WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈

Chapter 40: I'm the Building Owner

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Tap, tap. The sound of rain against the window pleasantly tickled my ears. Everything was peaceful.

As I stretched out on the sofa, listening to Peace purr while pressed snugly against my side, my whole body softened, inside and out.

There was nothing better than having nothing to do.

Both Yoohyun and Yerim were in dungeons. Kim Seonghan had also joined the raid on a newly discovered A-Rank dungeon. I had considered what kind of skill to use on him, but decided to increase his stats first. It would be a waste to miss out on the bonus experience from a new dungeon. I tried using Stat Growth Focus on his stats just in case, and sure enough, it worked.

Myeongu's task of sharpening ten thousand knives was going smoothly too. There had been a small mishap when Myeongu sharpened a thousand in one day and could not even get out of bed the next morning, but we had compromised on four to five hundred a day.

Goblin had not appeared since that day. Even if their identity was unknown, it would not be difficult to find their contact information, considering they accepted other people's requests. But I did not particularly feel like tracking them down yet.

‘When else will I get to laze around like this?’

I would be busy from now on, so I had to rest while I could. This would end soon too, though.

It had already been three days since Yoohyun began his dungeon raid. Unless something happened, he would be out today or tomorrow.

Ah, I wanted to play more.

I wanted to spend my whole life playing.

I wanted to be Background Extra No. 1, someone who did not have to do anything.

‘Why do I have to work hard again when I already worked hard before my regression?’

I had dragged my kid brother through hell, then the world changed and I went through hell again. At least I was not suffering much now, so maybe that was fortunate.

“Should I eat?”

I used to eat irregularly and just fill my stomach with whatever, but lately I had been eating three proper meals a day.

Because the food was delicious.

I went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Neatly stacked containers of side dishes filled it.

That green onion kimchi had been really good. I had never known spicy, pungent green onion kimchi over white rice could taste so good. I had always thought vegetables were only worth eating with meat.

Of course, the meat dishes were beyond question. The soy-braised beef with peppers was incredible. The braised short ribs that melted on my tongue had been amazing too. The stir-fried sausage was so good it was almost unbelievable. It looked similar to the kind served in school cafeterias, but the taste was incomparable.

‘Just thinking about Myeongu moving out is already making me depressed.’

How had the cooking skills of someone who claimed they could only make ramen improved this much? It really was unfair. Maybe Myeongu was actually the most broken character of all.

I reheated the soft tofu stew, which tasted suspiciously addictive, set the table, and nearly cried after the first spoonful.

Myeongu would not keep living off me after getting an SS-Rank skill. Obviously. I had not been this bad even three days ago. If Myeongu's cooking improved any further, what the fuck was I supposed to do? Should I quit while I was ahead? Should I tell Myeongu not to cook? I guess that was why people said looks last three months, but good cooking lasts a lifetime.

“This is so sad... Think I can get side dishes sometimes?”

After clearing the table, I fed Peace too. Even though it had grown larger, the amount it ate had not changed much. It still only ate two mana stones, though its portion of meat had increased a little.

Whine, whine.

After eating, Peace turned its head toward the entrance and whined. Since the day after training ended, it had been desperate to go outside. After playing all day, it was probably bored of being cooped up at home.

“Sorry, sorry. Once the negotiations are over, I'll take you to the training room to play every day.”

Grrr.

I tried soothing it, but Peace sharply turned away and settled in front of the inner door by the entrance. The tip of its tail thumped against the floor in displeasure.

“Is Peace sulking?”

Rrrrmm.

“You're mad because you can't go out. I'm sorry.”

Whiiine.

“Just be patient a little longer, okay? Uncle Yoohyun will be back soon.”

Whiiine, rrrm.

He answered every time, but did not turn around. He was properly upset.

“Then should we play ball?”

At the word ball, his thumping tail stopped. His flattened ears perked up, and he tilted his head toward me.

“But you can't get excited and break the TV like last time. We have to play carefully.”

Yip!

Peace confidently bounded over. I did not know if that meant it would really be careful or if it was simply excited. If it broke something, I would just buy another one. I still had plenty of money left from selling mana stones.

That was when Peace was destroying the sofa instead of the TV.

Brrring.

The doorbell rang. Had Myeongu come already? That was too early.

“Who is it?”

[This is Seok Simyeong!]

A reply came through the intercom. What was that man doing here? For some reason, his voice had lost its usual composure too.

“Peace, wait a moment.”

After firmly closing the inner door so Peace could not rush out, I opened the front door. Seok Simyeong stood there, his face flushed with excitement, with none of his usual calmness in sight. What was going on?

“Why are you here...”

“Mr. Han Yujin!”

Seok Simyeong entered the entryway and slammed the door shut. Then he abruptly pulled me into a hug. Was this Myeongu wearing a Seok Simyeong mask?

“It’s a slime dungeon!”

“Huh? Whoa!”

Seok Simyeong lifted me into the air as if he were about to toss me up in celebration. Fuck, wait a second. Calm down.

“Wait, put me down! Ah, don't shake me! Don't spin me!”

Was he insane?

“My goodness! Where did such a treasure come from!”

Seok Simyeong did not listen to a word I said and laughed loudly. Fuck, put me down. Was he showing off his B-Rank stats? Life was too hard for an F-Rank.

That was when I was trapped in Seok Simyeong's powerful grip, able to do nothing but swear.

Bang!

Raaawr!

The closed inner door shook violently, followed by a savage roar.

“What was that...”

“Let me go right now! Peace, are you okay?!”

All that noise startled him! Seok Simyeong let me go in surprise.

When I opened the inner door, Peace burst out with its fur standing on end and wrapped both front paws around one of my legs. Then it bared its fangs viciously at Seok Simyeong.

Grrrrr.

“It’s okay, Peace! Calm down!”

I quickly picked Peace up and stroked its puffed-up mane.

Rrrm, grrr.

“That's right, it's okay. He isn't a bad person.”

Not a good person either. More like a grayish member of our side.

“I heard about it, but he really is attached to you, Mr. Yujin.”

Seok Simyeong looked at Peace and me with admiration. Had he calmed down now?

“So, the newly discovered A-Rank dungeon really was a slime dungeon?”

“Yes. Your prediction was correct, Mr. Han Yujin.”

That crazy gleam was starting to fill the old man's eyes again. Calm down. Relax.

“Rather than standing here, please come inside.”

I should give him some cold water. I meant to drink.

“The raid must be over, then?”

I handed Seok Simyeong a glass of ice water as he sat at the dining table. My refrigerator even had an ice dispenser. I had only ever used old refrigerators with a single door before.

“Yes, I received word just before I came here.”

Peace stayed pressed to my side and glared at Seok Simyeong as if keeping watch. It apparently still did not like him, occasionally wrinkling its nose and growling softly.

“They say it truly was a slime dungeon.”

Of course it was. Unless the future had changed.

“Really, a slime...”

“Have some more water.”

Do not get worked up. This time, Seok Simyeong gulped down half his glass.

“Would you consider moving somewhere with more reliable security?”

“Huh?”

“This place is mainly managed by A-Rank Hunters, so its security measures are somewhat lacking. There are surveillance cameras only at the entrance. And you should have a tracking device as well...”

“I refuse.”

One younger brother obsessed with my safety was more than enough. I had neither the reason nor the patience to listen to nonsense from a complete stranger.

“But...”

“But nothing. No.”

Was this Han Yoohyun wearing a Seok Simyeong mask? What was with that damned but again? Seok Simyeong frowned at my firm answer.

“It seems you do not properly understand your own value, Mr. Han Yujin.”

“I understand it roughly.”

My value. Before my regression, I had probably been about the 5,912th rolling stone.

“Raising high-grade mounts and predicting dungeons are both abilities that could have an enormous impact.”

“It is more than an enormous impact. In the latter case especially, not merely guilds but entire nations may take action.”

As the Americans had. It was information that could control the world, if someone could get their hands on it. But...

“Dungeon prediction is still uncertain. I have not discovered an exact law. It is a hypothesis that is half dependent on luck.”

I had not actually calculated anything, and aside from famous cases like this slime dungeon, I did not remember them anyway. There was not just one or two dungeons. How was I supposed to remember them all?

“In the end, the only thing I truly possess is the Magical Beast Breeder skill. So, if the negotiations go well, excessive protection will not be necessary.”

Raising mounts alone was more than valuable enough, but it was less significant than dungeon generation laws. If the dungeon generation laws became known, it would be possible to secure valuable dungeons first, increase the safety of newly discovered dungeon raids, and prevent dungeon breaks from undiscovered dungeons.

More than anything, with that information in hand, someone could place every guild beneath their feet and stand alone at the top. A few years from now, when high-rank dungeons became more numerous, it could shake entire countries.

It was understandable that Seok Simyeong was so uncharacteristically excited.

“Even if it is still a hypothesis, is it not possible that it will become a law someday?”

“Of course, but honestly, it is beyond my abilities. I have not properly studied that field. But Seok Hayan is here.”

“You mean statistics?”

It was nice that I did not have to explain at length. I nodded.

“I think it will become a law before long if we leave the research to Ms. Seok Hayan. It would be even better if we could find a few more trustworthy researchers.”

I should leave that to Seok Simyeong too. I had no ability to look for ordinary scholars who were not Awakened.

“Are you asking the guild to provide support?”

“That would be nice. Thanks to the slime dungeon, Haeyeon Guild should not be short on funds anytime soon. While you are at it, build a research facility that includes not only dungeons but Awakened as well. I said I would take responsibility for supplying dungeon data.”

“Supplying data?”

Seok Simyeong started to say something, then closed his mouth. I probably did seem suspicious. Still, what could he do? I was the guildmaster's older brother, I had brought in an S-Class, and now I possessed a useful special skill too. He would have to overlook one or two suspicious things.

“I will review the matter of a research facility positively.”

“Do not review it, just do it. Being first is best. The sooner you start, the sooner we get results.”

Even if we started now, it would take years. Seok Simyeong nodded at my words.

“When we squeeze a facility out of the major guilds over the mounts, we can include it there.”

“Huh? Squeeze what out of them?”

“We cannot raise monsters here, can we? There will not be only one or two. I am thinking of demolishing the building next door and putting up a new one. Of course, we will not be using our money.”

The sly old snake spoke with a sinister smile. There would be several monsters to care for in the future, so it would indeed be difficult to handle them here. Still, I had assumed we would build on the outskirts. He sure thought big. And with other people's money, no less.

“Will that be okay? What if we provoke a backlash...”

“Of course, Mr. Han Yujin will be the building owner.”

“That will work. That will work perfectly.”

What an unexpected windfall. Seok Simyeong looked less like a sly old snake and more like a flower snake. Of course, a flower snake was still a snake.

“I intend to make it one of the negotiating conditions. The other guilds would prefer it to be nearby as well, so it should not be difficult to squeeze it out of them.”

A building owner. The owner of a brand-new building, at that. Calm down, corners of my mouth. Let us not be too obvious.

Then I could move Myeongu into the new building instead of keeping Myeongu here. I should give Myeongu a large equipment workshop and set up a place where Myeongu could sell directly without having the Association take a commission.

“If we are building a new structure, it will take quite a while, so we will need to arrange a temporary location.”

“Not necessarily. We have Awakened and equipment that increases stats. With support skills and dungeon byproducts added in, the construction period can be shortened as much as we wish.”

Using Awakened and dungeon items for ordinary construction was an outrageous waste of money. The construction costs would be higher than the land and building prices.

Not my money, though.

More importantly, I would be a building owner. With a prime location and special facilities, the cost of the materials alone would be astronomical. The building itself would be worth more than I could even estimate. Add Myeongu and Seok Hayan, and the value would be insane. Of course, I would be there too.

‘No, instead of only moving Myeongu and Seok Hayan's workplaces, should I have them join me too?’

I had originally planned to bring Myeongu into Haeyeon Guild after Myeongu acquired the skill, but if I had my own building and a place for a forge, there was no need. The same went for Seok Hayan.

Seok Simyeong would pound the ground in regret, but I was also worried that we were putting too much into Haeyeon, a basket that had not fully grown yet. Raising Yerim and Kim Seonghan would be enough.

Haeyeon was, from the start, a Hunter guild focused on dungeon raids.

Forcing magical beast rearing, equipment crafting, and dungeon research into it all at once might become poison instead.

‘No matter how precious and healthy the food is, you have to eat only as much as you can digest.’

Rather than merging everything without a plan, it would be better to divide the forces and have them cooperate. Once they were firmly established, we could combine them then.

‘Good. We will split them up.’

I looked at Seok Simyeong with a little pity as he excitedly went on about future plans. I felt bad about taking back what I had given, but Haeyeon came first, so please be satisfied with that. Once it grew well, I could return them later.

* * *

“...What did you say?”

While the appearance of the slime dungeon had everyone in an uproar, Haeyeon Guild had discreetly informed the major guilds and the Hunter Association about the Magical Beast Breeder skill.

The reaction had naturally been explosive, and negotiations were proceeding smoothly.

“They want to come here? To meet me?”

I stared at my younger brother, who had brought the news, completely dumbfounded. Did guildmasters really have so little to do? Why were they coming in person?

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