The S-Classes That I Raised

'Bitter.'

I ate a root fruit raw—something I brought back from the Black Ox Forest Dungeon. It's used as an ingredient for stamina potions, and sure enough, even eaten raw it had an effect. The taste, though, was absolutely foul.

'I feel a bit more awake now.'

Aside from dozing off briefly in the dungeon, I hadn't slept properly. My body had been through hell, not to mention the mental exhaustion. I really should rest... but I'll probably be able to sleep once I'm home.

After washing up and heading out to the living room, I saw Yuhyun sitting there. He looked at me with a sulky expression.

"Still mad? I told you I won't do it again."

I almost burned the whole hotel down in the middle of the night.

"I didn't know it would work that well. Honestly, I was touched that you trusted me that much. Even Hyunah and Yerim didn't respond as strongly as you did."

At my words, Yuhyun's expression softened just a little.

"Don't use it on me outside the house. And even at home, only if Park Yerim is there."

"But what if Yerim's in a dungeon? I get the recovery part, but the growth activation effect—"

"No. Same goes for when you used that skill on Park Yerim."

What a shame. Even a mild boost would help. When I nodded in agreement, he finally smiled.

We tested the calming and sleep skills with help from Yerim and Hyunah. Turns out, S-ranks weren't so easily affected. Hyunah broke free fairly quickly, and Yerim, even though she wanted to sleep, managed to wriggle out of my hold.

Yuhyun, on the other hand, struggled even with just the sleep skill alone. Still, it's easy enough to prevent the skill from activating altogether. As long as I don't hug him or pat his back, I can't force him to sleep.

"It'll be super useful for the baby monsters. Yerim even said she'd want me to put her to sleep if I'm not too tired."

She said it felt really nice. Sleep is important. She always says she has trouble sleeping well. And even if you're in a deep sleep, you can still wake up if something happens. At my desperate look, Yuhyun hesitated, then opened his mouth.

"...Only at home. And if I wake up and you're not there, I'm never accepting that skill again."

"Okay, okay. I won't go anywhere while you're sleeping. If something important comes up, I'll wake you first."

"Did you get enough rest? You could've slept longer."

"I tossed and turned a bit, but I'm okay. Don't I look fine?"

Saying I slept well would've been a lie. Gotta keep those to a minimum. When I admitted I'd been restless, Yuhyun gave me a concerned look.

"You can't use that skill on yourself?"

"Nope. Wouldn't it be funny if I could? I ate some of that fruit from the dungeon, though. You know, the one with recovery effects."

I joked a bit, saying it worked well. Yuhyun stared at me carefully, then stood up.

"Still, once we're home, you need to sleep properly. I should've bought that skill too. When you used it on me, it felt so good I couldn't resist. Brought back old memories, too."

"When you were little, you'd always fall asleep as soon as I put you down. Maybe that's why it worked so well now."

He used to fall asleep so easily in my arms, even though my touch must've been clumsy. It never even occurred to me that he might have trouble sleeping. But—when I went on that school trip... That time... I remembered my little brother clinging to my collar, fast asleep the moment I returned.

"...Yuhyun."

My voice trembled slightly. My tongue felt stiff. But I had to ask, right now.

"After you left home... did you sleep okay?"

"...No."

"It was hard, wasn't it? Of course it was."

"No, no, hyung. I—"

"Don't lie. I bet it hurt just as much for you."

After a long pause, I finally heard a quiet "Yeah." Like I'd pulled out a thorn that had been stuck deep for ages. It didn't hurt as much as I expected.

"It was really hard for me, too. After you left, my mind went all over the place. And more than anything... I was scared. That I'd never see you again."

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, hyung."

"Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault. The world just suddenly changed. Come here, my brother. You've been through so much."

I pulled Yuhyun, who had his head bowed, into a hug.

"I was scared too, hyung. Really scared..."

"Yeah. I know. I know you were."

That was the first thread we unraveled. Neither of us had the courage yet to talk about everything. But for now, this much was enough.

"Time to get some good sleep now."

"I sleep way better than before. Home is comfortable."

"Even if we bring home another nocturnal monster, I've got the skill now, so it won't get too noisy. Peace, come here. Chirp and Belare too. Chirp, stop riding on Belare all the time. You can fly, you know."

"You won't be pulling all-nighters anymore either, right? I was pretty mad about that black dragon incident."

Talking as we went, I picked up Peace, and gathered Chirp and Belare to head to our room. Yuhyun's expression was relaxed. Mine probably looked similar. We still had a lot to work through—but it finally felt like we'd taken a real step forward.

The only problem... was that my little brother, the one I couldn't talk to, was still in pain.

"You should ease up your expression a bit. You could build a dam in that frown."

Sitting across from me, Shishio's face was a wreck—as expected. But unlike yesterday, he didn't look angry. More like completely deflated. The man who looked like he'd shout and spring back up even after being beaten a hundred times now just sat there. It was a little pitiful.

To wrap up matters in Japan, I scheduled a private meeting with Shishio. Everyone was worried when I said I'd go alone, but it was inside the hotel, we had a contract, and I was bringing Peace, so there wasn't any real danger. Yuhyun and Yerim were also staying close by. They wouldn't be able to hear the conversation, but if there was any loud noise, they'd rush in immediately.

'If I want to apply a keyword, it's better without others around.'

Someone might notice the shift when the keyword takes effect, so I had to be cautious. I'd been trying not to apply keywords to people since Noah, but this time that ship had sailed, and it was a waste to just leave Shishio alone. He couldn't even harm me anymore.

If the nurturer's target turns out to be a terrible match, I could just count him as a tick on the Touched list and be done with it. But if he was decent, I could keep a good relationship going and make use of him long-term. Either way, there was nothing to lose.

"...You're telling me to ease my expression when guild rats are already trying to crawl up?"

"They're crawling up? Which bastards?"

Maybe before, but now Amaterasu belongs to me. Who the hell do they think they are? Shishio grumbled with a scowl.

"They say they want me held responsible for my failure. The movement's being led by two guilds whose leaders are S-class Hunters. And since the other S-classes in Amaterasu haven't fully recovered yet, I'm at a disadvantage."

Healers had treated them, but both had suffered serious injuries and were still hospitalized. One had to avoid using his reattached arm for a while, and the other was told to rest for at least a month. Shishio was the only one up and about, since he'd recovered quickly from his piercing wounds. Judging by his condition, he probably had some kind of regeneration-type skill too.

"Weren't those bastards on the list? They stood in the back doing nothing and now they're acting shameless."

Maybe they even pushed Shishio into it on purpose. If he succeeded, they wouldn't have to share anything with me, and if he failed, they'd gain an excuse to step over Amaterasu. From what I'd seen, Shishio didn't listen well to his close aides, so he'd have been easy to manipulate.

"They're trying to claim they were forced to cooperate by Amaterasu. But from my perspective, they're just dumping the blame and running. I've seen plenty of petty cowards like that. Totally different from someone like you, who's taking responsibility head-on."

"Hmph. As you should say."

"If you unite under one goal, then everyone should take equal responsibility for the outcome. But now they're trying to lop off the commander and pretend they had nothing to do with it? There's a limit to how spineless you can be. Even I'm getting mad on your behalf."

Shishio nodded in agreement. He must be feeling both bitter and frustrated at how things turned out. We weren't going to be strangers forever—no good would come from letting it stew. If it festered, it would turn into lasting resentment.

That's why it's better to give him something else to tear apart. Something to vent on, with a big ol' stamp of moral justification. He couldn't exactly be righteously angry at me—after all, he made the first shady move. But those backstabbers? They were a different story. If I painted him as a righteous, innocent victim, he could go off on them to his heart's content and vent some of that frustration—even the part aimed at me.

"Honestly, I don't dislike you, Shishio. You treated me well. I thought you were generous and bold. That's why I was shocked yesterday. It just didn't feel like you."

I looked at him with that I trusted you expression. Shishio gave a guilty little cough.

"Well, that's..."

"And sure enough, that's not the real Shishio."

"...Huh?"

"Those guys on the list. Didn't they just sugarcoat their words and trick you? Talking about doing it for the good of Japan. You love your country—of course you couldn't turn them down."

"W-Well, they did try to talk me into it..."

"Even if Amaterasu had shared some benefits with me, it's still the undisputed top guild in Japan. There was no reason to put itself at risk. But still, you rallied all your S-rank Hunters and stepped forward! Meanwhile, those other guys just sat in the back waiting to lick up the honey, and now they're blaming you!"

Bang! I slammed the table. Ow. My hand hurt. Peace, sitting on my lap, looked up at me like, Are you okay?

"How are you so kindhearted?"

"Ah, no..."

"Having too big a heart is a problem too. You're even trying to cover for those petty rats. And yet they—man, I'm seriously upset about this."

Shishio flinched, his large hands twitching slightly. He really did seem like a decent guy at his core.

"I'm glad I told my brother to ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) spare you. I knew you weren't a bad person."

"...Didn't you say it was because I owed you a lot?"

"That too—but come on, saying you're a good person in that situation would've been weird, right? I'm just glad your injuries weren't serious. My little brother's pretty strong, huh?"

I really shouldn't smile here, but I couldn't help it. Shishio looked at me like I was weird.

"...Even if he's your family, does it really not bother you?"

"I basically raised him. No matter his rank, he's a lovable, adorable little brother. Actually, he said something interesting—apparently he sees Guild Leader Haeyeon and Guild Leader Seoseong as very different. Could I hear more about that?"

I was curious what he thought—not just of Yuhyun, but of Seong Hyunjae too. At my question, Shishio scratched his head, then began to speak.

"Guild Leader Haeyeon is a hunter. Guild Leader Sesung is a breeder. They both look down on others, but how they treat them is different."

Hunting and breeding. The more I thought about it, the more fitting it felt. Yuhyun didn't show the typical signs of using people and keeping them alive for that purpose. Just look at Yun Kyungsu and Choi Seokwon. On the other hand, Seong Hyunjae kept those two alive—along with others—as much as possible. But it didn't come across as respect for human life. Breeding, yeah... that definitely fit better.

"Haeyeon's Guild Leader is more dangerous in the moment, but in the long run... Sesung's Guild Leader..."

Shishio frowned and continued.

"He acts generous, but if something doesn't match his standards, he'll cut it off without a second thought. It's like a slow strangulation. He could let you go with indifference, or crush you thoroughly. It all depends on his whims... which makes it worse. You end up watching his mood without realizing it."

As I listened, I swallowed dryly. I never expected to feel this kind of kinship with an S-rank. I'd been forgetting that feeling lately, but now it all came back.

"And you act so casual around that Guild Leader Sesung. Even with F-rank stats. You're seriously strange."

"It wasn't easy getting to the point of calling him a partner, you know. Even now, he's... honestly just putting up with me a lot."

If I used Shishio's metaphor, I probably went from a useful free-range livestock to a house pet. A bit more generously, maybe a five-year-old child. Still human, with the potential to grow—so there's hope.

Although full-grown adults could be all over the place, too. Plenty are worse than trained dogs.

"Excuse me."

The table was set with a light meal. Mine was the simple one—Shishio's was practically a feast. Judging by how much he ate, he definitely had some kind of regeneration-based skill. Unlike healing, which consumed mana, physical regeneration burned through body energy. So he probably needed to eat more now.

"Still, surprisingly, even Guild Leader Sesung has accepted my help."

Once the staff left, I picked at my salad with a fork and continued.

"Ever heard the story of the lion and the mouse?"

Even if I'd only half moved according to Seong Hyunjae's plan, he'd admitted that me releasing Sigma had definitely helped.

"A lion generously spared a lowly mouse. The lion never expected anything in return—because to a lion, it was nothing. But when the lion got caught in a net, the mouse gnawed through it."

I tapped the fork gently against the edge of my plate. A soft sound rang out.

"If you don't mind."

I met Shishio's gaze and smiled kindly.

"Shall I gnaw through it, Mr. Lion?"

"...What?"

"It means I'd like us to get along. I wouldn't feel right just letting this go, either."

Ten percent of the profits—meaning, the better Amaterasu does, the more I benefit. Same goes for items and dungeons.

"Let's pin it all on them."

"Pin it on them?"

"Yes. You said it was two S-rank Hunters, right? Say they were the ones who attacked us. That the Guild Leader of Haeyeon, who defeated five SS-rank monsters and saved Japan, was cowardly ambushed by those villains right after a grueling battle! And Amaterasu—bravely stood in the way! Even if they used underhanded tricks, Amaterasu Hunters couldn't bring themselves to inflict fatal damage on fellow countrymen. How could a patriot like Shishio possibly kill a fellow Japanese S-rank? But those bastards had no such restraint. Because of them, your two lieutenants were taken out—and yet you held your ground till the end!"

"...That's completely made-up."

"Says who? I'm the victim. You got any proof that it didn't happen? Even if they had evidence or witnesses—so what? With today's tech, everything can be faked with skills and items." The M|V|LE&MPYR team worked hard on this chapter.

Just deny it until they give up.

"And think about it—why would we side with Amaterasu? There's absolutely no reason. That makes us even more credible."

"...It's kind of underhanded, though."

"Compared to those bastards who shoved you into this and are now abandoning you? This is practically a moral high ground. If they'd just said, 'We'll share the burden together,' this wouldn't even be necessary. But they didn't. Betrayers deserve to get slapped."

I said, Shishio stood tall for his country, and those other bastards tried to take advantage of a true patriot. Shishio nodded along. It wasn't even that far from the truth.

"I hope you stay in your position, Shishio. We're neighboring countries, after all. Imagine if some scummy wannabes took over Japan's top guild—I'd lose sleep over it."

"Of course. Naturally."

"Then let's start prepping the broadcast. Announce it, and take down those two S-rank bastards on air. If we help, it'll be easy. Shake down the guilds on that list for compensation, chant 'Long live the great Amaterasu Guild,' and throw in 'Long live our beloved Guild Leader Shishio' too."

"Hmm. Hmm."

"Amaterasu remains the strongest, and I get peace of mind. Two birds, one stone."

Or maybe I'll just take the whole damn bird and the eggs. Shishio kept nodding like a bobblehead—it was kind of cute. ...I should probably put in eye drops later. Still, he was obedient and went along with what I said. That was nice. Anyway, we'd signed a contract. He was mine now.

"We'll be heading home soon, so let's wrap it up quickly before dinner. How about a toast? To the bright future of our beloved Shishio!"

"...Is that a common thing in Korea?"

"Hmm?"

"No, uh, I'll have it prepared right away."

"Yes. I bet there are a lot of open slots on the air right now. Wonder if radio would be okay?"

Looks like we can openly tear into those guilds on the list. Once I'm back in Korea, I can paint Haeyeon as having made huge gains, gold-plate the story, and make some noise. Just imagining raiding their gear storage gets my heart racing. I picked up some more food before setting my fork down.

"You barely eat."

"This is normal for me. Of course it's little compared to you, Shishio."

This guy eats meat by the kilogram. But still, it was kind of satisfying to see someone eat so well.

"...I'm saying this out of genuine concern."

Shishio said hesitantly. Concern—was the keyword already applied? Can't make it obvious I'm checking my status window.

"Be careful with Guild Leader Sesung. You said he accepted your help and called you a partner. I may fall short of him, but I'm still an S-rank Hunter. Anyone trying to interfere beyond a certain level—it triggers an instinctive rejection. Most S-rank Awakeners hate being influenced by others. And Guild Leader Sesung is probably even more sensitive."

"...He's seriously sensitive, that's for sure."

"If at some point, he feels you're affecting him too much—if he feels uncomfortable—he's not the type to endure it."

The moment I heard that, a chill ran down my spine.

"What if he does endure it?"

"I doubt he'd let it build up. That would make it even more dangerous."

I hadn't seen Seong Hyunjae yet today. I took a deep breath and rose from my seat.