The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 753: Opportunity (1)

“…What should I do?”

Yuhyun asked. I could feel the presence of the Puppeteer standing before me. My heart was pounding violently. My body burned with heat, yet I felt cold.

“You made a contract with Sigma first, so you’re not bound. Otherwise, the moment you received Bak Hayul’s power, you would’ve been tied to the Crescent Moon. Keep it from getting closer.”

“Peace! Just a little longer, okay? Uncle Shishio, please go back to the castle too!”

Yerim’s voice rang out. I had to do something, but I didn’t know what. It felt like my body wasn’t mine anymore.

“Still, for you to be controlled so easily… You said you’ve been dominated by the Crescent Moon before, right?”

“Yes. Three times, as far as I know.”

In the Chinese dungeon, at the wedding hall, and right before falling into the dream world. The Puppeteer clicked his tongue.

“Once a path opens, it’s easier to get in again. Let’s clean it all out completely this time.”

“Is that possible?”

“I’m pretty good at manipulating people myself. I am a puppeteer, after all. Compared to the Crescent Moon that holds the Cradle, I’m inexperienced, but still. Hands off.”

Light returned to my eyes. I could see the ground hardening, dark red like dried blood. My breath caught. It wasn’t the first time I had killed someone—Seong Hyeonje included—but this time felt different. The hope that everyone could return home safely had been crushed. No, it was worse than that. It was as if I’d destroyed the escape route right before my eyes with my own hands.

“Look at me.”

Snap. At the sound, my head jerked up involuntarily. The Puppeteer’s eyes met mine.

“Luckily, the vessel is ready. Push everything into him and put him to sleep immediately.”

Bak Hayul staggered to his feet.

“D-don’t…”

He struggled to speak.

“Send… back…”

“Hey, once people start falling asleep again, your power will grow stronger. Along with the Crescent Moon’s influence that resides in you. It’s safer to transfer the power and put you under before that happens.”

…I knew that. But I couldn’t nod. Just one more step and it would’ve been over. Everything could’ve ended perfectly. Even as everything inside me crumbled, no tears came. Only emptiness.

Why is it so hard. So hard. It hurts.

“You said people would stay awake for at least three hours, right? We have time, so let’s go inside first. You need to clear your head before we start. Stay next to me—don’t cause another accident.”

Yuhyun lifted me in his arms, and Bak Hayul glanced at us before standing beside the Puppeteer.

“You’re going to sleep quietly?”

“…Yes. But, if I’m going to sleep anyway, can’t I go to Seoul? Or better yet, Dodam Breeding Center?”

“What scheme are you cooking up now?”

“It’s not a scheme! I really like Yujin-hyung. And right now… I really want to help.”

Bak Hayul looked at me with tearful eyes.

“I was really shocked too. The Crescent Moon was scary, but seeing hyung like that—it was my first time. Yujin-hyung always looked like he’d be fine no matter what. He even talked back to S-Ranks in China, and at the Chatterbox party too. Even with me! He’s so cool and amazing, and when he liked me I was happy, but when he kept denying it, I got mad. I wanted to protect him too. Maybe… I just wanted his attention. But I thought… maybe it’d be okay.”

“And then?”

“…I don’t know. It feels weird inside. But, uh, I think I have to be careful. Anyway, I want to do something for him. Not what I want, but what Yujin-hyung wants.”

Even though he fumbled with his feelings, Bak Hayul managed to say it. …I’m not that strong. I’ve just barely held on.

“So you’ve learned a bit more about him, huh? Before, you only looked at the surface, thinking whatever you wanted.”

“My chest feels all tangled up! That much I’m sure about!”

Bak Hayul muttered gloomily.

“I don’t ever want to see hyung like that again. I like the version that gets mad ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) and grabs my hair when I kidnap him. Ah, maybe I should kidnap him again!”

He started talking nonsense again. I had no strength to react—just stared blankly.

“Yeah, I think I like it when Yujin-hyung resists! When he gets mad if I tease him!”

“Is he insane?”

The Puppeteer smacked the back of Bak Hayul’s head with his fist. A loud clang echoed. Bak Hayul protested, but he deserved it. Yeah, even idiots like that live so brightly.

As we walked toward the castle, Yerim and Peace, who’d been watching nervously, approached. They didn’t dare speak first. I wanted to say something, but my lips wouldn’t move. Overhead, I caught a glimpse of stars slowly shifting.

Cautious and sluggish. Their numbers were increasing. The air turned cold again, the chill seeping beneath my skin. Surrounded by worried eyes, we entered the castle. Gyeol came running from where he’d been waiting by the door.

“Dad…”

“Uncle’s not hurt. It’s okay. You were just scared because Seoseong got injured.”

Yerim quickly explained for me. Gyeol nodded.

“Don’t worry too much, Dad. He doesn’t die easily. Really. Gyeol knows.”

“Stay with your aunt for now~”

Yerim picked him up and carried him inside.

“Hyung, want to wash up? You should at least change clothes.”

Yuhyun’s tone was natural, as if nothing had happened. I exhaled slowly. I had to move. There was no time to sit here blankly.

“…Yeah. Okay. I’ll wash up a bit.”

Get a grip. Somehow, I forced myself up. It felt like my limbs were being pulled by thin, frayed strings that could snap any moment. I wanted to collapse and close my eyes, but held myself back.

“We’ll settle your contract at the same time. My kid’s going to grumble, but whatever.”

After washing up and changing, I returned to the room. The Puppeteer held out a contract—Sigma’s.

“Since our contract came first, we can clean everything out completely, all the way down. That’ll erase the path that was opened.”

“Even though… I couldn’t keep the contract?”

“Ah, Seong Hyeonje? We covered that up for now. What’s more troublesome is you being swayed by the Crescent Moon. If this contract disappears too, there’ll be no saving you next time you throw yourself out there.”

I nodded. If I hadn’t stepped forward in that nightmare dungeon, maybe none of this would’ve happened. But back then, there didn’t seem to be another way.

“Take me to Seoul! I swear I won’t do anything if hyung visits my dream!”

“…You’re going to sleep anyway.”

“This place is

a dream. He dreams too. It’s a dream within a dream, so he won’t have much power.”

The Puppeteer explained and pulled out another contract.

“With my current power, I can’t bind a Transcendent. Once he regains his full strength, the Crescent Moon’s influence will grow even stronger. So I’ll make this contract scale with Bak Hayul’s power. The stronger he gets, the stronger the contract.”

He called it a special clause and began writing.

“You don’t usually make contracts like this. If he becomes a Transcendent after making a weak contract, he could still be bound by it. Seong Hyeonje’s might’ve been something similar.”

A contract impossible to escape, no matter how close one came to the Source.

“Layers of time may play a part, but it’s also likely he bound himself through his own power. The Source is beyond the reach of both the Crescent Moon and any Transcendent.”

The Puppeteer continued writing.

“Sleep duration: ten years. Can be broken early only if Han Yujin and three intelligent beings of his choosing—who hold clear affection for him—voluntarily agree without external interference. That should do it, right?”

“Yes.”

I nodded. His handwriting was deft, practiced. He handed the contract to Bak Hayul.

“Sign here. Once both sides agree, Han Yujin’s power will return to you, and you’ll fall asleep immediately.”

“Hyung, the breeding center! Promise!”

“…There’s no room there. I’ll give you a spot in the building instead.”

“Yes! Can you bring the Peace doll too?”

“Fine.”

“And Peace’s pajamas—”

“I’ll pack the full set.”

Bak Hayul signed. The paper was then handed to me. I gripped the pen but couldn’t move. Signing meant Bak Hayul would fall asleep. Before the system normalized, we’d lose any chance to send everyone home… or to get Yuhyun back.

No new solution came to mind. Everything felt dark. Even if the system activated, the Crescent Moon would surely try to stop us. The other Transcendents watching would join in too. Could we escape their grasp? If we ran, I’d have to let go of my brother forever.

“Hyung, people will start falling asleep soon.”

Yuhyun’s voice was gentle. I moved the pen. Slowly, the final stroke was drawn, and the tip lifted from the page. Strength drained from my body at once. Bak Hayul’s eyes closed, and he slumped to the floor. The Puppeteer’s contract with Sigma burst into flames.

[ I will be waiting. ]

With that final whisper, the Crescent Moon’s influence vanished completely. Even if it was waiting… I—

“It’ll be better to go somewhere familiar. The dreamers can wake up and come back later. How many others are left? Teleporting all at once is…”

“We can call Yunyun, the Goblin King.”

For now, the Puppeteer’s power let me use Skills. I looked down at the sleeping Bak Hayul. My hope had fallen asleep too. I should’ve given up and found another way, but I couldn’t let go. Get a grip. I had to.

[ Honey! ]

The system message appeared.

[ I couldn’t contact you because I was afraid the Crescent Moon would notice! Are you okay? ]

“…Yeah.”

[ I was so shocked! It looks like Lord Chaos already knew who Chain was! Things are a total mess right now! ]

“I figured.”

[ Until the system stabilizes, there’s no path. The Transcendents won’t enter. Even if they do, they’ll be around your level or weaker—unless they’re special cases like the Crescent Moon. ]

So there was a little time left.

[ The problem is… once the system activates, your team’s plan to return to your world—it’s going to be difficult. ]

“As expected, there’s interference.”

[ …Yes. The Transcendents are waiting to intrude into the dream world. When the system starts up, if they move, the system itself will shake violently… It’ll be too dangerous to move. Best case, you land safely in your world; worst case, you get thrown somewhere random—or die. ]

The news that the escape route was gone didn’t hit as hard as I’d thought. Maybe I was just too exhausted to feel anything.

[ At least they won’t enter directly. Even if it’s a dream, it’s still another world. There might be maniacs like Chatterbox, but most will send subordinates or avatars instead. ]

“So they’ll be weaker than Transcendents.”

[ They’ll be affected by the world’s rank—between S and SS. But they’re not monsters. They’ll have gear, Skills, and intelligence. ]

Meaning we could talk to them. Maybe even make them fight each other. In some ways, that was better than monsters.

[ The system will activate soon. Everyone’s helping… maybe a day, two at most. ]

“Got it. Thanks.”

[ …We’re still looking for a way to extract you, Honey. Please be careful. There might still be… a way— ]

The message cut off abruptly. A day or two, huh. We could probably handle the Transcendents’ subordinates. But there’d surely be ones like Chatterbox popping up. I stepped outside alone. Gyeol called to me from where he stood with Yerim.

“You okay, Dad?”

“Yeah. I’m fine, Gyeol. We’re all moving to the breeding center. Can you call Yunyun, the Goblin King?”

“Okay. Gyeol will go home too. Even if I leave, this place will last about an hour.”

I told the other dreamers to meet again in Seoul. Then—

“Seong Hyeonje’s on the second floor. Second room down the hallway.”

Moon Hyunah spoke before falling asleep again.

“Don’t worry too much, hyung-nim. She’ll just call it another new experience.”

“…Yeah.”

Maybe. But my heart didn’t feel lighter. I glanced at where Hyunah had disappeared, then turned away.

“I’ll go up for a bit.”

“I’ll come with you, hyung.”

“No. When Yunyun arrives, explain the situation. Yerim, you stay too.”

Yuhyun’s eyes followed me, quiet but heavy. He didn’t insist on following. I climbed the stairs to the second floor alone. By now, he should’ve woken up. He’d probably act like nothing happened. Maybe even worry about me first.

He really is… a good person, after all.

Even after everything, I’d hurt him more than I could fix. The only thing I could say was a useless “sorry.” Gripping the doorknob, I opened the door and stepped inside. Seong Hyeonje stood by the bed. Manager Song turned first.

“Oh—are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

Seong Hyeonje slowly turned. His golden eyes met mine. His gaze was strangely cold.

“A shame, but so it ends.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The opportunity I gave you, Han Yujin—it’s gone.”

I didn’t understand. His footsteps approached, echoing sharply. He looked down at me with a faint smile.

“You did well. But you failed.”

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