The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 757: Different (3)

“Yes, fourteen hours and seventeen minutes remaining. I’ll have the countdown message window pop up two hours beforehand, Honey.”

[Got it. There really isn’t another way, right?]

Han Yujin’s voice appeared in the message window. Though no one else was watching, the newcomer nodded in reply.

“The Transcendents will swarm here, and world traversal via the System will be unstable for at least two or three days. For now… hold on as long as you can.”

[I’ll try to hang on. I’m just… a bit worried.]

The newcomer pictured what Han Yujin feared: Chain, the pseudo-Origin. They’d heard that the Crescent Moon planned to turn him into a new Origin from the raw Chaos. As a newcomer, they didn’t think it was necessarily a bad thing.

“By the way, Honey, among your circle… isn’t anyone suggesting you give up on Chain?”

After a short silence, a reply came.

[They all are.]

“But you don’t want to.”

[At least I don’t want to be the first to give up.]

Seong Hyunjae had signaled he would wait for him. The newcomer stared at Han Yujin’s message. Chain was hardly human anymore. Yet Yujin’s attitude hadn’t changed. Even if Chain fell and became the Origin the Crescent Moon desired, Yujin would never give up on him.

‘Honey said he likes Chain too.’

It was a distant past, yet the Tower still held him captive. Everyone wanted him to stay within it. Though he had the power to topple the Tower at any moment, he remained imprisoned until the end. That was his purpose and his reason for being.

He’d obeyed without question even after becoming a Transcendent. Then, he’d shown unchanging affection no matter the circumstances. Even if the Tower were destroyed and everything collapsed, Honey would still pat his head.

“…Once the System is fully applied, the people of Honey’s world will no longer perceive this dream world as reality. Transcendents and their minions will be unable to influence it.”

[Dreamers will only recognize the dream, right? Glad to hear it. Dreams can have a real psychological impact.]

“Unless someone has a Dreamlord Skill or a powerful illusionary power related to the dream’s owner.”

[Really? I’m worried about Gyuri then. She’d better behave…]

“That Mari might even pull others in. If she does, death in the dream can affect reality—causing shock or catatonia. Be careful. …Honey’s group is in reality, so it’s even more dangerous.”

[Then somehow at least send the kids back first—Yuhyun, let them go. Yerim, let go of that line.]

“I worry most about you, Honey.”

[As for me… once the System applies, I’ll have Grace too. Oh, the Drawer of the King of Harmlessness—can I use that? How about holding out there?]

“You can, but A-Spatial defenses weaken in the dream world. If dreamers use their imaginations well, they can traverse space easily. The boundaries of space are thin here—they’d break through without trouble.”

[…Too bad. Well, the Puppeteer breached it before anyway. I’ll keep it as backup equipment.]

With that, the message window vanished. The newcomer clasped their hands beneath their sleeve and fidgeted. Until now, they’d only followed others’ orders. It hadn’t felt wrong—it had been easy. But now that path was gone.

They would have to think for themselves, devise a way, and make choices. They’d have to bear responsibility for those choices. To leave the Tower was to do just that.

[System Applying … 75.91%]

Below that window:

[98.66%]

Another window. A figure that had crept upward at a near halt since long ago. The newcomer’s eyes trembled slightly as they watched it.

‘…Honey will surely want it.’

Another option lay in their hands—and Han Yujin would accept it. Yet they hesitated. They’d mingled with others, but they liked Honey best.

“That guy’s stubborn too.”

A childlike Chaos voice sounded. The newcomer closed the System window and turned. Out of empty air stepped Chaos, clicking his tongue.

“How’s the Blacksmith?”

“I put him to sleep. It’s still too soon anyway.”

“That’s right, still too soon.”

The newcomer nodded with concern. Famous Woo, now aware of Yujin’s situation, had tried to open a passage connecting the dream world and reality himself. As an entity of that world and a System admin, it wasn’t impossible—if only years later.

“But the Blacksmith can’t withstand the System’s mana load. I can’t help; I’m not from that world.”

“He’s better than the first one, but his body still can’t match his power. So, Tree—”

“Oh, Tree-senpai—”

[Ready.]

Space tore open, and a great Tree Doll rode out, its leaf frown deep. The small wooden figure puckered its bark.

[I don’t know how things got like this…]

“Thank you for helping, Tree-senpai!”

[There’s a foul presence here.]

“A foul presence?”

[The Gardener.]

The Tree looked around. They stood on a boundless meadow.

[I’d expect it to be wider.]

“Gardener-senpai? You two aren’t on good terms?”

[Senpai? He’s the Gardener. Of course we aren’t.]

It tapped the ground lightly with its massive roots.

[Animals think plants are simple. What does the Gardener do? Uproots them, transplants them as he pleases, trims branches, forces propagation, gene-modifies them—plant torture!]

“Th-that sounds about right…”

[I hate him personally too. All Transcendents of my kind feel the same. We all find the Gardener creepy.]

The newcomer tilted their head at the Tree’s words.

[I heard he stayed neutral, never stepping outside his garden.]

[Exactly why he’s creepier. He suddenly wades into this mess. Besides, that world…]

The Tree’s roots slowly burrowed deeper.

[Is guarded by the Mer-Queen. I thought he’d just cast a shield. He’s old friends with Water Droplet, and I might never see my friend’s last act again. I have to lend some power. Now, clear out!]

The newcomer leapt up. The childlike Chaos leapt back. Roots dug endlessly into the ground, swelling the Tree Doll into thick trunks in an instant. Branches spread, blotting out the sky, leaves growing dense and green. The World Tree—once revered by all life in some ancient world—revealed itself.

Rumbles echoed as roots and branches reached every corner of the space the newcomer had created. Mana density rose, filling every nook like water. On the lofty Tree, countless lifeforms breathed. A forest formed at the roots, a swamp in the trunk’s crevice. Meadows on broad branches, lakes in hollows, a desert where light poured through leaf gaps.

A single tree housed diverse ecosystems. A hundred towns and ten cities once thrived there. Such was the Tree.

“Now, newcomer.”

“Yes.”

The newcomer opened the System window. Before them lay vast darkness studded with stars like space. The holding area for Transcendents awaiting full System application in the dream world. At its center hovered a blue sphere—the world the Mer-Queen guarded.

“Second taught you well.”

Childlike Chaos, perched on a branch, hefted a sword. The newcomer tweaked the System. Darkness sharpened, and countless lines of light appeared, leading toward the blue orb.

“These lines are the paths!”

Paths created via the System. When the time came, invasion would begin along them. The boy Chaos exhaled deeply as the curse within him stirred and he grew rapidly. He could not strike other Transcendents first; severing the forged paths was still an attack.

Yet—

“I know nothing of these spiderwebs.”

His red eyes closed. His keen senses felt them, but he forgot. The webs were mere objects—like vines that ensnared an outstretched arm, unnoticed and unreacted to. He thrust his sword forward.

“It’s been ages since I felled a tree.”

Like a child brandishing a blade anew. The World Tree’s branches writhed, entangling the myriad paths. Then, swelling into massive girths, they plunged toward the oldest sword.

Vrrr—

The Tree’s fall seemed slow, but it was immensely swift, heavy, and solid. Chaos’s hand flicked. The blade carved a smooth arc. The traced line cleaved everything: rifts widened until darkness swallowed all.

Skreee—

A branch sliced as though devoured, and all around it was swept away. The glittering paths vanished as if erased, leaving only darkness. Beyond, stars—and Transcendents—seemed to pour out protests.

“The one who stands before the blade is to blame. If you’ve complaints, come at me!”

The child Chaos shouted defiantly. If they dared attack, he would pummel them until they lost the strength to invade. Some Transcendents forged new paths. Those lucky enough to avoid disaster guarded them. Chaos gripped his sword anew.

“Tonight, I’ll dance a proper blade dance.”

Branches spread in accord. He couldn’t stop every Transcendent, but he would surely cut their numbers. Running along the reaching limbs, Chaos’s gaze fixed on the blue sphere.

‘Hold on no matter what. Survive.’

No matter how bleak, survival births opportunity.

A tremor passed through the gathered Transcendents. Excitement and anticipation rippled within it. The Crescent Moon slowly opened her closed eyes—deep emotion rare among old Transcendents. A pseudo-Origin was entirely new and astonishing to them.

Through a gap in the worlds, a white feather drifted in on moonlit breeze. The Crescent Moon’s gaze followed its dance over her silvery hair before it landed and soared again.

“Hello.”

It became human form—a woman of pure white. Feathers, not hair, cascaded past her feet. Black eyes met the Crescent Moon’s.

“Whitebird.”

“Just an old feather I left behind long ago. It has found its way here.”

Whitebird smiled.

“Where are you now?”

“I cannot tell you. But I am happy.”

Her prophetic voice continued.

“Crescent Moon. Even if you fail, you will achieve what you desire. But that is meaningless to you.”

“To me?”

“To you now.”

Her black eyes glinted with regret.

“I have wagered everything, wandering countless paths to be with the one I love. Amid branching paths, I found one—so many might share the chance for their wishes.”

“I still don’t know what you want.”

The Crescent Moon whispered. Whitebird remained silent a long while, having witnessed much. Then she began to sing for her desire—her path’s end was decided.

“We all are the same. We want happiness.”

Though there were many reasons, if asked one answer:

“I loved you—as I did all others. So I’ve come late to bid farewell.”

“It seems your wish unfolds as planned.”

“Thus far, yes.”

The Crescent Moon watched Whitebird quietly. Her form faded, feathers scattering.

“At the center of that path stands Han Yujin?”

“That one was necessary, but not alone. His sister’s beginning, the people around him, everyone in that world. You’ll soon realize each was indispensable.”

From the slimmest chance, she trod step by step to the end. The Crescent Moon recalled the human who could not let go of her child.

“She wasn’t special from the start.”

“Ordinary. Just a person—except for one thing.”

“One thing?”

“Just one. We planted seeds, but couldn’t choose whether or how they would grow.”

Whitebird vanished, leaving a single feather drifting on the breeze. A faint voice whispered:

“I wish you happiness.”

The ordinary feather lost power and floated away. The Crescent Moon watched it, then closed her eyes.

[02:00]

The timer appeared. I wiped Star’s mouth.

“When you wake from the dream, don’t eat this much.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

“Seolyi will keep an eye on you.”

Seolyi nodded. Though quieter than Gyuri and Star, Seolyi had answered every prompt about Star. And I noticed she often heeded Gyuri’s suggestions—especially regarding Star. She seemed to respect Gyuri’s knowledge where Star was concerned.

“Gyuri, you must stay with your siblings. We don’t know what powers Star has—so we need you there.”

I hated burdening a child, but it was best to keep Gyuri convinced of her importance so she’d wait calmly. My kid was too kind, trying to grow up too fast.

“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll protect both of them.”

“Thank you, Gyuri.”

I set Star down and watched the timer shrink. I still saw no solution. For now, all we could do was endure, fight when we must, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) and hope to refresh our achievements.

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