The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 496: So You Give It To Me (3)

“Yes, Master Sesung Guild. Have a good time~”

She smiled brightly and turned away neatly. I’m not a dog that comes running just because someone calls. It’s better in every way to let this pass─

“He seems to be sulking.”

Seong Hyunjae spoke, amusement lingering in his tone. That damn man. Saying it like that makes me sound like I’m throwing a tantrum and storming off in anger. After all the atmosphere I worked to build, that would ruin everything.

‘What else is he nitpicking today?’

Maybe he called me back to help, but I could have stayed put. I don’t need this today.

“Oh, come now.”

I turned back toward Seong Hyunjae with that same easy smile. The people who had been merely listening now turned their eyes toward us. Some were even using flight skills, perching on the stairs or climbing onto tables.

Funny, isn’t it? If this were someone else, I’d be munching popcorn and watching Seong Hyunjae make a scene from afar.

“I still like Master Sesung Guild. To me, you’re truly a valuable source of income—my client, if you will.”

If I lose my temper now, I lose. The best tactic is to seem relaxed and unfazed.

“In that case, Master Sesung Guild, aren’t you the one still holding onto something?”

He genuinely tilted his head in curiosity.

“We had a contract that I would provide as much information as you wanted, but I never expected you to come all this way.”

I’m fine with it, though. Isn’t it you who’s making a fuss? The gazes scrutinizing us grew more intense. They were S-Rank Hunters, yet gaping like common rabble in search of entertainment. Of course, the target was Seong Hyunjae, so it was understandable.

“If there’s anything else you need, feel free to contact me anytime. Aside from Haeyeon, you’re my biggest client, and I can arrange almost anything.”

“Then.”

Seong Hyunjae, still faintly smiling, looked at me and opened his mouth—then lifted his glass to his lips. The last of the dark-red liquid trickled down, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but think he’d make an excellent poster model. Infuriatingly so.

Silently, the empty wine glass was placed back on the table.

“Pour me some.”

…Pouring a drink for someone isn’t a big deal. But Seong Hyunjae is neither my boss, nor my teacher, nor even my senior. He’s just a client president and should be my equal. He may be older, but today I ignore that.

“I’m sorry, but I’m abstaining from alcohol right now.”

Our relationship isn’t one-sided; if I pour for him, he’d naturally pour for me. But I can’t drink today. I turned him down with that implication. We could have exchanged drinks, but me pouring first would look bad. He might not even hand the glass back.

“You seem mistaken.”

Seong Hyunjae continued softly, as if comforting me.

“I’m requesting a service from Director Han Yujin. Didn’t I say I’d grant almost any request?”

I felt a strong urge to flip him off and walk away. “Hey, S-Rank Hunters, my client’s kid is misbehaving.” If he were a dog, at least he’d be cute.

It was a tricky situation. Seong Hyunjae kept me beneath him, and everyone assumed that was natural. He could act however he pleased, but I had to be careful not to be cut down. It was infuriating.

Pop—the sound of a cork coming free. Wine began to fill Seong Hyunjae’s empty glass. It was Song Taewon.

“Enough.”

Song Taewon poured the wine with impeccable neatness and set the bottle down with equal precision. His heavy, dark gaze fixed on Seong Hyunjae, who met it in return.

“To have Mr. Song Taewon pour for me—how humbling.”

Seong Hyunjae’s fingertip slowly traced the rim of the wine glass. He rolled it around once, then applied a little pressure, tilting it just so that its contents threatened not to spill. He spun it again, balancing it skillfully.

“Oh dear, a mistake.”

With a flick, the glass toppled. Red spread rapidly across the white tablecloth. Seong Hyunjae’s lips curved upward at the corners.

“What a shame.”

He caught the rolling glass with a light touch and looked at me again, as if to ask whether it was empty. I stifled a bitter laugh.

‘That temper of his.’

Old memories flared up, and I felt a surge of exhilaration. It wasn’t that long ago, but it felt like a competition of who could act more like a dog. I extended my right hand to the side. All eyes followed my movement.

Although Seong Hyunjae had knocked over the glass, the real draw for those S-Rank Hunters was Director Han Yujin himself—just him, no Chatterbox powers or other skills. They wanted to see how Han Yujin would handle the Guild Master’s antics.

So.

“Wine.”

My command-like tone startled the nearby S-Rank Hunters. Ever since their Awakening, how many times had F-Rank or higher Hunters heard such an order? If ever. Yet after a moment’s hesitation, they promptly brought wine.

“Here, as you wish.”

I stepped toward the table and drew a thin knife from my inventory. I stabbed it into the cork and twisted, moving around the circular table as everyone watched.

“As you desire.”

Pop—the cork came free, and I tilted the bottle high, letting rosé wine pour out. Pink droplets cascaded down.

“Oh dear, a mistake.”

I spoke serenely, without stopping the flow. Seong Hyunjae looked up at me without so much as a twitch of an eyebrow. Even his eyelashes caught droplets. A normal person would blink, but he stood motionless as though frozen.

The wine slid down my hair, along my cheek, under my jaw, and over my neck, soaking into my shirt and tie. When the bottle was empty, I tossed ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) it carelessly behind me. It was as aggressive as grabbing someone by the collar and slapping their face.

I wondered if I’d gone too far, yet my heart raced with joy. My expression must have shown my excitement. Around us, the atmosphere cooled. I must have looked insane—like someone had spilled guts for sport.

“On second thought.”

I met Seong Hyunjae’s gaze directly.

“It isn’t a mistake. You only said to pour.”

I did pour. He swept the wine from his chin with his finger and licked it with his tongue.

“Delicious.”

“I’m honored you’re satisfied.”

I hoped that would be the end of it, but suddenly his hand shot out in a blink of an eye—faster than Noah’s camera could catch. Before I knew it, I was being pulled off balance, toppling to the side. Seong Hyunjae caught me by the shoulder to support me. Now my eye level was slightly below his. Gyeol, who had fluttered up in panic, perched himself quietly at the edge of the table. Good boy, he held back.

“We must reward Director Han.”

Seong Hyunjae said as he extended his hand over the table. Someone promptly threw a glass of wine. I had to ask for it, but with this man, no words were necessary.

“To the neck.”

Seong Hyunjae spoke so softly that even the S-Rank Hunters nearby could barely hear, like a whisper.

“Do you know what that means?”

“…What does it mean?”

The fingers of the hand gripping my shoulder moved slightly, tracing the mark on my neck.

“When the unpleasant aura grew stronger, I understood. I… Seong Hyunjae have never seen that mark.”

My brow furrowed at his words. If Seong Hyunjae didn’t know it, then perhaps the him from another world had encountered the Chatterbox there. It wasn’t impossible—Chatterbox as the Filial Piety Addict might have intervened in worlds outside this one.

But.

“…Are you all right?”

I spoke as quietly as possible. We shouldn’t let what’s built up spill out. He said I wouldn’t hold up.

Instead of answering, Seong Hyunjae snapped the neck off the wine bottle he held with a single tap of his thumb—neat as scissors cutting paper. He filled a glass with wine again.

“…Is there glass in it? You’re trying to kill me by splashing wine.”

“Do you think I can’t control that much?”

I hate red wine. It’s harsh. He knew I didn’t like it, yet he filled the glass anyway. From the bottle’s mouth, red droplets splashed onto my face and collar. Purely intentional, about half a glass’s worth, drenching me. My white shirt was stained crimson.

“Drink.”

Seong Hyunjae smiled kindly and released me. Spilling wine like that and then offering the drink—four and a half points out of five. I obediently lifted the glass and drank… but it tasted awful. Who thoughtlessly threw red wine? There’s white, too.

I swallowed the rest, restraining the urge to pour it over Seong Hyunjae’s head, and set the empty glass on the table.

“Really sweet.”

He seemed satisfied; he didn’t pick another fight. I couldn’t tell if he’d tried to obstruct me, help me, or had another motive. Even after half a year—or half a century—I couldn’t fathom his mind.

‘I need to talk separately about the Chatterbox mark.’

I still needed to confirm if it was genuine. I didn’t want to encounter an unexpected Seong Hyunjae I didn’t know.

As I turned away, Director Song approached and Gyeol hopped back onto my shoulder. I was worried, but thankfully Yuhyun and Yerim kept their distance. I’ll have to praise them later for holding back. And Gyeol, too.

“Wipe it off.”

Director Song took a large towel from his inventory and held it out.

“What kind of towel is this?”

It was made from dungeon byproducts. Such a luxury item from Song Taewon’s inventory. Unbelievable.

“…It’s Song’s.”

Director Song hesitated slightly.

“He likes to cover himself with fabric made from dungeon byproducts and chew on it… It’s Association-issued equipment, and I’ve washed it clean.”

“Oh, right. He chews ordinary cloth, too, but he prefers dungeon byproducts.”

It’s meant for him to chew on, but can I really wipe off wine with it? I guess I could wash it later.

“I’ll clean it and return it.”

“It’s fine.”

As Director Song recovered the towel, his gaze remained fixed on my neck, as if he had many questions, but he said nothing and quietly stepped away. Then, as though he’d been waiting, he handed the still-half-clean towel to Seong Hyunjae. Very considerate.

“Hyung, get the footage.”

Moon Hyun-ah approached and whispered.

“Get permission from the subject first.”

“Wouldn’t a video of wine being poured on the Guild Master sell well?”

Hmm, even I’d buy a bottle of that. It’d sell better than the wine Seong Hyunjae drank.

“No need for that. It’ll sell just fine. But when developing it elsewhere later, a unique label might be good. You care more than I thought, Hyun-ah?”

“I wasn’t interested at all, but they held me and brainwashed me into caring.”

Moon Hyun-ah said she suffered greatly. She said I should at least know the basics, Master Guild Leader.

“It wasn’t basic. It’s not my thing.”

“Me neither.”

When I said it looked like there’d be more trouble ahead, Moon Hyun-ah put on an exaggerated sorrowful face. The hunters present seemed impressed by how I calmly carried on as if nothing happened, even after all that chaos. Some grew more favorable, others more resentful—but either way, they concluded that the leader of the Dodam Nursery was not to be trifled with.

Now it would be perfect to move on to the next order of business—before I even thought it.

“A monster!”

A voice cried out from outside. They’ve come.

“Guild Master Haeyeon.”

At my call, Yuhyun ran to the outer wall, drew a wire, and swung it in a half-circle. With a whoosh that tore the air, the decorative curtains on the wall were slashed down. The wire’s tip pressed the release button.

Crrr— the wall began to open. It was the movable wall that connected the garden and the room. The dim, sunset sky appeared, and below it, damp monsters roamed. Most of the Hunters outside were mid-to-high rank, so there were already dead monsters too. Their ranks didn’t look very high.

“…What is that?”

Someone murmured, staring toward the sea.

“Be careful, Hyung.”

“I don’t know what it is, but it looks dangerous.”

Yuhyun and Yerim immediately stood by my side. In the distance, a small hill that hadn’t been there before had risen up.

Hmm, this isn’t exactly what I ordered. Riet, what did you do?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by readnovel.co