The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 478: This Time, It’s the Kidnapper (1)

To quietly capture Chloe, the S-Rank Hunter.

Naturally, it was no easy task. Luring her would be difficult enough, but the moment an S-Rank Hunter sensed something suspicious, she’d flee at full speed. Even a small, weak rabbit can escape a predator; with similar abilities, it would be even easier. And if we added the condition of doing it quietly enough not to be discovered, it was practically impossible. If a dozen S-Ranks poured in, the building would crumble in no time.

Yet the method proved surprisingly simple.

“Send in a Hunter with stats no higher than Mid-tier.”

The next day, I emailed Seong Hyunjae’s recorded voice file to the designated address. Before long, a reply came.

“The reply wants is a contract bearing my signature.”

Seong Hyunjae said after checking the email. He couldn’t reveal the contract’s details, but it likely included clauses on secrecy about the party, attendance as a party partner, and a guarantee of safety.

We soon set the rendezvous. It was to be around midnight, at a location where Seong Hyunjae would be visible from outside. Though Chloe had entered under the Beonkebibeu Guild alone, it seemed she had some help in Korea.

“They’ll likely confirm Yuhyun’s, Yerim’s, Hyunah’s, and even Director Song’s positions. So let’s disperse as if the matter’s settled. I’ll… make some noise.”

Maybe just leaning on Yuhyun for support, looking pale and shocked.

Late that night, Seong Hyunjae was the first to leave the hotel with Director Song. He accompanied Director Song out the front doors, then climbed into a waiting car and returned to the guild. Director Song politely declined the ride, insisting on walking home. He could be tracked easily on foot, but at least he refused a taxi.

Then I called Moon Hyunah and filled her in.

[Actually, I’m outside right now. Did you reconcile with Seong Hyunjae?]

“Reconcile? It wasn’t really a fight to begin with…”

I shifted my body aside and lowered my voice.

“But I feel like he’s hiding something.”

[Hiding something? He’s always like that. Acts like he understands the world by himself.]

“Yeah. He can be insufferable sometimes.”

[‘Sometimes’? He’s usually kind.]

Hyunah chuckled.

“That’s just politeness. Anyway, he’s strangely nonchalant.”

It seemed odd that he’d hide Chloe’s letter from me and push me aside just to secure an invitation to Chatterbox’s party. Seong Hyunjae told me I hadn’t unraveled everything yet, but that ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) should have been my own conclusion. I sensed he was keeping something hidden—something related to me.

“He kept telling me to tell him things. He’ll poke and prod, but his purpose is a total mystery.”

[Hmm, shall we have a drink and talk it out? Need some counseling?]

“No, nothing like that…”

[You know, Director Song once lamented the same to me. About two years ago, when he was being tormented by Seong Hyunjae. And it wasn’t just once.]

“I sometimes gossip about Director Song and Seong Hyunjae too. Director Song says to just accept him as a natural disaster.”

[These days, your brother is more of a headache. At least Seong Hyunjae is sturdy! He won’t suddenly drop dead from some odd risk.]

Guilt pricked me. If I said I wanted to attend Chatterbox’s party, Director Song would sigh deeply again.

[He’s hard to read, but I’ve known him a long time. He genuinely wants to look out for your brother—though his methods are dirty.]

“I’ll pass on those methods. And I already declined. I don’t want one-sided protection.”

[It’s unlike him to try to treat you so well, but that nature doesn’t change easily. He’ll retreat secretly unless he’s slapped hard in the face.]

“You think slapping him is possible?”

[Or you could poke him back. Time’s the answer. He might change someday. Or just toss him aside. That’s my recommendation.]

“Toss him where? There’s nowhere to toss him.”

Hyunah laughed.

[If there were, unfortunate Director Song would’ve tossed himself there first! No, he couldn’t. Anyway, most people don’t agonize like this— they’re the ones who discard others first.]

“That’s because I’m better, right.”

I found unexpected strength in my voice. I added “aside from my skill” silently. I wondered if laughter would drift through the phone again.

“Exactly. Because you’re amazing.”

Hyunah agreed in a matter-of-fact tone—not to please me, nor as praise, just stating a fact.

“…You know how much I really like you, right?”

[Of course. Love you, brother.]

“What was that? Why’d you lower your voice? Hey, what was that just now!”

I blushed at nothing in particular, then ended the call after asking her to keep an eye on my movements.

“I’m serious. If my sister OKs it, she’d be a hundred percent sold.”

Yerim, who’d been standing with Yuhyun some distance away, nodded vigorously. Yuhyun’s expression looked a bit sullen.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing. Hey, Han Yuhyun, don’t sulk— your sister probably doesn’t feel that way. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

Yuhyun replied coolly and stepped closer. Gyeol, who’d been with Yerim, climbed onto my shoulder.

“Let’s go home, brother.”

“Yeah, let’s.”

“Daddy, do you really like tall people?”

“No, Gyeol, I like you too.”

Were they talking about Chloe’s confession again? Before exiting the hotel, I disabled Fear Resistance. Then, thinking briefly of pre-Return days, my mood plunged. Feeling down, I let Yuhyun and Yerim surround me as I stepped outside and got into the car.

We arrived at the Kisungsoo Breeding Facility and went inside. Ppiyak and Bellare were asleep, but Peace and Rin greeted me at the door. Rin had likely followed Peace.

“Peace, Dad has to step out again for a moment.”

“Wrrr.”

Peace grumbled in protest when I didn’t remove my shoes. I felt sorry for leaving right after returning home. Gyeol opened his eyes wide.

“You can’t stay up, Gyeol—you need to sleep.”

“I don’t want to! I’m not sleepy!”

“It’s too late. It won’t take long, so go to sleep first.”

After coaxing Gyeol to bed, I headed back out to the reception room on the first floor. Seok Simyeong was already there, waiting.

“We’re about to depart,” he said, gesturing to the monitors. “All nighttime surveillance cameras are online.”

They covered the rendezvous and the surrounding building and traffic cameras, parked vehicles to minimize blind spots. Even if Chloe found it suspicious, she had no reason to damage anything—she’d just become a criminal.

“I hope nothing goes wrong.”

I fidgeted in my seat. After a while, a car appeared on the monitors. It stopped, and a man in his late twenties wearing glasses got out. He was a Mid-tier Hunter from Sesung, with the Special Support skill. He looked around, then leaned against his car.

“Sit down,” Yuhyun said.

“Yeah, sit and wait.”

I swallowed and sat on the sofa as Yuhyun urged. It was already past midnight.

“Why hasn’t she come? We’ve set her up!”

“We need to confirm it’s not a trap.”

“But she’s late! This is unfair!”

I grumbled, and Yerim looked surprised.

“Have you completely given up on that sister now? You said you liked her so much.”

“Even if I like her…”

Not as much as those around me. Conversations about Yerim going to bed turned into school discussions—she hadn’t gone yesterday—while thirty minutes slipped by.

Just as my anxiety peaked, Chloe finally appeared. She approached the car slowly and offered a light greeting. The Sesung Hunter, to show he wasn’t hostile, spread his arms slightly and extended his hand. Chloe tilted her head at the gesture, then offered her hand for the handshake.

In an instant, both vanished from the screens.

“It worked! Let’s go!”

I jumped up, asked Seok Simyeong to keep monitoring, and rushed outside. As soon as I got into the prepared car, a call came from Seok.

[Companions of Hunter Chloe have appeared.]

“They must have been surprised. How many?”

[Two at first; then another joined. Those scouting S-Rank positions were at least three or four. If they all gather, it could be close to ten.]

“They won’t all show. Once top-rank Hunters feel threatened, they’ll save themselves first.”

“Sir, it’s Noah.”

Yerim held out her phone from the backseat.

“Noah reports three more have appeared. They don’t look higher than Mid-tier; please subdue them.”

[Understood.]

Noah had returned to the breeding facility building earlier with Myeong-woo. Even monitored, the observers wouldn’t be S-Rank—they’d be A-Rank at most, likely B-Rank or lower. Noah’s stealth skill made infiltration easy. Even if Noah’s position was unknown, they might have assumed one S-Rank in support, but he hadn’t planned to approach Chloe directly.

“If rougher methods are needed, keep me out of it.”

Yuhyun said, steering. Rough methods—there might indeed be a need.

“Shouldn’t you tell Yerim that?”

“Why me? I’m a Hunter too!”

“I always say minors must be protected. The world is dangerous; if not, they shouldn’t be Hunters.”

Monsters don’t get special treatment as children—they fight to grow stronger—but humans should.

“Both I and Han Yuhyun…”

Yerim complained. Sometimes I felt she tried to do everything Yuhyun did—rivalry, or family loyalty.

When we reached the destination, we saw Noah and three mid-tier Hunters tied up with wires.

“Noah, great work!”

“My pleasure. All three seemed C-Rank or lower.”

Seong Hyunjae arrived, and then Hyunah’s car pulled up.

“Director Song’s here too!”

Director Song stepped out of the passenger seat. Seong Hyunjae lamented that he had refused the ride, but he always behaved well.

“He said he’ll come out in an hour, so be ready.”

He checked his timer. S-Rank Hunters formed a ring around the empty space where Chloe and her companions should be. I kept to the back. Exactly one hour later, human forms appeared in the void.

Chloe lay unconscious and bound, flanked by three Sesung Hunters. One removed his glasses, revealing a familiar face.

“Myeong-woo! You okay? No injuries?”

I hurried over, and Myeong-woo smiled that he was fine.

“I don’t get hurt inside my forge.”

We’d used Myeong-woo’s forge to quietly capture Chloe. It allowed him to transport anyone he touched—person or object—into the forge. Inside was an Ismuar capable of subduing an S-Rank Hunter, plus glasses that let him impersonate others. Deceiving Chloe was surprisingly easy.

Though word of Myeong-woo’s forge leaked during Seong Hyunjae’s birthday, who would imagine the world’s only S-Rank-or-higher equipment craftsman stepping in so directly? With his low stats, everyone assumed he’d be safely hidden.

I’d worried he might get hurt—but he emerged unscathed. After all, our opponent was a High-Rank Hunter. He insisted on keeping me safe… I should reflect on that.

“I was more worried about you.”

“Huh? Me?”

“You’re my fan, Yujin. You’re not the type to change your mind easily.”

“Oh… well.”

Seeing Chloe sprawled on the ground made my heart ache.

“Myeong-woo, you’re far more precious to me. And right now, there are so many good people around.”

I was comforted then and remained grateful, but things couldn’t be as they were. It felt cheap to let old sentiments fade, but better circumstances blurred the past.

“Let’s move locations first. It’d be best to wake Hunter Chloe inside the forge. Is that okay?”

“Yes. In case she tries to run, I agree.”

We moved Chloe and the three Hunters toward the Gyeonggi Breeding Facility, where civilian harm would be minimal. We left the mid-tier Hunters with the senior Hunters and Blue, then entered Myeong-woo’s forge.

“This is the basement?”

It was spacious. The ceiling and floor bore faint scorch marks—traces of Chloe’s battle. And the atmosphere felt strange—stifling. Everyone’s expression had darkened slightly. Perhaps because it was a basement.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by readnovel.co