The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 568: A Familiar Thing.

[When the opponent dies or is rendered unable to continue combat, you win]

[Death and injury in this space do not carry over to reality.]

[You may forfeit.]

The messages appeared in succession. There was also a notice that the video might be censored depending on the combat situation. But it had nothing to do with me. How could they broadcast this now?

“…I don’t recall writing my name on the survey.”

I muttered blankly.

“The survey must have been a trick.”

Han Yujin said.

“Anyway, there weren’t many who would write honestly.”

Honestly. Me. As if reading my mind, Han Yujin continued.

“You wanted to kill me, didn’t you? Not that it’s surprising.”

His casual tone reminded me of the Han Yujin in the Christmas dungeon. There was a knife fight back then too. Though it was a distressing memory, it had calmed me.

“Right, well. If this is about picking the person I most want to land a blow on, I guess that’s valid.”

No need to be flustered. This wasn’t my first time experiencing something like this. And the Han Yujin before me was a one-time-use dungeon monster.

“It’s a filthy feeling. But at least you seem aware that you’re fake.”

“It feels like a kind of mirror. Not even an independent copy—whichever one wins, only the real me remains.”

“Uh… yeah.”

This was °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° unsettling. Even more so for him. A shadow or whatever, but he possessed a self. He must retain all memories, only to be consumed and vanish soon. I couldn’t imagine how he felt.

“That idiot.”

Han Yujin saw my expression and snorted.

“Who’s pitying whom?”

“Sorry if that upset you.”

“But there’s nothing upsetting about it.”

Han Yujin glanced around. I followed his gaze. White walls and a potted tree with broad green leaves. The room was spacious. A long sofa sat alone, and round lights hung from the ceiling. No windows—just a single large door.

“You turned off the broadcast. Important info, even Chatterbox can’t see.”

“If he could, he’d have pulled some trick already. Not a lie.”

“Han Yujin.”

A pure white pistol appeared in Han Yujin’s hand. My fingertip twitched. I wondered if I should react.

“There’s much to do.”

If he really was like me.

“First and foremost, I have to bring Yuhyun.”

His finger traced the smooth curve of the muzzle.

“I have responsibilities. To Yuhyun, and to others. But above all, I’m still me.”

If it were me… instead of attacking myself.

“So you must live.”

The muzzle pressed under my chin. With no hesitation.

“I can die.”

Bang.

The shot rang out. No blood spattered. I saw a body jerk from the recoil, then collapse backward. It thudded to the floor. The gun clattered against the ground.

“…Ah, Eunhye.”

I heard him mutter.

“It won’t turn off. A message popped up: no suicide allowed. You’re not a forfeit, so you can’t even forfeit.”

“…You.”

“What.”

Han Yujin laughed aloud.

“You crazy bastard. Not every fake wants to become real. Maybe others, but not you. You can’t even die.”

He stepped forward. Han Yujin lay still, not moving to get up. He drew a long breath, chest rising and falling.

“You have to keep hiding, enduring, pretending nothing’s wrong. But I don’t. I can just die here. That helps Han Yuhyun’s recovery, and that’s enough. I can end it freely.”

“……”

“But you’ll keep floundering, not knowing when or how it will end.”

“…Still, I’ve gotten a bit better.”

His laughter grew louder, laced with mockery.

“It must feel good next to your brother. But it’s all baggage. It’s fun in the moment—you try not to think about it. But each bit becomes guilt, stabbing you like needles, and at night it hammers you.”

…When it’s quiet and I’m alone. Especially the nights after supposedly happy days, my stomach aches, sometimes so disgusted I’d vomit.

“You left your brother twice. Yet you still smile.”

“…It hurts.”

“It’s horrific. Even disgusting. Living normally feels strange, each day feels like sin. But honestly, we…”

Han Yujin’s smile vanished. He stared blankly at the round ceiling light.

“We weren’t exactly normal even before that.”

“…What do you mean? I was fine.”

“I’m you too.”

A short silence. Han Yujin spoke again.

“I was young. But I knew.”

That I would be abandoned by our parents.

“Even then.”

“Cut it out.”

“You hesitated whether to give up, remember?”

Thunk. I kicked his leg. My foot hurt too. Han Yujin laughed again. He raised a leg to kick me back, but before he could, he jabbed my ankle with his foot.

I staggered and fell sprawling to the floor. Thud. A loud sound. Han Yujin continued as if unconcerned whether I got up or stayed down.

“Honestly, that’s normal. Hell, it was scary, of course.”

…I couldn’t recall exactly how old I was. Maybe I didn’t want to. Roughly when our parents began distancing themselves from us.

In a playground? Or a secluded flower bed. Just Yuhyun and me. Probably a weekend. When I said I would take my brother out, our parents visibly sighed in relief. So we’d stay out until dinner, until dusk. Eating separately was easier for us.

That day the sunset was red. Yuhyun sat quietly, obediently. He seemed fine, but I was anxious. I was a child who couldn’t live without my parents, and I feared I might be abandoned with my younger brother.

“It happened only once.”

“I know too.”

If only Yuhyun had disappeared instead.

The sun set. It grew dark before we finally went home, but I wasn’t at ease. I was scared to enter, but had nowhere else to go. I clenched and unclenched my hands several times. I could still feel the dampness in my palms.

If I returned home alone, maybe our parents would be surprised, then smile as before. With kind faces, asking if I was hungry, welcoming me. Perhaps they’d rejoice like a lost child returned—praising their eldest as ‘normal.’ Then our three-person family might live happily and ordinarily.

I walked a few steps absentmindedly. Yuhyun didn’t follow. I thought he’d run after me. When I turned back, the sky was pitch dark and my brother was gone.

My throat burned. I felt like crying. I might even have cried. I turned and ran back. Yuhyun sat where he had been. I hugged him as he watched quietly. When I apologized, he asked why.

Instead of answering, I took his hand. Holding it tightly, I walked home again.

“After that, it never happened again.”

“That’s something to be proud of.”

“It happened just that once.”

“Maybe that one incident made you unable to let go.”

Han Yujin said.

“I told you to find others too, but we’re not easy. Yuhyun had the excuse of being born that way. What about you?”

“You’re me too.”

“Back then, I was the one abandoned instead of my brother.”

Under the darkened sky, standing alone. I couldn’t carry two children away with my strength. I had to give up one. And I was still standing there.

“So what? There was no other way. How could I live taking care of myself and you?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“And I was satisfied. I was fine. Until that cursed dungeon appeared, truly.”

“That’s true. But in the end it was utterly wrecked.”

Effort doesn’t guarantee success, but it was too cruel. My lips twisted, a laugh escaped.

“You damned bastard. Why say that now? Mirror or not, Chatterbox made you. You’re useless to me.”

“What bullshit. Why would I ever say anything helpful? When have I ever cared for you?”

True—since it’s me, I spout such gut-wrenching words. If Chatterbox had intervened, maybe he’d have been kinder: it’s not your fault, we did nothing wrong, it’ll all be fine. But Han Yujin…

“Still, you slacked off eventually. Feels good to be recognized? You got all giddy hearing how great you are.”

“…That’s you too.”

“I’ll do my part then vanish. Look at me. Even fake, I’m giving up my life willingly so you can perform your role. If it were someone else, they’d resist fiercely. They wouldn’t die quietly.”

I recalled my finger pulling the trigger without a moment’s hesitation.

“That’s how you are too, always. So what if people around you look after you? At best, they say ‘be careful’ since they worry, like it’s someone else’s problem.”

It was like pouring water into a cracked jar. Han Yujin said,

“No, it’s completely shattered. Water wets it briefly, but it won’t hold.”

“So what am I supposed to do?”

“Stop dreaming.”

“…You’re cold.”

“As a child and now—it’s the same. Only the opponent changed from parents to Transcendents and the Source. You still lack power and can do little. You’re not in a position to take care of anyone else.”

I had nothing to say. I’d protested, but ultimately those were his thoughts, not mine.

“Anyway, hang in there. Even if you despise surviving after your brother’s death, what can you do? You have to pretend to be okay.”

“…You talk too much.”

I looked down at Han Yujin. I felt utterly dreadful. The dungeon version of me hadn’t yet transgressed, so it was somewhat tolerable. In truth, he had no reason to be blamed. Was he living happily?

“We’re unworthy.”

As if he knew my thoughts, Han Yujin murmured bitterly. I aimed the gun at him. A shot rang out; the mana bullet dispersed pointlessly. A breeze ruffled my hair.

“I can’t kill Eunhye.”

Han Yujin closed his eyes.

“It’d be wrong to do it. You want to forfeit?”

“…Do you think I will?”

“If I’d stopped here, I’d have done it long ago. We’ve suffered a lot. Maybe this mess is because I couldn’t give up.”

“But even so…”

We’d come this far; there were things gained and changes made. Yuhyun—the current Yuhyun—was doing well. So was Yerim and the others.

“Except you.”

“Don’t speak as if you can read others’ hearts.”

“I’m speaking mine.”

For the most part, things had gotten better. Though there’s MKC and Sudam. In Korea the dungeon broke less, so many I don’t know survived.

“That’s pretty good.”

“Then don’t be greedy. Not everything belongs to us.”

The regression itself wasn’t by my power. If I’d known then, would I have reset time? If saving that brother had been impossible, would I have ended it there?

I bowed my body. As long as Eunhye existed, there were few ways to kill Han Yujin. I knelt, then rose slightly and pressed down hard on Han Yujin’s chest.

“Ugh, hey.”

Han Yujin opened his eyes, glaring at me.

“You can’t kill me in one blow.”

I realized anew this was truly insane.

“So, you’ll struggle instinctively.”

He’s alive. Han Yujin let out a small sigh.

“Should I tie you up?”

“…I don’t know. Maybe I won’t move. Even like this.”

We stared at each other blankly.

“But it was kind of fun.”

“Enough. You’ll get attached.”

“Should I envy you?”

“…No, you shouldn’t.”

No matter what I said. I had been looking out for myself, even a little. So I’d joined Chatterbox’s party alone, reasoning it was better, more advantageous to care for myself.

And indeed, I was thrilled by the sympathetic gazes toward Han Yujin.

“It felt good.”

“…But now…”

“Not the time for that. Right, that.”

We didn’t know what would happen. I hadn’t recovered all I’d lost. I shouldn’t get excited yet. Not yet. When would it ever be?

He stared at me silently, agreeing to abandon me.

Han Yujin choked off Han Yujin’s breath.

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