The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 442

440. You’ve Worked Hard (4)

“It’s an attack!”

Someone shouted, followed by the blaring of sirens. A large number of Hunters rushed towards the breached building. Fifteen Hunters remained in the detention center, including high and mid-level ones.

Flames erupted beneath Han Yoohyun’s feet. The rooftop floor silently melted, and his body sank into the building. He had already assessed the interior. Han Yoohyun dashed through the hallway and threw a wire at a Hunter standing at the entrance to the stairs.

“……!”

The steel cord tightened around the Hunter’s neck, snapping it instantly. Han Yoohyun’s toes supported the falling Hunter’s body, gently lowering it to the floor.

“Blue willow leaves.”

With a soft voice, leaves scattered. Instead of stepping on the metallic stairs that would resonate loudly, Han Yoohyun slid down to the lower floor, stepping on the leaves. Unlike the upper floor, thick iron doors blocked the way on the lower floor.

The black-bladed sword was drawn, slashing across the door in one swift motion. The Hunter guarding the inside quickly turned around as the neatly cut door fell.

“Who─!”

Before the shout could grow louder, a small flame engulfed his face. As the fire spirit swallowed the Hunter’s voice, the scabbard was launched. *Thwack!* The end of the scabbard struck the back of his neck forcefully, digging in more than an inch. Naturally, he couldn’t be alright with such an injury.

The Hunter’s body fell forward, and Han Yoohyun lightly stepped over the corpse, continuing onward.

Many people were trapped on this floor. However, Han Yoohyun didn’t release them, instead continuing forward. Releasing non-combatant Awakened individuals before the area was completely cleared would only be a hindrance.

Outside, explosions and the sounds of buildings collapsing could be heard intermittently. Noah was doing well, but if he didn’t move as quickly as possible, Noah would start evacuating the people here.

Turning a corner in the hallway, he saw a Hunter watching through a barred window.

Han Yoohyun put strength into the tip of his right foot, creating a thin crack in the floor. At the sound of the crack, the Hunter immediately turned his head, but that was the end of it. The Ruler’s Sword, still in its scabbard, struck the Hunter’s neck as if beheading him. He deliberately didn’t use the blade. The stench of blood from a severed neck would spread too quickly.

He quickly cleared the floor below, and then the final first floor. After finishing the cleanup in an instant, Han Yoohyun headed back to the detention room on the top floor. Doors lined both sides of the long hallway. Instead of opening them one by one, Han Yoohyun manipulated his magic power.

The divided fire spirits gathered again, and delicate strands of flame stretched along the hallway, following Han Yoohyun’s touch. Flickering sparks accurately tapped the door locks.

*Sizzle*, a dozen doorknobs melted simultaneously. The sound of people murmuring could be heard faintly.

“Kick them open.”

Touching the doors carelessly would cause burns. After giving the warning, Han Yoohyun weakened his S-Rank aura even further. Then, he reached out towards the door in the center of the hallway. He nonchalantly grabbed the melted doorknob, filled with heat, and opened the door.

“Are you Hunter Hoyeon?”

“Oh my, where is the cart to throw fruit into? [Referring to the anecdote of Panan of Seojin, a handsome man who received so much fruit from admirers that it filled his cart],” the woman sitting in the chair stood up and said. She was over sixty years old, but her back was straight, and her hair was only slightly gray. She didn’t look old.

“Hunter, you say. Call me Teacher.”

Hoyeon stared intently at Han Yoohyun, holding the few belongings she had prepared in advance.

“I am Han Yoohyun, the Guild Leader of the Haeyeon Guild in Korea. I have come to rescue Hunter Hoyeon with the cooperation of the Murim Alliance. Please follow me.”

“Such a stiff fellow.”

As the two went outside, those who had been hesitating in the hallway stared at them. One of them approached, glancing at Han Yoohyun.

“Teacher!”

“They’ve come to save us. Let’s go.”

Hoyeon waved her hand, and the people began to move. Han Yoohyun, who had opened all the doors down to the lower floor, said to them.

“If you follow the east path, Hunters who have been contacted by the Murim Alliance will be waiting.”

He couldn’t take all of them with him. Han Yoohyun handed a MiniMini Cookie to Hoyeon.

“Hunter Hoyeon, please come with me.”

“I was thinking of going to Europe.”

Hoyeon said, as if she understood the situation.

“Currently, Korea is the safest.”

No country could match the safety of the dungeons. Han Yoohyun put the shrunken Hoyeon into a belt pouch he had prepared in advance, and the rest of the people rushed out through the back door. Han Yoohyun had already dealt with the Hunters at the back gate.

After confirming that they had escaped, Han Yoohyun headed towards the front building. The partially collapsed building was filled with miasma. The mid-level Hunters had long been paralyzed and collapsed, and even the high-level Hunters were struggling to control their sluggish bodies.

Only one high-level Hunter with poison resistance skills and items lunged at the enemy.

“Cough!”

He was knocked down by a tail that lashed out like a whip. Noah, standing on the rubble of the building, stared at the distant S-Rank Hunter with eyes that had become similar to those of a reptile. Golden scales covered his hands, and sharp claws glistened with blood.

As a support-type Hunter, his combat power itself wasn’t very strong. However, the S-Rank Hunter couldn’t easily approach Noah because of his coercive support skill that arbitrarily altered the physical abilities of others.

“I was told not to kill.”

Noah suddenly said. At the same time, the S-Rank Hunter quickly twisted his body. A sharp sword strike grazed his arm and deeply gouged the floor. Gritting his teeth, the S-Rank Hunter tried to counterattack, but his stats changed arbitrarily again.

Immediately after, Han Yoohyun’s foot kicked the S-Rank Hunter’s solar plexus. The Hunter’s body, sent flying, was buried in the building, and dust soared high into the air.

“I’m dizzy!”

Hoyeon grumbled, sticking her head out of the pouch.

“Is that him?”

“Yes. Let’s go back. They won’t be able to track us for a while because of the poisoned Hunters.”

“Hmph, this young man is quite something. Having the Prince of Lanling [a handsome warrior who wore a mask to battle] on either side, life is good.”

Hoyeon clapped her hands in admiration after seeing Noah. Noah hesitated slightly before bowing politely.

“Hello. I am Noah Ruhir, a Hunter affiliated with the Beast Breeding Center.”

“I am Hoyeon.”

The sound of rubble collapsing came as the S-Rank Hunter got up. Noah quickly transformed into a dragon, carrying Han Yoohyun and Hoyeon into the air.

“You’re already here?”

I thought it would take a little longer, but Yoohyun and Noah returned before sunset. As soon as I went outside, I saw a golden dragon landing in the wide yard. Some people were surreptitiously pointing their phone cameras at Noah. Doesn’t that clash with the concept?

“Yoohyun! Are you hurt anywhere? Noah, are you alright too?”

Yoohyun smiled as he approached me.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

The woman getting off of Noah must be the Healer Hoyeon. She looks younger than her age.

“The beacon of Mount Baoshan [referring to a legendary beauty], he looks even more handsome when he smiles.”

Hoyeon said, looking at Yoohyun. I think I’ve heard of Baoshan somewhere. Do Chinese people really like saying things like that? More than that, the elder Hoyeon seemed like a good person.

“My brother is handsome. Nice to meet you, I am Han Yoojin, the Head of the Beast Breeding Center in Korea.”

“Even a brief glimpse shows the deep affection between brothers.”

“We are close. I look forward to working with you.”

As I reached out my hand for a handshake, Hoyeon silently examined me before warmly clasping my hands with both of hers.

“…Your Qi and blood are peculiar, very peculiar.”

“Excuse me?”

“They call it magic power these days. So, to put it in terms, it’s similar to a blocked meridian [energy channel]. It’s like it was completely blocked and then a few points were opened.”

…I think she’s talking about mana circuits. Eunsesun explained quietly from behind me.

“It’s not an actual disease, but one that appears in martial arts stories. But now that magic power exists, a similar condition may appear.”

“Ah, is that so? What kind of disease is it?”

“…It usually leads to a short life.”

Oh, um. She saw right through me. Yoohyun, Yerim, and Noah’s expressions hardened at the word ‘short life.’

“No, it’s just an example, an example. It’s not the actual disease.”

“Is it very serious, Teacher?”

Yoohyun asked Hoyeon. Wrinkled fingers felt my pulse. Faint magic power was felt from the tips of Hoyeon’s fingers.

“Has someone treated you?”

“Something similar to treatment did happen.”

Thanks to Crescent Moon.

“It seems to have gotten a little better, but… there’s no suitable method right now. Just take good care of your body.”

Life will be even more difficult when I return to Korea.

“And, your legs.”

“I was injured, but it’s an injury that requires surgical treatment.”

“Let me see. Lift it up.”

“Excuse me?”

“Then I’ll bend it.”

I couldn’t do that. Still, there are tables and chairs inside, but Yoohyun suddenly picked me up. I was embarrassed again.

“They broke the bone and poured potions on it. Only the surface healed in a mess. What kind of ignorant fool did this?”

“Cho Hwawoon.”

“That prickly fellow.”

“So my brother cut off his legs.”

“Good job. Nice personality.”

Huh, she’s praising Yoohyun’s personality. Well, there are people like this in the world. There’s still hope.

“My brother is kinder than you think.”

“At this rate, you’ll be putting those rose-tinted glasses back on. Doubly so.”

Yerim muttered. No, Yerim. Older people have more experience and a better eye for people… or something like that.

“Even Hwata [a legendary physician] wouldn’t be able to touch it without surgery. I’ll give you some emergency treatment for the pain.”

“Thank you. And about the contract, I will give you the best possible conditions. Haeyeon is one of the leading large guilds in Korea, with this handsome, kind, and even more capable Han Yoohyun Hunter as its Guild Leader. Even that Park Yerim S-Rank Hunter over there, who is also kind, capable, and even more promising, is affiliated with us.”

“Hello~ Please take good care of our uncle in the future. Although he causes a lot of trouble, doesn’t take care of his health, and doesn’t like to exercise, please look kindly upon him, Healer Teacher.”

No, that’s, it’s true, but still.

“The detailed conditions and contract will have to be worked out and written in Korea, but we can agree to almost anything. I promise.”

Seok Siyoung wouldn’t say anything either. Unless it’s at the level of uprooting the pillars of Haeyeon.

“Of course, about your family… Huh.”

Hoyeon took out a bamboo tube from her luggage and opened the lid. When she unfolded the rolled-up cloth inside, needles, long needles, appeared in a row.

“Y, you weren’t using skills?”

“I use skills too.”

Oh my. Wait, wait.

– Grrr.

Peace bared his teeth as Hoyeon held a sharp needle in her hand.

“Catch the cat.”

“P, Peace, it’s okay. Daddy’s okay.”

“Uncle, your voice doesn’t sound okay at all. Peace, come here. It’s not dangerous.”

“It’s treatment, so bear with it, hyung. It’ll hurt less than being stabbed with a knife.”

“That’s right, Yoojin. It’s so thin.”

Noah, who had been receiving a barrage of photos, also turned back into a human and chimed in. No, it won’t hurt, but. Is it some kind of psychological aversion? A faint blue light flowed along the needles in Hoyeon’s hand.

“It’s also sterilized, so it’s convenient.”

I see. And ugh, but it really didn’t hurt at all. Nevertheless, I reflexively frowned every time the needle pierced my skin.

“…I definitely don’t feel any pain, but it feels like my senses are half-numbed.”

“That’s why you don’t feel it.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’ll just be a little dull, but there’s no problem moving. It’ll be more comfortable since it doesn’t hurt.”

Yoohyun put me down. It was definitely easier to walk without a cane. She’s skilled. It seemed better to contract with this elder than with an MKC Healer.

I talked with the Murim Alliance Leader again about our future relationship, ate dinner, and contacted Korea.

[So I am officially scheduled to be discharged tomorrow.]

“You’ve worked hard. We’ll be going back early tomorrow too. Nothing happened, really.”

[Yes. That’s a relief.]

The baby monster was safe, and Yoon Yoon and the goblins had arrived safely. For now, Haeyeon and Seseong decided to provide temporary shelter for the goblins. After finishing the call, I went to the hot springs to wash up, and Samokwol and the Murim Alliance members who had gone to raid the military items had returned. But Seong Hyunjae was nowhere to be seen.

“We extracted five people, but only two of them trusted us enough to follow us. The remaining three said they couldn’t trust Haeju.”

“There aren’t that many items anyway. But what about the Seseong Guild Leader?”

Samokwol hesitated a little and gestured towards the back. Then, a Hunter with a slightly pale complexion approached and opened his mouth.

“He said to tell you that he will return before dawn.”

“What? It’s going to take that long? Is it a dangerous place?”

The Hunter quickly shook his head.

“It doesn’t seem dangerous… You can rest assured and take a good rest.”

Is it really okay? Well, other than a Transcender, there’s no one who can threaten Seong Hyunjae’s life. I nodded with a slightly uneasy feeling.

Anyway, I’ve packed up most of what I need. I’ll have to go back to Korea tomorrow.