SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 165

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 165: Rain, Mud and Fire (2)

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As I stepped forward, I instinctively closed my eyes.

“Grruk.”

The darkness of the cave was deep. As dark as it was, the emergence from it felt dramatic. Each step forward felt like a spotlight illuminating my path.

Light enveloped us.

-Ker, Ker!

The goblins quickly bowed their heads. Their prolonged life in the caves had altered their physiology. Thinner eyelids. Enlarged eyeballs. They had grown sensitive to light.

For a while, we walked, looking down at our feet.

-.......

The wind blew.

Then, the sunset unfolded before us.

-The sky......

The goblins murmured softly.

It was already evening in the outside world.

The greasiness from the sunset spread out, painting the world red.

-The sky is red.

For the first time, the slaves gazed upon the endless sky. It was a luxury they had never experienced before, despite it being a fundamental right to look up at the sky from birth.

-The elders were right. It's the sky.

-Why is the sky red? Goruk. Is it bleeding?

-Red...

-The world is burning.

In awe, fear, or perhaps lost in an unknown joy, the goblins murmured. They looked around, trying to comprehend the world.

[The Earth Spirit Tribe is freed from slavery.]

[The status of the Earth Spirit Tribe is changing!]

Words appeared before my eyes.

[Earth Spirit Tribe]

Extinction Grade: B (Danger Level: Caution)

Maxim: 'We are fire.'

Description: The Earth Spirit Tribe is a race whose every ability ranks near the bottom. The abilities of each individual Earth Spirit are insignificant. That is why they unite into a collective!

The Earth Spirit Tribe has developed only a very small number of written characters. Every Earth Spirit knows them, from the lowliest to the noblest. Minimal language. Minimal writing. Knowledge cannot divide the Earth Spirit Tribe.

'We are fire.'

Fire may split into many flames, but it always burns as one. The Earth Spirit Tribe has devised many cultural practices in order to become 'one.'

They hold their 'assemblies' at night rather than in broad daylight. The appearance of the Earth Spirit Tribe is swallowed by the darkness, making individuals indistinguishable. Thus, every Earth Spirit attending an assembly speaks 'anonymously.'

Keep the fire of the Earth Spirit Tribe burning!

Traits: [Blood Fire (*)], [Guru Cult], [Legacy of Records], [Greed (*)]

Evolution: Unknown. There are 2 evolutions.

Alias: Goblin, etc.

*Caution! There are traits at risk of disappearing.

‘Ah, as expected.’

I furrowed my brow.

‘With the priest's death, [Blood Fire] is at risk of being lost.’

Guardian Spirit shrugged.

-Well, considering the condition is to use aura, specifically red aura, it's quite tricky.

‘Right… Hmm. For this stage, we need to start with aura first.’

-Is there a way? Buying aura from that civilization shop will cost an arm and a leg.

‘Yes, that's true. So, I'll buy something else.’

I thought it over.

‘Open the civilization shop.’

Swish.

Items displayed in the shop appeared.

[Oracle Message] - 20p

[Animal Possession] - 40p

[Appearance in Dreams] - 100p

[Prey Search] - 5p

[Bronze-rank Settlement Search] - 80p

[Tribal-rank General (Lottery)] - 100P

[Bronze-rank Technology Invention (Lottery)] - 1,000p

ㆍ

I purchased an item I had never used before.

‘I'll buy one [Appearance in Dreams].’

Clink. The sound of a coin dropping rang out.

[Purchasing ‘Appearance in Dreams’.]

[100 race points will be used!]

[Your current race points are 70.]

‘Okay.’

I had already thought of the goblin to use this item on.

I turned to look at a young goblin.

Lying down using his fellow goblin’s buttock as a pillow, snoring away, his name was Gorke.

‘Means clear water, right.’

Gorke, the goblin with the name meaning clear water, was mumbling in his sleep.

-Kerukke.

Rain.

-Kerruk.

Mud.

-Guru.

I quietly watched Gorke sleep, longing for somewhere other than here.

I activated the item.

‘[Appearance in Dreams].’

Whoosh!

The scenery swirled, turning white around me.

A moment later, I found myself standing in the middle of a plain.

“Hoo?”

The vast plain seemed endless. Shhh. Rain poured down over it. The plain, soaked in rain, became muddy and dense.

In the middle of the muddy plain, Gorke lay with his mouth open.

The pouring rain drenched Gorke’s mouth.

-Gorrr. Gorrrrr.

Gorke blissfully swallowed the rainwater.

His face showed contentment as if he needed nothing more in this world.

That was the dream landscape of a young goblin longing for home.

“Indeed..."

A great many things made sense to me now.

“Whether goblins or humans, desires aren't that different, are they?”

-Goruk?

Had he heard my voice? Gorke pulled his arm out from under his head and jerked his head up.

-Who's there!

“Can you hear my voice? Can you see me? Gorke.”

-Goru...? Pure Race?

Gorke looked puzzled.

“I am not Pure Race. Pitiful child, my name is Kekerkker. The revered White Lion, the being that will lead you to the promised home of Guru.”

-Keruk...? Kekerkker? Impossible!

Gorke snorted. Pfft! Being a Goblin with a big nose, his snort sounded as grand as an actual fart.

-Kekerkker is a lion with a beautiful mane and thick skin. But what are you? With your spiky black hair and skinny skin, you don’t look anything like Kekerkker! Kekerkker isn't ugly like you!

"You fucking bastard?"

-Damn? Keruk? What does that mean?

"It means a bastard who should have a hole dug in the ground and be shoved into it headfirst."

-Eh, such a foul-mouthed Pure Race. Ker. Someone as vulgar as you can't be the revered White Lion!

"Gorke. It was I who taught you letters. It was I who taught you how to hunt. Kekerkker is me, and I am Kekerkker, so how can you doubt me?"

-Show me proof!

"Very well."

I dug a hole in the mud.

Then I grabbed Gorke's ankle and stuck his head first into the hole.

"Do you see the evidence now?"

-Kerrrr?! Ker! It's a demon! A demon has appeared!

"What? You can't see it? Well, I'll have to show you more proof, as I hold you in such high regard."

I scooped up handfuls of mud and filled the hole.

Still pouring, the rain mixed with the mud, completely covering Gorke in a mud pack.

He screamed.

-I believe it! Keruk, I believe! You are definitely Kekerkker!

"Mm. It is very good that you catch the fucking point so quickly."

I pulled Gorke out of the hole.

The goblin shivered with dirt covering his head.

"Gorke. My appearance in your dream is of great significance."

As I dusted the mud off his head, I continued.

"I, Kekerkker, intend to teach you aura."

-Aura?

"Didn't the priest show you Blood Fire? Didn't they have red energy swirling in their hands? That's aura."

-Ah. You mean [Holy Blood].

"Holy Blood?"

-We have a body and a soul. Everyone has a body, but the soul is one. One and complete. Goruk. Those who reach beyond the limits of the body to the soul can bleed not just from their body but also from their soul…. But.

Gorke frowned.

-Strange. This is the teaching you gave us, Kekerkker. If you really are Kekerkker, why don't you remember what you taught?

"Kid, I never taught such a thing. What I taught you was how to write letters, count to three, and how to hunt."

-Ker? Is there anyone who can't count to three?

These kids.

Forgetting the past in just 200 years.

How hard I worked to teach them Arabic numerals.

"Enough. If you still doubt me, go find the lion Kekerkker when you wake up in the morning! I am that lion, and you will see that I am the one who appeared in your dream. So for now, shut up and learn what I teach."

-Holy Blood, is it?

"Yes. Let's begin the lesson."

I raised my arm and started beating the Goblin.

-Keruk?! It hurts! Kerrrr! Why are you hitting me suddenly?!

"Learning aura is the fastest when you're being hit."

It was a method taught to me by Guardian Spirit.

Truthfully, this was the only method I knew. If there was a more conventional method, like sitting cross-legged, focusing the mind, etc., I'd want to learn it first, but that wasn't an option….

"From now on, I'll beat you so much you'll wish you were dead. While I do, I'll continue to send aura into your body, so feel the flow within you. Capture it. Recognize for yourself the meridians spread through your body like a spiderweb."

-Kerrr! It hurts! It hurts! Kerrruk?!

"Ah."

Gorke curled up. I gently grabbed his wrist, straightened his arm, and then hit his palm, wrist, shoulder, and chest in sequence. Thump! Thump! Aura flowed from my fist into Gorke's body.

-Kerrrr?!

"This is all teaching that will become flesh and blood. Focus."

-There will be nothing left but flesh and blood!

"Exactly. Didn't you call aura holy blood? To show holy blood, the soul must be wounded enough to bleed, right?"

Despite my logical argument, Gorke kept shaking his head.

-I'm going to die!

"No. This is not waking life, but a dream. No matter how much I beat you, it'll only hurt as if you're dying, but you won't actually die. It's the perfect environment for learning aura."

-Kerub!

The dream landscape changed from the muddy plain to Slimepolis's arena. To Gorke, the current situation seemed indistinguishable from the Colosseum.

"Oh, this is even better!"

I was delighted.

"Look, Gorke. Those gladiators over there are glaring at you, their eyes fierce as if they'd do anything to cut off your head. Even in a dream, it will hurt if they decapitate you. Hurry up and fight back!"

-Ah, a nightmare. Ker. A terrible nightmare!

Gorke cried.

-Kekerkker! Where are you, who saved us from hell? A demon is tormenting your child! Save me, Ker! Save me!

"Ah, I am Kekerkker."

Time flowed slowly in the dream.

A considerable amount of time passed, but Gorke's dream did not end. Thanks to that, the young Goblin experienced countless non-deaths, and I leisurely guided him.

After a while,

"Ah!"

Flames flickered faintly in Gorke's palm.

Although weak, it was undoubtedly aura.

"Look, Gorke! It's aura. The holy blood has appeared in you!"

-Kerrr....

The young Goblin looked at his palm. His gaze was empty, as if he had lost something precious.

-Kill me.... Let me go, demon. I can't take it anymore....

"Usually, if you don't mind dying, learning while dying is the fastest. Warriors who walk the martial path their entire lives without ever mastering aura abound throughout the universe. On the other hand, you've grasped the essence in just one night. Isn't this a rare opportunity?"

-Just kill me...!

"From now on, you must diligently serve the Earth Spirit Tribe."

I smiled contentedly and gently placed a hand on Gorke's shoulder.

Gorke flinched.

-Serve?

"Yes. The priest died, and there's no one to perform Blood Fire. You shall take their place. I find your culture beautiful. You must strive to ensure its beauty does not fade."

-Kerrr. But I lack the qualifications to be a priest....

"But your aura still seems a bit immature. What do you say, Gorke? Will you suffer for ten more days to master the ultimate form of aura?"

-I'll do it. Gorke! I'll be the priest!

"Excellent."

I nodded in satisfaction.

"Then I'll leave this dream. When you wake up, come to me and check. If I really am Kekerkker, I'll pat you on the shoulder."

Then I awoke from the dream.

Quiet dawn.

The Goblins were already up, preparing to continue their journey home. Mothers caught fish by the river, and children grilled them. Many Goblins quietly watched the rising sun.

-Keruk...!

Not far away, a young Goblin suddenly stood up. It was Gorke. His green forehead was wrinkled, and he was drenched in cold sweat.

-Kerrr... Am I alive? I'm alive, Ker?

Gorke breathed heavily. Unsure if he was dreaming or awake, the Goblin slapped his cheek six times. Finally realizing the nightmare was over, Gorke sighed deeply in relief.

-.......

But that was short-lived.

Hesitantly, Gorke approached me.

-Kekerkker...

The young Goblin looked up at me with desperate eyes.

-Last night, a demon came to toy with me. Ker. The demon dared to impersonate Kekerkker and tormented me. I thought I was going to die. I really thought I was dying. I want you to show me that Kekerkker is not a demon....

"Grr."

Thump.

I slowly raised my paw and touched Gorke's shoulder.

-.......

Gorke's face filled with despair.

"Grr. Gor, Kruk. Grurum."

'Keep my words in mind and do well, kid.'

Though Gorke couldn't understand the lion's words, he shivered.

[A new successor of Blood Fire appears.]

[The Earth Spirit Tribe is no longer at risk of losing the Blood Fire trait!]

That went well. Really well.

-This bastard....