The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 513: Dogfight (4)

The smell of gunpowder and smoke mingled in the air, the acrid sting pricking Han Yujin’s nose. He glanced slowly between Song Taewon and Seong Hyunjae. Seong Hyunjae spat the blood pooled in his mouth.

“It ended faster than I expected.”

“You had a gun. And my brother is still young. But Seong Hyunjae, what are you doing leaving a fine weapon unused? Quite a spectacle, I must say.”

Of course he hadn’t seen everything from the start. But Seong Hyunjae didn’t seem the sort to lose his gun so easily. He must have tangled up like that just for the fun of it.

“How heartless, just watching the show.”

“You seemed to enjoy it.”

Han Yujin snapped the pistol in his hand back into alignment. Spent casing clattered at his feet.

“In any case, Seong Hyunjae, you survived.”

One solid brass round slipped into the pistol. Click—the gun restored to its original form.

“Congratulations.”

Han Yujin leveled the muzzle at Seong Hyunjae.

“Feels like a hostage drama, doesn’t it? Though Director Song doesn’t quite fit the part.”

Bound by Seong Hyunjae’s arm, Song Taewon looked at Han Yujin.

“Swapping positions might seem more natural, but as you know, the world doesn’t work that way. Perfectly meshing gears are rare. We jam and grind together just enough to keep turning.”

Even mass-produced goods, meticulously calculated, sometimes come out flawed—how could all these disparate parts ever align flawlessly?

“Director Song.”

The voice calling him was cool. Seong Hyunjae’s narrowed eyes bore clear menace. Justifiable anger. Song Taewon thought inwardly: even actions done for another’s sake, without consent, are mere self-righteousness. Especially when one knows harm will come—there is no excuse.

“Director Song, you lost.”

“…Yes.”

“This matter between you two is over. Now it’s my turn.”

The pistol’s barrel dipped slightly. Seong Hyunjae obediently loosened his arm. Though released, Song Taewon stood rooted in place, ignoring the bleeding shoulder wound. As if daring them to vent on him, he remained motionless like a target dummy.

Han Yujin’s brow twitched at the sight.

“Is that shoulder… bitten?”

Stepping closer to Han Yujin, Seong Hyunjae asked.

“You’ll need to take better care of your brother.”

“Don’t worry. Before he bites anyone else, I’ll knock him out. The brat earned it.”

Han Yujin approached, then pressed the pistol under Seong Hyunjae’s chin.

“Now you should take your leave.”

“I’d end up the model spectator, but—”

“I don’t accept freeloading audience members.”

“But I left my wallet behind.”

“If you have no money, you shouldn’t watch. No excuses.”

“No VIP passes either?”

“Uhh… your name is… Sung… something? Looks familiar.”

As the muzzle traced Seong Hyunjae’s jawline, Han Yujin mused, “Who is this, again?”

“Now be quiet.”

Han Yujin pressed his lips together.

“I really didn’t expect I’d get to blow your head off twice.”

“An honor.”

Seong Hyunjae met his golden-eyed gaze. Han Yujin’s irritation at his apparent pleasure mingled with relief—if he could roll in the dirt by his hair and it made him happy, so be it.

“You don’t have to watch.”

“I’m no child.”

“Grown-ups deserve care too. See good things, hear good words.”

“So you mean I should throw Seong Hyunjae away?”

“Doesn’t it look good?”

“Oh, yes, yes. Quite talkative.”

Smiling, Seong Hyunjae parted his lips, tilted his head, and lightly bit the muzzle. Han Yujin blinked, then closed his eyes. The trigger clicked and a shot rang out. When he opened his eyes, Seong Hyunjae was gone.

Han Yujin turned to Song Taewon, still motionless. Only the two remained; Han Yujin could easily subdue him, yet only exhaled quietly.

“Director Song.”

Han Yujin dropped the pistol.

“Come at me.”

“……”

Song Taewon’s eyes widened momentarily, then settled with heavy calm.

“I lost.”

That nonresistant attitude at being choked even if he walked unguarded made Han Yujin’s gaze grow colder.

“You said that was between you and Seong Hyunjae. Now it’s me! I’m mad, I’m picking a fight.”

“Yes, it’s natural to be angry.”

“Then come at me.”

Song Taewon hesitated, watching Han Yujin. By ordinary standards he was hardly small, but compared to Han Yujin he was inevitably smaller—significant height difference and a lighter build.

Even with one arm unusable, the outcome was obvious. The moment distance closed, it would end. Seemingly pointless stubbornness for Song Taewon, but if Han Yujin desired it, he had no choice but to accept.

“…Please drop the gun.”

“No. Aside from guns and bows, I’ll use anything—rest assured.”

“…Then I will face you empty-handed.”

Han Yujin’s lips curled savagely.

“You remain arrogant to the end.”

“Even empty-handed, I have the advantage.”

“You thought so before entering too, didn’t you?”

Han Yujin unsheathed a dagger and twirled it.

“You surely expected I’d lose.”

“……”

“Yes, I know I’m weaker. Anyone would bet against me. So let’s fight properly.”

“…Han Yujin.”

“Director Song.”

Rumble—the distant thunder rolled across the gray sky. Plip, plip. Raindrops began to fall. The dying flames sizzled under the rain.

Silence lingered, then Han Yujin moved first. Well aware close quarters favored neither, he slid one foot back, spun, and charged. Song Taewon paused then followed.

Better to seize him quickly. Though initially hesitant, Song Taewon accelerated. A larger frame can appear clumsy—yet a trained body moves faster with greater force. Their stride difference was stark.

Song Taewon’s resolve closed the gap at once. Han Yujin darted along the building’s edge around a corner. Song Taewon rounded it—

Thud!

The display cabinet hanging above crashed down. As Song Taewon faltered, Han Yujin vanished. The storm clouds darkened further, the rain intensified. Crack! Lightning split the sky.

‘He must’ve prepared,’ Song Taewon thought. Surveyed the area, set traps like this. Even the worsening weather likely factored in. Perhaps he waited for darkness and rain.

Rain pelted Song Taewon’s set face and broad shoulders, mingling with blood down his arm. A large hand brushed rainwater from his soaked features. Yet if Han Yujin would use only melee weapons, he still held the disadvantage.

Despite that, he felt no certainty of victory.

Calmly scanning his surroundings, Song Taewon advanced. The rain’s roar and thunder masked any footsteps. But in daylight, traces were easy to find. His gaze swept the wet ground—footprints left their mark. And faintly, they remained.

Confirming Han Yujin’s direction, Song Taewon stepped carefully. In his mind raced possible traps: again exploiting terrain like before—watch overhead and underfoot. Han Yujin’s strength couldn’t hurl heavy objects far; at most drop them. He might craft sling stones, but he seemed unlikely to use any ranged weapons beyond bow or gun.

He wanted to clash directly.

“…Huh.”

Song Taewon exhaled. Perhaps his untreated wounds radiated heat from shoulder downward.

Thanks to the soaking ground, Han Yujin’s footprints grew clearer. He trailed them to the ruined watchtower. At the jagged end of one broken post fluttered a loop of bright pink yarn. And those threads—

“……”

Stretched outward in all directions like a giant spiderweb. Cautiously, Song Taewon approached. Around the small plaza and tower debris, he found yarn tied between nearby houses, the warehouse, the well, and the fence, filling a wide area.

He reached out to the outer yarn, then withdrew. Anyone could see it was a trap. How it worked was unknown, best not to touch.

He stepped under the low yarn, moving inward. Ducking beneath a third strand, he spotted a cleverly hidden wire beyond. That must be the real trigger. Reckless contact might activate something.

He could toss a rock to clear it, but Han Yujin had vowed empty-handed combat. Resolute, Song Taewon evaded the yarn. Alert for Han Yujin emerging to spring the trap, he heard only the rain.

Then, as he stooped under the last yarn at chest height—

Thunk! A pink dot shot toward him. A bicycle, hurtling down the slope at breakneck speed. Song Taewon reflexively halted instead of dodging; wall on one side and yarn on the other.

No way. Had Han Yujin guided him into this path? Before he could think further, the bicycle reached him. Song Taewon bent his knees to brace himself and meet the impact. Simultaneously—

Ssss—

Han Yujin drew the sword strapped to the bicycle’s rear—the Ruler’s Sword dropped by Han Yuhyun. The dark blade, propelled by the # Nоvеlight # bike’s momentum, slashed through the air. Song Taewon ducked just as—

Crash!

The bicycle rammed him. Unbalanced, Song Taewon couldn’t withstand the speeding collision and was shoved backward. Snap—yarn strands tore free and entwined around him. Just before the bicycle toppled, Han Yujin leapt off, rolled once on the ground, and sprang up. He swung his sword at the yarn.

Rustle—severed yarn flew back toward Song Taewon on the rebound. Then Han Yujin untied the wire, gripped its end, and whipped it around.

“That yarn is sturdier than I thought.”

Though blades could cut it, a sharp pull barely budged it. He wound the wire around the snapped yarn strands to secure them. Knowing he couldn’t hold the wire indefinitely, he tied it to a post connected to a building.

Advancing with his long sword, Han Yujin approached Song Taewon. Though he rose, Song Taewon’s upper body and uninjured arm remained entangled. He watched Han Yujin approach. His legs could move, but his sword’s reach was short by comparison.

The rain fell steadily, darkening the soaked yarn to near-red.

“If I stab here—”

Han Yujin leveled the blade.

“Would you be satisfied?”

At that moment, Song Taewon moved. He scraped the ground with his toe, flicking a stone. It struck the back of Han Yujin’s hand precisely. He barely held onto the sword, his stance disrupted. Song Taewon collapsed onto the ground and extended his legs.

Thud! Using his whole body at close range, Han Yujin kicked. Tumbling backward, he spat mud as he laughed. Just the reaction Song Taewon had hoped for.

He pivoted the fallen sword upright with his toe. Han Yujin sprang up to attack, but first the yarn strands snapped and the wire slackened. Evading Han Yujin’s punches, Song Taewon thrust his free arm forward. He avoided having his throat seized, but Han Yujin clamped onto his shoulder.

“Ugh.”

Despite being unawakened, Han Yujin’s grip was terrifying. Clutching Song Taewon’s shoulder, he drove his fingers mercilessly into the wound. No matter the pain tolerance, this was unbearable.

Thud!

Letting go, Han Yujin was kicked away. He flew lightly across the ground, coughing, clutching his chest, and struggled upright to glare at Song Taewon.

“A bit weak.”

He coughed again, lip curling.

“You should kick to kill.”

Loosening the wire entirely, Song Taewon—without hesitation—rushed Han Yujin.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by readnovel.co