WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The S-Classes That I Raised ◈

Chapter 87: Noah

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The rooftop garden was a wreck.

The tables were unrecognizable, the ground had been gouged up, trees had broken, and poison had pooled thickly like a swamp. Even A-Class Hunters could not easily approach the area.

On top of that, the frozen lawn and shrubs were still dripping water beneath the summer sunlight.

We had only moved in yesterday.

‘At least the building itself is intact.’

Considering two S-Class Hunters had fought here, the damage was remarkably light. Yerim was a low-level, freezing-focused magic-type, and judging from Noah's optimized initial skill, he had originally been support-type. The skills he used to attack all seemed related to the Dio Valshecis’s Twin title, so he probably wasn't used to using them yet.

Noah left with the Association Hunters, including Song Taewon. Aside from anything involving his sister, he seemed perfectly well-mannered, so he should be fine.

“Mister! You need treatment too!”

Yerim, fully recovered, waved me over impatiently. She was soaked through, apparently after dumping garden tap water over herself. The blood had been washed from her arm, which was smooth and unblemished, as if it had never been injured.

High-grade healers really were great. As long as you kept them supplied with mana potions, it was practically the same as being able to use precious high-grade health potions without restraint.

“I already used a potion...”

Splash.

The moment I came close, Yerim dumped a bucket of water over my head. It was summer, but the pouring water was cold.

“Come on, you still have scars. Healer mister, over here!”

Yerim floated slightly in the air as she checked my injuries and called for the healer. If there was a healer or potion available, it was best to quickly wash off wounds, inspect them, and then treat them, but she really didn't hesitate. The kid was a little tough.

Thanks to that, my scars were wiped away cleanly too. Seong Hyeonje left with the healer, saying he had business to attend to, and only a few people remained to handle the aftermath.

I needed to go inside, wash up, and change clothes, but I suddenly felt tired and just sat down on a nearby bench. If I went in soaking wet, I'd have to clean up the water I dripped everywhere. The summer sun was nice, so I'd dry off a little first.

“When did you get acquainted with another weird woman, Mister?”

Yerim asked as she sat beside me.

“Social media.”

“So this is the harm social media causes.”

Yerim muttered as she watched the Hunters clearing the poison. I thought that was a little different.

“Anyway, you really shouldn't throw around words like love so easily. You saw it earlier. That crazy guy went nuts when that weird woman said she loved him. I don't know why he took it out on you when you'd done nothing, but is it because he's crazy? If his condition gets weird like that, he should've told us his forbidden words beforehand.”

“I don't plan to do it anymore.”

I'd just raise monsters in peace. I could probably fill the quota within five years. Between today and Yerim, it was starting to seem dangerous to keep bringing up Keywords.

‘At first, I definitely wasn't planning to use Keywords so freely. Is this Fear Resistance at work too?’

I was doing things without fear or consideration for the consequences. When I thought about it, even saying the Keyword to Seong Hyeonje had been completely insane too. What was I planning to do by applying a Keyword to that man? Meet him regularly, use My Kid on him, and raise him?

From now on, I shouldn't even think about touching people who were already S-Class. I'd only use it on non-Awakened people with special skills of S-Class or higher who would likely have trouble with optimized Awakening. Naturally, after thoroughly looking into them first.

‘The title was Perfect Caregiver, so I only thought of it positively.’

Could the Keyword effect appear as long as the person had a strong influence as a caregiver, even if that influence was negative?

Come to think of it, Riette must have raised her younger brother with devotion in her own way. Maybe she was the S-Class advanced version of parents who shuttle their child from academy to academy, monitor their every move, and pressure them so they can't rest. It’s all for your own good. This is hard on me too. I spent money and time on you.

And an A-Class had gone from A-Class to S-Class. If you didn't know what was underneath and only looked at the surface, it was a success.

“...I was a little careless.”

“A little? Lately, you've been like a rabbit, Mister.”

“What does that mean?”

“You've been like that rabbit from the folktale, carrying your liver outside your body.[1] You did it earlier too. That crazy guy's sister was probably S-Class too, but you got mad at her. You had every reason to, but still, Mister, you're an outsider.”

“I have a younger brother too, so it doesn't feel like someone else's business.”

The Keyword had already been applied, so Noah wasn't entirely a stranger either. And the skill was called My Kid... Not that it really meant that, but when I thought of the names in the skill window, the skill's name felt rather unpleasant. That damn Deer.

“It is someone else's business. And why do you talk about your brother like you raised him as a child? You said your parents died when you were in high school, right? Then the Guildmaster must have been around thirteen or fourteen. He was practically grown up. I'm fifteen too.”

“What do you mean, grown up? Besides, I looked after Yoohyun from around the time he started kindergarten. He even gave me carnations on Parents' Day.”

It hurt to remember how I had thrown all of them away in a fit of anger. Maybe I should have asked to go back seven years instead of five.

Yerim's eyes widened.

“Why? Your parents were alive and well, right? You were a kid too. ...Was your family situation maybe not very good...?”

“It wasn't like that. They both worked, so... I guess it just happened that way? My parents got along well. After work, they went out to eat together every other day, and they went out on weekends. They died together because of an accident while traveling too. Everyone around us knew they were a loving couple.”

“...That seems a little unusual.”

Yerim said, narrowing her brow slightly.

Well, there were parents in the world who had no interest in their children. They took care of the basics, and people around us said we were a happy family, so I had accepted it.

‘Come to think of it, I never thought of my parents at all when I used the Wish Stone.’

I had been focused entirely on Yoohyun, but even otherwise, I probably wouldn't have considered returning to before my parents died. Even if I tried to stop or warn them about the trip, I doubted they would've listened. More than anything, I didn't want to go through Dungeon Shock again.

Even if the same events repeated, there was no guarantee the outcome would be the same. What if Yoohyun failed to Awaken in time and was attacked by a monster...?

No. I couldn't let that happen.

‘Still, I feel sorry all over again.’

Once Yoohyun came out, I should visit the columbarium.

* * *

Facilities meant to restrain high-grade Awakened were still inadequate. Especially if the person was an S-Class combat Hunter, being held there was practically voluntary. There was only one S-Class Hunter affiliated with a national agency, so it was impossible to watch them one-on-one around the clock. Thus, whenever an S-Class Hunter was brought in like today, a faint tension settled over the entire Hunter detention center.

Noah Ruhir sat in a visitation room chair. He was far calmer than when he had lashed out, but his face still showed traces of confusion.

A moment later, the door opened and Sesung's Guildmaster, Seong Hyeonje, entered. He tossed an item that blocked surrounding sound onto the table and sat across from Noah.

“I never told you to cause trouble as soon as you entered the country.”

His tone suggested mild disbelief. In truth, it was rare for him to be caught off guard.

Noah's poison skill, granted by the Dio Valshecis’s Twin title, was S-Class. Even with a fairly high-grade Poison Resistance item, it was not something a person with F-Class stats could endure. Fortunately, it was a kind of curse poison that gradually took over the target's body rather than acting immediately, so he had hurried to the rearing facility with a healer.

But what he found when he arrived was completely different from what he had expected.

“...I'm sorry.”

Noah spoke. His voice lacked strength, but unlike before Riette, he was not frightened.

“Rather than an apology, I'd like to hear your reason. I can't understand this situation at all.”

Seong Hyeonje roughly knew about Noah and Riette's relationship. Noah had joined under Seong Hyeonje in the first place to gain the strength to stand against his sister.

“It hasn't even been long since I made you useful, and you've already ruined everything. At this rate, it'll become difficult for you to operate properly in Korea.”

Seong Hyeonje let out an exaggerated sigh.

“If the compensation has been paid, you should keep your promise.”

“...Even if it was compensation, my sister ultimately received the same thing, didn't she?”

A faint sharpness entered Noah's eyes. Seong Hyeonje accepted the look without concern.

“What could I do when those were the title's conditions? When I said I would make you stronger, I didn't add the condition that it had to be stronger than Riette. The compensation wasn't wrong.”

Noah's brow furrowed at those shameless words from someone who knew all the circumstances. At the same time, he looked at Seong Hyeonje as though he could not understand.

For Riette, who was already strong enough, to obtain the Dio Valshecis’s Twin title could not possibly be welcome news for Seong Hyeonje either. No matter how valuable an SSS-Class title was, giving it to someone who could hold a blade to his throat was still strange.

“Why on earth...?”

“Rather than such a trivial matter, I'd like to hear why you attacked Han Yujin. This is already the second time I've asked.”

Noah shut his mouth. The hand resting on the table twitched slightly without his realizing it.

“...I had a strange feeling from the first time I met him.”

“A strange feeling?”

“Yes. Something similar to my sister or me. The cursed poison dragon species... I suppose.”

From the moment he felt it, he had been slightly tense. That strange aura had been even stronger than Riette's.

“He clearly looked weak, and he really was weak, but he seemed like a higher species.”

“So you were reminded of your sister?”

“...Probably.”

Noah answered with a slight tilt of his head. He sounded uncertain himself.

He was certain that he had sensed Riette in Han Yujin. Even now, thinking of him made his heart pound. Noah clasped both hands tightly together.

“The cursed poison dragon species, is it a title? I wondered where the S-Class or higher Poison Resistance had suddenly come from. Perhaps he also has Curse Resistance, like you or Riette. That would be troublesome.”

Seong Hyeonje murmured quietly. He could not even guess how someone with F-Class stats had obtained such a title. According to Noah, it was even above Dio Valshecis. Even if it was merely similar, that still made it SSS-Class.

‘Though he doesn't seem to have any offensive skills... Was it when he was kidnapped?’

He had definitely been informed that two people had died from poison and the others had fallen victim to curse skills.

After sinking deep into thought, Seong Hyeonje stood. He looked down at Noah for a moment before picking up the item on the table.

“For a while, let's leave it looking as though we have no connection.”

Seong Hyeonje had shown no reaction during Noah's entry into Korea or his visit to the rearing facility, so there was no reason to draw suspicion. A visit out of curiosity as someone related to the incident was not strange, either.

Even after Seong Hyeonje left, Noah remained seated without moving. A signal came from outside telling him to come out, but he ignored it. Unable to enter carelessly, people paced restlessly beyond the door.

‘...Han Yujin.’

Riette's voice rang in his ears. She must have been furious. Noah unconsciously hunched his shoulders.

He remembered how she had shown rare affection for Han Yujin and repeatedly told Noah to treat him well, to make a good impression. Yet because of him, their relationship had not merely soured. Riette had been cast aside entirely. Han Yujin's angry voice telling her not to think of entering Korea, not to even dream of showing her face, mingled with Riette's voice.

Then Riette's voice gradually grew quieter, until it finally cut off.

Decisively.

“Ah...”

Noah looked down at the back of his hand, pierced by his nails, which had somehow grown sharp. Blood was running down it. Yet as if he had been anesthetized, he felt no pain.

Instead, a fearful urgency filled his whole body.

Rattle.

In the end, he could not endure any longer and sprang to his feet.

* * *

“The preparations are perfect.”

I spread every kind of toy across the living room and muttered in satisfaction.

“To make Comet sleep deeply, the best thing is to wear Comet out by playing to Comet's heart's content.”

The longest Comet had slept the previous night was an hour, after playing excitedly. We played for another hour afterward, but because I was tired, I only played along moderately, and Comet woke up after thirty minutes.

So if I played with Comet with all my strength for as long as possible, Comet would sleep for a long time. Please let that happen.

‘Comet is too young to leave at the rearing facility like the unicorns.’

Besides, the two unicorns clung to each other, so they didn't seek me out much or get lonely. Comet, on the other hand, would chirp and fly around as though searching for me whenever Comet woke up and couldn't see me.

So what could I do? I'd have to endure with naps for a while. At least I could leave Blue at the rearing facility during the day. Peep was calm unless Peep was in glutton mode. Lately, Peep had gotten interested in children's toys and played well alone too.

- Chirp!

Peep toddled over and chirped once more at my feet.

“What is it, Peep? Did you finish the puzzle? Want me to turn it over?”

- Chirp, chirp!

The pose of flapping Peep's wings and hopping around meant Peep wanted to be held. When I lifted the bouncing ball of fluff, Peep quickly settled down. Blue was already asleep, and perhaps I should put Peep to bed soon too.

Then my phone rang. When I answered, Song Taewon's somewhat tense voice came through.

[Are you alone at home right now?]

“What? For the moment, yes.”

Yu Myeongu was in a state of being both there and not there. At some point, he would appear, cook for me, and disappear again. Was he some kind of snail bride?

[Noah Ruhir has disappeared. Do not come outside under any circumstances, just in case. The Haeyeon Guild has been contacted, so Hunter Kim Seonghan will arrive shortly.]

“...Yes, understood.”

He had disappeared? Where had he gone? Since he had the same title, perhaps Noah had a skill to hide himself, like Riette did. If so, he would be difficult to find.

‘We were going to put him in detention and talk him around slowly. This is troublesome.’

I thought he had calmed down, but what if he came looking for me again... No way?

I put Peep down and approached the front door. A monitor was mounted on the wall that showed not only directly outside the door, but also the area around the miniportal entrance.

On the clear screen, I could see a platinum-blond young man crouching beside the portal.

‘...What was this, some kicked-out puppy?’

Why was he sitting there like that? First, I texted Kim Seonghan and asked him to wait outside the building for a while. If the two of them fought inside, I'd be homeless in no time.

Then I picked up the intercom receiver connected to the miniportal.

“Mr. Noah?”

Noah lifted his head from where it had been buried between his knees. I had worried that simply hearing my voice might agitate him, but thankfully, he only looked slightly frightened.

“Did something happen?”

When I asked as gently as possible, he slowly rose.

[...No. I just got a little scared...]

“Of Riette?”

He nodded. He had made a huge mess, so of course he would fear the aftermath. His eyes trembled faintly, making me click my tongue. Honestly, Riette.

“Do you want to come inside?”

The words slipped out, and I was startled. No, this wasn't right. Fortunately, Noah shook his head first.

[No... I might not be able to hold back again... Could I just stay here for a little while? Until morning, at least.]

“Yes. That's fine. But in the morning, you must quietly return to the detention center.”

I swallowed a sigh as I watched Noah nod. This would be uncomfortable.

After putting down the receiver, I called Song Taewon. When I explained that Noah was in front of the portal and had promised to return quietly in the morning, Song Taewon was silent for a long time before finally saying, “Understood.”

[If he is willing to cooperate, waiting would be better. I will come there as well.]

“I think you could come in the morning. Hunter Kim Seonghan is already here.”

[To subdue him with minimal damage in case something happens, I should join you.]

“...Should I try persuading him to return to detention right away?”

[No. It is better than searching for him all night.]

That was true, but still. It was fortunate that the staff night-duty room was well-equipped.

I relayed much the same thing to Kim Seonghan, then turned back to the monitor. Noah remained crouched in the exact posture I had first seen him in.

And in the morning, as promised, he quietly returned to the detention center.

Before I could even breathe a sigh of relief, news came that Yoohyun had emerged from the dungeon.

Far sooner than expected.

Footnotes:

[1] A Korean folktale rabbit claims to have left its liver outside its body. The same image is an idiom for reckless boldness.

Ureonggaksi, rendered here as “snail bride,” is a Korean folktale figure who secretly performs household work.

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