The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 446

444. Homecoming (3)

Camera flashes erupted from every direction. Surrounded by reporters, Yoohyun, fresh from his dungeon raid, and Yerim, just back from Japan, approached me with bright smiles. Yoohyun opened his arms and hugged me tightly.

“I’m glad you came back safely, hyung.”

Yerim came up behind me and hugged me as well. She seemed to be trying her best to avoid it, but inevitably ended up hugging Yoohyun slightly too.

“I was so worried, Ahjussi.”

Chief Song, recently discharged from the hospital, stood a little ways off, watching us stoically. After a brief, affectionate hug, Yerim quickly pulled her arm away from Yoohyun. A faint grumble about wanting to wash her hands could be heard. Yoohyun also released his hug and stood beside me.

Then, the Seseong Guild Leader appeared, fashionably late. Evelyn was at his side.

“I am truly happy that Chief Han is safe.”

Seong Hyunjae handed me a bouquet with a broad smile. Pink roses, layers of frilly, unknown, but also large pink flowers, small pink flowers, pink hydrangeas, tied with a pink ribbon… It was a gorgeous, meticulously crafted monochromatic bouquet, but this guy was definitely teasing me.

Suppressing the urge to hurl the bouquet at his shameless face, I smiled back just as brightly.

“I heard you were even placed under house arrest because of me. I’m sorry for causing you concern, Seseong Guild Leader.”

“Not at all. Chief Han’s affairs are my affairs.”

I accepted the bouquet, said I had a good flight, thanked him, and shook his hand. The reporters snapped pictures diligently again. ‘Kiseungsu Breeding Center and Seseong Guild Relationship Very Good,’ that’s how the headlines would read. Thinking about the picture of me holding a pink bouquet being prominently displayed made me a little sad. I hoped people wouldn’t mistakenly think the Breeding Center Director liked pink. It wasn’t like I asked for it; Seong Hyunjae just bought it on his own.

As if the order had been predetermined, the next person to step forward was none other than Moon Hyunah. Hyunah approached me with long strides and lightly tapped my shoulder.

“You look good, Chief Han. I was worried.”

“Thank you, Breaker Guild Leader.”

“Oh, should I have prepared a bouquet too?”

“Just you coming is enough.”

“It suits you very well. So vibrant, very nice to see.”

Instead of answering, I just smiled. Is this a compliment, or are you teasing me along with Seong Hyunjae? Probably the latter.

Lastly, Myungwoo and Noah, and the monsters, appeared. After all, the highlight of such a scene had to be the animals.

– Kkyaang!

Peace ran towards me as if we had been apart for three months and ten days.

“Peace!”

– Kkyawoong!

I handed the bouquet to Yerim and caught Peace, who was jumping up and down. His fluffy tail wagged wildly, and his moist nose nudged my cheek. Peace buried his head in my shoulder, and the soft fur at the tips of his ears tickled my neck.

– Ppiyak!

Ppiyaki also floated over and settled on my head, flapping its wings. It seemed a little heavier than before.

“Ppiyaki, have you been doing well?”

– Ppiya!

“Everyone has been behaving themselves.”

Noah approached with Bellare, saying that. Bellare raised its head slightly.

“Welcome back, Yoojin. Everyone was very worried about you.”

Myungwoo patted my arm affectionately. It made me feel like I was seeing everyone after a really long time. I should probably shed a few tears at this point.

“It’s really good to be back.”

I put Peace down and hugged Myungwoo and Noah once each. I glanced at Chief Song, but he ignored me.

After standing side by side for a while to allow for photos, I dismissed the reporters. Chief Song, who had been standing silently the whole time, approached and said in a businesslike tone.

“I would like to ask you to go straight home today.”

“Don’t worry. I want to go home quickly too.”

I decided to take the baby sheep with me, but how should I return the wire [referring to the SS-Rank handcuffs]?

“The SS-Rank handcuffs—”

“Ah, I’m tired! Let’s discuss that slowly later! Of course, you can use them comfortably until then~”

Chief Song took out the handcuffs, and I quickly hid behind Yoohyun.

“Don’t take them, don’t take them.”

“Han Yoojin-ssi.”

“Ah, Hyunah-ssi is glaring at Evelyn-ssi! Shouldn’t we stop them!”

“Glaring? This is a friendly look.”

Where are you seeing that?

“If they’re not holding weapons, they’re on good terms.”

Evelyn agreed. Then, they smiled at each other.

“I’ll go first, hyungnim [term of respect].”

“Ah, I have something important to talk about, so please stop by sometime!”

“If hyungnim says it’s important, I’m very much looking forward to it?”

It wouldn’t be a disappointment. Moon Hyunah waved her hand lightly and left. Chief Song also sighed briefly and stepped back.

“If you do not recover them within a week, I will report it and have them revert to the state [become state property].”

“That’s too much!”

So, the only option is to make it a state item. How do I deceive Chief Song? As an SS-Rank close-combat item, it would be good to give it to Yoohyun, Hyunah, or other hunters, but Chief Song is really perfect for it. It has options that are good for dealing with blades barehanded.

“I’m a poor kidnapping victim who just returned home. A week is too short. How about a month, a month. No, it’ll take a year to process all the piled-up work!”

“It’s a week.”

A firm answer came back. Tch, he won’t even negotiate. Chief Song urged everyone to go straight home again and turned to leave. His back showed how busy he was. Well, he had been away from work for a few days, so it must have piled up.

“Let’s go, hyung.”

Yoohyun said, propping me up from behind.

“Is your leg okay?”

“I can manage.”

The acupuncture effect had worn off, but I went in front of the camera without a cane to pretend I was fine. There was no need to let people know.

“The surgery preparation is complete.”

Evelyn said, looking at us.

“However, Han Yoojin Director’s poison resistance is a problem.”

I can turn off my resistance skill, but usually, it’s impossible. And it wouldn’t be good to let people know that I can eliminate poison resistance. If Park Hayool knew that, imagine. She could coax me into turning off my poison resistance and use drugs or something. Even if it wasn’t a mental skill, she could threaten me.

So, I had to avoid being anesthetized and undergoing surgery as much as possible. Even if it was a hospital owned by Seseong, I couldn’t completely trust the staff. Words always leak out.

“The healer who will arrive soon can paralyze the body with acupuncture, even with poison resistance.”

“Then I will tell them to focus the treatment around that person. Outwardly, it will be known as Director Han Yoojin’s comprehensive health checkup.”

“Yes, please.”

Evelyn nodded briefly and shifted her gaze to Yerim. Yerim flinched and took out her bow from her inventory.

“I only scratched it a tiiiny bit… I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Evelyn accepted the bow with a gentle smile.

“Hunter Yoo Myungwoo will repair it for you.”

“Please visit anytime. Thank you for your cooperation, Hunter Evelyn.”

“You’re welcome.”

Evelyn smiled kindly at Myungwoo as well and put the bow in her inventory. Despite hearing that it was okay, Yerim seemed a little uneasy.

“Don’t forget that you can’t go far for a while, Seong Hyunjae-ssi. Even if it’s nearby, please let me know.”

“I’ll report everything. If my partner does the same.”

“I have no reason to go out.”

Unless he makes me come from overseas.

“And shouldn’t you change at least the wallpaper in the plane’s interior? Surely your new house isn’t like that too.”

“The room for Han Yoojin-gun [formal title] is especially—”

“Ah, it’s okay. I like ordinary things. I welcome calm, achromatic colors.”

Is it fun to tease me? I’ll be tormented for ten years for giving the wrong gift once. Leaving the words to take care of his health, Seong Hyunjae and Evelyn also left.

“Soyoung unni [older sister] said that unni has a terrible temper too.”

Yerim said quietly as Evelyn’s figure completely disappeared.

“But it can be repaired, right? She didn’t seem upset.”

“If they show they hate it right away, it’s over, but if not, it’s fifty-fifty. Either they’re really okay, or they’re saving it up.”

“It’ll be okay.”

Myungwoo was there, and surely she wouldn’t do anything to a child. Still, I should remember it. Evelyn-ssi also holds grudges. She seemed like someone not to be trifled with just by looking at her.

We took the car that was waiting and headed straight home. The streets of Seoul seen through the window felt familiar yet strangely unfamiliar. There were so many people. Because it was almost dusk, the brightly lit signs also looked new and colorful.

My brother and I, I hope they’re doing well. If I could tell them, I would tell them to raid the zoo. There would be sheep, goats, and horses. Well, since it’s me, I’m sure they’ll do that much on their own.

“It’s home!”

As soon as I opened the front door, Yerim flew inside first. Take off your shoes. The thrown bouquet landed accurately on the table. The shoes she took off in mid-air also flew towards the entrance. Yoohyun said to Yerim, who was going up to her room.

“We have to go out again.”

“Ah, why! Only Guild Leader go.”

“Since you just returned from Japan, you have to report to the Hunter Association, Hunter Park Yerim.”

“Isn’t there anyone here who wants to destroy the Association building too?”

My heart is set on it, but if I did that here, only Chief Song would suffer. I don’t need to go out, so I feel sorry for the two of them, but I went straight to the bedroom.

“…I don’t want to wash.”

I just wanted to lie down as soon as I got home. Still, I have to wash, I muttered, sitting on the bed. I should have taken a bath on the plane. Then I could have gone straight to sleep.

“Are you very tired?”

Yoohyun, who followed me in, took out pajamas for me.

“Shall I wet a towel and wipe you down?”

“Am I a child with a cold? I’ll rest for a bit and then wash up and sleep.”

When Yoohyun was young, I used to squeeze a towel soaked in warm water instead of washing his face. The last time I washed him was when he was in middle school. I sent him on a school trip, but he couldn’t sleep properly because he wasn’t used to the sleeping arrangements, and he started dozing off as soon as he got home. I couldn’t bring myself to wake him up, so I wiped him down with a wet towel and put him to sleep.

“I’ll sit for a while and then wash up and sleep. Don’t worry and go to the guild.”

“I’ll take care of urgent matters and come right back.”

My younger brother couldn’t hide the fact that he didn’t want to go out. Even if he’s an S-Rank, he hates going to work just the same. But this guy isn’t an office worker, he’s the boss.

“Have a good trip.”

“Yeah.”

After answering, he didn’t leave and kept looking at me. Yoohyun’s eyes curved roundly.

“What’s so good?”

“Because it’s our home. Hyung has to be here. Only then is it my home.”

“You’re being sentimental.”

“I’m uncomfortable anywhere other than home. I can’t rest comfortably.”

“Okay, go quickly and rest too.”

Yoohyun looked at the bedroom I was in with satisfaction for a while longer and then went out, saying he would be back.

“I’m going! Don’t go anywhere!”

Yerim also shouted loudly and left the house with Yoohyun. I stretched and got up.

“Peace, let’s wash too.”

– Kkeung.

“You only wiped your paws. You can’t get on the bed unless you wash your whole body. Be good, Dad is tired, so let’s wash quietly today.”

As I coaxed Peace and went into the bathroom, Ppiyaki and Bellare also followed. After I washed myself, washed the kids, and dried them, I was completely exhausted. As soon as I lay down on the bed, I felt like I would sink right in.

“Did you two get along well?”

– Ppiyak.

– Siit.

“More friends have arrived. I’ll introduce you tomorrow.”

The baby monsters that arrived first were moved to the breeding facility on the first floor. The one I need to grow the fastest is the water dragon. Hyunah is also in a hurry, I wonder if Sorok has grown a bit in the meantime. And also.

‘I have to name the kids, and the changeling too.’

What should I name the changeling? Chain overlaps with Seong Hyunjae. Um, Pinky? Pink, Pinky, Pingping, Yongyong……

“…Peace, have you ever disliked your name or anything?”

– Kkiang.

Peace, who had settled next to me, wagged his tail. He didn’t seem dissatisfied.

“Ppiyaki is still cute.”

– Ppiyakppi.

Bellare was crouching next to Ppiyaki, who was half-buried in Peace’s fur. Bellare, um. It’s a bit of a comparison. Pink fairy dragon, gold eyes, gold dust… is not it. Pinky seems to be the best. There’s also silver. Silver or Gold, Eundong…… Let’s get away from the colors.

But if I take away the color, what do I say? Honestly, color is the most intuitive. Pink, Azalea? Dalle was nice and cute. Cherry blossom, Cherry or Peach? Cherry is okay, isn’t it?

‘After I wake up… let’s ask Yerim.’

I didn’t think I should name it alone. As I closed my eyes, sleepiness washed over me.