The S-Classes That I Raised

Bright red meat poured onto the well-heated iron plate in a rush. With a sizzling sound, a delicious aroma rose thickly. The steamer's lid opened, releasing a billow of white steam as a red-cooked lobster was lifted out with tongs.

Packing a pot full of rice firmly into bowls quickly left about a third empty. Although it was a commercial rice cooker with about twenty servings, I worried it might not be enough. After all, there were nine of us just counting heads.

While serving all the rice and scooping seaweed soup, I saw pre-regression me standing dazed in front of the fridge. It was the fridge with the cake box inside.

"What's wrong?"

I approached and asked. He glanced at Yuhyun grilling meat and opened his mouth in a tiny voice like a mosquito's.

"The day hasn't passed yet."

"You mean the cake."

"By outside time, the birthday is still far off, and also..."

Pre-regression me bit his lower lip slightly.

"...Will it be there?"

"...I don't know."

We both simultaneously recalled the fact we had been avoiding: Is Yuhyun still inside the sealed Haeyeon Guild?

"I'll go tomorrow. At dawn. Probably just handling the association side will open it."

"Okay."

I picked up the ladle and began placing soup bowls. Opening the lid of the soup pot, white steam curled up again. Water condensed along the lid dripped down. I filled each bowl with richly brewed seaweed soup, adding plenty of meat. The glossy broth alone looked like it would warm the stomach just by sight.

I placed kimchi and other side dishes on plates and rinsed the leafy vegetables, shaking them dry. I scooped ssamjang and added salt to sesame oil. The nutty aroma teased my nose.

"There's plenty more rice and soup, so tell me if you need more~"

Seeing tables pushed next to the iron-plate counter and chairs lined up so everyone sat in a row made me inexplicably pleased. Seong Hyunjae carried plates with steamed and sashimi lobster.

"Put kimchi on too! You don't know how to grill."

Yerim interjected, picking up tongs and placing whole kimchi directly onto the iron plate. Yunyun was already busy eating, cheeks puffed from meat wraps.

"Yujin, eat too. Other Yujin as well."

Noah quietly lifted his spoon. Seong Hyunjae donned plastic gloves and began dismantling the steamed lobster. The claw lightly cracked, revealing plump flesh. Young Chaos picked the meat out with skilled chopsticks and ate it.

"Hyung, sit down quickly."

Yuhyun motioned. We brought chairs to the inside of the counter and sat down. The younger one naturally placed me on his left and me on his right with a satisfied expression.

"Look how much Han Yuhyun loves it. He'd be full even if he didn't eat. Sir, just starve him."

Yerim gave a look like she'd seen something unpleasant and grabbed meat. Director Song, sitting at the far end, quietly but steadily moved his spoon. Seeing the piled rice quickly decrease made me happy.

"Eat a lot."

I served well-cooked meat separately on plates due to the distance. Of course, I didn't forget the vegetables. And the lobster too.

"Yerim, want another bowl?"

"I'm faster."

"No, I'm faster!"

Yerim and Yunyun emptied their bowls at similar speeds and disappeared carrying their bowls. Then—

"Ah!"

"Ouch!"

They bumped in front of the rice cooker. Oh no.

"Bring some for Song Taewon too."

By then Director Song had also finished his bowl. He eats well.

"Yes. Director Song, throw it!"

Yerim's words made Song Taewon hesitate. Throwing a bowl seemed a bit much.

"I'll go."

"Here you go."

Why did he have to turn around? I took the bowl and handed it to Yerim. Song Taewon briefly looked at me and the other me. Come to think of it, even though there was another me, Director Song didn't say anything special. He was calm, as if expecting it.

"The sun has set. Should we go guard the door?"

Young Chaos, who was eating soup, raised his head at my question.

"We can't move now, so it's fine. But one of the two must be chosen."

"Choose between what?"

"The moon {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} or the dragon."

I'd seen the message that a dragon would appear. But the moon? He must mean the crescent moon.

"Fortunately, they don't appear at the same time. You just have to stop one."

"How strong is the dragon?"

Red eyes quietly looked at me.

"Your nightmare, eldest."

My nightmare. I took a short breath. Rautitas.

"Just appearing is hard enough to catch, and it probably got dungeon buffs too. No way we can catch it."

How could we catch that? We can't.

"The moon is the crescent, right? That one's a transcendent..."

Either way, no answer.

"Isn't there a third choice? Like hiding quietly in the hotel?"

"If lucky, the hotel might hold out. Maybe a 30% chance."

"30% is way too low!"

Meanwhile, everyone stopped moving their spoons. Should have brought this up after eating. Not at the dinner table.

"There's not no way."

Young Chaos said that and finished his soup. Others quickly finished their meals too.

"Bring tea."

"Tea? I didn't buy any."

"I'll go get some!"

"Me too!"

Yerim and Yunyun raised their hands quickly again. Where were they going?

"No! It's night."

"There's a cafe right upstairs, not outside."

"Yeah, I saw it too."

Oh, right. That's true.

"I'll come too. Place your orders."

"As for me, just a cafe latte. Something warm today."

The three went upstairs to the cafe, and those left behind started cleaning up. Except for the elder, of course.

"Is your leg injured?"

Director Song quietly asked pre-regression me. I nodded slightly, a bit embarrassed.

"...Yes."

Song Taewon didn't ask more and looked at me and Yuhyun.

"Hyung, you should go sit now. You too."

After ushering me and myself out of the kitchen, Yuhyun peeled fruit with Noah and Director Song gathered dishes.

"You don't have to wash dishes! We're in a dungeon anyway."

"But it's still a place to stay for a day."

Director Song put on rubber gloves. I thought he would. He really is neat. Sitting side by side at a large table, I rested my chin and looked toward the kitchen. Yuhyun and Noah together looked really good. They peeled fruit skillfully.

"You two even have the same expression, not to mention look alike."

Young Chaos said, looking at us.

"I'm taller than this guy. And I'm fitter too."

"You're just arrogantly bragging over being maybe one centimeter taller. It's a pointless comparison."

"One centimeter? How tall are you?"

"...178 cm."

"Why not say 180 while you're at it?"

Damn, annoying brat. I kicked his leg under the table. He kicked mine back. I just lightly touched, but he kicked quite hard. Of course, I kicked harder.

"Second kid! Look at the eldest!"

"Hyung!"

Yuhyun lightly climbed over the counter toward us.

"Say it with words. You'll get hurt. No, you sit here and you sit there."

"We won't fight."

"Yeah, we're talking it out."

Though I said it was fine, Yuhyun picked me up with the chair, then dropped me to the side. Then he brought a chair and sat between us. He held both my hands.

"We have to get along."

"We get along."

"See, no weapons drawn."

"If it was bad, you'd have stabbed me already."

"I'm holding back the urge to fight."

"I'll win anyway."

"What a bastard."

Director Song stopped washing dishes and looked at us. Noah came running over with fruit plates in both hands.

"Eat. Don't fight."

"Thanks, Noah. We're not fighting."

"Thank you."

Director Song finished washing and came to the table. Soon those who went to the cafe returned.

"Here's your cafe latte."

Seong Hyunjae placed coffee in front of me and myself.

"Grandpa, this is balloon flower root tea!"

Yerim's body spun, and a ring of water swayed. The warm water held a line of cups. Tea was placed before young Chaos, and drinks were handed to Director Song and Noah.

"Yuja tea and Americano! Now, Han Yuhyun. This is a special flower tea."

Hey, Yerim, half water half dried flowers in Yuhyun's cup. That's more like chewing herbs than tea.

"Want some coffee?"

"No, I'm okay."

Pre-regression me sipped the cafe latte and muttered softly, "It's sweet." Still, he seemed to like it enough to take another sip. Yerim and Yunyun happily sipped their aides side by side, and Seong Hyunjae had some green tea.

"So, what should we do?"

I asked young Chaos. Chaos, drinking balloon flower root tea, answered.

"The crescent moon here isn't whole. More precisely, it's a remnant of its power. It has a purpose, but is in a state where it's hard to carry out properly. It's weakening, so it will try to find a shell."

"A shell?"

"The body. There are plenty here."

The red eyes scanned us.

"If it goes where moonlight touches, it will steal a body."

"So, should we hide? How about going to the basement?"

"If the crescent can't find a host and weakens, the curled-up dragon will start moving. The dragon will target the first and second. The nightmare itself."

My hands clenched around the coffee cup. Again, that in front of me.

"...You said there's a way."

"Give it up."

"Huh?"

"The body. It can't be S-Rank. It would get too strong. But there are F-Ranks here, right?"

Everyone's gaze turned to me, and the other me.

"Me?"

"Yes. If it's you, eldest, even if the crescent inhabits the body, it would only reach about SS-Rank. Maybe S-Rank level. Then those here can capture it."

So, my body is too weak for the crescent's power to matter much. That's lucky but a little sad. If an S-Rank host is taken over, it would drop to about L-Rank.

"No way."

Yuhyun said flatly.

"We can't let hyung do something dangerous."

"Yeah, sir's condition isn't good anyway."

"It's not dangerous."

Young Chaos took a sip of tea and continued.

"It's only temporarily becoming the crescent's incarnation, so the original will be fine. But depending on the crescent's will, it will try to kill it."

Young Chaos nodded toward Song Taewon. This time, attention gathered on Director Song. Yerim, Noah, and Yunyun, unfamiliar with the details, tilted their heads. Yuhyun also looked somewhat puzzled.

Director Song put down his yuja tea cup.

"So if only I leave this place, the crescent won't attack?"

"Why are you trying to go alone again? No."

"The safest─"

"No. If Director Song is harmed, the crescent that achieved its goal will disappear too. Then the dragon will appear anyway, right?"

I looked at young Chaos. He nodded.

"Probably."

"See?"

Standing up, I continued.

"That's why I should step up. It's safe."

First seen on MV4LEMP|YR.

"Hyung!"

Yuhyun stood with me. Yerim, Noah, Director Song, and even Seong Hyunjae looked reluctant.

"We're just fighting. This time it's the incarnation, so it's safer. Don't worry. Don't like it?"

At my question, Yuhyun rolled his eyes.

"Well..."

"You're actually the more at risk, Yuhyun. He probably won't go easy on you."

"...Won't go easy?"

My younger brother's mouth twitched slightly. It looked like he was about to smile. Am I imagining it?

"Yuhyun, you look happy."

"No, it's just... yeah. Honestly, after fighting hyung, fights with others seem boring, and I keep thinking about hyung..."

"That much?"

"Yeah, it was so good. Really."

He liked it a lot back then too, but to find fights with others boring to that extent... Yerim's eyes sparkled at Yuhyun's reaction.

"I want to fight with sir too. Really, if I don't get hurt."

Yerim said, and Noah added, "If no one gets hurt." Of course, Yunyun was against it.

"Then let's prepare. If we defeat the crescent, do we not have to worry about the dragon?"

"The rookie will block it."

I felt even more uneasy hearing the newbie would take care of it.

— Beep.

Eunhye flew over to pre-regression me. The bluebird landed easily on my other shoulder. Since it's connected, it probably recognizes us as the same person.

"You keep it. With Eunhye, it'll be hard to catch me."

Then I entrusted the wildcat jacket to Yuhyun. It's annoying if the stealth skill buff is on.

"I'll carry the rest of the equipment as is."

If I had nothing, I might use precious points like life points. That can't happen.

Pre-regression me, Yunyun, and young Chaos decided to stay at the hotel. Young Chaos also said since it's a similar incarnation situation, if their bodies touch, one might have their body taken instead. Yunyun hates fighting, and pre-regression me is not really human.

"Well then, elder, please take care of things."

Since it'd be troublesome if a hole got punched in the wall while fighting here, we decided to move somewhere far from the hotel.

"Another can't touch the moonlight first. A short moment is okay, but if it's too long, the body will be stolen."

"Yes, we'll be careful."

After listening to the precautions carefully, we left the hotel. Fortunately, the subway was right nearby, so we wouldn't have to be above ground long.

Moonlight shone here and there on the pitch-black dark street. Moving quickly like surveillance lights, it searched for something—probably Song Taewon. We pressed close to the wall where moonlight barely reached and watched the subway entrance.

"Yerim, please. If caught, teleport him away immediately."

"Yes, don't worry."

Is this why you travel with people who can teleport or move through space? Since it would be tiring for Yerim to move everyone, we agreed to move one by one to the subway entrance and help if caught.

Director Song was the first to quietly run out. His figure safely disappeared underground, then Seong Hyunjae followed. Luckily, everyone descended to the subway station without being caught by the moonlight.

A small light flickered in the pitch-dark subway station where not even an inch ahead was visible.