon.”

It’ll be a mess, though.

“That’s an honor.”

“Hyung, me too.”

“Uncle, me too!”

“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to ask too.”

“…No, you guys. Noah.”

Should I buy a good camera when I get home?

“Chief Song’s birthday was earlier than Yerim and Noah’s, right?”

“It’s later than Hyunah Unnie’s [older sister/female friend]. Hyunah Unnie’s is March 3rd!”

“I’m okay.”

Chief Song answered before I could even ask. I want to erase the word ‘okay’ from Chief Song’s dictionary.

“Are public officials not allowed to put up birthday ads or anything like that?”

“There’s no reason they can’t.”

Sung Hyunjae said instead. Then he made a look of regret, a look of apology.

“I’ve been too negligent with our Song Taewon-ssi. Next year, I’ll buy up all the ads in Gwanghwamun Station [a major subway station in Seoul] and compensate him properly.”

Chief Song let out a deep sigh from his chest instead of answering. Honestly, it would be nice to see it all plastered with Chief Song.

“Just put up one, just one. One is okay, right, Chief?”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

“It can’t be helped. Then for Han Yoojin-gun─”

“I’ll take one too.”

I said firmly. Let’s give and take one at a time.

Not long after, we arrived at our destination. We got off the tracks and went up the stairs, stopping in the underground concourse.

“The Elder said that the possibility of me losing consciousness is low, but just in case, keep in mind that I might become a completely different person.”

He said that the crescent moon in this dungeon is a remnant of the past that is disconnected from the main body. With the power of such a trace, it would be difficult to completely swallow the consciousness of someone with a high-level mental skill. Even though my stats are F-grade.

“In fact, it might be easier to deal with me if I’m unconscious. Because I won’t be like that inside.”

If I think I’m me, it will be a bit reluctant to attack recklessly. Especially Yerim and Noah.

“If I act completely like the crescent moon, get as much information as possible.”

I said, looking at Sung Hyunjae. In a way, it was an opportunity to find out about the crescent moon and the contract that bound Sung Hyunjae.

“Don’t go easy on me.”

“…I’ll try.”

Sung Hyunjae answered reluctantly. Anyway, it’s not my real body.

“Everyone, equip your gear. If you feel like you’re running low on mana, drink potions in advance. Yerim, are you really okay?”

“Don’t worry!”

Her answer was energetic, but I couldn’t help but worry. It’s my face, after all.

“It’ll be hard to use Shadowless Footsteps, right? Noah Oppa [term used by females to address older male friends/brothers] can’t do it either, right?”

“Yes. I have to wait a long time.”

Noah said regretfully. No, I wasn’t worried about the skill.

“It would have been helpful if you hadn’t used it to fight Nuna [term used by males to address older female friends/sisters].”

“No, you won against Noah-ssi! You used it very well.”

Noah, who met Liet before the regression, fought and won against his sister with Yerim using the newly acquired skill. He received a dungeon buff and became an SS-Class, but he still won and was recognized.

It was a skill obtained through a title, and there were changes to the existing skill, but there were many ears listening, so we decided to talk about it separately later. Above all, it would be better for the current me not to know.

“Sung Hyunjae-ssi and Chief Song, have you decided on a location?”

The two nodded at the same time. We moved our stopped steps again. Only Chief Song remained behind, and we approached the subway station exit. A faint light was seeping into the entrance visible at the end of the stairs. I took a deep breath.

“Then let’s go.”

I went up the stairs. My legs are working hard today. As I came outside, the wide-open road came into view. I jaywalked across the quiet road and looked up at the sky. Moonlight streamed down between the thick clouds.

The main body, the moon, was not visible.

“It’s here, it’s here!”

Can’t he hear me? There was no particular reaction yet. I climbed up the streetlight and stood on the end. Can’t you see me? Do I have to go up to the rooftop of the building? I don’t think the elevator will work, so please just look at me like this.

“Moon, moon, bright moon~ The moon where Yi Taebaek [famous Chinese poet] played~.”

Please look here. Are you ignoring me because my stats are F-grade? Fortunately, not long after, the moonlight rushed in quickly from over there. It filled the wide road and surged like a wave.

Jingle, jingle─

Along with the sound of countless small bells shaking at once, the moonlight covered my body.

The dim subway entrance suddenly brightened. It wasn’t to the point of saying the sun had risen. Darkness still lingered, but an unusually thick moonlight crawled down the stairs.

Then, in an instant, it was pulled out of the entrance as if being dragged, and only a faint light remained again.

“…Did it work?”

Park Yerim said softly. Sung Hyunjae, who was looking up at the subway entrance, stepped on the stairs.

“I’ll have to check.”

“I’ll go first. I have teleportation.”

Park Yerim ran up the stairs three or four steps at a time. The others followed behind her.

“Uncle!”

Park Yerim shouted as she came out of the subway station. The moonlight had faded a lot. It was so dark that ordinary people would get lost even on familiar roads, but this amount of light was enough for Park Yerim, an S-Class Hunter.

Park Yerim, who was hurriedly looking around, stopped her gaze towards the streetlight. Han Yoojin was standing there. Moonlight was subtly circling around him.

“Uncle, are you okay?”

“Hyung!”

“Yeah, Yoohyun.”

A leisurely answer returned. Han Yoojin turned his body around on the streetlight with his arms slightly open. The eyes looking down at Han Yoohyun and Park Yerim were slightly playful.

The eyes with a deep silver tint curve roundly.

“It’s surprisingly the same. It’s just me. I was hoping that even a little bit of the crescent moon’s memory would come in, but unfortunately, there’s none at all.”

“Hyung. …Are you really Hyung?”

“Of course. My beloved younger brother.”

Han Yoojin smiled brightly. And.

Kwarreung!

A flash of light and a loud noise rang out. It was a signal to Song Taewon, who was waiting.

What the crescent moon is aiming for is none other than Song Taewon. So there was no reason to expose him to the crescent moon, to Han Yoojin. When the crescent moon’s power is fully imbued in Han Yoojin’s body, the moonlight searching the streets will disappear.

At that time, Song Taewon decided to move the location without Han Yoojin knowing. The only person who knew the place to move to was Sung Hyunjae, and if it became difficult to stop Han Yoojin here, he planned to escape first and join Song Taewon, avoiding him until dawn.

Yoohyun and Park Yerim, who were capable of fast movement, were also there, but it was difficult for both of them to use their skills continuously for a long time while taking people with them.

“I was surprised.”

Han Yoojin muttered without the slightest sign of surprise, looking at the soaring golden light.

“Did Chief Song really just leave? I’m fine.”

“If you’re fine.”

Sung Hyunjae said, stepping forward. The hem of his coat fluttered lightly.

“How about forgetting about Song Taewon-ssi and having a slow conversation here? Until dawn.”

“I don’t really have anything to say.”

“That’s disappointing. I have a lot.”

“Ah, there are many complaints. Isn’t this situation all thanks to Sung Hyunjae-ssi after all.”

Silver eyes smiled. Golden eyes faintly hardened. Han Yoojin’s knees bent slightly. There was no sign of pain in his legs.

Teong!

The head of the streetlight snapped and bent downwards. Kicking off the streetlight, which had become a ㄷ shape [resembling the Korean letter ‘ㄷ’], Han Yoojin’s body instantly reached Sung Hyunjae’s front. Sung Hyunjae raised his arm as if to defend, and Han Yoojin’s hand grabbed that arm.

Right in front of him, Han Yoojin smiled even more deeply.

“My little moon.”

Sung Hyunjae’s eyebrows furrowed greatly at the soft whisper. He shook off the hand that was holding his arm and swung his long leg. At the same time, Han Yoojin jumped up. Han Yoojin’s foot touched Sung Hyunjae’s leg, and without resisting the rising power, Han Yoojin’s body spun in the air.

“You’re so sensitive~”

Han Yoojin, who had crossed the air greatly, landed on the streetlight pole like flat ground. He walked up to the top with light steps, tak, tak, tak.

“I’m sorry for blaming Sung Hyunjae-ssi. But I’m also holding back in my own way. I want to pour out harsh words demanding to know where Chief Song is, but I don’t want to do that again.”

“…Is Han Yoojin Han Yoojin?”

“Yes, that’s right~ That’s why it’s more of a problem. Yoohyun.”

Han Yoohyun looked up at his Hyung with a flinch.

“You have to take my side, don’t you.”

“…Hyung.”

“Yeah? Yoohyun. My beloved younger brother. Let’s go find Chief Song together with Hyung.”

“No. Hyung said no.”

“I’m your Hyung too? That’s too much. Ah, maybe it’s because there are two Hyungs now, so it’s okay to throw one away?”

“Hyung!”

Han Yoohyun shouted in surprise.

“There’s no way that’s true!”

“Uncle, that was too much just now!”

“I don’t have anyone on my side. What about Noah-ssi?”

“…I can’t take Yoojin-ssi’s side right now either.”

Han Yoojin sighed, “Hoo.”

“I know I shouldn’t be like this, but my stats don’t seem to be up to SS-Class. Besides, as for skills, I need something useful. Even if I double my attack skills, I don’t have a decent skill to apply it to.”

Han Yoojin’s arms were wide open, and his shoulders shrugged greatly.

“At this rate, I’ll really be talking nonsense until dawn.”

“If it’s not Han Yoojin-gun’s true feelings, I can listen to you as much as you want.”

“Hey, Sung Hyunjae-ssi. Do you want to see the kids cry? Do you think you’ll be okay? Words hurt people so much. If you get stabbed with a knife, you can just sprinkle potion if you’re still alive, but there’s no medicine for the heart.”

“I’m okay, so how about spending some time alone?”

Charrrrr─ Golden chains swirled around Sung Hyunjae.

“You went to the aquarium with the children. It’s not far from here, so I’ll ask you for a date.”

“I think there will only be empty tanks?”

“That’s not bad either.”

“You have a unique taste. What kind of date is this, you’re going to drag me away by force? Are you going to throw me in the tank again this time? Is it a promotion to become the fish you raise? It’s better than a common F-Class, right?”

“I want to put a gag on that unique taste too.”

“You shouldn’t bring chains and say things like that in front of the kids. Kids, don’t listen. You shouldn’t associate with adults like that. Stay away, stay away.”

“So come quietly.”

Sung Hyunjae took a step forward. Han Yoojin trembled exaggeratedly, saying he was scared.

“It’s cold and I’m not good at swimming. So, Changeling.”

Han Yoojin said, holding out one arm. A group of lights flickered above his arm, and a small fairy dragon appeared.

– Yes, Daddy.

“How long can I use your power with the current me?”

– More than an hour.

A satisfied smile spread across his face.