WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈
Chapter 108: 1DAYS. (3)
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"That shameless bastard...!”
From beyond the darkness.
Someone unknown gritted their teeth in anger.
Unlike before, everything they said was now [interpreted].
“Calm down, my child. Fragments of the Padak Era are showing.”
However, their voices were still opaque. Like a song with noise interference, their voices would seem distant, then suddenly close to my ear.
“Anger and jealousy won’t help our deliberation.”
“I’ll kill him!”
“King of Death, was it? It’s been a long time since a meeting was convened twice because of one person. How long has it been since the Constellation Killer?”
“Moreover, the bond of fate between those two is growing stronger and stronger. Could this be a coincidence too?”
Then…
“---This is troublesome.”
The chattering voices suddenly stopped. The surroundings became silent. Among the idle and casual conversation, only a dispassionate voice sank.
“If the immersion rate were a full 100%, we could return one day from the butler's perspective. If it were 90% or lower, we could simply return one day from the King of Death's perspective. But it just had to be 99%.”
I recognized that voice.
“It's ambiguous. Whose side should we take?”
The Tower's Master.
I swallowed hard.
“I think... we should return a day from the butler's perspective.”
“Convince us.”
“Firstly, just looking at the numbers. An immersion rate of 99% means the butler is 99% and I am only 1%. The butler’s proportion is overwhelming, so it’s only fair to consider the butler as the standard.”
“Yes. But [Returner’s Winding Clock] is a skill you acquired. King of Death. It’s your skill. Only the person who possesses the skill can use it.”
An unseen gaze scanned my face from the darkness.
“Shouldn’t you be the one to return?”
"......."
“Don’t be nervous. I’m just curious.”
The voice spoke kindly, telling me not to be tense. But it was an impossible consideration. With every word and phrase, it felt like a long snake was climbing up my neck.
“…That’s an overly biased view.”
“Hmm?"
“Consider it from the butler's perspective. Throughout the stage, the butler and I fought over which of us would take possession of the body. You could say I was devoured by the butler, but you could equally say that the butler devoured me.”
In other words.
“The butler fought fairly and won over me, thereby taking my skill. [Returner’s Winding Clock] is now also the butler’s skill.”
“Oho.”
The serpent's voice quivered strangely.
I realized a bit late that it was laughing.
“That makes sense. Like how you, King of Death, copied the Flame Emperor’s skill.”
"......."
“A returner against a returner in battle. I wondered who would win. But to think, returning to a point before acquiring the skill. I must say, even my lowly self was impressed. No, all of us were surprised.”
Lowly Self.
The absolute ruler of the Tower referred to themselves as lowly. They speak politely too.
As if being cordially humble to everyone.
That felt even more ominous to me.
“You were impressive. You could have chosen to simply flee from the Flame Emperor’s sight. But you didn’t. Why?”
As the Tower Master asked, the silent figures began to speak.
“It was revenge. That bastard would not forget what had been done to him even in death. So he pursued the man who burned him and crushed that man in the end. But dying 4,050 times? He's a viciously tenacious bastard.”
[The Moon Contemplating Blindness curses you.]
“It's because of a sense of justice. The Flame Emperor killed many and would have killed more. He must have thought it couldn't be left unchecked. The thoughts and feelings of ‘this cannot be’ drove the King of Death. Yes. He is a righteous human.”
[The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages blesses you.]
The serpent's voice nodded.
“Yes. That must be it. Sometimes revenge drove him to pierce his own throat, other times a sense of justice led him to end his life. But revenge and justice are common. What amazed me was only one aspect.”
Someone else took over the Tower Master's words.
“It's the fact that the only way to 100% defeat the Flame Emperor was through that method.”
[The Legislator of the Beginning declares quietly.]
“Yes."
The Tower Master laughed.
“King of Death. Your heart is raw and hot, but your mind is cunning. You always, always seek a way to win 100%. That is why I have expectations of you. Have you prepared an argument that will persuade us 100%?”
This was the critical moment.
I couldn’t back down here.
“Yes."
“Go ahead.”
“I... we haven’t done anything wrong.”
I opened my mouth toward the place where the serpent's voice lay coiled.
“This is entirely a mistake and error made by the Tower. The very fact that it's difficult to decide whether to return a day from [the butler’s perspective] or [my perspective] is a problem. If the Tower were perfect, such an error would never have occurred.”
“Yes. I’ll admit that. So?”
“Since we are victims of the error, please compensate us.”
"......."
I spoke as confidently as I could.
“And we are the ones who discovered the error. If not for us, you would never even have known it existed, would you? Reward us.”
Silence.
After a while.
“Impudent.”
[The God Who Dances in Emptiness glares at you.]
“Listen to how that lowborn wretch talks. Do you want your very existence ground into pulp?”
[The Moon Contemplating Blindness wants to kill you.]
Voices started to boil over.
“Stop.”
But when the serpent's voice spoke, everything fell silent again.
“Interesting.”
"......."
“What I find interesting is this: you do not doubt for a moment that I will properly [compensate] and [reward] you. Why? Why should I? I could simply pretend none of this happened and turn away.”
“Because…”
I spoke firmly.
“Because you have always, always wished us luck.”
The Tower.
Every time a stage was cleared, hunters heard a voice.
『O you who climb the Tower.』
『May fortune be with you.』
Just that.
But it was definitely ‘encouragement’.
“You, being absolute, do not mock us. You don’t despise us. You don’t push us in any particular direction. A hunter who wants to stay on the 1st floor can stay forever. For those climbing higher, you wish them luck and only ask for caution.”
A resting place for those who wish to rest.
Good fortune for those entering the fray.
“It's not just that.”
The children in the hellish mansion.
The Demon King shedding red raindrops.
The lonely peony in the eternal snowy field.
The heart repeating endless ten days.
“Every person to whom you granted a floor in the Tower is, without exception, lonely and sad. You built the Tower by gathering only those destined to end in tragedy.”
I believe.
“You are benevolent.”
The Tower Master in front of me is a benevolent absolute being.
“You never interfere in our fights and killings. You respect our freedom. But surely you will compensate for the damage caused by the Tower’s error.”
Because it's the Tower’s responsibility, not ours.
“Thank you for building the Tower.”
“I’ve always wanted to say that. I didn’t have the chance before. I’ve always wanted to express my gratitude…. If it weren’t for the Tower, I would have been trash in the outside world. Ah. Well, I was trash even after entering the Tower…”
I lived wrongly.
I lived wrongly, but I got the chance to relive my life.
“If you weren’t there... I would never have gone back more than 4000 days by myself. Never. You said it was revenge and justice... but I only barely endured because someone was watching over me. That's all.”
I bowed my head.
“Thank you.”
I bowed deeply.
“Sincerely, I am grateful.”
There was a long silence.
“Yeah.”
Someone murmured softly.
“I knew I liked him.”
[The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages expresses favor towards you.]
“Me too. It’s been so long since a human came here to express gratitude, I can’t even remember. Wait, was there ever one? Maybe this is the first time.”
[The Staff of Time Immemorial expresses favor towards you.]
“...These days, children somehow harbor hostility towards beings like us. The world is too harsh. I think they need someone to blame and resent.”
[The God Who Dances in Emptiness expresses favor towards you.]
“Ha. They simply don’t want to acknowledge a higher existence than themselves.”
[The Moon Contemplating Blindness looks at you disapprovingly.]
And there was laughter.
“Indeed.”
It was laughter spilled by the Tower Master.
“Certainly. You have a bit of a cute side.”
"......."
“I’m just a mirror, King of Death. If I seem good to you, it’s because you are good."
The serpent's voice smiled.
“State your desired compensation.”
“I wish to return 24 hours from the butler's perspective.”
“And your desired reward?”
“Lady Silver Lily's...”
My heart raced with tension.
“I want you to let Lady Silver Lily…”
“Please preserve my beloved's memories.”
“Keep her memory.”
“Indeed."
The serpent's voice chuckled lightly.
“You could ask for a tremendous skill as a reward, right? After all, you discovered the Tower's error. We should reward you generously. Shall I enhance [Returner’s Winding Clock] for you?”
Temptation.
“You could turn time back however far you wished, rather than only one day. Or how about enhancing [Ghoul Reincarnation]? I could make it retain not only memories, but also the abilities the person possessed while alive.”
“I don’t need it.”
I knelt down.
“Please.”
Respectfully, I lowered my forehead in the direction of the voice.
“I simply want to live with the one I love.”
"......."
And then.
A hand gently caressed my bowed head.
Very slowly.
"King of Death."
[Concluding the meeting.]
“May fortune be with you.”
[May fortune be with you.]
ㆍ
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[Re-adjusting your immersion rate.]
[Your immersion rate is currently 99%.]
[Returning to 24 hours ago.]
ㆍ
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Blink.
"......."
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was the scent of spring flowers blowing in from the window.
My head felt foggy.
Like I had been dreaming for a long time.
“Ah."
A voice, both unfamiliar and familiar, came from nearby.
“You’re finally awake. Butler. You took a rather long nap.”
Lady Goldencup.
My master.
“...My lady?”
“Yes. Your one and only lady.”
Lady Goldencup chuckled. Was she amused by my reaction? She was looking at me with her eyes barely open.
She had adapted to the capital, and there was no trace of the girl who had been famous in her hometown for her wild ways. I regretted that fact a little. Of course, her outward appearance had become sophisticated, but her heart remained the same.
.......
What is it?
“After having dinner with His Highness, I came back only to find that the butler was dozing off in his chair. I was a bit upset that you fell asleep without me. But I let it slide because your sleeping face was cute.”
“My lady......”
“Oh? You look like you’re about to cry. Did you have a nightmare?”
A nightmare? Was that it? Had I had a nightmare?
An inexplicable feeling of suffocation filled my chest. It felt like I had just forgotten something very important. The more I tried to remember, the more distant it became, an elusive sensation.
“Dinner with His Highness…”
To shake off that feeling, I deliberately changed the topic.
“Did you enjoy your dinner with His Highness?”
“Yes. Quite a bit. Listen, butler. Today His Highness gave me a ring made of blue coral!”
Lady Goldencup beamed. Blue coral is a gemstone name. Not particularly valuable, but in the southern regions of the empire, it's often used for proposing to a lover.
“And he did it in the student cafeteria, right in front of all the other young ladies and lords! Really, the Crown Prince is a fool, but at least he is a fool who knows how to make someone happy. I wonder what sort of face Young Duke Ivansia will make on hearing the news!”
Suddenly, I felt breathless.
“Young Duke Ivansia...”
“Ah. Are you curious too?”
"......."
What is it?
Really, what is it?
My heart’s unrest resonated in my throat.
“Raviel......"
Lady Goldencup looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Butler? Even so, openly calling the Young Duke by the given name is a little... Even if we are alone, it is far too rude. Mind your manners, your manners. Sometimes you seem even more ignorant of the capital's etiquette than I am.”
That moment.
-■■■, ■■ ■ ■■■. ■■. ■■ ■■■ ■ ■■ ■■■■!
My head buzzed.
[■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■.]
I clutched my forehead in pain.
“My lady… do you hear something?”
“Something?”
Lady Goldencup tilted her head.
“What kind of sound are you talking about?”
“It’s just, it seems like someone is shouting…”
“Uh-oh, butler. I thought you were joking at first, but now I’m starting to get worried too. Does your head hurt? Is it hot? Should we go to the infirmary?”
“...No. I’m sorry. I keep saying strange things.”
I stood up from the chair.
“I feel a bit of a headache. It doesn’t seem like a cold... I’ll go outside for some fresh air. Is that alright, my lady?”
“Ah. Yes, do that.”
Lady Goldencup looked at me with concern.
“Shall I accompany you?”
“No, it’s really fine..."
-■Gong■ ■ ■■■■!! ■■ ■■! ■ ■■ ■!!
“...I think a little walk will make it better.”
“Alright. Then go ahead. But don’t be too late.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I left the lady’s room and the dormitory.
Magnolias bloomed white like the moon in the night.
But even after stepping out into the garden, the unease in my heart did not subside.
『It’s still the time when I wasn't a returner yet.』
I walked.
『The Crown Prince ended up with Lady Goldencup.』
I walked aimlessly.
Like a sleepwalker in a dream.
『Furious and bitter, I turned to the sword passed down through my family and made a wish.』
『May my love last forever.』
『Then, my life became eternal.』
At the end of my aimless wandering stood, absurdly enough, Young Duke Ivansia's enormous residence. I had passed it before, but never once had I come here of my own accord.
A place unrelated to me.
『My heart has been fixed since that day.』
Yet it shouldn't be.
"......."
Why am I here?
‘Let's go back.’
To where my master waits.
‘Go back.’
I thought so and moved to turn around.
‘I have to go back.’
But for some reason, my steps didn't turn back. Though I thought I should return, my steps moved forward. My hand pushed the iron bars of the gate.
Creak-
The door opened lightly.
There were no guards from the Ivansia family.
"......."
It's truly strange.
Maybe I'm still trapped in a dream.
Then everything makes sense.
Me crossing the gate and walking across the garden for no reason.
My heart aching for no reason at the sight of cherry and magnolia trees in bloom.
And although I had never once been invited to Lady Ivansia's residence, somehow knowing its layout perfectly and following the route without hesitation.
“You’ve come.”
And the duke's daughter standing at the end of that corridor.
『I will be waiting for you.』
Her smiling softly as she looks at me.
“I’ve been waiting.”
Everything.
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