The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 713: The Final Bet (4)

“Throw it!”

At the shout, Riette’s body swelled. A massive black dragon, crushing nearby buildings beneath its claws, opened its jaws toward the forest. Thud! The unseen barrier wall and the dragon’s teeth collided; its blood-red tongue flickered.

– This way!

Uh… certainly, if he tossed it straight into that mouth, the other team would have no chance of stealing it back. Though the sight was startling, Yuhyun casually drew the baton and hurled it into Riette’s open maw.

“Hey! Careful, you’ll swallow it!”

– Don’t worry~.

Riette, holding the baton beneath her tongue, replied cheerfully. What would happen if she actually swallowed it? Would we have to feed her an emetic?

Rumble—the thunderous pounding of massive claws sounded as Riette pivoted. To run along the avenue she’d have to turn, but the black dragon didn’t need to. She could sprint straight. Just as Riette prepared to blast off the ground—

– Huh?

A long, swishing tail was yanked into Song Taewon’s arms. His feet dug deep into the concrete. One of Director Song’s skills is altering his body weight, but even at maximum mass he could barely match a fraction of dragon-form Riette’s mass. Yet Riette faltered.

– Wow, your tail really hurts?

Flustered, Riette looked back. In Director Song’s grip a dark shadow flickered.

“Because you weakened Riette’s defense with Plunder, you can’t exert full force.”

If he wasn’t careful, he might rip her tail off. But Riette refused to be bested. She knelt as if collapsing, then thrust her tail straight up. As if yanking out a nail, the lift sent Song Taewon rocketing skyward.

Song Taewon released the tail. Launched as if thrown, he drew his spear in midair. A shadow gathered at its tip. If that falling strike connected, Riette’s thick scales would tear like paper.

– Toughen up!

Riette’s form vanished. She reverted to human shape. Disoriented midair, Song Taewon flipped once and landed on his feet. At the same moment, Hwangrim arrived.

“Sorry I’m late! Settling some scores~.”

Scores? There were plenty left. Getting hit a few times and calling it done—no conscience. Hwangrim threw the baton, and Song Taewon snatched it. Once all batons are handed off, the runner returns to their team’s room. Yuhyun looked up anxiously at me.

“It’s fine—stay back. Don’t worry so much.”

Meanwhile Riette was already sprinting ahead. Though not in full dragon form, her arms and legs resembled a dragon’s. Her long tail lashed behind her. With the baton secured at her waist, she crashed through a building wall.

Song Taewon immediately turned and followed. No need to break more structures; he simply ran the path Riette cleared. Her stats were surely higher, yet Song Taewon’s sprint was astonishing.

“Director Song, you’re still adjusting your weight, right?”

He made each footfall heavy, each push-off light. Like throwing pebbles farther than boulders at the same effort, he tuned his mass perfectly.

“Song Taewon’s self-control is incredible—except for Plunder.”

“Please don’t bully Director Song. Plunder won’t be used on Seong Hyunjae anyway.”

My gaze met Seong Hyunjae’s. Though I stood and he sat, his eyes seemed to look down upon me.

“That’s not something you can promise lightly.”

“Nothing is easy for me. I’d risk my life even in a mid-tier dungeon blindfolded.”

Yet he’d wedged himself among S-rank Hunters and tangled with Transcendents. Just surviving to breathe was a struggle—nothing about this is easy. Seong Hyunjae smiled instead of replying. He said he came to aid his present self, but even so, he remained Seong Hyunjae.

‘…If it comes to it, he might try to end that present self cleanly.’

He claims to cherish his living self, but love can drive you to finish things personally. Even if it’s unlike him, I can’t let my guard down. He’d already tried Plunder once—after all, they’re the same person.

“We should get ready too.”

Director Song was almost on Riette’s tail and halfway through Zone 5. Seong Hyunjae rose from his chair. I stowed my maraca.

“Quick, civil servant!”

Riette laughed and leapt. She sank her claws into a smooth building wall and bounded upward as if running on flat ground. Over the rooftops she soared. Then:

Rumble!

The black dragon crashed atop a building and twisted, toppling surrounding structures to block Song Taewon’s path. Empty buildings can be breached by shredding a few walls, but the piled rubble was different. Unless he blasted through the wreckage of three or four skyscrapers, it was faster to go around.

Whirr!

Through the rising dust cloud, a wire flew—precisely as awaited. But just before it could coil around the dragon’s body, Riette dispelled her dragon form.

“Huh? Take it slow—oh?”

The wire fell limp to the ground; it hadn’t been aimed at Riette in the first place.

“Riette, look to your side!”

While Riette was distracted by the thrown wire, Song Taewon yanked the real target’s line hard. A column had sprung free from the rubble. In one bound, Song Taewon soared over the debris.

“Ah, should I stick the landing properly?”

“Don’t do stupid stunts—just run. We can arrive together.”

If it became a fight instead of a race, he wouldn’t stop until it was over. Director Song had one life; Riette had none and no guaranteed healing, so avoiding injury was wiser.

Riette pouted, then struck the ground. She does listen sometimes. Now I don’t need to raise Bellare after all.

“Civil servant, if you pass me, I’ll do breakdancing in full dragon form in the heart of Seoul!”

“…Excuse me?”

Director Song hesitated. Wow—that’s a threat. Considering Riette could actually do it, it was scarier.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give a warning to clear bystanders first~ Nobody’ll get hurt~.”

“Destroying buildings is also prohibited!”

Riette giggled and transformed back into dragon form. She swished her tail tauntingly, but Director Song hesitated. Riette… may be on our side, but she’s ruthless.

– With words alone, you can’t arrest me!

“Riette Hunter!”

As if showing the future state of Seoul, Riette charged, smashing through building after building. Director Song’s brow furrowed. Oh dear.

“Um, Director Song. I’m sorry.”

“…It’s fine. There was no rule forbidding threats.”

“I think she’s sauced off because she can’t fight back. Noah-ssi and Soyeong-ssi will handle her, so don’t worry.”

“It’s fine. This happens often.”

“‘Often’—there are that many Hunters doing this?” Just then, a message window appeared.

[Get ready!]

Seong Hyunjae and I were moved to the starting point of the final zone. Simultaneously, my stats rose to S-rank. I clenched and unclenched my fist lightly.

‘Still weaker than Yuhyun, for sure.’

But stronger than most S-ranks, I’d bet. These Hunters are top-tier. Wearing my Wildcat set, I glanced at Seong Hyunjae.

“You only have S-rank stats—your combat skills are at rock bottom. Go easy on me.”

“All hail London’s hero, speaking weakness.”

“…I just did support, you know.”

How shameless. A tremor rolled the ground from afar. Swallowing dryly, I edged closer to the zone boundary. My stats lagged, my skills were pitiful. Even stealth wouldn’t help much in combat. Objectively I was doomed, yet—

“You’re smiling.”

My lips twitched upward.

“Well, no one’s dying here, right?”

“Rather than enjoying combat, you enjoy doing what you can. That fits better, I think. You must have your complexes.”

“…You speak nicely. Not wrong, but even so, right now doing my best and charging head-on is quite fun.”

Rolling meant only my body, so how carefree it felt. The building ahead collapsed. Thud! The black dragon leapt over a low structure with a powerful bound. Every footstep cracked and shattered concrete.

– Sweetie!

Riette yawned wide. A blue baton popped onto her tongue. …I know she can’t hold it in dragon form.

“I’ll wipe it a bit.”

I asked for time and drew a handkerchief. The dragon’s jagged maw lunged at me like a 4D dinosaur movie. Its long red tongue flicked the baton free, and I caught it in the handkerchief.

– Run!

I strapped the baton to my waist. Simultaneously, clink-clank—a chain rattled. Leaping off the ground, I used Teacher skill toward Seong Hyunjae. The recoil hit hard, but now an S-rank was an easy load. My stats were S too, so even easier.

“You should wait quietly.”

“Not a stray dog, you know.”

Crack, crack, crack! Electricity-infused chains plunged where I’d stood. I dodged swiftly, but soon a wall blocked my retreat. Seong Hyunjae reached for me as he attempted to bind me with chains. I crouched low, my view nearly brushing the ground as I slid smoothly beneath the chains.

“I suppose I should keep a cat now.”

I switched to Delouze form. As the smallest fluid form, I slipped out of the chains and grew. Now the size of a medium dog, I took off running. Seong Hyunjae, having received the baton from Song Taewon, also pursued. But an S-rank quadruped is always faster than an S-rank biped.

Just when I thought I could widen the gap and secure the win, shared Combat Anticipation signaled danger. Scritch—my claws scraped the ground as I flipped backward. Instantly, metallic objects shot from the earth like bullets.

– Ack!

Chains from the Searcher’s gear? Had he laid those traps in advance? When did he—! I landed to see golden rings raining at me. Grateful they’d been gifts, I could withstand the hits, but being ensnared was the real problem.

I leapt high, but rings magnetized to my body and fused into chains. Seong Hyunjae, closing in, threw a wire at me. I hastily reverted to human form and drew my spear to block it. The wire wrapped around the shaft instead of my neck.

“Pre-sending weapons—isn’t that cheating?”

“Only attacking the opponent was forbidden.”

Pulled halfway off balance, I dropped my grip and spun, landing on a lamppost. Seong Hyunjae retrieved his wire, giving it a light shake.

“You should go out on a leash.”

“Cats can’t go for walks, you know?”

I climbed atop the lamppost and looked down at him. If I could shift the terrain beneath his feet into a 10 km chasm…

[Targeted terrain alteration against opposing team members is not allowed!]

So it won’t work. If it could, it’d be brokenly OP. If we clash now, I’ll lose. I have no proper attack skills. Fleeing is best.

I leveled my spear at Seong Hyunjae. His golden eyes met mine. My complex, after all—cannot stand equal beside an S-rank little brother. That’s why matching strength in battle felt thrilling.

Bang! A bullet flew. He dodged by a slight tilt of his head. His faded hair fluttered. Heel striking the ground, he surged under the lamppost and kicked upward in one motion. Crack! The lamppost split in two and tilted. As I descended, an electricity-clad beast leapt at me, bared fangs. Light flashed before my eyes. I crossed my arms to block its legs, then arched back, narrowly evading its grip. As I toppled, I transformed into a black cat. Fluidly twisting in midair, I stepped aside. A chain snaked after my tail like a serpent.

Capturing me was the priority. Combat Anticipation cancelled upon collision. But Seong Hyunjae’s experience remained. As soon as I reverted, his gloved hand relentlessly pursued me. His experience, strength, and speed all superior. I gasped, my dodges barely scraping by like a storm. Yet eventually I reached my limit.

“You held out long.”

“Ugh!”

A large hand slammed my throat against the ground. A bent knee pressed into my thigh like a vice, while chains coiled around my other leg.

“So this is the bracelet.”

Seong Hyunjae snatched Eunhae from my wrist.

– Beep!

Eunhae protested with squeaks, but he ignored it and unclasped the bracelet. Then he pressed it against his own wrist.

“It’s too short.”

– Beep!

“It won’t fit into inventory anyway—it’s better than losing it.”

At his words, Eunhae chirped indignantly before slipping into the bracelet again. The band stretched to fit Seong Hyunjae’s wrist snugly. Once he wore it, pain flared through my thigh.

“I don’t want to break your leg, but it’ll be easier that way.”

He began a terrain alteration. Target: me. I gripped his shoulders like an embrace, hands around his neck.

S-rank Poisonous Mire.

I deactivated Poison Resistance. Splash! Water sprayed as we both plunged into the inky pool. The poison was so dense /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ I could barely see the person next to me. I clung to Seong Hyunjae as he tried to surface. My strength was weaker, but still S-rank. I thought I caught a glimpse of his golden eyes—no, the eyes weren’t real.

Bang!

Electricity surged, causing the mire to explode. We both were flung from the water. Clinging to him shielded me from most of the shock, though parts of me tingled. The poison spread rapidly through my body.

“Cough, hawk!”

I tried to recoil, but Seong Hyunjae grabbed my arm.

“Quite potent.”

“Hardly more than S-rank poison. If it were SSS-rank, you’d have dropped instantly.”

He laughed. The poison must be filling him too. Our eyes locked. I swallowed and turned into a cat. My reduced front paw slipped from his grasp just before I could enable Poison Resistance, and a chain lashed my body.

“Damn it!”

Smaller form means poison spreads faster! I scrambled to human form to activate Resistance, but he was upon me before I could.

‘Can’t they shorten the skill toggles!?’

I had to say activate then deactivate—two commands, too long! If I accidentally cured him too, it’d be pointless.

Scratch! The chain end grazed my cheek, and I felt blood trickle from the torn wound. My freed wrist throbbed; I was sure it bruised black and blue.

“Keep some distance, will you!”

“We can’t leave the antidote behind.”

My body stiffened. Seong Hyunjae visibly slowed. He had no high-grade antidote in inventory; with me here, he never needed one.

“Ugh!”

His knee struck my abdomen. The impact slipped a gasp from me. As he reached to grab my throat again, I braced my wrist. The grip was bone-crushing—I gritted my teeth.

“Your mouth tastes bitter.”

Even as the poison worsened, Seong Hyunjae remained calm. He twisted my arm and, once more, chains snaked around my leg.

“What—shall I receive the antidote… later?”

The chains tightened, threatening to crush my leg. I waited for him to consume his remaining terrain-alteration, but no more remained. In my free hand I held my sword. He tried to evade, but I sensed his movements clearly—slower now, and the blade’s arc was visible.

Crack—!

“…That sword is—”

“Lent by Yuhyun.”

The sword drove deep into Seong Hyunjae’s side. He kicked me aside and staggered back. Then tiny Seong Hyunjae appeared on my shoulder.

“I summoned one more Combat Anticipation.”

Our anticipations neutralized each other, but I could still call forth another Seong Hyunjae bearing Combat Anticipation. He stared down at the sword embedded in his flank. Crimson blood dripped down its blade.

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