S-Classes That I Raised to Devour - Chapter 83

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 83. The Burden of Responsibility (3)
On the surface, Chae Mujin showed no change in expression, but inside, he was genuinely startled.
‘I thought he was asking if I was a Returner.’
But what Brian had mentioned wasn’t a Returner—it was a Returnee.
He understood why the distinction mattered.
‘The information that Dralph likes fish—that’s not something documented in this era.’
Just as Chae Mujin was about to open his mouth to explain, Lee Minji spoke first.
“What’s a Returnee?”
“Someone who was reincarnated into another world, then came back to the present day.”
“R-reincarnated? That’s actually real?”
“I wouldn’t know. Someone claiming to be a Returnee said so, so I figure it must be true. Anyway, having knowledge of the Other World that others don’t know—that’s the trademark of a Returnee.”
Brian shifted his gaze toward Chae Mujin, his eyes silently demanding an answer.
The first-generation students stopped in their tracks, tension hanging thick as they waited.
Chae Mujin pointed to his own face.
“I’m one hundred percent Korean, through and through.”
“I’ve heard some Returnees only brought back memories from the Other World.”
Brian was pressing rather insistently—not with suspicion, but with the delight of having found something entertaining.
Normally, Chae Mujin wouldn’t have bothered explaining, but he thought it might be instructive, so he spoke.
“According to the Encyclopedia of Foreign Races, the Dralph hold a festival every January first, and they use the most precious and fresh fish available. So tell me—what can we infer from that, Kim Yeoul?”
Suddenly put on the spot, Kim Yeoul stammered out a reply.
“Um, th-they like fish that much?”
“They do like fish, you’re right. But Yeoul, would you really eat something on a special day that you can eat any other time?”
“…Oh!”
“Next, there’s information registered on Huntnet about Dae Sugyeong. Fish in those waters are described as large, savage, and poor-tasting.”
Chae Mujin pointed at Lee Minji with his finger.
“Explain why the Dralph went crazy for the mackerel I brought out.”
“Because it tasted good?”
“But the Dralph liked it before they even tasted it. That doesn’t add up.”
“Oh! Because it was fresh!”
Choi Ganggim, called last, there’s one more reason. See if you can figure it out.”
The last person to be called, Choi Ganggim, promptly held out a notepad.
—Because it’s small and easy to eat.
“Correct. I told you—fish in Dae Sugyeong are large. And when they’re large, what happens? They’re inconvenient to eat. But mackerel? A single bite-sized piece. Easy to store too.”
“Ahhh!”
“Now I really understand.”
All the first-generation students nodded in admiration. Chae Mujin pointed directly at Brian.
“Even so, do you still think I’m a Returnee, Brian?”
Brian gave a thumbs-up with a snap.
“Taking a mere passing detail that others glossed over and turning it into information more precious than gold—truly remarkable.”
“That’s it, everyone. Think and reason. If you do, the answer always reveals itself. Now, let’s move out.”
After satisfying his curiosity that way, they arrived at their lodgings, where the butler Dralph, who had been waiting, spoke.
“Should you need anything, you need only ask me. As honored guests, I shall see to most of your needs.”
The necklace given by Elder Dralph wasn’t merely a translation device. It carried the meaning of honored guest, and they received the warmest hospitality from the Dralph.
Chae Mujin asked the butler Dralph a question.
“Would it be all right if we looked around the city, or toured the island?”
“As long as you cause no trouble, it matters not—but if you venture beyond the village, you must accept the risks.”
“That works for me.”
Having received confirmation, Chae Mujin immediately addressed his party.
“First-generation students, gather.”
The first-generation students, who had been preparing to rest, rushed to stand before Chae Mujin.
He placed something in their hands, and when the first-generation students spread open their palms to check, their eyes widened.
Five gold coins the size of five-hundred-won coins. Gold with ninety-nine-point-ninety-nine-percent purity.
Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji didn’t feel joy—they felt unease.
‘He wouldn’t just hand these over…’
While Choi Ganggim, who had never experienced Chae Mujin’s training, stood there grinning with a face that said ‘Hehe, gold!’—
Just as Kim Yeoul and Lee Minji suspected, Chae Mujin hadn’t simply given them the coins.
“I’m assigning you all a mission.”
* * *
The first-generation students who had come downtown looked warily at one another.
Lee Minji was the first to speak.
“I’m going solo.”
“What?!”
“You didn’t say we had to work together. Honestly, you two are getting on my nerves.”
“But… wouldn’t it be better to search for the Mithril Ingot together?”
The mission Chae Mujin had given them was to obtain a Mithril Ingot.
One of the Three Great Metals of the Other World—Mithril.
While Adamantir specialized in physical force, Mithril was specialized for magic.
There was even a saying: give swordsmen Adamantir equipment, give mages Mithril equipment.
“If I stick with you two, I’m sure I won’t get one in three days.”
Three days was the time limit—more precisely, until they departed by ship.
“So what’s your plan, Minji?”
“First I need to find where they sell Mithril Ingots. Hey there!”
Lee Minji, whose action-oriented nature was unmatched, called out to a passing Dralph.
The Dralph, catching sight of Lee Minji’s necklace, answered warmly.
“What brings you, stranger?”
“Where do I get a Mithril Ingot?”
“A Mithril Ingot? I’m not sure if anyone sells ingots, but try asking at the blacksmith shops.”
“Where would I find the blacksmith shops?”
“Everything past that red flag over there is Blacksmith Street.”
“Thank you so much!”
Lee Minji gave her companions a signal to hurry and dashed off ahead.
Kim Yeoul and Choi Ganggim exchanged an awkward glance. But then Kim Yeoul remembered—Choi Ganggim couldn’t speak.
“Sh-shall we go?”
A nod.
The two of them took off running, but felt self-conscious about the stares around them and didn’t sprint full speed.
By the time they reached Blacksmith Street, Lee Minji had already ventured deeper in and was having a conversation with some Dralph.
Kim Yeoul made an awkward gesture to Choi Ganggim and said, “Should we stop by a blacksmith too… and ask around?”
“Should we stop by a blacksmith too… and ask around?”
A nod.
Lee Minji had entered every blacksmith shop in sight, but Kim Yeoul and Choi Ganggim were more deliberate in their choice.
Kim Yeoul felt somewhat at a loss. She wished Choi Ganggim would choose for her, but Choi Ganggim couldn’t speak.
‘Even if he can’t talk, he could take notes or point things out with gestures…’
Meanwhile, Choi Ganggim was thinking the same thing.
‘Looks like she hasn’t decided which blacksmith to enter yet. I’ll wait a bit longer.’
While the two of them wasted time being considerate of each other, just as Lee Minji had anticipated—
Lee Minji returned after checking all the blacksmith shops and spoke.
“There’s no place selling Mithril as ingots. But they have Raw Mithril Ore, and if you pay, they’ll refine it into an ingot for you.”
“Ah…”
When nothing but a gasp of realization came back, Lee Minji struck her chest in frustration.
“Don’t you want to know how much it costs?”
“Oh, oh, we do want to know.”
“When I showed them the gold coins, they said thirty.”
“Thirty?!”
“All the other shops say the same—thirty coins or forget it.”
“If we combine all our coins, we’d have half that…”
“Our coins? I’m not giving mine up.”
“Huh?”
“Were you planning to get just one ingot?”
“The manager didn’t say to get separate ingots.”
“He didn’t say to get just one either. And if that were the goal, wouldn’t he have given all the money to one person?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure. Want to go back and ask?”
Lee Minji hung her head low. In that position, she propped herself against Kim Yeoul’s shoulder.
“The manager said this mission is to cultivate resourcefulness, didn’t he? Not teamwork. So I’m going ahead on my own.”
“Going? Where?”
Lee Minji raised her head, pressed her index finger to her lips, and winked.
“It’s a secret.”
Whether out of fear they’d follow or because she was impatient, Lee Minji disappeared quickly.
Kim Yeoul and Choi Ganggim remained at ease. And it wasn’t for lack of competitive spirit.
‘We still have time. Let’s stay calm.’
Both of them shared a similar mindset. They weren’t offended even though Lee Minji had gone off alone.
“Let’s think about how to get the gold coins ourselves.”
A nod.
The two of them sat on a bench and thought for a long time, occasionally exchanging ideas.
And there was someone observing this scene.
‘These two don’t seem like they’re planning to leave the village.’
On the rooftop of a building dozens of meters away.
Brian was keeping a close watch on them.
* * *
Immediately after Chae Mujin had assigned the mission to the first-generation students.
“Mr. Brian.”
Brian, who had been lounging on the sofa, lifted his head.
“What? What is it?”
“You owe us a meal—or rather, compensation for the elixir.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t act like you don’t understand. You agreed to receive a Mythology-Grade Elixir, and you didn’t think just tagging along would be enough, did you?”
Brian had joined the party on the condition that he would receive one Mythology-Grade Elixir once it was created at the Mandragora.
He’d assumed he’d be treated as a regular party member, and now he scratched his chin awkwardly.
“What do you want me to do?”
“For now, I’d like you to keep an eye on our employees.”
“For now? Surveillance? I’m confused on both counts.”
“You heard I told the employees to find a Mithril Ingot. I think both the process and the result matter. But I’m just one person—I can’t watch all three of them.”
“I’m just one person too.”
“But you can use something like the Shadow Clone Technique.”
At Chae Mujin’s words, Brian’s eyes narrowed.
“How did you know that?”
“Inference, just like with Dralph liking fish.”
“Hm, is that so? Maybe you could manage it.”
His words were positive, but his body had already sprawled back on the sofa.
“You don’t want to do it?”
“Already sent one.”
“…Really?”
“You didn’t know that much? If you had, I’d have been seriously freaked out.”
Brian sprang up with an excited expression.
“The moment we entered the forest, I created a clone and hid it there.”
Chae Mujin thought to himself, ‘Brian really is Brian.’
If Brian were to commit an assassination right now, was there anyone who could stop him?
Chae Mujin was certain, even counting himself, that there was no one.
‘I covet a cheat skill like Shadow Clone Technique, but what I really envy is his ability to adapt on the fly like that.’
Chae Mujin looked at Brian and let out a bitter smile.
Kim Yeoul, Lee Minji, Choi Ganggim.
Judging by their combat sense alone, they’d definitely shed their novice status.
But the kind of real-world adaptability and experience Brian just demonstrated—they still fell far short.
That’s why he’d given them the task of finding a Mithril Ingot.
Through this direct, hands-on experience, they would grow—significantly.
‘Whether they fail or succeed, they’ll learn something either way.’
Adversity gives growth wings, but a fall from too high means death.
Brian was the safety mat. Someone truly capable of providing real-time surveillance and protection in a way he couldn’t.
But that alone wasn’t enough to justify the cost of a Mythology-Grade Elixir.
“Mr. Brian. Lend me one of your clones.”
“You bastard, what are you planning to do with my clone! You pervert!”
“I want to kill it.”
“…What?”
“I don’t want to be told I’m weaker than my employees.”
“So you want to fight my clone and gain experience?”
Chae Mujin drew out a Greatsword and a Pistol, opening the door to the backyard.
“Please don’t hold back. Give me everything you’ve got.”
“Chae, don’t underestimate the clone. You could actually die.”
The word ‘die’ came lightly. It meant death was so routine for Brian that it warranted casual mention.
But the same was true for Chae Mujin.
“If I die, tell them I died fighting the original, not the clone. That way it won’t be so embarrassing.”
Chae Mujin, treating even death as a joke.
Brian’s excitement flared up as well, and he rose from his seat.
“When do we start?”
“I’ve been ready since yesterday.”
To confirm whether that statement was genuine, Brian immediately gave an order to his clone.
Attack Chae Mujin.
Upon receiving the command, the clone sprang into action at once.
Crash!
The ceiling above Chae Mujin’s head collapsed as a semi-transparent figure identical to Brian thrust a dagger downward.
By the time the sound of the ceiling shattering reached their ears, it was already too late—the clone’s dagger had already pierced Chae Mujin’s crown.
Brian thought to himself in panic, ‘That killed him, didn’t it?’
Chae Mujin hadn’t reacted to the ambush. For a moment it seemed he’d simply died—
But Brian saw something with his own eyes that he couldn’t believe.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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