WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈

Chapter 122: As Expected, Cleaning Is Best Done with Water (2)

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My mind went completely blank, but my body moved quickly. I hurriedly picked up Peep, turned on the TV, and raised the volume. Then I wrapped Peep in a towel. I didn't know whether there were surveillance cameras, but what would I say if I got caught? “A baby bird somehow got in here” wouldn't work when photos were already all over social media.

- Peep peep peep peep!

Wrapped in the towel and held in my arms, Peep began crying. It was demanding food. I couldn't let anyone find out I could use my inventory. After looking around, I pulled the blanket over myself.

But seriously, why was Peep here? Was this a dream?

I had taken out nearly all of Peep's mana stones at home, so there were only a few left in my inventory. I fed it two D-Class mana stones, but Peep still chirped miserably.

“Peep, hang on a little. No, but are you really Peep?”

- Peep peep peep! Peeep, peep! Peep peep!

It must have been really hungry. But the only mana stones left in my inventory were S-Class ones meant to charge Grace. I'd have to go get some mana stones somehow...

- Peeep...

“P-Peep?!”

The baby bird that had been chirping went limp with a sound like air leaking out. What, what was wrong? Hoping it was only hunger, I pulled out an S-Class mana stone. Though it still had no strength, it began eagerly biting into the stone.

- Peep.

After finishing the entire S-Class mana stone, Peep plopped down and fluttered its wings.

- Peep!

“…Don't blame me if you get sick.”

- Peep peep!

It had perked up and was chirping quite contentedly. Whew. At least it was safe.

“Peep, how did you really get here?”

- Peep?

“Don't tell me you got some kind of spatial movement skill.”

Just in case, I used Sprout, but its status window was the same as before. It was possible that it had gained another skill besides an optimized initial skill, like Peace's Juvenile Transformation, but a spatial movement skill was too random.

‘If this really is Peep, everyone must be shocked that it suddenly vanished. I should've made a Peep Appearance Contract.’

I had expected this even less than Seong Hyeonje suddenly appearing. More importantly, I couldn't keep it with me, and I couldn't exactly leave it with Noah, either.

- Peep!

Maybe because it was full, Peep, which had been nodding off, suddenly sprang up and bit my sleeve with its beak. It held on tight as if it didn't want to let go, then started dozing again.

…Well, I had no choice.

‘I’ll have to ask Seong Hyeonje.’

I could say that he had secretly brought Peep here for me. Seriously, Peep, what did it think this place was, coming all the way here? I didn't know how it had crossed such a distance, and I was worried, but at the same time, I was touched. Peep really was no ordinary bird. It would be a problem if it kept doing this, though.

- Peep peep.

Peep was paddling around in the children's pool. Even though the water was shallow, it was deep for Peep, but it swam quite well.

‘It really feels like I'm on vacation.’

Under the clear sky, I was the only guest at the infinity pool that seemed to connect to the sea. There were only hotel employees and guards who were also there to watch me. When I said I wanted to relax alone, they had actually reserved the entire place for me. I hadn't gone into the water, but simply sitting back and admiring the view lifted my mood.

‘Is this why people spend so much money on trips?’

In my case, I had been kidnapped, but still. The treatment had already been good, but after I became cooperative, it had grown even more luxurious... On top of that, since this was forced rest, I didn't feel very guilty about the work I had left behind in Korea. It wasn't my fault.

“Maybe I'll visit the bar tonight.”

They said the atmosphere and night view were incredible. It would be a little strange to turn off Poison Resistance just to have a drink, though. I wished Peace and Blue had come too. I wasn't here to have fun, but it was still a shame.

“Here's your mango juice~”

The hotel employee handed me a glass of juice in a cheerful voice. That voice sounded young. When I turned my head, I saw a short female employee smiling brightly.

“Peep really is here.”

“…Excuse me?”

“It's me. Yerim.”

The moment I heard the whispered words, the employee's appearance changed. Her clothes stayed the same, but she was no longer a short adult woman. She became a middle school girl. Wearing glasses with no lenses, Yerim grinned.

“Myeongu made this item overnight. If you use it, you look like the person you designate. The conditions for use are tricky, and it doesn't work on anyone who has recognized your original appearance even once, though.”

Yerim fiddled with her glasses as she spoke. It was a convenient item, but the conditions were difficult?

“…What about the hotel employee whose appearance you borrowed?”

“We put them somewhere safe. They can't be awake.”

Thank goodness. So they hadn't killed them. Items that stole another person's appearance often required the target to die. I knew Myeongu would never make something like that, but I had been worried just in case.

“Should we get out of here right away? Want me to use a teleportation skill?”

Yerim spoke quietly as she watched the people around us. Normally, there was no reason to stay here any longer. We had been trying to catch the Korean Association, not overseas human traffickers. But...

“No. I need to stay a few more days.”

Yerim tilted her head at my answer.

“For days? Don't tell me, mister, you're taking this chance to get some real rest...”

“I am resting somehow, but there's another reason. Anyway, it worked out that you came. I was about to call you. I need your help too.”

“My help? Should I wipe this place out?”

Our Yerim could be so violent. We were going to wipe it out, but still.

“Have you practiced your skill a lot?”

“Yes. I can handle water well now. It's nothing compared to the Lake Dungeon, though.”

“Nothing? Your point of comparison is a Mythic-Class skill. Perfectly mastering it is nearly impossible in the first place. Most people couldn't even draw out the tiniest bit of it. I couldn't either.”

Unless someone had innate talent like Yerim, they wouldn't be able to imitate it after using the skill only once. When I told her she had worked hard, that she was amazing and had done a great job, she smiled shyly.

“I'll stay nearby as much as possible, so call me whenever you need help.”

“Instead, since you've come all this way, go sightseeing or something. Isn't there a Disneyland around here?”

“It closed down.”

It had already closed? That was the harm caused by dungeon breaks. The Statue of Liberty had probably been cut in half around this time too.

“Oh, the Guildmaster came with me too.”

“What?”

Yoohyun? Startled, I looked toward the employees, but every face was unfamiliar.

“What about the work in Korea?”

“We decided to go with the story where the younger brother personally comes to rescue his older brother~”

That worked too. Yerim picked up the empty glass and left. Where was Yoohyun, anyway?

* * *

More and more guests began arriving at the hotel. Surprisingly, there weren't many Hunter guildmasters. Most were influential non-Awakened people. The Magical Beast Rearing skill required dealings with other guilds, if only because of the problem of obtaining baby monsters. Identifying non-Awakened people also required the troublesome process of scouting them and helping them awaken.

For Hunter guilds whose main activity was clearing dungeons, it would be quietly troublesome to manage. Rather than recruit someone into the guild, it was easier to pay appropriate compensation and leave baby monsters with them. That was also a large part of why I had been able to remain neutral and establish a rearing facility.

‘Things will change if my other skills become known, though.’

If all my skills were revealed and I went up for auction, would I get to see every famous S-Class Hunter in the world? That disaster couldn't be allowed to happen.

“It's surprising that business is conducted at such an ordinary banquet. Human trafficking and auctions bring darker scenes to mind.”

“It doesn't suit this day and age.”

Gregson spoke with a kind smile.

“If you desire a more traditional atmosphere, we can prepare one for you.”

“No, that's all right. I prefer modern things.”

Would a traditional atmosphere mean shackles around my ankles? I'd have to look half-dead and wear ragged clothes while a slave trader cracked a whip. Modern was definitely better than traditional.

“More importantly, I have a suggestion.”

I spoke as I sat across from the slave trader. He wore a generous expression, as if telling me to say whatever I wanted.

“I would like you to give me a couple of veto rights.”

“Veto rights?”

“Yes. I may have accepted my current situation, but I still don't want to go to just anyone. Given the nature of my skill, if I'm dragged away by force, its efficiency won't be very good either.”

I needed to feel at ease to raise children with care.

“Isn't it a form of entertainment for the merchandise to evaluate its buyers? But since they are all people I'll be meeting for the first time today, we can evaluate prospective buyers for the purpose of using a veto right through items.”

“You mean you will evaluate them through items?”

“These days, items matter more than money, don't they? We can see their ability to acquire valuable items, as well as their boldness in putting them forward without hesitation.”

“They won't put forward high-grade items.”

“Of course, they won't really give them to me. It's a kind of performance. Now, please keep listening.”

Convincing Gregson wasn't difficult. It wasn't a bad proposal. Quite the opposite, if he didn't know what I was really planning.

I deserved a little cut for selling off my human rights, didn't I?

* * *

“Is everything prepared?”

“Of course.”

Seong Hyeonje replied while glancing slightly toward the sea. Beyond the large glass window, the sea seemed close enough to touch. It rippled quietly beneath the slightly overcast sky. I hoped it wouldn't rain tonight.

My auction party was tonight. I had volunteered to be bait and had not only accepted Seong Hyeonje's proposal but made it bigger myself, yet I still felt a deep regret over what the hell I was doing. I felt like swearing.

“…Deduct two favors. One won't be enough to make up for this.”

“These days, it seems unfairly treated people make the rounds of pets and training equipment. You looked like you were having a wonderful time.”

No, Peep was just cute when it played. When had he seen that too? Ugh, how long had it been since I promised myself that if I regressed, I would live quietly and comfortably? Where was my life even going? I wanted to ask God.

- Peep.

Peep fluttered in my arms. As I stroked its round head, a man who looked to be in his mid-to-late thirties approached us. People usually couldn't, or wouldn't, approach when Seong Hyeonje was around. Who was this?

“Hyung.”

The voice sounded different, but I recognized him immediately from that one word. Then the man's appearance changed. It was Yoohyun. Seong Hyeonje also noticed quickly and raised the corner of his mouth.

“So the young master was here too.”

“Are you really going to keep up this ridiculous nonsense?”

Yoohyun didn't even look at Seong Hyeonje as he spoke. The glasses suited him surprisingly well.

“You're not a hotel employee, so who are you?”

“An auction participant.”

“You really caught someone and changed your appearance.”

“Hunter Noah helped me.”

With Noah, who had a Stealth skill, cooperating, quietly kidnapping one person wouldn't be difficult. Especially when both of them were S-Class Hunters.

“You two work remarkably well together. Keep getting along so nicely.”

“Stop talking nonsense. We were originally going to get out at an appropriate time. But now there's an auction.”

“If things go wrong, bid on me.”

Yerim had enthusiastically said, “I want to buy you, mister!” but she hadn't even paid off all her debt yet. Since Seong Hyeonje had to leave midway through, it was fortunate that Yoohyun had come as a participant. I would run immediately even if some other bastard won the bid, but it would still feel disgusting.

“…I should have stopped you from volunteering as bait in the first place.”

“Hey, I don't have a scratch on me. I've been eating and sleeping well.”

I was completely fine, just as promised, but my younger brother's frown didn't ease. Well, things like this could happen in life... Not normally, maybe.

“Don't be so stiff, young master. Why not enjoy the situation?”

“If it were your family in this kind of... Never mind.”

If it were Seong Hyeonje, he wouldn't merely enjoy it. He would make the whole situation even bigger.

“Calm down and let's have lunch together.”

The seafood around here was delicious and didn't smell fishy. Once the job was over, we could go sightseeing too. I should make good use of that card's limit while I had it.

* * *

Using the excuse that I needed errands run, I called Yerim over too, and we spent a pleasant time together until evening. My younger brother grumbled now and then, but he seemed to have cheered up a lot. Maybe after returning home, I should take a trip with the other kids too.

Soon the sun set, and night arrived with the city lights glittering. In the magnificent hotel banquet hall, I took the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight. As you already know, I am the special item up for auction today.

“To all participants, I will conduct my own auction.”

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