WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: Ryuu

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SSS-CLASS HUNTER WHO DIES TO LIVE

Chapter 297: The Legend Himself (2)

Disciples from various constellations began to gather in the cave hideout.

“Assistant Writer? You were alive? That's surprising.”

“Hearing about the chaos in the tower yesterday, it was your doing, wasn't it?”

Disciples serving different constellations. Among them were those who had lost their constellations long ago, and some who hadn’t lost them but were on the run from the tower.

They were the non-mainstream hunters of the 50th floor.

“Wow! Impressive! The tower has issued an extermination order.”

A woman in a reversed hood tapped the Assistant Writer on the shoulder.

“How badly did you piss off those spider bastards to get an extermination order? I’m envious. Hey, Assistant Writer, you should ditch that constellation like Hamusutra and come to us. We'll treat you well!”

“…The fact that I haven't twisted your wrist off is the last bit of courtesy I have as the person who invited you. Be grateful for my rational and elegant manners.”

The disciples chattered and found spots to their liking. Some sat on flat stalagmites, others lay down, and some placed their rag cushions...

At first glance, they looked like a ragtag bunch.

It was a scene akin to a flea market.

"Hmm."

But my senses had been sharp since a while ago.

‘These hunters… are strong.’

-Well, they're all ragamuffins chased by the tower.

The Guardian Spirit crossed his arms.

-Otherwise, they wouldn’t have evaded the tower till now. Either they're clever, lucky, or just strong. Having even one of these traits makes them strong.

‘Each person gathered here is at least at Paladin’s level.’

I looked around. In our world, one of the top ten, maybe even five, would be the average here.

‘50th floor is indeed not to be underestimated.’

The hunters I met in Monopolized Poisonous City were not weak, but somehow lacking. At best, they were at the level of, ‘Oh, you know how to use Aura? Not bad.’

However, the disciples gathered now were different.

‘There seems to be an uninvited guest hidden too.’

I glanced subtly into the depths of the dark cave.

Even a hunter who hid their presence and quietly observed was among them.

It was truly a lineup worthy of the 50th floor’s reputation.

“First of all, thank you all for gathering today, even though you probably don’t have money for today’s meal.”

The Assistant Writer stood up.

She walked to the center of the meeting. The disciples looked at her, but they were either not paying attention or pretending to be disinterested.

“There are people here I haven’t seen in 10 years. Some we can no longer see. I…”

“Hey, writer lady.”

The woman who had tapped the Assistant Writer's shoulder earlier raised her hand. She was chewing something.

“Sorry to interrupt your passionate welcome, but…”

“...What?”

“I’ve been very uncomfortable since earlier. It probably isn’t just me. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not complaining about not having chairs or cushions, we know you can’t afford it.”

The woman laughed and turned her gaze…

Directly at me.

“What’s with that guy?”

"......."

“My gut is rumbling. The rat tails I ate yesterday feel like they’re coming up my throat. Writer lady, imagine if you were invited to a friend's house and they had a penguin wandering around without even a cage. Would you be able to eat?”

Despite her tone, the hunter's eyes were not smiling.

The noisy air quieted down.

I realized then. The reason the disciples weren’t focused on the Assistant Writer wasn't because they were rude. They were, in fact, paying attention to [me].

Just as I was surprised by their capabilities, they had sensed me as well.

“...Yes. I was about to introduce him.”

The Assistant Writer sighed.

“Let me introduce him. This person is…”

“Hello. Nice to meet you.”

I stood up. As my body moved, some disciples reached for their waists, ready to draw weapons at any moment.

It couldn’t be helped. We were strangers. To convey friendliness as much as possible, I smiled broadly.

“My name is Kim Gong-Ja. Thank you for calling me a penguin. I've always been curious about the feel of a penguin’s skin since I was a child.”

“Kim Gong-Ja? Hey, that's not a title but a name. We’re not joking around here. Tell us your title.”

“Yes. My title is King of Death.”

"......!"

The air in the cave tensed palpably. It was not a metaphor. Several disciples who had been conserving their energy suddenly surged their aura.

“King of Death? The one Mahos put an extermination and pursuit order on?”

“He devoured numerous worlds and turned countless humans into undead, that heretic cult leader!”

“Assistant Writer! Why did you invite such a lich to the meeting?”

Uh-oh.

Why is it turning out this way even after I kindly answered?

-You're actually enjoying this, aren’t you?

‘That’s an unfair accusation. Please stop the slander.’

I wasn’t intentionally enjoying it. It's just that discovering the undefined joy in seeing people scream at the sight of me being a terrifying villain was incidental.

“Hah...”

I unfastened my Holy Sword from my waist, still in its sheath. Startled! The wary disciples flinched.

Showing them I had no hostility, I slowly set the sword down at my feet. I then showed them my empty palms.

“Look.”

Still smiling broadly.

“I don’t bite.”

"......."

“The [Warhorse of the Eternal Plains] may have declared me a public enemy, but Mahos doesn’t truly consider me an evil lord. He just opportunistically used me, and he did that for you.”

“For us? Mahos?”

The hunter asked.

“He’s like a ruffian among constellations. For us, really? What do you mean?”

“Assistant Writer told me. If you’re not part of the tower, you can’t ascend to the 51st floor. That’s the current situation here. But you don’t want to join the tower, nor... do you have the power to break it.”

"......."

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean any offense. It’s just that from the constellations’ perspective, the situation must be frustrating. Maybe Mahos thought I could be a kind of [breakthrough].”

Why did Mahos become hostile as soon as I reached the 50th floor?

Because I snatched his apostle, Goldencup? Was it just for that reason he decided to fight? Maybe, but if he truly wanted me dead, he wouldn’t have gathered some randoms for a surprise attack.

Hunters gathered in the cave hideout, showing they were the [real deal].

"Mahos wants to make me the new boss."

"......."

"To replace the tower."

I spoke with certainty.

“...Indeed.”

The hunter closed her eyes.

She looked at me with half-opened eyes, "So, to make you the [new boss] and then subdue you. I see. It’s just like theConstellation Killer, basically turning you into a [seasonal event boss]."

“Yes. That’s my guess. If you have no teeth, you use your gums.”

The other disciples murmured in agreement. "Aha," "I see..." They seemed to understand our conversation.

I quietly smiled, looking at the cave ceiling.

[‘The Warhorse of the Eternal Plains’ remains silent.]

Sometimes silence is an affirmation.

“Okay, King of Death. That's a very plausible point.”

The hunter stood up.

“But why tell us? It’s hard to say that’s wise. You’ve just given us more reason to see you as an evil lich.”

She smirked, fiddling with the hilt of her dagger.

“It is probably easier to defeat you than to break the tower, right? I was getting tired of living like a beggar on the 50th floor! I feel like joining Mahos’s quest.”

It was a clear provocation.

“Of course. That’s also your choice.”

I laughed heartily, spreading my palms.

“But, is it really easier to kill me than to bring down the tower?”

“What?”

“You, being skilled hunters, must have killed many enemies. You must be accustomed to the line between life and death. But, everyone.”

I smiled amicably.

“Killing someone is realistically a very difficult thing, isn’t it?”

“...What are you trying to say?”

“It’s simple. Mahos didn’t consider me a [replacement for the tower] without reason. Maybe I really am [as hard to subdue as the tower]. Just me, alone, replacing the entire tower. Can you really defeat someone like me?”

The hunters, including the casual one, gasped.

I humbly smiled, scratching the back of my head.

“You haven’t even caught Constellation Killer yet.”

Provocation needs provocation.

That's the lesson I’ve learned.

“Huh.”

The hunter smirked.

“That’s good too! Let's see if you're really on par with Constellation Killer—"

“No. Stop it, [Berserker].”

At that moment, someone emerged from behind me. A man wrapped in bandages from head to toe. He made no sound of footsteps or breathing, only his voice flowed without any trace.

The disciples were startled, having just noticed his presence. Even the hunter frowned.

“...[Paparazzo]? What’s this? How long have you been hiding like a cockroach?”

“I’ve been here before you all came.”

The bandaged hunter, Paparazzo, muttered.

“Looks like my skills haven’t rusted yet. No one here detected me.”

“Hah? Obviously. Who can find you when you’re hiding?”

“He did.”

Paparazzo pointed at me. His hand, from the nails to the back, was completely wrapped in bandages.

“He's been aware of me and cautious since earlier.”

"......."

“He aroused my competitive spirit. Throughout your conversation, I constantly looked for an opening to snap his neck. But even when he put down his sword, there was no gap.”

“That’s…"

“It means he’s stronger than us. Clearly.”

The hunter, [Berserker], gritted her teeth.

“Really at the level of the tower? Hey, don’t be kidding.”

“I don’t know how strong exactly. At least, he's a step ahead of us. I’m not so foolish that I’ll fight a stronger opponent and lose my life. I think you're the same.”

Berserker glared at me again, her eyes scanning me from head to toe. Eyes filled with killing intent, competitive spirit, and most importantly, suppressing her pride.

Yes.

That was a gaze I liked.

“It’s okay.”

I smiled brightly.

“I won’t kill you!”

"......."

To my consideration, Berserker clenched her fists. She huffed and puffed, then slowly moved her hand away from the dagger.

‘Oh?’

She’s not going to attack? I was a bit disappointed.

I was looking forward to seeing the martial prowess of a 50th-floor strongman.

Ignoring my disappointment, the Guardian Spirit chuckled.

-You really know how to make a scene for your initiation.

Thanks to one intruder, the imminent explosive situation was avoided.

"......."

"......."

However, the atmosphere in the cave hadn't changed. In fact, it grew tenser. Even the previously relaxed disciples began to clearly guard against me after hearing the conversation between [Berserker] and [Paparazzo].

Many disciples swallowed hard.

"Ugh."

This was awkward.

I had tried to approach softly to avoid this atmosphere.

I scratched my cheek. Not everything in the world can be solved with words and smiles. It's important to think positively.

"Well. It's good that we avoided any bloodshed. It’s definitely a good start!"

"......."

“The reason I asked the Assistant Writer to invite you all here is simple. It's hard for me to bring down the tower alone... Although I could summon my own forces, that wouldn’t be meaningful. It would just be like the [Sword Emperor’s Return].”

“...What do you mean?”

“Just showing [victory] is not enough.”

I clapped my hands.

“I’m more interested in you all winning than just me.”

“What?”

“Assistant Writer.”

I turned to the Assistant Writer.

“You said you're not the [protagonist of this story].”

The Assistant Writer remained silent.

Repeated silence can also convey intention, so I understood various things.

She wouldn't have said that just as self-deprecation. That statement carried weight.

But…

“Why does it have to be that way?”

“You….”

“Not just to the Assistant Writer.”

I looked around at the disciples again.

I said,

“The Constellations that have been forgotten on this 50th floor, the ones losing power and possibly their status, please contact them. As disciples of these Constellations, I believe you have a way to communicate.”

The disciples looked at me with suspicious eyes.

I hadn't done anything yet.

Still undeterred by their prejudice, I kept smiling brightly.

“Please gather [all your quests]. I will unify them and help you all reach the 51st floor!”

"......."

The hall fell silent.

From behind, the Assistant Writer muttered lowly,

“...Hey, haven’t you heard that your smile is suspicious? If you talk like that while smiling, everyone will think you have a dark heart, only care about power, and treat human lives like flies, you son of a bitch.”

That's a harsh thing to say.

Raviel likes my smile, you know.

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