The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 464: I’m a Fan! (4)

“I told you I’ll get rejected.”

I said as I organized the traits of the monsters I’d raised so far on my laptop. Han-gyeol, sitting beside the laptop glaring at Seong Hyun-je, grumbled, “Why would Dad get rejected?”

– If Dad likes her, I like her too.

“I see, Gyeol. Actually, Daddy rather likes Seong Hyun-je, too.”

– Except him. Except anyone dangerous to Dad.

Gyeol’s special dislike of Seong Hyun-je probably stemmed from the times he’d threatened me—when the dungeon erupted, he’d snarled at me, and on the cruise he’d even tried to lay a hand on me.

“Is this going to be your office, Director?”

Moon Hyun-ah looked around. We were in one of the unused rooms on the first floor of the breeding farm.

“I asked for a director’s office. Until now I just worked from home, but I have staff now.”

I really should get into a proper commute routine. I’d set up only a desk, table, and sofa. There wasn’t even a nameplate yet. I’ll need new business cards too.

“In any case, I’ll just confess.”

“How can you be so sure!? What if Chloe says yes?”

“Do you think that likely? I mean purely, with no other motive.”

Moon Hyun-ah scratched the back of her head.

“You’re cute, hyung, but honestly, if you ask whether you appear attractive to Chloe… it’s hard to answer yes.”

“Of course. It’s practically a one-sided acquaintance. Saying you fell for her at first sight is tough. First impressions are about looks, and I’m at a disadvantage in many ways.”

On top of that, I’ve surrounded myself with a dazzling backdrop of Yu-hyun, Seong Hyun-je, and Song Taewon. Would she even look at my face? So being rejected would be right, if there’s no other scheme.

“But you said you felt lost just yesterday—did your feelings just vanish overnight?”

“I still like her. I hope I can keep liking her.”

Chloe probably had no idea, but when I was struggling, her program had been a great comfort. Many others besides me must have benefited. Although those days were wiped out by my return, I still remembered clearly.

“…Suspicious.”

Hyun-ah too seemed to sense something odd in my attitude.

“In support of Han Yujin’s first love.”

Seong Hyun-je sat astride my desk and offered me a USB drive. Gyeol bared his teeth as if ready to bite Seong Hyun-je’s hand. Calm down.

“She’s not my first love. I got dumped by my first love long ago.”

I plugged the USB into my laptop. It contained data on Chloe Alger.

“That was fast.”

He said he’d contact me in a few days, but here was the info in just one day. The file detailed her profile and recent activities. I read it slowly and sighed deeply. There was nothing suspicious in the content itself. Except—

‘One centimeter.’

She was taller than before my return. A small difference, but the problem was that present-day Chloe would be a lower level than the Chloe # Nоvеlight # I knew. Considering that, the difference would be even more—about two centimeters.

‘…I guess her stat rank really did rise.’

Or she gained some body-altering skill. That was possible. Ranks could go up; skills could be gained. I’d changed, and those around me had too—so why shouldn’t others?

But change wasn’t easy. If I’d no memory, if I’d only returned without skills, how much would I have changed? Change without interference was never simple.

“Han Yujin.”

Seong Hyun-je leaned in.

“There seems to be a discrepancy from your memories.”

“…Yes.”

“What is this, sharing secrets between the two of you?”

Moon Hyun-ah complained, wanting to know too. To explain fully, I’d have to recount before my return as well. I rubbed my face as though washing it, brushing my hair back.

“It’s not certain.”

I continued with a heavy heart.

“There’s a possibility that Hunter Chloe Alger is connected to Park Ha-yul, or to the one who recently carried out the Association terror.”

“…Chloe?”

“Yes. So to confirm that, I must get rejected.”

Moon Hyun-ah crossed her arms loosely. Gyeol flicked Seong Hyun-je’s hand aside with his tail.

“Don’t be too disappointed. You can’t know someone just by appearance.”

“It’s not certain.”

“Wait—so you’re saying Hyung pretended to like Chloe?”

“…It wasn’t pretending. I do genuinely like her as a person, not romantically—but I am a fan, truly.”

“Well, it didn’t seem like acting. But confessing to test her motives—that’s a strange method.”

“Everyone thinks I like her romantically, so I’m matching the situation.”

I couldn’t mention Keywords. If the Keyword failed, it might tie to Park Ha-yul; if it succeeded and she dated me or some trick, then the Cult Addict side; if neither, I could breathe easier. Either way, I’d still have to ask about her rank.

“I don’t think Chloe would date someone based on my conditions alone. Right?”

“As far as I know, no. Chloe is, how to put it, a bit like Director Song.”

“Like Director Song?”

“I told you she’s unusual. Not to his degree of self-sacrifice, but she values public good for a top hunter. She hates tyrannical hunters.”

“…She sounds like a good person.”

“Well, there’s plenty of discrimination in that field. Even if less than before. They say America’s heroes are only white.”

It wasn’t all true, but most famous, popular American hunters were white. There’d been talk of similar abilities getting more favor.

“So her ethics are strict—I doubt she’d be in league with kidnappers or assassins. But like Seong Hyun-je said, you never know. Plenty of people are different inside and out.”

“The Breaker guild master got tricked too. So—”

“Shut up, Seong Hyun-je, before I sew your mouth shut.”

Moon Hyun-ah scowled fiercely. I wondered if she’d ever been conned herself.

“It might just be my misunderstanding.”

“In any case, if you get cleanly rejected, you’ll know there’s no ulterior scheme?”

“At least for now. If someone’s targeting me, it’d be a waste to let go of this chance.”

The Addict Cult side and the rest had declared a truce—just casual contact was fine. They wouldn’t refuse me getting close.

“They might think it’s a trap, but my actions should appear natural.”

“I was even fooled, so I can vouch for that.”

“It really is true.”

And by making a fuss about how much I liked her, threatening to confess, everyone pokes and I deny fiercely—they’d think it’s all staged. In truth, all I’ve done is muse about confessing.

“The rumor’s spread widely too.”

“Yeah. It’s all over our guild too.”

“Soyeong wants to catch the bouquet.”

“Liet said she’d try to hit on you before she’s too late. Be careful. Lock up well at night.”

What nonsense. So people won’t touch you if you already have a partner? I thought they’d ignore that, but I was surprised.

“…Even if I’m fine with it, I really feel sorry to Chloe. If it’s all a misunderstanding, I’ll bow my head and apologize.”

“You weren’t faking it, hyung. And you’re F-Rank and younger anyway. If Chloe were a lower hunter or of the opposite gender, I’d tell you to zip it. But this is just a lighthearted incident.”

Moon Hyun-ah waved her hand. She said Chloe would find it amusing too.

“Please keep this secret from everyone. Yu-hyun, Ye-rim, even Director Song.”

Once Yu-hyun and Ye-rim learned the truth, it would show immediately. Director Song wasn’t great at acting either.

“Don’t worry. So which hotel? Should we hire an orchestra?”

Hyun-ah was still excited about the confession itself.

“Yes, yes. Chloe knows your personality, so go ahead. I’ll be pushed around by you two and confess under duress.”

And, though I hesitate to reveal it, I must prepare.

“Chloe’s stats seem higher than known. She might be S-Rank, not A-Rank.”

“What?”

Moon Hyun-ah’s eyes went wide. Even Seong Hyun-je hadn’t guessed this far.

“This Chloe Alger who’s known as A-Rank is currently about two centimeters taller than she used to be.”

“So that’s what convinced you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Originally, five years later, Chloe Alger was one centimeter shorter than now.”

“…Five years later?”

“I actually came from five years in the future.”

“Han Yujin speaks the truth.”

Seong Hyun-je chimed in. Moon Hyun-ah leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands, staring at us. Silence fell.

“…Well, fine. Strange things happen, and after all the dungeon incidents, I guess time travel is par for the course. Bottom line: hyung knows five years of the future.”

“A lot changed, though. I couldn’t raise monsters before. There was no breeding farm. There was no S-Rank Kisung-su even five years later.”

“This is much better! That’s what matters.”

Moon Hyun-ah straightened her back and sank into the sofa.

“Any advice for me?”

“No. Just beware of media play—why else would you know about those events?”

“Hmm, got it.”

She didn’t press further. As in Akates, Hyun-ah lived fully in the present—this moment. She would have walked her own path even after Breaker collapsed before my return. That would be true now, too.

“Your body’s changed a lot since A-Rank—that’s suspicious. Could she make A-Rank people S-Rank? Could an S-Rank become SS-Rank?”

“That’s unlikely. And I once helped Hunter Kim Sung-han grow to S-Rank.”

“Oh, right.”

“Because I discovered his growth conditions—but that itself wasn’t easy. The conditions were demanding.”

She even told me the exact date of my return. Promising grand preparations, she left first. Gyeol glared at Seong Hyun-je, telling him to hurry.

“Will people bite those around you when you confess?”

“Yes. Since my skills aren’t released yet, I’ll disable Fear Resistance just in case. It’ll feel more real.”

If she’s tied to Park Ha-yul, she might try to control me. Confessing to an S-Rank without Fear Resistance—wouldn’t I look ridiculous? It would be strange not to be rejected—and it made me a little sad. I too wouldn’t mind experiencing a normal romance.

“Even if she says let’s date, I’d give up.”

Ye-rim told me to stay calm and shake it off, but Yu-hyun found it hard to believe I’d be rejected. By the conditions alone, maybe—but still.

“You know my situation well, so why push it.”

“…Yeah.”

“You said you’d move out if I got married.”

“Really? Han Yuhyun actually said that?”

Ye-rim looked between us in disbelief.

“I just thought that as long as hyung was happy, it’d be fine.”

“And now you don’t want that?”

“…Yeah.”

Yu-hyun nodded with apology. Better than forced patience.

“And she’s a stranger. I’m not totally against it.”

“Sir, that’s one hundred percent lie.”

“If it’s someone trustworthy, I think it’d be okay.”

“Is there such a person? By the guild master’s standards, maybe only Peace?”

“Yeah, Peace would be fine.”

Ye-rim and I looked hard at Yu-hyun. Huh, was he serious?

“Wow… Han Yuhyun.”

“Yu-hyun, at least consider species differences.”

Of course I trust Peace—after all, I raised him.

“If it’s Peace-level, he’d never harm hyung.”

“Right, right.”

As we spoke, the car arrived at the hotel. Even though I intended to be rejected, my heart fluttered slightly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by readnovel.co