The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 469

467. Even Good People (3)

“Shouldn’t we tell the kids now?”

Moon Hyun-ah said, pressing the elevator button.

“Or Secretary Song. We need to investigate his rank even if Hyung-nim [older brother, used respectfully] gets rejected smoothly.”

Lowering a hunter’s rank wasn’t a big deal. Falsely claiming a higher rank was forbidden because entering a dungeon beyond one’s capabilities could endanger oneself and the team.

But this case was different. It was a visit to meet a stat F-rank who had already been targeted multiple times. Regardless of the circumstances, they should have informed at least Secretary Song or an S-rank hunter with a protection contract with the Growth Association, like Gi Seung-soo.

“It’s still too early.”

The elevator doors closed, and they began to ascend rapidly to the top floor.

“Well, even if others don’t, Young Master [referring to Han Yu-hyun] will draw his sword first. Hyung-nim might fail, too. He might just end up talking about work and come back.”

Moon Hyun-ah chuckled, leaning against the elevator wall. Then, she abruptly stopped laughing. Listening to the mechanical sounds, she quietly opened her mouth.

“After all, Han Yu-hyun must be the one who’s wrong. About returning to the past, I mean.”

“If it weren’t for that reason, he wouldn’t easily give up on the present or the people around him.”

“Besides that, there were times when he seemed desperate. It’s lessened now, but, you know, like a parent who’s lost a child.”

Even though Han Yu-jin had only awakened less than half a year ago, he knew a lot about hunters. At the same time, he worried excessively about Han Yu-hyun, an S-rank hunter. No matter how much he had cared for his younger brother since childhood, he was still much stronger than him. It wasn’t like he didn’t know about the abilities of an S-rank hunter.

The elevator doors opened. The two headed straight for the emergency exit. There were no guests or staff, so the surroundings were quiet.

“He said five years later. I’m curious even if it’s something unrelated to the current me, but how would I ask?”

Slightly furrowing her brow, Moon Hyun-ah opened the emergency exit door with the key she had received in advance. A dim staircase appeared.

“Hyung-nim still has some insecurities.”

She climbed the stairs in one go. Her footsteps were barely audible. The locked door to the rooftop opened. The sky was dark as it was long past sunset.

“The scars of losing something truly important don’t heal easily.”

Even if he returned to the past. As long as the memories and experiences remained, he couldn’t help but be different from before.

“Especially in Hyung-nim’s case, he’d throw his life away without hesitation. He can’t lose it twice. It’d be hard to endure.”

With a bitter expression, Moon Hyun-ah moved to the edge of the rooftop. It was a place that overlooked the terrace garden where Han Yu-jin was headed. The height difference was significant, so even an S-rank hunter couldn’t hear the conversation. But it wasn’t difficult to see Han Yu-jin’s lip movements and expressions.

Perhaps because the distance from the lounge to the terrace was quite far and he had walked slowly, Han Yu-jin had just come out to the garden. His tense face was clearly visible to the two. He looked around a bit and stopped in front of the terrace railing.

“He must have liked her a lot to remember even her height accurately.”

“He looks scared, too.”

“Of course. Rejection would be better. At least the person he likes remains the same. Oh, he’s talking. He’s still just talking about the broadcast.”

It was the moment Moon Hyun-ah bent her waist slightly towards the bottom. Her body suddenly twisted greatly,

Thwack!

A raised hand grabbed something. Faint blood seeped from the tightly clenched fist. It was an arrow.

“What is it?”

Moon Hyun-ah’s eyes narrowed. The direction the arrow came from was the opposite building. Her cold gaze quickly scanned the buildings lined up across the eight-lane road.

“Is sniping in vogue these days? Do you not need me? Or should I inform the people below?”

Moon Hyun-ah’s toes touched the edge of the rooftop. At the same time, the chains of the Seeker manifested. Unlike usual, the chains, which hadn’t absorbed any current, stretched out in a long, faint silver color. Moon Hyun-ah, who had jumped into the air, stepped on the chain and leaped high again. Her body quickly landed on the opposite building.

As if sending a signal, a faint killing intent was felt. Without hesitation, Moon Hyun-ah ran towards the direction where the presence was felt. To the building directly behind, even so, Moon Hyun-ah, who had instantly crossed a gap of more than 10 meters and pulled out a long spear, abruptly stopped moving.

Someone was standing below, where the shadow of the adjacent building was cast long. Still holding the bow in her hand, she didn’t seem to be trying to hide her crime at all. The corners of her eyes behind her glasses curved slightly, forming a smile.

“…What.”

Moon Hyun-ah’s expression twisted.

“Why are you here?”

“Hello, Breaker Guild Leader.”

Evelyn Miller greeted her nonchalantly. Moon Hyun-ah threw the arrow she was holding. Thwack! The arrow grazed the toe of Evelyn’s shoe and stuck into the ground. The fletching of the arrow fluttered. There was a faint smell of blood.

“What kind of prank is this? You’re not confessing to being a terrorist affiliated with the Association, are you?”

“Did I look like a fan of Secretary Song Tae-won?”

‘You still don’t have an eye for people,’ Moon Hyun-ah’s expression became even more fierce at the quiet voice.

“You also know that I don’t particularly like the smell of steel and gunpowder.”

“Don’t know.”

Moon Hyun-ah retorted coldly.

“As you said, I don’t have an eye for people. I don’t know what’s real and what’s fake.”

“Are you still sulking?”

“No. We just don’t match. Our personalities. I like honest kids.”

Moon Hyun-ah’s foot retreated slightly.

“I like you.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“I can’t help but like you. Moon Hyun-ah. That’s why.”

“So you tried shooting me once? Got it. I’m leaving.”

It would be difficult to find out the reason even if she dragged out the conversation. Moon Hyun-ah tried to turn around without regret. But Evelyn’s voice caught her ankle.

“If you jump, I’ll shoot you down.”

A white finger was on the bowstring. There was no arrow. But Moon Hyun-ah knew well how quickly an arrow could be placed at the end of that hand. Taking advantage of the inventory, arrows were immediately placed in the hunter’s hand. Evelyn was even faster, there was almost no time difference between drawing the bow and shooting the arrow. Instead of placing and drawing the arrow, it was placed, drawn, and released at the same time.

Even as an S-rank hunter, it was difficult to keep up with the speed, and the power of the arrow imbued with skills was also considerable. It wouldn’t be easy for Moon Hyun-ah, who didn’t have flight skills, to avoid the arrow while airborne.

“At least tell me the reason.”

Moon Hyun-ah said, not hiding her annoyance. Evelyn shrugged her shoulders slightly.

“I was just asked to hold you back for a while.”

“Asked, by whom—could it be Sung Hyun-jae?”

“Who else could it be?”

“…What’s that human up to?”

Moon Hyun-ah roughly swept her hair back with her hand. Evelyn also gave her a look that she agreed with Moon Hyun-ah for now.

“I’m curious too. He opened the candy box, scanned it with his eyes, and then closed it again, just shaking it. Usually, he would have tasted one of each kind and then thrown it away.”

Even if there were many kinds, if they felt similar, he might have given up halfway.

“Does he want you to offer the candy yourself?”

“…Who knows. I’d rather walk than stay here.”

Baring her teeth fiercely, Moon Hyun-ah jumped over the rooftop railing. Instead of jumping to the next building, she fell straight down. And soon disappeared between the buildings.

I didn’t have high expectations. I thought it was likely, so like this, like this. I swallowed a small breath. I turned on the fear resistance skill again. The trembling in my chest subsided, but the complex emotions remained.

Yeah, this could happen. Right.

When I think about it, everyone has been okay so far. I’ve gotten along well with the people I knew in the past. My relationship with Yu-hyun has gotten better, not to mention. The people I was with in the dungeon have reconnected as good friends, even if they’re not as close as before. I was able to repay them too. I’m getting along well with Seok Si-myung and Kim Seong-han, who were bad connections, and the other Haeyeon people this time. Those who harmed and threatened me had either fallen out before the regression or were strangers.

So, this kind of thing could happen too. If things can change for the better, they can also change for the worse.

‘···From the beginning, I was the one who liked her unilaterally.’

And she’s still a good person. I don’t know if it would have been better if it was just an image created for the broadcast, or if it was all true.

“···I just wanted to say it.”

Inevitably, my gaze fell downwards. My heart ached. I wanted to take out a cigarette that was still left in my inventory. I should have drunk more alcohol.

No, this isn’t the time to be thinking like this. I need to sort things out. The conclusion has been reached.

The same message as with Park Ha-yul appeared. Then Chloe was also likely to have received help from that ‘nunim’ [term of endearment for an older sister or female friend] person like Park Ha-yul. The identity of the ‘nunim’ is still unknown, but it seemed to be a separate force from the cult and filial piety addicts.

‘They kidnapped me to China, but they didn’t harm me beyond that.’

Did they trade with the Chinese military? So, I was kidnapped, but it was too early to judge them as definite enemies. If it wasn’t the Chatterbox’s forces, there was still room to persuade them through dialogue. There can’t be many people who want the world to be destroyed.

“Director Han Yu-jin.”

“…Yes.”

“Since you’ve told me, I’ll answer you honestly too.”

Reflexively, my fist clenched tightly. How would she come out? Would she try to appease me? Or.

“I don’t like people like you.”

“Yes······?”

I raised my head, flustered. Gyeol fluttered its wings on my shoulder. Uh, I’ve heard that people don’t like me a lot, but.

“It’s not right to judge someone rashly after only meeting them a few times, but I couldn’t see you in a good light.”

“Th, is that so?”

Did I do something wrong? Outwardly, I was kidnapped a bit… am I weak? But she doesn’t seem like the type of person who would dislike me for that.

“Demanding a pet monster for the Growth Association’s breeding rights doesn’t align with my values.”

Chloe said slightly coldly. That’s, that’s…

“I don’t unconditionally criticize extravagance. But I feel repulsed by the act of treating a unique power, not just simple wealth, lightly for personal use.”

…I think I know why Hyun-ah said I was a bit similar to Secretary Song. Secretary Song also seemed to dislike me a bit. The reasons were different, though.

“It wasn’t lightly, it was because I needed it.”

“Does the golden hamster have any special abilities?”

“…No.”

It was just a pet. It was to attract Do Ha-min, but even so, Chloe’s aversion probably remained. It’s true that I thought about it easily. Besides, I can’t reveal Do Ha-min’s abilities, so even if I make excuses, it’ll just seem like I’m trying to win over an acquaintance, I will.

“I have nothing to say about that.”

I said, comforting the fairy dragon in my arms, who was tapping its tail unhappily. Still, I was relieved that it wasn’t for another reason. Just like I liked Chloe just by watching her broadcast, Chloe could also dislike me just by seeing a part of my actions… and.

“Thank you for being honest with me.”

Well, I was cleanly rejected. It was so clean that I couldn’t believe she was on Park Ha-yul’s side. Maybe there are a dozen people who can give me growth buffs and stuff. The parricides were making a fuss that the caregivers themselves were extremely rare, so I thought there weren’t two of these abilities.

Still, it’s true that I hid my rank. To go that far… wait a minute.

“But, why did you come all the way here?”

It wouldn’t make sense if she disliked me before meeting me.

“There would have been no reason for you to accept the request to capture the golden hamster……?”

It was strange that she bothered to help catch the hamster, bothered to hide her rank even though she wasn’t a guild member, and came all the way to Korea. If she had other business, she could have just come in separately. It wouldn’t be a problem to hide her rank unless she was meeting me, a stat F, or other low-level awakeners or non-awakeners who needed protection. It’s not like we’re fighting for prizes like in Japan.

But why all the way here.

Then the glass door opened. A familiar face entered. Chloe stepped aside, and Sung Hyun-jae approached me.

“…What is it.”

The fairy dragon in my arms laid its ears back in alert.

“Should I offer you comfort first?”

“Get to the point.”

I couldn’t understand what was going on.

“Were you two acquainted? From before?”

“Not really. However, Hunter Chloe came to meet me, not Han Yu-jin.”

“…You?”

“It’s easier to contact the Guild Leader of Sesung if it’s something related to Director Han Yu-jin.”

Chloe said. So, that’s why. But, that. Then when did they meet, and what did they talk about? I wanted to step back, but there was a railing. I looked at the two with the intention of jumping off if necessary.