The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 428

426. It’s Morning!

In hazy memories, a familiar voice echoed. But I couldn’t quite make out what it was saying. I sat in the chair and looked at Sung Hyunjae. Standing across the wide lobby, his face showed faint signs of fatigue.

He said that Chief Song and I had come. It was a nightmare dungeon, so I probably didn’t look too good. Or rather, I couldn’t hear properly. Fortunately, it was quiet now.

“It’s as you’re guessing,” Sung Hyunjae said.

“Song Tae-won and Han Yoojin influenced my surge, and Song Tae-won stopped it.”

“Is that all?”

“If there’s anything more, it’s that I tried to enter the dungeon alone.”

The Sung Hyunjae I met in this dungeon flashed in my mind – the one who tried to eliminate the current Sung Hyunjae. He glanced at me, sitting slightly away in the chair.

“Eventually, you went in with Chief Song.”

“That’s right. To be exact, Song Tae-won followed me.”

And Sung Hyunjae accepted Song Tae-won’s help. From there, it wasn’t Han Yoojin’s story; the voice echoed in my ears. It would have been impossible for an ordinary F-rank Han Yoojin to enter the dungeon with those two.

Whatever relationship the two had, I would have had to stay outside.

“…My memories.”

“It seems to be a side effect of Predation. Or…”

Sung Hyunjae’s gaze briefly flicked behind him.

“Perhaps it was to protect Han Yoojin from Crescent Moon.”

“Erasing the memories – the fact that I was involved with those two?”

“Song Tae-won only said he had an influence. He died there.”

“And, Predation to Sung Hyunjae.”

“He gifted it.”

Sung Hyunjae, bound by Crescent Moon, received the Predation skill and left the dungeon alone. I thought he would have used Predation to maintain himself, but he might have used it on others.

“Did you use it on me? Sung Hyunjae did. No, but the Sung Hyunjae from before the regression… come to think of it, he said his memories weren’t perfect either.”

I was puzzled that my memories weren’t intact, but at the same time, he said that his own memories were also problematic.

“Could it be that he used a skill unfamiliar to me, and it affected his own memories?”

“I don’t know. But if it’s not a side effect…”

Sung Hyunjae looked at me – the me from before the regression. I frowned and struggled to meet his gaze.

“He would have erased it.”

Without any special abilities, it was difficult to even deal with an S-rank who wasn’t holding back. So I should have stepped back – from my brother, from the other two.

My throat was a little dry. It wasn’t my fault for being weak, but it was still sad. Even if it couldn’t be helped, my chest stung. An F-rank who influenced Sung Hyunjae before the regression, but that was it. Hearing from the same but different two people that there was nothing I could do, a sigh rose to my throat.

But if it were me now, would I have tried to find a way together without erasing it? If it were me now…

“It’s not your fault.”

My words made me frown.

“What fault all of a sudden? Hey, I’m you anyway.”

“Yeah. It’s not my fault either. That’s why I’ve come this far. It’s not all resolved yet, but at least I can do something now.”

Me and I looked back at my brother.

“We can even be together like this.”

“…I thought everything would be fine if I reconciled with Yoohyun. What else is left?”

My words brought a wry smile to my face. I know, right? My goal was simple: to be recognized by my brother and return to the way things were. That was all. It wasn’t an easy path just because it was simple.

“In addition, it seems he originally tried to erase the contract with Crescent Moon using Predation.”

“…Excuse me? You should have said such an important thing first!”

Such a method! Though it seems to have failed. Still, swallowing the contract itself, rather than Sung Hyunjae himself, was a method worth considering again.

“When Crescent Moon’s power entered me, Chief Song Tae-won only felt like a simple threat. It might be because it wasn’t a clear will, but a part of the power, so I only thought of him as a being that harmed the small moon.”

I was led to agree with Crescent Moon’s will. Of course, if it were the pure me, I would have thought, ‘Chief Song is attacking Sung Hyunjae!’ Finally, the time has come; you’ve been holding back for so long… but back then, I was somewhat sympathetic to Crescent Moon.

A being who tries to harm the moon she raised. Since I also have Yoohyun, it was relatively easy to sympathize. At the same time, since it was Sung Hyunjae, I think I also had a slight thought of why do I have to go this far.

“So I was able to suppress it by saying that Chief Song wouldn’t do that. If I could erase the contract itself with Predation…….”

“I only tried it.”

“…Is it impossible?”

I looked back at the young Chaos standing slightly askew.

“I don’t know about that.”

“Yeah. It would be nice if we could find out how Crescent Moon, who appeared in the dungeon, reacted!”

Whether it’s simply wary because Song Tae-won can swallow Sung Hyunjae, or whether there’s a possibility of contract termination. Anyway, it seemed that Chief Song was an important key.

…Although it’s something Chief Song wouldn’t want.

“Is there any way to draw out even a little more of Crescent Moon’s memory? Isn’t there anything left in the dungeon?”

“It would have been possible before it disappeared.”

“Yes? Then in advance─!”

“If the remaining will was combined with memories, you would have been eaten.”

Ah, that’s right. Still, it was a bit disappointing. How can I draw it out again? Go to the mental world and draw out Crescent Moon’s power again…….

“Don’t think nonsense.”

“I won’t.”

Should I try entering the mental world again with Sung Hyunjae as my opponent? Since there’s also a contract with Crescent Moon, I might be able to find out something more.

“Second, hit the back of the first one’s head.”

“…Hyung.”

Instead of hitting the back of my head, Yoohyun grabbed my shoulder and shook it slightly. The old man is quick to notice.

“Anyway, Crescent Moon won’t easily intervene as long as that guy is fine. So, think about how to get out of this dungeon.”

“Yes.”

Let’s put it on hold for now. As I got up from the chair, a faint sound came from beyond the door across the lobby. Whirr, something was burning. And thud. It tapped on the glass door once and then became quiet. There were no words. My insides felt hot.

“Go up.”

The young Chaos said firmly. Yoohyun grabbed my arm and pulled me. The me from before the regression also got up, led by my brother’s hand.

“Let’s go quickly. It’s late.”

I moved my feet without looking back at the door. I need to escape from this dungeon quickly.

“Good morning!”

“Good morning! Mr. Kim’s!”

As I went down to the hotel lobby, Yerim and Yoon Yoon greeted me with cheerful voices. All the cloths on the glass doors were removed, and the morning sunlight was streaming in. Just in case, I looked around, but there were no traces outside the door.

As I headed to the restaurant with the kids, I saw Song Tae-won and Sung Hyunjae, who had arrived earlier. The young Chaos had also taken a seat early. Wow, it smells delicious. Did the newbie prepare breakfast?

“Chief Song, thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s nothing.”

Fortunately, Chief Song’s face looked less tired than yesterday. Did Sung Hyunjae tell him what happened overnight?

“Yoojin.”

Noah’s voice came from the kitchen. Why is Noah in the kitchen… Huh.

“M-, Myungwoo?”

Myungwoo, beyond the open kitchen, smiled at me. He doesn’t seem angry. Right? More than that, was this what free breakfast meant! Newbie!

“Is that person Hunter Yoo Myungwoo?”

The me from before the regression asked quietly.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Doesn’t seem like he’s on the production side.”

“He’s a blacksmith. He needs to be strong too.”

Yoohyun told me and me to go to our seats and approached the kitchen. Hmm, it feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him.

“H-, hello? So, I was perfectly fine.”

“Yoojin.”

“Yeah.”

“I heard you hurt your leg.”

Myungwoo said with a smile.

“That’s, the monsters here are like that! It must be a dungeon boss, so I have to catch and kill it.”

I was about to say that the leg of the guy who ruined my leg was also cut off, but I quickly changed my words. It’s better to blame the monster than being kidnapped and rolling around.

“Mana imprint [a magical signature or residue].”

“It’s okay! It’s fine. Really.”

Sung Hyunjae, Chief Song, you didn’t say anything, did you? Could it be that Myungwoo saw everything that happened in the dungeon… Damn it, that wouldn’t be good.

“Let’s take a look.”

“O-, okay.”

I quickly turned around and entered the kitchen. Myungwoo, who examined the mana imprint, looked at the young Chaos.

“I see.”

Huh? What is he talking about? Myungwoo’s hand slapped my back hard enough to sting a little.

“Take care of yourself.”

What is it… why are his nagging so short?.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to take care of myself…. More than that, what happened to you?”

“I’m having a hard time.”

Myungwoo said, opening the lid of the pot. Then he briefly explained his situation.

“…You really participated in the dungeon production?”

“I’m an assistant, an assistant. So I can’t properly interfere with the dungeon. Even if he’s a newbie, it seems that he can only check a very limited part of the information in the dungeon.”

“Still, it’s amazing. Transcendents [beings who have surpassed normal limitations] manage the dungeon!”

He’s just an assistant, but it’s amazing. At this rate, Yoo Myungwoo might even become a dungeon manager. Following in the footsteps of the newbie, becoming a newbie again.

“…Tentacles are not allowed.”

“Ah, that.”

Myungwoo tilted his head slightly. Wait a minute, something smells fishy.

“It looked comfortable.”

“Hey, hey. Protect your identity as a human being.”

“The newbie─”

“Don’t listen to the newbie. He just wants to use you more efficiently! You’re already having a hard time. He even sent you to cook. That damn volleyball guy.”

“I said I would come. Originally, he said he was going to make sandwiches and chicken.”

What kind of chicken is that from the morning? In addition, Myungwoo’s current body is said to be an unawakened person without skills. It seemed that his grade had dropped sharply like the young Chaos.

“Did you hear that from the newbie?”

I refused to go and sit down, took out an egg, cracked it into a bowl, and asked slyly.

“What?”

“That I regressed [returned to a previous state or time].”

“…I know that this dungeon is a record of the future and the past.”

It seemed that he had guessed to some extent.

“Yeah. As I went back to the past, it’s a vanished future.”

Chiiik, the loosened egg flowed onto the heated pan.

“I wasn’t there?”

“Myungwoo, you are a completely new friend I met.”

Yoo Myungwoo was likely to have died before I even awakened before the regression. Suddenly, I looked back at Noah, who was opening the rice cooker. Noah would be the same. Connections that didn’t exist before the regression. Continuing old people and new people.

“Then I’ll be one of the happiest people you’ve made by going back to the past, Yoojin.”

Myungwoo said. …Why does he only say things that make me touched?

“Me too, Yoojin.”

Noah chimed in, holding a rice paddle. His smiling face was so sparkling that it seemed to shine.

“I’m glad I was able to change so much.”

“Noah, you were great from the start.”

“How about you, Yoojin?”

An answer came easily to Myungwoo’s question.

“Of course, I like now much better.”

Even though there are mountains of difficult things. Even if a thorn is permanently stuck in my heart. Still, there are so many good people that I couldn’t help but say that I liked it.

Breakfast was, of course, very delicious. Myungwoo, who even had a meal with us, sighed deeply and returned to the position of dungeon manager. That newbie bastard, how much is he exploiting Myungwoo?

“Then let’s go straight to the Hunter Association.”

I have to finish it before the sun sets again.

“Sung Hyunjae, would you like to rest? You must be tired from staying up all night.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to finish it quickly?”

Well, that was true too. Since we can wait outside the area anyway, we decided that everyone would move without anyone staying at the hotel.

The Hunter Association, located in the same Gangnam district, was not far away. It was only around commuting time, so unlike last time, there were few hunters outside. A-rank, three S-ranks in this dungeon.

“Yoohyun.”

My brother quietly stepped forward, approaching the hunters silently and quickly, stepping as lightly as willow leaves instead of the floor. As befits an S-rank stat, he quickly noticed, but even faster, the acceleration skill of the ceremonial dress was activated.

Thwack─

The tip of the blade pierced his neck.

“Mu─!”

At the same time as one of the remaining two tried to shout, a thick arm wrapped around his neck. Wooddeuk, the sound of bones breaking was heard, and Yerim, who teleported with Chief Song, poured cold air on the face of the remaining man.

His vision was blocked and his mouth was frozen, unable to make a sound, and the remaining one was also quickly subdued.

Yerim could have just stayed there. Anyway, for the last time.

Kwa Kwang─!

A thunderbolt struck the Hunter Association building. It’s fake in the dungeon, but it’s refreshing.