WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator/Editor: Ryuu
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SSS-CLASS HUNTER WHO DIES TO LIVE
Chapter 28: Autumn Rain of Blood (1)
Silence lingered.
It was a silence that only the Sword Emperor and I seemed to feel. The Demon King's reward. The 99th floor. I read the Demon King's reward over and over again, the words about being transported directly to the 99th floor echoing in my mind.
-It's a trap.
The Sword Emperor cut into my thoughts.
-Definitely a trap. Zombie, don't be fooled.
'I know... Of course, it's a trap. Obviously...'
I murmured to myself.
It was clear that the Demon King's reward was a trap.
Because…
'Flame Emperor would have chosen the Demon King's reward without a second thought.'
The precedent set by the legendary psychopath, Flame Emperor - Yoo Soo-Ha.
'Flame Emperor would have definitely chosen the Demon King's reward. He would have thought nothing of killing other hunters. Yet... he's still lingering around the 40th floor. This means...'
I carefully pondered.
'The Demon King's reward is a trap. Probably the Flame Emperor initially chose it, then realizing it was a trap, he must have returned. I don't know exactly what the trap is but...'
However,
'...Honestly, it's tempting.'
My heart throbbed.
'An opportunity to obtain the skills of the 99th floor boss monster. This.'
Even if the Demon King's reward was just a trap, Flame Emperor and I were fundamentally different. Unlike Yoo Soo-Ha, I didn't need to defeat the boss monster.
Just let the boss kill me and bingo.
'If it's the boss of the 99th floor, it would be the second most powerful after the 100th-floor boss...'
I couldn't deny my greed.
'The 99th floor.'
How much time would it take to reach the 99th floor normally?
One year? Five years? Ten years?
Maybe even more. Even the Flame Emperor, who ruthlessly killed his way up, took ten years to reach just the 40th floor. And now.
To reach that in one go.
-Gong-Ja.
The Sword Emperor stared at me intently.
-Don't do it.
It was a voice I'd never heard him use before.
The Sword Emperor looked at me seriously.
-Look at me. I am the Sword Emperor. I alone climbed to the 99th floor and failed. From my experience, this is a trap. A disgustingly vile trap.
"......"
-It's hard for you to kill the top 10 rankers with your current strength. And even if you manage to kill them, there's a problem. You absolutely cannot break through the wall of the 99th floor, no matter how hard you struggle. Just give up cleanly.
I remained silent.
Was it because he was the only one who had ever breached the 99th floor in this tower? The Sword Emperor's words were filled with steely conviction.
'Is the boss monster of the 99th floor that strong?'
The Sword Emperor grimaced.
-There isn't one.
'What?'
-There's no boss monster on the 99th floor. Instead, something far more malevolent awaits... Ugh, I'm getting flashbacks. Anyway, it's a trap!
The Sword Emperor turned his back and sat down. He seemed like a child sulking for not getting candy. I was a bit taken aback.
'What's waiting on the 99th floor that you react like this? You're scaring me. Is it not a monster but something like a demon god?'
-Hmph. I'm not telling you!
I spoke out of turn.
He really was like a child.
-As much as I hate to admit it, Zombie, you're doing well. Just keep doing what you've been doing. Then you'll be able to clear the 99th floor eventually.
"Hmm."
I sank into thought, fiddling with the hilt of the dagger at my waist. The dagger I relied on for over 4000 suicides. The one I used to kill Yoo Soo-Ha. Just a cheap dagger, but handling it calmed my mind.
'Okay.'
I made a decision.
'I'll abandon this run.'
The Sword Emperor perked up his ears.
-Abandon?
'Yes. I'll only choose the safest routes. Forget about profit and rewards. Just to understand how things play out.'
-You're going to give up on both profit and rewards? What about the [Goddess's Reward]? Why? You don't have to go that far.
'It's fine. It's a step back for a leap forward.'
Sometimes, you need to take a step back to move forward.
I slowly began to speak.
"Everyone."
The hunters in the audience chamber turned towards me.
"Right now, I have the 11th-floor stage reward before me."
"That's good."
The Witch was the first to respond. Perhaps because she hadn't seen the [Goddess's Reward] and [Demon King's Reward] yet, she was as expressionless as usual.
"I was getting bored waiting for the quest. Once you choose your reward, the rest of us can select in order. Take your time choosing."
"Yes. I've already made up my mind."
In front of the top-ranked hunters, I declared.
"I will not choose any rewards."
Silence fell over the audience chamber. Even the Heretic Inquisitor and Viper, who had been playing with cards, looked at me. After a brief silence, the Witch frowned.
"What?"
It was too late.
[You chose not to select the stage reward.]
[You will not be able to choose a special class.]
[If you forfeit the reward, you can only choose roles from the 13th floor onwards.]
[Are you sure about your decision?]
I answered with firm resolve.
"Yes. I, Hunter Kim Gong-Ja, will not select any reward."
Whoosh!
The selection window before my eyes shattered. But that wasn't all. In my mind, a sacred voice and a gloomy voice echoed one after the other.
[The Goddess of Protection questions your choice.]
[The Demon King of the Autumn Rain chuckles softly.]
The hunters looked stunned.
"Kim Gong-Ja? What are you doing...?"
"Hmm."
That's when Sword Saint narrowed his eyes. His experienced gaze swept through the air. In the order of conquering the 11th-floor stage, I was first, and Sword Saint was second. Now, following me, Sword Saint read the [Goddess's Reward] and [Demon King's Reward].
"Indeed. I understand. The safest choice."
Sword Saint looked at me.
"But was it necessary to completely forfeit the reward? Young man. It's just this old man's concern, but by being too cautious, you might end up hesitating."
"Thank you for your concern. But I have no regrets."
"Hmm. As long as you have no regrets..."
The old man sighed. The other hunters watched our conversation with bewildered faces, not understanding what was going on.
"...No."
Sword Saint shook his head.
"Still, giving up the reward entirely seems too cautious. Sorry, young man. I will choose the Goddess's reward. And I will become [Commander of the Knights of the Aegim Empire]."
Creeeak!
The moment Sword Saint made his decision, the grand doors of the audience chamber opened. A group of knights marched in. Dressed in splendid silver armor, the knights reached the old man and kneeled on one knee.
"We swear allegiance to the empire's highest sword!"
"Oho."
Sword Saint looked down at the knights with interest.
"So this is how the roles are assigned."
"Hm? Ah? Really?"
Next was the Heretic Inquisitor, ranked third in the stage conquest. The Heretic Inquisitor scratched his head, then exclaimed, "Ah!" as if he finally understood the situation.
"I see! It's similar to a mafia game."
Of course, except for me, Sword Saint, and the Heretic Inquisitor, the other hunters were still clueless. The Witch furrowed her brows.
"...I don't understand what you're all talking about."
"Don't worry! I'll explain it right away!"
The Heretic Inquisitor spread his arms. Click. Click. Characters began to carve into the smooth marble floor. The Heretic Inquisitor used his aura to inscribe the text on the stone.
"Everyone, take a look!"
The hunters gathered to look at the floor.
+
[The Goddess of Protection]
Description: The goddess who protects the Aegim Empire is moved by your dedication! She has decided to entrust you with an important position in the empire.
ㆍ
ㆍ
ㆍ
+
The hunters murmured among themselves.
"What?"
"99th floor? Is this real...?"
There was little reaction to the Goddess's reward. But when it came to the Demon King's reward, the guild masters' complexions changed. They were noticeably shaken.
Especially the Witch, her face darkened.
"This is..."
"Yes! It's similar to a mafia game! For convenience, let's call those who choose the Goddess's reward [Heroes] and the one who chooses the Demon King's reward a [Traitor]."
The Heretic Inquisitor smiled.
"But there's a crucial difference. [Traitors] are much more at a disadvantage compared to Mafia! [Heroes] are as many as 9, whereas [Traitors] can be at most 1. Plus, we have the Vice-Captain of the Vigilante Corps with us!"
The Heretic Inquisitor pointed at the Paladin.
The Paladin looked down at the marble floor with an impassive face.
"Think about it! The Vice-Captain has the [Lie Detection] skill. Ahaha. In a Mafia game, it's somewhat like the role of a cop. Even if someone here chooses the Demon King's reward, it's okay! The Vice-Captain can quickly expose who the [Traitor] is!"
"Hmm... That's true."
The Paladin slowly raised her head.
"As long as you all trust my words."
"In any case, this is a game overwhelmingly favorable for the [Heroes]! Hunter Kim Gong-Ja. Your decision to forgo the reward is a bit of an overreaction!"
The Heretic Inquisitor adjusted his hat.
"To have conquered the 11th floor in the first place and not receive any reward. Hmm! It's a judgment I find hard to comprehend. While I respect your decisiveness, I will choose [The Grand General of the Aegim Empire]!"
Screeech.
The grand doors of the audience chamber opened again. General NPCs, cloaked in red capes, entered majestically. The generals stopped in front of the Heretic Inquisitor and saluted powerfully.
"We pledge our allegiance to the empire's loftiest banner!"
"Ah, excellent. I sincerely appreciate your service!"
The generals lined up behind the Heretic Inquisitor.
This was the deciding factor.
"Tch. I hate using my brain for this kind of stuff. Anyway, choosing a reward is beneficial, right? Then I'll choose [Captain of the Imperial Guards]."
Viper also chose.
"Then, I will choose [Foreign Affairs Minister]. It seems the most unproblematic."
The Paladin also chose.
"...[Prime Minister] is mine. Please, I beg you, don't choose the Demon King's reward. If no one chooses it, the reward will automatically disappear. The smartest thing to do is to just let it vanish. Remember that, everyone."
The Black Witch also chose.
"Don't worry. Hmm. Well, naturally, I'll be [Finance Minister]."
The Countess also chose.
Every single hunter present had chosen their reward.
Before long, the audience chamber was filled with NPCs. Bustling with noise. Behind Sword Saint, who chose the Commander of the Knights, lined up a knight brigade; behind the Witch, who chose the Prime Minister, lined up a series of officials.
-Wow.
In the vast audience chamber, only one place was empty.
Behind me, there was no one, leaving an open space.
-You're really the only one who didn't receive a reward. Are you okay with that, Zombie? Even if you're throwing away this round, isn't this a bit too much?
'No.'
I was certain.
Maybe it was the instinct of a hunter.
'This is the right answer.'
Knowing when to pounce on prey and when to retreat without a fight.
I…
[The reward settlement is now complete.]
Felt that now was the time to step back.
[All top contenders have completed their selections.]
[Kim Gong-Ja, Sword Saint, Heretic Inquisitor, Viper, Paladin, Witch, Countess...]
The voice echoed in the audience chamber.
The hunters exchanged glances as their names were called.
[1 person has forfeited the reward.]
People turned to look at me. I was the only one who had publicly forfeited the reward. The voice was tantamount to testifying that I had not benefited at all.
The hunters momentarily wore expressions of 'really not receiving any reward,' and then...
[8 have received the Goddess's Reward.]
Their faces hardened.
[1 has received the Demon King's Reward.]
The hunters looked at each other.
[Total of 10.]
[All top contenders have completed their selections.]
[Once again, to inform you.]
Silence followed.
[1 person has forfeited the reward.]
[8 have received the Goddess's Reward.]
[1 has received the Demon King's Reward.]
[All top contenders have completed their selections.]
It was a prolonged silence.
[May fortune be with you all.]
Crack.
The first to break the silence was the sound of someone grinding their teeth.
"How foolish...!"
The Guild Master of Black Dragon. The 2nd-ranked hunter. It was the Black Witch.
"I told you! Don't choose the Demon King's reward. Yet... stupidly!"
The Witch radiated murderous intent. Her face was no longer expressionless. Hatred. Contempt. Anger. Her face was twisted with these emotions, glaring at the audience with scorn.
"Fine. As the master of Black Dragon, I declare here. I don't know who dared to betray us, but I'll gift that person the most painful death."
"Hmm. Surprising."
The Heretic Inquisitor stroked his chin.
"A game that's overwhelmingly disadvantageous for the [Traitor]. Yet someone chose the Demon King's reward... As the Witch said, it's a foolish choice indeed! Ahaha. Of course, its foolishness makes it all the more human!"
"Ah... Shit."
Viper scratched the back of his head.
"Ah, I get it. I get the atmosphere. The air. It's the feeling from when we were conquering the early stages of the tower... My back and neck are freaking tense. Looks like a few will die today."
"That's true. Reminds me of the days when the 5 great guilds were actually 10. Many died back then. Killed many too, didn't we?"
The Countess fluttered her fan. Her tone was gentle, but the glare behind her fan was cold as a wild beast.
"Back then, we really died a lot. Killed a lot too. Right?"
"Shut up! Everyone be quiet. Now is not the time to get nostalgic about the past."
The Witch's expression was twisted.
"Paladin!"
"Hmm."
"Start interrogating everyone with [Lie Detection] right now. Don't leave anyone out! If even one person refuses to answer or tries to evade the question, I'll kill them right here and now!"
Everyone knew it wasn't an empty threat. The Witch exuded murderous intent, and her aura rose like mist around her. A dark, ominous aura. A color that cursed all the light in the world.
"I was planning to do that anyway."
The Paladin quietly nodded.
"First, I'll start by clarifying that I am not the traitor."
And the Paladin turned to start the interrogation.
The first person she approached was... none other than me.
The Paladin stood firmly in front of me.
"Hunter Kim Gong-Ja."
"Yes."
"You've forfeited your reward, so you're not under suspicion. You might not even need to be questioned. But I'll ask anyway. Did you, by any chance, choose the Demon King's reward?"
"No."
The audience chamber fell silent.
All the hunters watched us.
After a few seconds of silence, the Paladin nodded.
"It's the truth."
Sighs of relief were heard here and there.
The Paladin continued without rest, moving to the next person.
Step.
The audience chamber was floored with marble. The Paladin's footsteps echoed unusually loudly as she walked. We followed her movements with our eyes.
"Sword Saint."
"Speak."
"Did you choose the Demon King's reward?"
Sword Saint crossed his arms.
"Upon all my honor. Absolutely not."
"It's the truth."
Step.
"Heretic Inquisitor."
"Yes! Ask me anything!"
"Are you the person who chose the Demon King's reward?"
"I'm sorry, but..."
Amidst the silence, the Heretic Inquisitor's laughter flowed. The sound bounced off the marble floor, sliding off the armor worn by knights and generals.
"I am not! I'm not yet ready to die by the Black Dragon Master's hands!"
"It's the truth."
Step.
"Viper. Did you choose the Demon King's reward?"
"Damn. I did not!"
"...It's the truth."
Step.
"Countess. Did you choose the Demon King's reward?"
"...I did not either."
"It's the truth."
Step.
The atmosphere gradually became heavier. When it was revealed that I wasn't the traitor, sighs of relief were heard. But as each person's truth was declared, instead of sighs, silence overflowed in the audience chamber.
Like a rising water surface.
Soon, the silence reached our throats.
"......"
"......"
The Paladin faced the Witch.
Everyone except the Witch had already been questioned. This was the last interrogation. Facing the hunter who commanded the most powerful guild in the tower and was considered second only to the Sword Saint, the Paladin took a deep breath.
She spoke.
"Master of the Black Dragon."
"...Yes."
"Did you choose the Demon King's reward?"
Silence followed.
"No... It's not me."
Silence continued.
The Paladin slowly opened her lips.
"...It's the truth."
And finally, complete silence settled.
No.
We were submerged in silence.
"Wait... then, what?"
Viper looked around.
"Who is it then?"
The Sword Saint looked at the Witch. The Witch looked at the Heretic Inquisitor. The Heretic Inquisitor looked at the Countess, and the Countess looked at Viper. Viper threw a pleading glance at the Paladin, and the Paladin silently looked at me.
Everyone was looking at everyone else.
"Why are they all saying it's not them...?"
But no one answered.
"Damn it! Who betrayed us?!"
No one.
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