WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈
Chapter 186: Mr. Seong's Birthday (4)
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“This makes three times. Will I get a proper answer this time?”
Seong Hyeonje spoke as though he were being generous, as if he were giving me a choice. Even though he had been pressing me for an answer.
“I believe I already explained.”
“I let it go that day.”
He had suspected me but had not dug too deeply. Golden eyes looked down at me as if asking whether I would run away again. The salty sea breeze, cool for summer, suddenly felt much stronger.
The breeze kept lightly stirring Seong Hyeonje’s hair. Pale moonlight spilled over his light-colored hair. The two blended together, making it look silver at a glance. As always, he waited for my answer with a relaxed, unhurried expression.
Was it arrogance? But the damned Sesung Guildmaster had both the right and ability to be that way. He was not putting on airs. It was simply natural to him.
Because he was that exceptional.
On the other hand, I...
“...You said you would treat me well. I suppose that was just empty talk.”
“That is why I am only asking with words.”
How kind of him. How should I make an excuse? What excuse could get me out of this? Just as I unconsciously swallowed my dry spit, Yoohyun’s arm reached around from behind me.
“Hyung.”
My younger brother pulled me close, as if shielding me.
“I’m here.”
His voice was gentle, unlike before, when it had been sharp. At that voice, the anxiety gripping my whole body loosened.
My Yoohyun had nothing to be ashamed of. And I had told him myself that I trusted him. He had accepted it. It was okay to rely on him. My younger brother would not abandon me.
He never had.
“...Mr. Seong.”
Half leaning against Yoohyun, I looked at Seong Hyeonje again. His expression had not changed. Nor had the gaze looking down at me.
How far could I go?
That thought suddenly came to mind.
It was true that Seong Hyeonje was generous with me. I was valuable, fairly interesting, and useful. More importantly, though, I was generally harmless to him.
Of course, I could become threatening if I fell into someone else’s hands. But he was not such a coward that he would destroy a useful item first out of fear that it might fall into another person’s hands. Even if it were taken from him entirely, he was the sort who would think of ways to retrieve it intact.
He even seemed to think I was already half in his possession. Or that he could have me whenever he wanted. That was probably why he tolerated so much. Like a puppy raised at home nipping at his heel. Nothing more than cute.
“But since you want it so badly, I’ll tell you the truth.”
However, if that puppy had already finished teething.
If it had bitten deep without him noticing.
“It is related to you.”
As though he had already guessed, he gave no particular reaction.
“It is related to that sense of familiarity you have, and your boredom.”
At last, the look in his eyes changed. The habitual smile in his eyes turned cold. I reached out and gripped one of Yoohyun’s arms.
Even with Fear Resistance blocking it, I could clearly feel that I was standing right on the edge. I could step forward, or retreat.
Maybe it would be better to keep bowing to Seong Hyeonje. He was absurdly capable, and as long as we were on the same side, he was dependable and enormously helpful. Things had been fairly easy so far. If I backed down now, they would remain easy.
There was no need to provoke him. We had a pretty decent relationship. Even if he recovered his memories and lost interest in me, my skills were useful, so he would still treat me decently. Adding in his relationship with the unfilial bastards, perhaps not much would change from now.
So there was no need to do this.
Yet.
“You cannot remember it, can you? Because I took it. When I visited your house, those memories that disappeared then. No, not just memories. It was you yourself from then. I needed it to combine the mana stones. And do not think about taking it back. It is only a very small part, and it is already mine.”
I even tore you apart with my teeth and swallowed you. What are you going to do about it?
Clang!
Sparks flew before my eyes. Seong Hyeonje’s hand moved, and Yoohyun raised his sword to block it. The blade of his long sword lay diagonally across in front of me. The hand reaching for me withdrew again without having done much damage.
Yoohyun had stopped him, but those golden eyes remained fixed on me. Their color deepened sharply. It felt as though they might pierce right through me.
“Are we fighting? My skill cooldown has just ended, after all.”
I spoke as if nothing were wrong. What would he do if I was no longer harmless?
Thankfully, my voice came out steady, but my thoughts were a mess. If Seong Hyeonje turned away now, that would be the end of it. If he tried to take back the mana stone without showing me any more consideration, stopping him would be difficult.
Everything I had built up until now would become a mess.
“Why bare your teeth so suddenly?”
“My neck started hurting from constantly bowing. You are supposed to raise your head and stretch once in a while.”
This felt like something pointless. Even if I had tried to brush it aside, he probably would have accepted it. But for how long? I did not want to keep sitting obediently at Seong Hyeonje’s feet forever. I had already experienced more than enough of watching someone’s mood with the thought drilled into me that if they decided it was over, then it was over.
“I am not yours. I might bite like this again, or I might be the first to cut ties.”
My voice trembled a little this time. Yoohyun’s arm around me tightened.
“And I might be able to help with that sense of familiarity. Not help that you take for yourself, but help that I give.”
Seong Hyeonje’s mouth parted slightly. He looked as though he were about to say something, then closed it again. Then he laughed soundlessly.
“Truly... an unexpected birthday gift.”
“...A birthday gift? Well, I am not particularly sorry for giving you hell on your birthday.”
Originally, I had only intended to hand over a bribe and leave. But life did not always go the way one wanted. I looked Seong Hyeonje straight in the eye as if asking what he would do about it.
I knew about the version of him he could not remember. That alone would be unpleasant, but I had also said that a part of him had been taken without his knowledge.
...Had I gone too far? It felt like I had picked a fight too openly.
“To be honest, Han Yujin, I do want to take out the mana stone in your chest and examine it right now.”
The instant he said that, Irin climbed onto Yoohyun’s sword. The lizard on the blade flicked out flames.
“I also feel like using somewhat unpleasant means to hear a more detailed explanation.”
Those unpleasant means flashed through my mind.
“The fact that you are talking so much means you do not really intend to do it.”
“That is because I care for you very much, Han Yujin. I have told you that several times.”
“That caring only applies when I am yours anyway, does it not? I am not your property, and I do not intend to become it.”
“People’s thoughts can change at any time.”
“Mine will not. So what will you do?”
“Well, what should I do?”
Seong Hyeonje sighed, wearing a troubled expression.
“I want to lay hands on you, yet at the same time, I do not want to.”
A chain gave a faint rattle. He truly looked deep in thought. Seeing it made my heart pound. A small laugh slipped out too. So I was at least enough to make him hesitate.
“Whether I will have to avoid you from now on depends on this, so I would appreciate it if you made a decision quickly.”
“...Avoid me? I do not like that either.”
“Playing tag might be fun in its own way, but you would get bored quickly.”
“Oh dear.”
He spread his hands slightly. Then he drew one arm inward, bowed his head, and offered a courteous greeting. Given the way he was dressed, it felt like watching a scene from an old classic film.
“How could a mere S-Class dare harm Han Yujin?”
“...Isn’t it about time you got tired of that?”
“Whenever I am about to, someone newly reminds me of it.”
Seong Hyeonje smiled with an uncharacteristically innocent expression and took two steps back.
“Your skill cooldown has not ended yet, has it?”
“You are right. I must have misread.”
So he had known. Still, sharing double the effects of attack skills was not my only way to deal with Seong Hyeonje. My Kid Is So Amazing was still available. It increased skill effects and stats according to the number of intelligent beings nearby who heard the Keyword.
There were about fifty spectators, conveniently enough. It would not reach the maximum of one hundred percent, but fifty percent should be enough. It was a skill that seemed easy to expose, so I wanted to save it if possible, but I would have to use it if things went wrong.
Seong Hyeonje watched me answer calmly for a moment, then raised the corner of his mouth.
“I have truly never been the one to bow first.”
“It is new, and nice. Though if you change your mind, you will immediately wring my neck, will you not?”
I was still walking a tightrope. I had merely gone a little farther forward. I could fall at any time.
“Still, I have done something against my nature, so I need to let it out.”
Before I could even tell him to wait a moment at the ominous feeling.
KRA-BOOM!!
A terrifying explosion sounded from below the ship. I could tell because I was still connected to Seong Hyeonje through the Teacher Skill. That man had figured out at least a little of the method of controlling mana through electrolysis before I fainted.
The huge ship rocked like a sailboat caught in a storm. As arranged in advance, people evacuated to the forge.
“How many birthday gifts are you going to take? There will not be any next year!”
“It is not even proper yet. I will need much more practice.”
As he said, its power was definitely weak. The mana did not seem to be properly mixed, either.
Even so, it was enough to sink an enormous cruise ship.
Boom! Fwoom, boom!
Explosions went off in succession, and flames began to swallow the hull. The deck was splitting apart as well.
“Hyung, we should get away. We can handle the blast itself, but there is no reason to get caught in it.”
“Oh, okay.”
Then a familiar voice came from overhead.
“Uncle!”
It was Yerim.
“Why did you not evacuate?”
“I thought I would be fine if I floated in the air beforehand. I was really high up. Hey, Han Yoohyun! I will catch you.”
“No need.”
Using Blue Willow Leaves, Yoohyun jumped into the air with me in his arms. Seong Hyeonje used an item as well. It did not seem to grant flight, but it appeared to be an item that let him float in midair. They were usually single-use and wildly expensive in exchange for their effect, but that man had plenty of money.
...Enough money to smash a cruise ship to pieces to vent his frustration. It was such a waste that I felt like crying.
Screeeech.
Amid the continuing explosions, the hull twisted with a horrible sound. Another enormous explosion burst over the sinking ship.
“...Could you stop already?”
“That was not me just now. It appears the mana that should have mixed into the hydrogen explosion has gone berserk a beat late.”
“What?”
Before I could ask what he meant, a mass of hot air swept over us. All four of us were instantly caught in something nearly like a whirlwind.
“Ah, seriously, that damned man.”
It was a beach somewhere. Yerim had a flight skill, but even Yoohyun and Mr. Seong had difficulty enduring the rushing gale in midair. As a result, we were blown a long way without being able to get our bearings.
Out in the middle of the sea, unable to tell one direction from another, with our phones dead from the raging electricity. Mr. Seong, who had elemental resistance, happened not to have a phone. Even if he had, there was a high chance communication would have been impossible.
In the end, we had no choice but to roughly find our direction by the stars and head toward land. Seong Hyeonje had no flight skill, and Yoohyun’s Blue Willow Leaves consumed too much mana to use continuously. It was not simple flight, but materializing leaves made from mana, so it was difficult to maintain for long.
Meanwhile, ordinary flight skills consumed relatively little mana, so we gave all the mana potions to Yerim. The three of us then floated in the sea while holding onto a rope, and Yerim pulled us toward land.
“Fortunately, it is Korea.”
Yerim said this as she looked at the sign of a closed seafood restaurant. Yoohyun, Mr. Seong, and I naturally looked like drowned rats. Irin, who had sat on top of Yoohyun’s head the whole time because it disliked touching water, slapped its tail around.
“I am exhausted. Hey, Mr. Seong, did you really have to cause all that trouble?”
“It was the perfect environment to test it.”
Mr. Seong, whose name I did not even want to say, shamelessly replied. I should have left him in the middle of the sea. As I dripped seawater and tried to climb onto the road, I slipped. Yoohyun quickly caught me.
“Are you okay?”
“...Honestly, I would be lying if I said I was. What time is it even? I did not have a proper dinner either. Is there anywhere open?”
I needed to call Haeyeon Guild or the Association too. But all the scattered seafood restaurants in sight were closed.
“There is a convenience store with its lights on over there!”
Yerim, who had been looking around from the air, said. What a relief. First, we could go to the convenience store, borrow a phone, and fill our stomachs a little.
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