The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 448: Back to Work (4)
“This is it. It used to be the training hall for intermediate-to-advanced hunters, so it was built solidly.”
Choi Youngjun led us to a five-story building jutting off the right side of the Association. It looked newly built next to the original structure.
“The first floor has high ceilings and no basement. Since the upper floors are also hunter facilities, even if something happens on the first floor, injuries are unlikely.”
He meant it would be fine for her to stay here after she grows up. Of course, for longer stays the Gyeonggi breeding facility is better, but this could serve as a temporary residence when needed.
“The entrance is separate from the upper floors as well.”
“What do they use the upper floors for?”
Before the regression, when I first awakened, the new Association building hadn’t collapsed. The Awakening Center had opened safely, and much of the old building’s facilities had moved to the new one—only the market remained behind.
“It’s a temporary shelter for intermediate-and-above Awakened.”
Choi Youngjun explained as he looked up at the building’s upper stories.
“Sometimes newly awakened stats surge uncontrollably. That’s why the first floor was set up as a training hall. Nowadays intermediate-to-advanced Awakened are usually taken in immediately by their guilds, so this sees little use. But back then, fresh Awakened had nowhere proper to go. Some even went over a week destroying nearby objects.”
True, Yerim smashed tables, floors, and cars right after her awakening. If it had been an apartment building and not a standalone house, she couldn’t have stayed at home.
“But it’s surprisingly in central Seoul. Accidents could happen.”
“Well….”
Choi Youngjun glanced at me warily.
“The old facility was burned down by a minor S-Rank Awakened.”
“Oh….”
Hmm, so it was Yuhyun. I understood.
“In that case, shouldn’t it be somewhere more remote?”
“She was only a newly awakened Level-1. It was judged that having many advanced hunters nearby would allow for swift containment without collateral damage. There are always exceptions, of course.”
I suppose the Association has senior hunters on site constantly, and the market keeps hunters coming and going. Director Song handles many affairs here. Better to keep her close and under watch than let her wander far and cause trouble.
“How bad was the damage?”
“I wasn’t in charge then, so I don’t know details. But I heard Director Song had a tough time.”
Yuhyun! I couldn’t hide my guilt as I glanced at Director Song.
“At that time she was still clumsy, so it was fine.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“You weren’t in Korea then—that’s too bad. It would have been quite the show.”
Seong Hyunjae chimed in.
“I heard she kept messing with Director Song afterward. Poor guy had to play with a child’s toy all the time.”
“Look who’s talking. You were worse than Yuhyun.”
Especially dragging people overseas with her. Director Song nodded silently in agreement.
“Hunter Han Yuhyun’s goal was clear—combat experience—so she was easier to handle than Hunter Seong Hyunjae.”
“She did bite off your arm, though.”
“Truly sorry, Director Song. Please, close your mouth.”
I thought, who wouldn’t have nothing to say in front of Director Song?
“She’s my sister, and I was still her guardian then. So Director Song, let me pay you compensation belatedly. Whatever you want, just say it!”
Really anything! I could even give SS-Rank cuffs! Director Song looked at me silently, then spoke.
“Don’t cause any more trouble.”
“No, I mean—”
“Especially don’t make incidents in collaboration with Hunter Seong Hyunjae.”
“…I didn’t intend to.”
“If Han Yujin is safe, Hunter Han Yuhyun and Hunter Park Yerim stay quiet.”
Seong Hyunjae gave me a look as if to say, “See?” But at least I’m better than him. For now… probably.
“How about repaying in material form?”
“Having a taming beast is already more than enough.”
“Song Yi is still contractually mine, you know.”
I don’t take payment for her, but it’s not without benefit—image boost for contributing to the country, plus a special taming-beast law advantage. The Association got some mascot and PR fees too.
“This is a capitalist society. I want to solve this with money, Director Song.”
“I must decline.”
“Seems there’s one more person who wants to solve things with money.”
“I sincerely decline. Don’t create matters to be solved in the first place.”
Seong Hyunjae and I exchanged sympathetic looks. Choi Youngjun shook his head, unable to bear it further.
“Anyway, there are almost no users now. Minor Awakened needing long-term shelter have also vanished as dungeon breaks have decreased. We plan to convert this entirely into a taming-beast facility.”
Expecting more domestic taming beasts, Choi Youngjun gave me a knowing smile.
“Even if not for taming beasts, for monsters, too.”
He wanted us to work hard. After the item market, the Association now wanted to handle monster trading.
As Choi Youngjun described, the first floor’s ceiling nearly pierced through the third floor. Even a young flying monster wouldn’t feel cramped. In the spacious interior, five individual pens stood. They weren’t bars but solid walls—more like rooms.
“CCTV is, of course, operating. And there’s an outdoor exercise yard at the rear.”
Half the wall at the rear was glass, able to open. The yard wasn’t large—just enough space. A small pool was visible. With high walls in a forest of buildings, it’d still be exposed, but perhaps that was deliberate: to let ordinary people snap and spread photos of the Association’s baby monsters.
Director Song set the lamb down on the grass.
Song Yi wagged her tail and hopped about. She glanced around, pricked her ears, then flattened them back.
Her cry was longer and higher than before. Director Song asked me,
“Does she dislike it?”
“Hm, no. It seems she’s calling for a friend.”
“A friend?”
“Yes. She’s asking someone to play.”
At my words, Director Song’s expression turned serious.
“Does she need another baby monster?”
“She might be lonely alone, but her playmate doesn’t have to be a monster. The breeding center’s monsters aren’t of her kind, anyway.”
“…I see. So you mean Director Song should play with her. Here’s a snack, and here’s a toy fishing rod. You might not need it.”
The fishing rod was a toy to preserve my stamina. I emptied the handful of balls I’d brought. Balls of various colors rolled across the grass. Seeing Director Song with snacks and the toy, Song Yi bounded over and rammed her head into his leg.
“A butt…?”
“She’s asking to play. She can’t ram me hard, but she rams Director Song as much as she likes. Please watch occasionally so she doesn’t do it to others.”
Director Song nodded and awkwardly flicked the toy rod. Song Yi snapped up the carrot-shaped plush at the end and scampered off. Director Song followed behind, clearly at a loss.
A rookie dad, indeed.
“Please make sure Director Song can manage work and childcare comfortably.”
“Of course. But even if we pay attention, he’s not someone to rest much….”
Choi Youngjun said with regret,
“It’d be nice if he could rest comfortably before the lamb grows up and do some promotional shoots.”
…Not sure ‘rest comfortably’ applies here.
“By the way, Leafnil and Horn Fox seem unsuitable as taming beasts.”
Choi Youngjun exclaimed as if it had just occurred to him.
“But the Association would welcome them with open arms!”
“S-Rank and A-Rank—they’re openly aiming for them.”
“It means we want to be remembered.”
Indeed. Once the Volcano Black Lamb grows up, it’ll lose its cuteness, so they want a small advanced monster as an additional mascot. But that’d cost a lot in upkeep.
After photographing Director Song and the lamb, Choi Youngjun excused himself, saying he had much to do: official announcements and related materials.
“Seong Hyunjae.”
I glanced at Director Song, who was being led around by Song Yi, and spoke softly.
“Regarding the Changeling—the pink baby one I’m handling.”
“You mean my child.”
“…Why did Hyunah spread that rumor? Anyway, I’m to name the Changeling. Please suggest one name for reference.”
“A name… hmm.”
Seong Hyunjae hesitated. Does he lack naming talent?
“…Yong-Yong or Pinky.”
What.
“What is that? There’s barely any difference from me.”
Maybe Yerim has exceptional taste, and I’m just average. Even the breeding-center’s naming contest showed that.
“You picked it so it feels like Han Yujin named it.”
“…Me?”
“Or Pink, Cherry, Chang.”
…Did he read my mind? I stepped back.
“I never thought of those names!”
“But you just said they were no different.”
“I said Cherry! Not Yong-Yong or Pink.”
Seong Hyunjae’s suggestions were useless. Better ask Director Song… No, that wouldn’t work either. Of the three here, I’m the best, right? I decided to at least get Director Song’s opinion.
I walked over to where Director Song was stopping Song Yi from sprinting into the pool.
“Director Song! Seong Hyunjae was suggesting a name—”
Thud—!
A sound rang out, and Director Song scooped up Song Yi and turned toward me. Simultaneously, something struck my left shoulder hard. I staggered, then felt a sting on my cheek,
“…!”
and a burning pain in my right arm. As I raised En’yeh, Seong Hyunjae caught my arm to steady me.
“Sniper shot.”
With those words, Song Taewon set the lamb down and leapt onto the wall. A sniper shot? What does he mean? I saw a ball rolling on the ground. Whoever threw it—no time to throw—must have kicked it. Seong Hyunjae pushed me to the ground. Clink, a golden chain coiled around us.
The right sleeve of my top was instantly shredded. I smelled blood.
“It’s not deep. No embedding. Should I use a potion?”
“The weakest one, please. Do you have one?”
“For Han Yujin, one.”
Seong Hyunjae pulled out a potion and poured it onto the wound. Meanwhile, my mind ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) churned. What was happening?
“There are two S-Ranks here—even Seong Hyunjae.”
“Low lethality.”
My F-Rank arm was grazed but only slightly torn. That was stranger. Anyone who’d target me secretly would surely be high-ranking, yet the attack was weak.
“And I smell gunpowder.”
“…Yes? A regular gun?”
“It wouldn’t be a completely ordinary gun.”
Helping me up, Seong Hyunjae spoke softly. His eyes held a faint chill.
“Someone seems intent on a very malicious prank.”
Bang!
As soon as he spoke, an explosion roared. It sounded like a bomb, not an Awakened’s skill.
Wheeeeng—the warning alarm blared, and the wall blocking our view collapsed. Director Song climbed down over the rubble and looked at us with a hard expression.
“It appears to be a bomb terror attack.”
That was a word unheard of in hunter circles. Stunned, I looked at Seong Hyunjae.
“It’s not uncommon overseas, but in Korea… the sniper—”
“No trace.”
Had they already vanished? At that moment, something flew down from the sky: a drone. Nearly ten drones approached, enveloping us and the Hunter Association building.
What the—should we destroy them? They’re neither monsters nor Awakened but drones. Seong Hyunjae and Director Song narrowed their eyes at the sky.
“They seem unarmed.”
As soon as Director Song spoke, pew! A drone exploded. Bang, bang, bang—one by one, all the drones detonated, scattering debris and dust.
“Song Yi!”
Could it be poison? I grabbed Song Yi first. Director Song glanced at us, signaled Seong Hyunjae, and dashed past the collapsed wall. The scattered powder showed no immediate effect. The Seeker’s chain still wound around us, trembling.
“…What could it have been?”
“I cannot say. Immediate effects—”
Seong Hyunjae’s words trailed off. I too sensed a faint magical stir. The scattered powder began to sprout and pour forth something dark as if germinating.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by readnovel.co