SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 127

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 127: Demonic Realm (3)

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“……Indeed.”

Leafanta Aegim nodded.

“I understand the logic behind your actions. You judged it impossible to defeat me with your strength alone, so you drew in an outside force. I had concluded that a beginner who appeared to have only just reached the 50th floor could not mobilize an outside power...”

As Leafanta Aegim spoke, countless meteor showers were cutting through the ashen sky. Ssshhh! Flames shot from a far distance. Thousands of attacks, comprised of immense magical power.

“It was my error.”

The meteor showers approached more rapidly. But Leafanta Aegim remained indifferent. With an impassive gaze, he began scribbling something in his diary with his fountain pen.

“Henceforth, I shall consider the intervention of powerful external forces even when dealing with beginners.”

“Crazy! Let’s get out of here!”

“Have the spiders from the Magic Tower gone mad?”

The surrounding hunters reacted faster than Leafanta Aegim did. Pop! Pop! All around us, they tore instant-teleportation scrolls, apparently essential items for hunters living on the 50th floor. The bald bartender did the same, but screamed at us just before escaping.

“Hey! Leafanta Aegim! I’m going to bill you for the remodeling costs again, so don’t forget to write it down! You’re paying for the scroll cost too!”

“Understood.”

Thud.

“I’ve recorded it.”

Leafanta Aegim closed his diary.

“As per our agreement, I will now protect this foreigner with all my might.”

At that moment, the meteor shower was upon us. Kwang! Bang! The relentless bombardment pummeled the streets. Just as the storm of destruction was about to engulf the open-air bar, a hand firmly grasped my wrist.

“Maximize visual and auditory perception. In return, I forfeit my memories of [1 hour].”

Leafanta Aegim muttered.

And then, an astounding feat unfolded.

He avoided the barrage of meteor showers, which seemed to cover the sky, by merely taking a few steps. One step. Two steps. Every time he pulled me along, the meteor showers fell perilously close.

-Huh?

A furious voice echoed from above.

-Hey, you Constellation fetishist! Why are you butting in? Get lost! The man with you is the Magic Tower's sworn enemy! Unless you want to make an enemy of the Great Staff, disappear quietly!

“First, I request a resolution through dialogue.”

Leafanta Aegim waved his right hand, and the dust cloud created by the meteor shower was cleared instantly. Both he and I were completely unharmed.

-What kind of nonsensical dialogue are you talking about? Go away, you maniac!

“I am bound to protect this foreigner at all costs. Protection means ensuring the safety of not only his physical body but also his mind. There is no room for compromise here.”

Leafanta Aegim again opened his diary with his left hand.

“The Magic Tower is an exceedingly selfish group. Being selfish, they can negotiate based on their interests and losses. I am a being who can inflict severe losses on them. Negotiate.”

-That guy is our mortal enemy! Mortal, enemy, I tell you!

“Every problem can be resolved through rational dialogue.”

-Hey! Hey! Everyone! Report if anyone knows how much memory Leafanta Aegim has left!

Tens of thousands of mages sat astride broomsticks overhead. One of them answered.

-Reporting from the Constant Surveillance Unit, I'm Hong Boseok! Leader! Leafanta Aegim currently has 7 days of memory remaining!

-Damn, why did it have to be a full week!?

The sound of grinding teeth filled the air.

-It doesn't matter! Take down that Constellation fetishist too! As of this moment, the Magic Tower is under full mobilization! Everyone belonging to the Magic Towers, from the First Finger to the Fifth Finger, hunt the Sword Emperor and the Constellation Killer! I repeat, bastards! This is a full mobilization order!

“...Negotiations have failed.”

Leafanta Aegim murmured.

His diary fluttered open.

“Search, Magic Tower. Additional search, combat. Detailed search, countermeasures.”

Leafanta Aegim glanced briefly at the diary and nodded. He took out a rubber band, a cheap item that can be bought in the outside world, a yellow rubber band, and tied his long silver hair.

"......."

I watched from close by as Leafanta Aegim tied his hair. It might have taken only 2 seconds, but I knew that gesture was one of the few rituals and ceremonies he had left.

“We are now entering combat.”

-Kill them!!

From above, tens of thousands of mages charged down.

-Ensigns, surround them!

Not all enemies charged at once.

-Singers, stay in the back and chorus!

-Yes!

In the ashen sky, the formation of mages was displayed. The formation resembled gigantic rings. Hundreds of mages formed five rings, beginning their chorus.

Six layers of melody resounded.

-Oh.

The Guardian Spirit remarked.

-Been a while since I've seen that. It's a Pseudo-Star Chant.

‘A Pseudo-Star Chant?’

-You see, there are five towers standing, right? Each tower has a sealed constellation in its basement. Well, it's technically more of a confinement than a seal. Anyway, they manifest the powers of the sealed constellations through songs and borrow them, and the effect is…

[Warning. You are targeted by an area-wide attack.]

[Warning. The power of the aura you emit is halved!]

[Warning. The power of the magic you emit is halved!]

[Warning. The power of your mental defense is halved!]

[Warning. All types of penalties you receive are doubled.]

The Guardian Spirit nodded.

-Mm. The effects are pretty fucked-up.

‘Are you kidding?’

-They call it a spider web. That's why they're nicknamed spiders.

Truly fitting for a monstrous group that has reigned over the 50th floor for over a thousand years. Before the battle even started, our power had been drastically reduced. The Guardian Spirit, who had torn through such a web 150 years ago, must have been a monster beyond monsters.

“---Single strike. Enhanced.”

And before my eyes stood one man who had fought that monster.

“In exchange, I forfeit my memory of the beauty of sunsets.”

Suddenly, a sword appeared in Leafanta Aegim’s right hand.

One step.

With a dance-like grace, Leafanta Aegim swung his sword.

The air split apart.

It was more like a typhoon than a sword strike. A blue aura split the ashen sky in two. One of the six rings formed in the sky got caught in the typhoon.

-Re-regroup! Regroup!

-Retreat!

Hundreds of mages screamed as they fell, unable to control their broomsticks and crashing to the ground. The black hats dropped by the mages fluttered like black flower petals.

[The effect of the doubled penalties is restored.]

But Leafanta Aegim did not stop.

A blunt voice flowed from his lips.

“Single strike enhanced. In exchange, I forfeit the memory of the sound of rain falling from the sky.”

The sky was torn apart again.

[The power of the halved aura is restored!]

-That madman! That lunatic! That Constellation fetishist!

-The thumb ring is destroyed! The index finger ring is destroyed! It's difficult to maintain the formation!

-Leader! It's reckless to fight Leafanta Aegim when he's fully charged for a week!

-You fucking Constellation fetishist! Enough, shut up and charge! Charge!

The mages shot fireballs. Ice blocks were vomited out. At ground level where Leafanta Aegim and I stood, roots and weeds grew instantly, trying to grab our ankles. The air churned. The jungle grew. Fog spread, obscuring the vision. Countless spells and miracles, innumerable to even mention, engulfed us both.

And then.

“Single strike enhanced.”

Leafanta Aegim merely held a diary in one hand and a sword in the other.

“In exchange, I forfeit the memory of children’s smiles.”

Every spell and miracle was torn apart.

[The power of the halved magic is restored!]

[The power of the halved mental defense is restored!]

[The designation as a target of an area-wide attack is lifted.]

The fireballs were destroyed. The ice blocks were split. The roots were cut, and the weeds decayed. A blue wind swirled through the air, and the jungle disappeared. After the fog lifted, the mages were left groaning.

-The middle finger ring was destroyed! The ring finger ring was destroyed! The little finger ring, destroyed!

-The Pseudo-Star Chant has been completely shattered, Leader!

-He's attacking precisely the weak points of the rings?!

-Damn…! Who leaked our secrets…!

I watched the great battle unfolding before my eyes in a daze.

The mages persistently attacked, but to no avail. Leafanta Aegim fought by sacrificing trivial memories, the drink he just had, the streets he walked yesterday, and other minor recollections.

A single hunter was contending with tens of thousands of mages.

-How is it? It’s a completely opposite fighting style to yours, isn’t it?

The Guardian Spirit chuckled.

-What Leafanta Aegim uses is also a kind of Demonic Art. The Divine Art of the Demonic Heaven you use is based on memories, like the memories of hunger, loneliness… Leafanta Aegim does the opposite. He [forsakes memories].

A Demonic Art opposite to mine.

-Watch closely. This is a level of combat you will eventually encounter.

Leafanta Aegim’s method of fighting was calm yet tragic.

“I forsake the memory of walking under a gentle sky.”

He relinquished his memories one by one. Leafanta Aegim’s tone was plain, and his swordplay was straightforward. In this sense, his fight was calm.

“I forsake the memory of the timbre of screams in human agony.”

But the memories Leafanta Aegim discarded were anything but trivial. As the fight dragged on, his memories opened up like boxes being unlocked in sequence. It was like Pandora's box, once opened, the contents evaporated.

-Leafanta Aegim lives with a week’s worth of memory at most, or a day's worth at the least.

The Guardian Spirit spoke.

-He seldom retains memories longer than a week. Because every time he accumulates a week’s worth, he goes hunting constellations. To hunt constellations, a week's memory is sufficient.

"......."

-You said he suffered from amnesia? Strictly speaking, that’s incorrect. He sacrifices his memories to carry out his duties.

That was, more precisely, burning his own life.

[Shiny cannot bear to watch the previous owner’s fight.]

My holy sword trembled.

[Shiny recalls that the previous owner never fought like this. Shiny does not know when or why he changed to this extent.]

The mage army of the Magic Tower was already exhausted.

The circular rings had long since been destroyed.

Initially, they had maintained a strict formation, attacking and retreating from Leafanta Aegim… but perhaps they had reached their limit. The formation crumbled. The mages only participated in sporadic attacks.

-Leader, look. Fighting Leafanta Aegim with a full week’s memory… it’s impossible….

-He's an overpowered character as we proclaimed….

-Pouring more magical power into this would only incur more losses!

-The surveillance team has been pestering us for a while, Leader. The Constellations have noticed the disturbance and are watching this place closely. There is a high chance they will begin an invasion while we are weakened.

-Tsk!

The apparent leader of the mages, a woman, ground her teeth. She took off her conical hat and crumpled it in her left hand. Filled with immense rage, she glared at me.

-Sword Emperor… Sword Emperor, Sword Emperor, Sword Emperor!!

-Oh my. My popularity doesn’t wane even in death.

The Guardian Spirit shrugged.

-See, Zombie? Being too exceptional also has its problems.

-I see you've allied with Leafanta Aegim! Just you wait! Our Magic Tower won’t hold back in hunting you down! This might end simply as a power struggle, but next time, definitely!

The mages looked disgusted.

-Wow… Leader, that’s a typical loser’s excuse for running away….

-Quiet. Don’t mess with the Leader now. You’ll be turned into a frog and eaten.

-We’ll definitely crush you!!

As the mages scattered and turned their brooms away, Leafanta Aegim spoke.

“Wait. Tower Master of the Magic Tower.”

-What!

“I still have twenty-three hours' worth of memories. If I expend twenty-two of those hours to enhance a single strike, I can destroy one of your spires.”

- …Are you threatening us?

“Yes.”

Leafanta Aegim calmly affirmed.

“According to my records, Tower Master, you are extremely concerned about face. Failing to eliminate me even after declaring a full mobilization must be a considerable loss. But losing a tower would be an even greater blow. Consider my threat.”

-.......

The Tower Master’s face twisted like a goblin’s.

“For the next week, you are forbidden to attack or scheme against this man or me in any way. Attacks and schemes encompass every action and thought intended to harm us. Both direct and indirect methods are forbidden. If subjective judgment is required, the people exercising that judgment shall be us. You will not be permitted to impose your own judgment.”

-You goddamn swordsmen, both of you….

“Once again, I threaten. Accept a week-long truce.”

Leafanta Aegim gripped his sword.

"If you don’t accept, I will destroy it.”

A hush fell over the devastated wasteland.

-You… know this, you’re now on the Magic Tower’s hit list.

“Do you agree to the truce?”

As the Tower Master clicked her tongue, a piece of paper materialized in front of Leafanta Aegim. It was a golden, shimmering contract. Leafanta Aegim glanced at it indifferently, then signed it with his pen.

“A satisfactory negotiation. Now withdraw.”

-When we kill the Sword Emperor, we’ll bury you with him. Leafanta Aegim.

“I’ll record your hostility clearly.”

-Ptui!

The mages turned their brooms. Like a swarm of autumn locusts, they slowly receded into the sky.

The surroundings quieted down.

Besides Leafanta Aegim and me, there was no one else around.

Leafanta Aegim turned to face me.

“I have fulfilled the promise to you, Stranger.”

"......."

“However, as I observed, I have fallen into a trap. I won the battle but at the cost of reducing a week’s worth of memories to just a day. My strength has been significantly weakened. Such a power reduction must have been your aim.”

Leafanta Aegim described his situation impassively.

As if talking about someone else’s story.

-Gong-Ja.

The Guardian Spirit's voice deepened.

-Don't let your guard down. Right now, he's deliberately engaging in conversation with you to buy time. Don’t see him as human. He is a weapon, moving strictly according to the content he has input.

‘Yes.’

I gripped my holy sword.

‘I am aware.’

And glared at Leafanta Aegim.

“Yes, I will bring you down.”

“On the other hand, as per the promise, I cannot attack you. I can only avoid or defend against your attacks. ...It’s a dangerous situation. If what the Tower Master said is true, and you are the Sword Emperor himself or his successor, it would be particularly dangerous.”

“My name is King of Death. I am the Vice-lord of the Demonic Cult, and the wife of the Ivansia Ducal Family.”

Leafanta Aegim flipped open his diary and wrote down my name. He questioned me while moving his pen.

“What is the Demonic Cult?”

“The sword that responds to every scream.”

“What does being a Vice-lord entail?”

“The first sword to be swung.”

“What does King of Death mean?”

I raised my red aura.

“The name of the one who will reap you.”

Now it was my turn to ask.

“Leafanta Aegim. Do you possess the memory of hunger?”

“It's recorded in the diary. But if we talk about the memories I can consciously recall, then no. I do not have any memory of hunger."