WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈
Chapter 192: Director (2)
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Whoosh.
A knife flew through the night air. Lucas, an A-Class Hunter, deftly twisted his leg and let the knife aimed at his ankle slide beneath his boot. The blade merely grazing it carved a long gouge into the heel of the A-Class equipment.
Crunch!
The knife sank deep into the wall, leaving a large wave-shaped crack behind it.
“Damn it!”
Lucas thrust out a hand. The instant a transparent barrier appeared before it, a man who had rushed forward in a blur threw a punch.
Booom!
A sound like an explosion rang out. The barrier shattered and vanished. It was an S-Class defensive skill capable of withstanding most attacks from S-Class monsters, yet it broke without putting up any resistance.
Lucas saw the black shadow rippling around the fist inches away and gritted his teeth. He quickly lowered his body, but as if waiting for it, Song Taewon raised a knee and struck Lucas in the upper body.
“Urgh!”
The fist that swept past opened, then dropped sharply to seize the back of Lucas’s head. Pulling Lucas toward himself, Song Taewon drove his other elbow down into Lucas’s spine. The sound of bones breaking rang out loudly. It was an attack that could have killed an ordinary person instantly.
But the body of an A-Class defense-type Hunter only ended up unable to fight.
Song Taewon bound the Hunter, who had not even passed out, with wire and practically threw him onto the ground. Lucas spat blood and glared viciously at the man standing before him.
“All because I hurt some non-Awakened person? It was only a minor injury! In our country, there would be no problem at all!”
“This is Korea.”
Song Taewon spoke matter-of-factly, his blunt voice remaining calm.
“In Korea, Awakened are strictly prohibited from harming non-Awakened people. In addition, resisting arrest and fleeing as a high-ranking Hunter are serious crimes.”
If the injury had only been minor, it could have been resolved through a settlement. But a high-ranking Hunter refusing to follow the law was a serious problem. There were not enough leashes to control them as it was. Once things began to go wrong, the situation could grow beyond control.
Even after Song Taewon’s explanation, Lucas looked wronged.
“We’re the reason they’re alive in the first place! Fuck, they’d already be dead if it weren’t for Hunters!”
Lucas, fuming, fell silent for a moment under the cold gaze directed at him. But it did not last long. When Song Taewon did not so much as twitch, Lucas boldly began hurling insults at him.
“I heard Korea’s Song was a crazy bastard, but you’re even worse in person! What kind of idiot would bow his head to a non-Awakened person when he’s an S-Class Hunter? If you have power, it’s only natural to enjoy it! What kind of high-ranking Hunter acts like a castrated mutt...!”
Boom!
An explosion sounded from nearby. Song Taewon, who had been ignoring the insults, slightly furrowed his brow and turned toward the sound. Fortunately, nothing else followed.
Instead, thud, an unconscious man landed near him. He was another A-Class foreign Hunter.
“They’re alive.”
A voice came from the air. A young man descended, lightly stepping on scattered leaves as though they were stairs. Han Yoohyun landed atop the wall where the knife had embedded itself. His gaze briefly swept over the now-silent Lucas. The A-Class Hunter flinched from that brief glance alone.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
Han Yoohyun lightly nodded, then took out his phone. He pressed a speed dial key. The call connected, and the moment the other person answered, the air around him changed noticeably.
“Yeah, hyung. I just finished.”
Song Taewon watched the untouchable beast transform into a cat rubbing its cheek against its master’s hand.
“I’ll go straight home. Do you need me to pick anything up? No, if you’re sleepy, don’t wait up. It’s fine.”
Perhaps his older brother had said he would wait for him. Han Yoohyun smiled brightly, said it would not take long, then ended the call. He turned back to Song Taewon. The soft expression on his face had already gone blank.
“If you need a ride, I can take you.”
It was surely something Han Yujin had told him to do. Song Taewon briefly declined. The moment Han Yoohyun heard the answer, he climbed down from the wall and walked away. There would be no second offer. The fact that he had offered at all was surprising.
Song Taewon watched Han Yoohyun’s retreating back before taking out his phone. He had received a text.
[You worked hard, Manager Song. You don’t need to reply. If there was any problem with my little brother, I would appreciate it if you could just let me know. You must be tired, so please go home and rest early.]
Song Taewon recalled that night. Seong Hyeonje had held out a phone to Han Yujin. He had not thought that monster, so uniquely outstanding even among beasts, would so easily let Han Yujin stand at his side. It could have been a simple amusement. At any time, he could have capriciously shoved him aside at his feet.
But one thing was certain. He had been the first to step back and offer his hand.
After hesitating, Song Taewon turned off his phone without replying.
“Here, my business card.”
I handed Myeongu the freshly printed business cards that had arrived that morning. Yoohyun, Yerim, and Noah each took one too. Peace and Peep were curious, so I gave them cards as well. Peace quickly lost interest, while Peep carried one off to its bed.
The contact details printed on the cards were for a new work phone. That made three phones in total. I hardly used the first one these days. Should I get rid of it?
“Looks pretty convincing, right? That’s why it feels a little burdensome.”
I had never had a reason to make business cards even before my regression. Having an official-sounding title on them made me feel awkward too.
“You’re Director Han Yujin now?”
“W-Well, for now. That’s what happened.”
Ah, this was so embarrassing. Stop laughing.
“...Why don’t you use this chance to organize the forge’s structure too? Right now, you’re practically leaving it to people volunteering in hopes of getting scraps.”
“There isn’t really any inconvenience yet, but things could get annoying if it piles up. Should I get business cards too?”
“Want the contact details for the place that makes them?”
“Yeah.”
I texted Myeongu the contact details Seok Simyeong had given me. Seok Hayan’s team was already taking care of things on their own, so there was no issue there.
“By the way, Myeongu. You said you didn’t get Shalos’s Bead back?”
It was the damage nullification item he had lent Yoohyun. Apparently, my little brother still had it because Myeongu had said there was no need to return it.
“Yeah. I told him to use it when he’s in danger. He goes into dungeons often.”
“But there aren’t many left now, are there? You can’t make more either...”
It was an item made thanks to an unusual material, an L-Class mana stone called a Dragon Heart. At my words, Myeongu took out a Shalos’s Bead and tossed it to me.
“Keep one too, just in case.”
“...Huh?”
“As a spare. Eunhye might get stolen, or you might run out of mana. Someone around you might be in danger too.”
“But then what about you, Myeongu?”
“I still have one. And I hardly ever have to enter dangerous dungeons. If it comes down to it, I can hide in the forge.”
Still, this was a world where anything could happen. An S-Class dungeon break could suddenly occur, or a high-ranking Hunter could attack. It could not have been easy to give away all but one of such a valuable item, one that was practically an extra life.
“...If you’re looking after Yoohyun too, I just feel even worse.”
“What are you feeling bad for? Besides, you can’t manage without your little brother. You’ll be less anxious now, right? That’s enough. Maybe I should have given it to you sooner.”
His smiling words made the back of my neck grow warm. I didn’t believe in God, but if one existed, perhaps meeting Myeongu was a gift for all the hard times I had endured.
We might never have met. If I had gone straight to the Awakening Center on the day of my regression, I would never have known his face or name.
I was truly glad we had met like this.
“...Myeongu, I can’t manage without you either. You’re precious to me too. Don’t give away the last one. Make sure you keep it.”
Myeongu, and everyone else too. I hoped I wouldn’t lose anyone this time. It might be greedy, but still.
“Don’t worry. Honestly, I’m the safest one. You’re a Director now, Yujin. Stay close to the rearing facility.”
“I want to, really.”
How comfortable would it be to care for the baby monsters and wait for the kids to come back? It would have been even better if Yoohyun and Yerim weren’t Hunters.
Could I lend Shalos’s Bead to Yerim? Her team was gradually coming together, and they would soon be raiding an S-Class dungeon.
“Could I lend the bead to Yerim? At least when she goes dungeon raiding?”
“Do whatever you want. Just take good care of Eunhye.”
“Thanks, really.”
I had kept worrying, but this took a weight off my mind. Of course, it would be best if there was never a need to use the bead. If an S-Class Hunter needed a damage nullification item, the other team members would likely already be in an irreversible situation.
It would be better not to experience anything like that. Truly.
“Pleased to meet you, Director Han Yujin.”
A woman in her midforties, dressed in a refined suit, held out her hand to me.
“Hello, Head Kim Haeyeon of Legal Affairs.”
We lightly bowed our heads to each other as I shook her hand. It was somewhat stiff and large. She had quite a solid build too. I knew she was not Awakened, but she would probably have decent stats if she awakened.
Kim Haeyeon, Haeyeon Guild’s Head of Legal Affairs, sat on the sofa and placed the doll she had brought on the table. It was a Flame-Horned Lion cub plushie. Why a plushie? Had she not come because of the legal contract between the mount rearing facility and Haeyeon?
“It is a counterfeit currently being sold on the market.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Team Leader Seok said that you intend to make official character merchandise.”
“...What? I have considered it, but...”
“What do you think of putting Peace’s paw print on the official tag?”
Kim Haeyeon spoke seriously. A paw print... It did sound cute.
“In raised gold. I think special printing that feels slightly soft to the touch would be good.”
“It does sound nice, but... You didn’t come here to discuss character merchandise, did you?”
“Actually, I did.”
She answered calmly.
“The Legal Affairs Department is handling the other matters, so there is no need for you to worry. I personally like Peace. I only came myself because it was an opportunity to combine work and a hobby.”
She said she normally handled far more serious work herself. In particular, she worked with the legal departments of other guilds on various Hunter-related bills, all within boundaries that did not cross the law.
Apparently, the matter of the rearing facility was not important enough for Kim Haeyeon to get directly involved. She went on to propose making a life-sized Peace plushie that Peep could sit on.
“Small decorative figures or snow globes would be cute too.”
“They would be cute. The adult form is cool too, not just the juvenile form. I’d like merchandise based on the adult form as well.”
We discussed various other monsters. There was also quite a bit of information worth remembering beyond the character merchandise. More than half our conversation was about how cute Peace and Peep were, but our kids really were cute, so it couldn’t be helped.
“That raccoon, Team Leader Seok, seemed quite excited.”
Kim Haeyeon said this as she rose from her seat.
“It seems he found good prey for the first time in a while, so don’t get too swept up in it. He’s someone who likes crafting people’s public images. Still, he’s competent, so accepting his help in moderation will benefit you.”
“Ah, I see. Honestly, being told to manage my appearance so thoroughly is a little...”
“You should do that. Director Han, you will mostly be standing among S-Class Hunters. At the very least, you must avoid looking shabby.”
Th-That was true. My confidence suddenly dropped. ...I really should dress myself up a little, shouldn’t I?
The next day, I practically stayed at Haeyeon to organize the rearing facility. Seok Simyeong’s nagging came as an extra. He interfered so much that I realized even a good voice could become tiresome. Then at last, the time of my appointment with the Sesung Guildmaster approached.
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