WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈
Chapter 195: That Wasn't My Intention, Though (3)
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3.
We were ready to enter the next floor.
In the last stage, everyone succeeded in their quests. It was difficult to single out someone to drop out, but luckily, one of our comrades volunteered.
“If you must choose someone, let it be me.”
The one who offered was the Paladin.
It seemed unnecessary, but the Paladin shook her head.
“It’s fine. To establish the Black Knights, I need to go down to the 1st floor anyway. I’m also uneasy leaving the Vigilante Corps for too long. And to be honest, I don’t particularly wish for the Gill-Fin Tribe to dominate the continent. Just having enough to live is sufficient.”
Typical of her, donating most of her earnings to an orphanage.
“Hm.”
The Black Dragon Master seemed to know something more.
“Is that really the only reason?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Just thinking you might be lonely alone.”
The Black Dragon Master grinned like a cat basking in the sun.
“Anyway, I’ll leave establishing the Black Knights to you. If anyone in our guild tries to interfere, tell them, [The cafe run by the Witch is in a semi-basement down the alley past the three-way intersection]. If they ask what is on the menu, say, [Pumpkin latte, no ice].”
“Black Dragon’s code?”
“Yes, this month's. It hasn’t been updated yet.”
“Your taste is still unique…”
The Paladin chuckled and looked at me.
“I’m sorry to leave the vanguard first. King of Death. I’ll make sure to build a solid foundation for the guild. By the time you clear the 40th floor and return, everything will be ready.”
“Um, if you truly feel sorry, could you do me a favor?”
“Of course. Speak.”
“When this expedition is over, could you teach me music?”
The Paladin raised her eyebrows.
“Ah, that’s right. You said you wanted to play for Duke Ivansia?”
“Yes. When I confessed to Raviel, I promised I would learn music and play for her.”
“Good. Jazz is love.”
The Paladin smiled, seemingly pleased.
“Having such a romantic partner, you’ll certainly need music. I’m not skilled in teaching, but I’ll do my best.”
“Then, I’m counting on you, teacher.”
"Hmm."
We shook hands.
“I leave the rest to you, Gong-ja.”
The Paladin's smile was swallowed by the light.
[The Paladin has been eliminated from the stage!]
[The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages is settling the points.]
[You have earned 1510 race points!]
[Your current race points are 7112.]
The points the Paladin had were distributed among us.
Race points, akin to child support, should ideally be used for all races, not just the Earth Spirits.
‘But the immediate priority isn’t the welfare of the race.’
I clenched my fist.
There was a child who had waited hundreds of years solely to meet me.
‘Wait for me, Uburka.’
Enveloped in light, we transitioned to the 35th floor.
‘Daddy is coming!’
4.
Immediately after descending into the era of the 35th floor, I pestered the Black Dragon Master into traveling with me.
“Quick! Just head to the highest mountain on the continent!”
“You’re not treating me as a taxi, are you?”
“I always deeply respect you in my heart!”
“You certainly know what to say….”
The Black Dragon Master sighed but complied with my request. Using her [Teleportation] was much faster than moving around in spirit form.
“Over there?”
We soared across the sky, stepping on clouds. Before long, mountains spread below us. Tall mountains, where the earth seemed to have folded and left its mark. As we went deeper, the mountain peaks turned white.
“…This seems higher than the Himalayas.”
The Black Dragon Master made a grim face as she surveyed the mountain range.
“Just looking makes me feel cold. Are you sure your apostle is here? It's not logical.”
“The Princess showed me in a vision.”
I was certain it was around here.
I looked around.
“He should be near…”
A foreboding feeling suddenly gripped me.
There's a gap of about 150 years between the last and this stage.
Maybe Uburka didn’t survive past 150 years.
"......."
The wick of my heart began to char black. If that were true, I had missed my final chance to reunite with Uburka.
Clench.
Thinking of Uburka enduring alone for more than two hundred years, I gritted my teeth.
‘It’s okay.’
Instinctively, I adjusted my shirt. In my breast pocket was a handkerchief scented with lilies.
‘If it comes to that, I can regress.’
We set foot on the snowy peak. As I wondered how I would obtain Raviel’s permission to regress, I searched every inch of the ridge with my own eyes.
I scattered aura in every direction, but sensed no life.
“King of Death.”
Something caught my attention.
“Over there….”
In the direction the Black Dragon Master pointed, a mummy sat quietly cross-legged.
“…….”
My breath stopped.
The mummy was dried to skin and bone, like the corpse of a cicada that had died of thirst in midsummer and fallen onto concrete. There was not the slightest trace of life in its skin.
‘Too late.’
My heart constricted.
‘I arrived too late.’
The mummy’s face was deeply wrinkled, but I sensed Uburka’s remnants.
Its expression was infinitely peaceful.
The few remaining strands of hair stirred in the blizzard.
Its face looked light, freed of every hardship in this world.
Unable to cry, I stared at the peaceful expression.
‘I’m sorry…’
Just as I reached out to touch Uburka’s head.
“Daddy?”
A familiar vibration resonated in my ears.
I stopped reaching out and turned my head.
“Ugor.”
There was a certain world-weary tone in the voice, always holding a hint of laughter deep in the heart, echoing through the atmosphere of the snowy mountain.
“Really, it’s Daddy.”
Uburka stood tall on the white snowfield.
Behind his shoulders stretched the rugged mountain range.
Here, being the highest point on the continent, no one else shared our altitude in this world.
"U…"
I began to speak.
“Uburka…?”
“Good to see you. It's been roughly 363 years and about seven months, my Daddy. And you’ve brought an unfamiliar noble with you.”
“Good heavens.”
I was spellbound, alternating my gaze between Uburka and the mummy.
“How, how did this happen? I thought you had died and became a mummy…”
“Ah. That?”
Uburka approached the mummy with an unconcerned face.
“This is not a corpse but a husk. Just like a caterpillar must endure the prison of a cocoon to become a butterfly, this is my cocoon.”
Uburka tapped the mummy with his large finger.
The mummy lost its balance and softly collapsed, the discarded husk sinking into the snow.
“A husk…?”
“After meditating for 60 days, enlightenment came to me. Ugor. Visions like dreams appeared before me, and stepping forward, I suddenly found myself living in that dream.”
Uburka shared something about a realm I had never heard of.
“In that dream, I was born as a son of a prestigious martial family. However, born with the inability to use aura. Despite being the eldest, I faced all sorts of scorn and neglect for not being able to use aura. Ugor, eventually, I took over the family head position through politics and schemes.”
“Such a detailed account for a dream.”
“Perhaps, it was my past life. Though I died of illness at the age of 26. When I awoke from the dream, my original body flowed away like a shed skin.”
Uburka laughed, revealing his fangs.
“I originally planned to leave it as a memento, but since Daddy has returned, it doesn’t matter. Proof of waiting is only kept for the joy of meeting. Now that we’ve met again, my wait has already become joy.”
“Uburka…”
I felt a lump in my throat.
My child had grown up so magnificently.
"King of Death."
Then, the Black Dragon Master tapped my shoulder.
“Feel free to be as much of a doting fool as you like, but haven’t you noticed something strange? We aren’t using any items.”
The Black Dragon Master looked at Uburka with deep eyes.
“We haven’t used [Animal Possession] or [Character Possession]. We’re still in a spirit state. Humans in this world can’t recognize us. But how can that kid see us so naturally?”
Ah.
That's when I felt the strangeness.
‘Right?’
In a spirit state, no one should be able to recognize us. This had been a constant rule from the 31st to the 34th floor. Yet Uburka conversed with me as if it were natural and even recognized the Black Dragon Master's presence.
Moreover.
‘I spread aura around earlier, but no life was detected.’
It was a peculiar situation.
I locked eyes with Uburka.
“Uburka, how can you…”
“Ugor.”
Uburka rotated his neck in all directions.
Crack! The sound of bones aligning loudly echoed.
“Once I attained enlightenment and shed my present life, I began to see things that had been invisible to me before. The world is the ultimate other. If one can perceive the world as a single entity, then one could also be considered an entity comparable to the world.”
“Uh.”
What was this child talking about?
When difficult words hit my brain, it starts to stutter. I didn’t understand a word Uburka said.
“Kid. What are you talking about?”
“Simply put, it means this, Daddy.”
Uburka snapped his fingers.
[The Constellation 'The Muscle Pig Dreaming of Parricide' is looking at you.]
What?
[The Constellation 'The Muscle Pig Dreaming of Parricide' is delighted to reunite with you!]
Incredible.
I stared dumbfounded at Uburka.
It felt like being hit on the head with a shovel.
“You, you…”
“There are truly many mysterious principles in all creation.”
Uburka's smile deepened as he looked at me.
“Seeing Daddy's dumbfounded face, I'm glad I practiced diligently. How about it? As far as I know, there’s no one in this land who has reached a higher realm than me. I have become, in name and in fact, the strongest warrior of all time.”
“No…”
A Hopgoblin becoming a Constellation.
I knew he was a genius, but I didn’t expect this level.
“By the way, Daddy.”
The son, now a Constellation, smiled slyly.
“We can always share my stories later. Today, our father and son duo have fortunately reunited. Shouldn’t we share the joy of 350 years of longing?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
It had only been a short time for me, but for Uburka, it was a long and lengthy period.
The joy shared between a parent and child who have reunited should be expressed through actions, not words.
I spread my arms wide.
“Come here, Uburka. Although I'm tiny compared to you, I’ll hug you with joy…"
“Ugor. Then I will not refuse the invitation.”
[The Constellation 'The Muscle Pig Dreaming of Parricide' challenges you to a duel!]
Huh?
“Brace yourself, Daddy.”
Uburka clenched his fists.
“I have waited with bated breath for a day like this to come!”
Then Uburka charged at me. When he took a single step, the mountain range convulsed. The snowfield on the peak collapsed and poured down the slopes, while the blizzard reversed direction and surged into the sky.
“Wait, just a moment. Son. Wait a minute---.”
“I may have lost disgracefully three hundred and fifty years ago, but today will be different!”
Uburka launched a punch.
[The Constellation 'The Muscle Pig Dreaming of Parricide' roars.]
At that moment, heaven and earth shook.
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