The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 513

511. Dogfight (2)

“I didn’t see this coming.”

With that quiet murmur, a shot rang out. As if he had been waiting for it, Han Yu-hyun ducked behind the fence. Thud! As the bullet struck the fence, Han Yu-hyun’s hand shot out. He grabbed the top of the nearly 2-meter-high fence and lightly pulled himself up as if he were flying. In an instant, Han Yu-hyun, having cleared the fence, immediately rolled on the ground. Bang! A gunshot rang out, and dirt sprayed from where he had been.

Reloading. Even with a manual rifle, Han Yu-hyun quickly assessed the surrounding terrain during that extremely brief interval. The area around the watchtower was barren, but a short distance away were a warehouse and a well. As Han Yu-hyun sprinted towards the warehouse, another bullet whizzed past him.

Click, the bolt was pulled back, and the spent cartridge ejected. The rifle he was currently holding could load six rounds at a time. After the last bullet struck the well, Han Yu-jin tossed the rifle aside and grabbed a new one that was leaning next to him. In that brief moment,

Thung-!

Another stone came flying. Perhaps because the distance was much shorter, it nearly halfway penetrated the watchtower’s pillar. It seemed that just a couple more throws would be enough to collapse the flimsy watchtower. Han Yu-jin aimed the fully loaded six-round rifle at the warehouse. Han Yu-hyun was nowhere to be seen. A brief silence followed.

Crack!

Han Yu-hyun, who had already entered the warehouse, carved out the door with his sword. Using the fairly thick wooden door as a shield, he began running towards the watchtower again.

The distance to the watchtower wasn’t far, but the area was wide open. It was like becoming a moving target in a shooting range.

Han Yu-jin pulled the trigger without hesitation, and Bang! The gunshot echoed loudly. The bullet pierced the door, grazed Han Yu-hyun’s shoulder, and struck the ground. The second bullet aimed precisely for his head, but

Clang!

The bullet, weakened from piercing the door, struck the Ruler’s Sword, which was slightly angled, and ricocheted off. Han Yu-jin, having fired all six rounds, grabbed a pistol instead of the rifle and wrapped his hand around the long rope hanging from the watchtower’s roof. Meanwhile, Han Yu-hyun arrived directly below the watchtower.

The door, riddled with holes, was thrown high into the air, and in its shadow, Han Yu-hyun drew his sword back as far as he could. Then, just like that.

Crack!

He swung it with all his might at the watchtower’s pillar. The black blade deeply penetrated the wooden pillar, jutted out on the other side, and drew a semicircle. He spun around, shifting his position, and cut down the pillar next to it as well. Two of the four pillars were broken. At the same time, Han Yu-jin jumped off the watchtower while holding onto the rope.

Screech─

With Han Yu-jin’s weight added, the watchtower began to tilt with the sound of wood grinding against wood. Still hanging from the rope, Han Yu-jin stepped on the watchtower’s pillars and aimed his gun at Han Yu-hyun below. Han Yu-hyun wasn’t idle either. At this distance, there was no need to use the catapult [a device for launching projectiles].

The two men’s eyes met, and bullets and daggers were fired simultaneously.

Han Yu-jin kicked off the pillar and leaped up. Han Yu-hyun dodged behind the pillar. Crack, the dagger struck where Han Yu-jin had been, and Thud, the bullets tore up where Han Yu-hyun had been. Meanwhile, the watchtower continued to slowly tilt. Pulling on the rope, Han Yu-jin soared up, stepped on the pillar, and climbed onto the roof. Without even looking at his target, he fired suppressive shots and quickly reloaded his magazine.

Under the collapsing watchtower, Han Yu-hyun gripped his sword tightly, holding his breath like a predator stalking its prey. His eyes followed Han Yu-jin, catching glimpses of him.

As soon as the watchtower completely collapsed, he would charge. Han Yu-jin switched from the rifle to the pistol. According to Song Tae-won’s explanation, it was relatively weaker. If he avoided the vital points, he could withstand one or two shots.

Han Yu-hyun’s toes dug into the dirt ground. Snap, the sound of the pillars breaking completely was heard, and the edge of the roof touched the ground.

Thud!

Han Yu-hyun broke away from the pillar he was hiding behind and kicked off the ground with all his might. At the same time, Han Yu-jin threw the bullet belt at his brother. A moment of bewilderment flashed in Han Yu-hyun’s eyes. Why a belt of bullets, not even a gun that could be used as a blunt weapon? Moreover, it would be troublesome if he were to lose it like this.

He didn’t understand, but Han Yu-jin wouldn’t do anything without a reason. Instinctively, he tried to avoid the bullet belt, but then Han Yu-jin shot at the bullet belt, not Han Yu-hyun.

Bang, immediately after the sound, it hit the bullet belt accurately.

Rat-tat-tat!

With a loud noise, the bullet belt exploded! The gunpowder inside detonated in a row, and Han Yu-hyun reflexively turned his head away from the rising heat, but it was already too late.

“…Ugh.”

His face, as well as his eyes that had been focused on avoiding the bullet belt, burned. Normally, he wouldn’t even feel an itch from firearms several times stronger than that. But the body of an unawakened person couldn’t withstand it. Fortunately, he had possessed a trace amount of mana [magical energy] since before his awakening, and his nature was fire, so he avoided severe burns, but he momentarily lost his sight.

Bang─!

A bullet struck Han Yu-hyun’s leg as he retreated with his eyes closed. His knee buckled and hit the ground with a burning pain. He barely managed to brace himself on the ground and dodge to the side when this time, a bullet struck his shoulder hard. It was where his chest, his heart, used to be. Blood instantly soaked his clothes.

“The bullets are a bit unstable. Myung-woo isn’t used to dungeon gunpowder yet.”

Han Yu-jin explained that he had been told to be careful because they would explode in a row if they were shocked. The sound of bullets being loaded echoed.

“If it had been an obvious bomb, you would have avoided it from afar.”

Because it was a bullet belt, he had acted passively. If he obtained the bullet belt, he could have used it for the scattered rifles.

Han Yu-hyun carefully opened his eyes. His vision was still blurry. The figure of his brother standing in front of the collapsed watchtower looked like a smudged oil painting. Han Yu-jin looked at his brother with a bit of pity. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for the pain he was feeling.

It’s better to end this quickly. Thinking that, he aimed his gun, but.

“…….”

Seeing his brother helplessly collapsed, his finger couldn’t easily move. It was okay during the battle. But when it became a one-sided situation, the inside of his throat went dry.

‘…Come to think of it.’

He doesn’t have a fear resistance skill either. Han Yu-jin gritted his teeth. His heart pounded anew. He thought of his brother.

“…Hyung [older brother].”

Han Yu-hyun opened his mouth. He pushed away the sword he was holding as if discarding it and looked up at Han Yu-jin, who was still blurry.

“I can’t see you well.”

“…Huh? Ah, sorry.”

Han Yu-jin apologized unconsciously and took a step forward. Even while flustered, his eyes coldly scanned Han Yu-hyun. One shot in the shoulder, one in the leg. His eyesight hadn’t recovered yet. Since he was an unawakened person without skills, he could subdue Han Yu-hyun now.

The spare dagger was used, and there was no wire. The Ruler’s Sword was also placed far away. Han Yu-jin carefully approached his brother.

“You did well.”

Standing in front of his brother, Han Yu-jin said.

“I thought you would be helpless, but you managed to make a catapult out of that.”

“Song Chief told me about it.”

Han Yu-hyun said somewhat sullenly.

“I didn’t think you needed to know about combat between unawakened people.”

“That’s usually the case. Even if the dungeons disappear and the awakened people disappear, you won’t have to fight then.”

Even now, he seemed too young to go to the battlefield. Han Yu-hyun blinked. Physiological tears welled up and flowed down his cheeks. Han Yu-jin swallowed hard. He wasn’t really going to die, but. Hesitating, he fiddled with the uncocked hammer of the pistol with his fingertip.

Tap!

Han Yu-hyun put strength into his good leg and jumped up. It wasn’t that he hadn’t expected him to attack. But there was no time to shoot. Han Yu-jin bent his knee and kicked up at Han Yu-hyun’s abdomen as he lunged at him. A faint groan escaped through his tightly closed teeth. At the same time, Han Yu-jin threw the gun far away to prevent it from being taken and grabbed Han Yu-hyun’s good arm with both hands.

The difference in strength was clear. But it wasn’t to the point where two arms couldn’t block one arm. As Han Yu-jin tried to pull his brother’s arm down hard and throw him to the ground, Han Yu-hyun opened his mouth.

Crack!

“Keuk!”

Han Yu-hyun, who narrowly missed his neck and bit down hard on his brother’s shoulder, lost his balance and fell backward. Han Yu-jin also stumbled forward, entangled with him.

“Hey, you!”

He bit down as if to tear off flesh and wouldn’t let go. So, the sullenness from a moment ago was also acting. Han Yu-jin tried to push Han Yu-hyun away and slammed his elbow down on his brother’s injured arm. Han Yu-hyun’s brow furrowed deeply, but he still didn’t budge. Rather, he kicked off the ground with his good leg and arm, trying to reverse their positions.

It would be a disaster if he ended up underneath. Because of the difference in physique, he wouldn’t be able to get out easily. Han Yu-jin kicked Han Yu-hyun’s legs, his wounds, repeatedly and groped around his waist for the dagger. Then, he plunged it into Han Yu-hyun’s good arm.

Hot breaths squeezed out from between the teeth that were biting Han Yu-jin. Han Yu-hyun, who grabbed Han Yu-jin’s arm as if scratching it with his injured arm that couldn’t exert much strength, finally let go. Han Yu-hyun’s lips were stained red with Han Yu-jin’s blood.

Han Yu-jin, who took a deep breath, got up and helped his brother sit up as well.

“You’re persistent.”

Despite the injuries to his leg and both arms, Han Yu-hyun smiled. After blinking a few times, his brother’s figure became clearer.

“Hyung is soft.”

“No, I was going to shoot right away. But because you don’t have fear resistance, my heart skipped a beat.”

“I want a hug.”

Han Yu-jin hesitated at the arm that was being raised weakly.

“…Are you going to bite me again?”

“You can hold the gun, right?”

There was one more in the holster. Han Yu-jin took out the gun that was securely locked in the back so it couldn’t be easily pulled out. Han Yu-hyun pointed the gun at his own heart with a slightly trembling hand.

“Here.”

Han Yu-jin’s lips twisted slightly at his brother’s nonchalant face.

“Even if it’s not real, you’re too calm.”

“Because it’s Hyung.”

Han Yu-hyun opened his arms, and Han Yu-jin knelt on the ground and moved closer. His weak arm wrapped around Han Yu-jin’s body as if leaning on him. As the two men’s bodies pressed close, the muzzle pressed firmly against Han Yu-hyun’s clothes, his skin.

“Even if it was real, I would have been fine.”

“…Hey.”

“No, rather, I guess.”

“…You would have preferred the opposite?”

Han Yu-hyun smiled brightly. It would be okay to meet his end in Han Yu-jin’s hands, but rather, swallowing was more in his nature. He had lived his whole life imitating a human while wearing a human shell, but it was impossible to erase his true nature.

If that disappeared, Han Yu-hyun would no longer be Han Yu-hyun. He could pretend to have changed by learning and imitating. But that was it.

“It was fun.”

Han Yu-hyun leaned his head on Han Yu-jin’s shoulder as if acting spoiled.

“Play with me again next time.”

“Of course, I will.”

“And Hyung, if it’s ever too hard.”

“It’s okay.”

Han Yu-jin said with a smile.

“Of course, Hyung will win. You’ll be disappointed, though.”

At Han Yu-jin’s words, Han Yu-hyun nodded honestly. His brother’s safety was more important than anything else. Even if Han Yu-jin hated it, he wanted to offer Song Tae-won and Sung Hyun-jae as sacrifices himself. However, at the same time, he also trusted Han Yu-jin. Han Yu-hyun was satisfied with this.

“Still, if I have the chance, I’ll act the same way again.”

“Well… I’d probably do the same.”

If it was something directly related to his brother’s safety. In the end, Han Yu-jin’s choice was only one.

Stroking his brother’s head, Han Yu-jin pulled the trigger. At the same time, Han Yu-jin’s eyes reflexively squeezed shut.

Bang!

The gunshot rang out. Han Yu-jin’s body jolted from the recoil, and when he opened his eyes, his brother was gone.

“…This feels strange.”

He’s probably safe and sound. Han Yu-jin took a deep breath and got up from his seat.

Bang! Hearing the gunshot, Sung Hyun-jae wore a relaxed smile. His gaze was directed towards the forest. In all likelihood, it would be Song Tae-won charging at him.

‘It’s a shame I can’t watch.’

He was eager to see the brothers’ fight, but he had to focus more on this side right now. And a moment later, the bushes shook violently.

Whoosh─!

A stone came flying at a furious speed. A slingshot. Sung Hyun-jae quickly ducked behind the chimney. As soon as he heard the thud, he revealed himself again and aimed his gun in the direction the stone had come from. At the same time, something large emerged from the bushes.

Rumble

It rolled out. It was a rock. As soon as he saw the movement, the fired bullet accurately struck the rock, and immediately after, Song Tae-won began running towards the fence at a terrifying speed.