Chapter 3
I was perched on a bed that wasn’t that dragon’s corpse. The strong smell of blood was also cleanly wiped away. Even the clothes I was wearing had changed.
’……Did I really return to the past?’
First, the Status Window wouldn’t open. The Inventory didn’t exist either. If it was 5 years ago, it would be before I Awakened.
‘Yoohyun[1] would already be an amazing Guild leader.’
Guild Edge of the Earth[2]. This is the guild that will establish itself with a few prioritized special people as the best in Korea through a steep growth rate in 5 years, and live up to its reputation. Oh course, I couldn’t get in. …And a lot of the guild members disliked me.
'And I was told stuff like 'stop loitering around the guild leader’ around a hundred times.’
Whew, a.s.sholes. Fine, this time I’ll live obediently.
Rummaging around in my pockets, I found a cell phone. The date was… oh, it’s really 5 years ago. The latest text was-.
'Wait, isn’t this the Awakening broker?’
There was evidence that I had contacted the Awakening broker this morning. When I saw that, I suddenly remembered the past events.
'So I’ve returned to that time.’
It’s been 3 years since things called 'dungeons’ and Awakened Hunters first appeared around the world. The period when the rapidly changing world gradually became stable.
It was a time when I was struggling with the peak of my inferiority complex against my amazing S-Rank Awakened dongsaeng. Harboring a hope that I could be like him if I also Awakened, I had contacted an Awakening broker.
Awakening broker. In other words, a swindler.
Saying even Unawakened Person could Awaken if they clear a dungeon, these brokers would take large amounts of money and illegally send people to dungeons. For the most part, they were villains who would just take the money and disappear, or even if they take you to dungeons, would refuse to protect you.
'In the first place, you don’t Awaken by clearing a dungeon.’
The possibility of Awakening in response to the dangerous environment of dungeons is high, but clearing one doesn’t have anything to do with it. In half a year, disclosing this truth to the public, the Korean Hunter a.s.sociation would make Awakening facilities, and so brokers will disappear.
Anyways, I had taken money to the broker.
'Then, my dongsaeng’s subordinates had found and dragged me back.’
Right, I remember clearly. This was one of my rooms at Haeyeon Guild’s building.
Soon my dongsaeng will come find me and nag me with an intensely unhappy[3] face. At the same time as I thought this, the door slammed open. Han Yoohyun came in. This guy’s not a n.o.ble.[4]
"Hyung."
My alive dongsaeng called me. The face I was looking at was very young. 5 years later, he wasn’t that old, but now he was even younger. He was 20 years old, now.
Just barely labelled an adult, if this was a peaceful world, he would be at an age where he would be a student. Or just entered the army[5]. Of course, the army still existed.
'He was exempted since he’s an S-Rank Awakened Person.’
I had already gone and come back. In the army, there were so many guys who had Awakened and were discharged early, but I didn’t Awaken. Even if I did, as an F-Rank Awakened Person, I would’ve only been discharged after completing my military service. Exemption from military service only started at E-Rank.
Anyways, this guy was so amazing[6], he didn’t go to the military… ah my inferiority complex is about to explode again.
Let’s throw away my greed. Throw away my earthly desires. Namu Amita Bul[7]
Standing up, I moved closer to face Yoohyun, who was wearing a sullen look on his face. Looking closely, the feeling of being 5 years in the past was stronger.
Before regressing, at this time I didn’t think it, but now that I’ve returned, I thought that this young guy must have struggled a lot. Even if he was S-Rank, creating and building up his own guild wouldn’t have been an easy task.
And in the midst of that whirlwind, his one and only hyung went and got into trouble.
……I was the one in the wrong.
"Dungeon brokers are-."
"Sorry."
First, I apologized. My dongsaeng, who was going to start nagging, shut his mouth.
This guy stared at me as if he was encountering a new lifeform.
"I won’t do it from now on."
This and that, all of it. I’m just going to stay in my lane and live quietly. Yoohyun had a confused expression, before carefully opening his mouth.
"Did you, maybe, get into big trouble……"
"It’s not anything like that."
This brat won’t believe his hyung. Though it makes sense not to believe.
I smiled as I punched this guy’s arm.
"Just, after sitting and thinking for a bit, I felt like I was being immature."
The dragon’s carapace was cool, making it easy to cool my head.
At my slightly sheepish words, my dongsaeng was fl.u.s.tered.
"No, calling it immature… it wasn’t that bad."
"What do you mean 'not that bad’. Hey,
"Uh, huh?"
"It’s been a long time."
It might have been a long time for this guy but it wasn’t for me. The feeling of his cooling body was vivid under my palms.
"……If you want."
Yoohyun nodded his head, despite hesitating. Brat, what’s so embarra.s.sing about a hyung wanting to hug his dongsaeng?
Though I was also getting gooseb.u.mps.
Stretching out my arms, I dragged over and embraced my dongsaeng who had grown bigger than me. Before Awakening, he was a lot smaller.
"My dongsaeng, Han Yoohyun."
Inside my two arms, his body was warm. I could hear his slightly faster heartbeat and breathing.
With a deep feeling of relief as well as a choking feeling rising up within me, something I never would have said normally slipped out of my mouth.
"I love you.[8]"
This guy’s body was trembling. Hey, I’m embarra.s.sed too, so don’t say anything. Just-.
[The registration of Awakened Person 'Han Yoohyun’ has been completed.]
…Huh?
[Legendary Grade t.i.tle 'Perfect Caregiver’ granted!]
Uh, huh?
[The effect of t.i.tle 'Perfect Caregiver’ will be displayed.
Perfect Caregiver Supplementary Skill - My Brat[9] is the Best.
The growth rate of Awakened Person 'Han Yoohyun’ will double.
Duration time - 3 days]
Euouk?!?
That’s crazy, what is this scam skill?
The caregiver skill was common. If you were siblings or parents who took care of and raised Awakened People, it was easy to get. It was possible even if you weren’t related by blood.
If the person you raised was higher than C-Rank and your relations.h.i.+p was amicable enough, 8-9 times out of 10, the t.i.tle would appear. For those whose kid was C-Rank to B-Rank, it was 'Clumsy Caregiver’. Rank, 'Easy Caregiver’. And lastly, S-Rank was just 'Caregiver’.
There wasn’t anything beyond S-Rank, so I thought that the 'Caregiver’ t.i.tle was the highest rank.
'Perfect Caregiver? Just what is this?’
Furthermore, the growth rate buff is as much as double.
In the past, my t.i.tle as 'Caregiver’ gave up to a 10% growth buff. It was only maintained for just one day. But now it’s double. Doesn’t that mean I can raise the level the same amount in half a year as I used to be able to in one year?
'No, rather than level, skills are more important. The higher the grade of the skill, the excruciatingly[10] slower the growth rate!’
Wow, this is a total scam. If it gives out a buff before even going into a dungeon, the growth rate would be at the speed of light.
"…Hyung?"
"Uh, mm. It’s nothing."
I was so surprised, I was still holding onto him.
As I let go and stepped back quickly, Yoohyun cleared his throat with a reddish face.
"……There were a lot of times I acted controlling, so thank you for saying those words, hyung."
"N-no need for thanks."
"……"
"……"
There was an awkward silence. Mm. Ahem, hm.
Just as I couldn’t bear the awkwardness anymore and wanted to open the window and jump out, Yoohyun talked first.
"……Do you want to eat dinner together later? It’s been a long time."
"Yeah, I’m fine with that."
"Ok. Then, I have something to do."
"Oh yeah, go on then."
My dongsaeng left and shut the door. I grabbed and pulled my hair.
'Wow, s.h.i.+t[11]. Super awkward[12].’
Is it going to be like this at dinner too? Why did I agree. I can still-
All of a sudden.
"I forgot."
Yoohyun, who I thought had left already, opened the door. Ah that surprised me.
"Delete the Awakening broker’s contact information."
This guy said, looking at the cell phone on the bed.
"At any rate, I’m going to make it so that they won’t be able to pick up even if you call."
"……What?"
It must be an illusion that it sounded like he was going to go beat up the broker.
Yoohyun finished talking but didn’t leave and stared at me. …Did he want me to delete it right now? As soon as I picked up the cell phone and deleted the broker’s contract information, this guy put on a satisfied expression and left.
This dongsaeng’s att.i.tude felt a little shady, but anyways.
'My Status Window!’
I quickly opened my Status Window.
[Awakened Person Han Yoojin[13]
t.i.tle - Dragon Slayer(L), Perfect Caregiver(L)]
W-Wait a minute. Dragon slayer?
'Why is this here?’
[1] ok from now on I’m not gonna tl whenever MC follows up Yoohyun’s name w 이놈/이녀석/이자식/other variations of ‘this guy/brat’ bc it’s really getting clunky in Eng, but know that MC is habitually ribbing on his little brother
[2] 해연(垓埏): a name made up of hanja (chinese characters). My Korean is bad enough, I can’t translate Chinese on top of that. Also, my dad was no help so I really don’t know. It means something like 'edge/boundary/end of the earth/ground’. Anyways it’s p.r.o.nounced "Haeyeon" and I’ll be using that instead from now on.
[3] lit. "so displeased/dissatisfied/unhappy he could die"
[4] I didn’t really know how to make this make sense in Eng. Basically it’s just something you say when someone (usually who you’re talking/thinking about) just appears. Because n.o.bles back in the day would announce their arrivals and such, so when someone walks in without much fanfare, then you say ‘oh guess he’s not a n.o.ble’.
[5] young adult men have mandatory military service in Korea
[6] MC uses formal speech for this part, so he’s being particularly mocking
[7] apparently a type of Buddhist chanting for meditation
[8] 사랑한다: there is a nuance compared to just사랑해 that I’m just sure how to describe bc it’s something I understand implicitly (or maybe I’m making things up?? haha). If you’re being strictly literal, it’s more like "I’m loving you". It’s like a reminder, or when you’re telling someone who hasn’t realized it yet.
[9] I’ve been translating 새끼 as "b.a.s.t.a.r.d", but in a different context, it can also be used as a term of endearment(?). Like with Eng, you can use swear words to refer to your friends, but what I mean is people also call their children 새끼since the lit. tl is "offspring/young". Because of that and given the context, I thought "brat", which I’ve also been using for 자식/짜식, would make the most sense. 자식 can also be considered rude if you’re swearing at someone but all previous instances were MC talking abt his brother so I figured "brat" was the best way to convey that. Rule of thumb, if 새끼/자식 is preceded by my(내)/our(우리), then it’s likely to be a parent referring to their child; if it’s preceded by this/that(이/그/저), then it’s likely to be meant as a swear. There are exceptions; for ex, MC called Yoohyun 이자식previously. Also, since both 새끼 and 자식 lit. mean "offspring", they can also be used to refer to an animal’s offspring – don’t use it for human offspring that aren’t your own, that’s rude (and now we cycle back into talking abt it being a swear word).
[10] lit. "dirtily" which sounded awkward in this sentence even though Eng has a similar expression ("dirt slow"). The narration in this novel is very casual and colloquial (which you can probably tell from the cursing) but I’m not sure how to properly express it.
[11] 씨: this and other variations (아 씨, 아이씨) are vague b.a.s.t.a.r.dizations of 시발/씨발, i.e. f.u.c.k
[12] lit. "dog-awkward"
[13] a.k.a. finally the MC’s name is revealed