The S-Classes That I Raised

The rookie sent a message, and Young Chaos spoke while staring into the void.

"They say this zone is made up of one person's memories. Only those connected to that person can enter."

"Connected?"

"Those who recognize them? Or, to put it simply, those who are even slightly accepted by that person."

I bit my lower lip absentmindedly and clenched my fists tightly. After hearing that, there was no room left for doubt or hesitation.

"...Shouldn't the dead be excluded?"

Yuhyun died just before regression, so at the point where the twenty-nine-year-old me existed, he was alive. Still.

"If the rabbit is right, it should be hard to be constructed. We'll know more by going inside. The rabbit's trying, but it's not easy. The boss monster here is a subordinate of the King of Innocence."

Unlike other places, this zone had the most of the King of Innocence's power infused. So naturally, shouldn't that demon lord appear here? Not my brother.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my trembling heart.

"Then only Yuhyun and I can enter."

"I'm blocked too."

Yuhyun said, brushing the air. What?

"You too? Why?"

"If I'm still a self who hasn't fully reconciled with my brother... then probably. Definitely. Even the pre-regression me. I kept suppressing and distancing myself."

"The second guy isn't an ordinary stubborn one."

Still... But even now, Yuhyun took time accepting himself, putting his own desires above my safety. If it were the twenty-four-year-old Han Yuhyun, he'd probably push himself away completely.

"...If it's you now, you could enter. Maybe even Yerim."

"Park Yerim, maybe."

Yuhyun said doubtfully. Still, it was amazing progress. The guy who only had himself included Yerim and Peace as well. That alone made me very satisfied. I don't ask for much now. Just keep this mindset.

"Can you check? I'm curious."

Yerim said, threatening to block the guild leader if I couldn't get in. How does one block anyway?

"Then first─"

"No."

Before I could finish, Yuhyun spoke firmly. Looking around, no one but Yunyun seemed on my side. Look at those curious eyes eager to get inside.

"Since there's gratitude now, and if it's really you, Yuhyun."

My brother.

"You wouldn't harm me."

Monster or whatever, if it's Han Yuhyun.

"Is there another way?"

Young Chaos shook his head shortly.

"For now, the only option is for you, the eldest, to go in and persuade him."

"That's what they say."

We couldn't stay here indefinitely. If night fell, the Laucitas might regain power and appear, putting us at risk anyway.

"...My fire─"

"No."

"But─"

"No. Besides, for an attack to work, the monster inside has to respond."

"That's..."

No way around it. I wouldn't allow Yuhyun to consume his origin. Even if he sacrificed some lifespan, he had to go in and call his inner brother out.

Eventually, my brother reluctantly nodded slightly. Not wanting to change his mind, he stepped inside first.

"Stealth won't work; put on Silexia."

Seong Hyunjae warned carefully.

"If it feels dangerous, come back immediately."

"Don't worry."

"If we keep just watching like this, something will grow inside you."

Thanks to you, Director Song, I probably have a dozen of those by now.

"Hyung, my armor's─ Hyung?"

Yuhyun suddenly widened his eyes in surprise. I turned to see what caught his gaze.

"Hey, you!"

Pre-regression me had entered the zone, holding a cake box. Quiet at first, then taking advantage of everyone's distraction!

"Get out!"

"I won't."

I said firmly.

"If only one of you can enter, it should be me, not you."

The twenty-five-year-old Han Yujin, not the twenty-nine-year-old one. I grabbed and pulled my younger self back, damn it.

"Damn stats! No, if I put on my gear─"

"I have gear too."

He probably had all the equipment for increasing essence. Besides the base stat difference, his level was higher, so winning by strength was difficult.

"Hey! Seriously!"

"If you're confident, I'll be fine too."

"That's..."

"He's my brother."

I was speechless. I knew better than anyone that I wouldn't give up here. Damn it.

"Hyung..."

Yuhyun fidgeted and took off his armor, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) offering it. I caught it and threw it to pre-regression me.

"Put it on first."

"Mister! The ring too! This one, if it's Han Yuhyun, fire and poison won't affect him. Sesung uncle! Electricity, electricity."

Yerim put her cold aura into the ring she wore. Seong Hyunjae added electric current.

"Take the shawl too!"

"Take this as well."

Song Taewon took off his SS-rank handcuffs. A shadow darkened his hardened face. Sending only F- and E-rank was a heavy burden on Director Song.

"I'll apply support skills too. Duration's quite long."

"I'll cheer! Hang in there! Fighting!"

Yeah, thanks.

We gathered our gear and headed toward the Haeyeon Guild building. Even before entering, my chest throbbed slightly. Taking a few steps toward the stairs, I stopped abruptly.

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"Come here for a moment."

Pre-regression me approached with distrustful eyes.

"You don't know well, but we're strongly connected."

"...That sounds a bit unpleasant."

"I clearly felt your emotions and mana connected. Also, memories came up simultaneously."

At this point, we were almost one being. I was starting to feel bad. We were the same person after all.

"So maybe we can share skills too."

"...Skills?"

"Yeah. Come closer, let's go upstairs."

In case my skills leaked, he took me up the stairs.

"If we share gear and grace abilities too, that'd be even better. No harm trying."

"How?"

"Come close, put down the cake."

Our connection was clear. If we found the link and strengthened it, maybe something would happen. If the system recognized us as the same person. I touched pre-regression me's hand and just pulled him in.

"Ugh, hey!"

"I'm not feeling great either, so stay still!"

I could feel the eyes watching us, wondering what the hell we were doing. Embarrassing. Closing my eyes to forget the onlookers, I traced the mana flow. As the power of the mana imprint grew, something connecting us emerged. My senses sharpened, and the lines connecting us appeared vividly before my closed eyes.

"...You, you know."

"Quiet."

"No, this... something..."

I moved mana and added the teacher skill to strengthen the connection. Then our emotions became distinct. We both thought, "Ugh, gross." My stats rose. His skills likely changed too. Let's reduce emotional sharing a bit, but complete blocking was impossible.

"Your skills..."

"Don't say."

Pre-regression me checked the skill window and widened his eyes.

"Wow, insane."

"No kidding?"

"Completely useless skills for F-rank. What a waste."

That's harsh. I agreed but still used them well.

"Damage immunity will be set as SS-rank. It consumes a lot of mana, so don't touch it without permission."

"Yes, yes."

"Then let's go."

We turned around again. The coat's hem swayed long. Standing before the familiar glass door, I grabbed the handle. My palm was cool. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Ding ding.

A bell rang. A large Christmas tree stood near the entrance. With a golden star on top, decorated in colorful ornaments. Colored lights twinkled; decorations of doves, baby angels, staffs, and stockings swayed. Pine garlands adorned the ceiling, and Santa sat on the reception desk.

The door that had opened creaked shut. We walked quietly. Footsteps echoed on the smooth floor. As we slowly entered the wide lobby, faint voices came.

[Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you.]

A song. My own voice singing.

[Happy birthday to my beloved younger brother.]

After a brief silence, the voice continued.

[Happy birthday, Yuhyun.]

Then the song repeated. My chest ached. Pre-regression me probably didn't know, but whether he felt my emotions or the song itself was hard to hear, his expression wasn't good. We both sighed simultaneously.

A large Rudolph decoration stood deep inside the lobby. Piles of gifts stacked like walls, a soft white carpet like snow laid out, and in the center—

"...Yuhyun."

My brother was asleep. The recorder in his limp hand kept playing the song continuously. Again and again. We stopped walking and stood frozen.

"Han Yuhyun!"

Pre-regression me shouted. The cake box fell to the floor with a thud. Running without hesitation. At the same moment, the closed eyes snapped open.

"Hey, you bastard!"

"...Hyung?"

Yuhyun jumped up, quickly turning off the recorder and stepping back. I swung my fist toward him. Yuhyun lightly dodged the punch with a narrowed brow.

"Don't ever come here again—That's!"

My brother reached out and hugged pre-regression me. I kicked Yuhyun's leg and fiercely tore his encircling arm. Of course, he didn't move. Yuhyun glared sharply at me from a distance.

"...What the hell is going on?! I told you to stay put!"

"You damn bastard! Damn it, if you're a bastard, then I'm a bastard too! You, man, you! Is this why you ran away from home?!"

Frustrated, angry, resentful, sad. My feelings poured through a thin barrier.

"Hyung!"

"Apologize!"

I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"Apologize!"

My shout mixed with tears.

"Say you're sorry!"

"Hyung, wait—"

"Then I'll forgive everything... everything. Whatever it is."

Everything. My brother's pupils trembled wildly. Thud, thud! His kicking continued. Yuhyun tried to stop me in surprise.

"Y-You'll get hurt, hyung."

"Yuhyun."

At my voice, my brother looked at me again. His face seemed a little frightened. He must have realized I wasn't a fake. He must be very confused.

"It's okay now."

"...."

"You probably sense it's strange too. This is inside the dungeon, and you and I are monsters made of memories and information."

"Then, what the hell..."

"So don't hold back anymore. It's all okay now. The transcendent you contracted with is dead, and outside the dungeon, we have reconciled."

"Apologize..." came a trembling voice. A sharp inhale followed. Yuhyun's fingertips trembled.

"Hy-hyung..."

"You bad guy, you bastard..."

There was no need to keep me distant anymore. The reason was gone. My brother's expression collapsed as he struggled to understand. Like a lost child. Or rather, like a child who had wandered long and finally found their parents.

"...I was wrong."

Yuhyun's thin voice grew wet. He clung tighter to my struggling self.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong, hyung..."

I stopped moving. A small laugh was heard.

"Han Yuhyun."

"...Yeah."

"Happy birthday."

"...Hyung."

"Happy birthday, my brother."

"I... hyung. I..."

"You should say thank you."

"...Thank you, hyung. Really, thank you."

It felt strange. My brother and I were reconciling. I was genuinely happy. This me could feel that. Having never truly lost my brother, I cheered as I fully regained him.

Saying sorry was enough. Saying you were wrong and coming back was all it took.

I envied.

Still being able to do that.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt the good mood."

Clearing my throat, I spoke. I wished this would end here, but it couldn't. We had to clear the dungeon and get out.

"First─"

Grrrrrr—

Space trembled. The first to move was Han Yuhyun. Pulling me close, he slid beside me. Then, the surroundings changed in an instant.

Rudolph and the piles of gifts turned into huge boulders. The smooth floor became uneven dirt, and the ceiling and walls turned into rough rock. In other words, we were inside a massive cave. A place so familiar I could never forget it, even in a dream.

—Grrrrr.

A low growl echoed, bouncing off the cave walls and spreading heavily.