The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 708: Three Days (2)

“Have you been well, ah?”

I bowed quickly to young Chaos. He gave me a sighing glance, and Myungwoo’s look was much the same.

“And what’s that?”

Chaos asked, eyeing the metallic ornaments on my arm. The pair of tangled charms slithered into snake shapes and raised their heads. Riette saw them and gasped, eyes wide.

“Are they relatives of Bellare?”

“Huh? Bellare?”

“He entrusted you those gemstone serpents because they can be weaponized. They look so young, but they’ve already changed?”

Now that I thought about it, they did resemble Bellare somewhat. The King of Devourers had scattered his descendants everywhere—it wouldn’t be strange if they carried Bellare’s blood.

“These are the children the King of Devourers entrusted to us. He asked that they be brought to our world.”

“You take anything anyone gives you?”

“Well, he’s helped us in his own way. And it’s not a bad thing, right? He wants his descendants to become a sentient race.”

“Species evolution differs from an individual’s growth—and you’re the latter. Though under your care they might evolve.”

I glanced at Peace at my side. Could he, too, grow into sentience? He’s more than clever enough already—just needs speech. He seems to understand everything; he just needs to speak.

[The mechanism by which creatures evolve into sentient races is still unknown! Worlds where no human-like species exists haven’t been observed by the system, so we have no data.]

“Could it relate to the origin, then?”

Even in our world, it’s remarkable that only one human species gained sentience out of all life.

“By the way, thanks for your help, Newbie.”

The volleyball spun cheerily.

[I’m always trying to help Honey! But what is it?]

“In the previous game.”

[Huh?]

The Newbie floated a question mark, looking puzzled. I couldn’t mention Boeun’s Skill, so I mumbled a vague thanks. After all, wouldn’t it be the Newbie? Or maybe a Keeper like the Lighthouse Watcher or Sloth briefly awakened?

“But why do you stay as a volleyball? Is that comfortable? Other Transcendents appear in their true form. Here you have no need to hide it.”

[…I’m a bit embarrassed.]

“You’re cute that way.”

[Really?]

The Newbie cocked its head, then reshaped into a puppy-like child with curly fur.

“A puppy?”

“Newbie is so adorable!”

Riette and Yerim stepped forward. The Newbie, flustered, dove behind me. It really did look like a dog—how anyone saw a rabbit, I don’t know.

[This won’t do!]

The Newbie transformed back into a volleyball. It was surprisingly shy.

“The Rabbit fellow stays in volleyball form most of the time now.”

[These days, being in my true form feels awkward.]

The volleyball bounced as it spoke. I hoped it wouldn’t actually become one.

“That second matter.”

Chaos waggled a finger at Yuhyun. Yuhyun stepped politely toward Elder Chaos—but Chaos snatched his wrist first. Yuhyun reflexively tried to pull free, but the small hand didn’t budge.

“…You swallowed something dangerous right away.”

“Dangerous?”

That wrist housed the fragment of the primal fire. Startled, I asked; Chaos clicked his tongue.

“Rabbit, no one’s noticed yet, right?”

[Huh? Ah, no! Awakened information is classified. Chaos doesn’t use the system, so security is weaker. If you use the fragment’s power right in front of a Transcendent, it’s likely to be detected. Shall I hide it better?]

“Do so.”

Chaos nodded, then stared up at Yuhyun as though observing him.

“Fire is easily absorbed by larger fire. Wind and water merge, too, but they maintain distinct flows—winds repel each other, ocean currents run separately. Fire does not.”

—Rin said it was dangerous!

Irin, perched on my shoulder, squawked. My concern doubled. Should I have stopped him?

“Second, since part of you was made as human, you’re fortunate. But be careful—if you try to wield fire greater than its vessel, the master will be usurped.”

“Understood.”

Yuhyun answered calmly. So if mishandled, the primal fire could overtake his place—Yuhyun absorbed into the fragment, becoming part of that original flame…

“Yuhyun.”

“I’ll be careful.”

…I doubted he’d heed caution. If he sensed danger, he wouldn’t hesitate. Worried, I examined his wrist.

“Can’t we just remove it now?”

“There’s still a wager to go.”

“I’ll do well.”

“It’s okay. I’ll cut it out if it gets dangerous.”

“Still, no need to risk it unnecessarily.”

“Yujin, you truly treat your brother as your brother. You act exactly the same.”

Myungwoo spoke out of the blue. Yerim and Noah nodded. Well, it was me, after all… I’d just spent plenty of mana imprinting yesterday, so I had no retort. Still, overusing imprint doesn’t kill you… they said.

“Grandfather, I got a new Skill too!”

“Alright, both of you come. And you two there.”

“What’s it, sir? You’re old, Grandpa?”

“It’s training! You’ll love it. Noah, hurry up.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I want to join too!”

Young Chaos led the way, followed by Yerim, Noah, and Riette. Yuhyun hesitated, watching me.

“Um, Hyung?”

Our eyes simultaneously flickered—both trembled slightly. I sensed Yuhyun was still hiding something, but so was I. I’d thought we’d reached a place of no more doubts… yet a crack had opened. Ironically, that gap came from pre-regression Han Yuhyun.

“…Elder will be waiting.”

“…Right.”

Yuhyun nodded softly and turned away. I watched his retreating back and fidgeted with my toes. Many ears were listening; it couldn’t be discussed now, but I truly wanted to avoid the talk. Yuhyun needed me—but I couldn’t let go of the other brother either, despite the danger and hardship.

“What’s wrong? Did you two fight?”

Myungwoo asked me, staring blankly. I shook my head quickly.

“No… it’s just, a lot to think about. Right, Newbie?”

[Yes~♡]

“Do you really think this wager is the last?”

[I’ll make it so! …But I’m uneasy. Droplet-senpai’s trying to… get Honey into her grasp…]

“Why would she do that?”

[It seems different from before… since she won’t explain. But anyway, once the result’s out she’ll withdraw from Honey’s world! Droplet keeps rules well, so she’ll comply. Other Filial Addicts will help too.]

“That’s good, but…”

I still couldn’t trust Transcendents entirely. The Newbie was clearly on our side, but I knew nothing of Droplet, nor of the Crescent Moon. She wouldn’t give up easily. How likely was it that yet another Seong Hyunjae–type would be awakened?

[Honey! Relax and rest now! Want anything to eat?]

“Alright, Yujin. Let’s rest.”

Each time the Newbie bounced, a plush chair, a table of food, and a canopy appeared. In the distance, a thunderous boom rang out. Riette’s summoned dragon howl echoed too. They were having fun.

“Newbie, the rooms are securely secured, right?”

[Yes! Honey’s room is under Honey’s domain. Even as temporary manager authority, no one can enter unless system-permitted—unless someone stronger revokes it.]

Perfect. Seong Hyunjae had sent his team away, staying alone. Hyunah and Director Song might need breaks, but he’d emptied his room—an invitation, it seemed.

‘The best place for a quiet talk.’

“I’ll go to Seong Hyunjae’s place for a bit. See what he’s up to, sulking alone.”

“Really? That Guild Leader? Isn’t he… the same person?”

“Well, if he lays a hand on me, it’s a foul—no, I won’t. It’s not like that.”

Myungwoo’s gaze was unnerving.

“It’s as good as an invite. He wouldn’t do something cowardly to a guest. It won’t take long. I’ll be back before Yuhyun notices.”

I opened the system window and messaged Seong Hyunjae. Soon an invitation arrived. I grabbed an apple from the table and accepted.

My vision briefly dimmed, then brightened. I found myself inside the familiar mansion—now vanished. Pre-regression, his house had never been destroyed; rather, he’d abandoned it. Though Soyeong became acting guild leader, she’d left it intact.

“A gaze steeped in memories.”

“Because I razed it myself.”

Though the owner demolished most of it himself. Seong Hyunjae stood in a sleek tailcoat. At sight of him, I half expected an orchestra to play while grand doors opened, revealing elegantly dressed dancers.

Yet the hall was silent. The vacant stage-like space lay dark. As if wielding an invisible baton, Seong Hyunjae’s hand flicked. Crack—lights around the hall lit in sequence. I watched his smooth face, hair neatly combed, and tossed the apple.

“A housewarming gift.”

“Since this is my first invite, I accept with gratitude.”

“You once declined inviting me… ah, right.”

He meant the pre-regression me. I’d refused him then.

Crunch—Seong Hyunjae bit the apple. He chewed elegantly, without losing a drop of juice, like watching a faded black-and-white film. The core vanished from his fingertips. In the silence, he spoke:

“Earn my trust.”

“I thought I had a fair level of credibility.”

“The very fact you’re here is the problem.”

I couldn’t believe any talk of wanting a final farewell. I was reluctant to ask for cooperation without firm trust.

“If you were the present Seong Hyunjae, I would trust you. But I know you and don’t know you. And so it is for you.”

“I’ve certainly changed a lot.”

That was our relationship. I don’t know Seong Hyunjae, yet I know him. He doesn’t know me, yet he knows me.

“The Seong Hyunjin you knew couldn’t share burdens. He barely stood on his own.”

“Even walking out alone was hard.”

“And yet he stubbornly refused to share his load.”

“Stubbornness is how I stand here.”

He raised a hand as if to touch my chest.

“The Seong Hyunjin you knew shaped the Seong Hyunjin who stands now—and now he shares burdens and receives help.”

Seong Hyunjae smiled faintly.

“Then tell me. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

“Difficult as ever. So why?”

“Rather than mere words—”

The scenery shifted. A grand window appeared. Beyond it, white-crested peaks stretched. A faint breeze wafted in, cool on the skin.

“Seeing it directly is more certain.”

“He might take off the temporary badge and become permanent staff at this rate.”

Even in his own room, he handled the system remarkably deftly. I should ask the Newbie for lessons.

“I’ve brought forth my memories as they were. Unfiltered, true as I lived them.”

I turned. In the dim room, Seong Hyunjae stood across from me—two Seong Hyunjaes.

“I refuse.”

One spoke dryly. Among his two eyes, one was missing; one sleeve of his loose shirt was absent. ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) A bitter taste filled my mouth.

“You knew my answer before asking.”

“It was only a walk suggestion.”

Both bore golden eyes and wry smiles. Both looked identical, unaffected by age—yet one seemed slightly younger.

“That place is the past and a future I don’t belong to. It’s not where I should be.”

It was a clear refusal, but not harsh—more like stating the obvious. As if replying to, “How about a nest in the treetops of a scenic mountaintop?”

So why was Seong Hyunjae here? How had he persuaded that self? No reward I could give would sway him—what method had he used?

“Well.”

Seong Hyunjae tilted his head lightly, almost playfully.

“You think ‘I’ could refuse. If you were me, you never would.”

He and I both gazed at Seong Hyunjae. His voice brimmed with delight as he continued softly:

“At the very end, I stand—and yet I choose to live.”

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