"Is it really okay?"
The response, more of a counter-question, came after a long silence. Sihyun, who had become cautious under the suddenly heavy atmosphere, looked at Haru and asked. The boy nodded as if he had been waiting for the question.
"I wanted to go with you anyway... It's okay."
He said, smiling faintly. It was clear from his expression that this was not a statement made out of coercion or a sense of duty. As Sihyun pondered in silence, the gaze of the children shifted towards the boy with blue eyes. Hamin watched Sihyun with a furrowed brow, anxious that the decision to enter the dungeon might change as he moved his lips slightly.
"Still, I..."
"It seems like we don't necessarily need to leave anyone out."
"What?"
"Since both you and Haru have been receiving good evaluations."
Considering the performance of the students in Class A, Haru was ranked first and Hamin second. It seemed unnecessary to deliberately leave out another person when those two were going. China was expected to send at least two S-Class support, and since he himself had become S-Class, the power of high-tier Awakened Individuals was considered sufficiently strong.
As the mood leaned towards taking another person, Hamin's expression naturally brightened, while the expressions of the other children darkened a bit. Wondering if the outcome would have been different if they had spoken first, Sihyun observed their faces but swallowed his words of denial.
To be honest, if it had been one of the other children who had spoken, he would have refused on the spot. Even if they had experienced large-scale rifts and catastrophe-class events, taking two relatively inexperienced Class A students into the dungeon was recklessly dangerous.
However, this was a special case, and as Haru had said, there were few as sensitive to human malice or as intuitively sharp as him, making it seem okay to bring Haru along to China this time.
"Dungeons are dangerous."
"I know."
"You could die there."
"...I don't really care."
"What?"
Sihyun was taken aback by Haru's unexpected response. The statement, implying he didn't care even if he died, made everyone widen their eyes. The children were just as surprised, all turning to look at Haru in confusion. Haru, realizing belatedly that his remark had come off strangely, frantically waved his hands.
"I mean, since I know there's a risk of dying, it's not a big deal. It's not weird..."
"But we should still try to live!"
Haewoon, who had once experienced his heart stopping during a battle, exclaimed. Sihyun couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh, thinking who was teaching whom, as he observed Haru's genuinely flustered expression. It didn't seem like the face of someone who was intending to die.
"Haewoon is right, brother. We should still try to live."
"...Yeah."
"Just in case, don't do anything dangerous trying to protect me. You too, Hamin."
He didn't want anyone to sacrifice themselves for his sake. That kind of experience was enough with what Hamin had done during their time in the Shadow World, so he warned them with half-open eyes, and both boys flinched simultaneously.
Maybe...
Their overly suspicious reaction made his eyes narrow. If he hadn't spoken up, they might have been ready to sacrifice themselves again, causing wrinkles to form on his previously smooth forehead.
"Don't."
"..."
"Seriously, don't."
Sihyun warned Haru and Hamin, looking from one to the other. They both awkwardly avoided his gaze and did not respond. Frustrated, Sihyun eventually threatened not to take them unless they answered.
"It'll be okay if you don't do it."
"...I'll try."
It was only after taking a firm stance that he managed to get a verbal promise from the two boys that they wouldn't do it. Even after hearing the answers he wanted, Sihyun felt a lingering sense of unease, tilting his head in disapproval before sighing deeply and running his fingers through his hair.
"Then, we'll just bring Haru along. Any objections?"
This addition of personnel was unexpected, so there might have been some discontent. While it would have been difficult to reverse the decision, he was willing to listen to any grumbles or complaints, but surprisingly, no one raised their hand. Sihyun looked around at each of the children in turn, noticing they were a bit embarrassed, touching their necks, cheeks, or hands.
"Well, if it's Banharu, I feel relieved."
Daun started.
"Yeah. Honestly, I'm not stronger than Haru, so it's awkward to have any complaints."
"I agree that Haru is more sensitive to people's malice."
"I think I wouldn't be much help with my class! I also agree with what Se
owoo said."
"Me too."
After that, Jihye, Seowoo, Haewoon, and Geonu chimed in. Overall, everyone seemed to be in agreement. It was because it was Banharu, after all. Sihyun found this sudden consensus surprising.
He knew that Haru had grown. Not only he but also the students of Class A and Haru himself were aware of this fact. The boy who had seemed the most naive and vulnerable had now become a senior member of Class A.
Since overcoming his stutter, Haru hadn't spoken often, but when he did, it was never without purpose, and he had reduced the number of times he was stubborn for no reason. He had also become better at controlling his expressions, making it rare for his thoughts to be visibly reflected on his face, except when he was flustered or sad.
As a year and a half passed, the weight of his words gradually increased, and now everyone listened and agreed when Haru spoke.
This newfound respect was surprisingly touching.
At the beginning of the school year, he had seemed like a naive person who needed to be protected and raised by Sihyun, but in less than two years, he had changed so much.
He had wondered when Haru would grow up, and now, he truly had. The rapid growth of children was indeed astonishing.
Mixed feelings of liberation and slight regret swirled within Sihyun as he looked at Haru and came to a conclusion.
"Then, for this trip to the Chinese dungeon, it'll be me, Hamin, and Haru. Those who can't go this time, let's go together to the next dungeon."
There were still many dungeons to come. This being only their fourth dungeon, there was still time to bring at least one person along, so they decided to look forward to the next opportunity as the children expressed their understanding and swallowed their disappointment.
After finishing the conversation with the children and spending the night, Sihyun took Haru and Hamin to the guild master's office early in the morning. Today was the departure date Haehyuk had mentioned, so they went to hear the detailed schedule for the trip to China. Despite knocking on the guild master's office door at the early hour of 7 a.m., they were invited inside. Whether he hadn't slept or had woken up early, it was always amazing to find him available at any time.
"Excuse us."
As they entered with a formal greeting, Haehyuk, who had been looking at documents, looked up upon noticing that three people had entered his office. His glasses slipped slightly down his nose.
"Three of you, huh?"
"It turned out that we decided to bring one more person."
"Did you lose?"
"What?"
"Never mind. From your expression, it doesn't seem like you lost."
Haehyuk suddenly made an incomprehensible comment and then drew his own conclusion. It was unclear whether he was asking a question or talking to himself.
Feeling ignored, Sihyun narrowed his eyes, but Haehyuk, having removed his glasses, looked at the three guild members decided for the trip to China and smiled faintly.
"Not a bad composition. Both have good records and skills."
"Yes."
"Especially Haru, who is proficient in combat against people."
The reason for including Haru in the trip to China was pinpointed. It didn't seem like Haehyuk was unaware; rather, he had deliberately mentioned it. Sihyun unwittingly clicked his tongue. By this point, it wouldn't be surprising if there was not just a cunning fox but a goblin inside Haehyuk, given how quickly he seemed to understand the situation.
As Sihyun nodded in agreement to Haehyuk's humming, he was about to ask about the upcoming schedule.
"So, it's decided that the four of you will go on this trip to China."
Huh?
"Four?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
Not a problem, but there were only three of them.
Sihyun blinked in confusion.
During both the Dekumanus and Nonnus events, Haehyuk had provided a list of Awakened Individuals who would join them, but this time, he had simply told them to bring along whoever was going with them, leading Sihyun to assume there wouldn't be anyone else since he had become S-Class. However, Haehyuk's attitude suggested otherwise.
After all, it might be nerve-wracking to send a newly minted S-Class as the team leader to a dungeon without additional support.
It would be a welcome situation if additional support was coming.
Who would it be then?
Would it be Uiheon, Changsik, or maybe Taeju?
As he tried to recall all the Korean Awakened Individuals he had encountered, a name of another domestic S-Class who had not yet been mentioned crossed his mind. Haehyuk spoke at
that moment.
"Even if Sihyun has become S-Class, since he's still a minor, he needs a guardian."
"That makes sense..."
Sihyun answered reluctantly and scanned the room.
There was only one person in the room who could act as their guardian.
Sihyun counted the number of people in the room with a glance and observed Haehyuk's change in expression.
Could it be...
"So, I've decided to go along this time. Fortunately, I had some time."
"Ah..."
As the possible guardian was narrowed down to one, Haehyuk smiled and spoke. Haru and Hamin stiffened like statues upon hearing the unexpected news. In the midst of this, Sihyun, caught off guard by the unforeseen situation, swallowed his surprise.
Well.
He wasn't sure whether to be pleased or not.
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