The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 517: One Table

Song Taewon stood blocking the door to Seong Hyunjae’s room. He leaned against the door at an angle, as if determined not only to guard it but also to prevent anyone inside from coming out.

“…You’ve been standing here the whole time?”

“It’s been about an hour. I find standing outside more comfortable.”

What could they have done to make Director Song run off so much? Even though Seong Hyunjae must be weakest now, they’d chased him off—whatever happened in the last few hours, I couldn’t even guess.

“I got a message on Director Song’s phone.”

“It was confiscated.”

“…What?”

“In exchange, I agreed to be tied up.”

Song Taewon held up the wire leading inside. He’d tied him up because it felt unsafe to leave him alone. With this version of Seong Hyunjae, an S-Rank wire wouldn’t be so easily severed. Director Song’s face showed dark rings of fatigue. What on earth had gone on in these past few hours?

I opened the door and stepped inside. The long wire led toward the kitchenette, where water was boiling. Seong Hyunjae must have been doing something, shifting it bit by bit. I had an urge to pull it, just to see if it would jerk him closer.

“Mr. Seong Hyunjae.”

He must’ve sensed us entering, yet he remained turned away. The wire was tied around his ankle. In the cramped kitchenette attached to the suite, water simmered on the stove.

“To the merciless Director Song Taewon who left me here, I’ll serve black tea. Han Yujin, how about cocoa?”

Yuhyun glanced at me for guidance.

“Not too sweet. I hear cocoa’s good for you.”

“And for you, young master—”

“I’ll pass.”

Yuhyun replied clinically, and Seong Hyunjae, as if he’d expected that, turned to face me.

“Americano. Or green tea. But I most comfortably drink plain spring water.”

“That’s new information.”

“I’m picky about water.”

He drank whatever was offered, but it showed slightly. He especially liked water made purely with Yerim’s magic. I was the only one who knew that—forgive me, Yerim. If you two found out, you’d probably fight over it. He’d also drunk barley tea since childhood, and although Yerim liked barley tea too, she preferred brown rice tea.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Need help? It feels odd to exploit someone with tied ankles.”

Seong Hyunjae lifted the bound leg lightly.

“It brings me joy, master.”

Now I felt even more uneasy. Song Taewon holding the wire probably felt the same—he must’ve wanted to toss it away immediately.

“Isn’t it time to untie him?”

“…Yes.”

Director Song promptly removed the wire and put it in his inventory. Honestly, even if he were sold as a real slave, he’d eat better and live better than his master. He’d beg his master to set him free out of pity.

We sat on the couch, and not long after, Seong Hyunjae came in carrying a tray. He set down a cup on the table, picked up milk tea for himself, and sat.

“How are you feeling?”

“Shall I pull again?”

He pressed his cheek lightly with a finger. Yuhyun and Director Song looked at me as if to say What is he talking about? Well, that was—

“Enough strange talk. This cocoa is delicious.”

For a chocolate drink, it was surprisingly clean.

“You didn’t call me here just for cocoa. If we’re discussing future plans, let’s invite everyone.”

“Of course. Yerim, Hyunah, Noah, and Myeongwoo too. Liete should know more now, I think. Anything before the reset with Noah should be discussed separately with him.”

“I’ve already had a brief conversation with Song Taewon on that matter.”

At Seong Hyunjae’s words, Director Song set /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ down his teacup.

“I’ll be taking another leave of absence.”

I nearly gasped.

“If possible, I’d step down from my position, but that’s unlikely.”

“Director Song?!”

This time I couldn’t hold back. What on earth are you saying? He met my gaze squarely—no embarrassment, just calm, unwavering eyes.

“Before the wager, I decided to respect and trust Han Yujin’s methods. But I need to investigate myself thoroughly. That’s why I’m taking leave.”

“For Director Song, you mean the puppeteer?”

“Yes. As a last resort, I think we need to be prepared.”

I hesitated briefly, then nodded. If neither was wrong, we had to accept priorities.

“I probably won’t be able to let go completely.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. But others will be different.”

That sent a chill through my chest. Others—

“They’ll want to finish this with only you and Song Taewon left. Han Yujin, a hero’s tale without sacrifice is extremely rare.”

Seong Hyunjae continued.

“In heroic tales, sacrifice is usually seen as noble, and if the person volunteers, it becomes a celebrated story.”

“So, by bringing this up now…”

I swallowed dryly.

“You mean people outside this room might want to sacrifice two of us, if they learn the details?”

“There’s one right beside you, Han Yujin.”

He looked at Yuhyun. My brother answered calmly.

“If I had news, I wouldn’t do it secretly. I’d tell you first.”

“…What? But you lost.”

“I only helped Director Song. And while my promise to you matters, your safety comes first.”

…No wonder he accepted the wager so readily.

“You and Director Song reached a conclusion, so I’ll step aside—but my priorities remain.”

“Mine too.”

My mind spun. We said no rash sacrifices among ourselves, but no one else would necessarily agree.

“For Liete, we need to be careful. She’s not the type to offer someone as a sacrifice, but she has no reason to protect loyalties.”

“She might not care for herself, but she might move to protect her brother. She’s close to Soyeong, too. And Hunter Myeongwoo likely won’t be merciful.”

“…Myeongwoo’s kind, though. He wouldn’t abandon her—right?”

“I’m personally grateful to him.”

“Really? I heard you turned down all his offers.”

“Since Golden Forge became known, high-rank Hunters have been far more restrained. Even the aggressive ones avoid trouble to keep access to buildings.”

Ah… so that’s been the effect. After all, disruptive Hunters would be banned from buildings for safety.

“Unlike Han Yujin, she hardly engages in dangerous tasks.”

“…Sorry.”

Myeongwoo’s involvement… was because of me. I felt remorse.

“Noah doesn’t like Seong Hyunjae either. Though it’s his own fault. Yerim should be fine. And Hyunah.”

“Moon Hyunah is an S-Rank and a guild leader, but she’s also a normal person. A genuinely good one.”

Calling Hyunah “normal” felt off, but…

“Right, she is good.”

“Her parents are healthy, her family harmonious. She’s an ordinary sibling, unlike you and Yuhyun.”

“…She does tease her brother sometimes.”

Calling him a pig, then muttering it’s too cute to call him wild boar.

“She’s reliable, a good leader and a hard worker. Her human side—how rare that ordinary appearance is.”

“So she’s not ordinary.”

“Ordinary by society’s standards. Becoming special is surprisingly easy. Strip naked and run down the street at noon—you’ll stand out.”

True, but you’d be deemed crazy in a bad way.

“Moon Hyunah would genuinely be sorry and sad. People would truly risk their lives for her. Sometimes I wonder if Song Taewon should join her guild. They’d get along splendidly.”

My gaze drifted to Director Song.

“…You mean Hyunah would choose to sacrifice two of us?”

“Think of movie heroes who save the world. The classic route.”

I could easily picture it—heroic, epic.

“But reality is different.”

“Because it’s reality. Opinions will split again. I mean consider the possibility of a rift beyond mere disagreement.”

A real break. I knew that. Even with misunderstandings and necessity, I’d once been distant from my brother. No relationship lasts forever, no matter how close in secrets.

“I trust Hyunah. But this matter belongs to Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon. I’ll accept their decision.”

I drained the last of my cocoa. A slight bitterness remained. Differences of opinion are inevitable—how could everyone think alike? Even now, we all drink different beverages.

Yet, despite our differences, we can sit together. Even if we collide, I hope we continue onward together.

“You can’t hide it forever. So speak—but first, gather accurate information from the puppeteer before informing others.”

Seong Hyunjae agreed with Director Song. He exhaled softly, then raised his voice lightly.

“Director Song, will you attend Chatterbox’s party?”

“It depends, but I’ll need to be more involved.”

“Let’s see—if we want bonuses. You can face Yerim one-on-one.”

“…What?”

“If the opponent declines, Yerim contracts to avoid using water, so they’d underestimate her. Seong Hyunjae already got his bonus, and no one would fight you anyway. Should we lure Hyunah in as bait? Noah helped an A-Rank take down an S-Rank… Well, maybe have Hyunah and Noah on one team, and Director Song and Seong Hyunjae lose on purpose?”

If Seong Hyunjae headshot Noah once, it might satisfy him. We’d decide details over dinner. We needed to prepare as much as possible.

As we rose to leave, Song Taewon approached me, opening his mouth as if to speak, then closing it again. I said instead:

“No matter what happens, don’t forget how many people care about you.”

“People… aren’t the issue.”

“At least I care. And I’m sure Seong Hyunjae will care as he pleases.”

Even if you ceased to appear human, feared yourself to be a monster… who would remain if that were revealed? You feared giving affection because losing someone precious hurts deeply.

Song Taewon, who’d been gazing at me, finally spoke.

“If you feel that way, please cherish yourself more.”

“…Thank you.”

I was speechless.

“I shoot well!”

When I said that non-Awakened must handle firearms, Kang Soyeong shot her hand up.

“I’ve been into survival games since before I Awakened. My brothers taught me. I’ve fired live rounds at the range. If it gets dangerous, I pull the trigger and my brothers handle the aftermath.”

Cool brothers.

“They never tried to stop you from being a Hunter?”

“Now I’m stronger, so they couldn’t. They cried when I left home.”

Her… brothers cried? She said she still calls them often and visits home sometimes. In any case, as an A-Rank, opponents would easily accept her match.

“I want to shoot Han Yuhyun! Then I shoot Director Song last—right?”

Yerim swallowed her murmured meat and said so. Director Song answered simply:

“You may shoot me, too.”

“No.”

“But you can.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’d like a ten-step walk-away shot. Right?”

Yerim begged, but Director Song refused to the end. Yerim, we’ll cover for you.

“Peace, you can’t shoot, so you’re out.”

—Kyaaang.

I grabbed Peace’s front paw, which sat on my knee, and shook it. Though smart, Peace can’t shoot with those round paws. Gyeol tapped my shoulder, as if saying he could.

“Noah, you’re familiar with guns too, right?”

“Yes. My sister taught me when I was young.”

Noah wore a bittersweet smile. Hyunah also took shooting as a hobby and had fired many live rounds.

I skipped Director Song’s story and briefly explained only about Hwangrim and the Puppeteer. Hwangrim seemed connected to the newly appeared Transcendant, and the Puppeteer was likely friendly toward us.

After dinner and team selection, I received contact details for Hwangrim, whom we’d tasked with investigation. I called, and a familiar voice answered almost immediately.

[It’s an honor that you contacted me first.]

His voice was so natural I felt slightly annoyed. Puppeteer, you could have been more rough with me.

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