WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈

Chapter 43: My Younger Brother… (3)

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‘There won’t be any high-rank monsters available anytime soon, and it’ll take quite a while for the ones coming across the sea to arrive. Looks like I’ll have some free time again for a while.’

Monsters still couldn’t be transported by plane. I heard that the monsters Haeyeon had bought were currently scattered all across the ocean. I just hoped they would arrive safely without any accidents.

“Hyung.”

After everyone else had left, Yoohyun called out to me. I turned to him, holding Peace, who had stripped the chair down to its frame.

“Don’t mind what the Breaker Guildmaster said. She’s known for being cra... strange.”

The fact that he felt the need to explain meant something had been bothering him.

“I don’t care. Those people have only known you for two or three years at most.”

He must have changed. He couldn’t still be exactly as he had been as a child.

Still, five years from now, he would risk his life to save mine.

Whatever anyone said, that was enough for me.

Even though I said it was fine, Yoohyun looked even more troubled.

“...Still, I haven’t done anything that would weigh on my conscience.”

“Really?”

“...Mostly?”

“Hey, it’s not like I think you’ve lived without a single blemish of dishonesty.”

I had only become clean after regressing. My little brother looked wronged by my words.

“You said you trusted me.”

“That’s different. I’ve lived five years longer than you. I know enough.”

By experience, I had actually lived ten years longer.

“Whatever you did, I’ll assume you had no choice. Even if you didn’t, well, blood is thicker than water. I’m not some perfectly upright person who has to dig up every one of his relative’s faults before I’m satisfied.”

I was more the opposite. I let things slide if they were within reason. If I had been a clean person, I wouldn’t even be standing here alive.

“But would you go if the world’s number one guild asked you to?”

Yoohyun asked, half joking.

“If they were firmly in first place, what would my opinion matter? Besides, there’s no such guild yet.”

There were no guilds operating on a global scale yet. Handling their own countries was about all they could manage, and even five years later, with the rising number of dungeons, affecting more than one or two nearby countries was difficult. At most, they poached Chinese Hunters or stole rights to valuable dungeons from weaker countries.

Of course, there was no guarantee that the Hunter world would unfold exactly as it had before my regression. The widespread use of high-rank mounts alone would change a great deal.

‘...At this rate, knowing the future will become useless before long.’

I was only planning to earn enough and retire anyway.

“When do you want to go over your skills?”

“I don’t think I’ll have time for a while... Sorry. Things got a little busy with the slime dungeon and the mounts.”

It seemed that because the dungeon was so profitable, pests were gathering around it.

“But the guilds that came today can’t start trouble, can they? Especially the Breaker Guildmaster. She was desperate to trade for even one high-rank monster.”

She had offered all sorts of compensation, saying she didn’t need any other abilities as long as it was fast and sturdy.

“Within Korea, there isn’t much of a problem besides the Association being a little troublesome. Japan is the real issue.”

“Why the hell are those bastards meddling in another country’s business?”

“Japan doesn’t have a slime dungeon yet. They don’t even produce C-rank ones, let alone A-rank, so they have to import everything. Now that A-rank ones have appeared in nearby Korea, they’re throwing a fit. And it’s at the government level, not just the guild level.”

A curse nearly slipped out. Those conscienceless monkey bastards. It had been decided long ago that governments would intervene in guild affairs only minimally and coordinate through the Association. How could their government step in and oppress a guild in another country?

“...Was it not forbidden yet for governments to interfere with foreign guilds?”

“Yeah. The restriction only applies within each country. And in Japan, Hunter guilds have enough power that the government bows to them, so their interference is even worse. The government follows the Hunter guilds’ demands.”

That was true. There had been some huge guild that had Japan firmly in its grasp. What was it called again?

“Still, Haeyeon hasn’t expanded into Japan, and there’s little exchange between us, so aside from the mounts, there won’t be much impact for now.”

“Mounts? Why... Don’t tell me one of the monsters you bought is from Japan.”

Yoohyun nodded.

“One high-rank monster juvenile. It’s being held at the port right now. If things don’t work out, we’ll hand it over to Breaker or another guild.”

“They’re being damn dirty about it.”

“Even if they pick a fight openly, we have to settle it as peacefully as possible, so it’s a hassle. If it comes down to it, we can ask the Association or the government for help, but it’s best not to owe favors like that.”

“Won’t they step in on their own? It’s still a domestic guild.”

“They probably will if it goes too far. The policy of minimizing government interference with guilds is a double-edged sword. It’s welcome under normal circumstances, but troublesome at times like this.”

So getting the slime dungeon wasn’t purely beneficial. I had expected other domestic guilds to cause trouble, but Japan had come out of nowhere. Still, it was better than giving it away.

“Just tell me whenever you have time for the skills. It’s not hard for me to make time.”

I could take a day off from caring for the monsters, and the rest of my schedule was...

Ah, the broadcast.

Did I really have to go?

* * *

“Han Yujin, your final Awakened rank has been determined as B-rank.”

The Hunter Association employee spoke with a smile.

My rank had shot up from perpetual F-rank to B-rank in one go. Wow. If I revealed all my titles and skills, I might qualify for A-rank, but I was satisfied with this. Unless my stats were at least B-rank, I needed to keep myself safe.

“If you have any objections to the rank determination, please submit your complaint and relevant materials to the reception center within ten business days.”

When there was a large gap between someone’s stats and skill ranks, like mine, an Awakened rank was usually determined in one of two ways. Either by the rank of dungeon the person could clear, or through an internal Association meeting.

Naturally, mine had been the latter. With my current abilities, clearing even an F-rank dungeon would be difficult without equipment. Even with the help of an adult S-rank monster, C-rank or higher was dangerous. I had a glass body that could be sent to the next world by one stray fragment.

“Isn’t B-rank too low?”

As I received my reissued Hunter license and turned around, Yerim, who had been waiting, complained. Beside her stood Kim Jiyeon, an A-rank Hunter. The two had come along to protect me.

“Rank evaluations are mainly based on dungeon clearing. If your stats are F-rank, A-rank is the maximum no matter how good your skills are.”

Unless you had an incredible defensive skill that could perfectly protect you.

I got into the car while half-listening to Yerim grumble. Perhaps because rumors about me had not spread much yet, no one approached us. There were some curious glances from a distance, though.

“Uncle, when are you going to look at my skills?”

The moment she sat in the backseat, Yerim started pestering me. Ever since she had safely reached level 10 and acquired Pale Rain, she had been saying that practically every day.

“I told you to get two more.”

“I’m not even close to level 20, let alone 30! Ah, do you want to run a dungeon with me? Maybe you’ll get another good skill at level 20.”

I still hadn’t acquired the level 10 skill. Did I think one would appear at 20? Not that our dungeon ranks matched in the first place.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Oh, you’re filming too, right?”

“Yeah. The Association says that if you want to film a broadcast with a monster, at least three A-rank or higher Hunters have to accompany you. They’re planning a Hunter special while they’re at it. They said Big Sis Moon Hyuna will be there too.”

...Why was that woman coming too? Did a guildmaster have nothing better to do?

“But why call her Big Sis? I’m younger than the Breaker Guildmaster.”

“If she isn’t married, she’s Big Sis.”

“...What about me?”

“You’re not married, but you have a kid. You’re always saying you’re Peace’s dad.”

It was unfair. It was true that I raised Peace, but why was I being treated like a father when there was a barrier between our species?

“Don’t discriminate. Be fair.”

“Then I’ll tell Big Sis Hyuna that Uncle really...”

“Come to think of it, she is Big Sis! Call her Big Sis.”

Yeah, what did age matter? Strength and power were what counted. A woman who swung a huge spear twice her own height like a flyswatter to crush monsters was Big Sis even if she were thirteen, no, a hundred and thirty years older than me. Yes.

This was my third time coming to a broadcasting station. Including before my regression, of course.

My first appearance had been a brief interview about Yoohyun, and the second had been related to Hunter crimes... Um... Something like that had happened.

The common point between those two appearances was that I had been treated like an afterthought.

Today was different.

“Wow, is that the monster?”

“It’s so cute! I’ve never seen a monster this close before!”

“The ones that come out during dungeon breaks are all gross, but that cat is pretty.”

Every step I took drew gazes toward me. Ninety percent of the reason was probably Peace in my arms, but quite a few people were interested in me as well.

The previous night’s nine o’clock news had aired a report about mounts.

With high-rank and top-rank mounts, dungeon-clearing time could be reduced by up to 50%. In other words, more dungeons could be cleared than before, increasing profits and reducing the chances of dungeon breaks.

The reaction had naturally been explosive. Posts related to mounts covered portal sites, and Haeyeon Guild, following mounts and S-rank dungeon profits, had reached third place in the search rankings.

My name was still lower than Yoohyun’s, though.

‘They’ll compare us again when I’m on the broadcast.’

It would be fortunate if they only compared our ranks. They would definitely criticize our looks, saying brothers really did not resemble each other and so on. Still, we did look a little alike.

Following a broadcast staff member’s guidance, I entered the prepared waiting room.

‘The waiting room is spacious too.’

They had not even given me a chair in the past, but now there were soft-looking sofas, and drinks and snacks were set out on the table.

“Hunter Park Yerim, please come this way.”

The coordinators called Yerim over, saying they needed to touch up her hair, makeup, and outfit again before the broadcast.

Did I need that too?

“Welcome, big bro!”

Moon Hyuna, the Breaker Guildmaster, who had arrived first and was sitting on the sofa, greeted me. She sat with her long legs crossed and both arms spread across the back of the sofa, looking imposing. But why did she keep calling me big bro? She looked more like the kind of person people called that.

“Hello.”

She had been barefaced last time, but today she seemed to be wearing a little makeup. She really was beautiful, but... I would prefer to admire her face from far away.

“Come sit over here. Want some candy?”

“I don’t particularly like it.”

I pretended not to see her patting the seat beside her and sat on the sofa opposite. As soon as I sat down, Peace tried to jump down, and I hurriedly caught it.

“No. Stay still.”

Grrr.

“We let you play plenty before coming here. You can’t cause trouble here.”

His activity level kept increasing by the day. I really needed to find a larger temporary place for him. It did not seem like I could keep him at home much longer.

“You’ve really got the hang of watching kids.”

Moon Hyuna said as she somehow moved to sit beside me. Please go away.

“Don’t sit so close. People might misunderstand.”

“So what? You’re going to raise my kid.”

...For a moment, I was completely speechless. No, why did she have to say it like that? What if someone misunderstood? Then Yerim shouted as if refusing to lose.

“Our uncle will raise my kid too!”

“Yerim!”

She was crazy. What was she saying? Even if that kid did not mean that kind of kid!

“Why? It’s true.”

“Even if it’s true, you shouldn’t say it like that!”

And Moon Hyuna, stop laughing, you demon.

“I really like you, big bro. Want to come to my guild?”

“Make the offer after you meet the conditions.”

“So picky.”

Grrr.

At that moment, Peace pricked up its ears. Yerim also shot to her feet. A beat later, I could feel the flow of air surrounding us.

“...What is this?”

I knew, but pretended not to. Moon Hyuna smiled and gave a light wave of her hand. A Breaker Guild member who had come with her was explaining something to the startled people around us. But I could not hear a thing.

“I just blocked the sound. A simple skill application.”

It did not seem simple at all. Moon Hyuna was famous for her excellent skill applications. Not yet, but she would be in a few years. She was surely already skilled now.

Was it a wind-type skill if she blocked sound like this? It was probably an auxiliary skill for reducing air resistance while charging with her enormous spear.

“Is there something you need to say in secret?”

“Not exactly a secret. It’s just that you need to be careful when talking behind someone’s back.”

Talking behind someone’s back?

“Do you really trust your little brother, big bro?”

I wondered what she was going to say, but it was about my brother.

“Of course I trust him.”

It was such an obvious attempt to drive a wedge between us that my brow furrowed on its own. Moon Hyuna snickered at my reaction.

“When I first got to know Han Yoohyun, I thought, he’s still a kid. He ignored every big shot who reached out a hand and ran around saying he would build his own guild. I thought he didn’t know his place.”

...I had also thought my little brother was remarkably fearless in that regard. It had worked out in the end, but the odds of him collapsing along the way had been high.

“The MKC Guildmaster and I are both figureheads, really. How could young people who had only worked out manage huge guilds? They said they would handle all the bothersome matters, and all I had to do was take the guildmaster seat and live in luxury, so I happily joined hands with them. It isn’t a bad arrangement. It’s comfortable.”

Moon Hyuna continued, wiggling her long fingers.

“The Hanshin Guildmaster is similar. A low-ranking employee at a Hanshin Group affiliate became the chairman’s son-in-law. Among the top five guilds in Korea, the only real guildmasters are Seong Hyeonje of Sesung and Han Yoohyun of Haeyeon.”

Moon Hyuna spoke meaningfully, but it was not particularly surprising to me. The fact that they were figureheads had played a large role in why two of the Three Great Guilds would collapse.

Even Moon Hyuna, who said it was comfortable now, would eventually be unable to endure her cramped cage and fall out with her backers. Choi Seokwon, the MKC Guildmaster, was similar. Hanshin lasted to the end, perhaps because they were connected by marriage.

“You don’t seem very surprised.”

“No, I’m plenty surprised.”

“Hm. That reaction’s too flat. He’s a kid who doesn’t even have an ID card yet. Seeing such a brat make his own guild and establish himself, I became certain. This bastard is a monster. He clearly isn’t normal, right?”

“Calling him abnormal just because he is capable is going too far.”

“Too far?”

Moon Hyuna gave a hollow laugh.

“Big bro, what exactly do you think of your little brother?”

“Well...”

I hesitated for a moment, then simply said it. I had even talked about it in interviews before my regression. It was not something I needed to hide.

“He was a good little brother with nothing to criticize. Since he was young, he listened well and never caused trouble for me...”

“You said you raised him, right? After your parents died early. That isn’t normal.”

Clicking her tongue, she continued.

“A well-behaved younger brother from a poor family without parents? You don’t even see that in children’s fairy tales these days. It isn’t realistic.”

“No, not that much...”

“A kid is a kid. If something is lacking, they get annoyed and angry, cause trouble to get attention, compare themselves to others, pester you to buy what they want, and might even resent their custodian. Parents might still find a kid cute, but siblings? I know because I have a younger sibling too. They’re just enemy bastards. Of course, there are probably siblings who get along well. In happy families where the parents take good care of them. Even then, they still fight. Especially younger brothers. I bet countless older brothers and sisters in the world would agree that you need to beat them into line early.”

...I was a little taken aback. Was having a good, obedient younger brother really that strange?

“You could say an angel descended to earth, I suppose. But angels can’t build guilds by stepping on people.”

Moon Hyuna shrugged.

“I’m not trying to drive a wedge between you. But big bro, you should reconsider your brother a little.”

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