WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 16: Trauma Penalty (1)

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1.

Black Dragon.

The guild that has reigned supreme from the day the tower appeared in this world.

"We didn't fail to conquer the 10th floor because of lack of skills."

The second-ranked hunter and leader of the Black Dragon, the Black Witch, had attempted the 10th floor dozens of times. Despite failing each time, the second-ranked hunter always managed to bring back all the hunters who participated in the assault.

In an interview, the Black Witch said:

"It was just a bit of bad luck."

On the other hand, Flame Emperor single-handedly broke through the 10th floor and declared:

"Luck is also a skill, losers."

It was an interview that later came to be known as the Loser's Declaration.

Black Dragon, now labeled as a group of losers, started to see the Flame Emperor as an adversary... but well, that's not important anymore. Yoo Soo-Ha is already dead by my hand. The possibility of such an interview has disappeared.

The question is this.

'Why did other hunters fail and only the Flame Emperor managed to conquer the 10th floor?'

'Was it because the Flame Emperor was overwhelmingly strong?'

Or…

'Was there another reason?'

The answer now unfolds before my eyes.

2.

[Initiating the boss stage.]

As the voice echoed, the scenery of the mansion transformed dramatically.

Whoosh!

Candles toppled everywhere, igniting flames. It seemed as if they had been pre-oiled. The fire demon swiftly engulfed the Western-style mansion.

-Kya-ha-ha-ha!

In the midst of the blazing flames, only the dolls remained intact.

-"You're it, Mister! We'll run away!"

-"Run, run! Let's run away from here!"

Hundreds of them. No, thousands of young-lady dolls. Countless dolls lay scattered through the first-floor lobby alone. There were probably tens of thousands hidden throughout the mansion.

'Among them, there's just one.'

Gulp. I swallowed.

'Hidden somewhere in the mansion is the [real doll].'

A one-in-tens-of-thousands chance!

This was the reason behind the failure of all previous assault teams.

'While searching for the real doll, everyone burns to death. If trying to escape before dying, at best, they only have about 10 minutes to search.'

The flames consuming the mansion were no ordinary fire. A fire demon. Karmic fire. This so-called hellfire was [Aura] manifested in the form of flame.

In other words.

'The entire mansion is burning with aura.'

A boss monster that knows how to use aura!

All previous teams either burned to death in this aura inferno or escaped before dying, meeting one of these two ends. Some hunters risked their lives for the one in tens of thousands chance, but it was in vain. They died screaming in agony.

The impregnable inferno.

And here lies the reason why only the Flame Emperor could clear the 10th floor.

"Lucky bastard."

I muttered.

That's right. Flame Emperor and the boss monster shared the same form of aura.

To other hunters, this mansion was hellfire, but to Flame Emperor, it was as comfortable as his own living room. The karma fire of the 10th floor boss monster was also the element of Flame Emperor Yoo Soo-Ha.

"Tch."

In short, it was a perfect match.

'He must have casually wandered around until he found the real doll.'

And then he had the audacity to claim that luck is also a skill.

I really didn't like the guy.

-The one living off luck is you, zombie.

"How am I living off luck?"

I frowned at the Sword Emperor's teasing.

"Even now, I'm struggling to hold out with Aura."

Sweat streamed down between my eyebrows. The scorching heat! The flames were hotter than any sauna, drenching my entire body in sweat. Without Aura wrapped around me, I would already have burned to death.

-Yeah, but you'll only last another minute at most.

Annoyingly, the Sword Emperor pinpointed my condition precisely.

-By the way, Marcus could easily last 30 minutes here. Want to know why he hasn't challenged this place yet? He's waiting until he can extend that to an hour.

"Ah, yes. Thank you for reminding me of the difference in our skills."

-Hehehe.

The Sword Emperor flew freely in the flame-engulfed mansion lobby. Dolls laughing below, a ghost cackling above. It was like a haunted house.

-So? With only 2 coins left, what are you going to do now?

"What else can I do? I'll start by dying."

-Oh wow. You think your aura will suddenly increase after dying here?

The Sword Emperor scoffed.

-There are only two ways to clear this place! Either get lucky and find the real doll, or use Aura well enough to endure the flames until you find it. But like an idiot, you wagered that you could do it in only two coins. You probably cannot win.

"Hehe."

Despite sweating profusely, I didn't lose my smile.

"You only know one thing but not two. Or rather, you know two but not three."

-What?

"Let's see who wins after I die once."

With only 20 seconds of aura left.

I approached the nearest doll. There was no particular reason. Standing still and dying seemed boring. Maybe by a stroke of luck, the doll in front of me was the [real one].

-Will you play with us?

Creak.

The doll's head turned. Just the head. It could have been cast in a horror movie on the spot. The doll was dressed in a frilly dress, which remained unburned despite the surrounding flames.

As if it were immune to fire.

"Gotcha."

I placed my hand on the doll's head and spoke.

-Kka-reuk.

Laughter spilled from the doll's expressionless mouth.

-Ding! I'm not it!

It wasn't just laughter that flowed from the doll's mouth. Lips. Skin. Eyes. The doll's body melted like candle wax. The flames engulfed it instantly, and even as it was consumed, the doll muttered like a broken record player.

-I'm not it! I'm not it! I'm not it!

-Not it! I'm, not it. I'm... I'm... not it... I'm...

-I'm... not it...

It melted away completely.

"Wow..."

I was at a loss for words. Despite the intense heat, a chill ran down my back. The scene was more horrific than I had imagined.

"Creepy. Why do they have to make boss stages so disturbing?"

-Who can know the tower's holy will? Granting an absurd cheat skill to a slippery bastard like you is also the tower's will. If the tower has anything like a personality, it is probably a perverted psychopath.

"Really, your words..."

I couldn't complain any further.

"Argh!?"

My aura had run out.

As if they had been waiting for this moment, the flames surged toward me. A blast of heat! First the soles of my shoes melted, then my sleeves, and finally the fire caught in my hair.

"Ah,"

From head to toe.

"Aaah! Aaaaaah!"

My whole body burst into flames. My flesh melted. Even as my skin flowed away, the flames did not stop. Rather, they clung more tenaciously as if they found tastier prey within my flesh. Nerves. Bones. Throat. Organs.

"Ouch, f...! Ugh, Aaaargh!"

-And you're a bigger pervert than the tower. Geez. Even though you want to become the world's best hunter, accepting burning to death so nonchalantly. I admit it, Kim Zombie! You're a real pervert!

I wanted to die.

Quickly, as soon as possible!

“Ugh...!”

I couldn't speak. The sound was muffled. My eyes and ears had been scorched.

As my mind felt like it was about to burst from overheating, the long-awaited voice finally echoed in my consciousness.

[You have died.]

Damn it.

I wish death had come a little sooner.

ㆍ

ㆍ

ㆍ

ㆍ

ㆍ

ㆍ

‘-Puhah!’

I breathed as if I had just surfaced from a deep dive underwater. Of course, it was just a feeling of exhaling, not actual breathing.

This place was the Netherworld. My bare body wandered around like a ghost in this pitch-black space.

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

[Randomly copying the skill of the monster Hellfire Maiden.]

And this was also a place of opportunity for me.

[Creating skill cards.]

Cards floated in the dark void. Surprisingly, there was only one golden card despite it being a boss monster. The rest shone either silver or dung-colored.

‘You remember the promise, right?’

-I know, you rascal. Did you think I'd break a bet? Don't worry.

The Sword Emperor chuckled.

-Let's see what skills this lady had.

The Sword Emperor floated up to read the other side of the cards, keeping the promise to tell me the contents of the skills.

-Oh! Wow, this is a jackpot?

The Sword Emperor started with the golden card.

+

[Hellfire Barrier]

Rank: S-

Effect: Grudge (怨恨). Cries of grievance (怨聲). Resentment (怨望). Your unresolved anguish, your unheard voice, your unfulfilled wish. Burn them all. 'It's hot.' Is it hot? Turn the world into a sea of fire. 'I feel like I'm dying.' Then kill. If you wish it, an Aura inferno will descend over a two-kilometer radius.

No one can leave this hell without your permission.

No one.

*However, you must also be inside the barrier.

+

It was a terrifying skill.

-This is a must. Zombie, just pick this skill without thinking.

‘......’

-What? Hey, Kim Zombie. Why aren't you responding?

‘No, it's just...’

I frowned.

‘I don't know why, but it bothers me a bit.’

What's the matter?

It was indeed a powerful skill. Yet, something felt off. Like eating something and feeling bloated, unable to pinpoint exactly where it went wrong.

‘...Anyway, read the next skills.’

-Huh? There can't be a better skill than this. Just choose this one.

‘I have a different skill in mind. Come on, hurry up!’

-Sigh.

Despite pouting, the Sword Emperor read the cards as I requested.

-Alright, listen. [Labyrinth Architect] Rank A-, [Puppeteering] Rank B, [Remote Control] Rank B-, [Trap Setup] Rank C...

Pause.

-......

The Sword Emperor, who was reading the cards enthusiastically, suddenly stopped. At the last skill, a silver-shining card caught his eye.

-Damn it?

I smirked.

‘As expected.’

-No, wait... just a second...

‘It's fine. I get it. No need to read it.’

I was certain.

That was the card I wanted.

[Please select a skill card.]

The cards started flying around in the air, moving quickly. But I had only had my eyes on one card from the start, so it wasn't confusing for me.

-Hey! Gong-Ja! Hey! Let us not do this.

The Sword Emperor desperately yelled.

-Look at this. Wow, a golden card! Wow, an S-rank skill! Incredible! If you take it, a Hellfire Barrier can go chajajajak into place whenever you want. How cool is that?

‘I’m not so sure.’

-How can you not see it? It is irresistible! If I were a woman, I would fall head over heels for your hellfire charm! Let's go! From today onward, Kim Gong-Ja lives the life of a top star! Let us goooo!

I chuckled.

‘You should have sensed something was off from the start.’

There were clues.

‘Among tens of thousands of dolls, only [one real doll]. Since the real doll is the one using the skill, it obviously wouldn't get damaged by the flames.’

I reached out my hand.

‘But why didn’t the fake dolls burn in the flames either?’

And I grabbed the silver card.

-Aaagh! No! No! Damn it, no!

‘There's only one answer, isn't there, Sword Emperor?’

I flipped the silver card.

+

[Only You Can Prevent Fire]

Rank: A

Effect: Ah, it’s so hot! If left unchecked, this heat could burn down our house. But worry no more. Any lifeform or object you designate becomes immune to fire and will no longer burn. Free yourself from the fear of fire demons and enjoy a safe life!

*However, damage from water and ice attributes increases by 300%.

+

That was it.

The 10th floor stage. Inferno Mansion's Hide and Seek.

The boss didn’t just possess the ability to [burn things].

‘Aha!’

Contrarily, it also had the ability to make things [unburnable].

I clenched my fist, overwhelmed with the euphoria of victory.

'I came! I saw! I caught it!'

-No... No, this is wrong... It's not supposed to be like this...

The Sword Emperor's mental state crumbled.

‘What's wrong? Now, I just need to cast fire immunity on myself with this skill. Then leisurely find the real doll. It’s game over. You have to call me Sir Gong-Ja from today!’

-Damn it... Fuck... This is cheating. It’s a broken game...

‘Mwahaha! Hurry up and call me Sir Gong-Ja!’

My laughter filled the dark space.

Another voice, not my own, quietly echoed.

[Selection complete. Copying skill.]

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

A celebratory announcement of my victory in our bet.

Now, I just had to return to a day earlier and challenge the 10th floor boss again.

I was on the verge of clearing it.

[You are currently an E-Rank hunter.]

But today, it didn’t end there.

[You are penalized by the skill.]

-Huh?

‘Ah. Right.’

It was a notification I had never heard while I remained a bottom-rung F-rank hunter.

But now, as an E-Rank hunter, I faced my first penalty.

What would the penalty be?

[Re-enacting the trauma of your killer.]

[Penalty depth: Low. Hell Realm.]

‘Huh? Trauma?’

Confused by the unexpected term, I tilted my head.

‘What does it mean to re-enact an enemy's trauma...’

Whoosh!

Before I could finish my thought, the space before me turned white.

*Hell Realm is one of the 6 realms in buddhism. There are six Enlightened Buddhas that exist in each of the six realms. These six Buddhas have also been known as the "Six Sages." Their names are Indrasakra (Buddha in the god realm), Vemacitra (Buddha of the petty god realm), Sakyamuni (Buddha in the human realm); Sthirasimha (Buddha in the animal realm), Jvalamukha (Buddha in the hungry ghost realm), and Yama Dharmaraja (Buddha in the hot hell realm).

For more info check out:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saṃsāra_(Buddhism)

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