The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 473

“I understand it, but it’s a bit strange.”

“It’s a free translator, after all.”

After the usual greetings, there was some nonsense congratulating me on returning safely.

“What? You were worrying about me? After ditching me without a word of warning? I’ll never forget the ‘fun times’ we had together… Is the translator malfunctioning?”

*Creak*, Yoo-hyun’s fork crumpled in his hand. Noah narrowed his brows, and Myung-woo also frowned.

“He’s a real son of a bitch.”

“Yerim, it’s not nice to say that about dogs.”

Dogs are so kind.

“I’ll love you more when we meet again… What? The translation must be off.”

“Oh, it seems like he’s saying he’ll cherish you,” Noah said, peering at the letter.

“Do you know Chinese?”

“Just a little. My sister used it when we went to a Chinese dungeon…”

Ah. But what is Hwang-rim even trying to do? The translator is probably a big part of the problem, but even considering that, it’s not normal.

“Cho Hwa-woon is… doing well. Don’t let Yerim see your legs.”

That son of a bitch—sorry to the dogs—seems to want to cut off my legs. He must be very upset. Yoo-hyun was the one who cut them off, but why me? Is he mad about getting shot?

“I should have killed him back then,” Yoo-hyun said quietly. His voice and expression were icy. If Cho Hwa-woon were in front of him now, he would probably try to cut his throat without hesitation.

“I don’t intend to let him live either. Hwang-rim doesn’t seem to have any regrets, but Cho Hwa-woon won’t be the same.”

He had a terrible personality from the start. And after going through that, he must be grinding his teeth now. If we meet again, one of us will not survive. In that case, I should definitely be the one to take Cho’s head.

“For now… it’s just a letter of greeting.”

There was nothing special about the letter itself or the stationery and envelope. Just the usual stuff like, we had fun back then, Cho Hwa-woon is trying to kill you, he’s doing well, see you next time, you’ve worked hard~. Still, I should ask Teacher Ho-yeon to check it just in case. It wasn’t properly translated, and there might be hidden content.

“So, Hunter Chloe is in cahoots [conspiring] with the people who kidnapped you, and those people joined hands with Hwang-rim, right?” Yerim said, twitching her eyebrows.

“Yeah, that’s about it. To be exact, the King of Innocence captured the Goblin King with the Chinese military, and Hwang-rim, feeling that the Goblin King was in danger, asked Park Ha-yul’s sister for cooperation, and that sister had Park Ha-yul kidnap me. And Chloe is related to Park Ha-yul’s side.”

As a result, the military suffered a major blow. Hwang-rim played a part in that, so is Cho Hwa-woon okay? If he finds out, he won’t stay still. Is Hwang-rim hiding it? First, I called Yoon-yoon.

[Hello, Captain Kim!]

“Yeah, hello. How are you doing?”

[Of course! We have a few more kids now!]

[Great King! I’m Captain Kim too!]

[I want to see the cat!]

[I know how to video call!]

[Captain Kim! I ate well!]

[It was delicious!]

[I like jajangmyeon [black bean noodles]! And tteokbokki [spicy rice cakes] too!]

[I didn’t really like the buckwheat jelly……]

[Yeah, I thought it would be super delicious, but it was disappointing!]

My ears hurt. After returning to Korea, I bought the goblins everything they wanted to eat, as promised. Well, I just provided the money. Yoon-yoon video called, and I could see the goblins huddled together. Most of them were children, but there were adults mixed in as well. They transformed well, so they looked like ordinary humans on the outside. Well, that one is too round. He looks like he popped out of a painting.

[Quiet! Shh! I’m on the phone!]

At Yoon-yoon’s shout, the goblins closed their mouths, but only for a moment. Yoon-yoon is having a hard time.

“Someone related to the Chinese side of things has entered Korea.”

The goblins were still chattering excitedly, but Yoon-yoon’s expression turned cold in an instant. Then, she sighed deeply. Yoon-yoon’s shoulders rose and fell.

[Don’t get angry, don’t get angry.]

“I’m just telling you to be careful, so don’t worry too much. I’ll send you a picture too.”

Chloe was on the side trying to stop the military, but since she was related to Hwang-rim, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious. She wouldn’t use the goblins… um.

‘…She turned a blind eye to my kidnapping.’

I still couldn’t think of her as a bad person, but as Song said, and as others have said, at least to me, she couldn’t be called a good person. So, for the sake of the greater good, she might take a similar attitude towards the goblins.

“Have there been any problems in the meantime?”

Yoon-yoon grinned. There’s no way there haven’t been. Just looking at the goblins running around noisily, I figured they’d caused several accidents.

“Only cause accidents that can be resolved with money.”

[Okay! I have a lot of money too.]

“There’s a limit. Don’t steal if you’re short.”

I can help too. The large guilds were the same. Even if the goblins couldn’t fight, they could provide plenty of support. Especially the high-level goblins, who could teleport, would be helpful in many ways, both inside and outside the dungeon.

[In other countries too?]

“No.”

[Then what about treasures sunk in the water? There are a lot of treasure ships sunk!]

“Uh… is that okay?”

I don’t know. Where did they hear that? Still, I told them to behave and hung up with Yoon-yoon. Then I called Song. The phone rang for a while before he answered.

“Mr. Song, did anything happen overnight?” Like Sung Hyun-jae contacting me.

[No. All the Burncave Guild members have returned to their accommodations, and Hunter Chloe Alger has only reported her solo actions to the Association. Her whereabouts are unknown, but there doesn’t seem to have been any problematic behavior.]

Chloe was probably just planning to get a reply from Sung Hyun-jae and leave the country. She still hadn’t committed any clear wrongdoing. Besides her confession of being involved with the kidnapper, there was no justification for arresting her.

[Are you alright, Han Yoo-jin?]

Song asked. His voice was indifferent, but he was clearly worried.

“Yes, I’m fine. I feel relieved.”

[That’s a relief. Then, to the Seseong Guild Leader─]

“I’ll go see him.”

I need to have a proper conversation. I don’t know if he’ll meet me, though. But.

‘…Is it okay to go alone?’

Just this afternoon, I would have gone to Sung Hyun-jae’s house or guild without hesitation. I wouldn’t have dreamed that he would do anything harmful to me.

‘Considering what I’ve been through, I’ve been too careless.’

Still, still. I had no choice but to believe him. He’s been really good to me lately. And still.

[I’ll accompany you.]

Song said. I swallowed hard and replied.

“It’s okay. I’m really fine now.”

I refused, saying it would be better to meet alone, and hung up. Sung Hyun-jae is a bit, no, quite annoying, hard to read, selfish, and too perfect, so I’m honestly jealous and have many other complaints, but… Still, he’s one of the precious people to me. Like the others, I like Sung Hyun-jae too. If he suddenly left, I would be very lonely.

So I still wanted to believe him. That’s how my heart felt, no matter what the outcome. Even if he really turns into an enemy, he won’t threaten my life. So, wouldn’t it be okay?

“Chloe came to Korea to tell Sung Hyun-jae something. She’ll come to get a reply, so if you catch her, that’s when you should strike.”

The four people who were looking at me nodded at the same time. Gyeol also wagged his tail. Gyeol, you have to stay home with me. Myung-woo, it would be a disaster if you got hurt.

“I’ll go meet Sung Hyun-jae first.”

“Are you really going alone?” Yoo-hyun said worriedly.

“If Chloe is coming to get a reply, doesn’t that mean the Seseong Guild Leader might be involved? That’s why Mr. Song offered to accompany you.”

I deliberately spoke vaguely, but he seemed to have noticed.

“It’s not certain.”

“That means there’s a possibility. No way.”

“That’s right, Yoo-jin. Should I go with you? Using my stealth skill. If I hide in a corner at the meeting place in advance, even the Seseong Guild Leader won’t notice.”

“No. And I don’t think the Seseong Guild Leader will harm me. If I’m wrong…”

I hope that doesn’t happen.

“Please help me then. Yoo-hyun, Yerim, please. Myung-woo, too. If we have to fight the Seseong Guild itself, help me.”

“Of course, we’ll help you.”

“Don’t overdo it and just think about hyung’s [older brother’s] safety.”

“I wanted to have a proper fight anyway. I’m all for it!”

“That’s just in case; the possibility is low.” Don’t draw your spear, Yerim. Yoo-hyun and the others kept worrying, but I reassured them, saying it was just this once. Actually, I didn’t think Sung Hyun-jae would come out rashly. Still, everyone listened to me.

– Daddy, I hate you!

Han-gyeol was completely sulky.

– I don’t really hate you, but it’s too much!

“It’ll be okay. Stay with uncle and aunt. Be good.”

– …It could really be dangerous. I’ll hide well, so take me with you. I won’t say anything.

When acting like a child didn’t work, he now tried to persuade me calmly. But I didn’t think he would really stay quiet.

“Should I order ice cream? You said it was delicious before.”

– I won’t fall for food.

“Hotel ice cream will be even more delicious.”

Do they have ice cream on room service? Yerim grabbed the fairy dragon with a very sulky expression.

“Say be careful and come back safely.”

– Ugh.

Oh, it’s going to take a while to appease him. I apologized to Gyeol and headed to the bathroom, calling Sung Hyun-jae. I thought he might not answer, but he surprisingly picked up quickly.

“Are you still at the hotel? Let’s meet for a bit. I’m going alone.”

[You don’t even give me time to prepare myself. That’s too much.]

“It’s been a night. And isn’t preparing myself something I need to do, not you?” Suddenly blindsiding me, what is he saying? Sung Hyun-jae said he found out late, but still, it’s not like he didn’t have time to give me a hint.

[Did you have breakfast?]

“I did, a little while ago.”

[Then let’s have tea.]

The tea table under the wisteria tree suddenly came to mind. At that time, in that place, Sung Hyun-jae watched over and helped me the whole time. I got a lot of points too.

“Yes, let’s do that. What time and place?”

[Within this hotel, I’ll send you a text when I’m ready.]

“Okay.”

I put down my phone and picked up my toothbrush. A man with messy hair was reflected in the mirror. Maybe it was because of the good lighting, but my face didn’t look bad.

“…Ah, whatever.”

Let’s go with a light heart. Whatever Sung Hyun-jae does, the things that happened with that man won’t disappear. Even if he really betrays me, it’ll be less shocking than when Yoo-hyun left. That time, I was about to go crazy. This time, I should at least hear the reason properly.

And no matter what happens, what I want to do won’t change. It’ll just be a little harder. No, it might not be that hard. I’m not alone now. I’ll be comforted by the people around me, cheer up, and drag Sung Hyun-jae by the collar.

I was dressed more lightly than yesterday, but I dressed up a bit and left the room. Yoo-hyun followed me, saying he would take me. Let’s skip the rock-paper-scissors that happened before that. The stat difference can’t be helped. Yerim was right to complain that we should draw lots. He never loses.

“Don’t worry too much about the Seseong Guild Leader,” Yoo-hyun said as we stood in front of the elevator.

“I don’t like it, but I know you rely on the Seseong Guild Leader. But it’s okay without him. I’m here, and there are other people too. …If you think you’re lacking, I’ll try harder.”

“Lacking? Not at all.” I smiled, nudging my brother’s arm.

“I trust you, all of you. Especially Yoo-hyun, you’ll be on my side no matter what. So I’ll be okay no matter what happens. It might be a little hard, but that’s it.”

I can get up again as many times as I need to. I never gave up even when my brother left, even then. In the first place, this isn’t enough to break me.

“I’m fine. I’m more worried about Sung Hyun-jae.” What is he thinking? I took the elevator down and arrived at the meeting place. I reassured my brother, who said he would wait outside, that I would be back before lunch. I took a deep breath and went inside.