SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 11

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 11: The Start of a Solo Run (2)

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-Zombie, do you know what's the most important thing for taking private lessons?

"I wish you would stop calling me a zombie."

-It's the tuition fee.

Having completed our business at the Sang-Ryun headquarters, we left the building.

The streets were bustling as lunchtime approached. Retired hunters operated restaurants and general stores, energetically attracting customers.

Of course, many shops had nothing but flies buzzing around them. Their owners invariably sat by the doors with their mouths hanging blankly open. Those destined to make it would make it; those who were not, would not. Cruel though it was, that truth remained unchanged both in the outside world and in Babylon.

-And you've just secured your tuition fee. So, what's next?

"Maybe a skilled private tutor?"

-Ah, but you've already got one right in front of you.

The Sword Emperor said this shamelessly, without a change in expression.

-What you need now is a good reference book! A textbook to accelerate your growth.

"A textbook..."

-Right. Things like secret martial-arts manuals or elixirs. But at your current level, there is no chance you'd understand a secret manual even if you read one. That leaves us no choice but to gather some damn expensive elixirs.

He always manages to say even the right things in the most annoying way.

-By the way, I don't deal with cheap elixirs. What's it called, the Alchemy Castle? That guild of doctors and pharmacists? Just get the highest quality elixirs made by the best artisans there.

"Yikes."

-I know where the store is, don't worry. Marcus usually visits a place there. If you go and sweep up their elixirs...

"Wait, just hold on a second."

-Hmm? Why?

I lowered my voice as passersby walked nearby.

"···Aren't those elixirs insanely expensive?"

-Of course they're ridiculously expensive. They can name whatever price they want. You'll probably cry out when you hear it.

The Sword Emperor chuckled slyly.

-Want me to give you a ballpark figure?

"···Let's hear it."

He whispered the price in my ear, and I opened my eyes wide in shock. The amount was beyond imagination.

"I can only afford about four with all my remaining money!?"

-Hehe. If you buy them in bulk, you might get a discount and manage about five. Those doctors know how to do business. That's why you should never mess with money-minded doctors.

"Too expensive..."

It seemed like I was going to be broke again. I thought I'd be living comfortably after winning the lottery.

-Well, it might seem painful to spend all that hard-earned money, but what can you do? This tragedy arises from your lack of talent. Just think of it as your fate... Hmm!

The Sword Emperor suddenly tensed up.

-Gong-Ja, hide.

"What?"

-Quickly.

His tone was serious. Reflexively, I hid behind a nearby metal trash can. It stank of rotten and sour garbage, probably from a restaurant's food waste. I cringed.

"What's going on? Why are we hiding?"

-Be careful. It's Marcus.

"......"

I held my breath and cautiously peeped over the trash can. An old man with white hair tied back was walking in the distance. It was the Sword Saint, the current top-ranked hunter with [Eyes of a Detective].

'I'm in trouble if he spots me.'

My heart pounded. Did he sense my tension? The Sword Emperor, usually a loudmouth, stayed silent for a change. We both hid behind the trash can, tracking Marcus.

"...Again... noisy..."

Thankfully, Marcus didn't seem to notice us. As usual, he mumbled to himself and walked away.

-Damn it.

After Marcus entered a building, the Sword Emperor grimaced.

-Shoot! That's the best shop.

"The best shop?"

-For elixirs. The best alchemist around has their shop there. Ah, really! Everyone else is just a quack. We should've bought from there...

The Sword Emperor stomped his feet in frustration. It was the first time I'd seen him genuinely upset. I contemplated deeply beside him.

'It's too risky to use the same shop as Marcus. But, a highly skilled alchemist...'

I searched my smartphone for top-ranked hunters.

The list started from the first rank and scrolled down.

1st Rank: Sword Saint / No affiliation.

2nd Rank: Black Witch / Affiliation: Black Dragon (Guild Leader).

3rd Rank: Countess / Affiliation: Merchants Union (Guild Leader).

4th Rank: Heretic Inquisitor / Affiliation: Pantheon (Guild Leader).

5th Rank: Viper / Affiliation: Celestial Martial Clan (Guild Leader).

6th Rank: Babel's Linguist / Affiliation: Manhak (Deputy Guild Leader).

7th Rank: Wide-Area Communicator / Affiliation: Summons Times (Deputy Guild Leader).

8th Rank: Paladin / Affiliation: Vigilante Corps (Deputy Guild Leader).

ㆍ

"Not there."

I muttered.

The Sword Emperor, who had been fidgeting, responded to my murmur.

-Huh? What's missing? Your luck?

"No, the opposite."

Far from lacking luck, I had more than enough.

"I might not have to spend much after all."

-What?

"I think I can get top-quality elixirs for next to nothing."

I grinned.

"Not merely an ordinarily skilled apothecary, but one with talent on a once-in-history level."

We left the bustling area and entered a shady alley.

A poor neighborhood, where people struggling for money had no choice but to live in deteriorated conditions. It was akin to the slums. Hunters with ominous gazes stared at us from the dark alleys.

-Really? A top-notch alchemist lives here?

The Sword Emperor was clearly skeptical.

"Not merely someone ordinarily skilled. This apothecary has talent on a once-in-history level."

-Stop lying. Why would someone with such talent live in a place like this?

"Ah, if you don't want to believe it, that's up to you."

From down the alley, I could hear tsking sounds. The hunters who had been watching us turned away, probably thinking I was a lunatic. In such a lawless area, people usually didn’t mess with those who seemed mentally unstable.

I smirked to myself.

'Wonder what they would do if they knew my wallet was filled with gold coins?'

The answer was obvious. They would pounce like beasts.

Of course, I had no obligation to kindly tell them about my wallet. Smelling what seemed to be a corpse rotting somewhere, I ventured deeper into the alley. Around then, a shrill voice rang out.

"Please, just don't touch my research tools!"

A young voice, followed by rough responses.

"How many times have we heard that nonsense!"

"You've missed the deadline by half a year. It's time to pay the price."

I headed toward the voices. At a point where alley met alley like the center of a spiderweb, a shabby shop stood in the small open space. That was where the people were arguing.

"If you take all my tools... I really won't have a way to live..."

"Enough of this. Take everything!"

Burly thugs were loading machinery onto a handcart. A woman, probably in her late twenties and seemingly the owner of the shop, desperately clung to the cart.

"Just give me one more week, no, five more days..."

"Wasn't it you who turned that week into half a year!"

Thud. The thugs pushed the cart away, and the woman, unable to resist, fell to the ground. Even with scraped knees, she reached out towards the cart.

"My potion, it's still incomplete..."

"Damn, got stuck dealing with a crazy alchemist. Lady, I'm telling you, never dabble in potion-making again!"

The cart creaked away, disappearing down the alley.

Left behind was the despondent shop owner and onlookers, including myself, who had come to see the commotion. The spectators murmured among themselves.

"Tsk, knew that shop was doomed."

"Her potions are far too expensive. Who charges forty gold for one health potion?"

"Too young and naïve to handle business..."

Perhaps overhearing them, the shop owner suddenly snapped her head up.

"Expensive? I barely make a profit!"

She looked quite wretched. Her long hair was clumped with grease, as if she had not washed it for days. Even the glasses on her face were worn as an old antique. Her shrill voice sounded less like jade beads rolling and more like jade shattering.

"I provide the best potions in Babylon for such prices! I should be thanked for opening a shop in such a rundown area!"

"Yeah, right. Dream on, girl."

"Acting all high and mighty..."

The onlookers shook their heads and dispersed.

Unlikable!

It seemed impossible to feel any fondness for the shop owner.

"Ah... w-wait, everyone. Since you've already gathered here, at least buy one health potion... One dose of my special potion can have a hunter at death's door springing to life."

"No thanks, we're not buying!"

The shop owner's belated attempt to retain customers was futile. The crowd quickly vanished.

"It really works... It's not a lie..."

In the end, the shop owner sank heavily to the ground.

-Hey.

Having observed the whole spectacle, the Sword Emperor muttered.

-Don't tell me the 'extraordinary alchemist' you mentioned... is that loser?

"If I said yes, what would you do?"

-I'd seriously worry about your mental state. I'd think dying more than 4,000 times had finally damaged your brain. Then I'd introduce you to the best psychological counselor in Babylon.

I scoffed.

"I should have been concerned about my mental state the moment I started seeing ghosts. That shop owner, she's indeed an extraordinary alchemist."

-Not an extraordinary alchemist, more like an extraordinary loser! You're insane!

The Sword Emperor ranted, but I ignored him. I approached the shop owner, who was still sitting on the ground.

"Excuse me."

"Uh...?"

The shop owner looked up at me. Seen up close, she appeared even shabbier. Perhaps she had scavenged her clothes somewhere, because both the top and trousers were too long. Only the white coat over them barely suggested, “Ah, she must be an apothecary, not a beggar.”

"Miss, are you still open for business?"

Of course, she was no beggar.

Nor was she just an ordinary alchemist.

"If you're still open, I'd like to order some potions."

Master Alchemist.

The alchemist who would eventually rise to the 5th rank.

Currently unranked, but destined for greatness.

"It's a bit pricey. Is that alright?"

"Yes, yes! Of course! I can make anything you need!"

Her face brightened. What a relief for her, just when her shop seemed doomed, a customer willing to pay for expensive potions appeared.

"So, how expensive are we talking...?"

"Well."