The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 516

514. Dogfight (5)

My insides were burning. The relentless rain drummed chillingly against Song Tae-won’s body, yet he felt feverish. His outstretched hand felt alien, like watching someone else on TV. Han Yu-jin barely dodged his punch, nearly collapsing. Even that felt strangely unreal.

The ground was soaked and muddy. Song Tae-won was a mess, and so was Han Yu-jin. He’d rolled in the mud so much his once-white shirt was now a dingy brown.

Song Tae-won’s foot lashed out at the fallen Han Yu-jin. It was an ingrained reaction: break his ribs as he tries to rise. But instead of getting up, Han Yu-jin raised his leg. Song Tae-won’s kick connected with Han Yu-jin’s leg, and Han Yu-jin’s heel slammed into Song Tae-won’s shin.

Crack!

A sharp pain shot through Song Tae-won’s leg. A blade had sprung out from the back of Han Yu-jin’s shoe. Even a simple stab would leave a nasty wound, but with the combined force, it plunged deep and snapped. Simultaneously, Han Yu-jin, kicked in the leg, tumbled away.

Song Tae-won staggered, looking down at the embedded blade. Han Yu-jin, crawling to create distance, grabbed a wooden stick nearby.

“Just from one kick, huh.”

Whether it was a break or just a crack, a sharp pain radiated up his leg. Han Yu-jin gritted his teeth, placed the stick against his leg as a makeshift splint, and tied it in place. Then, stubbornly, he stood again.

“…Why.”

“Why? What do you mean, why?”

Han Yu-jin smiled, looking directly at Song Tae-won.

“I’ve always lived like this.”

He spread his arms wide, displaying his disheveled state.

“I’m just naturally like this.”

This was nothing. Han Yu-jin wasn’t intimidated; instead, he bared his teeth. His opponent was an ordinary, well, not ordinary, but an unranked human, so there was no need for fear resistance. He had entered dungeons without it from the start. He had rebelled against mid-level Hunters stronger than Song Tae-won multiple times. He had even faced high-level Hunters.

Song Tae-won stared at Han Yu-jin, grinning fiercely in the rain. F-rank. Even with the ranks gone, he was still weaker. Song Tae-won was supposed to protect him. His eyes fell on the leg with the makeshift splint, unable to bear weight properly.

Normally, he should have subdued him easily, without injury. Song Tae-won was capable of that. His vision blurred, and he blinked slowly. But moments ago, Song Tae-won had relentlessly attacked Han Yu-jin. He had said he would fight barehanded, yet he kicked a rock to attack.

Before he could sort through his feverish thoughts, Han Yu-jin moved again. Despite his injured leg, he swiftly approached the discarded bicycle, as if accustomed to the situation, and took something from the pink basket.

“You better dodge!”

Han Yu-jin shouted, throwing a round object at Song Tae-won. *A bomb. One of Han Yu-jin’s belongings.* The word flashed in his mind, and Song Tae-won reflexively dove to the side. It was hard to run with his injured leg. Song Tae-won slid across the wet ground, dodging, and the ball bounced where he had been. It was a toy for baby monsters.

There was no explosion. Before he could wonder, Han Yu-jin jumped onto Song Tae-won’s back. He had leaped as he threw the ball. Ignoring the reopening wound on his leg, Song Tae-won abruptly stood. But before he could, a wire wrapped around his neck.

“Kuh!”

Putting his entire weight into it, Han Yu-jin pulled the wire with all his might, as if trying to hang him. Song Tae-won turned his good arm behind him to grab Han Yu-jin, but it was hard to dislodge him with one hand. His neck tightened, and Song Tae-won, coughing and gasping, limped towards a nearby building. Then, he turned and slammed his back hard against the wall.

Bang!

Just before Song Tae-won hit the wall, Han Yu-jin rolled off and pulled out a dagger, swinging it towards Song Tae-won’s uninjured leg. But before that,

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Song Tae-won kicked Han Yu-jin. Sent flying, Han Yu-jin threw something else at Song Tae-won. He wondered if it was another trick, but this time, light flashed. Song Tae-won quickly moved away, and the flat object that hit the wall beeped and spun before stopping.

“What─”

“Myung-woo made it for me, and Song-i will like it too.”

*Shall I give you one as a gift?* Han Yu-jin, who had picked up the Ruler’s Sword, gasped for breath and charged. His strength and stamina were far lower. Already exhausted, the speed at which he swung the sword had slowed. Song Tae-won dodged the attack, and the black blade splashed water as it plunged into the ground. As Song Tae-won tried to grab the staggering Han Yu-jin,

“……!”

He felt his leg stiffen and retreated. The leg with the embedded blade wasn’t just limping; it wouldn’t move properly.

“It’s Bellare’s venom. It’s just ordinary snake venom now that the skill isn’t applied.”

He had turned off poison resistance, put it in a small bottle, and stored it in his inventory. If he took it out with poison resistance on, it would be immediately detoxified, and it was difficult to use with poison resistance off, so he hadn’t really had a chance to use it, but he had kept it just in case. But now, it was just a simple blood poison that could be applied to a blade.

It wasn’t enough to threaten his life quickly, but it was enough to paralyze part of his body. Perhaps the rapid movement had spread the poison faster, as even his good leg felt slightly numb.

Han Yu-jin took a deep breath and rammed into Song Tae-won. He tackled him with his whole body, but Song Tae-won somehow managed to stay standing and grabbed Han Yu-jin with his remaining arm. Han Yu-jin, caught, clung to Song Tae-won’s arm with both arms. Then, he repeatedly kneed Song Tae-won in the abdomen.

Thud! The staggering large body finally fell backward, and muddy water splashed up. Han Yu-jin, who had climbed on top of Song Tae-won, swung his fist. He relentlessly struck his face and then punched again, but this time he only hit the ground. Unable to control his own strength, Han Yu-jin’s upper body slumped forward.

Wheezing breaths escaped. Han Yu-jin’s body was also feverish, unable to be cooled down even by the rain. Song Tae-won’s hand gripped Han Yu-jin’s neck and pressed it against the ground. Again, thud, water splashed. Han Yu-jin’s fingers scratched at the hand and arm pressing down on his neck. Coughing, he reached out, grabbed Song Tae-won’s hair, and tried to claw at his eyes with his other hand.

Trying to avoid it, Song Tae-won lost control of his own body and fell to the side. His loosened hand was bitten wildly, kicks followed one after another, and blood was spat out between ragged breaths.

It was a complete mess. The struggle, not even a fight, continued endlessly. Both Han Yu-jin and Song Tae-won were completely exhausted.

Song Tae-won tried to shake off Han Yu-jin, but unlike usual, he didn’t throw him far; he just flopped to the side. Han Yu-jin’s punch hit Song Tae-won, but it didn’t even make a proper sound. It felt like his body was sinking into the rain. His vision blurred, and his mouth tasted sweet.

“I, huh, really.”

Han Yu-jin, struggling to crawl on top of Song Tae-won, stopped raising his fist and exhaled. Han Yu-jin’s lips were split, and his jaw was bruised. On the other hand, Song Tae-won’s face was much more intact. Han Yu-jin chuckled at the sight of him without a single bruise despite being hit properly. Still, there was a red line on his neck.

Song Tae-won raised his arm and grabbed Han Yu-jin’s arm. But that was it. He had no strength left to push him away. Rainwater kept flowing into both of their eyes.

“Look at our state.”

Han Yu-jin smiled with his messed-up face and body. The sky was dark, and light flashed occasionally.

“It’s really… funny. Why aren’t you laughing?”

“There’s nothing to laugh about…….”

“Then should I cry?”

Song Tae-won’s chest rose and fell sharply. It was both cold and hot. His lips, wet with rain but feeling dry, moved.

“I─”

“It’s not wrong.”

Han Yu-jin said.

“Song Chief’s stubbornness isn’t wrong either. There will be so many people who say that’s right… so many.”

It was something that could end with just two people, or maybe even just one person, being sacrificed. There would definitely be people who would not only turn a blind eye but actively support it.

“And my stubbornness too. Before whether I’m capable or not, it’s not wrong.”

He wanted everyone to be safe. How could this be wrong? If successful, it would naturally be the most desirable outcome.

“Look at me. This is persuasion.”

Han Yu-jin continued, pointing to his disheveled self.

“It’s not a fight, it’s persuasion that we can do this. It seemed impossible, didn’t it?”

“…Han Yu-jin.”

“Ah, my whole body really hurts.”

Song Tae-won couldn’t speak easily and looked up at Han Yu-jin. He seemed relieved. He knew that he, Han Yu-jin, seemed inadequate. He knew that Han Yu-jin was weak. He understood why he couldn’t believe him.

So he shouted with his whole body.

Then Song Tae-won. A habitual apology crawled up from Song Tae-won’s throat, then was swallowed back down. Han Yu-jin had said that his stubbornness was also right. Even while he was hurting, angry, and sad. So would it be right for him to apologize for being wrong?

“…I, I.”

Song Tae-won struggled to speak.

“I am weak.”

“You were disgustingly strong, though.”

“I don’t trust myself.”

“I don’t particularly trust myself either.”

“…Han Yu-jin, you said that my actions were also right, but.”

Song Tae-won’s eyes squeezed shut and then opened again.

“I can’t say that I didn’t want to run away.”

Weakly. He wanted to avoid it. He couldn’t bear the thought of something being ruined because of him, the possibility of it.

“I, kept, closing my eyes…….”

He forced himself into a mold. He only looked at Song Tae-won who was fitted into that mold.

“Song Chief.”

“I am too different, and.”

When was the first time he felt it? Song Tae-won exhaled heavily. Outside his mold was always bright yellow spring. The peaceful scenery of everyday life never got boring, no matter how long he looked at it. Until then, it was still okay.

Realizing that he didn’t belong in it, he could only be satisfied with protecting it. He deliberately didn’t think beyond that. He kept pretending not to know and avoiding it.

But as dungeons appeared and Awakened Ones [people with supernatural abilities] were born, as he Awakened, Song Tae-won could no longer close his eyes.

Awakened Ones. Especially S-Rank Awakened Ones. And… monsters.

It was as if they were peeling off Song Tae-won’s shell and holding up a mirror. So he had to stop them as well.

“Han Yu-jin, you say I’m… a good person. But the truth is, I wanted to protect myself. Just selfishly, for myself.”

“What’s selfish about protecting yourself? No, in the first place, how *has* Song Chief lived? Anyone would say you’re a good person.”

“…I hate myself.”

“Song Chief.”

Song Tae-won raised his arm and covered his eyes.

“I hate myself.”

Meeting Han Yu-jin and looking at the S-Rank Hunters around him. Deep down, he couldn’t help but feel jealous. They looked happy. And he couldn’t say that he didn’t feel joy as well. As he turned away and tried to be alone, he even felt like Song Tae-won alone was left as a monster.

Around Han Yu-jin was bright yellow spring. Monsters who he thought were similar to him gathered beside him. Laughing normally, talking normally.

“I… can’t. Especially not now…….”

A baby lamb came to his side. He couldn’t help but love it. But Song Tae-won.

From the dungeon in China to Hwangrim’s words. He tried to accept it calmly. Perhaps it was something he had guessed long ago. So he wanted to give up and leave.

“…I’m sorry again. I still can’t accept myself.”

“Yes.”

Han Yu-jin said calmly.

“So what? It can happen. People say to love yourself, and that’s right, but just because it’s right doesn’t mean it’s easy to achieve.”

Easy is just words, Han Yu-jin nodded.

“Just, a little more. I hope Song Chief does things for Song Chief a little more. I’m… kind of like that too.”

“…….”

“Taking care of me isn’t easy. It should be easy usually… but what should I say, I don’t like it, it’s burdensome, and I feel guilty… too.”

Han Yu-jin’s gaze fell downward. His fingertips twitched and trembled faintly.

“So I, actually, don’t have the right to say this to Song Chief.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“Is that so? Anyway, so let’s try a little harder. We don’t know what will happen in the future, and it might be harder, and it might be irresponsible to say this. But still.”

His voice broke off. Only breaths mixed in with the sound of rain. Both of them were feeling the complex emotions in their hearts and minds being washed away blankly.

“Is there any, gun left?”

“I don’t know if it will shoot properly, though.”

“I don’t know if I can accept myself. I’m not confident.”

Song Tae-won lowered the arm that had covered his eyes. He met Han Yu-jin’s gaze.

“But I’ll tell you honestly.”

Song Tae-won faintly smiled weakly.

“I don’t like it either. I want to live a little more too.”

“…Yes.”

Han Yu-jin got up. He staggered as if he would fall, and eventually fell once. And then he got up again and picked up the gun in the bicycle basket. He had wrapped it in plastic just in case, so it wasn’t wet. He took it and went back to Song Tae-won.

“Let’s really have a proper drink.”

A gunshot rang out.

* * *

“Ugh, my whole body still feels sore.”

Immediately after shooting Song Chief, I was moved to the waiting room. As if I had returned to my original body, there wasn’t a single scratch or mud stain. Nevertheless, my whole body felt sore and limp.

“Sung Hyun-jae is…….”

I was momentarily speechless. What *is* that? Sung Hyun-jae was sleeping soundly in a pile of hot pink yarn. A laundry basket was rolling next to him.

That, um. It was a sight that made me feel a little resentful. Someone had gone through so much trouble. *His posture is so proper.* Anyway, he seems fine, so Yoo-hyun and Song Chief must be fine and in that waiting room over there.