The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 422

420. Last Words (3)

Following the rough coughing, there was no comforting, nor asking if he was alright.

“Aaaaaagh!”

A scream of agony soared. Han Yoojin’s body curled up, trembling violently. Gritting his teeth, he shouted at the two frozen figures.

“Get away! Ugh, mana, augh, ugh!”

Crack, his molars ground together as the scream was forcibly swallowed. Sung Hyunjae and Song Taewon rose from their spots as if burned, retreating backward. As the distance widened, Han Yoojin’s groans gradually subsided. In the dark ruins, his pale back rose and fell rapidly before he exhaled a large breath.

“Further, away…….”

The two increased the distance even more, and Han Yoojin continued speaking with difficulty, still curled up.

“The magic power feels too vivid. Even now, my skin is tingling, huh, to that extent.”

“…Are there any other abnormalities?”

“Sung Hyunjae-ssi.”

Amidst the silence, the sound of water dripping was heard. Han Yoojin pressed his forehead against Silrakia’s Wings. Whether it was worth the SS-grade equipment price, he didn’t feel any coolness.

“Yerim is still young.”

Han Yoojin’s voice continued slowly.

“Honestly, I trust Hyunah-ssi more than Sung Hyunjae-ssi, but Hyunah-ssi will be busy for a while. So, could Sung Hyunjae-ssi, who has the leeway, pay some attention to her?”

“Isn’t that Han Yoojin-gun’s job?”

Sung Hyunjae replied calmly. Han Yoojin chuckled softly.

“Yes. Still. And the Breeding Center. If the kids can’t grow, they might try to dispose of them, you know. The food costs aren’t cheap either. But it won’t be much for Sung Hyunjae-ssi, so can I ask you for that favor?”

“…Alright. It’s not difficult.”

“Thank you. As for the building, I won’t have anything to worry about.”

The smithy was reassuring enough with Yoo Myungwoo’s presence alone. The research team had already established themselves by producing results. Dohmyeong had been resourceful even before the regression, so there wouldn’t be any problems this time either.

“Noah-ssi should be fine now too. I think he’ll become even stronger in the future.”

He would continue to change his relationship with Riete outside the dungeon. It would be good to create a guild again, or it would be fine to stay with the building. Becoming a special team in many ways.

“However, Yoohyun…….”

Han Yoojin’s eyes blinked slowly.

“…I don’t want to leave my brother alone again. But that wouldn’t be possible.”

Still, the living must live on. That’s what they usually said. Most would think that’s right. But how again.

“Take him with you.”

“…….”

“Han Yoojin-gun knows it well too, doesn’t he? That Han Yoohyun can only live by Han Yoojin’s side.”

“…That kid is a bit like that. Yes.”

“Even if he’s forcibly kept alive, he’ll surely be unhappy. Because Han Yoohyun can never be happy unless he’s by Han Yoojin’s side.”

Forcibly separating them would be more cruel and heartless. If you truly cherish and care for Han Yoohyun, you shouldn’t do that. So taking him is right, and Han Yoohyun would surely follow without hesitation.

“You shouldn’t give up on living so easily. Even if it’s hard right now, you never know what might happen. I didn’t even know I’d do something like regression.”

“That would be the case for ordinary people. Because many things change as you live. But for Han Yoohyun, Han Yoojin is absolute, isn’t he? At least from what I’ve seen, it will never change. Until the moment the fire goes out.”

That death wasn’t a choice but a natural result. Just as a fire that has burned everything dies out, Han Yoohyun’s end, having lost the world called Han Yoojin, was a natural course.

“…I have to take care of my brother.”

Han Yoojin muttered softly. I have to take care of everything. All of it.

“I’ll tell him myself, but if that becomes impossible, please tell him for me. …That he can follow his hyung [older brother].”

“I will. He’ll surely be happy.”

Is this really okay? Han Yoojin bit his lip slightly before turning his head.

“And Song Chief.”

Song Taewon, who had been standing stiffly on the opposite side of Sung Hyunjae, blinked suddenly.

“…Yes.”

“You’re taking the baby lamb, right? Yerim calls you Song, but what was it for Song Chief?”

“You can call me Song.”

The heavy bass voice echoed over the water.

“But I cannot take responsibility.”

After a moment of hesitation, Song Taewon spoke. Even if it was his last request, he couldn’t readily accept it. He could lie to ease Han Yoojin’s mind, but because it was the last, he didn’t want to deceive him even more.

Han Yoojin’s lips slightly curved at the rigid answer.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I would’ve been suspicious if you had answered ‘yes’ right away.”

Because you’re not that kind of person.

“Song Chief, without me, the baby lamb will always be a baby lamb. It has no value as a Growth-type Skill.”

‘Like me before the regression,’ Han Yoojin didn’t say out loud.

“So please, take her.”

“Han Yoojin-ssi.”

“I’ll pay for the kid’s food. What is it, they even leave inheritances to dogs and cats overseas, right?”

“There’s no need for that.”

“It’s not bad, is it? It’s okay, isn’t it? She’s cute, really.”

“I’m not confident that I can take responsibility until the end. That’s why.”

As Han Yoojin said, the baby lamb would be cute. Song Taewon would honestly give affection, and the baby lamb would lean on his side. That was definitely not bad.

But Song Taewon was always ready to throw away his life. Which meant he was always ready to leave the baby lamb’s side. A person like that shouldn’t be responsible for a life.

“What if you don’t take responsibility?”

“…Yes?”

Song Taewon slightly narrowed his brows at Han Yoojin’s uncharacteristic words.

“Superior-grade monsters have long lifespans, right? It would be nice if you could stay with her until the end, but even if you can’t, there are people around Song Chief who can take care of her.”

“No, I can’t just pass it on like that…….”

“Why do you think you’re passing it on? On the contrary, they might line up and compete for it.”

Han Yoojin laughed out loud.

“I would too. Because Song Chief is a good person. So everyone will surely want to remember you. Since the breeding costs are covered by my money, there’s less burden too. It’ll be harder to choose someone who will take good care of her. If necessary, there’s Sung Hyunjae-ssi too. Or maybe they’ll all take responsibility together.”

“That’s…….”

Song Taewon suddenly recalled the Awakened Management Office in the dungeon. They were happy that the graves to visit were nearby. He could easily imagine the baby lamb lingering between those two people as well. Instead of a pile of dirt with no corpse, a black, young lamb would remain by their side.

He felt strange. Song Taewon hadn’t bothered to think about what would happen after his death. He was alone, and there was nothing to leave behind, nor anything he wanted to leave behind.

“The area I handled in this dungeon was the Awakened Management Office. And I killed the people there.”

The familiar faces, and the people who were unfamiliar but were likely colleagues of those familiar people.

“Because they were monsters.”

Monsters.

“But that wasn’t the only reason, was it? Song Chief’s colleagues, though I didn’t see them often, surely had something similar to Song Chief. Because they’re people who continue to stay by Song Chief’s side.”

“…Even after I died. They were.”

Song Taewon’s eyes twisted, not knowing whether he was smiling or crying.

“We could have tried to talk. But in the end, the same result would have come out. The people who would run away, no.”

If only he could have explained that they were monsters. Some might not have understood until the end and attacked. But some, might have accepted death with relief.

You’re alive. That’s a relief. Don’t die.

And beyond that relief, the anguish of becoming a monster unable to escape the dungeon would inevitably have taken root. Song Taewon was a human who would escape the dungeon and live, but they were.

“They were monsters, but they were still human. Song Chief. Those people died thinking they were human. And you, the only one who sees and remembers them, can’t regard them as simple monsters.”

“That’s… yes.”

Song Taewon answered honestly.

“Isn’t that enough? And Song Chief too. People aren’t made alone. If my brother and I didn’t have each other, we probably would have been very different.”

The people around you are countless mirrors. Distorted, colored, and reflecting differently in various sizes, they couldn’t help but be influenced little by little as they looked at each other.

“Of course, there are people who firmly protect themselves. Song Chief, entrust yourself just a little bit. To the people who see you as a person and cherish and remember you.”

“…….”

“Those people already have a part of Song Chief. Having seen and experienced Song Taewon, they’ve changed a little, or maybe a lot.”

Song Taewon couldn’t open his mouth easily. Now, to extend even a fingertip out of the box, the roots that had dug in were too wide and deep. He had even learned here that he himself might really be something other than human.

It was already difficult just to suppress the revulsion that wanted to tighten the reins even more and bind his hands and feet.

Even so.

“I will take the baby lamb.”

Because he had come to know the people left behind. Because he had fully accepted their memories and traces through battle.

He couldn’t refuse the temptation that his fragment would remain as a harmless young lamb. Wouldn’t it be okay to be greedy for a peaceful scene after death? Just that little bit.

“You promised.”

“Yes.”

“Even if I’m perfectly fine.”

“…Yes?”

Han Yoojin stretched out, unfolding his curled-up body, and covered his face with both hands. The tips of his ears were flushed red.

“Oh, um. I’m okay now.”

Han Yoojin’s voice was full of embarrassment.

“So, it’s nothing. Uh, you can come closer now. Yes.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the two approached Han Yoojin.

It seemed today wasn’t the day. He became embarrassed to face Sung Hyunjae and Song Chief.

‘No, I really felt like it was the end.’

The mana imprinting went out of control, it hurt like crazy, and I thought I was about to say goodbye to this world. But as if it had never happened, the imprinting became calm. Except for being weak, my physical condition wasn’t bad.

“Are you really alright?”

Sung Hyunjae leaned down. Still covering his face, he roughly nodded.

“And, and, my memory is a bit unclear.”

“If you want, I can do something about that, but it’s too obvious.”

“Ah, shit, how do I face Yoohyun…….”

Remembering, he wanted to die. Yerim and Noah too. Sung Hyunjae and Song Chief too. Ah, this is driving me crazy…….

“What I said to Yoohyun, well, it’s because Crescent Moon is obsessing over you a lot, right? To me, my brother is like that to you. I was influenced, damn it.”

I thought at best he would only quietly target Song Chief, but did I know it would be like this? …Even if I had known, there wouldn’t have been much I could do. L-grade Han Yoohyun, Park Yerim, and Noah are better than S-grade me, but, but, aaaaaagh.

“What I said, that, Sung Hyunjae-ssi, Song Chief, I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t untrue. I also apologize for what happened in the past.”

“I’m also sorry for treating Han Yoojin-ssi roughly.”

“Ah, no, that…….”

“And I decline the Growth-type Skill.”

“You can’t change your mind!”

“If Han Yoojin-ssi is safe, you will grow, so the conditions change.”

“I should have written a contract!”

Or should I just give up on making you an adult? But then I would feel sorry for Songi again. Seeing Peace, he might want to remain young, but I can’t ask him.

Sung Hyunjae wrapped me in his coat and lifted me up. Thinking about returning to the hotel, the back of my neck became hot again. On top of that, my stomach was also aching. Just how many points did I use today? I should have closed the points store earlier. The newbie said he couldn’t touch it because it wasn’t something he had made before, so I gave up. I doubt something like this will happen again, but should I just use them all up?

What was the most expensive thing I could buy, I thought absentmindedly, trying to open the points store.

[◐▼◐∥Welcome! To the Points Store!∥◑△◑]

The store window popped up. What, it’s still far from sunrise.

‘Could it be, Newbie?!’

You pretended to close it but didn’t! No, well. Good job. The kid’s improvisation skills have improved a lot.

Song Chief led the way, and Sung Hyunjae followed behind. The sound of water splashing under their feet was heard.

“That damn Crescent Moon, making me spend points like crazy… I’m completely in the red.”

“But you gained an SS-grade item, didn’t you?”

“Yes?”

“Silrakia’s Wings.”

What, what are you talking about? I lowered the hand covering my face and looked at Sung Hyunjae. His golden eyes curved into a smile.

“We’ll go to the aquarium outside the dungeon, and I’ll give it to you as a down payment.”

“Re, really?”

Really? I unconsciously swallowed. Wow, Silrakia? Well, even if you give it to me, I wouldn’t have much use for it, but it’s a precious SS-grade coat. There are many people who could use it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very useful for Yoohyun. First of all, it doesn’t have fire resistance, and the options are much better suited for a Gift [a type of skill or ability]. But Yerim or Noah could use it effectively.

Yerim needs to grow up a bit more, though. Even if it’s a dungeon item, the size doesn’t shrink and grow indefinitely, so if it’s something Sung Hyunjae wore, it would be cumbersome even if it shrank. Still, it would be a good item even years later.

‘It would suit her well.’

Our Yerim. Of course, Noah would look cool too.

“However, it absolutely cannot be worn by anyone other than Han Yoojin-gun.”

“Why!”

“You were already full of thoughts of giving it away, but no.”

“How stingy!”

“It’s on the condition that only Han Yoojin-gun wears it.”

I was happy for nothing. Well, there’s no way you’d let another S-grade use an SS-grade coat. I’m an F-grade, so I won’t be much of a threat.

“Then it’s too wasteful. Just use it yourself, Sung Hyunjae-ssi.”

“Are you giving it back?”

“Yes, not really. I’m lending it, lending. It’s mine, and I’ll lend it to Sung Hyunjae-ssi.”

Giving it back, what a joke. I have to take care of it first.

“I won’t charge a rental fee. But it’s confiscated during ranking battles.”

“Thank you.”

“…How can you say that? No, before that, are you really giving it to me? An SS-grade?”

“There are others, so don’t worry.”

“Even if there are, what? There are?”

SS-grade? As expected, you shouldn’t worry about Sung Hyunjae. Others can’t even have one! Well, Sishou said he had another one besides the Gift.

“I wasn’t worried about you.”

Worried about what. The moonlight had almost disappeared, and outside the department store was dark. The hotel, which we reached by running, was the only place with a faint light flowing out. Light was leaking through the curtains, but everything seemed fine with no particular incidents.

The kids must have returned safely. Thinking about seeing their faces, my mouth went dry.