WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 137: Surviving (2)

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2.

I woke up in a dark abyss.

Surrounded by pitch blackness.

It was the Netherworld I returned to every time I died.

[The condition for your skill has been fulfilled by your death.]

[Randomly copying one of Constellation Killer's skills.]

I was stunned.

I knew Constellation Killer’s story took place in the past. But never did I imagine that past also contained the director’s childhood... It never crossed my mind.

‘The Constellation Killer and the director were classmates.’

They attended the same school. Were in the same classroom. Shared the same moments. One of them had time eternally halted. The other, the hands of their clock perpetually frozen.

One’s clock shattered.

The other’s clock broke.

‘Why...’

Anger pressed down on my heart.

‘Why is it always the righteous ones who get shattered and broken? Why are those who inflict pain unscathed, while those who are hurt have to die? Why does the world become hell only for those who feel guilt?’

My anger settled at the bottom, endless. My emotions subsided. But sunken emotions don't disappear. They just accumulate from the bottom.

The water level of my heart rose a bit more.

Eventually, it will overflow into raging torrents.

-Heh.

A voice flowed into my heated head.

It was the Guardian Spirit.

-As expected, it's most delightful to see the zombie bastard get killed due to his carelessness. I've seen it all as a ghost, the disgraceful and the not-so, but if there’s a silver lining, it's watching Kim Zombie's defeat. Kukkukkuk!

"......."

-How about it? The 50th floor isn't so easy, is it? Constellation Killer isn't easy prey, is he? That's what you get for using a trick to reach the 50th floor. You brought it all on yourself, you bastard!

Guardian Spirit chuckled.

As if [I had just fought Constellation Killer until a moment ago].

Hearing Guardian Spirit's tone, I guessed.

‘…The Guardian Spirit didn't join this trauma.’

Until now, we had journeyed through every trauma together. Starting with [Hellfire Mansion], there had been Preta, my master, and Raviel. The Guardian Spirit sometimes complained as he watched the traumas and sometimes remained silent, but he was always with me.

This time was different.

I was alone, peering into a month-long trauma.

“I had a nightmare.”

-Eh?

The Guardian Spirit blinked.

-A nightmare? What kind of nightmare?

“A trauma. This trauma was a bit strange. Sword Emperor, you weren’t with me, and Constellation Killer’s psyche wasn’t fully reproduced. It was like an error had occurred…”

I told him about the trauma. I went back over everything that had happened. Of course, I never mentioned that the Sword Emperor had appeared as my father. If I brought that up, he'd milk it until my hair turned white.

-Hmm.

After listening to my story, Guardian Spirit sank into deep thought.

-That’s weird. Why? Because it doesn’t make sense that I wasn't with you. Technically, I'm being called a ghost or a spirit for convenience, but to be precise, I'm a [Skill].

Guardian Spirit was right.

+

[Sword Constellation]

Rank: A+

Effect: From another world, he cleared his world’s tower up to floor 99 but failed on the 100th. His lingering resentment kept him from passing on, and he became a Guardian Spirit. 

He cannot physically interfere with this world, but he can meddle with the skill holder's mind. 

Seek his guidance, drawing on his wealth of experience and astonishing skill! 

*However, no one except the skill holder can perceive the Guardian Spirit. 

*Skill copied from Marcus Calenbury.

+

The Guardian Spirit's identity was essentially a skill.

Though he retained the memories of his life, he was ultimately stored within a skill card.

-So, basically, I’m like a person living off you. A mental tenant, perhaps? Unless you forcibly tear up the card, there's no reason why I couldn't follow you into trauma.

But Guardian Spirit didn’t participate in this trauma.

"......That’s strange. Something’s off."

-Hmm.

In the darkness, we both pondered side by side. Time passed without finding an answer. Eventually, Guardian Spirit, tired of thinking, got annoyed.

-Ah, forget it! Thinking is tiresome! Just remember the weird stuff, and the answers will come someday. Hurry up and draw one of Constellation Killer's skills! How long has it been since that demonic art? Goldencup or whatever, she only had the blessings of the constellation, but no skills, right?

As if responding to Guardian Spirit’s words, cards began to float up in the darkness.

[Creating skill cards.]

[Please select a skill card.]

A total of 10 cards were formed. Arrays of silver and gold cards. They flitted through the air as if they had wings.

-Now then. Let's rummage through Constellation Killer's inventory! Look at this bastard. He's been hoarding all the cool skills for himself. This is why hunters who focus on skills are such a pain. Huh? Look at this.

Guardian Spirit excitedly read the backs of the cards.

Among them, two skills caught my attention.

+

[Puppeteer's Parade]

Rank: S

Effect: In one world lived an old puppeteer. The puppeteer feared being loved by someone, but they were not strong enough to endure eternal solitude.

"Let's create another me," the puppeteer decided. "Let another me be loved. Let them live with people, among people. And if they get hurt, I'll throw them away." The puppeteer whispered, "I'll erase them forever."

Countless puppets lived.

Countless puppets were discarded.

This skill is a sorcery for the weak. The right to choose memories to keep and discard. You can create 13 puppets with the same appearance and abilities as you. When a puppet dies, another wakes up. Broken puppets can be repaired.

Granting you a replicated immortality. An assembled eternity.

*However, memories are not shared between puppets.

+

Constellation Killer’s secret was there.

‘So, there are 13 puppets in total.’

What happened to the Constellation Killer's original body? Is the original body also included in the puppets, or is it separate, asleep somewhere in this vast world?

I then eavesdropped on the next secret.

+

[The Torn Goddess's Salvation]

Rank: A+

Effect: There was a goddess who dedicated herself to a hero. Although the hero had torn her apart, the goddess still wished to remain by the hero's side. The goddess fell from heaven and sealed herself inside a skill card.

The goddess converts memories into power. By offering memories to the goddess, you can enhance your abilities and strength. The more important the memory you offer, the more amplified the enhancement effect.

*However, the enhancement effect does not last long.

+

The goddess must be referring to the [Goddess of Protection].

The hero would be Constellation Killer.

Undoubtedly.

The [Goddess of Protection] was split into five aspects: Idol, Pity, Prayer, Sacrifice, and Salvation. I had gathered four of those aspects. The final one, Salvation, had become a skill in Constellation Killer's possession.

-Hmm.

Guardian Spirit snorted.

-You'd expect nothing less from Constellation Killer. Every last one of his skills is creepy. They're all ominous. The abilities are decent, but not one of them feels good. No wonder the Constellations who go wild for broken people like him...

I nodded.

“I’ve decided. Which one to choose.”

-Hmm. Isn’t the downside too great compared to the advantage?

Guardian Spirit argued.

-Just pass them up. Neither [Puppeteer's Parade] nor [The Torn Goddess's Salvation] is necessary for you right now. I hate to admit it, but your current skill lineup is pretty complete. Except for that damn Goblin High Society...

"Goblin High Society will soar to great heights one day."

-The only thing soaring will be your head. Oh wait, it already did spectacularly. Anyway, adding a half-baked skill now would only mess up your synergy, right?

"Yes. I think the same. But there's a use for it."

I need to defeat the Constellation Killer.

But my victory does not mean erasing Constellation Killer.

'I must do much better.'

I have to make Constellation Killer acknowledge that his way is wrong.

Not just my power overwhelming his, but [my way] defeating [his way].

That's true victory.

'Constellation Killer.'

I reached for a card.

'Leafanta Aegim.'

Thinking of the hunter with several names.

Thinking of the first name I still don’t know.

[Selection complete.]

[Copying skill.]

[You will return 24 hours back to the past.]

■■.

Let's end our long nightmare.

3.

When I returned to one day earlier, I had yet to clear the [Fairy Tale] world.

Although I spent a month in Constellation Killer's trauma.

In the tower, not even a day had passed.

So, I had to clear the [Fairy Tale] world again. Knowing in advance that [The Immortal Missionary of Happiness] was planning an ambush made it easier than before. But it still drained my mental and physical energy.

‘Next time, I should rest at least a day while climbing the tower...’

I realized anew the importance of save points.

"Countess."

"Hmm?"

Right after clearing the fairy tale world and returning to the Great Library, I approached the Countess.

"I have a favor to ask."

"What is it, what is it? Treasure of our Tower. Treasure of our Sang-Ryun. Ask for anything! I'll grant it."

The Countess greeted me more radiantly than usual. Her lips formed a 'w' shape. Maybe she was happy because clearing the stage cost less than she expected.

For a moment, I recalled the Countess's image from the trauma.

『They sent a message like that.』

『Are they seriously insane?』

I hesitated.

"Why so?"

The owner of Sang-Ryun tilted her head in front of me.

"Your complexion suddenly turned pale."

"…No. It's nothing. Just spaced out for a moment."

I shook my head quickly to rid myself of those thoughts.

The classmate in the trauma had merely copied the Countess's appearance. That classmate was a fake. Equating that fake, even slightly, with the person before me would be deeply disrespectful to the Countess.

"Perhaps you've exhausted yourself too much in the Apocalypse? Be careful. Taking care in youth ensures you won’t run out of steam when you get older. Anyway, what's your request?"

"I want to send a letter to the outside world."

I said.

"It doesn't have to be a letter per se, but I need to contact someone in the outside world as soon as possible. You have the ability to communicate with the outside world, Countess. I would like to ask you to send a letter."

"Oh? Of course, that's an easy task."

The Countess waved her fan.

"If it doesn’t have to be a letter, then a more convenient method should be used. To which country shall the letter be sent? It’s a bit difficult to send letters to countries where the government has collapsed."

"That's alright. I’ll send it to the country I was born in."

"The country of the King of Death... Ah, that should be fine. It’s a nation with an ambassador, so it can be contacted immediately. Let’s see. Where did she go?"

The Countess looked around. Not only us, but all hunters with aliases were gathered in the Great Library. The Countess found one and pointed her fan at them.

"Communicator! Madam Communicator! Come here, please."

"...Again? What is it?"

A middle-aged hunter approached.

Ranked 7th, the Wide-Area Communicator.

The Wide-Area Communicator was wearing a traditional Indian sari over her shoulder. She frowned all the way here. Did she have a bad relationship with the Countess?

"Let me introduce you. This madam right here is the Wide-Area Communicator. We come from the same place. Ahaha, though our social classes are as far apart as heaven and earth!"

"If you called me just to spout nonsense, I'll leave."

"Whoa, whoa. Calm down. Brahmin, ma’am. I will designate a sacred area right now for communication with the outside world. Just help us connect for a moment. It's a country with an ambassador, so it shouldn't be too troublesome."

"Why should I......"

"It’s not for me, but a request from the King of Death here."

The Wide-Area Communicator turned to me.

I respectfully bowed with my hands together.

"Please."

"......"

The Wide-Area Communicator also bowed. The middle-aged hunter glanced back and forth between me and the Countess, then sighed as if giving up.

"……If it were just the lowly Countess’s request, I would have refused without a second thought. But King of Death, I have seen your dedication to the tower from afar. Dedication deserves to be rewarded. I will help."

"Yaaaay. It's always easy to talk to noble people. Excellent, excellent!"

"Another word, and I'm leaving."

"Oh, come now. How can you be so coldhearted? Fine, fine. Goodness, I said I understand. Let's hurry and get this over with!"

The Countess laughed as she pulled out a small pouch. She took a handful of purple glittering powder from the pouch and scattered it on the library floor.

"Great Mother, I beseech you. I beseech you. A cherished wish is a desperate wish, so let not that desperate wish be torn into a scream. Allow me to be at your side, and me at yours. Here, Count Cat humbly requests a small sanctuary."

Whoosh!

Purple light emanated from the powder. An area the size of a phone booth was colored in purple.

The Wide-Area Communicator then addressed me.

"Give me your smartphone."

"Ah. Yes."

I handed over my phone. The Wide-Area Communicator flexed her fingers and tapped three times. It seemed like she drew a triangle.

"Connect. Join together. Noise becomes sound when it reaches someone. When a person is here and another is there, all creation sings and the myriad things join in chorus."

The smartphone was enveloped in blue light.

The Wide-Area Communicator nodded lightly.

"Take it."

I took it back.

The Countess smiled broadly.

"Enter the sacred area, King of Death."

The Wide-Area Communicator frowned.

"Make the call, it will be received. Send an email, you’ll get a reply."

"Call charges are calculated separately, but I'll cover that much myself!"

"However, according to the agreement with the outside world, all communications must be within the bounds of international law. It’s unlikely to happen, but do not include any talk of criminal activities in your communication."

"Well, if you ever need to communicate something truly confidential, just tell me. There’s always a way."

The two spoke casually. But it was the cooperation of the 5th and 7th ranked hunters. Only a handful of people could enjoy such privileges.

"Yes. Thank you."

I entered the sacred area with my smartphone.

"......"

And I dialed [the first phone number I had ever memorized]. It had been years since I last dialed it. Human memory is strange; no matter how much time passes, it seems to retain the very first number it learned.

Ring... ring...

The ringing continued for a while.

If the other party had changed the number, it would all be meaningless. But they had told me that they would never change their number and that I could always call the same number.

That wasn't a lie.

-Hello?

I was at a loss for words.

-Hello? Who is this?

"......"

The voice was a little older and a little more weary than the one that had cried out on the rooftop in the trauma. But its essence had not changed, and hearing that unchanged voice made me regret waiting so long to make contact.

I should have reached out much earlier.

Even if I abandoned the outside world to enter the tower, there was no need to abandon people.

"…Director. It's me, Gong-Ja. Kim Gong-Ja."

Silence followed on the other end of the line.

-Yes. It's been a long time.

The director.

The oldest voice in my memory reached me.

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