The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 444: Returning Home (3)

Flashes went off from all sides. Surrounded by reporters, Han Yuhyun, who had just finished the raid, and Park Yerim, who had just returned from Japan, approached me with bright smiles. Yuhyun spread his arms and hugged me tightly.

“Thank goodness you made it back safely, hyung.”

Yerim went around behind me and hugged me too. She tried her best to avoid it, but inevitably ended up half-embracing Yuhyun as well.

“We were so worried, sir.”

Director Song, who had been discharged from the hospital, kept a slight distance and looked at us stoically. After a moment of affectionate hugging, Yerim quickly withdrew her arm from around Yuhyun. I heard her mutter something about wanting to wash her hands. Yuhyun released his hug and stood beside me.

Next, Guildmaster Seong Hyunjae arrived a step late. Evelyn was at his side.

“I’m truly relieved that Director Han is unharmed.”

Seong Hyunjae, beaming, offered me a bouquet. Pink roses, layers of frilly petals in another unnamed pink flower, small pink blossoms, pink hydrangeas tied with a pink ribbon… a gaudy bouquet, all in one shade, perfectly arranged—but of course he meant to tease me.

Suppressing the urge to hurl it at his shameless face, I forced a broad smile.

“I heard you were placed under reprimand because of me. I apologize for causing you concern, Guildmaster Seong.”

“Not at all. What affects Director Han affects me as well.”

He shook my hand, thanking me for the safe flight as he accepted the flowers. Reporters snapped photos again. “Relations between the Breeding Facility and Sesung Guild excellent”—that’s how the headlines would read. I felt a pang of sadness imagining the photo of me holding that pink bouquet in every newsfeed. I hope no one mistakes that I’m the one who likes pink. Seong Hyunjae bought it on his own, not at my request.

As if following a preset order, the next to step forward was none other than Moon Hyunah. Striding up, Hyunah lightly tapped my shoulder.

“You look well, Director Han. We were worried.”

“Thank you, Breaker Guildmaster.”

“My, should’ve brought flowers too.”

“Just your presence is enough.”

“They suit you so well. Bright and cheerful. Quite a sight.”

I simply smiled. Was that a compliment or was she mocking me alongside Seong Hyunjae? Probably the latter.

Finally appeared Myeongwoo and Noah, along with the monsters. After all, what better highlight for a scene like this than animals?

– “Kiyaang!”

Peace charged at me as if we’d been apart for three months and ten days.

“Peace!”

– “Kyaawng!”

I handed the bouquet to Yerim and caught Peace as she bounced toward me. Her fluffy tail thrashed, her moist muzzle poked my cheek. She buried her head on my shoulder, her soft ear-tip fur tickling my nape.

– “Ppiyak!”

Ppiyak fluttered down and perched on my head, wings fluttering. She already felt a bit heavier.

“Ppiyak, have you been well?”

– “Ppiya!”

“They’ve all been on their best behavior.”

Noah approached with Bellare. Bellare raised her tail triumphantly.

“Welcome back, Yujin. Everyone’s been so worried about you.”

Myeongwoo gently patted my arm. It really felt like everyone was seeing me for the first time in ages. I should have welled up with tears just then.

“I’m so glad to be home.”

I set Peace down and hugged Myeongwoo and Noah in turn. I glanced at Director Song, but he ignored me.

We stood side by side for better photos, then broke up the reporters. Director Song, who had been silent until then, stepped forward and said in a businesslike tone,

“I ask that you return home immediately today.”

“Don’t worry. I want to get home quickly too.”

I did plan to bring the lamb, but how to return the wire harness…

“The SS-rank restraints—”

“Ah, I’m tired of this! Let’s discuss that slowly later! Of course, you can use them comfortably until then~”

Director Song pulled out the cuffs, and I quickly hid behind Yuhyun.

“Don’t take them, don’t take them.”

“Han Yujin.”

“Aah, Guildmaster Hyunah is glaring at Evelyn! Shouldn’t we stop her?”

“Glaring? That looks like a friendly gaze to me.”

Where on earth does she see that?

“If no weapons are drawn, it’s all friendly.”

Evelyn agreed, and the two of them exchanged smiles.

“I’ll head off first, hyungnim.”

“Ah, drop by soon—we have important things to discuss!”

“You say it’s important, so I’m looking forward to it.”

It certainly wouldn’t disappoint. Moon Hyunah waved lightly and left. Director Song let out a short sigh and stepped back as well.

“If you don’t retrieve them within a week, they will be forfeited to the state.”

“You’re too harsh!”

So the only option is to make them forfeited items. How to trick Director Song… Since they’re SS-rank melee items, I could give them to Yuhyun or Guildmaster Hyunah or other hunters, but Director Song is perfect. They’re ideal for facing bladed weapons bare-handed.

“I’m a helpless kidnapping victim who just returned! One week is too short. How about a month? No, I have so much to catch up on—give me a year!”

“One week.”

His firm reply cut me off. Hmph, no bargaining. Director Song urged everyone again to go straight home, then turned and left. He looked busy—understandably, after skipping work for several days.

“Let’s go, hyung.”

Yuhyun supported me from behind, peeking around my shoulder.

“How’s your leg?”

“It’s manageable.”

The acupuncture’s effect had faded, but I resisted using my cane to appear fine. No need to broadcast it.

“Surgery preparations are complete.”

Evelyn looked us over.

“But Director Han Yujin’s poison resistance is a problem.”

I can switch off my resistance skill, but normally it’s impossible. And it’s not good for people to know I can remove poison resistance. Imagine if Park Hayul found out—she could coax me into turning it off and slip me something. Even without psychic skills, she could threaten me.

So I must avoid anesthesia and surgery as much as possible. Even at a Sesung-owned hospital, I can’t fully trust the staff—word leaks everywhere.

“The healer who’s arriving soon can use acupuncture to numb your body, even with poison resistance.”

“Then I’ll instruct them to center treatment around ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) that practitioner. Publicly, it will be explained as Director Han Yujin’s comprehensive health checkup.”

“Yes, please.”

Evelyn nodded briefly and turned her gaze to Yerim. Yerim flinched and drew her bow from her inventory.

“It’s just a tiny scratch… I’m really sorryyyyy.”

“It’s fine.”

Evelyn took the bow with a gentle smile.

“Hunter Myungwoo will repair it.”

“Please feel free to stop by anytime. Thank you for your cooperation, Hunter Evelyn.”

“Not at all.”

Evelyn smiled kindly at Myungwoo, then returned the bow to Yerim’s inventory. Though reassured, Yerim still looked a bit uneasy.

“Remember not to go far for a while, Seong Hyunjae. And even if it’s nearby, please let me know first.”

“I’ll report diligently. If my partner does the same, that is.”

“I have no reason to go out.”

Unless I’m summoned abroad, that is.

“And how about replacing the airplane’s interior wallpaper? I hope the new house isn’t the same.”

“We’ve prepared a special room for Han Yujin—”

“I said it’s fine. I like plain, muted colors.”

Is teasing me fun for you? He’ll milk this “gift” for ten years. After wishing me well, Seong Hyunjae and Evelyn departed.

“Seo-young unni said you have quite the grudges too.”

Once Evelyn had vanished, Yerim spoke softly.

“But it’s repairable. She didn’t seem upset.”

“If she showed it right away, that’d be it. If not, it’s fifty-fifty—she’s either truly fine or storing it up.”

“It’ll be fine.”

With Myungwoo there, and who’d dare harm a child? Still, I’ll remember—Evelyn holds grudges. She seems formidable.

We climbed into the waiting car and headed straight home. Seoul’s streets outside felt both familiar and strangely new. So many people. As dusk approached, the glittering signs looked especially dazzling.

“My home!”

As soon as we opened the front door, Yerim flew inside. “Take off your shoes!” The discarded bouquet landed neatly on the table. The shoe she’d removed mid-air flew toward the entryway. Yuhyun called up to Yerim as she headed to her room.

“We have to go out again.”

“Why, me? Let the Guildmaster go.”

“I must report to the Hunter Association since I just returned from Japan, Hunter Park.”

“No one here wants to smash up the Association building?”

I’d love to, but Director Song would suffer the consequences. I have no need to go; I apologized to them and headed straight for my bedroom.

“…I’m too lazy to wash.”

As soon as I got home, I just wanted to lie down. But I have to wash, I muttered, perching on the bed. I should’ve bathed on the plane—then I could’ve gone straight to sleep.

“Tired?”

Yuhyun, who’d followed me in, handed me pajamas.

“Want me to wet a towel and wipe you down?”

“Am I a sick kid? I’ll rest a bit, then wash and sleep.”

When Yuhyun was little, I used to wipe him down with a warm towel instead of washing his face. The last time I washed him was when he was in middle school. He’d struggled to sleep on the school trip, so when he got home he was dozing off immediately. I couldn’t wake him, so I wiped him down with a towel and put him to bed.

“I’ll sit for a moment, then wash and sleep. Don’t worry—go to the Guild.”

“I’ll handle urgent matters and come right back.”

He spoke without hiding how much he didn’t want to go to work. Even S-rankers don’t like going to the office. But he’s not an employee—he’s the boss.

“Take care.”

“Okay.”

He answered, but didn’t leave—just stared at me with big, bright eyes.

“What’s so great?”

“It’s home. It has to have you here to feel like home.”

“How sentimental.”

“I’m uncomfortable anywhere else. I can’t rest my mind.”

“All right, go quickly and rest too.”

Yuhyun lingered a moment, satisfied with my presence, then left. I guess I shouldn’t stay hospitalized too long. With a top-rank healer attached, there’s no need to lie down for days.

“I’m off! Don’t go anywhere!”

Yerim shouted as she left with Yuhyun. I stretched and got up.

“Peace, time for your bath too.”

– “Grrr.”

“You only washed your feet. If you don’t wash your body, you can’t get on the bed. Good girl—Daddy’s tired, so behave and wash up.”

I coaxed Peace into the bathroom, and Ppiyak and Bellare followed. After washing, drying, and brushing the kids, I was completely spent. Collapsing onto the bed, I felt I’d sink right through it.

“You two behaved while I was gone?”

– “Ppiyak.”

– “Shh.”

“My little family’s grown. I’ll introduce them tomorrow.”

The baby monsters already here were moved to the first-floor breeding facility. The one I need to grow fastest is still the water dragon. I wonder if Hyunah’s little sorok has grown at all. And others.

‘I need to give names to the changelings too.’

What should I name the changelings? Chang, like Seong Hyunjae… hmm, Pinky? Ping, Pinkie, Ping-ping, Yong-yong…

“…Peace, have you ever disliked your name?”

– “Kiyaang.”

Peace wagged her tail beside me. She didn’t seem displeased.

“Ppiyak is cute enough.”

– “Ppiyak-pi.”

Bellare huddled beside Ppiyak, half-buried in Peace’s fur. Bellare… comparisons are inevitable. Pink fairy dragon, golden eyes—Ginbun? No. Silver or gold… Silverbun? But abandoning colors, what then? Honestly, colors are the most intuitive: pink, azalea? Dallae was sweet and cute. Cherry, peach… Cherry might work.

‘I’ll ask Yerim after I wake up.’

Naming them alone feels wrong. I closed my eyes, and soon sleep enveloped me.

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