The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 487

485. The Hosts

I deliberately blinked slowly, but Chatterbox showed no reaction.

“I don’t think the King of the Innocents would have lied.”

The Chatterbox here must be a clone without much power, one that can’t even recognize what the King of the Innocents left me. I slightly loosened my grip on the emergency bell.

The newbie guaranteed my safety, but there was still a chance of something happening. If I press the emergency bell, Yoohyun, Yerim, and Mr. Noah will get a signal immediately. Yoohyun and Mr. Noah are in the Haeyeon and Breeding Center buildings, respectively, and Yerim is in the training center with Maru. So all three of them, especially Yerim, would come in an instant. Since Grace is a self-aware item, I had her in my inventory, so I needed to be even more prepared.

“I don’t have any particular hard feelings towards you. Not yet, anyway.”

I said lightly. Chatterbox helped the King of the Innocents, but I don’t have any feelings for the King of the Innocents himself now. Anyway, I killed the King of the Innocents with my own hands, and what he left behind is something to be grateful for.

“It’s just that Chatterbox is unilaterally insisting on revenge. It’s unfair to me.”

I stared straight into the eyeholes of the mask. Beyond the holes, it was just dark and nothing could be seen. Does he even have eyeballs? It was strangely flickering as if there was black fog, and if I didn’t have fear resistance, I would have definitely gotten goosebumps.

Chatterbox slowly raised one arm. Unlike in the hallucination in the letter, the hand wearing white gloves looked ordinary. It’s not his real body anyway, so he can change his appearance as he pleases. The tip of his finger touched the layers of red frilled necktie.

“Are you saying it’s a misunderstanding?”

His attitude and voice were surprisingly polite. That’s why it felt even more ominous. A calmly crazy guy is more likely to do something dangerous.

“Even if the King of the Innocents’ power has weakened, I am weaker than him. As you can see, my stats are F-grade.”

I slightly spread out my arms.

“The King of the Cursed Poison Dragon Species was dealt with by the Mermaid Queen. I just happened to get his magic stone.”

It’s logically impossible and doesn’t make sense. So let’s just say, ‘Oh, I see,’ and go back to the way things were. Blocking dungeons normally wouldn’t be that difficult. There was the problem of Crescent Moon left, but if Chatterbox would step back, I would be grateful.

“The King of the Innocents was also killed by another Transcendent [beings who have surpassed human limitations]. The past and present overlapped, and a Transcendent from long ago intervened. There were two of them, one with the body of a horse and the other with a tiger or a cat.”

It wasn’t a complete lie. The past and present did overlap, and a Transcendent did appear. And the King of the Innocents died at my hands thanks to the Changeling’s power. The Changeling couldn’t have been born without Diarma, so in the end, it’s not wrong to say that the King of the Innocents died because of a Transcendent. Sung Hyunjae also helped with that.

“If those two Transcendent are still alive, shouldn’t you blame them?”

Instead of targeting a poor F-grade. The white mask was still smiling. On the other hand, the eyeholes were the same, so it was hard to know what he was thinking. It’s a mask, not his real face, to begin with.

“If you give me your memories, I can confirm if it’s the truth.”

“I value my privacy, so I can’t do that. Think within common sense. Or…”

I took a brief breath and continued.

“Does the truth not matter to you? Is it just─”

“To hold a funeral.”

Chatterbox’s voice rose.

“In the place where she last stayed, filled with mourners. What is your funeral culture like? I will do what my lovely mist will enjoy. And as a finale.”

A long leg stepped onto the table. As if pulling him up with strings tied from above, Chatterbox’s body slid up and over the table, standing right in front of me. His toes were so close that they touched mine. Chatterbox’s upper body bent towards me. His gesture was as polite as a bow.

“What do you cherish most? Still that younger brother?”

The whispered question chilled my heart. Funerals are ultimately for those who are left behind, as the King of the Innocents said.

“That’s nonsense.”

The truth didn’t matter to Chatterbox. The King of the Innocents died here, and I was there. That fact alone was enough—to hold a funeral.

“Everyone cherishes themselves the most.”

I said with a soft smile.

“Just like Chatterbox is holding a funeral instead of catching the real culprit.”

Leaning completely against the back of the sofa, I raised one hand. A cube floated above my palm. The flickering darkness in the eyeholes of the mask moved slightly towards the cube.

“The King of the Innocents’ Drawer.”

“The King of the Innocents’ Drawer.”

My voice and Chatterbox’s voice spoke at the same time. Does he recognize it? It could just be a simple guess.

“I am the current owner of this drawer.”

Chatterbox was silent at what that fact meant. The King of the Innocents directly handed me his drawer. I slowly straightened my back, which had been pressed deep into the sofa. The white mask and my face got a little closer.

“She told me that she was really happy.”

Not a single breath could be heard, like a corpse.

“In a very white, very white form. Hair swaying like swimming, fins spread like flower petals. She laughed in the scattered mist.”

The chest wrapped in a white shirt didn’t rise or fall either.

“Looking at me for the last time, smiling at me, and the voice that greeted the end was also only for me.”

If it’s a funeral for Chatterbox, not for the King of the Innocents…

“Tell me your name, so she answered: Han Yoojin. And she told me…”

I whispered into non-existent ears.

“Luga Pope.”

Chatterbox wasn’t there at her end. Only Han Yoojin was reflected in Luga Pope’s eyes. I quietly raised the corners of my lips.

“I don’t even know Chatterbox’s name yet.”

Because Luga Pope didn’t tell me. Because she didn’t even mention it. She left nothing, no will, no inheritance. Only I received it. Not Chatterbox.

I leaned back on the sofa again. Chatterbox remained frozen, without any movement. Then, the mouth of the mask grew larger. It twisted and opened, laughing hugely. The red inside was revealed, but there were no teeth, no tongue, not even a throat. Just red, red.

“The youngest of the severed maze, the magician holding the cage: Gi Os Sanus.”

A voice with a faint excitement said.

“Chatterbox, who would have thought I’d hear such a thing. The maze is silent, and the magician doesn’t hide secrets. But my beloved mist…”

A low laugh flowed from beyond the mask.

“Was endlessly greedy. For Luga Pope, I told her many stories, holding tea parties and dancing, and being a little coy to suit her easily bored nature. The mist sought me out more often, asked me for help, and chattered happily. Even so, she whoosh, scattered through my fingers.”

Because it’s mist. It wasn’t in her nature to be caught and tied down somewhere.

“My cage is sturdy and beautiful, but it has too many gaps.”

“So it was a fish tank? Even so, you only imprisoned fakes.”

Chatterbox’s hand reached out. I couldn’t avoid it, so it touched my face.

“I am Chatterbox.”

He defined himself, abandoning the previous things, the self made to fit the King of the Innocents.

“You are what she saw last.”

Chatterbox’s voice became calm again. The mouth that had been torn open also closed. His other hand reached out towards my hand holding the drawer. As soon as I reflexively put the drawer into my inventory, he grabbed my wrist. His strength wasn’t strong. The problem was that I was weaker.

“Did you touch it? Of course, you would have. If she liked you enough to tell you her name and hand over the drawer, you would have looked at every nook and cranny.”

The gloved hand caressed my cheek and stroked my neck. It was as if he was examining the condition of an item to be purchased. The other hand also touched my forearm, my elbow, and other places. The hand holding the emergency bell flinched unconsciously. Chatterbox smiled, noticing it.

“Will you ask for help?”

It was a tone as if he was curious who would come running. He probably already knows who I’m close to, but still… Besides, the story isn’t over yet.

The black eyeholes stared at me. I couldn’t know his gaze, but it felt unpleasantly affectionate.

“The legacy my mist left me.”

…Crazy bastard. I induced the current reaction to some extent, but I didn’t expect him to say it so bluntly.

“I have to leave as much as possible. Where did you touch? Did she whisper in your ear? Her hair, her eyes… Adding more would be fine. She had long hair. Dye it pure white, carve another eye. Fins and tentacles.”

“You’re really crazy. Are you going to make another fish tank?”

“You are not mist, so a cage will be enough. I will take you after the funeral is over.”

“Not if I allow it.”

“Han Yoojin doesn’t cherish himself anyway.”

The mask held a clear sneer.

“Saying that he cherishes himself the most, yet offering himself as bait like this, and not even asking for help.”

“…Why would I ask for help when it’s just a conversation?”

The hand that had gone down to my shoulder came up to the nape of my neck, below my ear, and pressed lightly. At the same time, I felt a burning sensation.

“A promise.”

“It’s a very weak power. If I were to express it in terms of grade, it would be about F-grade. It’s equal to Han Yoojin, so I haven’t broken it.”

It’s just that it’s difficult to erase, Chatterbox whispered. His finger slid down my neck.

“It’s a mark that you are my guest. You are welcome even if you don’t have an invitation.”

“…How kind of you.”

“As per the contract, safety at the party is guaranteed. This is also a contract between both Transcendent. Until the party is over, I will not touch Han Yoojin.”

That meant that after the party, the funeral, that’s when it would start. I grabbed Chatterbox’s wrist as his hand moved away from my neck. The palm was cool.

“Since you’ve caught on, I’ll tell you: if you want to get me in one piece, it’s best not to touch those around me. I’ll overlook you using hunters normally, but if you step in directly, I’ll break the drawer first.”

I didn’t think I would lose if I fought the same human hunters. At least I could protect my life. Besides, they wouldn’t even listen to the words, ‘Don’t mess with us at all.’ Chatterbox tilted his head slightly at my words.

“Does Han Yoojin perhaps dislike Han Yoojin?”

“Not to the point of disliking. I’m just trying to use all the cards I can.”

Anyway, Chatterbox directly mentioned the Transcendent and guaranteed the safety of the party. Since there was also talk of a contract between the two forces, I could rest assured for now.

“When does the party start?”

“If you wish, I can adjust it to suit you.”

“How kind of you. I’d like to get more invitations if possible.”

“The quantity I can send has already been exhausted. Unfortunately.”

Then I’ll have to get them from Park Hayool or the hunters I’ve drawn into the gathering.

“I’m thinking of having a small gathering before Chatterbox’s party.”

I talked to him a little more. Scheduling was also easy. Chatterbox was consistently polite and even kind. Of course, that would be kindness towards the traces of Luga Pope, not the human Han Yoojin.

“Keep your body in one piece.”

With that unpleasant greeting, Chatterbox disappeared. A long sigh escaped on its own. I had only had a long conversation, but fatigue rushed in as if I had been running all day.

“…Everyone’s going to hate it when they find out about this.”

Whether I dislike myself or not, I even got lectured about self-love from a crazy Transcendent. My situation was absurd. Still, I…

‘Should I smoke just one?’

If I brush my teeth and shower, they might not know. I shouldn’t do this, but I took out a cigarette case from my inventory. But this…

“I don’t have a light.”

I didn’t have a lighter or anything. Before the regression, I naturally carried tools to start a fire because I was going in and out of dungeons, but now I didn’t need to. I didn’t even think about using points, so I put the case back in my inventory. Instead, I took out my phone and made a call.

“Yoohyun, are you busy?”

[No. What’s wrong?]

“I just wanted to see you.”

I had seen him this morning, so it sounded like nonsense, but my brother immediately said he would come. I got up from my seat, took out Grace, put it on, and stood in front of the bathroom mirror. A clear red mark remained from just below my ear to my neck. It looked like a simple pattern or letters.

“…What a pain to explain.”

Couldn’t he have made it invisible? I carefully touched the mark. I could feel mana… When I carefully overlaid it by drawing up my magic power, it disappeared. To be exact, it remained, but it just couldn’t be seen.

“Hyung.”

Yoohyun arrived in the meantime. My brother frowned and strode towards me, reaching out his hand.

“What is this?”

“Huh? You can see it?”

“Faintly.”

“…I can’t see it.”

“It’s hidden, but with this much magic power, a high-level hunter can see it. It feels like a low-grade stealth skill. So what’s going on?”

“It’s Chatterbox’s, like an invitation. He said I can just come.”

I told my brother that nothing happened and that Chatterbox had definitely guaranteed the safety of the party.

“I did try to say that I wasn’t the one who killed the King of the Innocents, but he didn’t listen.”

“Then isn’t it better for hyung not to go?”

“I have to prepare for the end of the party. I can’t just be caught off guard.”

I looked up at my brother’s face.

“Sorry.”

“No, why are you sorry to me, hyung?”

“…Yeah. The Breeding Center Director’s gathering will proceed as planned. I’ve discussed it with Chatterbox, so I can send out formal invitations.”

Let’s focus on the immediate tasks first. There are still mountains of things to do.