The S-Classes That I Raised – Chapter 28

[ Perfect Nurturer ]

“…I’m in my twenties, not my thirties.”

I muttered in disbelief. Grandfather… I never thought I’d be called that by someone older than me. My hair is still black, my skin is firm without a single wrinkle. What part of me makes you think of your grandfather?

[Yes, I know that. But last night, when you were drunk, you reminded me of my grandfather. He also used to say ‘I love you’ often when he was drinking.]

“So that’s why…”

But it’s still weird! I mean, if a girl you’re interested in gets drunk and says ‘I love you,’ do you think of your grandfather then too? Or your grandmother?

“Still, I’m not going to get drunk anymore, so you won’t have any reason to think of your grandfather, right?”

Especially since I have no intention of ever saying “I love you” again. …I feel like I’ve maxed out my lifetime quota, damn it.

[…I suppose you’re right.]

There was an uncharacteristic note of reluctance in Kim Seonghan’s voice.

[But even so, Yujin, you still remind me of my grandfather.]

“No, even if you say that…”

[Is that a problem?]

“…What?”

[I won’t say anything strange in front of others. I just mean that maybe we could keep in touch and see each other occasionally. We’re in the same guild anyway, so it wouldn’t be much of a bother.]

…Is he asking me to play the role of his grandfather? I really don’t understand. Was there something wrong with the alcohol we drank last night? What kind of thought process leads someone to be reminded of their grandfather by hearing someone drunk say “I love you”… Oh…

‘…Wait a minute. If it’s a grandfather who raised him.’

That’s a caregiver.

I said the keyword “love you” to Kim Seonghan while drunk.

Kim Seonghan heard the keyword and was reminded of his grandfather.

Not a parent, friend, or lover, but the person who raised him.

And he saw that caregiver in me.

The puzzle pieces were starting to fall into place.

I thought about Yerim’s oddly affectionate behavior toward me, how Yu Myungwoo kept clinging to me, and my younger brother’s overly protective attitude since the moment the skill was applied…

‘…Damn, what the hell is this?’

The puzzle pieces fit, but my mind became even more chaotic.

It’s too perfectly aligned to deny. It explains why everyone’s behavior, from Yuhyun to Kim Seonghan, has changed so strangely.

If the hidden effect of the Perfect Nurturer title or the My Kid Is the Best skill is to make those affected see me as the most excellent caregiver they know, then…

[Han Yujin? If you’re uncomfortable, I can…]

“Oh, no. It’s fine.”

I held my overheated head and mumbled an answer.

“I’m still a bit hungover… I need to wash my face.”

[Are you feeling that unwell? Maybe you should get an IV drip.]

“No, I’m fine. I just need to splash some cold water on my face.”

[It’s hot outside, but cold water might—]

“I’m fine. Really, I’m fine. I’m still in my twenties. I’ll hang up now.”

I forced myself to end the call with Kim Seonghan, who kept fussing over me as if I were an elderly man.

In the silence that followed, I repeatedly ran my hand through my hair.

Let’s… sort this out.

Sort it… sort…

‘…What kind of madman designed this system?!’

If this were a game, I’d leave a one-star review on every platform and write a twenty-page rant about how terrible it is.

I can’t even tell if this is a skill effect or a title effect. Since it’s triggered by a keyword, it seems like a skill, but the effect matches perfectly with the Perfect Nurturer title.

Whatever, I don’t care anymore.

I sighed a few times to calm myself down.

‘So, if the keyword is applied, the person sees me as their caregiver… right?’

Kim Seonghan just said that I reminded him of his grandfather who raised him.

In Yuhyun’s case, I was already his caregiver, so his feelings toward me have intensified. If his worry and anxiety doubled, it makes sense that he’d try to lock me up.

No, doubling seems too much. He even let me go. Since it’s the same person, maybe it’s only about one and a half times stronger?

‘I thought he was acting strange.’

So it was because of my skill or title. Sorry for misunderstanding you, Yuhyun.

As for Myungwoo… maybe he sees me as an older brother. He definitely didn’t act like I was a parent.

Finally, there’s Park Yerim.

‘…Dad?’

Dad seems the most likely. …I want to believe that.

But usually… especially with girls…

No, some daughters are really close to their dads. Maybe Yerim’s dad was particularly involved in raising her. Maybe her mom was the breadwinner, and she grew up with her dad. That must be it. It has to be.

‘It didn’t feel like she was treating me like a mom, did it?’

Yeah, if she thought I was her mom, she would’ve done more than just say Myungwoo was creepy when he got close. She would’ve called the police. It’s because she thinks I’m her dad that she just found it gross. Definitely.

I let out a deep sigh and opened the My Kid Is the Best skill window, examining it closely.

[※Cannot be applied if the target is aware of the keyword’s effect.]

This line stood out.

Before, I didn’t think much of it, but now that I know about this hidden effect, it feels completely different.

‘Does “aware of the keyword’s effect” mean the person realizes why they see me as their caregiver?’

If someone who sees me as their parent figures out that their feelings are due to the skill, they’d naturally feel betrayed. Losing their trust would mean I’d no longer be their “perfect nurturer,” right?

‘Yuhyun would be fine even if he found out, and Myungwoo would probably let it slide, considering everything I’ve done for him.’

But Park Yerim and Kim Seonghan could be a problem.

Of course, if I don’t get caught, everything will be fine. It’s an L-rank title and an L-rank skill. It would probably take an SSS-rank Willpower stat to even notice something’s wrong. So as long as I keep my mouth shut, there’s no chance the affected targets will realize the keyword’s effect.

…And of course, I’ll never get drunk again. Maybe I should gag myself before bed to prevent sleep-talking.

‘I should just use it on monsters or something. It should be safe if they can’t talk.’

I’m too scared to say “I love you” now. I won’t be able to confess ever again… Wait, what?

Hold on. What if I actually fall in love with someone?

‘The moment I confess, do I go from boyfriend to dad…?’

I could even become the mom.

Imagine seriously saying, “I love you,” only to have the other person blush and say, “I love you too, Mom~.” This is insane, insane, insane, damn it, this is crazy!!!

‘It’s okay. I just won’t say “I love you.”’

Not for the rest of my life. Not even by accident, not even in my sleep, not even offhandedly.

A single slip of the tongue, and the wife you’ve been living happily with could suddenly say, “I’m sorry, but Mom is still Mom,” and leave to find a new man.

And then she might come back to introduce him to me, her ex-husband, as her new fiancé. Maybe she’d ask me to sit in the parents’ seats at the wedding? Light the candles? And my wife’s new husband would be bowing to me like I’m his father-in-law? What?

What kind of soap opera nightmare is this?

I was sweating so much it felt like even my eyes were sweating.

‘If I ever meet someone I really want to spend the rest of my life with, I’ll just cut off my tongue.’

Cut it off clean, damn it. I’ll just say it was an accident in a dungeon. …But what if Yuhyun sends a healer to regenerate it? A-ranked healers can regrow tongues. Would I have to become a crazy person who refuses treatment?

…Forget it. I don’t care anymore. I’m not going to have any romance in the next five years anyway. I won’t think about it.

‘Lower-ranked skills don’t have nearly this many complications…’

Then again, even at A-rank, there were a few undocumented effects, so it’s no surprise that L-rank has more. But it feels like I’m navigating a minefield. I’m almost scared to use skills now.

‘Shouldn’t they at least warn you about such important effects? Just one more line in the description, like “the target will see the caster as their caregiver.”’

Perfect Nurturer, My Kid Is the Best, growth buff, “I love you,” influence. There were hints, but how was I supposed to piece that together? I’m not Sherlock Holmes.

By observing your blue tie, I deduce that you had bean soup for breakfast, recently broke up with your significant other, started quitting smoking, and are left-handed. Wow!

I should just raise monsters. That would be safe and peaceful.

With my thoughts somewhat sorted out, I got out of bed. Wait, I feel like I’m forgetting something.

“Oh, right.”

I sent a text to Kim Seonghan, asking him to stop by before he entered the dungeon. Since the skill was applied, I might as well help him grow. And… that’s it, right?

The hangover was gone, but my head still felt heavy. Since I had to attend rookie hunter training, I needed to wash up and get going. What time was it? It was 10 AM… Crap, I’m late!

“They changed it to 2 PM.”

As I rushed out the door, Yu Myungwoo poked his head out of the kitchen and called out.

“But more importantly, that cat has been really anxious since last night—”

“Cat? Peace?”

“You were out of it when you got home, so I carried you in. I think it scared him.”

Oh no. Since he can’t understand, I couldn’t even explain that I was just a little out of it from drinking.

I hurried to the living room. There, instead of resting comfortably, Peace was huddled up against the glass door.

“Peace!”

-Groan, groan! Eek!

The moment he saw me, Peace started pawing at the glass and whimpering desperately. Yeah, yeah. My poor baby. You were so worried.

I quickly opened the door and scooped up Peace, who immediately clung to me.

“You were so scared, huh? It’s okay, I’m sorry. That won’t happen again.”

-Growl

“Yeah, yeah. My little Peace.”

If I ever get that drunk again, I’ll be a dog, a dog.

“Here.”

Yu Myungwoo approached, holding a tray with four cups on it. But why are there four cups? And why are they all different colors?

“What’s that?”

“Hangover drinks. The first one’s from your brother, the second from Kim Seonghan, the third from Park Yerim, and the last one I bought.”

I appreciate the thought, but I don’t need them.

“As you can see, I’m fine, so I don’t need to drink them.”

“They said they’d check if you drank them.”

“Who?”

“All three of them.”

Wait, they’re actually going to check? …Well, it’s my fault for using the skill without knowing what I was doing. It’s not a big deal; I just have to drink them, right? I was about to reach for one but stopped.

“You won’t tell them which one I drank first, right?”

“If they ask, I’ll have to answer…”

Yu Myungwoo replied hesitantly. Well, it’s not like he could refuse.

Let’s see, Kim Seonghan should be fine. But Yuhyun and Yerim are the real problem. We’ve already had a confrontation.

I doubt they’d fight over this, but better safe than sorry.

After a brief moment of thought, I picked up the drink Yuhyun had sent. When in doubt, side with the strongest.

“By the way, do you have any older brothers you’re close to?”

I asked as I finished the last drink. Since I’m still only half-sure about the skill’s effects, I need to confirm it.

“Brothers? No, just older sisters, a lot older.”

…Could it be? The way you’ve been sticking to me, it might be. Being seen as a sister is better than a mom, but still, I don’t like it.

“Were you close with your sisters?”

“Not at all.”

Phew, thank goodness.

“What about your parents?”

Myungwoo smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“If we’d gotten along, I wouldn’t have signed that slave contract. I got a decent allowance as a kid, back when we were doing well financially. But both my parents worked, so I hardly ever saw them. My sisters ignored me at first, then treated me like a servant. They’ve been married off for a while now, so we don’t even keep in touch.”

If it’s not family, then who am I to you? A relative? A teacher? Some neighborhood adult?

“Um, do you ever think of anyone in particular when you look at me?”

I just came right out and asked. Myungwoo looked puzzled.

“No?”

No? What the hell, did I misinterpret the whole thing?

“Is there anyone you’ve relied on a lot in your life, someone who’s helped you more than anyone else? You’d think there’d be at least one person like that.”

“Of course.”

Myungwoo spoke with a bit of embarrassment.

“It’s you, Yujin.”

“…Me?”

“Yeah. Obviously, it’s you. Who else would it be? Even if we put what happened at the Association aside, you came to save me in a place full of gangsters. Even if you were my blood relative, they’d hesitate. My family would have definitely turned a blind eye.”

He had a point.

But I didn’t start helping him until after the keyword was applied. Before that, all I did was talk to him a few times. That shouldn’t have been enough to be seen as a caregiver.

Maybe if someone doesn’t have a suitable caregiver, the effect doesn’t apply?

‘Come to think of it, I don’t have anyone who could be considered a caregiver either.’

Of course, I had people who looked after me. But there wasn’t anyone I could fondly remember, full of gratitude, like Yuhyun or Kim Seonghan had.

Even with a powerful L-rank skill or title, it can’t create something out of nothing. So Myungwoo genuinely likes me and clings to me because of that…

“Why are you backing away? Are you still hungover?”

“Huh? Oh, a little…”

For the sake of my privacy and mental health, I’d like to keep a reasonable distance.

‘So that leaves Yerim as the last one.’

Yuhyun’s feelings have only intensified, but he still sees me as his older brother, so that’s impossible to confirm. Yerim is the only one left.

…Dad, please let it be Dad. I believe in you, Yerim. I believe in your dad, who I’m sure was very family-oriented.

–TL Notes–
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