SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 120

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 120: Hero (2)

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King.

"Uh…"

I smiled instinctively, as people often do when faced with an unexpected situation.

Looking around, my gaze met with Black Dragon Master, Heretic Inquisitor, Viper, Paladin, and Countess in turn.

"...You're joking, right?"

"Of course."

"Of course," said Black Dragon Master. I hoped for a follow-up like 'Of course, it's a joke.' However, what she said next was entirely different from what I expected.

"Of course, we're not suddenly going to adopt a monarchy now. King of Death. You may not be aware, but the Tower's current system is the result of our blood, sweat, and tears... through endless failures and frustrations."

"We have been striving to realize an ideal of anarchism. Ahaha. The 'guilds' operating in the Tower are actually a type of association…"

"Enough. That kind of talk won't help the King of Death."

Paladin cut off the conversation.

"A king is merely a symbol. But symbols hold real power. Kim Gong-Ja, you already possess that power. By your name, by your character, as many as a hundred thousand people enter the Tower in a single day."

"......"

“This is unprecedented. Even Black Dragon Master couldn't achieve this. You're the first Tower hunter to have this kind of power!"

Only then did I notice Paladin's excitement.

The Paladin was always calm and collected. The only other time she had raised her voice was during the [12th Floor Incident], now forgotten by everyone, when suspicion consumed them all and they tried to eliminate one another.

Such an excited Paladin.

And not just her.

Excluding the Heretic Inquisitor, all the major guild leaders were engulfed in a peculiar fervor. They were struggling not to let their enthusiasm burst into fanaticism, but their eyes betrayed their excitement when they looked at me.

"Previously, we couldn't handle such an influx of population. We lacked food. But now, [we] have secured enough land and trade routes... it'll be tough, but we can feed them."

"Most importantly, we have [experience]."

The Countess spoke.

"It's no boast, but everyone here has experienced chaos. Paladin is a refugee from a fallen nation. Black Dragon Master is an orphan from a country torn apart by civil war, and Heretic Inquisitor and Viper grew up under the thumb of the mafia and thugs. I was born in the poorest village in the world. Everyone here is an 'expert in troubled times.'"

"Right."

Black Dragon Master muttered.

"Only we can handle such a crisis in this world. No country, no state in the outside world can. But [we] can! We've overcome worse chaos than this!"

"......"

I swallowed, feeling the guild leaders' fervor directly.

Those who fled the old world for a new one and reached the pinnacle of the new world as guild leaders, they hadn't given up their desire to build a new world.

"King of Death, we can do this."

A dream.

"Let's do what no country in the outside world could. Let's make a better place. Let's create a world where those driven out and who fled here can breathe a little easier!"

An ideal.

"We know what societal collapse means. So, we can prevent it."

Paladin, who escaped from a South American country.

"We know what it means for people to be divided and go to war. So, we can avoid civil wars."

Black Dragon Master, who survived the war-ravaged Black Sea.

"We know what violence is. So, we can utilize it."

Heretic Inquisitor, raised in Eastern European mafia organizations.

Viper, who grew in the Triads of Central China.

"We know what poverty is, and so, we can conquer it."

Countess, born in a garbage village in India.

"Let's show them, King of Death."

Black Dragon Master said.

"Let's show the people we can make a slightly better world!"

And then I realized.

The one who changed the guild leaders was none other than me.

In the previous world, this never happened. In a world dominated by Flame Emperor as the top ranker... the Tower was still just a Tower.

A refuge for those who lost hope.

A paradise for criminals and death row inmates.

I never saw Black Dragon Master, who now spoke of a [new world] with sparkling eyes, in the previous world. Not in any magazine photo. Not in any interview video.

Black Dragon Master was always a person with eyes frozen cold.

It was because of me that she changed.

"......"

My heart pounded.

"I..."

The world my master dreamed of.

"Tell me what I need to do."

I can change the world.

"…Right. Yeah. I thought you'd say that."

Black Dragon Master smiled softly. Her eyes held trust in me.

"Just be yourself as you always are. That's the most important thing. We can slowly teach you the ropes of politics."

"Ahaha. If you look at it a bit cynically, we'll monopolize the real power, so King of Death, just keep playing the role of the figurehead!"

"…Well, I won't deny that. But if I could, I'd gladly hand over this position to someone else. Do you want to know how many violent crimes occur every day now?"

"Ah, crimes wearing the guise of religion are extremely common too! In the last ten days alone, twenty-one terrorist plots by extremists were uncovered in advance!"

"Let's not talk about this anymore. It just makes our situation seem more pitiful…"

Hmm.

Being myself is the most important thing.

'Then.'

I looked around.

"Librarian! Head Librarian! Where are you!"

My voice echoed through the vast library. A small shadow peeked out from behind a bookshelf as large as a house. It was the Constellation [Holed-Up Head Librarian], whom I had not seen in a long time.

"Hey, what are you doing there? Come here."

"B-but... but..."

The Head Librarian's lips trembled.

"How can a mere wretch like me dare to face the King of Death? My presence will only dirty your eyes. Please treat me as non-existent, just a speck of dust in the library…"

"Ah, stop your nonsense and just come here."

"Uh. Ugh. Uh…"

The Librarian floated weakly toward me. Their long sleeves fluttered like the ears of a dejected Maltese puppy.

"Speak..."

"Bring out the next stage's book."

"What kind of Apocalypse do you wish?"

"Fairy tale."

"......"

The Head Librarian's lips sealed shut. I continued without hesitation.

"There's only one fairy tale book among the Apocalypses given to us. Give me that one."

"……Hmm. Indeed. A peculiar fate."

The Librarian's expression changed. As though they had not been trembling before me moments ago, the corners of their eyes curved into a half-open smirk.

"Fine. The Apocalypse you speak of is this one."

One of the floating books among the Head Librarian's collection flew towards us. As the Head Librarian opened the cover, information about the Apocalypse appeared.

[Me and Our Scapegoat]

Genre: Fairy Tale

Difficulty: A-rank

Required Participants: 2 or more

*The serialization has been discontinued.

Description: Humanity in this world succeeded in creating a utopia. But maintaining that utopia required a special source of power: the scream an innocent child lets out while suffering despite having committed no sin. It is regrettable, but surely one innocent child can endure it for the perfect happiness of seventeen million people? Thanks to carefully developed torture techniques and life-prolonging treatment, approximately five years' worth of screams can be extracted from each child. Efficient!

Reason for Discontinuation: 118,000 years have passed since the creation of the utopia. In the end, every innocent child was used up. Having lost its power source, the utopia came to a halt.

'That's right.'

This is the Apocalypse.

From the first time I saw it, I've been keeping it in mind.

"Everyone. I want to select this Apocalypse for our next stage."

"Huh?"

The guild leaders turned to look at me.

Among them, Black Dragon Master tilted her head.

"A fairy tale book? Sorry, King of Death, but that fairy tale world probably doesn't have any significant resources or territory. It's also rated [A-rank] in difficulty... Do we really need to conquer it?"

"Yes, we do."

I looked into Black Dragon Master's eyes.

"Up to now, we have chosen Apocalypses based on how useful they would be to the Tower. The martial arts secrets stored in [The Veritable Records of the Heavenly Demon] will enhance the Tower's power. Interactions with the SF world will greatly advance our scientific capabilities."

The Apocalypses we've conquered so far are as follows:

21st Floor: Great Library of Myriad Thoughts

22nd Floor: The Veritable Records of the Heavenly Demon (Genre: Martial Arts, Fusion)

23rd Floor: Chronicles of the Space Iron Knight (Genre: SF)

24th Floor: Daybreak Mountain Hut Diary (Genre: Mystery, History)

25th Floor: Tales of Sormewin Academy (Genre: Romance)

26th Floor: Festival City Apocalypse (Genre: Sports)

27th Floor: Bakery Street Epic (Genre: Cooking, Management)

After completing the mission in [Tales of Sormewin Academy], I remained there for fifteen days. During those fifteen days, the other hunters cleared the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh floors. Every hunter with a title had joined forces and devoted themselves to clearing the stages.

Now, only the 28th, 29th, and 30th Floors remain.

'But.'

I have my own plan. If things go as I hope... this 28th Floor will effectively be the last Apocalypse.

With that plan in mind, I continued.

"Resources and technology are not the only things that can benefit us. Heretic Inquisitor, you said it yourself. The Tower's population is growing by nearly a hundred thousand people every day."

"Hm."

"What we need now is a focal point. Unity."

Heretic Inquisitor blinked.

"I agree, but that's why we're proposing to establish you as King. You are the focal point of the Tower. We will soon arrange an appropriate position for you! Something grand like [Guild Alliance Leader] or [Council Chairman]."

I shook my head.

Guild Alliance Leader.

Such a title might tempt some, seeming like the highest seat of power in the Tower.

"Such deception won't work."

"Deception, you say?"

"It is not only me. Everyone here must earn the people's support. I am not the one who actually governs the Tower. You are. Only when all of you have their support can the Tower truly unite as one."

"......"

Silence fell around us.

The Heretic Inquisitor smiled.

"You have a point. But do you realize? King of Death, we bear grave sins. We have committed, and are committing, tremendous acts under the guise of ending chaos in the Tower. Regrettably, we lack moral justification!"

"…Heretic Inquisitor is right."

Black Dragon Master muttered.

"We've done too much to be symbols."

"From now on, just do well. Please, do well."

"......"

"We're a team. I can't resolve religious issues as fiercely as the Heretic Inquisitor. I can't deal with gangsters like Viper. Politics, economy, security, I can't do as well as you in all of it. It's not false modesty; it's the truth."

But.

"I will never betray you. You can trust me."

Uniting these talented individuals is something I'm confident in.

"If there's a problem among you, I'll mediate. If a discussion is needed, I'll create a place for it. Trust me. Let's become one team."

"......"

The guild leaders fell silent.

I held up [Me and Our Scapegoat], the single fairy-tale book, toward them.

"As you said, this Apocalypse contains no remarkable resources. It has no fertile land either. But it contains [a sacrifice that no one could possibly accept]. Everyone, this sacrifice must not be permitted. By clearing this world, let us show the people of the world what kind of people we are."

Yes.

This was a declaration of intent.

A declaration of how we would govern the Tower.

We would not turn away from sacrifice. We would face it. Even if an impossible obstacle lay in wait, we would break through it head-on.

We would show the world that we were [such people].

"Then we can earn their trust. We can ask the Tower's residents to believe in us."

"I see. Trust in those governing the Tower?"

"Yes."

I looked at each guild leader.

"This Apocalypse permits at least two participants. Black Dragon Master. Heretic Inquisitor. Countess. Viper. Paladin..."

The Tower's most illustrious all-star lineup.

And my comrades.