SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 124

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 124: Utopia (3)

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Those captivated by stories face a cruel fate.

Not merely those who enjoy stories, but those obsessed, those gone mad, deeply engrossed to the point of dedicating half their lives to tales.

For them, reality is merely a world that cannot become a story. There are no dramatic twists, no shocking endings. People are just people, never transforming into characters.

Disappointment with reality.

Contempt for humanity.

And above all, worship of stories.

Disappointment, contempt, and worship define those captivated by stories. That’s why they rave when a story unfolds in reality and cheer when people become characters.

They haven’t lost the warmth in their hearts.

They simply wait for moments to rave and cheer.

"......."

The ultimate reader stands before me.

"L-Leafanta Aegim and... a crossover with you."

This person built a library out of love for stories.

"Certainly, it's an attractive proposition, but..."

The library they built was so vast and magnificent that it covered an entire world. Because it contained the thoughts of all things, it was called the Great Library of Myriad Thoughts.

"However, I can only provide Apocalypses. That's the rule I've set. Every story has the right to conclude on its own, and I cannot rashly intervene..."

They’re trembling now.

'They're wavering.'

I'm convinced. The Head Librarian will ultimately be persuaded. No real-world logic can convince them, but the phrase "Don’t you want to see the story?"

That alone can lure them to hell.

"Ah. If you don't want to, just forget it."

It's an irresistible offer.

"I'm just giving you a generous proposal. To create a scene with your favorite characters together. If you don’t like it, just say no."

"......."

“But you really want to see it, don’t you?”

The Head Librarian's face betrays their emotions in real-time. Agony, dilemma, and desire for an impossible crossover, a sumptuous dessert.

"I..."

In the end, the Head Librarian opened their mouth.

"I have a contract with the Tower."

The breath spilling from their lips was hot.

"Not all Constellations are bound by contracts with the tower. Only those who have made a pact can enter. I’m like a tenant, in exchange for renting a floor, I’ve taken on various 'constraints'."

"What kind of constraints?"

"Only to provide humans with 'Apocalypses'..."

The Head Librarian gestures.

Each time their hand cut through the air, thud, thump, the books circling them fell to the floor.

"And an Apocalypse, while having various meanings, does not include [Leafanta Aegim's Epic]."

These books were their bodyguards. When hunters attacked with intent, they overpowered them using the power of these books.

"A contract is a contract... I can't just violate it at will. The tower, the tower's master, would be very angry with me. I don’t want to anger the landlord. Ah, as they say, a tenant is weak to their landlord..."

In other words.

The Head Librarian is disarming themselves.

“Just for your reference..."

Dozens of books fell until every last one was on the floor. Having neutralized all the power under their command, the Head Librarian looked at me.

"I, in fact, am not mighty in terms of personal strength..."

"......."

"Like many Constellations, I have special powers, but I'm surprisingly clumsy in battle. Without my books, I'm just a weak reader. So... you understand, Gong-Ja...?"

Indeed. Understood.

"Yes. You shouldn’t break the contract."

I stride towards the Head Librarian. As I get closer, they nervously interlock their long, thick sleeves and look up at me anxiously.

"Unless it's for an 'unavoidable reason'."

I grab and lift the Head Librarian by the collar.

They’re surprisingly light. Despite the long, thick sleeves, there's no resistance when I lift them.

"Ugh...!"

The Head Librarian gasps.

"Hand over [Leafanta Aegim's Epic]."

"Ah..."

The tremble on their lips intensifies. Threat and coercion. Despite being a Constellation threatened by a mere hunter, the Head Librarian doesn’t resist.

"It’s outrageous... After all the kindness I’ve shown you, after I trusted you... To betray me like this! Ah, the injustice. This is why countless stories warn not to trust humans..."

Such poor acting skills.

I smirk and grip their collar tighter. The Head Librarian gasps, "Hik!"

"Hand it over."

"......."

"Or I’ll kill you. You pervert."

The Head Librarian's face gradually clouds over. We’re staging a drama, but they sense sincerity in my voice.

Of course.

A threat to deceive the tower must contain some truth.

"Pervert, you say. Gong-Ja, that’s a bit harsh...?"

"Collecting people's hair and nails and dreaming of being killed by your favorite character, isn’t that perverted? Wishing to die at the hands of the character you love most, is that normal?"

The Head Librarian shuts up.

"Ah, right. I'm one of your favorite characters too."

I grin.

"How about it? Want me to fulfill your wish right now?"

"Right now...?"

"Want to die by my hand, here?"

The Head Librarian flinches and shrinks. They tremble as if struck by lightning, desire and longing in their eyes. Slowly, with trembling hands, they pull out something from their bosom.

[Leafanta Aegim's Epic].

A worn book, stained by repeated readings, the most cherished among countless volumes, always carried by the Head Librarian.

"I will give it to you..."

They offer me this precious item, more valuable than their life.

"Well done."

I don’t release their collar, instead snatching [Leafanta Aegim's Epic] with one hand. "Ah," the Head Librarian opens their mouth. Their face is a mess, a blend of ecstasy and self-loathing.

[Leafanta Aegim's Epic]

Genre: Unavailable for current grade.

Difficulty: Unavailable for current grade.

Participant Limit: Unavailable for current grade.

*The serialization is ongoing.

Description: Unavailable for current grade.

"Hmm."

So, books not permitted by the Head Librarian are unreadable. An intriguing discovery.

I look down at the Head Librarian, still holding them.

"It's not visible? I can't read it."

"Well, you can see the Apocalypses because I permitted it... All the books here are forbidden. They’re not meant to be read recklessly by humans..."

"Then explain it yourself. Directly."

"......."

The Head Librarian couldn't refuse. They began to divulge the life story of Leafanta Aegim, their most beloved character.

"Leafanta Aegim... the Constellation Killer, is from the same hometown as you."

"What?"

"The same world, same region, even the same race. Not just hometown, but also same surname."

They continued with revelations I didn’t expect. Speaking with eyes cast down, they murmured,

"The surname 'Aegim' was created by the Constellation Killer himself. A simple combination of words. He used English, not the language from your region."

England? English?

‘I’ and ‘Kim’?

"...You mean it says, 'I am a Kim'?"

"Exactly."

Incredible.

"Did I not tell you? Once may be called coincidence. Twice is a bond. When it reaches three times, it becomes inevitability. You and the Constellation Killer have already formed countless points of contact, so yours is a relationship joined by inevitability."

Shocked by the Constellation Killer's true identity, I realized,

'From the same hometown?'

The only person from my hometown I knew well was a ruffian with a ponytail. And now, the Constellation Killer was also from my hometown.

'Am I the only sane one from my hometown?'

As I was pondering, the Head Librarian continued.

"The Constellation Killer was summoned to another world in his youth."

"He was just a high school student. Naturally, he was in utter chaos after being summoned. But with awakened powers, he managed to survive in that harsh world."

"Wait. Hold on."

I was struck by a strong sense of déjà vu. A plot I had heard often.

"Summoned to another world as a high school student. That’s exactly…"

"Yes."

The Head Librarian nodded slightly.

"The genre of [Leafanta Aegim's Epic] is [a high school student crosses into another world and wreaks havoc]. Shortened from that phrase, it is known as [igo-kkaeng]. Though the Constellation Killer is no longer young enough to be called a high school student..."

My jaw dropped. Isekai Havoc.

'I thought that term went extinct with the dinosaurs.'

So the Constellation Killer, Leafanta Aegim, was a creature like the dinosaurs?

"Of course, it's unfair to call him just a havoc-wreaker. He endured countless trials and tribulations to become the first Emperor of the Aegim Empire…"

As the Head Librarian narrated the Constellation Killer's journey, their voice turned into light, merging into [Leafanta Aegim's Epic], forming readable text within the epic.

-A long time ago.

-Atop the corpse of the ancient Dragon Emperor, people lived.

"The Constellation Killer... He set foot on your 20th floor."

-They yearned for a hero.

-Because they had none among them.

"That was where his journey to pierce through the world began."

-They prayed to God.

-God granted their wish.

"This was a journey to establish a kingdom…"

And so, the book, like other Apocalypses, began to emit a pure white light, which the Head Librarian watched as if they feared it.

"Now, the Constellation Killer resides on the 50th floor."

50th floor.

The same location mentioned by the Guardian Spirit.

"There is... a problem. You have not yet cleared your way to the 50th floor. You have not escaped the [novice area]. Higher floors might be another matter, but the [50th floor] is a truly special place... Sending novices to the 50th floor is strictly, absolutely forbidden."

Even others, who had been listening in silence, were shocked.

"The 50th floor and everything below it are the novice area?"

"After all the hardship to get here..."

I wasn't surprised.

I knew the tutorial was considered up to the 10th floor. I had also heard from the Guardian Spirit about competing with hunters from other worlds starting from the 50th floor.

‘In other words, until the 50th floor, we don’t compete with hunters from other worlds, because it’s a measure to protect novices.’

With that thought, I asked,

"So, being forbidden means you can't send anyone to the 50th floor under any circumstances?"

The Head Librarian's face crumbled again.

"That's... not the case. The transfer... the administrator can do it, but at a cost."

"Then it does not matter. You are going to pay the price, aren't you?"

"Ah, at least... limit the number of people to just you, Kim Gong-Ja..."

"......Fine."

Even if the Head Librarian hadn’t pleaded so desperately, I intended to face Leafanta Aegim alone.

"Send me to the 50th floor."

The Head Librarian closed their eyes tightly.

"…Don’t regret it."