The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 695: London, 24 Hours (3)

Goblin paths opened all over the surface. Thanks to Yunyun and the goblins, evacuation proceeded smoothly. I’d worried preparation would take time, but everyone exceeded expectations.

‘Monsters so far only up to S-Rank.’

Mostly upper-A, with the occasional S popping up. The problem was that this was only the beginning.

“Noah, stay in the nest and provide overall support. Unless I give an order, act on your judgment.”

“Yes, sir.”

Noah Luhihr nodded, beat his wings, and soared higher. No one parsed the situation and applied support skills better than him. As the only S-Rank support hunter, no one could match his experience. Now, with Wyvern skills boosting his mobility, he was even more efficient—like a warrior with wings.

“Yerim, cover along the riverbank.”

“Right~!”

“Try not to damage buildings. There may still be people sheltering inside.”

“Don’t worry!”

The Thames, though smaller than the sea, was still vast. The entire river became Yerim’s bullet stream. She teleported and in an instant appeared at the riverbank. A massive monster lunged from the water, but—

KRAA-

A swirling jet of water rose, wrapped the monster, and hurled it onto the riverbed. Then two more, three, four. Streams of water formed dragon-like escorts around Yerim. We had no need for concern for the moment.

I looked finally to Yuhyun.

“There’s only one SSS-Rank.”

“Understood.”

No need for more words. A gap of two ranks cannot be covered simply by numbers. You’d need at least equal-rank gear or items—but we hardly had any SS-Rank resources.

So facing an SSS-Rank monster, our real hope rested on a single person.

If our youngster, the veteran, the Devourer, the Fallen Gate, the Nest and all their power combined—still, only our attack skills and weapons barely reached SSS-Rank; our stats were lacking.

‘Settlement.’

Yuhyun had yet to settle his achievements—he hadn’t chosen between pre-regression and current achievements. Facing higher-rank monsters, the pre-regression tally would serve him best. Twenty-five-year-old Han Yuhyun had cleared more dungeons and slain more monsters than anyone; he’d never stopped pushing himself into them.

“I must accept it.”

Yuhyun said before I spoke. His gaze, which had watched the growing ranks of monsters surging in the Thames, turned to me.

“Brother, I—”

“Yuhyun.”

Rationally, he should choose the pre-regression tally. But if he’d acted only on reason, we’d never have come this far.

“You may fail too.”

It’s allowed.

“As you told me, you’re okay. Even if you make mistakes, choose wrong, if the world blames you, I will stand by you. Even if you hate yourself, I’ll be by your side until the very end.”

As Yuhyun would accept any nation, I would accept him. I will be the last person to hold Han Yuhyun.

“I love you, my brother. No matter what, forever.”

So, do as you wish.

“And you haven’t collected many unclaimed rewards. You may have few pre-regression achievements left to tally.”

There were more Dungeon Breaks near your regression, yes—but Korea saw relatively few. I spoke lightly, and Yuhyun smiled.

“I like the twenty- and twenty-one-year-old you that you accepted and nurtured.”

“Though many events happened, I liked it too.”

I smiled.

“Then we’ll begin the settlement.”

“Yes.”

To the current Han Yuhyun. He turned away.

“Warm up well! Be careful not to set anything ablaze!”

“Don’t worry.”

Yuhyun kicked from a willow leaf and bolted through the air. His blade, held in hand, descended and cleaved a monster’s head in one swing. A comforting warmth bloomed in my chest—good, though I couldn’t call the situation good.

“I envy the Young Master.”

“…Why that all of a sudden?”

Startled, I glanced at Seong Hyunjae sitting among Peace’s mane. I’d almost forgotten he was there. He sighed in solitude.

“You’ve captured unchanging devotion—the love of someone who cherishes you purely for who you are.”

“Don’t feign drama. Yuhyun loves me, so I reciprocate. And you, Seong Hyunjae, have little to envy from the start.”

“People become disappointed or leave when others fail to meet expectations. Thus we strive not to be alone, caught in agony, joy, sorrow—ensnared by emotions. Humans cannot stand alone, nor do they easily give affection to the unremarkable.”

I adjusted Gyeol in my arms and furrowed my brow. That is indeed human nature: happiness and suffering both at others’ hands.

“But you don’t mind as much.”

“I’m close to the embodiment of perfect illusion. Whatever I do remains unchanged. Even if you’re briefly disappointed, you’ll fashion excuses and stitch the illusion anew.”

Seong Hyunjae crossed his legs and smiled. A perfect illusion—perhaps a trait linked to the Crescent Sect.

“Few exceptions—Director Song Taewon tries to see me as a monster, Han Yujin sees me as human, the Young Master barely notices me—but they’re rare.”

“So….”

“Love me too.”

Seong Hyunjae’s shameless, lovely smile. I resisted the reflex to fling him away.

“…Gyeol, I envy your uncle a bit too.”

Hesitant, Gyeol, still in my arms, murmured softly. He avoided my eyes.

“Gyeol.”

“Just… a little.”

It’s natural for a child to feel jealous of a guardian’s attention toward another; it pained me to see him hide it. Had Seong Hyunjae not spoken, I’d have kept silent. It’s okay to be shameless like him—well, half as shameless. That man takes it too far.

“Do as you wish, Gyeol. Whatever you feel, it’s okay. Trust your father. I’ve cherished Uncle too, after all. You know Uncle’s not quite ordinary, right? He barely responded to me when you were little?”

Gyeol’s round golden eyes blinked slowly as he looked up at me.

“But he was cute and beloved, and day by day, that grew so strong I could never let go. No one else could match those days in an instant.”

I spoke my honest heart. He wasn’t a child to be swayed by empty flattery; lies would only trouble him more.

“But I’ve loved you so much your tiny heart can’t let go. You began as a cute child, but now my love for you is one I cannot share with anyone.”

“…I love you so much too, Papa.”

Gyeol clung to me as I hugged him tight. He couldn’t fully relax—it began this way. So I would continue to reassure him, whenever he felt anxious or doubtful, until he pouted in annoyance.

“And you’ve done wonderfully.”

“Yes. I plundered warehouses and reached out to goblins.”

“That’s remarkable, but what I think is most admirable is your kind heart—you tried to help me and others. You’re the best.”

Regardless of outcome. A child doing this is remarkable, but his heart alone sufficed. And praising only results would strain him. Softly, I praised him.

“But, Gyeol.”

“Mm, I know—it’s dangerous.”

Gyeol spread his wings and fluttered upward.

“I won’t be stubborn. You’ve helped me so much.”

“When this ends, let’s go home.”

“Home?”

“Just for a few hours, but we can go. So wait for me in Korea.”

Gyeol nodded with a smile. Then he looked down at Seong Hyunjae.

“Come here.”

Huh? Wait.

“Do I have to go with Gyeol?”

“Maintaining form in miniature owes to Hangyeol’s ability—but.”

Seong Hyunjae eyed Gyeol’s bead necklace.

“Hangyeol’s mana has accumulated, so a day’s fine. And even if you’re independent, you remain linked to Han Yuhyun; he’ll cover part of your load.”

“Here, Papa.”

Gyeol handed me the bead necklace, then exhaled in relief.

“Be careful.”

“I promise.”

“Not you—wait for me, Papa!”

Saying this firmly, Gyeol flew through a Goblin Door without hesitation. I watched his tiny form vanish and looked now at an even tinier human.

“All right, Seong Hyunjae.”

I scooped him up. Though feigning surprise, he let out a startled sound.

“Handle me gently.”

“You can barely use skills right now.”

“A mild shock at most.”

“But Battle Sense is less a skill and more your very nature.”

“Indeed.”

That was enough. KA-AH! A savage S-Rank roar sounded. I stroked Peace’s nape, eliciting a low growl.

“It’s all right—just wait.”

—Grrr.

Peace, an S-Rank mount whose prowess rivals many S-Rank hunters, was better off aiding me now. Otherwise fire might spread indiscriminately like with Yuhyun. I hung the necklace around my neck and placed Seong Hyunjae on my shoulder.

“Then.”

Swish— a half-circle system window appeared around me. Blue runes wound up my arm, then faded. As temporary system administrator of Sloth Clan, this measure was for my protection—but now a hindrance. Instead—

[Original System Creator – □□□]

[Unverifiable Creator Identified]

Thanks to Wildflower. The moment the system was created, I contacted it. Not real, yet real. The system retained traces of original creation and recognized me as related.

‘My permissions are limited.’

Maybe because it’s unverifiable, or my power insufficient, I could do little even with creator rights. But—

“This is—”

Seong Hyunjae sounded slightly surprised. Information appeared above the window.

[Grade-2 Rock Wolf Type – Kaldisai (S)]

Monster type alone was obvious. But the info window was far more detailed:

[Rock Hide (A) – Temporarily hardens surface. Duration: 30 minutes.]

Beyond the skill description:

[Weak to temperature changes. Focuses on first targeted enemy. The mane gap below the neck is soft skin. Wolf species, relies primarily on vision.]

Every weakness and trait was listed.

“Awakened info is so secure even admins struggle to access it. But monsters and dungeons? They’re direct-managed, so this exists.”

In other words, a monster compendium.

“This is top secret. I preemptively blocked Transcendents from seeing it too.”

Since I’d asked that unwanted skills be hidden, blocking was easy. Then I retrieved a Mana-Imprint Control Orb from inventory, inhaled, and looked down.

Even with “Teacher” skills upgraded, London was too vast. To share Battle Sense via those skills in detail, I had to boost my mana control.

“We can afford to lose a nation.”

Seong Hyunjae spoke.

“Even if two or three more fall, the gain might outweigh the loss.”

“You mean you worry for me?”

“Merely simple calculus—including potential reclamation.”

He smiled faintly. My value rise perhaps too steep.

“But it’s necessary. In many ways.”

As he said, perhaps it was wiser to withdraw here, even if all Britain fell, to preserve strength for the future. But we had to go further.

“……!”

I released Mana-Imprint control. Gooseflesh rose. My senses sharpened to painful intensity.

—Vvvrrr.

Unconsciously I moaned; Peace looked back in concern.

“It’s, ah… whoo.”

Opening the system window felt electrifying—no kidding. Already the back of my neck was damp.

“…Seong Hyunjae, if I lose consciousness, wake me. Tell Eun-hye not to block attacks from you.”

“You’re cold to me.”

“I only ask because you’re Seong Hyunjae.”

Because I trust you. Different from my trust in Yuhyun, Yerim, Noah, Hyunah, Director Song. Trust I can lean on because you are you. Seong Hyunjae shrugged. No reply, but it sufficed. I swallowed painkillers and chewed a cigarette. Clear-minded, I used the Teacher skills.

Han Yuhyun, Park Yerim, Noah, and the Han Yujin team—wherever links remained, I placed Seong Hyunjae. Waves of situation reports flooded me. Simultaneously, dungeon and monster data appeared in the system window.

I closed then opened my eyes. Soon SS-Rank monsters would appear. Evacuation was nearly complete. Yunyun, having plundered the museums, floated overhead—so I called her to me.

“Send back all goblins except those with escape skills for SS-Rank monsters.”

“Got it!”

“For the goblins left, scout for portals and move them as I direct. Communications work?”

“Even if comms break, simple orders ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ go through~.”

“Good. Everyone, briefing begins now.”

A map of London appeared center-screen, dots flickering everywhere—one new dot shining bright in Chelsea.

“SS-Rank monster: Will-O’-the-Wisp.”

“Blue!”

“Blue! Resist all elements highly; high melee resistance—equip defense for ranged focus; slow but heavy—Noah, move in, Hunter Shishio.”

Voice messages delivered instantly to hunters via system. London hunters hesitated, but the Han Yujin team—those who fought with me—moved without pause.

“Drop it straight down, Hunter Noah! Declare the Lion’s Domain!”

“Ranged DPS, to the rooftops!”

—GRAAA!

The SS-Rank behemoth materialized in a warped space. My team stood before it. Perfectly timed mud traps swallowed its feet. Ranged hunters unleashed attacks under defense buffs. Arrows and skills rained in, striking the weaknesses I’d relayed.

RUMBLE— the monster staggered. Even S- and A-Rank barrages, bolstered by Chatterbox gear, felt as devastating as a precision volley.

“Again!”

SWAAACK! The air tore; all attacks focused. A thunderous blast. Its hardened shell shattered, blood spattered.

And again, the third strike!

BOOOM! The colossus collapsed. The first SS-Rank monster fell in under five minutes. London’s hunters stared in awe; my team regarded it as expected.

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