SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 103

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 103: His Way of Loving (1)

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White dawn.

I woke up and washed my face. After putting on the black butler's uniform that had now become quite familiar, I slowly stood before the mirror.

There, I still saw [myself].

"Hmm."

Once, Black Dragon Master mentioned I had [a slightly sly impression].

The man in the mirror slowly opened his lips.

"Raviel."

Thump.

"Raviel Ivansia."

[Immersion into your character is intensifying.]

[Your immersion rate is currently 62%.]

I merely murmured my beloved's name. Yet my heart raced, breath quickened, and the man in the mirror's face slightly reddened. Even to myself, my expression was easy to read.

"......I really am in love."

It was surprising.

Amazed at my own emotions, I proceeded with the next task.

"Status Window."

Words slowly emerged before my eyes.

Name: King of Death

Rank: D

Skills (6/6)

1. I Want to Become Just Like You (S+)

2. Returner’s Winding Clock (EX)

3. Sword Constellation (A+)

4. Goblin High Society (F)

5. Ghoul Reincarnation (SSS)

6. Divine Art of the Demonic Heaven (A+)

*You have a Blessing from the God of Beauty.

*The blessing of the Snake God is currently in effect.

There lay the path I had traversed, the one I had passed by.

My jealousy. My secret. My fortuitous encounter. My humor. My will. Even my happiness.

The life of [Kim Gong-Ja] is expressed so plainly.

"......"

I took a deep breath.

"Character Window."

Then, letters I had never seen before were etched before my eyes.

Name: Kim Gong-Ja

Favorability: 90

Preferred Genres: [Martial Arts], [Romance], [Mystery], [Adventure]

Disliked Genres: None

Preferred Characters: [Master], [Noble Hero], [Victim], [Hard Worker], [Child], [Virtuous Person], [One Who Knows How to Doubt Themselves], [One Who Is Generous to Others], [One Who Recognizes Me]

Disliked Characters: [Psychopath]

Preferred Plots: [Poetic Justice], [Friendship], [Love]

Disliked Plots: [Self-Loathing], [Giving Up], [Running Away], [Forgetfulness], [Distrust], [Monopoly]

Psychological State: ‘I want to know how others see me.’

I swallowed hard.

"Okay."

I'm still Kim Gong-Ja. I haven't been consumed by a role like the Heretic Inquisitor. My plan should proceed smoothly.

Definitely.

"Sword Emperor."

-Huh?

The ghost, invisible in the mirror, responded.

"If I ever get buried in the role of a butler, I have a favor to ask of you."

-What is it?

"If my immersion rate reaches 100%, I might not even hear your voice. I might forget how to use my skills. No matter what, you must prevent me from exceeding 99% immersion. That's the absolute limit. If I ever seem to go beyond 99%, by any means necessary, stop me."

-Huh.

The ghost chuckled.

-You worry too much. Someone as prideful and egoistic as you reaching 99%? Unlikely.

"Yes, I will."

I adjusted my outfit one last time.

A perfect butler's appearance was reflected in the mirror.

"Because I intend to raise it that high myself."

-What?

The ghost was startled.

-Why? You'll fail the stage and get trapped in this world.

"I can't tell you now. In fact, no one else should know. I'm going to exploit a loophole in the Tower's system to conquer this stage."

The Tower is still watching us.

If it learns what my strategy is, it might quickly patch the loophole. That can't happen.

While the Tower still has a systemic error, an overlooked flaw, now is my chance. I must quickly clear [Tales of the Sormewin Academy].

"If I am in danger, help me."

-......

"I trust you, Mr. Greatest of All Time, who promised to become my master."

And then I realized Black Dragon Master was right.

The man in the mirror was grinning slyly.

"Then I shall go to help my beloved."

Though Lady Silver Lily and I became a couple, sadly, we could not enjoy outdoor dates. She ended up confined to her bed.

Lady Silver Lily was always frail. Weak to sunlight. Even in my memories as a [butler], she missed more days at the Academy than she attended.

And yet, she stayed up and overworked for the past few nights, so collapsing was inevitable.

"Don't worry. It's been like this since the first regression."

Lying in bed, Lady Silver Lily spoke.

"To be more precise, since birth. I could hardly ever go outside, spending most of my time in the mansion. After embedding the sword in the mirror and losing my heart, my condition worsened."

"......"

"That is why His Majesty bestowed an epithet on Goldencup as well as me. At this rate, even if I became empress, I would die before long. It would also be difficult for me to bear an heir. I am unsuitable as an empress..."

Cough. Lady Silver Lily coughed. The sound was a little drier than it had been yesterday.

"Here is hot tea. Please drink."

I handed her the prepared tea. Lady Silver Lily said, "Thank you," and took a sip. Her eyebrows raised slightly in surprise.

"......You added a lot of honey. It's exactly to my taste. How did you know?"

I smiled.

"You told me yourself, Lady."

Lady Silver Lily had shared this during her love lessons to me. During the 6th cycle, an apostle tried to conquer her with a strategy book. It was written in that book.

1. Lady Silver Lily is sensitive to sunlight.

2. Lady Silver Lily has a dull sense of taste and likes strongly flavored food.

I simply remembered and used that information.

"Hm. So, you're using a strategy guide too?"

"It's more of a reference than a strategy guide since you shared it with me first. I appreciate your understanding."

"Turns out you're quite cunning too."

Lady Silver Lily tilted her tea cup.

The sound of tea echoed quietly in the bedroom.

"So, what's the plan you've come up with? Even sharing this cozy time now is just a fleeting amusement. One of us will inevitably forget the time spent with the other. There's no solution to that, is there?"

"You've never entrusted your life to someone else, have you, Lady?"

"Hm?"

"Trust me."

"......"

"Even if it's a fake romance, you've chosen to date someone. And that someone is no incompetent man."

Lady Silver Lily gazed intently at my face.

"Sometimes you need help from others in life. Right now, Lady, that's you."

I received help from the Sword Saint and the Black Dragon Master to save the Aegim Empire, and from the Apothecary, Viper, and the Medicine King to make it through The Veritable Records of the Heavenly Demon. I would never say it aloud, but I am always indebted to the ghost as well.

I've never thought of myself as alone.

Different from my lover before me.

"You have taken on far too much by yourself, Lady. [The empire must remain strong even after I die], [I must set the Crown Prince right], [I must also deal with the demon of blood]. You have spent all 140 days doing that, haven't you?"

"Do you think I'm tired?"

"Yes."

"......"

"Please take a break."

I placed freshly picked spring flowers in a vase next to her bed.

"I don't like it when the person I love tries to bear everything alone. No, I dislike it. When I'm tired, I want my partner to take the responsibility, and when they're tired, I want to take it for them."

"We are merely enjoying a fake romance."

"It doesn't matter since I'm sincere."

"......Don’t you feel humiliated?"

"Ah. You still don't know me, Lady."

How can someone be so adorable? I couldn't help but smile softly.

"I'm an optimist. Do you think I would be depressed or suffer from an inferiority complex because Lady is pretending to date me? Not at all. I see it as an opportunity. Eventually, Lady will fall in love with me."

"What on earth is the source of such confidence?"

"Because only I will get to spend time with you, Lady. Until you tell me that you're tired, I will never give up on you."

"......"

No matter what.

"I will strive to be your support."

Lady Silver Lily didn't respond. Instead, she quietly drank her tea.

Day by day, my lover became more emaciated.

The [Demons] that appeared every midnight at 12 grew stronger over time.

Initially, the demons barely possessed the form of [tongues] and [lips]. But with each passing day, they changed. [Arms] and [legs] emerged.

-Kyarrar.

When limbs appeared, I realized the demons resembled Lady Silver Lily. If Lady Silver Lily were simplified and shrunk, she would look exactly like these creatures.

-Are you going to kill us?

-Will you kill me?

Each night, I silently dealt with the demons. Lady Silver Lily wanted to help, but I firmly refused. She needed peace and quiet rest more than anything right now.

Paperwork requiring Lady Silver Lily's approval? I stopped it all.

There are only a few days left until this world perishes. If the empire collapses just because the Lady hasn't attended to it for a few days, then it might as well perish.

Rest.

A personal holiday.

That was the first gift I gave Lady Silver Lily.

"......It's my first time experiencing days like these."

Lady Silver Lily murmured, seemingly troubled.

"Is it really okay to just stay still like this?"

Right now, we were sitting under a cherry tree, leisurely looking at the lake. I carried Lady Silver Lily to this spot.

That's all.

No complicated paperwork, no Blood Demons, and no students gossiping about Lady Silver Lily.

"It's fine."

"But..."

"It's fine, Lady."

Lady Silver Lily closed her lips. She seemed to find it difficult to accept this peaceful time she had stumbled upon.

"I'll make sure it's okay."

"I don't want to rely on you."

"Did I ever say I would only help you forever? When I need help, please assist me. Let's help each other. Let's live by helping."

"......"

The day passed quietly.

It was the 'tenth day' as Lady Silver Lily mentioned.

"Are you thirsty? I made milk tea with a hint of honey today. It should suit your taste."

"......"

"Once the sunlight becomes milder, let's enjoy a boat ride on the lake. I'll row."

That day, Lady Silver Lily did nothing.

I woke her in the morning and helped her wash up. I served her a simple meal. In the morning, I read her favorite poetry book. In the afternoon, I packed a snack and we strolled to the academy's lake.

Whoooosh-

The spring day whistled, bewitching the magnolia petals and cherry blossoms. Lady Silver Lily quietly raised her head to watch the white shapes scatter across the sky. Cherry blossoms fell upon the lake and rode its rippling surface.

"......"

For an hour, she said nothing.

Even when I carried her onto the boat, she remained silent. Quietly, she watched the flowing petals on the water. Splash. Slosh. The lake gently parted its way with my rowing.

"Spring is white."

Lady Silver Lily murmured.

"In the empire, this time is called [White Spring]. There's a period when magnolias fade just as cherry blossoms bloom. An old poet I admire said [White blooms amidst white, spring blossoms within spring. The white left by winter breathes its last breath]."

Her speech mirrored the pace of the cherry blossoms in the sky.

"It's a beautiful season."

"Yes."

The sunset reddened.

"How long it's been since I've seen such a season."

The gentle spring flowed.

"......"

We were intoxicated by the season. A pleasant daze. The drowsy spring air filled our minds.

[The existence of the silver-plated heart becomes even clearer.]

So when the time of world destruction approached, we were not at all perturbed. No. We didn't even exchange any words.

[The silver-plated heart manifests.]

The reddened sunset turned even more crimson.

On the other side of the academy, faint screams of students could be heard. Likely, the blood overflowing from the mirror rapidly engulfed the academy and tainted the edge of the lake red.

"Butler."

"Yes."

"It's comfortable being with you."

We were in the middle of the lake on the boat.

The red blood seeping from the edges hadn't yet invaded our sanctuary.

"Is it really okay to trust you?"

I let go of the oars.

"Lady said we're like parallel lines, destined never to meet, with the one who dies first always returning first. So, we can never be together."

"Hm."

"From now on."

I grasped Lady Silver Lily's hand.

"My aura will wrap around your body, Lady. Not only your body, but everything inside your head as well. Then I will surround my own body and everything inside my head with aura in exactly the same way."

Then…

"I'll burst both our heads at the exact same moment."

"......"

Lady Silver Lily's breath halted for a moment.

Her eyes widened as her breath quieted.

"That means..."

"It is true that whoever dies first returns first. It is also true that the one who cannot return will not remember the other. Then there is only one way for us to remain together. We must die at exactly the same moment."

I tightened my grip on Lady Silver Lily's hand.

"Raviel Ivansia."

The person I loved.

"Please die with me."

After a while.

She nodded.

And so, we did just that.

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