The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 74

74. Babysitting Teacher (1)

“It’s bigger than the Flame Horned Lion I saw in the dungeon?”

Yoohyun said, looking at Peace. Even though he had been a bit neglectful lately, he seemed quite excited to see it as an adult.

“Really?”

“Yeah. The number that appears also varies depending on the individual’s stats, but I’ve never seen one this big. Although, I’ve only raided it twice.”

Even monsters of the same grade and species weren’t exactly the same, like twins. Their stats and skills were slightly different.

And being bigger usually meant better stats. I felt good that my baby was excelling.

“It’s also acquired all the optimization initial skills. Flame Breath, Flame Charge, Gigantification. It already had Flame Resistance.”

“Amazing. There weren’t any individuals that used them all.”

“Our Peace really grew up well.”

As I reached out to hug it again, Peace’s body shrunk as if it had been waiting. It instantly returned to its juvenile form, but the status window was different from before.

[Grade 2 Unicorn Subspecies – Flame Horned Lion Peace
Current Stat Grade A]

There was no juvenile indication, and the stat grade was A, not C. It also retained all its skills. It’s a shame it’s not S-grade, but it’s reassuring even when it’s small.

“Come here.”

– Kkiang!

Yoohyun stared at me in disbelief as Peace snuggled into my arms.

“Don’t indulge it too much. It’s all grown up now.”

“What’s wrong with it? It says it wants to be held.”

We’ll have to be apart for days when we go into the dungeon, so what’s wrong with indulging it a little? Besides, even if it’s grown up, it’s thanks to the skills, and its actual age shouldn’t be that much. Can’t I still call it a baby?

“Now, give back the owner’s mark.”

Yoohyun held out his hand. It was natural to return the taming item, but I hesitated when I tried to take it out.

“You have to treat our Peace well.”

I said, taking out the mark from my inventory and handing it over.

“You’re not going to take an inexperienced kid straight into this S-grade dungeon, are you? Skip it this time and try to get in sync in A~B grade dungeons. You need to raise its level too. I’ll ask Myungwoo to make equipment for Peace. Make sure it eats regularly in the dungeon, and if it doesn’t listen, soothe it well. It understands well even if you talk to it. Heal it immediately if it gets hurt. It’s never been injured in a fight before, so it might be surprised.”

“…Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“Peace is much stronger than Hyung. There’s no need to worry.”

“Still, how can I not worry? I’m worried about you too.”

I was worried that the dungeon might go crazy and something like Rauchitas might pop out. System administrators, please manage it well. Our Yoohyun is still young, and if he encounters a Grade 1 Dragon species now, he might not be able to escape. The 5-year difference is significant.

I need to grow him up quickly too. Growth before new skills. My baby’s waiting time has passed, so it would be perfect to use it before entering this S-grade dungeon.

Yoohyun received the owner’s mark and put it in his inventory. Even then, Peace was quietly nestled in my arms. I didn’t feel anything particularly different.

“Come here.”

At Yoohyun’s command, Peace twitched the tip of its ear. It clearly showed signs of annoyance, but still approached Yoohyun. Then, it glared at its changed owner and returned to me.

“It does listen to you.”

Taming wasn’t a skill that completely controlled the monster. It was more like, ‘I’m the leader, follow me.’ That’s why I was worried, but it’s a relief that it listens. Did some kind of bond form between them after destroying a dungeon together?

But at best, it was still a chilly level.

“That’s why I told you to treat Peace well from the start. You live in the same building but don’t pay attention to it. Unicorns should have people take care of them who are predetermined to receive the mark.”

“I know. But there won’t be any problems with Peace. The agreement has been roughly reached.”

“What agreement?”

“An agreement to help raise its stats because someone is untrustworthy.”

…When did they make such an agreement? It must have been in the dungeon back then. I wondered what they were doing together for 30 minutes without me.

Well, then for the next time.

* * *

“Hello, Mr. Kim Sunghan.”

I said as I entered the advanced hunter’s training room. Various exercise equipment could be seen in the wide interior. It looked ordinary on the outside, but all the equipment was not typical. Not only the durability but also weight reduction treatments were applied to the bottom of the equipment to withstand tremendous loads.

Kim Sunghan saw me and got off the shoulder press machine. Well-defined muscles were visible through his thin shirt. I’m jealous. Should I exercise too? Of course, I wouldn’t be able to catch up to even half of that even if I exercised my whole life.

“What brings you here?”

He approached me with a gentle smile. I still couldn’t get used to Kim Sunghan’s kindness. I don’t know what that keyword effect is. He apologized for mistaking me for someone else even before the keyword was applied.

“It’s nothing special, I just wanted to thank you for taking care of me all this time.”

My real purpose is to use my baby’s skill. Last time, I gave him a growth buff before entering the dungeon, but this time I was thinking of giving him a skill. I should choose either Indomitable Body or Regeneration.

As I smiled gently and used my baby’s skill,

[The growth of the target Kim Sunghan has reached the minimum requirement.]

An unexpected message window popped up. What is this again?

[My Baby is the Best Skill application can grow stats to S-grade if conditions are met.]

…Huh? Can grow to S-grade? Already?

“What’s wrong? Is there something hurting you?”

Kim Sunghan asked me worriedly as I stood there blankly.

“No, I just have something to think about…”

[Target Kim Sunghan’s stat growth conditions, one of the following achieved
Defeat an A-grade dungeon boss in one hit
Solo hunt an S-grade monster
Hunt an SS-grade monster with 10 people or less
※ Even if the conditions are not met, stats will grow to S-grade if the maximum growth requirement is met.]

The message window continued to pop up after a slight pause. System administrators, it seems like you’re working in real-time.

‘When the growth value is at the minimum requirement, it’s possible to immediately increase the grade by meeting the conditions. If the conditions are not met, it just grows to S-grade slowly?’

Kim Sunghan was still A-grade even after 5 years. Even if he receives a growth buff, it would take three or four years or more to reach S-grade stats. So, of course, I should aim to meet the conditions.

‘Kill an A-grade dungeon boss in one hit.’

Kim Sunghan is a defense-oriented hunter. Even if he was attack-oriented, it was impossible for an A-grade hunter to take down an A-grade boss in one hit. Solo hunting an S-grade monster is obviously impossible too.

And to participate in the SS-grade monster raid, well, there aren’t any SS-grade monsters yet.

I remember that the S-grade dungeon bosses so far are at most mid-S-grade. Even the low-stat avian manipulator didn’t reach Grade 1, probably.

‘Should I get him a skill first and wait for an SS-grade monster to appear?’

I don’t know when it will appear. Originally, it takes 3 years. Even if it comes out quickly, the fact that it’s 10 people or less with my baby’s skill applied is another concern. Since the duration is 3 days, that means I have to go in there too. How can I catch the boss in 3 days? Or aim for a dungeon break [a situation where a dungeon’s monster population overwhelms the hunters].

All three conditions were not easy.

“Mr. Kim Sunghan, do you happen to have any attack skills?”

“Yes. I do have one A-grade melee attack skill. However, since I’m defense-oriented, it’s not very strong compared to the grade.”

Kim Sunghan, who was looking down at me worriedly, answered.

He has an attack skill. Then I can apply the double attack skill effect of the Veteran F-grade title.

‘If I give him S-grade equipment from Yoohyun and get Yerim’s buff, it seems like he could one-shot an A-grade dungeon boss monster… The problem is that I have to go into an A-grade dungeon.’

And if it’s a melee attack skill, I have to stick right next to Kim Sunghan. If the boss is taken down in an instant, I won’t be attacked, but I won’t be able to withstand Kim Sunghan’s movements. It seems like pure physical attack, how big will the recoil be?

I should wait for an SS-grade monster to appear. But he was an S-grade defense-oriented hunter. Unlike the fledgling Yerim, Kim Sunghan is experienced and has worked with Yoohyun a lot. If the two of them go into the dungeon together, there won’t be much to worry about. It would be really reassuring.

‘A-grade dungeon… what to do.’

In the end, I just chatted with Kim Sunghan and returned home without using my baby’s skill.

It would be a problem if it seemed impossible, but it was ambiguous.

‘I can mobilize about five S-grades right now.’

In addition to Han Yoohyun, Park Yerim, and Peace, I can also ask Riet for help, and I can call Moon Hyuna in exchange for lending the Griffin. Counting Riet’s younger sibling, there would be six. Maybe Sung Hyunjae will help too.

If it’s a lower-level A-grade dungeon, I wouldn’t even need six. Two for dungeon raid, two to protect me, so four would be enough.

‘I just need a way to protect myself during the boss fight.’

What is there?

“Yujin.”

As I was rummaging through my memories for something useful among the items that came out around this time, Myungwoo suddenly spoke to me.

“Here, take this.”

“Huh? What is it?”

Looking at what he was handing over, it was a crude metal bracelet.

[Nameless Bracelet – Undecided
Contains incomplete but strong power.]

What is it really? As I looked at him with eyes asking for an explanation, Myungwoo opened his mouth a little shyly.

“You said before that you wanted an item that increases the defense power of the body itself. That’s not easy.”

“Don’t worry too much about it.”

“That bracelet is the most usable one among the experimental works. It’s disposable and limited to 10 minutes, but it can nullify all damage.”

I was flustered inside at Myungwoo’s words and opened the status window. A new skill appeared.

[Incomplete (Undecided)]

The skill name and grade were undecided, and the description window didn’t even pop up.

“Theoretically, there is no grade limit for attacks that can be nullified. With Ismuar’s help, we confirmed that S-grade flame attacks can be reliably nullified.”

“No, you…”

I was speechless. Why is he the only one who deviates from common sense so often? Nullifying all damage with no damage grade limit. I just wanted my F-grade body to be a little stronger. I would have been grateful and set off fireworks if it was just C-grade.

But what is this? He’s a little scary. If I didn’t have fear resistance, I might have stepped back, thinking, ‘Oh, you’re not someone I can handle.’

“…Even if it’s disposable, it’s no joke.”

“It’s all about the materials, the materials. That’s why I can’t make many.”

“What are the materials?”

“That’s still a secret.”

Myungwoo smiled, telling me to look forward to it. Is it around L-grade material? …Really?

“Don’t use too expensive materials. You have to make something better later.”

He just smiled and didn’t answer. Hey, man… you’re making me uneasy. Still, he’ll keep it within limits, right? I’m stat F, F.

Anyway, with this, it became possible to apply the double attack skill effect to Kim Sunghan. 10 minutes is enough. Now there’s only one barrier left.

‘Yoohyun, it’s S-grade. S-grade defense hunter.’

If I explain it well, he’ll understand.

* * *

“Kim Sunghan’s stats can grow to S-grade if the conditions are met?”

Yoohyun looked incredulous.

“Mr. Kim Sunghan was originally capable of S-grade awakening. That’s why a condition popped up, saying that he met the minimum growth requirement.”

When I told him the growth conditions, Yoohyun’s eyes darkened.

“There’s nothing we can do right now. It’s difficult as befits an S-grade growth condition. The most likely possibility is an SS-grade monster raid, but there aren’t any in the country, and there are bounties overseas–”

“Yoohyun.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m here, me.”

I said, pointing to myself. Yoohyun tilted his head in confusion.

“Why Hyung?”

Why, why.

“Double attack skill effect. And sharing is possible too. Although I have to make contact. If I give Mr. Kim Sunghan S-grade equipment and add Yerim’s buff, it’s definitely possible to one-shot an A-grade boss.”

Yoohyun, who was repeating my words with a slightly dazed expression, frowned.

“Hyung, are you crazy?”

“That’s too harsh for Hyung.”

“What would Hyung say if a stat F with no combat or defense skills said they were going into an A-grade dungeon?”

“Um, that guy is completely crazy?”

He must have become tired of living, quick suicide is enough even with a D-grade dungeon, it’s a waste of money, will they even let him in, he seems like a nuisance, etc.

Yoohyun crossed his arms and looked at me as if to say, ‘See?’ Still, my case is different.

“I have a B-grade barrier skill.”

Thanks to the earring item.

“And if about two experienced S-grade hunters stick close to protect me, there won’t be any problems in a lower-level A-grade dungeon, right? I’ve already received an answer from Ms. Moon Hyuna that she can help.”

I didn’t say the details and just asked if she could help me raid a dungeon for about three days, and she readily agreed. She said she was free for a while because the dungeon raid had just ended. Unfortunately, Riet wasn’t in the country.

“Yerim has also completed 10 dungeon raids without any accidents, so she can enter an A-grade dungeon, and Peace has grown up. I think it’s enough if you add you, Kim Sunghan, and a few other A-grades.”

It was a luxurious team with four S-grades, so inefficient that it was dirty to enter a mere A-grade dungeon. This kind of waste is unheard of, but it’s for a new S-grade.

“It’s an unusual case, so I have to get permission for the raid, but the association wouldn’t refuse, right? There was the last incident too.”

“…Even if it’s an A-grade dungeon, what about the boss? Kim Sunghan’s attack skill is a melee skill. It’s a diving attack after a running start, so you can’t withstand it with stat F. You said that skill sharing is only possible with contact, so you can’t use a normal barrier skill either.”

“There’s this for that problem.”

When I explained while holding out the bracelet, Yoohyun had a face that he had nothing to say. Our Myungwoo is a perplexing existence in many ways.

After that, we had to go back and forth for a long time, such as whether to disclose all the skills, what’s new now, the effect is too good, it’s useless anyway, you can’t not use it for the rest of your life, etc., but in the end, I won.

I heard that Yerim and Myungwoo also said I was crazy, and Kim Sunghan refused, but I got over it all safely.

…Why is the process of entering more difficult than the dungeon raid?