The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 474: The Letter’s Owner (1)

“It was exactly the spot where the drawer’s power placed me—so I was a bit suspended in midair. Not too high, and I was prepared, so I gently set down. At the same time, I remembered to turn off Curse Resistance. My socks, still thoroughly soaked, collected petals: white, pink, yellow, pale purple—petals everywhere.

Only petals, no blossoms.

I swallowed back the thought, This took a while—did you wait long? The hall was as dim as before I entered the drawer, but the atmosphere felt oddly different. I blinked slowly. Seong Hyeonje sat reclining in a chair. Petals were scattered across his body, and beneath his outstretched long legs lay mounds of slender stems stripped bare of petals.

It looked like a graveyard of bones. I thought it suddenly. Bright, soft petals cast aside in all directions, only the long stems piled in disorder. He must have gathered every decorative flower from around the room—there were enough stems to bury the chair legs.

“You must have been quite bored,” I said.

If he’d burned the flowers or smashed the table, I wouldn’t have been surprised. Even if the hotel itself had exploded and left only blue sky, I’d have merely raised an eyebrow. If a person vanished without a trace, I might be angry—and might take it out on the surroundings. But this… this calmly insane spectacle…

I swallowed dryly. After a brief silence, Hyeonje spoke.

“It’s been one hour, twenty-seven minutes, and fifty-one seconds since Han Yujin disappeared. And now—exactly an hour and a half.”

Clack. The lid of the pocket watch in Hyeonje’s hand snapped shut. Standing where the light faded, his expression was hard to see—shadows cloaked half his face.

“Out of sheer tedium, I tried petal divination. Fortunately, there were plenty of flowers.”

He sat there, removing each petal one by one. Golden chains must have quietly gathered the stems at his feet. Better to have smashed it all at once. Without Fear Resistance, I’d have been crawling with gooseflesh.

“I didn’t mean to be late. But an hour and a half isn’t that long. You must have guessed I was hiding on purpose during our game of tag.”

I doubted he worried much. When I disappeared, he was probably startled but amused—and a bit irritated once too much time passed.

“Of course.”

He crossed one leg over the other and continued.

“I thought perhaps you’d found something of mine that I didn’t know. But humans—this mind of mine—engages in imagination. ‘What if,’ ‘maybe,’ ‘perhaps,’ ‘could be.’ As a human, it wasn’t pleasant.”

“I’m… sorry.”

“I’ve told you before, haven’t I? I’m neither accustomed to nor fond of having things taken from me.”

“They weren’t yours.”

“Not just objects, but people, and relationships can be taken too. Didn’t you once mistake yourself for having been deprived of your role as your brother’s protector?”

“…I was deprived. It wasn’t a mistake.”

“Perhaps. But from where I stood, you were never truly deprived.”

His pale eyes remained steady, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“And waiting—it truly doesn’t suit my temperament.”

Especially when you have no knowledge and no agency. His tone was relatively light, yet I sensed deeper displeasure than ever.

“I’ve waited years at a time. But instead of growing used to it, I get annoyed every time.”

Feeling that made me more apologetic. I’d assumed he merely disliked waiting. Besides, since we’re now partners, it would be awkward if I disappeared without warning. He’d hidden things from me too—but I still won that wager, right? Demanding the letter felt premature.

“I did have a drink, after all. I finished off Miss Hyunah’s wine. Can I offer you a cigarette?”

Smoking is banned in hotels, but Hyeonje cocked his hand slightly. His arrogance was boundless, but right now I should defer to him. I withdrew a cigarette case from my inventory and approached.

“You’re damp.”

“I fell in the water.”

“Pity—chilly weather too.”

“It was warmer inside.”

I flipped the case open, picked one cigarette, then another.

“Not good for your health—”

“Secondhand smoke is worse.”

I handed him a lit cigarette to ward off his lecturing. I couldn’t smoke near the others, and we rarely found privacy like this—especially with Gyeol trying to follow me recently.

No lighter, so I wondered how to ignite it—then Hyeonje held a single intact blossom. Around the pink bloom—

Crackle—

An electric spark flared. A flame danced around the flower. With such moisture, it shouldn’t have caught fire so easily.

The flower blazed at its center and lit both cigarettes. Truly the last ones.

“I received these from the King of Nihility. There’s a usage limit.”

I watched the drifting smoke as I spoke. Hyeonje’s expression was indifferent. His posture—holding a cigarette between his fingers—was something the kids must never see. They’d imitate, and I’d have to confiscate their lungs. Adults too might be tempted, boosting tobacco sales—like a high-budget ad.

Meanwhile, ash fell from Hyeonje’s other cigarette, the flame having burned down the stem to a tiny ember. He still didn’t look pleased.

“…Shall we visit the aquarium? I’ll buy you ice cream.”

I wondered why I was the one soothing him, but I’d been late.

“What should we do about Han Yujin?”

Hyeonje murmured to himself. What could I say?

“Leave him be. He’ll manage. Not everything goes your way. Look at Director Song.”

“He comes to mind—someone worrying over how to gift a lamb.”

“…That was because I wanted to help, even a little. And Director Song—you know—before the regression.”

I wasn’t trying to rewrite a person’s entire self. I merely wished he’d take better care of himself. But above all, he had to live.

“Respectfully shaping someone to your desires is not easy.”

“By the way, respect vanishes with ‘getting your way.’ First, abandon the idea that you must lead.”

Among S-Ranks, he’s nearly transcendent—no wonder he feels superior. Ordinary people couldn’t feel equal to him. Frankly, his calling me “partner” was generosity.

‘He’s lived centuries this way; sudden change is impossible. It hasn’t even been half a year.’

“To respect someone by ignoring risks is to invert priorities.”

“That’s true enough.”

“But if a non-Awakened Hunter like Park Yerim insisted on entering a dungeon—”

“I’d stop her, of course.”

I tried to prevent even S-Rank Yuhyun from entering a dungeon. Not that I don’t respect him—but still, letting them pursue their whims… yet stopping them is also imposing my will. It’s difficult.

If it were a stranger, maybe. But to leave someone I care about free to face danger—nearly impossible. Even if it’s for their own good… in the end, it’s what I want.

Hyeonje inhaled deeply, then dropped the cigarette. Meanwhile mine was nearly spent. I glanced around, and he extended his palm.

“…Excuse me.”

He couldn’t be asking me to stub it out. As an S-Rank, he’d be unharmed by a cigarette ember, but when I glared, he pinched out my cigarette’s tip between his fingers. Ash smudged his pale fingertips. Then he crushed his own cigarette in his hand. His fist opened, leaving only a trace of ash.

Of course, it returned to inventory. I also placed the cigarette butt in mine.

“An unpleasant yet fruitful time, I’d say.”

Hyeonje said lightly. Fruitful—how so? What had he been thinking? He rose to his feet, and stems like bones nudged his ankles.

“Um—what was that petal divination about?”

I was curious and concerned: what conclusion had he reached alone for an hour and a half? Looking up, I saw his eyes narrow.

“A little lady called.”

“Huh? Yerim?”

“She said she couldn’t reach me, and asked if I’d broken another phone. She said this hotel has a famous dessert and wanted us to try it.”

Wanted us—so polite. Hyeonje’s amused smile deepened.

“I told her frankly you’re not here.”

“Well, that won’t do! So what did Yerim say?”

“When I asked what she meant, I told her again you weren’t here, and she called out loudly for Han Yujin.”

She told him? Wait—that means right now the kids—! Hyeonje continued unabashed.

“When asked where her brother was, she said, ‘I don’t know. He left here about twenty minutes ago.’”

Twenty minutes ago? That was more than an hour since I vanished! What a commotion. Hyeonje!

“You really didn’t need such brutal honesty!”

“I only spoke the truth.”

I quickly grabbed my phone—thankfully still intact despite the water. Waterproof for the win.

“You wanted to throttle me that badly?”

“After searching straightaway, she didn’t come here.”

“’Cause Chloe—Yuhyun!”

[Oppa!]

No sooner than the signal reached him, my brother answered. His voice trembled.

[Where are you? Are you okay?]

“I’m fine. At ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) the hotel.”

[…What?]

“I did vanish briefly, but no one kidnapped me. I was in a place like Myeongwoo’s forge—in a drawer from the King of Nihility.”

With a grinding sound, I hastily added, “Hyeonje didn’t know, either.” We can’t burn down the hotel.

[I was—when you never returned to your room…]

“You must have worried. Lots of Hunters here—hard to get kidnapped. And if Hyeonje hadn’t been here, he’d’ve called for you.”

Gyeol never leaves my side, so I couldn’t wander alone.

“What’s the situation now? You didn’t announce my kidnapping everywhere, did you?”

[Of course not. We contacted consulates and the Association first, checked airport records, and traced Chloe Alzer’s movements. Only Director Song at the consulate and a few at the Hunter Association know.]

“Good thinking. Come back now. But tell only Director Song to come here—leave the Association be.”

Even if they intended quiet handling, the airport check meant leaks were likely. Now that it’s happened, let’s exploit it.

[I’m not alone, right?]

“Nope. The Sesung Guild Leader’s right by my side.”

“Don’t worry, young sir. I’ll watch over your brother well. You can take your time.”

[…Thank you. Stay put, Oppa.]

The call ended. I quickly rang Yerim.

[Uncle!!]

[Daddy!!]

Yerim said Gyeol was tearful and extremely worried, half-angry at me. Oh, my kids… It really wasn’t that serious. Then—

[…Yujin, you.]

As expected, Myeongwoo was furious. His voice heavy, frightening.

[…You absolute—!]

“It really was nothing this time!”

[We were so worried, Yujin. Myeongwoo-oppa, calm down.]

So they were together. This ordeal felt unfair, but I’d caused them worry before—my fault. Apology it is. Finally, I called Director Song. As she answered, a weary sigh greeted me.

“I—it was a misunderstanding, truly.”

[…I’m glad you’re safe. Is Hunter Seong Hyeonje with you?]

“I suppose I owe Director Song an apology.”

Hyeonje said without the slightest remorse.

[…Please do not file false crime reports.]

“False? I only spoke facts. Any misunderstanding arose in transmission.”

She wasn’t wrong, which annoyed me. But perhaps my tantrum improved Hyeonje’s mood. After the last call, I looked up at him.

“In any case, I won.”

“Accept it.”

Hyeonje nodded slightly, pulled out the letter, and laid it in my palm. Surely it won’t be nothing special.

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