The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 441: Night Walk

A rank stench hung thick in the air. Though invisible, it felt like a viscous mass wrapping around one’s entire body.

The military buildings and facilities that once crowded every corner were now reduced to mere traces. Collapsed mounds of concrete and scattered shards of glass. Charred tires lay by the stumps of pillars.

Creak The twisted sheet of metal was shoved aside by a hand with exposed bone. The corpse, once a high-ranked hunter, staggered to its feet. No living person remained. The dead continued to resurrect without end.

But.

Crackle A burst of electricity enveloped the newly risen corpse. As if hit by a bomb, its shattered body writhed slowly. Its regeneration had clearly slowed.

Even resurrection has its limits.

“A-rank, is it?” Seong Hyunjae murmured softly, fixing the corpse with a cold, analytical gaze. An undead’s revival power varies with its original stats. A low-rank hunter ends with three or four crushing blows. Mid-rank requires at least ten, sometimes up to fifty shatterings.

A-rank and above, however, seem to rise again indefinitely. And S-rank…

Grr The corpse—its clothes in tatters but nearly fully regenerated—hoisted its shield. Its pale, expressionless face emitted an inhuman gurgle. But its movements were swift. Though it had no strategy, its combat instinct remained, and it even activated skills as it charged ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the only living being in sight.

Seong Hyunjae kicked a blood-caked rebar. Whirl The iron rod spun in midair, crackling with golden electricity before thundering into the corpse. Like an arrow, it pierced the undead’s leg. Almost instantly, a second rod skewered the other.

Boom Lightning struck, using the two iron bars as conductors. The charred body collapsed, then began to regenerate at speed. Light exploded overhead again and again. Unrelenting currents of electricity delivered dozens—hundreds—of strikes in an instant. The searing light was so sharp that an ordinary person could not bear to look, yet it relentlessly tore at its single target.

At least thousands of deaths. Perhaps over ten thousand.

When the violent light finally subsided, what remained was little more than a writhing ruin, not a corpse. It still possessed some regenerative power but not enough to rise again.

Seong Hyunjae stepped forward, standing over the remains. A finger bone finally formed enough to tap his shoe tip before he brushed it aside with a scrape.

“If it could speak, I’d like to hear its final thoughts.”

If any self remained, what it thought of the forced immortality. But it was nothing more than a moving mass.

‘Even if you break free from the Crescent Moon,’

the Child of Chaos had said that dawn.

‘Your existence itself will remain unchanged.’

What had accumulated does not vanish. It is already part of Seong Hyunjae.

‘You might peel off a bit—your two companions did that for you. But there is a limit.’

What piled up was also him. Like mixed water, drain too much and it inevitably affects the current Seong Hyunjae. Even a small extraction causes loss.

‘So you must keep living. If you remain in one world, unlike the transcendent, prepare for a deeper despair than ever before.’

Everything around him would first slip away, then return, only for him to stand alone in an empty wasteland again. Even if sprouts emerged and a forest grew, they too would fade before him.

Transcendents keep distance from those they oversee to protect themselves. If friends linger too close, they cannot endure endless farewells.

‘You will endure longer, so it will hurt more. You could build walls or let go entirely, but that would be too easy.’

He lacked such self-protective temperament. Perhaps it was greed—an almost severe self-love that refuses to relinquish anything of itself. His strength was also his weakness.

Scratch Scratch bones scraped across the ground. A few A-rank undead staggered forward, only to be swept away by golden chains.

Han Yujin will not live long. Even with an ordinary lifespan extension, he won’t reach a hundred years. I will witness his end, tidy up, and a few things will remain in my hands.

‘It’s on loan, so bring it back intact. Don’t get any wild ideas.’

Seong Hyunjae’s gaze flicked to the hem of the dark-red coat. That too would be among the few things he kept. Though he said it was his own, ultimately he would return Han Yujin. Perhaps with a smile.

Should he ask him not to forget him, or to forget him?

Song Taewon could live much longer. But whether he could endure such time was unknown. A hundred years, at most two hundred. Living and aging through that would be happiness for him.

It was hard to imagine Song Taewon living over a thousand years. Yet his final moments for others were so vivid, it was as if they had been experienced countless times.

“It will be lonely.”

Because joy’s impermanence makes it all the more precious.

‘I hope you won’t chase after those two.’

The Child of Chaos had said one last thing before dawn. Letting go would be difficult. So keep the contract to the end.

Seong Hyunjae passed the near-still heap of bones. The moon in the sky had nearly set. Despite unleashing his full strength against the endlessly resurrecting undead, his body felt light.

It was thanks to drawing out part of what had accumulated.

It was not a shaped skill. The raw mass of power itself could move, albeit faintly. The Child of Chaos had warned him earnestly—it could spiral out of control.

Try it only where it is safe, even if it rages momentarily.

‘This is not the time for new abilities. You will spend years digesting this.’

Slowly, bit by bit. The Child of Chaos noted Seong Hyunjae’s exceptional self-control. So cautiously embracing the accumulated power was worth trying. But drawing out skill power was forbidden, lest it shake his self. He could only touch the raw power mass.

And the result was not bad. His ability hadn’t increased yet, but his durability had.

Time to return. Seong Hyunjae surveyed the empty surroundings, then raised an eyebrow as if troubled.

‘…I’d like to draw out flight or teleportation skill, at least.’

With nothing left, he had no choice but to walk. No matter how versatile, he couldn’t forge a car or helicopter from molten scrap. Even the Martial Alliance’s comm device had been destroyed by an undead hunter’s area skill.

People were waiting, but kilometers away. Just as he set a direction and prepared to walk—

Tatata-daa The sound of helicopter rotors approached. Seong Hyunjae halted and looked up at the sky. He couldn’t tell friend from foe, but he stayed still, hoping the helicopter would land safely. After confirming his position, it descended tens of meters away.

‘Two S-rank hunters.’

Their presence was not concealed; he sensed them easily from afar. There seemed to be other high-rank hunters as well.

Unfortunately, only one S-rank hunter disembarked. Seong Hyunjae abandoned any thought of hijacking the helicopter. Subduing an S-rank without destroying the chopper was nearly impossible.

“Today, I can even be a surprisingly well-behaved passenger for the tired civil servant.”

Whether military or another faction, two figures walked toward him in the searchlight. One was the S-rank hunter; the other seemed mid-rank at best. Both wore dark robes.

“Pleasure to meet you, Sesung Guild Master.”

The smaller figure spoke in clear English, his green-tinged eyes visible beneath his hood. He was clearly not from the Chinese military.

“I’ll pay for this meeting with the helicopter. Keep your purpose brief and clear. I’m rather tired.”

“Given the circumstances, I can’t charge you too much.”

The man chuckled softly.

“I understand you already know—about the being beyond this world.”

“Fast.”

Seong Hyunjae had expected someone after Han Yujin’s words. Though the contract was severed, he’d once allied with the Outrageous Side. That prior connection made interference easier.

Still, only a day had passed. Their speed was surprising.

“I have known for a long time.”

The man smiled gently.

“The dungeon’s appearance in this world is the will of God.”

“I decline religious offers. On second thought, the weather’s pleasant for a walk.”

Claims that the dungeon’s creation and monster outbreak were divine will were not new. Seong Hyunjae had met such fanatics abroad and decided they were best ignored.

Turning away, he heard the man again.

“I can see the future.”

“My goodness.”

A fanatic and a prophet—hardly his taste.

“Accurate visions began a month ago. Most I foresee come true. Except one place—Korea.”

He tried to ignore the man, but stopped in his tracks. Not the future—

‘…Memories before regression.’

Then only Korea would change. Because of Han Yujin’s influence.

“I’m of even less use—being Korean, as you know.”

“But Guild Master, you travel abroad often. Also—”

The man lowered his voice.

“A being beyond this world contacted me directly a week ago.”

“God speaking—impressive.”

“No. He serves God and said that God’s will is the dungeon’s manifestation. He confirmed our faith is true.”

A week ago was before transcendent negotiations ended. It was likely the Chatterbox working with the King of Undefiled.

Seong Hyunjae turned slowly to face the man. Sensing his expression shift, the man hurried on—

“We must not harm each other now. Didn’t you receive that message?”

“My travel ban stands. I wonder what happens if I break it. I’m curious.”

The S-rank hunter beside him drew a weapon. The white blade glowed faintly.

“I’ve come to offer you a proposition, Guild Master. Those opposing God can give you nothing. But those serving Him can.”

“Too obvious. Already boring.”

“Don’t you have desires? You’re human, after all.”

Desires, huh. Seong Hyunjae’s eyes narrowed.

“Unfortunately, my two companions are stubborn. Offer them strange religious deals and they’ll both refuse. They might even call you mad.”

He imagined Song Taewon’s incredulous expression—entertaining, indeed.

“…Oh?”

“I’m living well these days. Find someone else.”

As soon as he finished, light exploded outward. The S-rank hunter, anticipating it, countered the lightning. Frost crept along the blade, freezing the electricity. The tip flew at Seong Hyunjae, nicking his cheek with a scratch.

Immediately—

Kah-boom The helicopter exploded. Amid the successive blasts, golden chains flew to the man’s side.

“Enjoy your night walk.”

Bowing exaggeratedly, Seong Hyunjae cast harmless currents far and wide before turning and striding off. The man sighed softly behind him.

“You really won’t listen at all. I came just to greet you.”

From the distance came a frustrated cry.

“The communicator is completely broken!”

“…Huh?”

They too would have to walk.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by readnovel.co