The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 430

428. A Midday Nightmare (1)

“It’s definitely open.”

The young Chaos spoke, his gaze fixed on the empty air as if receiving a message from a new recruit.

“Apparently, this area is made up of one person’s memories. Only those connected to that person can enter.”

“…Connected?”

“Someone who is recognized? Someone who has been accepted, even a little, you could say.”

I unconsciously bit my lower lip, my fist clenching tightly. After hearing those words, there was no room for doubt or hesitation.

“…Shouldn’t the dead not appear?”

Yoohyun died right before my regression, so he was alive and well when I was twenty-nine, but still…

“It would be difficult to construct according to the rabbit [a familiar]. We’ll have to go inside and check the details. The rabbit is trying to figure it out, but it’s not working well. The boss monster here is a subordinate of the King of Innocence.”

Unlike other places, this one seemed to have the most influence from the King of Innocence. Then, shouldn’t that Demon King be the one appearing, not my brother?

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my wavering heart.

“Then, only Yoohyun and I can enter.”

“I’m blocked too.”

Yoohyun said, touching the air. What?

“You too? Why?”

“If I were the me who never reconciled with hyung [older brother]… it would be like that. Enough. No, even the me before hyung regressed. I had to constantly suppress and distance myself.”

“That second one is usually quite stubborn.”

No, still… But even the current Yoohyun took time to accept himself, to be greedy for himself rather than my safety. If it were the twenty-four-year-old Han Yoohyun, he would have pushed himself away enough.

“…If it were the current you, you could have entered. Maybe even Yerim.”

“Park Yerim, maybe.”

Yoohyun said, as if unsure. Still, it was an amazing development. He used to only have me, but now he included himself, Yerim, and even Peace. Hyung is very satisfied with just this much. I don’t ask for much anymore. Just maintain this mindset.

“Can’t you check? I’m curious.”

Yerim said that if she couldn’t enter, she would block the Guild Leader. How do you even do that?

“Then, first─”

“No way.”

Yoohyun said firmly as soon as I started to speak. Looking around, it seemed like no one would take my side except Yoon Yoon. Just look at those curious eyes, wanting to go in quickly.

“Right now, there’s Eunhye, and if it really is Yoohyun…”

If it’s my brother.

“He wouldn’t hurt me.”

Whether it’s a monster or anything else, if it’s Han Yoohyun.

“Or is there another way?”

The young Chaos shook his head briefly.

“Currently, it seems like the only option is for you to go in and persuade him.”

“That’s what he said.”

We couldn’t stay here. If night fell, Rauchitas might regain his strength and reappear, which would ultimately be dangerous.

“…My immortality─”

“No.”

“But─”

“No. Besides, the monster inside has to respond for the attack to work.”

“That’s….”

There’s no other way anyway. I won’t allow Yoohyun to waste his origin. Even if it means sacrificing some of my lifespan, I have to go in and bring my brother out.

Eventually, my brother nodded slightly, as if really unwilling. I quickly stepped into the area before he changed his mind.

“Stealth skills won’t work, so wear Silekia.”

Sung Hyunjae said, telling me to be careful.

“Come back immediately if it seems dangerous.”

“Don’t worry.”

“If I keep just watching like this, I might develop a relic inside my body.”

Chief Song, thanks to you, I think I already have a dozen or so.

“Hyung, my artifact is more─ Hyung?”

Yoohyun widened his eyes in surprise. I turned to where my brother was looking.

“Hey, you!”

Before I knew it, the pre-regression me had entered the area, holding a cake box. I thought it was quiet, but they took advantage of the moment when people were distracted by me!

“Stay out!”

“Why should I?”

I said firmly.

“If only one of us can enter, it should be me, not you.”

Not the twenty-five-year-old Han Yoojin, but the twenty-nine-year-old Han Yoojin. With a determination to never back down, I grabbed his arm and pulled… damn it.

“Damn stats! No, if I wear equipment……”

“I have equipment too.”

He would have the essence increase equipment that he had been collecting. With the difference in basic stats and a higher level, it would be difficult for me to win with strength.

“Hey! Seriously!”

“If you’re confident, then I’ll be safe too.”

“That’s……”

“He’s my brother.”

He was speechless. I knew better than anyone that I wouldn’t give up here. Damn it.

“Hyung……”

Yoohyun fidgeted and took off his artifact, handing it to me. I took it and threw it to the pre-regression me.

“Wear it first.”

“Ahjussi [term for older man]! The ring too! This, if it’s Han Yoohyun, fire and poison won’t work. Seseong Ahjussi! Electricity, electricity.”

Yerim put her cold energy into the ring she was wearing. Sung Hyunjae also added electricity.

“Take the shawl too!”

“Please take this as well.”

Song Taewon took off the SS-grade handcuffs. A shadow fell over his hardened face. The situation itself, having to send only F-grade and E-grade, must be weighing heavily on Chief Song’s mind.

“I’ll cast support skills too. The duration is quite long.”

“I’ll cheer you on! Good luck! Fighting!”

Okay, thank you.

I took the equipment and turned back towards the Haeyeon Guild building. Even before entering, the inside of my chest ached slightly. I took a few steps towards the stairs and stopped abruptly.

“Hey.”

“What.”

The pre-regression me approached with distrustful eyes.

“You may not know it well, but we are strongly connected.”

“…That sounds a bit creepy.”

“I’ve clearly felt your emotions, and our mana is connected. And memories too, we recalled them at the same time.”

At this point, we were almost one body. I’m starting to feel creeped out too. We are the same person, but still.

“So maybe we can share skills.”

“…Skills?”

“Yeah. A little more this way, let’s go up.”

I couldn’t let my skills leak out. I took him up the stairs with me.

“It would be even better if we could share equipment and Eunhye’s abilities. It wouldn’t hurt to try.”

“How do I do it?”

“Um, come closer. Put the cake down.”

It was certain that we were connected. If I could find that connection and strengthen it, maybe something would happen. If I could make the system recognize that I and I were the same person. I hesitated and then just hugged the pre-regression me.

“Ugh, hey!”

“It’s not good for me either, so stay still!”

I could feel the gazes wondering what the two of us were doing. Embarrassing. I closed my eyes and tried to forget the onlookers, tracing the flow of mana. With the power of the mana imprint, I felt something connecting us more strongly. My senses became clearer, and the connecting lines were visualized in front of my closed eyes.

“…You, I mean.”

“Be quiet.”

“No, this, something……”

I moved my magic power and added Teacher’s skill to strengthen the connection. Then, each other’s emotions were clearly felt. We both thought, ugh, creepy. My stat increased. His skills would have changed too. Let’s reduce the sharing of emotions a bit. But it was impossible to completely block it.

“Your skills……”

“Don’t say it.”

The pre-regression me checked the skill window and widened his eyes.

“Wow, crazy.”

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“They’re really useless skills for an F-grade. It’s such a waste.”

That’s too much. I agree, but I’m still using them well.

“I’ll set Damage Nullification to SS-grade. Don’t touch it carelessly because it consumes a lot of mana.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Let’s go then.”

I turned around again. The hem of my coat fluttered. Standing in front of the familiar glass door, I grabbed the handle. My palm was cold. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Clang, clang.

The sound of a bell rang. A large Christmas tree was placed near the entrance, topped with a golden star and decorated with colorful ornaments. Colorful lights twinkled, and decorations such as pigeons, baby angels, canes, and socks swayed. Green tinsel and garlands decorated the ceiling, and a Santa Claus sat on the reception desk.

The creaking door closed. We quietly moved forward. Footsteps echoed on the smooth floor. As we slowly entered the spacious lobby, a faint voice was heard.

[Happy birthday, happy birthday.]

It was a song. My voice singing.

[To my beloved brother… happy birthday.]

After a brief silence, the voice continued.

[Happy birthday, Yoohyun.]

And again, the song was repeated. My heart ached. The pre-regression me didn’t know, but either he felt my emotions, or the song itself was hard to listen to, his expression wasn’t good. We both sighed at the same time.

A large Rudolph decoration standing at the innermost part of the lobby came into view. A mountain of gifts piled up like a fence, a white and fluffy carpet was laid out, and in the middle…

“…Yoohyun.”

My brother was asleep. The song continued to play from the recorder in his drooping hand, over and over. My steps stopped involuntarily, and I stood there blankly, unable to approach any further.

“Han Yoohyun!”

The pre-regression me shouted. The cake box fell to the floor with a thud. Before I could stop him, he ran out. At the same time, the closed eyes flashed open.

“You bad bastard!”

“…Hyung?”

Yoohyun, who jumped up as if startled, quickly turned off the recorder and stepped back. I frowned as Yoohyun lightly dodged the sharp punch that flew quite sharply, saying that he had the knack for working as a hunter.

“Never come here again─ that’s!”

My brother reached out and hugged the pre-regression me. I kicked Yoohyun’s leg and frantically clawed at the arm wrapped around my waist. Of course, he didn’t budge. My brother glared at me with sharp eyes.

“…What, what are you caught up in! I told you to stay put!”

“You goddamn son of a bitch! If you’re a son of a bitch, then I’m a son of a bitch too! You, you! Is this why you left home!”

Frustrated, resentful, wronged, sad. My emotions flowed in through a thin membrane.

“Hyung!”

“Apologize!”

I shouted at the top of my lungs.

“Say you’re sorry!”

A sob mixed into the scream-like cry.

“Then I’ll forgive you for everything… Everything.”

Everything. My brother’s eyes shook greatly. Thud, thud! Kicks continued to hit his legs. Yoohyun panicked and tried to stop me.

“You, you’ll get hurt, hyung.”

“Yoohyun.”

At my voice, my brother looked at me again. He had a slightly frightened look on his face. He must have already realized that I wasn’t fake. He must be very confused.

“It’s okay now.”

“……”

“You’re probably feeling something strange too. This is inside a dungeon, and you and that me are monsters made of memories and information.”

“What, what does that……”

“So you don’t have to endure it anymore. It’s all okay now. The transcendent you contracted with is dead, and we’ve reconciled outside the dungeon.”

Say you’re sorry… a tearful voice muttered. I heard a loud inhale. Yoohyun’s fingertips trembled.

“Hy, hyung……”

“You, you bad guy, you son of a bitch……”

Now there was no need to distance himself from me anymore. The reason for doing so had disappeared. My brother’s expression collapsed as he struggled to understand that. He looked like a lost child. No, on the contrary, he looked like a child who had been wandering for a long time and had found his parents.

“…I’m, sorry.”

Yoohyun’s voice, barely audible, was also wet. He hugged me even tighter as I struggled helplessly.

“I’m, sorry. I was wrong, hyung……”

I stopped moving. I heard a small laugh.

“Han Yoohyun.”

“…Yeah.”

“Happy birthday.”

“…Hyung.”

“Happy birthday, my brother.”

“I, hyung. I……”

“You should say thank you.”

“…Thank you, hyung. Really, thank you.”

I felt strange. My brother and I were reconciling. I was purely happy. The me here, who had never completely lost my brother, cheered, having completely regained my brother.

Saying sorry was enough. If he said he was wrong and came back, that was all that mattered.

I was envious.

That I could still do that.

“Um, sorry to interrupt the good atmosphere.”

I cleared my throat and opened my mouth. It would be nice if it ended with ‘it’s going well here,’ but it couldn’t. We had to clear the dungeon and get out.

“First─”

Grrr─

The space trembled. The first to move was Han Yoohyun. As if snatching me away, Yoohyun slid to my side. Immediately after, the surrounding scenery changed in an instant.

The Rudolph and the pile of gifts became boulders. The smooth floor turned into a rough dirt floor, and the ceiling and walls all turned into rough rock walls. In other words, it was a huge cave. A place that was very familiar, a place I could never forget even in my dreams.

– Grrr.

A low growl echoed heavily, reverberating off the cave walls.