SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 204

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 204: Black Dragon (3)

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“Ahhh. Somehow, I had a feeling this would happen.”

As the sound of the waves became familiar and tranquil.

Black Dragon Master stretched out leisurely, her expression brightened.

“Well, I kind of expected that you and I would end up like this someday.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. I can pretty much gauge a person the moment I see them. To what extent I can get close to them, how to become friends with them. Since I turned 25, my intuition has never been wrong.”

“That’s amazing.”

“All thanks to experience.”

Black Dragon Master chuckled.

“After repeatedly getting my hopes up and being disappointed, I've gained a rough understanding of how persistent people are. Ah, right. In front of the others, I'll keep calling you by your alias instead of your real name. That's fine with you, isn't it?”

“That's fine, but... why?”

“Why else? I'd be embarrassed if you were the only one calling me by my real name in front of everyone.”

She said it with a completely unembarrassed face.

“Try to avoid calling me [senior], too. It sends shivers down my spine. I really hate showing off relationships in front of others.”

“Not that there’s no point, but... isn't it more awkward to call each other differently when we’re alone...?”

“A difference in philosophy, I guess. Alright, our opinions diverged quickly.”

Black Dragon Master then took something out with her [Item Storage] skill.

A cube studded with round pips. A die, an object beloved in gambling halls throughout the world.

Not just that, but she also took out paper and a pen.

"Kim Gong-Ja."

Black Dragon Master looked at me with serious eyes.

“What, what is it? You're scaring me.”

“From now on, you and I will sign a [Friendship Contract].”

“…What?”

A what contract?

“I've always believed that human relationships should be documented.”

Black Dragon Master was assertive.

“Humans make mistakes. Whether it’s from staying up all night or working 20 days straight, screw-ups are inevitable. Even if there seem to be no problems, tiny emotions can accumulate over 5 years, 10 years, eventually becoming a real problem.”

“Uh….”

“To prevent such unfortunate incidents, contracts must be written. They’re essential for a healthy and sound relationship.”

What in the world?

Seriously, what?

“Of course, the [promise] should be made in agreement between you and me. Neither side can impose. I’d like to include as the first clause of our contract: [In case of disagreements, roll the dice and follow the opinion of the person with the higher roll].”

"......"

“What do you think?”

-Indeed.

The Guardian Spirit, who had remained silent until now, picked his nose.

-I get it, zombie. You made friends with a troublesome one....

I was flustered.

Even in my far-from-short life, I had never encountered anyone like her.

“Uh, well, um. Maybe it’s okay?”

“Think seriously!”

Black Dragon Master got angry.

Why is this happening?

“People think being blunt and straightforward without question is friendship, but it's not. Such relationships are only possible when people happen to have compatible personalities. To really maintain a relationship, you need to use your brain! Yes, your head. You have to use your head diligently to establish friendship!”

“Okay, you’re right, but a contract…?”

“Breaking the contract means you can immediately end the friendship, which is convenient.”

What is this? Confusing.

My concept of friendship is being shaken.

“Being wishy-washy only leads to a wishy-washy relationship. Kim Gong-Ja, if you're going to start, you should lay a solid foundation from the beginning. Quickly agree to the clause or present a well-reasoned argument against it.”

"......"

I thought hard, using even the parts of my brain I normally don’t.

As a result, our [Friendship Contract] began with a very historic first sentence.

[Friendship Contract]

This contract is concluded at the request of Anastasia Zelenska (hereinafter A), with the assent of Kim Gong-Ja (hereinafter C).

A does not trust the shelf life of human emotions and is convinced that only an assiduous attitude and diligent intellect can set the relationship between the two people upon a rock. Accordingly, A and C pledge as follows:

1. All promises are valid only when both parties agree.

2. All promises can be voided if both parties agree.

3. However, the establishment or voiding of a promise is only possible on weekends (Saturday or Sunday).

4. In case of disagreements, roll the dice and follow the opinion of the person with the higher roll.

Signature: Anastasia Zelenska (Seal)

Signature: Kim Gong-Ja (Seal)

I looked at the contract with a somewhat stunned mind.

Is this really the best way?

"......"

“Come on, stamp it already.”

Black Dragon Master urged.

Kind of scary.

“I don’t actually have a stamp…”

“You have fingers, don’t you? Use your fingerprint.”

“Right….”

So I stamped it.

As I pressed my thumb down, leaving a red print, I thought, 'At least she didn’t suggest writing a blood oath, so that’s a relief.'

In these 30 minutes, I had a very detailed understanding of Black Dragon Master’s character.

“Good.”

Black Dragon Master looked satisfied as she scanned the contract.

“This is not bad for a start. Well, we’ll probably hit a rough patch in the second or sixth year, but can’t help it. I'll have to do my best.”

“There’s still a rough patch even after doing all this…?”

“Kim Gong-Ja.”

Black Dragon Master murmured softly.

“Don’t underestimate human fickleness. Furless beasts like us change into different beings in just six months.”

Such a strong assertion.

“Father! Companion of my father!”

A familiar voice called out. My son, Uburka, was running towards the pier.

“Where did you two disappear to! I’ve been looking for a long time.”

“Oh, sorry. I had to talk with Ana...”

Before I could finish saying, “...stasia, Senior,” the Black Dragon Master's boot came down on my instep.

“Ugh! Cough!”

Pain surged from my foot to my throat, exploding into a splendid scream.

That wasn’t the footwork of someone who had stepped on a foot for the first or second time.

“...I just had something to discuss with Black Dragon Master.”

“That’s right. King of Death and I had to share a talk that only the two of us could.”

Black Dragon Master smiled gently.

“Your daddy and I have a somewhat special relationship.”

Uburka stopped dead in his tracks.

“A s-special relationship?”

“Yes, a unique relationship to each other.”

“Unique…?”

“Embarrassing. What am I saying in front of a child. Anyway, we’ve finished talking. What brings you here?”

“The villagers… they’ve all woken up… It seems like the problem has mostly been resolved… I came to report that…”

Uburka mumbled and then suddenly looked at me.

His eyes were fiercely shining.

[The Constellation ‘The Muscle Pig Dreaming of Parricide’ demands an explanation from you!]

No, it's a misunderstanding, kid.

This is just her using me to get rid of you!

“Daddy, is what she just said true...?”

“King of Death. Was there anything wrong with what I said?”

My son and friend looked at me side by side.

I've never faced such a situation even in my countless repeated deaths.

Is it the paternal love supporting my son's love, or is it the friendship understanding the heart of a friend?

"...My son."

“Speak, Daddy.”

“Black Dragon Master here and this daddy are indeed…”

I swallowed.

“…indeed in a special relationship.”

Uburka's expression contorted.

Silence.

The thick lips of the Hobgoblin trembled, and the long eyelids vibrated.

“I really hate you, daddy!”

With a line straight out of a teenager’s playbook, Uburka ran off into the distance. His flight, aided by Aura, was like a form of light martial arts. Leaving behind only tears, Uburka disappeared beyond the horizon.

It was the moment Uburka's first love in hundreds of years shattered to pieces.

[The Constellation 'The Muscle Pig Dreaming of Parricide' is deeply hurt.]

[The Constellation 'The Muscle Pig Dreaming of Parricide's distrust in humanity increases.]

Ah, ah, ahh....

I was in despair.

“No, Uburka. My son. This daddy has always held only one person in his heart till death…. How could you misunderstand like this... Even if I talk nonsense, you should’ve understood perfectly…”

“Thank you.”

Immediately after Uburka disappeared, Black Dragon Master became indifferent.

Slightly, she swept her hair back with the back of her hand.

“Thanks to you, I got rid of a burdensome kid. I'll ask for your help often in the future if I get annoyed by someone, Kim Gong-Ja.”

“Aren’t you using me a bit too freely for someone who’s supposedly a friend…?”

“What are you talking about? Really.”

Black Dragon Master laughed brightly.

“It's because you're my friend that I can use you so freely.”

That was the third smile I’d seen from her.

And probably, a face I would see countless times from now on.

There is something to add as an epilogue.

“You are wrong.”

-......

The seven-year-old Anastasia looked straight at me.

The Dream World.

All the pioneers of the New Continent who had fallen asleep were awake now. The sailors who had crossed the sea also returned safely, apart from a few unfortunate victims. Because of that, the Black Dragon Master and I had to spend civilization points.

“I came back to say this.”

After the incident concluded, today, I re-entered the Dream World.

-...I don’t understand what you mean by wrong.

The young succubus replied bluntly.

Behind the Dream Demon, the same fence stretched as before.

Barbed wire with gaps like missing teeth and an old fence. The remnants of some civil war.

The race of dreams was parasitizing the marks that had become scars.

“You said it when we first met. Anastasia imagines the death of people she meets first, trying to prevent it preemptively, and thus, she seeks infinite power to prepare and be ready endlessly.”

-Right.

“But I became an exception for her.”

Gunshots echoed.

“You saw it too.”

A man holding a child’s hand was running towards the fence.

Just like a broken tape repeating the same part over and over.

In a world of broken images, I said quietly.

“You can only grasp Anastasia, not change her. It’s a natural limit. After all, you only live in past traumas."

-......

“I subdued you by force. You backed down because you fell short of me in strength. But you would be mistaken to think that the relationships we form in the world beyond are built solely upon the logic of force.”

-What do you want to tell us?

“Don’t mess around, brats.”

I emitted red Aura in all directions.

The pink-tainted world became a bit darker.

The Dream Demons flinched, their shoulders tightened.

“You can talk all you want. About [power] and [logic], making it seem like you can tailor the world to your liking. But the world isn’t thin enough to be cut by your scissors.”

-......

“According to your logic, what under this sky isn’t power?”

I filled my hand blade with Aura.

“Subduing a person is power. Persuading someone is power too. If being entrusted with someone's past and walking beside them also counts as power, then you are merely competent enough to repeat people's dreams and incompetent at anything beyond that.”

-We are....

“You can never change Anastasia. I did. You are weaker and more incompetent than me, and in the end, you lost.”

I swung my hand.

Aura split the space.

The fence was cut and instantly turned into pink bubbles and vanished.

The father and daughter trying to escape through the narrow exit melted away as well.

“Next time I come, be more competent.”

-......

“If you repeat the same thing after I give you hundreds of years, well, I might have to turn back time and make you extinct."

It's simple.

The Dream Demons will just be added to my ghoul collection.

I got up from my seat.

-How many will that be?

The Dream Demons glared at me.

-One? Two? Will there be ten? Twenty? Could there ever be a hundred? Even if there were, in the world you inhabit they would be no more than less than a handful of dust. What meaning would that have?

I snorted.

“If the numbers concern you, why don't you help us increase them?”

-......

I spread Aura to disconnect the surrounding area from the Dream World.

My master could have annihilated this place in one strike, but that level is still difficult for me.

Just ensuring my own space to maneuver was the best I could do at the moment.

[Quest Clear!]

And my best worked even on this stage.

Just before leaving the Dream World, I looked at the Dream Demons.

The young Black Dragon Master was biting her lip, seemingly very frustrated.

“I'll look forward to our next meeting.”

I declared the stage clear.