WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈
Chapter 204: Gaze (2)
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“We’re off!”
Kyaow!
Yerim raised one arm high, and Blue raised one wing as if copying her. After their spirited farewell, Yerim and Blue disappeared beyond the gate.
After a brief delay, the defense-type Hunters crossed first, followed by the rest of the team.
For the next few days, Yoohyun, Yerim, and Peace would all be gone. The garden would be quiet even if I went outside. The others were still around, but I already felt a little lonely.
“The final designs for the Peace and Peep plushies should be ready by this evening. The Public Relations Department is handling them for now, but the head of Legal Affairs is strongly pushing to create an entirely new department.”
Seok Simyeong spoke as we walked out of the dungeon building together.
Since Peace was an existing monster species, they could not stop knockoffs. They could not use the name Peace, but there was no way to stop someone from selling them as Flame-Horned Lion cubs. Peep, on the other hand, was a sort of mutant and would be registered as a one-of-a-kind monster, so it would be managed even more strictly than Peace.
“So they plan to focus on products that feature Peace and Peep as a set. Not just plushies, but other character merchandise too.”
“Other character merchandise?”
“Yes. Head Kim seems determined to make anything they want... They said Little Rok, whom you posted yesterday, was cute too, so Breaker Guild has received a request to make a sprawled Little Rok plushie. There was also a suggestion to open a character merchandise shop in the building by the rearing facility, along with a cafe.”
Seok Simyeong said it would be fine if they put it on the first floor of the commercial space, where outsiders could come and go.
It was empty, so I had thought they ought to fill it with something. He told me to ask the Public Relations Department and Head Kim directly for the details.
Haeyeon’s A-Class Hunters were waiting outside.
I got into the car with Seok Simyeong.
“By the way, Team Leader Seok, Yoohyun has fan sites, right?”
The question suddenly came to me amid our conversation. There had to be some, even if I could not find them. Yoohyun was definitely popular.
“Of course.”
I knew it. There was no way he did not.
“Could you tell me the address? I couldn’t find it.”
At my words, Seok Simyeong made an oddly ambiguous expression.
“Well, as far as I know, the largest one is members-only.”
“Members-only? How much is the membership fee? Do they give you a membership card too?”
An older man I had worked with before once told me how his daughter had lost the membership card she got after paying to join some celebrity fan club and caused a huge fuss. Seok Simyeong’s expression grew even stranger.
“Director Han, you won’t be able to join.”
“What? Why not? I’m family.”
“There is a rather complicated history. The Public Relations Department manages that side of things.”
A complicated history? What was that supposed to mean?
Seeing my confusion, Seok Simyeong advised me not to concern myself with things like that and simply forget it.
“And... since you’ll be going to Japan soon, I should tell you in advance that the Guildmaster and Hunter Park Yerim are popular in Japan as well.”
“Japan? Is it because they’re S-Class Hunters? Still, Japanese Hunters aren’t that well known here, so that’s surprising.”
Until Ranking Matches began, even popular Hunters were mostly known within their own countries. After the Ranking Matches, however, top Hunters had become world-famous regardless of nationality.
“...Everything is being managed. Please just let it go.”
He repeated that they had checked everything, so I should not worry about it. Why, exactly?
“If they cherish the kids, then they’re good people. I’d like to get to know them, even if it’s only online. Isn’t that possible?”
“They are good people. But it can feel a little burdensome when family members act like they know them.”
Was it burdensome? I did not really understand, but if he said so... Still, it was disappointing. Could I not at least thank them? And ask them to keep supporting our kids in the future. An S-Class Hunter’s public image was important too, so showing appreciation seemed like a good idea. Why was he telling me not to?
Still puzzled, I texted Song Taewon.
[Manager Song Taewon, Hunter Park Yerim has just entered the dungeon as well. I’ll stay put and behave until the kids return, so please don’t worry. It should be quiet for a while, so I hope you can get off work early and rest well too. Have a good afternoon.]
Yerim would be out soon, and Yoohyun would not take long either. Until then, I should quietly handle work inside the rearing facility. As I was about to put away my phone, I sent another message.
[Do you have any animals you like?]
If you do, please tell me. One, two, maybe three species would be ideal. I added that to the message for Song Taewon. Since he was a melee type who was not particularly picky about elemental affinities, it would be easy to match one to an animal he liked. A-Class ones would not be especially difficult to obtain, either.
I wanted to get him an S-Class monster, but that would not be easy. Even an A-Class one would help with raids and make things more convenient.
“Information about the Japanese dungeon situation will begin leaking out tonight. It’s basically a Korea-Japan showdown, so things will heat up quickly.”
Seok Simyeong said this, unable to suppress the upward curl of his lips.
Sports had already become less prominent, and now there would be a Korea-Japan match between Hunters. It would catch fire in no time. The thought made me smile a little too.
“Our Yerim is going to become incredibly famous.”
Could time not pass a little faster? I was already looking forward to it.
* * *
Flames spread broadly.
They burned through thick undergrowth and trees, blackened boulders, and even melted them as they surged forward. Forest and hills were stripped bare in an instant, and the monsters lurking within were swept up in crimson-black waves.
Kiiit!
A huge lizard covered in damp moss leaped up to flee the flames. Behind the creature, which was trying to escape to unharmed ground, appeared a red-furred lion. The Flame-Horned Lion crossed the burning forest at ease, then slammed the lizard’s body down with a clawed forepaw.
Before it could resist, a spear made of flame pierced its head.
Crunch.
The monster’s body turned to ash in an instant, and flames began spreading once again.
The ordinary monsters on the first floor of the dungeon were swept away by the overwhelming firepower, too busy fleeing to do anything else. They did not even have a chance to bare their teeth at the intruders.
The air was thick with the smell of burning, and ash drifted like snow. The heat rising from below made the entire sky shimmer.
At the end of its sweep across the first floor, moving at a speed little different from a full sprint, a pair of enormous rock walls appeared. The walls faced each other from a distance, and faint cracks spread across them.
Crack.
The walls split open, and heads covered in scales the same color as the rock emerged. Twin snakes with only their eye colors differing fully revealed themselves from within the walls. They were the first floor’s boss monsters.
Grrr.
The Flame-Horned Lion growled low, baring its fangs.
The twin snakes were troublesome boss monsters that would regenerate unless both were killed at the same time. Since they avoided getting too close to each other, even an S-Class Hunter would struggle to deal with them alone, no matter how capable they were.
“Blue Willow Leaves.”
Leaves appeared, concentrated toward the snake on the right. Without another word, Han Yoohyun kicked off from his mount’s back and stepped onto a blue leaf. Peace also began moving without needing a command. Flames wrapped around its whole body as it charged at the snake on the left.
Hiss!
The enormous snake raised its head high, scattering poisonous energy. Its bright yellow eyes glared at the human suspended in the air on the leaves. Just as it tensed its long neck to swallow that tiny human in one bite, Han Yoohyun vanished.
An acceleration skill. It had merely increased his speed, but to the snake’s eyes, it was as though he had disappeared. Unable to keep up with its enemy’s movement, the confused snake felt a hand land on its snout. Only then did the human come into view.
His one red eye curved in a faint smile.
The poisonous energy filling the area could not touch Han Yoohyun. The flames consumed it before it could reach him.
He gripped down hard enough to crush the scales. Flames gathered in Han Yoohyun’s other hand.
Crack.
In an instant, they formed a long spearhead and drove into the snake’s head. Like a needle piercing cheese, it passed through smoothly without resistance and buried itself to the end.
Whoosh!
It vaporized blood, melted flesh, and raged wildly. The huge snake’s body collapsed. From its head to more than half its body had burned away and melted, leaving only the rest to writhe. It struggled to regenerate, only to be swallowed by the flames again and again.
Han Yoohyun lightly landed on the ground and glanced to his left.
“You’re slow.”
As if Peace had heard his mutter, it gave a loud growl and enlarged itself while fighting the snake on the left. Then it bit down on the snake’s head, pinned its body, and tore it away in one powerful pull.
Crack.
The snake’s head was ripped off.
At the same time, the snake on the right stopped regenerating. Its remaining tail burned away completely. A fairly large mana stone remained behind, and Irin popped out and snatched it up in its mouth. It glanced once at its owner, and when Han Yoohyun made no move to stop it, swallowed it whole.
Once the boss monsters died, a gate leading to the second floor appeared. Han Yoohyun did not immediately go on to the next floor. Instead, he sat on a rock.
Peace, reduced to its subadult form, approached and settled beside him. Han Yoohyun took a bowl from his inventory, set it down, and poured mana potion into it. Then he replenished his own depleted mana as well.
After Peace finished the mana potion, he took out a water bottle and poured it some water. Han Yoohyun also took a few swallows.
He considered eating dried rations, but instead took out a jar of dried fruit. A gentle smile spread over Han Yoohyun’s face as he looked at the small glass jar. It was entirely different from the smile he had worn while hunting monsters earlier.
“I already miss my brother.”
Grrr.
Peace rumbled as if it agreed. The dried fruit seemed too precious to eat, so he only looked at it. His brother would come to meet him again this time. Then they would return home together.
“Should I leave myself a little injured again?”
Kyarrr.
Peace pricked up its ears, then looked down at its forepaws. There was no chance of getting hurt, and they were perfectly clean. It was easy enough for a Flame-Horned Lion to use its own flames to burn away dirt.
Still, by the time they left the dungeon, its once-beautiful fur would surely be tangled and dirty.
If it truly hated being washed with water, even Han Yoohyun, its owner, would not easily be able to touch it. That was even more true for someone with F-Class stats. It was just being spoiled and putting on an act.
The flames spread around them gradually died down. The heat that had warmed the air also subsided greatly.
After hesitating, Han Yoohyun took out just one piece of dried fruit and put it in his mouth. It was a little sour and sweet. Rather than chewing and swallowing it, he simply held it in his mouth like candy.
For him, every day lately had been comfortable and sweet. There were things that bothered him, quite a few of them, in fact. But he was satisfied enough to endure them.
Of course, anxiety lurked deep inside him. Sometimes his chest would grow cold for no reason, leaving him restless. Even so, he wished days like these would continue for as long as possible.
Just like this. With a real home, someone waiting for him, and someone who loved him without reserve.
“...I miss my brother.”
Whine.
Perhaps Peace felt the same, because it gave a slightly mournful whine. The gaze he reserved for the most lovable, cute, pretty, wonderful thing in the world. Even Han Yoohyun found it incredible that he had given that up for three years. Perhaps having once grown apart had only made it more precious.
Resting now felt like a waste of time. He chewed and swallowed what was in his mouth, then got to his feet. He was not very tired yet.
Just as he was about to pass through the gate to the second floor.
“...!”
He felt a gaze.
Han Yoohyun reflexively drew his weapon and scanned his surroundings. Peace, having sensed something too, pricked up its ears.
But there was nothing in sight. No monsters, only barren land without even a blade of grass remaining.
Was it his imagination? Yet something touched at his sharpened senses again and again.
Han Yoohyun clenched his teeth. It was irritating.
“...Irin.”
The Spirit of Fire let its body flow apart into flames. Leaves spread out and began burning red. The spirit’s fire searched through the surroundings as though licking over every inch.
The moment it caught something, that something disappeared.
Han Yoohyun’s brow narrowed slightly.
‘Could it be related to the system?’
Surely nothing had happened to his brother. Inside a dungeon, there was no way to know. Han Yoohyun immediately withdrew the skill and passed on to the second floor.
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