The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 480: This Time, It’s the Kidnapper (3)

“They were strangers to me.”

“Oh, I see. Same here~ I didn’t know her at all. I only know ‘nihao’ in Chinese.”

What was xiexie again?

“I did have an acquaintance with Park Ha-yul. She helped me when I was in danger. Now that I think about it, this is paying kindness with enmity.”

After saving her, I turned around and sold her out. Of course, I helped with my own agenda, and she struggled because I didn’t give her my contact. …Honestly, it wasn’t entirely my fault, but my conscience hurt. It must be the skill. I feel sorry for her predicament—but there’s no reason for me to pity her. Still, I pity her… I wish they’d remove that skill soon.

“Ms. Chloe, you feel upset because the people around me are in danger, don’t you? My loved ones feel the same. Naturally.”

“…I understand that.”

“If you know that, why behave like this? ‘Don’t do to others what you hate being done to you’—isn’t that basic social sense? Society is built on that. You don’t want to die, right? I don’t want to die. So let’s not kill each other. You don’t want theft, right? I don’t either. So let’s not steal from each other. It’s like that promise.”

Don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you. But if someone breaks that promise, does the victim have to endure it indefinitely?

“You stayed silent and then slapped me—so you had no choice? That’s nonsense. At the very least, you could have asked for cooperation first, not just kidnapped me.”

“The situation at that time—”

“You would’ve refused anyway. Of course.”

I cut her off. Who in their right mind would accept it? Well, maybe I was shaken—Yunyun was involved. But Yuhyun, and everyone I care about, would have opposed it, even locked me up just in case.

Besides, if I’d known at the end that the Demon King would spring from Yunyun’s body, I would’ve hesitated. I’d have rescued only the goblins quietly, then sought advice from the Newcomer and the Elder before saving Yunyun.

In any case, I wouldn’t have risked my body like that.

“I agree that capturing me quickly and conveniently is the easiest method. You’d just stand by without harm. Thinking that makes this even more contemptible.”

They didn’t know the Newcomer or the Elder, nor my relationship with the goblins, so they couldn’t conceive any other method. They must’ve believed we’d never cooperate. Suppose the result was beneficial—goblins rescued, the military half-ruined so no foreign invasion, captured Hunters freed, the Hunter system reformed. We also looted some useful things.

Yet the fact that my loved ones were nearly endangered remains.

“I don’t ask for much. What I want is simple.”

I met Chloe’s gaze steadily.

“I want the people I love to live safely and happily. That’s all. Nothing more.”

Truly.

“For that, I will do whatever it takes.”

“Director Han Yujin.”

Chloe spoke more calmly than I’d expected.

“The world must be safe for your wish to be fulfilled.”

“Save the world? Fine. But we mustn’t sacrifice my people in the process. If it comes to that, I’d rather go down with them.”

I’m not going to sacrifice my kids for the world. What would I gain as someone great or heroic? If the world ends tomorrow and I must lose my loved ones to prevent it, I’d rather spend that day enjoying ourselves—thanking them, saying I love them, hugging, then sleep.

Of course, only if absolutely nothing else works. Otherwise, I’ll try to save the world without losing anyone. After all, I want to live a long life.

“It isn’t easy to protect everyone.”

Chloe said, as if comforting me.

“Unfortunate accidents happened even before dungeons existed. And now, no matter how much we plan, we can lose comrades at any time. Director Han, you lack dungeon experience, so you might not feel it.”

“Actually, I feel it all too well.”

I thought I’d go insane.

“But what are we to do?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Whether it’s hard or impossible doesn’t matter. I said I’d grab the Lord of the Dead by the collar and protect them. I said I’d do whatever it takes.”

Logic and reality say it’s unavoidable, we’re tired of it, obstacles still stand in our way. But I’ve come this far.

I rose to my feet. Taking a step forward, everyone tensed, fearing Chloe might attack me. She must’ve felt it too.

“I have F-Rank stats. My skill is powerful? True enough. But no matter how great a skill, it doesn’t raise you here on its own. Ninety-nine out of a hundred would be dragged off, imprisoned, and exploited. I nearly died—or was sold—multiple times. In China, I was actually held and used. In just half a year, it’s been brutal.”

“Lucky you had an S-Rank brother to protect you? Right, Yuhyun?”

“Right, brother.”

“You still want to lock me up, don’t you?”

“If you’re okay with it, yes.”

“You see? Since childhood, I’ve raised you. I guarantee those words are one hundred percent sincere.”

I sat back down, crossing my legs the other way.

“Now, it’s your turn, Ms. Chloe.”

“What—”

“Explain your grand purpose and how you’ve worked toward it. I’ve told you mine. My cheek still hurts from your slap—don’t you think I deserve not just compensation but an apology for refusing treatment?”

I’d debated playing the victim or striking hard, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) but since she disliked me already, the latter seemed better. Sympathy for low stats only goes so far. I stealthily cast Teacher’s Skill on Yuhyun to examine Chloe’s condition more closely.

Having seen her only on TV, I couldn’t claim to know her well. Reality shows are edited, and even close friends can’t fully know a person.

‘She certainly values her comrades.’

But judging by her words, she might cut for the sake of belief—if her actions and words aligned. Fiddling with my phone, I looked at Chloe.

“First, I apologize for misjudging you.”

Saying sorry tasted bitter. It’d be simpler if people were wholly good or bad, but humanity is complex. Yuhyun is kind and loving to me, yet he clashed with Guildmaster Soodam. …That example went wrong. Yuhyun is good; let’s pick Seong Hyunjae instead. …People are complicated, indeed.

“But a few months aren’t enough to fully know Hunters or dungeons.”

I can’t tell her I’ve returned from the future. To her, I remain an inexperienced rookie brimming with special skills and entourages of S-Rank Hunters—no reason to take me seriously.

Yerim fidgeted in impatience, wanting to shout, “He actually has the most experience!”

“We’re not a hierarchical organization.”

I smoothed my expression, deciding to listen.

“We’re not here for profit. We’re mere auxiliaries.”

“Auxiliaries?”

“Yes. As helpers, we lend aid wherever Hunters need support.”

‘Helpers’ sounded like a volunteer group.

“To me, you were simply kidnappers. By the way, is there regional bias? Asia—China is Asia too. Do you dislike Koreans?”

“Of course not.”

“It’s great to help others. But why lend other people’s hands instead of your own?”

“I can only apologize for that.”

She was stubborn—sorry and nothing more. She believed it necessary, felt no regret, and had no intention of compensation.

“Even without hierarchy, what about the sister Park Ha-yul mentioned?”

“She merely gives advice. Each acts on their own judgment.”

I recalled that Park Ha-yul’s sister refused to return. She’d be unpredictable yet maintained secrecy.

‘Those under her directive can’t harm her, or the group would crumble.’

The blonde from the letter likely isn’t her. Alternatively, she might be faking incompetence.

“Even if I ask for details, you’ll stay silent.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s assume you helpers aren’t hostile—if only you’d grant compensation and remove the skill.”

“I’m sorry, but—”

“There are three of you.”

I defiantly opened my phone and tapped the screen.

“One, two, three. Since there are three of you, I think it’s fair if at least one disappears.”

“Director Han—”

“I offered a way to reconcile. If your reasons were acceptable, I might have agreed, but as I said, my people matter more than the world. So decide.”

Chloe fell silent. Her calm eyes trembled slightly. I hesitated too. Though these threats were empty—they couldn’t connect calls in here—threatening lives felt distasteful.

“I’m not asking for much—just the invitations. What’s your favorite number? Three?”

As I pressed the three key, Chloe’s body tensed. At once, Yuhyun stamped on her thigh to keep her seated. With a crack, a black greatsword materialized and slammed down before her.

“You said sacrificing a few people is fine to save the world. This makes me feel like the real villain.”

“…I will give you my share of the invitations.”

“You said you didn’t care about material things.”

“The invitations are mere objects.”

Placing my phone on the armrest, I held out my hand.

“Release the bound people.”

“One of them, yes. I cannot free them immediately, but their lives are guaranteed.”

“I request all three be freed. In return I give the invitations now, and I will not resist further.”

After a moment’s thought, she nodded. From behind her bound hands, Chloe drew out a small gem and tossed it up. Yuhyun snatched it and handed it to me. No contract—she surrendered it willingly. It was, after all, her share.

[Party Invitation]

“How do I use this?”

“When you register the invitation, you will be contacted on a specified date. You can also change the registered user.”

“Thank you.”

I placed the invitation in my inventory. I’ll ensure the Newcomer’s safety before using it. For now, I’ve secured two slots.

“The remaining invitations have other owners. As I said, we’re not hierarchical, so I cannot demand they hand theirs over.”

“What about Park Ha-yul?”

“The same.”

Yet she wasn’t as defiant as before. Perhaps she felt I might strike back. Having floundered and even confessed, no wonder she underestimated me.

“Can you tell me how to contact your people, especially that sister?”

“…I cannot give you a definite answer.”

Hesitation flickered across Chloe’s face—the largest wavering yet. She truly could not harm that sister.

“That’s enough for now.”

I rose and looked to Myeong-woo. At my request, he approached Chloe and rendered her unconscious again.

“You make the second one easy.”

“I haven’t fully removed the skill yet. What will you do now? You need that skill removed.”

“Hm, we’ll see.”

Fishing is about tugging and releasing. We stepped outside the forge to confer on how to proceed. The original plan still seemed best.

“Thank you in advance—especially you, Seong Hyunjae.”

Then we dispersed.

Chloe opened her eyes in an unfamiliar room. Unlike before, her body was free. As she rose, she saw a man seated in a chair.

“…The Sesung Guild master.”

Seong Hyunjae smiled gently.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by readnovel.co