Episode 6: My Younger Sibling Is Strange (4)
By the time the world had adapted to the dungeons, being a hunter had become a profession famous for earning a lot of money.
Not to mention S-Class hunters—even a B-Class hunter made a fortune of hundreds of millions of won a month. C-Class hunters earned hundreds of millions of won annually, and even D-Class hunters hit 100 million won. Below that, not to mention E-Class hunters, even F-Class hunters earned more than the average employee at a small or medium-sized company if they had a combat aptitude.
Magic stones extracted from the dungeons became a new energy source, and byproducts served as materials for developing new drugs and useful new substances. Furthermore, the combination of magic and science created various new technologies.
In such a world, does the popularity of Han Yu-hyeon—the tall, handsome, and rapidly rising S-Class hunter and Guild Leader of the Haeyeon Guild—need much explanation?
He is barely twenty years old; he is beyond young, and his future is bright.
A single word from an interview would cause viewership ratings to skyrocket, and magazines featuring his photos would sell out in an instant.
"If it becomes known that a guy like that is also family-oriented, the reaction will be explosive."
I muttered to myself as I watched the back of Yuhyeon lifting a pot from the induction cooktop in the spacious kitchen.
Since he asked to have dinner, I naturally assumed we would eat out.
To think he would serve up a meal he made himself at home.
For reference, Yuhyeon's house was on the upper floors of the Haeyeon Guild building. The exact floor wasn't disclosed for security reasons, but they said it occupied half of a floor.
It was a place with no stairs, elevators, or doors; access was limited to a ridiculously expensive mini-portal.
"I didn't know you were good at cooking," I said suddenly while watching my younger brother finish cooking from the dining chair.
"I got better just trying to make a living."
"Huh? Why? You have plenty of money."
Ever since he awakened, he must have been raking in money—enough to buy whatever he wanted to eat and hire top-tier chefs without hesitation.
He answered my question with a slightly embarrassed look.
"I have detox and healing items now, but I didn't used to. So, I felt more at ease cooking my own food. Even now, when I enter a dungeon, I take dried food I've made with me. Because the inside of the dungeon is the most dangerous place."
"…Detox? Heal?"
What did I just hear?
So, there were bastards who put poison in food and cast curses, so he had to cook for himself… Is that it?
"……."
I had absolutely no idea.
In the past, I only thought of him as a successful, privileged S-Class Awakener, and even after his regression, I just assumed he must have suffered a bit.
I never dreamed that his life was being threatened, or that it was such a chaotic mess.
To me, Yuhyeon was so strong that I couldn't even look at him. He was doing so well, receiving everyone's attention the moment he awakened.
I had turned a blind eye to what lay beneath the surface, focusing solely on that S-Class title.
"Don't make that face. It was the result of my own choice."
Yuhyeon approached the dining table and spoke in a gentle voice.
"The protruding stone got hammered. Amidst massive guilds colluding with big corporations, do you think they looked kindly upon a young kid trying to start his own guild? If I had joined a decent guild or accepted sponsorship willingly, I wouldn't have faced such threats."
I just couldn't do that.
He smiled bitterly.
"That's why the rift between us weighed on my mind the whole time. Monitoring, interfering with, and keeping you tied down under the pretext of protection—it was all the result of my own choices. I created my guild even knowing that those guys would lay a hand on my only blood relative."
"…Why didn't you tell me?"
"At first, I didn't want to burden you, and later… I thought you wouldn't understand."
…Certainly, if it were the me before the regression, I would have shouted at you to leave me alone and live on my own, or resented my younger brother.
"But I was completely wrong. You were still thinking of me and worrying about me, just like when I was little. I was completely oblivious to that and misunderstood you. I'm sorry."
Ugh, my conscience aches.
I had planned to just live a life of leisure even after regressing. But if you talk like that, I feel like such trash.
"…I didn't do anything particularly right either."
"You were interfered with at every turn for no reason. It was entirely justified."
My chest tingled.
As I took a spoonful of the meal my younger brother had prepared, the warm, tickling sensation grew stronger.
I made the right decision to turn back time.
It was the best choice I've ever made in my life.
"I roughly understand the situation. But wasn't what happened today too much? Locking me up so I can't even leave—you didn't need to go that far. Nothing major has happened until now."
No sooner had I said to let him go than the expression on Yuhyeon's face, sitting across from me, hardened.
"No."
"Why? I'll be careful. Everything was fine just this morning."
"The situation is different now compared to this morning. The reason you've been safe until now is because I completely severed ties with you. I made you believe that an awakened being messing with a non-awakened one is a serious crime, and that you weren't worth risking that kind of danger for."
His voice grew heavier as he continued.
"But if I personally order your safety to be brought into the Haeyeon Guild, my enemies will start actively targeting you. Just the fact that you're here right now is enough for them to start keeping a close eye on you."
"No, then wouldn't it be better to keep pretending we're on bad terms?"
"You said it's okay."
"…What?"
When did I?
I don't have a single memory of consenting to this life of confinement.
Yuhyeon answered with a brazen look on his face.
"You said you were sorry and loved me. Honestly, it's my fault and my responsibility, but you accepted it all. That's practically the same as giving permission."
W-what? Do you interpret it that way?
This guy, he's weird as always!
"Don't make me laugh. I absolutely refuse to be locked up!"
"Just bear with it for one year. I'll wipe them all out within a year."
Don't laugh while saying such menacing things!
And it's not one year, it's three! It'll take three years!
Damn it, a good choice my ass.
I was so furious that the back of my neck stiffened, but I took a long, deep breath and tried to calm myself down.
The guy in front of me is an S-Class Awakener before he is my younger brother.
And not just any guy, but a Guild Leader who has seen it all.
Attacking him emotionally wouldn't leave a scratch on him.
I absolutely couldn't win by force, so I had to resolve this through conversation somehow.
"Even so, how can you live locked up for three—no, a whole year?"
"I get depressed if I stay cooped up in my room for just a month. Even if there are guys targeting me, it'll be hard for them to pull a stunt in broad daylight, right? And if all else fails, I'll at least have a guardian accompany you. You can just go around with Seonghan, or something."
"Of course, I'll let you go out occasionally."
"How often?"
I said it and was struck by a reality check.
To think I was sitting here negotiating outing times with a younger sibling, not even a parent.
If I were my age, even my parents wouldn't be able to say a word; how did things end up like this?
Especially since this guy right in front of me is practically my own child!
The tables had turned completely.
"It depends on the schedule. Once we start raiding dungeons, we won't be able to recruit an A-Class to protect you. Leaving it to a B-Class is too risky."
The conclusion is, all we need is an A-Class with plenty of free time.
I spoke up confidently.
"Then, if I find a dedicated A-Class guard, let me go around freely."
"…You're going to find an A-Class?"
"Yeah."
Yuhyeon's eyes, filled with bewilderment, suddenly turned sharp.
"Hyung, you've awakened."
"…Huh?"
W-how did you know?
This guy is ridiculously perceptive.
"Since you were trying to meet the broker this morning, you must have been unawakened. When did you awaken? Right before meeting me? Right after? So that's why you so readily gave up contacting the broker. Your destination for going out must have been the Hunter Association."
…I'm speechless.
Go ahead and lay down a mat.
"It looks like your stat grade is D or lower."
"How can you tell?"
"Those with C grade or higher can't adapt to their excessively altered physical abilities, so it shows they look awkward. Especially if their strength exceeds the B-Grade average, nothing around them survives for at least three or four days. Because they can't control their strength and end up smashing everything."
I suppose that makes sense.
"You were like that too?"
"Yeah. But starting from S-Grade, they seem to have higher adaptability, so they were fine within a day."
"Of course, if only mental strength or magic power is extremely high, it wouldn't be noticeable even if it were C-Rank or higher."
"I'm just an average F."
"Is the initial skill a special skill? Judging by your confidence in bringing in an A-Rank, you must either know the expected awakening grade, be able to awaken them, or both. It must be at least C-Rank."
"It's S-Rank."
I can't say a word in front of this guy.
Seeing how uneasy Yuhyeon's expression is, I guess it's best to downplay the skill.
"As you said, it is a special skill related to awakening, and it is indeed C-Rank. It can awaken unawakened individuals and give a rough idea of their expected awakening grade."
"How accurate is it?"
"Roughly 50/50. Just a matter of whether they are strong or weak. I couldn't tell the difference between you and Seonghan. It probably falls somewhere between B and C. There is a 30-day waiting period per attempt to verify it precisely. If there weren't that waiting time, it would probably be around A-Rank."
He nodded at my words.
The shadow cast over his face brightened slightly.
"With that level of skill, even if you get caught, you won't be targeted too much. It would be useful to identify B-Class or higher beforehand, but the waiting time is too long, and even if you find an A-Class or S-Class, there's no guarantee they'll sign a contract. The bait of awakening won't work anymore because the Awakening Center is going to be established soon."
"The Awakening Center?" I asked, pretending not to know.
"The awakening mechanism was roughly revealed recently. So, construction for the center is scheduled to begin soon. I heard the Association's goal is to make it possible for anyone to safely awaken within the next six months. Word has already circulated among the guild leaders, and they've secured investments. I've contributed a fair amount myself."
"That's impressive. The number of awakened individuals is going to skyrocket."
"The official announcement is in four months, so don't go around telling people."
"So you'll let me meet someone to tell them?"
A smile returned instead of an answer.
Why don't you just lock this crazy bastard up in solitary confinement?
"Anyway, I'll find an A-Class to protect me myself, so just give me a chance."
"Once every 30 days won't be easy. It's not like A-Classes are common."
"Still, it shouldn't take a year. If I'm lucky, I might find one right away."
Of course, I don't need luck.
I already know who the A-Class is.
After a moment of contemplation, Yuhyeon spoke.
"Fine. If you really sign a contract with an A-Class, I won't try to protect you too aggressively. Just make sure they are in the combat or defense category."
Finally, permission was granted.
What a damn picky little brother.
There was one more condition attached, but since Park Yerim was famous as a combat mage, it wasn't a problem.
The problem is the keyword, damn it.