The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 43

43. My Brother Is… (3)

‘High-grade monsters won’t be easy to find right away, and it’ll take quite a while for the ones coming across the water to arrive, so I’ll be idle again for a while.’

Monsters still couldn’t be transported by plane. So, the monsters Haeyeon bought were currently scattered here and there on the sea. I hoped they arrived safely without any accidents.

“Hyung.”

Everyone left, and Yoohyun, who remained behind, called me. I looked back at him, holding the piece that revealed the chair’s frame.

“Don’t worry about what the Breaker Guild Leader said. She’s known for being a bit… eccentric.”

Seeing him making excuses, he must feel guilty about something.

“I don’t care. They’ve only known you for two or three years at most.”

He must have changed. He couldn’t be the same as when he was young. But this guy risked his life to save me five years later.

No matter what anyone said, that was enough.

I said it was okay, but Yoohyun looked even more uneasy.

“…Still, I haven’t done anything I’m ashamed of.”

“Really?”

“…Mostly?”

“Hey, I don’t think you’ve lived perfectly honestly anyway.”

I also regressed and became cleaner. My brother looked wronged at my words.

“You said you trusted me before.”

“Is that the same thing? I’ve lived five years longer than you. I know roughly everything.”

In terms of experience, I’ve lived a whole ten years more.

“Whatever you did, I’ll assume it was unavoidable. Even if it wasn’t, well, blood is thicker than water anyway. It’s not like I’m a saint who needs to dig up every fault of my own flesh and blood to be satisfied.”

Rather, the opposite. I overlook things to a certain extent… If I were a saint, I wouldn’t be alive and standing here.

“But really, if the world’s number one guild tells you to come, will you go?”

Yoohyun asked half-jokingly.

“If it’s definitely number one, what use is my opinion? Anyway, there’s no such place.”

There were no guilds operating on a global scale yet. Managing their own country was all they could do, and even in five years, due to the increased number of dungeons, influencing even one or two neighboring countries was difficult, let alone globally. At best, they were dividing up Chinese hunters or seizing the rights to valuable dungeons in weaker countries.

Of course, the situation in the hunter world might not unfold the same way as before regression. Just the widespread use of high-grade ride-type skills would change a lot.

‘…At this rate, knowing about the future will quickly become useless.’

I’ll just earn enough and retire anyway.

“When are you going to check my skills?”

“I don’t think I’ll have time for a while… Sorry. I’ve gotten a bit busy with the slime dungeon and ride-type skills.”

Because it was such a profitable dungeon, it seemed like flies were swarming around.

“Still, the guilds that came today won’t be able to cause trouble, right? Especially the Breaker Guild Leader; she was desperate to trade for even one high-grade monster.”

She had offered various compensations, saying she only needed something fast and sturdy, no other skills required.

“Within the country, there’s no major problem except that the Association is being a bit annoying. The real trouble is Japan.”

“Why are those bastards meddling in other people’s countries?”

“Japan doesn’t have a slime dungeon yet. They don’t even have a C-grade, let alone an A-grade, so they have to import everything. But since an A-grade appeared in our nearby country, they’re freaking out. And it’s not just a guild, but the government itself.”

I almost cursed. Those shameless monkey bastards. It was decided a long time ago that the government would interfere in guild affairs to a minimum and coordinate through the Association. Why are they oppressing us from the government level just because it’s another country?

“…Wasn’t it forbidden for the government to interfere with foreign guilds yet?”

“Yeah. It’s limited to their own country. Besides, in Japan, the power of hunter guilds is so great that the government bows down to them, so interference is even more severe. The government follows the demands of the hunter guilds.”

That was certainly true. Among them, what guild was it again, anyway, there was a large guild that held Japan firmly in its hands.

“Still, Haeyeon hasn’t advanced into Japan, and there’s little exchange, so apart from the ride-type skills, there’s no immediate impact.”

“Ride-type skills? Why… Don’t tell me there’s a Japanese monster among the ones you bought.”

Yoohyun nodded.

“One high-grade monster cub. It’s currently held at the port. If it doesn’t work out, I’m going to hand it over to Breaker or another guild.”

“They’re being dirty.”

“Even if they openly cause trouble, we have to resolve it as favorably as possible, so it’s become annoying. If it really doesn’t work out, we can ask the Association or the government for help, but it’s best not to incur such debts.”

“Won’t they step in on their own? It’s their own country’s guild, after all.”

“They’ll step in if it’s too excessive. The government’s minimization of guild interference is a double-edged sword; it’s welcome usually, but it becomes troublesome in times like this.”

Getting the slime dungeon wasn’t just beneficial. I expected other domestic guilds to cause trouble, but suddenly Japan.

“Just tell me whenever you’re free to check the skills. It’s not difficult for me to make time.”

Taking care of the monsters, I can take a day off, and the rest of the schedule… Ah, the broadcast.

Did I really have to go?

* * *

“Han Yoojin’s final Awakened grade has been determined as B.”

The Hunter Association employee said with a smiling face.

The eternal F-grade jumped to B in an instant. Wow. If I revealed all my titles and skills, A-grade would be possible, but I’m satisfied with this much. Unless my stats are at least B-grade, I should be careful.

“If you have any complaints about the determined grade, please submit your complaint and related materials through the reception center within 10 business days.”

When there was a significant difference between stats and skill grades like me, the Awakened grade was usually determined in two ways: the grade of the dungeon that the subject could attack or through internal meetings of the Association.

I was naturally the latter. With my current abilities, it’s hard to attack even an F-grade without equipment. Even with the help of an S-grade adult monster, anything above C-grade is dangerous. My glass body could be sent to the afterlife by a single stray fragment.

“B-grade, isn’t that too low?”

Yerim, who had been waiting, spat out a disgruntled voice as she received her reissued hunter license and turned around. Kim Jiyun, an A-grade hunter, was standing next to her. The two of them came to protect me.

“Originally, grade measurement is dungeon attack-oriented. If the stat grade is F, A-grade is the maximum, no matter how good the skills are.”

Unless you have an amazing defense skill that allows you to perfectly protect yourself.

I got into the car, moderately accepting Yerim’s grumbling, who was dissatisfied. There were no people approaching, perhaps because rumors about me hadn’t spread much yet. There were glances from a distance, though.

“Uncle, when are you going to check my skills?”

As soon as she sat in the back seat of the car, Yerim started pestering me. Ever since she safely reached level 10 and obtained Pale Rain, she’s been saying that almost every day.

“I told you to get two more.”

“I’m nowhere near level 30, let alone level 20! Ah, do you want to go to a dungeon with me? Maybe I’ll get another good skill when I reach level 20.”

She hasn’t even gotten the level 10 skill yet. Will she get one at level 20? The dungeon grade doesn’t match before that, though.

“Don’t say ridiculous things. By the way, you’re filming too, right?”

“Yes, the Association says that at least three A-grade or higher hunters must accompany you to film a broadcast with a monster. They’re also planning a hunter special. I heard Moon Hyuna unni [older sister/female friend] is coming out too.”

…Why is that woman there again? Doesn’t the Guild Leader have anything to do?

“But why unni? I’m younger than the Breaker Guild Leader.”

“If you’re not married, you’re unni.”

“…What about me?”

“You’re not married, but you have a child. You keep saying ‘Dad’ to Peace.”

It’s unfair. It’s true that I’m raising Peace, but there’s a racial barrier, so why am I being treated like a father?

“Don’t discriminate, be fair.”

“Then Hyuna unni will think that Uncle likes unni very much—”

“Thinking about it, unni is right! Call her unni.”

Yes, what does age matter? Power and authority are the best. The woman who wields a giant spear twice her height like a fly swatter to beat monsters is unni even if she’s one hundred and thirty years older, not thirteen. Yes.

This was my third time coming to the broadcasting station. Of course, including before regression.

The first appearance was a short interview about Yoohyun, and the second was a hunter-related crime… um… something like that happened.

The common point of those two times was that I was treated coldly. But today was different.

“Wow, is that the monster?”

“It’s so cute! It’s my first time seeing a monster this close!”

“The ones that come out during dungeon breaks are all disgusting, but that cat looks pretty.”

With every step I took, gazes poured towards me. 90% of the reason was because of Peace in my arms, but there were quite a few people who were interested in me.

It was because the news about ride-type skills was broadcast on the 9 o’clock news last night.

Having high-grade and top-grade ride-type skills reduces the time it takes to attack a dungeon by up to 50%. In other words, you can attack more dungeons than before, so profits increase and the possibility of a dungeon break decreases.

The reaction to that was naturally hot. Articles related to ride-type skills covered portal sites, and Haeyeon Guild also ranked 3rd in search rankings, following ride-type skills and S-grade dungeon profits.

My name was lower than Yoohyun’s, though.

‘If I appear on the broadcast, I’ll be compared again.’

It would be fortunate if they only compared grades; they would definitely criticize my appearance, saying that the brothers don’t look alike at all. But we do have some similarities.

I followed the broadcasting official’s guidance and entered the prepared waiting room.

‘The waiting room is spacious too.’

They didn’t even give me a chair before, but now there’s a plush sofa and drinks and snacks prepared on the table.

“Hunter Park Yerim, please come this way.”

The coordinators called Yerim, saying they needed to fix her hair, makeup, and clothes again before the broadcast.

Should I get that too?

“Welcome, Hyungnim [term of respect for an older brother or male friend]!”

Breaker Guild Leader Moon Hyuna, who had arrived earlier and was sitting on the sofa, greeted me. She looked dignified, crossing her long legs and leaning both arms wide on the back of the sofa. But why does she keep calling me Hyungnim? She looks more like a Hyungnim, so to speak.

“Hello.”

She had bare face last time, but she seemed to have put on a little makeup today. She’s really beautiful… I wish I could just see her face from afar.

“Come here and sit down quickly. Want some candy?”

“I don’t really like it.”

I pretended not to see her patting the seat next to her and sat on the opposite sofa. As soon as I sat down, I quickly grabbed Peace, who was about to jump down.

“No. Behave.”

– Keueung.

“I let you play as much as you wanted before coming. You can’t cause an accident here.”

His activity level was increasing day by day, which was troubling. I should prepare a spacious residence, even temporarily; I can’t keep him at home.

“You’ve got the perfect posture for taking care of a child?”

Moon Hyuna said, moving to sit next to me before I knew it. Go away.

“Don’t get too close. People will misunderstand.”

“What does it matter? You’re the one who’s going to raise my child.”

…I was speechless for a moment. No, why would you say something like that? What if someone misunderstands? Then Yerim shouted as if she couldn’t lose.

“Our uncle will raise my child too!”

“Yerim!”

Crazy, what is she saying! Even though that child isn’t that child!

“Why, it’s true.”

“Even if it’s true, you can’t say it like that!”

And Moon Hyuna, don’t laugh, you devil.

“I really like Hyungnim. Won’t you come to me?”

“Make an offer after meeting the conditions.”

“You’re picky.”

– Keuheung.

At that time, Peace perked up his ears. Yerim also jumped up from her seat. A step late, I could also feel the flow of air surrounding us.

“…What is it?”

I knew, but I pretended not to know. Moon Hyuna smiled and lightly waved her hand. Breaker Guild members who came with her were seen explaining something to the bewildered people. But the sound wasn’t heard.

“I just blocked the sound. It’s a simple skill application.”

It doesn’t seem very simple. Moon Hyuna’s skill application was famous for being outstanding. Not yet, but in a few years. She should be skilled now as well.

If it’s blocking the sound like this, is it a wind-type skill? It was probably an auxiliary skill to reduce air resistance during a grand charge.

“Do you have something to say in secret?”

“Rather than a secret, you should always be careful when talking behind someone’s back.”

Talking behind someone’s back?

“Hyungnim, do you really trust your brother?”

I wondered what she was going to say, but it was about my brother.

“Of course, I trust him.”

It was such an obvious trick that I frowned involuntarily. Moon Hyuna chuckled at my attitude.

“When I first met Han Yoohyun, I thought he was just a kid. He ignored all the big shots who offered him a hand and was running around saying he would build his own guild. I thought he didn’t know his place.”

…In that part, I also thought my brother was really fearless. It turned out well in the end, but the probability of collapsing in the middle was high.

“Not only me but also the MKC Guild Leader is actually a puppet president. What could young kids who only exercised do to run a huge guild? I took on all the troublesome tasks, and I just had to take the Guild Leader position and live comfortably. It’s not a bad condition. It’s easy.”

Moon Hyuna continued, flicking the ends of her long fingers.

“Hanshin Guild Leader is similar. A low-level employee of Hanshin Group became the chairman’s son-in-law. Among the top five domestic guilds, the only real Guild Leaders are Seseong’s Seong Hyunjae and Haeyeon’s Han Yoohyun.”

Moon Hyuna spoke meaningfully, but I wasn’t very surprised. The reason why two of the three major guilds collapsed was largely due to that puppet president.

Moon Hyuna, who says it’s comfortable now, eventually couldn’t stand the narrow cage and broke up with her sponsors. Choi Seokwon, the MKC Guild Leader, was similar. Hanshin went to the end, perhaps because he was tied up by marriage.

“You’re not very surprised?”

“No, I was surprised enough.”

“Hmm. The reaction is too lukewarm. He’s a kid who hasn’t even gotten his ID card yet. Seeing such a young boy eventually create his own guild and establish his position, I was convinced that this bastard is a monster. He’s definitely not normal, right?”

“Saying he’s not normal just because he’s a bit talented is too much.”

“Too much?”

Moon Hyuna let out a hollow laugh.

“Hyungnim, what do you think of your brother?”

“Well…….”

I hesitated for a moment and just said it. It was a story that I had interviewed before regression, so there was no need to hide it.

“He was a flawless, kind brother. He listened well and didn’t cause any trouble since he was young…….”

“You said you raised him? Losing your parents early. That’s not normal.”

Clicking her tongue, she continued.

“A kind and obedient brother in a poor family without parents. It doesn’t even appear in children’s fairy tales these days. It’s not realistic.”

“No, not that far—”

“He’s a kid. If he lacks something, he gets annoyed, angry, causes accidents to get attention, compares himself to others, pesters you to buy what he wants, and even resents his guardian. But parents might find the child cute, but siblings? I know because I have a younger sibling, but they’re just enemies. Of course, there may be good siblings in harmonious families where parents take good care of them. Even so, they don’t not fight. In particular, the world’s countless older siblings will agree that younger brothers are a species that must be beaten in advance?”

…I was a little embarrassed. Is it that strange to have a kind and obedient brother?

“You could say an angel came down to earth~ But angels can’t build guilds by trampling on people.”

Moon Hyuna shrugged.

“I don’t intend to drive a wedge between you. But Hyungnim, you should think about your brother a little bit.”