The S-Classes That I Raised – Chapter 43

[ My Little Brother… (3) ]

‘It’s not like top-tier monsters will be easy to find anytime soon, and the ones coming from overseas will take a while to arrive, so I guess I’ll be free for a while.’

Currently, it’s impossible to transport monsters by plane. As a result, the monsters Haeyeon purchased are scattered across the ocean. I hope they all arrive safely without any incidents.

“Hyung.”

After everyone had left, Yuhyun, who stayed behind, called out to me. I picked up Peace, who had chewed through the chair frame, and turned to look at him.

“Don’t mind what the Breaker Guild Leader said. She’s known for being… a bit crazy.”

If he feels the need to explain, maybe he’s a little bothered after all.

“I don’t care. They’ve only known you for a couple of years, at most.”

Of course, he’s changed. He couldn’t possibly be the same as when he was younger. But five years from now, this kid put his life on the line to save mine.

That’s all that matters, no matter what anyone says.

Even though I said it was fine, Yuhyun looked even more uneasy.

“…But I’ve never done anything that would really weigh on my conscience.”

“Really?”

“…Mostly?”

“Come on. I don’t expect you to have lived a spotless, perfectly honest life.”

I only became clean after I came back in time. At my words, Yuhyun looked indignant.

“You said you trusted me before.”

“Yeah, but that’s different. I’ve lived five more years than you. I’ve seen enough to understand how things work.”

With my experience, you could say I’ve lived nearly ten years longer than him.

“No matter what you’ve done, I’m sure it was unavoidable. And even if it wasn’t, well, blood is thicker than water. I’m not some squeaky-clean, upright person who has to dig through every little thing my family’s done to be satisfied.”

Quite the opposite, really. If I were the type who insisted on perfect righteousness, I wouldn’t still be standing here.

“But if the number one guild in the world called, would you really go?”

Yuhyun asked half-jokingly.

“If they were the undisputed number one, what would my opinion matter? But such a guild doesn’t exist.”

There’s no global guild of that scale yet. Even in five years, guilds were barely managing to handle the dungeons in their own countries. Some might influence a neighboring country or two, but becoming a global powerhouse was too difficult. The best they could do was muscle in on Chinese hunters or steal valuable dungeon rights from smaller nations.

Of course, there’s no guarantee things will play out exactly the same as they did before I regressed. Even just making high-tier mounts more common would change a lot.

‘…At this rate, my knowledge of the future might soon become useless.’

Not that it matters. I’m just aiming to make some money and retire comfortably.

“When do you want me to check your skills?”

“I’m going to be too busy for a while… Sorry. With the Slime Dungeon and the mount business on top of that, I’m swamped.”

Since the Slime Dungeon is so profitable, I guess it’s attracting a lot of unwanted attention.

“Still, the guilds that showed up today won’t be able to give you any trouble, right? The Breaker Guild Leader was practically begging you to trade even just one high-tier monster.”

She had been willing to offer all sorts of compensation, saying she didn’t need anything fancy—just something fast and durable.

“There’s not much trouble from domestic guilds except for some hassle from the Association. The real issue is Japan.”

“Why are those guys interfering in another country’s business?”

“Because Japan doesn’t have a Slime Dungeon yet. Not even a C-Class one. So they have to import everything. Now that we’ve got an A-Class Slime Dungeon, they’re having a fit. And it’s not just the guilds; it’s coming from their government too.”

I was about to curse. Damn monkeys have no shame. When was it decided that governments would minimize their involvement in guild affairs and only mediate through the Hunter Association? And now they’re stepping in to harass a guild in another country?

“…Isn’t it still forbidden for governments to interfere with foreign guilds?”

“Yeah. The restriction only applies domestically. Besides, Haeyeon doesn’t have any operations in Japan and minimal interactions with them, so apart from the mounts, we’re not too affected for now.”

“The mounts? Don’t tell me one of the monsters you bought came from Japan.”

Yuhyun nodded.

“A high-tier monster juvenile. It’s stuck at the port right now. If we can’t resolve it, I’m considering handing it over to Breaker or another guild.”

“They really are playing dirty.”

“Even though they’re being blatant about it, we still have to handle things diplomatically. If worse comes to worst, we can ask for help from the Association or the government, but it’s better not to owe any favors.”

“Wouldn’t they step in on their own? We are a domestic guild, after all.”

“They might, if things get too extreme. The government’s policy of minimizing involvement with guilds is a double-edged sword. Usually, it works in our favor, but in cases like this, it’s a pain.”

I guess getting the Slime Dungeon wasn’t all good news. I expected trouble from other domestic guilds, but I didn’t think Japan would get involved. Still, it’s better than losing the dungeon altogether.

“Let me know when you have time for me to check your skills. I can always make time.”

I can take a day off from taking care of the monsters, and other than that… Oh, right, there’s the TV appearance.

Do I really have to go?

“Han Yujin, your final Awakener grade has been confirmed as B-Class.”

The Hunter Association employee said with a smile.

From a lifelong F-Class to B-Class in one go. Wow. If I revealed all my titles and skills, I could probably reach A-Class, but I’m satisfied with this. I need to keep a low profile unless my stats are at least B-Class.

“If you have any objections to the final grade, you can file an appeal with the relevant documents at the reception center within ten business days.”

When there’s a large gap between someone’s stats and their skill grades, there are usually two ways the Awakener grade is decided: by the grade of the dungeon they can raid or by an internal meeting of the Association.

Naturally, mine was the latter. With my current stats, even an F-Class dungeon would be tough to clear without equipment. Even with the help of an S-Class adult monster, anything above C-Class would be dangerous. One stray piece of shrapnel could send me straight to the afterlife with my glass-body constitution.

“B-Class? Isn’t that too low?”

As I received my reissued hunter license and turned around, Yerim, who had been waiting for me, grumbled. Standing next to her was Kim Jiyeon, an A-Class hunter. They had come along to ensure my safety.

“Dungeon grading is mostly based on what you can clear. If your stats are F-Class, even with good skills, A-Class is the best you can get.”

Unless you have some kind of amazing defensive skill that can protect you perfectly.

I lightly humored Yerim, who continued to grumble, as we got into the car. Luckily, no one had approached us, though I could feel some distant stares. The news about me hadn’t spread far yet.

“Mister, when are you going to check my skills?”

As soon as she got into the back seat, Yerim started pestering me. Ever since she hit level 10 and got Pale Rain, she hadn’t stopped bugging me about it.

“I told you to get two more skills.”

“I’m nowhere near level 30, let alone 20! Ah, how about we clear a dungeon together? I might get a good skill when I hit level 20.”

You haven’t even gotten your level 10 skill. What makes you think you’ll get something at 20? And besides, the dungeon levels don’t even match.

“Don’t say ridiculous things. By the way, aren’t you filming something soon?”

“Yeah. For the Association to do a broadcast with a monster, they need at least three A-Class hunters to accompany them. They’re also setting up a hunter-focused special. Moon Hyunah unnie is supposed to be on it too.” (TL Note: Unnie means Older Sister, much like Noona. Except Noona is used by men and Unnie is used by women.)

…Wait, why is she on it again? Doesn’t she have better things to do as a guild leader?

“Why do you call her ‘unnie’? I’m younger than the Breaker Guild Leader.”

“If she’s not married, she’s ‘unnie.’”

“…What about me?” (TL Note: Reminder that she refers to him as Ajusshi, which stands for Uncle/Mister, instead of Oppa, which stands for Older Brother)

“You’re not married either, but you’ve got a kid. You’re always calling yourself Peace’s dad.”

That’s unfair. Sure, I’m raising Peace, but there’s a species barrier here, so why am I being treated like a dad?

“Let’s not play favorites. Treat everyone equally.”

“Then I’ll start calling Hyunah unnie ‘Ajumma’—” (TL Note: Ajumma means Auntie, used to refer to older women. As you can infer, women don’t like being called Ajumma, since it’s the same as calling them old)

“On second thought, just call her ‘unnie’! Unnie is fine.”

Yeah, what does age even matter? Strength and power are what count. A woman who can swing a spear twice her height like a flyswatter and crush monsters isn’t an old woman.

This is my third time at the broadcasting station. Well, if you count before I regressed.

The first time was a brief interview about Yuhyun, and the second… was about some hunter-related crime… or something like that.

Both times, I was pretty much treated like an afterthought. But this time, things were different.

“Wow, is that the monster?”

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

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

I was getting attention with every step. Sure, 90% of it was because of Peace in my arms, but there were still quite a few people who seemed interested in me as well.

That’s because last night, a news segment about the benefits of raising high and top-tier mounts aired on the 9 o’clock news.

The report, which spent a significant amount of time detailing the massive advantages of having these mounts, caused quite a stir.

They explained that dungeon clear times could be reduced by up to 50%, and the response was enthusiastic. Articles about mounts flooded the portals, and Haeyeon Guild ranked third in search results, thanks to its connection with both the mounts and S-Class dungeon profits.

Of course, my own name ranked lower than Yuhyun’s.

‘I’m going to get compared again when this airs.’

I’d be lucky if they only compared our ranks. More likely, they’ll compare our appearances, too. They’ll probably say stuff like, “Wow, the brothers look nothing alike.” It’s not fair to compare me to a guy with S-Class stat bonuses who looks like a celebrity.

For the sake of my mental health, I should probably stay off the internet for a while.

‘This waiting room is nice.’

Last time, they didn’t even give me a chair, but now there’s a plush-looking sofa and snacks on the table. Over in one corner, Yerim was having her hair and makeup touched up after the trip over. And on the sofa…

“Welcome, Oppa!” (TL Note: She has been calling him Oppa, but I have been omitting it)

Breaker Guild Leader Moon Hyunah sat with her long legs crossed. Why does she keep calling me ‘Oppa’?

“Hello.”

Last time, she was barefaced, but today she’d put on a bit of makeup. She really was a stunning beauty… I’d rather admire from afar.

“Hurry over here and sit down. Want a candy?”

“I don’t really like sweets.”

I pretended not to see her patting the spot next to her and sat across from her instead. As soon as I sat down, Peace tried to jump off my lap, and I hurried to hold him back.

“No, stay still.”

— Grrr.

“We already played a lot before we got here. You can’t cause trouble in this place.”

His energy levels were increasing day by day, making it harder to manage him. I really needed to find a bigger place, even temporarily. It wasn’t going to be feasible to keep him cooped up at home much longer.

“You’ve really got the hang of taking care of a kid.”

Moon Hyunah said, moving over to sit next to me. Go away.

“Please don’t get so close. People might get the wrong idea.”

“So what? You’re going to be raising my kid, after all.”

…Ugh, that gave me chills. Why does she have to say things like that? Just then, Yerim shouted as if she couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Mister’s going to raise my kid too!”

“Yerim!”

What the hell is she saying? Even if she doesn’t mean it literally!

“What? It’s true.”

“Even if it is, you can’t just say it like that!”

And Moon Hyunah, stop laughing, you demon.

“I really like you. Why don’t you come to my guild instead?”

“Save the recruitment pitch for when you meet the conditions.”

“You’re so picky.”

— Growl.

That’s when Peace’s ears perked up. Yerim also stood up suddenly. A moment later, I sensed it too—the subtle shift in the air around us.

“…What’s going on?”

I played dumb even though I already knew. Moon Hyunah smiled and waved her hand lightly. One of her Breaker guild members could be seen speaking to the startled people around them, trying to calm them down. But I couldn’t hear what they were saying.

“I just blocked out the sound. It’s a simple skill trick.”

Doesn’t seem that simple to me. Moon Hyunah was known for her exceptional skill versatility. Not yet, but in a few years. Even now, she’s still quite proficient.

“Do you have something to say that requires this level of secrecy?”

“It’s not exactly a secret, but when you’re talking behind someone’s back, you need to be careful.”

Behind someone’s back?

“Do you really trust your little brother?”

I had wondered what she wanted to talk about, and of course, it was about my brother.

“Of course, I trust him.”

It was such an obvious ploy that I frowned without meaning to. Seeing my expression, Moon Hyunah chuckled.

“When I first met Han Yuhyun, I thought, ‘Ah, this kid is still just a kid.’ He ignored all the big names reaching out to him and was dead set on starting his own guild. I thought he didn’t know his place.”

…Yeah, even I thought my brother was a little reckless at that point. It worked out in the end, but the chances of him failing were pretty high.

“Me, the MKC Guild Leader—truth is, we’re just figureheads. How could young athletes like us manage these massive guilds? They promised to handle all the annoying stuff, and we’d get to sit at the top as guild leaders. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. It’s a pretty sweet deal.”

Moon Hyunah tapped her long fingers in the air as she spoke.

“The Hanshin Guild Leader is in a similar position. He was a low-level employee at one of Hanshin Group’s subsidiaries before he became the chairman’s son-in-law. Out of the top five guilds in the country, the only real guild leaders are Seong Hyunjae of Sesung and Han Yuhyun of Haeyeon.”

Her words carried a certain weight, but to me, they weren’t that surprising. One of the reasons the top guilds collapsed before was precisely because they had figurehead leaders.

Moon Hyunah, who claims to be comfortable now, would eventually find the confinement unbearable. Choi Seokwon of MKC would go through a similar experience. Hanshin stuck around, probably because he was tied by marriage.

“You don’t seem that shocked?”

“Oh, no. I’m definitely surprised.”

“Hmm. You don’t look it. Yuhyun was just a kid with no ID. Watching him build his own guild and secure his position made me realize that kid’s a monster. There’s no way he’s normal, right?”

“You’re really going too far, calling him abnormal just because he’s talented.”

“Too far?”

Moon Hyunah snorted.

“What exactly do you think of your little brother?”

“Well…”

I hesitated for a moment before just answering honestly. I’ve even shared this in interviews before, so there was no reason to hide it.

“He’s always been a good, well-behaved kid. Never caused trouble, always listened well…”

“You raised him yourself, right? After your parents died young. That’s not normal.”

She clicked her tongue.

“A kid growing up poor without parents, and they’re still obedient and well-behaved? Even fairy tales don’t go that far these days. It’s too unrealistic.”

“No, I wouldn’t go that far—”

“A kid is still a kid. If they’re lacking something, they’ll throw tantrums, get upset, cause trouble for attention, compare themselves to others, and pester for things they want. They’ll even resent their guardians sometimes. Parents might still find them adorable, but siblings? I have a younger sibling too, and honestly, they’re more like my worst enemy. Of course, there are siblings who get along, especially in families where the parents do a great job. But even in those cases, they still fight. Especially with younger brothers—you have to establish dominance early. I bet a lot of older siblings would agree.”

…I was a bit taken aback. Is it really that strange to have a well-behaved younger brother?

“Maybe you could call it ‘a heavenly angel descended to Earth~’ But a real angel wouldn’t be able to build a guild while stomping over others.”

Moon Hyunah shrugged.

“I’m not trying to stir up trouble, but you might want to reconsider how you see your brother.”

–TL Notes–
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