WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈

Chapter 42: My Younger Brother… (2)

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“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

The man, who presumably had an Awakened appraisal skill, approached me as he spoke. I wanted to check everyone’s status windows too, but using Sprout now would draw too much attention.

I was under the gaze of several S-Classes. If I started rolling my eyes around at empty air, they would immediately grab me by the scruff for acting suspicious.

Grrr.

Peace, who had been resting quietly in my arms, suddenly bared its fangs. The appraiser stepped back and spoke.

“Average stats are F-Class. Both Agility Up and Mental Strength Up are E-Class.”

“Did it sense the appraisal skill being used? Sensitive, aren’t they.”

The Hanshin Guildmaster said it with admiration.

Hanshin Guildmaster Park Mingyu. A defense-specialized S-Class Hunter who had turned exactly thirty this year, if I remembered correctly. He had originally been an ordinary office worker and was a fairly unremarkable man among Korea’s S-Classes. Hanshin Guild itself was also a solid upper-tier guild that did nothing particularly flashy.

One notable thing was that he did not get along with Kim Seonghan. More precisely, Park Mingyu considered Kim Seonghan a thorn in his side unilaterally.

Had he instinctively recognized Kim Seonghan’s potential? If Kim Seonghan became an S-Class, the premium of being Korea’s only defense-specialized S-Class Hunter would disappear.

“An immature C-Class? Mr. Han-su, use your skill again.”

The Breaker Guildmaster spoke to the appraiser. Considering she had beckoned him over earlier, had she brought the appraiser herself? Or perhaps he was a Breaker Guild member.

Breaker, one of the Three Great Guilds. Its guildmaster was Moon Hyuna, Korea’s only female S-Class Hunter. Though she was no longer the only one.

A former tennis player in her late twenties, her main weapon was a gigantic spear. She was probably the person most interested in mounts. Breaker also currently possessed the largest number of mounts in Korea.

In other words, she was a prospective premium customer.

Yip!

When the appraiser used his skill again, Peace barked loudly. He was even farther away this time. Could Peace really sense it?

“It’s okay, Peace.”

As I soothed the agitated Peace, everyone’s gazes toward us grew openly heated.

“I think it’s real.”

The Hunter Association President exclaimed in surprise.

“A Flame-Horned Lion was at the level of an S-Class dungeon boss, right?”

Moon Hyuna asked Yoohyun. She was seven years older than him, but they were both S-Class guildmasters. Why was she speaking so casually to him?

“There were three adult specimens, excluding the juvenile, rather than a single one. Their overall abilities were lower than those of a solo boss, but they were certainly S-Class level.”

“The first raid was two months ago, so the second will be in a month. What do you say, young master? If another juvenile appears, hand it over to us.”

“We can trade for a top-grade mount juvenile with Cold Resistance.”

Yoohyun replied with a gentle smile. Moon Hyuna smiled back.

“Come to think of it, I heard our adorable junior’s level-ten skill is ice-related. What exactly is it? I’m curious.”

“Hunter Park Yerim asked me to tell you that excessive attention would be burdensome.”

“As the only two female S-Class Hunters in Korea, I just want to be friendly. Yerim might also feel more comfortable with a guildmaster of the same gender. Of course, I’m not saying I’ll ignore her contract and steal her away. Three years will pass quickly.”

She said that with a smile. Wow, she was openly coveting Yerim. Of course, it would be Yerim’s choice which guild to sign with after three years, and approaching her early to win her over was not against business ethics.

Still, I did not like it. Don’t disregard my little brother, and use respectful speech both ways.

“I hear Haeyeon Guild has already purchased several young monsters. Isn’t that rather greedy?”

MKC’s guildmaster, Choi Seokwon, spoke up. Why was this bastard picking a fight too?

Choi Seokwon was a former football player who had even been the national team captain. I used to like them, but seeing them now, they were irritating. Still, they used polite speech, so plus one point.

“You are quick to hear news that has not even entered Korea yet.”

“You publicly announced your intention to buy them. Did you think no one would find out? Seven high-grade ones and one top-grade one. You swept them all up.”

Choi Seokwon said, slightly agitated. Eight of them? Yoohyun, were you trying to work your brother to death? Of course, I would not be taking them all at once.

More than that, I had not expected another top-grade monster to appear so soon. Was that because the monster was so hard to sell?

“A top-grade juvenile can be traded for a top-grade juvenile with Cold Resistance, or ten high-grade juveniles, including high-grade ones with Cold Resistance. Please contact us anytime.”

Yoohyun spoke leisurely. It seemed the top-grade monster purchased this time did not have Cold Resistance. I wondered what it was.

“Haeyeon Guild’s young master is making quite the profit thanks to his brother.”

Moon Hyuna said with a broad smile as she rose from her seat. Yoohyun’s leisurely expression hardened slightly as she walked toward me.

Don’t show it, punk. Just sit quietly.

“We have kept someone so precious standing for too long. Come on, sit.”

Moon Hyuna personally pulled out a chair for me. Judging by her smiling face alone, she seemed truly gentle and kind. She was a remarkable beauty without a single flaw, and remarkably tall as well. She looked well over 180 centimeters at a glance.

This was why I hated people with S-Class stats. Would Yerim end up taller than me too? How sad.

“Thank you.”

When I obediently sat down, Moon Hyuna leaned forward. Her proportions were so good that I had not noticed on television, but she seemed far more solidly built than me too. Before I regressed, I had built up my body a little, but now... I was an F-Class who had only gone into a dungeon once.

...Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have compared even before regressing. Even beneath her suit, her broad shoulders and arms were no joke.

“You are Haeyeon’s young master’s brother, the super rookie’s guardian, and you are raising an adorable cat too. If I take Mr. Han Yujin, will they all come along?”

“Of course not.”

I smiled back as I replied.

“I am a single item with no complimentary samples or freebies.”

“That is unfortunate, but I could be satisfied with the main product alone. What do you say?”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not for sale.”

As I said that, I glanced aside. Worried about Yoohyun, I checked on him, only to find that he was not looking in this direction at all. Right, if you can’t control your expression, then don’t look.

“Not even to your little brother?”

A long finger lightly poked my cheek. Peace, sprawled across my lap, pricked up its ears warily. Yoohyun turned his head toward us, and our eyes met.

This was probably a good chance to make things clear.

“Would there be exceptions to something that is not for sale? However.”

“However?”

“I have decided to make an exception if someone becomes the best in Korea.”

“Interesting.”

Moon Hyuna laughed softly.

“Then would Sesung Guild be able to buy you right now?”

At her words, I shifted my gaze. Toward the man who had not said a single word until now.

Sesung Guildmaster Seong Hyeonje. A Hunter called the strongest in Korea, both for himself and his guild. He was looking at me with a trace of interest.

It seemed he wanted an answer, so I should give him one.

“For the best in Korea, there is a discount for biological younger brothers.”

I continued with a smile.

“For anyone else, only the best in the world would qualify for an exception.”

“You’re confident!”

Moon Hyuna cried out cheerfully. Stop patting my shoulder, woman. It hurt. Peace was baring its teeth too.

“They say brothers are alike. It reminds me of when that brat, still wet behind the ears, made a fuss about founding his own guild. Still, it seems the older brother acts his age. You’re far more mild-mannered than your little brother.”

...What was wrong with my little brother? He seemed like the most mild-mannered person among everyone gathered here. Their assessment was far too harsh.

“My little brother is more mild-mannered than me.”

I couldn’t hold back and said it. Moon Hyuna opened her eyes wide in an exaggerated way.

“Are you seriously saying that?”

“Of course I am.”

“Oh my god, big brother! You’re so cute!”

Then she burst into laughter. No, why...?

‘...Wait a minute.’

The others were laughing too. Everyone except Yoohyun, who was sitting there with a composed expression. Even the Sesung Guildmaster was letting out an incredulous laugh.

It wasn’t as if these people had enough free time to film some hidden-camera prank on me... Yoohyun? Your reputation seems a little strange...

“Wow, that crazy bastard is acting coy just because his brother is here...”

“Breaker Guildmaster.”

Yoohyun cut Moon Hyuna off.

“I think your words are a little harsh.”

“You really are crazy! I thought you were being unusually damn polite today! I wondered if you had suddenly matured, but ahaha!”

Then she started laughing again. She looked ready to roll around on the floor. I wanted to know what was so funny too, but...

‘Acting coy?’

What was she talking about? Our Yoohyun had been good and quiet since childhood. He listened well and had rarely caused trouble.

Of course, I knew that becoming a guildmaster at such a young age meant he could not remain good and quiet forever. Still, calling him a crazy bastard was too much.

“It is a good thing for brothers to get along.”

The Hanshin Guildmaster said. Was that something for you to say after laughing the second loudest?

Damn it, they were the crazy ones, so my little brother must have acted to suit them. They had probably tormented him relentlessly because a kid refused to bow down. Judging by how Yoohyun worried about my safety, they were all black-hearted bastards. Would you wave foxtail grass at a hungry wolf instead of shooting it?

“Oh, big brother! Well, as long as he treats you well. You have a good younger brother.”

Moon Hyuna said as she rose from where she had been crouching. I really disliked this woman.

“Still, you say someone has to become the best in the world. I heard about it, but are you really going to remain unaffiliated?”

“Yes. I think that would be better. Rather than belonging to one place, I think it would be better for all the guilds if I stepped back and conducted business fairly through mount production and management work.”

“But are you not effectively affiliated with Haeyeon Guild?”

The MKC Guildmaster asked, frowning slightly.

“We are merely cooperative partners. Since there are things I cannot handle alone, their help is unavoidable. By that logic, everyone present here will also receive preferential treatment in exchange for negotiations. There are many guilds in Korea and overseas that need mounts. You have gained the opportunity to become far more advantaged than them.”

The five guilds gathered here would establish a clear advantage over other guilds in Korea and abroad. One of the negotiation conditions was that each of them could take priority over one of the five slots, the maximum number of monsters I could raise.

Not only could they form S-Class raid teams with mounts ahead of anyone else, they could also trade the open slots with other guilds.

The terms were so good that Seok Simyeong complained I was treating the guilds too well.

“Also, my value is at its highest now and will continue to decline, so you need not worry too much about my relationship with Haeyeon Guild. High-grade and top-grade mounts are not consumables, after all.”

No one knew how long monsters lived. But their lifespans certainly would not be short. Even low-grade monsters bred for research remained perfectly healthy for more than seven years, so higher-grade ones were likely to live longer.

Therefore, after three or four years, the number of people coming to find me would surely begin to decrease. Demand would not disappear entirely, but I would only need to provide three or four replacements a year. If an S-Class or higher tamer, or someone with a similar skill, appeared, I might be able to rest even sooner.

“My dream is for rearing requests to decrease so I can half-retire within a few years and live comfortably.”

There was not a single lie in that. I would hold a young monster in my arms while managing buildings and living my life. Ah, just thinking about it was nice. A perfect life.

All I needed was a lover who was unaffected by the Keyword, or one who thought of the guy next door as their Caregiver.

“You speak well, big brother. Then let us get to the point and finish adjusting the contract.”

Moon Hyuna returned to her seat with a smile.

* * *

The final adjustments went smoothly, since the negotiation plan already had not only its framework but nearly all the details in place.

The core of the plan was as follows.

The five guilds would guarantee the safety of me and the buildings I owned.

I would prioritize rearing requests from the five guilds. However, each guild would be limited to claiming one monster every two months.

The building that would house the rearing facility would be constructed with investment from the four guilds excluding Haeyeon Guild.

Ownership of the completed building would belong to me.

There were various minor details as well, but those four were the important ones.

And the part most beneficial to me was the clause guaranteeing the safety of the buildings I owned.

Of course, it was limited to the one building being constructed this time, and it also had a fixed time period. However, there was no clause saying that I had to be the only person inside the building.

In other words, as long as I, the building owner, accepted them, Yu Myeongu, Seok Hayan, or anyone else could receive protection from the five highest-ranking guilds in Korea.

Yoohyun and the other guildmasters could not even imagine the things I intended to do. Still, if I gave them priority in mount rearing and such, it would never be a loss for them.

I could just relax and collect rent.

Once we stamped the contract, they asked a few questions about Peace, and it ended quickly. There were no particularly difficult questions, and even the guildmasters and the Association President were subtly kind to me.

Well, it was a situation where they had reason to be kind, and it was not bad for them to treat me well. Still, something about it left an unpleasant feeling.

Especially the way Moon Hyuna looked at me like I was unbearably cute. Aside from the fact that I had regressed, I was younger than her, but she looked at me as though I were her youngest sibling.

They were putting up a lot of money to build my building, so I had to endure it.

“Thanks to you, big brother, I had fun for the first time in a while.”

Moon Hyuna winked at me as she left through the door. Ah, yes. I was so very glad to hear that.

I was tired despite doing almost nothing.

“Peace, stop biting the chair and get down.”

Had Peace developed a hobby of breaking furniture? That chair looked expensive.

As I was about to go over and get Peace myself, someone stepped in front of me. It was Sesung Guildmaster Seong Hyeonje.

“I will remember the condition for an exception.”

He spoke with amusement in his voice. What exception... No, wait. Please just forget it.

“Then I will see you again soon.”

He lightly patted my shoulder and passed by. Well, becoming the best guild in the world was not easy, and they had not managed it even five years later. There was no need to worry.

Anyway, it was over.

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