WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈

Chapter 6: My Younger Brother Is Strange (4)

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As the world gradually adapted to dungeons, Hunters became known for making good money.

Needless to say, S-Classes did, but even B-Classes earned well over a hundred million won a month. C-Classes made hundreds of millions a year, and even D-Classes hit one hundred million. Below that, even E-Classes and F-Classes with combat aptitude earned more than most employees at small and medium-sized companies.

Mana stones from dungeons became a new energy source, while dungeon byproducts were used to develop new medicines and useful materials. On top of that, magic and science combined to create all sorts of new technologies.

Did Han Yoohyun really need a lengthy introduction? He was an S-Class Hunter, the guildmaster of the rapidly growing Haeyeon Guild, tall and handsome to boot. He was only twenty, so young it was almost absurd.

One interview from him could multiply ratings several times over, and magazines with his photo sold out in an instant.

‘If people found out he was a family man too, the response would be explosive.’

I watched Yoohyun's back as he lifted a pot from the induction stove in the spacious kitchen. When he suggested dinner, I had naturally assumed we would eat out.

Who would have thought he would serve food he had made himself at home?

For reference, Yoohyun's home was on one of the upper floors of the Haeyeon Guild building. Security kept the exact floor secret, but I had heard it occupied half of one level. There were no stairs, elevators, or exit doors. The only way in or out was through an obscenely expensive mini portal.

“I didn't know you were good at cooking.”

I was sitting at the table, watching my brother finish the food, when I spoke up.

“I got better because I had to survive.”

“Huh? Why? You're rich.”

From right after Awakening, he must have made enough to buy anything he wanted to eat and hire top chefs without batting an eye.

At my question, he answered with a slightly embarrassed look.

“I have antidote and curse-breaking items now, but I didn't at first. Making my own food made me feel safer. Even now, I bring dried food I've made whenever I enter a dungeon. Inside a dungeon is the most dangerous place of all.”

“...Antidotes? Curse-breaking?”

What had I just heard?

So there were bastards who poisoned his food and cursed it, forcing him to cook for himself?

“...”

I had had no idea. Before my regression, I only thought of him as a successful, fortunate S-Class Awakened. Even after regressing, I had only assumed he must have struggled some.

I had never dreamed that his life had been threatened, that things had been such a battlefield.

To me, Yoohyun had been so strong I could not even look directly at him. He had received everyone's attention from the moment he Awakened and seemed to be doing nothing but succeeding. I had seen the S-Class label and turned a blind eye to everything beneath the surface.

“Don't make that face. This was the result of my own choices.”

Yoohyun approached the table and spoke gently.

“The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Did you think people would look kindly on some young kid trying to build his own guild among giant guilds tied to major corporations? If I had joined a suitable guild or quietly accepted sponsorship, I probably would not have faced threats like that.”

“I couldn't do that,” he added with a bitter smile.

“That was why it always weighed on me that things had gone wrong between us. Watching you, interfering with you, and keeping you tied down under the pretense of protection were all consequences of my choices. Even knowing those people would go after my only family, I built my guild.”

“...Why didn't you tell me?”

“At first, I didn't want to burden you. Later... I thought you wouldn't understand.”

...If it had been me before my regression, I probably would have loudly told him to leave me alone because I could handle myself, or resented him.

“But I was completely wrong. You were still thinking about me and worrying about me, just like when I was young. I misunderstood you without realizing it. I'm sorry.”

Ugh, my conscience hurt. Even after regressing, I had planned to coast along and enjoy myself.

If he said things like that, didn't it make me sound like complete trash?

“...I didn't exactly do well either.”

“You were being obstructed at every turn without even knowing why. It was understandable.”

Something tickled deep in my chest. When I took a spoonful of the meal my brother had prepared, that warm, ticklish feeling grew stronger.

It was good that I had turned back time.

It was the best choice I had ever made.

“I understand the situation well enough. But wasn't what happened today too much? You locked me up so I couldn't leave at all. You didn't need to go that far. No major incident has happened so far.”

The instant I asked him to ease up a little, Yoohyun's expression, seated opposite me, hardened.

“No.”

“Why? I'll be careful. Things were fine just this morning.”

“The situation has changed since this morning. The reason you were safe until now was because I thoroughly severed our relationship. An Awakened harming a non-Awakened is a serious crime, and I made people think you were not valuable enough to risk that danger for.”

His voice grew heavier.

“But if I personally order you to be brought under the protection of Haeyeon Guild, my enemies will start actively targeting you. Just the fact that you're here right now means they'll be beginning to watch you.”

“Then wouldn't it be better to keep pretending we're on bad terms?”

“You said you were okay with it.”

“...What?”

When had I? I did not remember agreeing to confinement in the slightest.

Yoohyun answered with an utterly shameless expression.

“You said you were sorry and that you loved me. You accepted all of it, even though it was my fault and my responsibility. That was practically permission.”

Th-that's how you interpreted it? This bastard really was strange!

“Don't be ridiculous. I absolutely refuse to live locked up!”

“Just endure it for one year. I'll wipe them all out within a year.”

Don't smile while saying something so terrifying! And it would take three years, not one! Three whole years!

Damn it, forget best choice ever. The anger made the back of my neck tense, but I took several deep breaths and tried to calm down. The guy in front of me was not just my younger brother. He was an S-Class Awakened, a guildmaster who had been through every hardship imaginable. Even if I came at him emotionally, I would not leave a scratch.

I could never beat him by force. I had to work this out through conversation somehow.

“Even so, how am I supposed to live locked up for three, no, one year? I'd get depressed after being shut in my room for a month. Even if there are people targeting me, it would be hard for them to try anything in broad daylight. And if that isn't enough, I'll go around with a guardian. I could just go with Seonghan.”

“Of course, I'll let you go out occasionally.”

“How occasionally?”

The words had barely left my mouth before reality hit me. Here I was, negotiating my time outside with my younger brother. Even my parents would not have been able to tell me what to do at my age. How had things ended up like this?

What was worse, the bastard in front of me was practically someone I had raised! Our positions had completely reversed.

“That will depend on the schedule. Once dungeon raids begin, I won't be able to assign an A-Class to protect you. I wouldn't feel safe leaving you with a B-Class.”

So as long as I found an A-Class with free time, that would solve it.

I confidently opened my mouth.

“Then if I bring you a dedicated A-Class guard, let me move around freely.”

“...You're going to find an A-Class?”

“Yeah.”

Confusion filled Yoohyun's eyes before they suddenly sharpened.

“Hyung, you Awakened.”

“...Huh?”

H-how did he know? This bastard was frighteningly perceptive.

“You were trying to meet a broker this morning, so you must have been non-Awakened then. When did you Awaken? Right before meeting me? Right after? So that's why you willingly gave up contacting the broker. Your destination was the Hunter Association.”

...I had nothing to say. He should set up shop as a fortune teller.

“Your stat grade seems to be D-Class or lower.”

“You can tell that?”

“People with C-Class or higher stats have trouble adapting to their excessively altered physical abilities, so they look awkward. Especially once strength exceeds the B-Class average, nothing around them survives for at least three or four days. They can't control their strength, so they break everything.”

That made sense.

“You were like that too?”

“Yeah. But S-Classes seem to have high adaptability too, so I adjusted after one day. Of course, someone with only extremely high mental strength or magic power might not show it even if they're C-Class or above.”

“I'm an ordinary F-Class.”

“Your initial skill is a special skill? If you're confident you can bring in an A-Class, then you can either identify someone's prospective Awakening grade, make them Awaken, or both. It must be at least C-Class.”

It's S-Class. I couldn't say anything in front of this guy.

Seeing Yoohyun's displeased expression, it seemed better to downplay my skill after all.

“Like you said, it's an Awakening-related special skill, and it's C-Class. I can make non-Awakened people Awaken, and I can vaguely tell their expected Awakening grade.”

“How accurate is it?”

“About fifty-fifty. Just whether they're strong or weak. I couldn't distinguish you from Seonghan. It probably separates B-Class and above from below C-Class. A precise check has a thirty-day cooldown per use. Without the cooldown, it would probably be around A-Class.”

Yoohyun nodded at my words. His face, which had been shadowed, brightened slightly.

“Even if it gets exposed, you won't become a major target with that. It would be useful if you could identify people who are B-Class and above in advance, but the cooldown is too long. Even if you found A-Classes or S-Classes, there would be no guarantee they would sign a contract. And the bait of letting them Awaken will become useless soon, because Awakening Centers will be established.”

“Awakening Centers?”

I asked as if I did not know.

“The Awakening mechanism was roughly figured out recently, so construction on the centers will begin soon. Apparently, the Association's goal is to let anyone undergo a safe Awakening within the next six months. Word has already spread among the upper ranks of every guild, and they have received investments. I put in a certain amount too.”

“That's amazing. The number of Awakened will skyrocket.”

“The official announcement is four months away, so don't go around telling people.”

“You're going to let me meet people?”

He answered with a smile instead.

This crazy bastard. Why not just lock me in a solitary prison cell?

“Anyway, I'll find an A-Class to protect me, so just give me the chance.”

“Once every thirty days won't make it easy. A-Classes aren't exactly common.”

“It won't take a year, at least. If I'm lucky, I could find one right away.”

Of course, I did not need luck. I already knew who the A-Class was.

After thinking for a moment, Yoohyun finally spoke.

“Fine. If you really sign a contract with an A-Class, I won't forcefully try to protect you. But they must specialize in combat or defense.”

At last, he gave permission. What an absurdly picky little brother. There was one more condition, but it was not a problem. Park Yerim was famous as a combat mage.

The problem was the keyword, damn it.

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