SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 168

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 168: Between a Master and a Friend (1)

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A week had passed since we shook off the pursuit of the Mountain Snail Tribe. We finally arrived at the Earth Spirit Tribe's homeland.

[The Earth Spirit Tribe returns home.]

[Quest Clear!]

[You have successfully led the tribe out of Slimepolis.]

[As a reward for completing the quest, you receive race points…]

The reward for the main quest of the 32nd floor was quite generous. As I had done throughout this level, I saved all but 100 of those race points.

'I have a specific use for them.'

After saving the points, I looked at the Earth Spirit Tribe's homeland.

Guru.

The homeland the Earth Spirit Tribe longed for was... somewhat disappointing. To be honest, it was almost a ruin.

-Well, that's expected.

Guardian Spirit shrugged.

-When human hands don't touch it, a village is quickly overgrown with bushes. I once returned to my homeland, taken over by Black Path bandits, and it had turned into a jungle.

'Really? You had such a past?'

-Of course. I'm a man with many pasts. If my life story were written as a novel, it would be a grand work of 39 volumes for part one, 22 for part two, and 13 for the side stories.

'That specific number somehow annoys me…'

-And after dying, I became a ghost and am currently serializing part three. After you die, I plan to possess someone else and continue with the second part of the side story.

'Please, enough!'

We looked around the old homeland. Weeds and shrubs. Green plants had taken over Guru.

Any sign that someone once lived here had disappeared, with only very old goblin-made stone pillars and statues, moss-covered, standing as evidence of compromise with time.

-Oh.

Among them was a strangely familiar statue. Not because I had seen the statue before, but because the subject it depicted was familiar.

White marble. Mane and large teeth carefully carved, though with unskilled hands…

-Did they even make a sculpture of you?

It was me.

-White lion, so they got marble for it. Wow, that's dedication. Utmost devotion.

'Indeed.'

I slowly looked around. The Earth Spirit Tribe, apparently finding something wonderful about this green jungle, were unraveling their bundles with laughter. Thump! Thwack! Some were hacking at the brush with stone hammers brought from Slimepolis, eager to prepare places to live.

'I'm not their master, though.'

The line between master and friend. The farthest stranger and the closest stranger, with parents in between, perhaps.

Parents can play the role of master or become friends, but the decision may lie not with the child but with the parent.

'I should tell them before leaving this stage.'

That night.

I used the 100 race points I had saved to get an item.

[You purchase 'Appearance in Dreams.']

[100 race points have been consumed!]

[Your available race points are now 0.]

[All other race points are currently invested and cannot be accessed…]

I entered Gorke's dream.

"Hello? Little one. Long time no see."

-Kirrrrrr?! Oh, demon!

I was greeted warmly.

"Ah, I feel a bit shy when you're so happy to see me... Did you miss me that much? I'm sorry I couldn't look into your heart."

-If you're really sorry, don't appear in my dreams!

Gorke jumped up.

-Last time, fighting those snails, I thought I was going to die!

"Hey, you didn't die. That's what matters. Everything that fails to fuck you up will ultimately become part of your grit. Gorke, do not let the world fuck you up. Live a life where you fuck up the world instead."

-Still, such dirty words. Even if it's the same words, how can you say them so filthily? Kerr. Whether a god or a demon, I wish you'd use cleaner language... When you were a lion, you were cool, but in dreams, you're just terrible...

Gorke muttered. His illusion shattered. I didn't deny his words; instead, I agreed.

"That's right, kid!"

-Gorr?

"Currently, the Earth Spirit Tribe harbors too sweet an illusion. That I am your savior, cool, and absolutely perfect, and that I will unconditionally look after you. But my true nature, as you said, is a bit devilish."

-'A bit'...?

Gorke momentarily wore a philosophical expression. Perhaps the first philosopher in the history of the Earth Spirit Tribe was being born, but I ignored him. If he left behind a saying like 'Everything is made of Kerr!', it would only trouble future students.

"You alone know my true nature. I'm not the god you think I am. Just a helper and an advisor. Gorke, you have the duty to spread the truth to your family, relatives, and tribe."

-Kerr! I don't want to. It seems bothersome!

"In our last fight, I noticed your aura was still immature and had not reached its peak. Let's do a year of secluded training in this dream."

-Gorke loves the truth! Gorke will spread the truth!

Gorke burned with passion. Good to see.

-But, I'm curious.

"Hmm?"

-If you're not a god, why does Kekerkker look after us? Why do you care about us? Why did you save us from the primordial disaster and rescue us from the snails' rule? I don't understand why Kekerkker does it.

"Firstly, because you're cute and charming…"

-Kerr? Are you blind?

This kid.

"Actually, I'm not much different from you. I’m just another person. But if I had to say why I treat you well... it's because you're somewhat similar to me."

-Similar? That's strange. Kekerkker looks nothing like us.

"It's not about appearances."

I scratched my head.

"People are drawn to things they think are similar to themselves. I see myself in you. In your greed, I see my greed, and in your situation, I see mine. I discover myself."

-Gorr…?

"If I cherish you, it's probably because I cherish myself."

I stroked Gorke's head.

"But if you insist on worshipping me, think of me not as a god but rather as a friend. I'd rather be treated with friendship than worshipped as an idol. Trust is much better than faith."

-Friendship over idolatry, trust over faith…

"Yes. Just a friend who occasionally stays by your side. Isn't it cooler to say 'We're friends with a god' than 'We are loved by a god'?"

Gorke looked up at me blankly.

[The faith of the Earth Spirit Tribe shows signs of change!]

[A primitive religion 'White Lion Faith' is likely to gain new doctrines.]

I grinned.

"Do well. I have to leave your side for a while. Teach the others aura. Let them know I want to remain as a friend."

-Leaving?

"Yeah. I've done my duty by bringing you to Guru. I'll be angry if I come back and find you getting beaten by the Mountain Snail Tribe again."

I playfully rubbed Gorke's cheeks with both hands. Amusing sounds of 'Gorr, Kerr' escaped from Gorke's mouth.

"Teach the other kids about aura, and tell them about my true nature. Oh, and I almost forgot to say this."

-......

"Good job in the last fight. You were quite impressive."

I lightly patted Gorke's shoulders.

"Live vigorously."

Gorke opened his mouth to say something, but I promptly exited the dream. Long farewells only prolong the feeling of longing, so it's better to leave as if you'll meet again tomorrow.

[Item usage has ended.]

The dream ended.

As soon as I woke up, I leapt out of Guru. It was the middle of the night. The Earth Spirit Tribe, having walked for several weeks, had fallen into deep slumber.

There shouldn't have been anyone following me, but...

'Hmm.'

I sensed someone desperately trying to keep up with me.

'Gorke, perhaps.'

Despite his words about demons, it seems he has grown fond of me.

'This is why I deliberately treated him so harshly...'

Feeling the weight of the connections formed between people, I increased my pace. Gorke was persistent but couldn't match my speed. The gap between us widened.

After running through the forest for a while, I finally lost his presence.

'Now.'

I growled and let my lion's mane stream to one side.

'By now, the other hunters must be pondering.'

-Pondering?

'Yes. The Heretic Inquisitor pulled the insane stunt of remaining in the stage, and that made his race the undisputed number one. The others must be wondering, [Wouldn't it benefit us to hold out and avoid leaving for as long as possible?].'

It's a game of chicken.

'The problem is, such crazy acts are only possible for the Heretic Inquisitor.'

To endure for hundreds, maybe even a thousand years?

'Only a 130% pure psychopath like the Heretic Inquisitor can do it.'

Moreover, the Heretic Inquisitor has already been disqualified from this stage.

He failed to stop the escape of the slave tribe.

'Eventually, everyone will have to give up and declare [Stage Clear]. The hesitation is just because they feel like they're losing out if they declare it first.'

-Hmm.

The Guardian Spirit nodded.

-So, what will you do?

'In such cases, someone has to make the first move, even at a loss, to encourage others to follow.'

I murmured to myself, having moved far enough from Guru.

'I declare, stage clear.'

Sssshhh!

White light enveloped my entire body.

[Stage Clear!]

[You have cleared the 32nd-floor stage.]

[The reward will be tabulated after entering the 33rd floor.]

[Sequential layer progression - You are forcibly transferred to the 33rd floor!]

The next moment, I was standing in a white space.

A waiting room before moving to the 33rd floor.

Although I had been the first to declare [Stage Clear], one hunter had arrived before me.

"Ahah! You've arrived!"

The Heretic Inquisitor.

The only one who failed the quest and thus failed to clear the stage, was waving his hand.

"I've been waiting for you! King of Death!"

"Apart from Slimepolis, the Mountain Snail Tribe's empire is still intact, but it seems that if I fail the quest, I am automatically disqualified. What a shame!"

"Haa."

I sighed.

"...You put me through quite a lot on this stage. No. Come to think of it, it feels like an overwhelming share of my hardships are because of you. It was the same in [Tales of Sormewin Academy]."

"Oh? I remember being quite well behaved at Sormewin Academy."

"You might remember it that way, but from my perspective, you were anything but..."

The sight of the Heretic Inquisitor grinning after Lady Goldencup's ego had swallowed his own was still vividly branded into my mind. It had made quite an impression.

"Hmm. Perhaps I remember it incorrectly because it happened so long ago."

The Heretic Inquisitor clasped his hands behind his back. Swish. His short blond hair stirred slightly.

"......"

"I've been working non-stop for 200 years. I gave it my all! Even if I reached the top of the tower, I couldn't have worked harder than when I established the Slime Empire. Do you understand? King of Death, I have shown you all my capabilities!"

"......"

"And yet, I lost to you."

"You didn't lose to me."

I spoke.

"You lost to all of us."

"It's the same!"

The Heretic Inquisitor shook his head firmly.

"From rank one through rank seven, you were the one who united our companions. If I may say so, the proper assessment is that I was not even a match for a single move! I allow no personal feelings into my assessment of myself."

The Heretic Inquisitor smiled cheerfully.

"This is the limit of my abilities! My judgment was poorer than yours. My ethics fell short of yours. My competence could not surpass yours! Compared with you, I am incompetent."

"......"

"An incompetent person's unilateral judgment leads to collapse. An incompetent person's actions invite ruin. I do not want to become someone who presses the buttons of collapse and ruin! Naturally, it is right to entrust judgment and action to someone more capable than I am."

"What are you saying?"

"A simple logic, King of Death."

The Heretic Inquisitor smiled.

"From now on, I will serve you as my master."

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