WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈

Chapter 85: Big Sis, Could You… (2)

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To reach the rooftop garden, I had to go down to the first floor, then take an elevator back up. Sadly, I couldn't just step outside from the house.

I also had to contact security in advance before taking a walk in the garden. That way, the building staff could keep a close watch on the rooftop garden.

As for my privacy, well, I should be satisfied that there were no security cameras inside the house. ...There weren't any, right?

‘The sunlight hurts...’

The scorching summer sun stabbed at my tired eyelids the moment I stepped out of the elevator. I'd heard the garden was beautifully maintained, but I couldn't properly take it in.

‘Stamina potion ingredient dungeon... Hurry up...’

It wasn't supposed to appear for quite a while yet, but dungeon appearances had sped up, so please show up before I die from overwork. Maybe I should cling to the system administrators and beg them to make it appear immediately.

Comet woke up in the middle of the night, played for about an hour, ate, and went back to sleep.

Then an hour later, Comet woke up again. After playing for another hour, Comet went back to sleep, woke up thirty minutes later and chirped, fussed for about ten minutes before sleeping again, then woke up, slept, woke up... It only stopped after repeating that until eight in the morning.

I buried my head in bed, and exactly one hour later, at nine in the morning, Blue started bellowing loudly. I really felt like I was going to die.

‘Peace really was an angel...’

Peep was well-behaved enough, but Blue was good too. Blue let me sleep properly. What kind of regularity was this, going to sleep at nine and waking up at nine? Blue didn't fuss before sleeping either. Definitely well-behaved.

- Kyaau!

Blue gave a cheerful cry and leaped into the sky. The cream-colored griffon flying across the clear blue sky was dazzling. Blue flew around excitedly, but kept checking my position and never strayed too far away. What a good kid.

Meanwhile, Peep, tucked in my arms, was fluttering its wings as though excited by the garden. Since it wasn't immediately trying to jump down, Peep was the smart one.

"All right, you go play too."

- Peep!

When I set it down inside a flower bed, it started kicking through the vibrant grass with its feet before grabbing and tugging at it with its beak.

"Don't eat it."

I'd told them not to use pesticides because the kids would play here, but that didn't mean Peep could eat just anything.

I followed Peep for a while, then sat down the moment I spotted a bench. This was probably expensive too, since it was awfully comfortable for a bench. Maybe I should sleep.

‘I need to train Blue too.’

The Keyword had been applied right before we entered the A-Class dungeon, so I still hadn't been able to use My Kid. If I raised Blue quickly, at least Blue would need less attention... right? Blue wouldn't still be like this once grown up, would they?

- Kyau! Kyakya!

My mind went blank when I saw Blue stripping an ornamental tree bare. Blue would calm down after growing up...

‘And I need to start bringing in the people scheduled to Awaken special skills. I need to get a system in place quickly and at least hand people off to others. This workload is seriously too much.’

And now I was getting a call, too. So many random people had started contacting me that I'd eventually gotten another phone, but few people knew this number.

‘It's Riette's younger brother.’

It was the number Riette had given me and I'd saved. I'd heard he was coming today, but this was earlier than expected. Was he planning to sneak in like his older sister? He wouldn't be able to get through the miniportal, though.

When I answered, a polite voice came through. It sounded not merely young, but downright childish.

[This is Noah Ruhir, guildmaster of Arc. Am I speaking with Hunter Han Yujin?]

...Guildmaster? Noah Ruhir? Not Pebble?

"Yes, but isn't this Riette's younger brother's number?"

[Yes. I am her younger brother.]

Younger brother, huh. That was a little strange. I'd heard the siblings ran illegal dungeons together, so I'd naturally assumed he didn't belong to a guild. Yet he was a guildmaster, and even the name Riette had given me was different. Riette probably used another name publicly too.

‘Arc, and Noah Ruhir. Who was that again?’

I couldn't remember every overseas guild and Hunter. Still, I was certain he hadn't been within the top thirty Hunter rankings before my regression. Things would be different now that he'd earned the Dio Valshecis title with his older sister.

"That differs a little from what I heard. The name too."

[Yes. My elder sister... must have called me Pebble.]

So he really was her younger brother.

"I had no idea you were a guildmaster. Ms. Riette never mentioned it."

[My elder sister doesn't care much for guilds. There are quite a few guilds she has bad relations with. That's why she doesn't settle anywhere, instead traveling around the world in search of illegal dungeons. When she thinks something may be too much for her, she contacts me. She doesn't care about my schedule and drags me around, so it can be troublesome at times.]

His voice sounded bitter. His sister really put him through a lot.

[There are Korean guilds she's had conflicts with as well, so I would appreciate it if you could treat me as the guildmaster of Arc, which has no connection to her.]

"Of course."

Just seeing how recklessly Riette had broken into the dormitory of a major guild, I could imagine plenty of guilds disliked her. Even if she was an S-Class Hunter, was it really okay to live so wildly?

Noah formally asked me to invite him. He said he'd received consent from the Hunter Association, MKC, and Hanshin Guild, but since the other three guilds hadn't responded, he needed my invitation to officially visit the rearing facility. Haeyeon Guild and Breaker both had absent guildmasters, but why hadn't Sesung responded?

After saying I'd pass the word along to the Association, I set our appointment for the afternoon. I'd leave Blue at the rearing facility, then catch some sleep in the meantime.

* * *

Yerim stared at me with lukewarm eyes.

"Uncle, seriously..."

She glared steadily at the back of my neck, then let out a deep sigh. This was definitely it.

‘Ms. Kang Soyoung, I didn't think you had such a loose tongue.’

She had obviously told her. How far had it spread?

"I'll be staying with you today too. I attended class this morning."

"Just the morning class won't be enough."

"Ah, then I'll make up for it in the evening. Anyway, don't even think about meeting anyone alone from now on."

"...Don't file a complaint. I really didn't have bad intentions."

Yerim's gaze hurt. Manager Song would be all right, wouldn't he? It had definitely reached Seong Hyeonje's ears too. I hoped he wouldn't use it as an excuse to torment him. Destroying his car should have been enough.

Noah Ruhir arrived a little earlier than our appointment. Unlike Riette, he was a handsome young man with bright blond hair and metallic light-gray eyes.

The message window for Raucitas's Natural Enemy appeared and vanished. Those eyes were probably also an effect of the Dio Valshecis title. His hair color was completely opposite from Riette's too, so perhaps it was influenced by the colors of the twin dragons after all.

"Thank you for allowing my visit. It is an honor to meet you in person."

Noah greeted me very politely. An S-Class Hunter being this normal and courteous was surprising. Song Taewon was polite too, though.

"You must have had a tiring trip. The weather is lovely, so shall we head up?"

That was security's request. They said it was easier to monitor the outdoors than indoors, and they could respond more quickly in case of an emergency. Since they couldn't hear us but could watch our actions, it was certainly ideal for requests requiring confidentiality.

"Hunter Park Yerim will be joining us. Is that all right with you?"

Noah nodded at my question.

"I can remove my translation item. Hunter Park Yerim, are you proficient in English or French by any chance?"

"Just a liiittle English."

Yerim said it while holding her thumb and forefinger slightly apart. That should be fine. Still, it would be best to avoid mentioning Riette's name if possible.

"First, I would like to apologize for the rudeness my elder sister committed. I did not hear the details, but I'm sure she behaved unreasonably."

Noah dipped his head slightly as soon as we sat at a table in one corner of the garden. You know her well. How had such a diligent younger brother come from under a sister like that? Maybe because he had a sister like that?

"It wasn't such a bad meeting. Thanks to her, I got to know you as well, Mr. Noah."

An S-Class Hunter with an SSS-Class title was easy to apply a Keyword to thanks to the doubled skill effect. It was unfortunate that he was a guildmaster, but gaining even one more S-Class Hunter through the Keyword was worthwhile. Maybe I should have applied it to Riette then and there too.

‘She said he's a kind younger brother who listens well, so that's even better.’

Just in case, I'd confirmed their relationship too. As Riette had promised, he seemed polite and good-natured. Wasn't this practically laying out a welcome mat for me to say the Keyword?

"It seems you've had it difficult too, Mr. Noah. You came all this way because of your elder sister's request, didn't you?"

"It's not only for that. I cannot tell you the precise reason, but I plan to remain in Korea for the time being."

Did he have other business? I wanted to check Noah's status window, but I didn't know whether Riette had told him about my skill. He said he hadn't heard the details, so had she kept it secret even from her younger brother? If so, despite her behavior, she was somewhat trustworthy.

"I heard your elder sister has a monster she wishes to entrust to me."

"Yes. Though I could not bring it along myself. Soon, it will be possible to transport monsters by air rather than by ship. At first, an S-Class Hunter must accompany them, and a dedicated or chartered plane must be used, but I hear those requirements will gradually be relaxed."

Then, for a while, S-Class Hunters would have to personally come for overseas monster-rearing requests. I'd get to sit back and see famous faces. There were Hunters I was personally a fan of too. I wondered if they'd come.

"Of course, if I can find one, I would also like to request the rearing of a mount."

Noah smiled gently. He was so easygoing. I hoped the other S-Class Hunters who came in the future would be like this too.

"You're welcome anytime. Since you're here, please take a look around the facility before you leave. Ah, may I ask where you're staying?"

If I couldn't apply the Keyword today, I'd have to visit him sometime.

"I came alone for now, so I haven't decided yet. There are plenty of accommodations. Thank you for your consideration."

"Don't mention it. Noah, you're my beloved customer."

Would it work in one go or not? More importantly, he had two names. Was it fine to use either? As I watched Noah's reaction, Yerim unexpectedly poked my arm.

"Uncle, aren't you throwing around the word love way too casually? You did it to the Sesung Guildmaster too."

"It's just business."

"I still don't like it."

Oops. I should refrain from applying Keywords in front of Yerim. I'd said it a lot around her lately.

"All right. But don't people in the West say it casually? I've seen it used as a greeting or an exclamation a lot. So even if I said, 'I love you, Noah,' it might not feel like a big deal."

"...Is that so?"

I didn't know either. Either way, it seemed I shouldn't say the Keyword anymore, so I'd have to meet Noah separately later when Yerim wasn't around.

As I thought that and turned back to Noah, the atmosphere was strange. The person who had been smiling at me was staring fixedly at the table. His expression had hardened too.

"...Mr. Noah?"

It didn't seem like a reaction to the Keyword. Had my talk of love bothered him? As I was about to speak again,

Crack!

The corner of the table beneath Noah's hand crumbled.

Yerim rose from her seat first, and I followed. His silver-gray eyes were still fixed on the table. I heard a faint murmur.

"...He's weaker than me."

What nonsense was he...

"Uncle!"

Yerim grabbed my arm and pulled me back. Almost at the same time,

Crunch!

The table shattered, and my chest burned.

"Urgh!"

My body was thrown violently backward, rolling across the ground twice before stopping. Before I had time to think about what was happening, I tried to get up, felt intense pain in my chest, and sank back down. Blood was scattered over the ground. A potion, no, before that... I used the teacher skill on Yerim.

"You crazy bastard!"

Clang!

The Ice Tree Spear blocked the attack. It had struck against long, sharp claws. Unable to withstand the force, Yerim teleported backward.

Crash!

Enormously powerful claws tore through the spot where she had stood. Dirt and grass shot high into the air, along with fragments of the building's ceiling.

Shadowless Day was already deployed, and the mist of Sigh rippled over it. Noah stood amid the icy mist.

His eyes had transformed into those of a reptile. One arm had grown beastly claws and golden scales. More than anything, his face, his expression, was twisted like that of a madman. What on earth was happening?

"Yerim!"

I roughly sprayed a potion over my wound and stood.

"Stay there, Uncle!"

A surge of cold rose hard enough for me to feel from here.

Whoosh!

A rain of ice poured down toward Noah. But Noah casually swung his arm, smashing the attack away. Shadowless Day's restraining effect activated, but only held Noah's feet for a moment.

Meanwhile, Yerim was already drenched in blood. No, it would be fortunate if she was only injured. The blood flowing from the deep gashes on her left arm was black. Poison.

Damn it, the difference in level was too great after all. And for Yerim to fight at full strength, I was in the way because I had no Cold Resistance.

"Stop, Noah!"

I shouted roughly as I pulled out equipment focused on mental strength from my inventory. I really shouldn't have to use this, but I had no choice...

"...Huh?"

"Huh?"

Yerim and I both let out startled sounds at once. Noah really stopped?

Still staring at the ground, he backed away. His body was even trembling. Yerim heard him murmur faintly.

"...It's okay, that one's weak. Weaker than me. It's okay, I can kill him..."

I had no idea why he was saying that, but while an opening had appeared, I used Sprout to check at least his initial skills.

[Awakened: Noah

Current Stat Grade: S

Potential Stat Grade upon Awakening: A

Optimized Initial Skills

Silent Scream (S) Acquired

Stat Lending (A) Acquired

Healing Hand (B) Acquired]

...For a moment, I doubted my eyes. His potential stat grade upon Awakening was A. Not A to S. A. Even with an optimized Awakening, he should have been A-Class, yet his current stats were S-Class.

He had grown to S-Class in three years at most. That was absolutely not a normal rate of growth.

I hurriedly checked the My Kid skill window too.

(Noah-S)

The Keyword had indeed been applied. Noah's reaction, the growth of his stats to S-Class, what Riette had said about raising her younger brother. And right now, he saw me as his own older sister.

...Crazy. Riette, what the hell did you do?

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