The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 752: Whispers (3)

“Right now…”

Chaos understood the crescent’s words—but could not accept them easily.

“You mean you plan to use the Transcendents who approach the pseudo-Source, to fill it?”

“Most will send avatars or bound forms, but some will risk a direct incursion for an opportunity that may not come again. Even weakened Transcendents can provide enough to complete the waning moon.”

“Even weakened, they’re still Transcendents. You’d risk that?”

“No matter how strong a self, if it is endlessly overturned and rootless, it will wear away and fade. But this child has changed.”

And yet he strives to live. Young Chaos’s golden-silver eyes smiled.

“A being piled so high that even a Transcendent cannot touch its depth… as long as this small moon lives its own life, I will neither lose nor have it stolen.”

It had been different before. Back then, Seong Hyunjae would never have tried to flee by death. Yet if he were completely consumed and lost himself, he would surely choose a final freedom. He’d tried before regression—keeping an eclipse near to inherit its power.

That was why the crescent hid Seong Hyunjae even more. A nearly full moon cannot be destroyed, even by a Transcendent. But if that very being cooperates, things differ. It could be carved down to near death. An eclipse alone was dangerous—never invite a Transcendent into it.

“Now even an eclipse is no threat.”

Because he chose to live no matter the circumstance. Young Chaos’s gaze hardened.

“Leave be the one so determined to live. You—or we—have no right to touch him. For any reason.”

The firm tone caused the crescent to look down at him. Her eyes were warm and indifferent.

“Do not strive to persuade me. There are only two ways to stop all this: sheer power, or a substitute. I do not refuse to listen.”

She saw and heard and felt everything—only unwilling to move as he wished.

“So if you present a better method to stop the Source from devouring the world, I will relinquish the small moon without regret.”

Even if it meant abandoning everything at the last moment. Even if all time were wasted, the crescent would feel no sorrow. She only…

“Wishes that the world I love not be consumed.”

“You mean to trample part of that beloved world for its sake?”

“That too is part of the world I love.”

Only the Source did not belong in her world. Everything else she ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) embraced impartially: fertile green forests, broken wastelands, peaceful moral orders, merciless dark chaos—all were equal under her gaze. Simply the flow of the world.

There was nothing one must or must not do. All that blended, clashed, killed and healed, used and aided, hated and loved—that flow was her beloved world.

“…You are…”

Young Chaos was speechless. He had faced countless Transcendents, but each held a guiding principle. Different lives, different thoughts. Though definitions of good and evil and cultures clashed, each possessed a standard. But the moonlight before him felt nothing at all.

“You have changed greatly.”

He breathed it out hollowly. As the crescent said, there was no alternative but force or substitute.

“I did not expect you to intervene so.”

Softly, as to a long-absent guest, the crescent spoke to the Transcendent who came to stop her.

“The system is your old friends themselves. Even if Transcendents abuse it, one cannot meddle with its foundation. It simply continues, unchanged, as at the First World’s dawn.”

“How can one interfere without knowing what to touch? Bound by so many ties.”

“Perhaps guilt for having looked away so long.”

Chaos laughed shortly.

“If I were swayed by guilt, I’d be dead long ago. I’ve always admired children who claw at life to survive.”

Especially a child so desperate. His gaze and heart inevitably followed.

“I survived thus. When in my world, I took in and raised many such children. Just old habit.”

Children trailing after him, calling him Master.

“A Transcendent is still a person of their original world—home, family. Even if they depart or vanish, they cannot escape. It is their essence.”

One may step on that foundation to climb higher, but if the stand itself is removed, you collapse.

“So once more I have picked up a clinging child and intend to bear some responsibility.”

“Very well.”

No further words would serve. Young Chaos turned and faded into the moonlight. The crescent lifted her gaze to the shifting darkness.

“A new cup for new water.”

Even a new law to replace the Source would first bring chaos. A guiding Transcendent was needed. She had hidden the small moon for that reason too. Should conflict erupt over a pseudo-Source before the full moon, she would lose many useful voices.

But now it mattered not. Even if many were spent, they could be replenished.

“It shall unfold as you wished.”

Droplets. The sleeping Mer-Queen. The cradle of a new Transcendent that would not consume the world. That child too was being prepared.

Golden eyes opened slowly. A strange face reflected within. The one peering down into him startled.

“Oh, you’re awake! Is Guildmaster Seong really dead?”

“…Who are you?”

A still-groggy voice asked. Hwangrim helped Sigma upright and replied:

“Long story short, I’m something like a double spy. But you speak Korean well. No items evident—skills?”

“I learned.”

“From your guardian?”

“Guardian?”

“You, the Puppeteer.”

Sigma frowned. A man ill at ease from first glance, his speech grated.

“I am his guardian.”

“You are?”

“I am his puppet.”

It was Hwangrim’s — he had crafted and cared for him. Disliking being called Han Yujin, he gave a new name. Of course he was the guardian. Hwangrim shrugged and surveyed the room. The finely furnished chamber was dim for sleep. A ceiling lamp dotted with star shapes glowed faintly. All was quiet… for now.

“If you awaken, your position will be revealed. We must move at once.”

“Move? Revealed—to whom? And where are we?”

“A gardener is aiming for you now. The Puppeteer’s scam must have angered him.”

“…Again?”

“Again?”

“Surely the original is to blame.”

Sigma recalled distant but not forgotten memories. The doll had intended deception from the start. Though only a doppelgänger, it had an effect. Hwangrim hummed, then produced a plastic map from the Puppeteer.

“I know who you mean. The gardener will come to collect you. Perhaps butterflies will flutter.”

“His original form can’t move easily. Bound forms are manageable.”

“Indeed? You’ve lived long—perhaps a quasi-Transcendent. Better to be cautious—they might come again, but you could prevail.”

Hwangrim channeled mana through the palm-sized map to plot their relocation. Sigma glanced away.

“Enough.”

“What?”

“I’m linked to that being—I’m S-Rank. I was SS-Rank once, and grew stronger.”

Time conjoined, reducing him to Seong Hyunjae’s present grade.

“Keep it secret from C-Ranks… and Lambda.”

“C-Ranks? Who’s Lambda?”

“I have no intention of telling you.”

“…What a young master. The Puppeteer must have raised you well. But facing a Guildmaster’s power—”

Hwangrim snapped his mouth shut. Sigma furrowed his brow, then—

“Extraordinary…”

He fell silent mid-word and slept again. Hwangrim quickly caught the collapsing Sigma.

“I wonder if my contract was wise!”

The map showed another chamber as oppressive energy pressed in. Flutter—black butterflies swarmed. Dozens became scores.

Whoosh—

Flames flared, melting the space’s walls as black fire blended with the butterflies in a wave. Hwangrim narrowly evaded the inferno and fled via the spatial map. The heat vanished, revealing a new bedchamber. Hwangrim exhaled and laid Sigma on the bed.

“Black flames remind me of Jin’s sister.”

Though the color had changed. Yujin’s sister would never be here. At any rate, they had escaped safely.

“Sleep soundly now, Princess.”

Guardian or ward—or prince—until someone came to awaken you.

Slowly. A steady heartbeat reached him. His broken heart beat anew. He grit his teeth without meaning to. Golden eyes unblinkingly fluttered light before closing. Life returned. Seong Hyunjae does not die. Yet…

“A-are you okay?”

Yerim hovered anxiously. Yuhyun looked ready to dash to him. He opened his mouth to say he’d awakened—but no sound came. He exhaled deeply and waved to show he was fine. His heart skipped at the sight of his still-red hand.

You do not die. But you live.

“The moon…”

Munyeonha looked up. He also raised his gaze. The moon had retreated. Yet stars still surrounded its massive form. No—they were not stars. He had seen this sight before.

Transcendents. Their gazes. The stars collapsing beneath the crescent.

They had noticed the being amassing power rivaling the Source. Watching, though not yet entering. Should a path open, they would swarm in. His throat tightened. Clueless, he hugged his revived body.

‘…I should have been more cautious. More skeptical.’ Amid all eyes on the new stars, he felt his sister’s worried gaze. His chest burned. Was it his greed? The harder he struggled, the worse things became. Should he have stayed still from the start? Done nothing?

…but how could he manage that?

“He’s not completely controlled. It’s more like hypnosis or suggestion.”

The Puppeteer’s voice came. He sighed then examined the still-dazed Park Hayul.

“I didn’t expect the crescent to act this way. This one is clean—he surrendered and transferred everything to you. If it were the reverse, you’d be put to sleep and all would end. It’s become troublesome.”

“…!”

He still could not speak. Only breaths escaped. Perceiving this, Yuhyun could no longer hold back and urged the Puppeteer:

“May I approach him? He must not be harmed further.”

“Those things look for an opening. You’re safe.”

“Brother!”

No sooner said, Yuhyun stepped forward. Director Song, now outside the wall, hurried to his side. Both tried to free Seong Hyunjae from his grasp. He tried to release his arm—yet it would not move.

“Brother, look at me. Okay?”

“His breathing is stable, Han Yujin. His pulse is steady. He’s only unconscious—allow me.”

“….”

He knew he should let go, yet could not. Yuhyun gently clasped his hand, urging him to relax. Director Song soothed him as well. Hyuna blocked Yerim and Soyeong, and the others stepped back.

He exhaled steadily. His curled fingers slowly straightened. Yuhyun supported him as he stood, holding Seong Hyunjae in his arms. He felt he must seize him again. Yuhyun’s hand shielded his eyes.

“For now, let’s separate. Until he regains consciousness.”

“Yes. That seems best.”

Hyuna and Director Song’s voices receded. His body trembled at last. The crescent’s whisper reached him.

[The full moon’s moment is near.]

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