SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 22

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 22: Welcome, Warriors! (1)

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[00:00:00]

The sky clock struck zero.

"Zero!"

The Hunters cheered. Many threw their hats into the air, with thousands of hats soaring in the plaza, like countless dandelion seeds swirling on a spring day.

Before the hats had even landed -

[This is a public announcement.]

A voice echoed from the heavens, addressing everyone.

[Today marks the end of the tutorial.]

Signifying that the preview had finally come to an end.

[Repeating.]

[Today marks the end of the tutorial.]

And finally, the curtain rose on the main stage!

"Wow!"

People exclaimed with excitement. Heat, passion, fervor. When had the Hunters last been this animated? Even the elderly person who retired to open a shop, the middle-aged who had given up ascending beyond the 2nd floor, were now cheering in the plaza.

At least for this moment, they were all Hunters.

"11th floor! 11th floor! 11th floor!"

"Open the 11th floor already!"

"Hey, have you seen the news just now...?"

As if to reward their enthusiasm...

Whoosh!

The light rays forming the sky clock burst brightly. The blinding light was like the sun. Hunters squinted or peered through their fingers to gaze at the sky. I was no exception.

[Warriors, the ones who chose to climb the tower.]

[Congratulations on overcoming the grudge of the Hellfire Mansion.]

In the sky hovered a majestic figure, not a human but more akin to an angel or goddess, draped in white, radiating a holy light.

It was a holy scene fit to be painted in a temple.

"Wow..."

"She's beautiful..."

Admiration echoed from all around. Most Hunters were captivated by the divine figure above.

-Zombie, snap out of it. That's not a goddess.

But the Sword Emperor remained unimpressed.

The Sword Emperor, someone who had personally conquered up to the 99th floor of a tower in another world, was not taken in by the sight before him.

-It's just a system explaining the quest to you.

"Sort of like an NPC?"

-Yeah. Even if there were such a thing as a goddess, that's just a pre-recorded video. It automatically plays after someone clears the 10th floor. Tsk tsk, pathetic.

I became curious.

"How do you know that?"

-Huh? Because...

Just as the Sword Emperor was about to answer,

[Warriors! There is a world crying out for your help. That world is being invaded by a terrifying Demon King. From now on, you will be summoned there as heroes and entrusted with the mission of saving humanity. If you wish to accept this mission, say, 'Transf...']

Whizz!

Before the voice could finish, someone leaped into the air.

"Whoo!"

The Hunter effortlessly scaled the rooftops of buildings. 3rd, 5th, 7th floors, quickly ascending higher buildings, and finally, powerfully stepping on the bell tower of the plaza. Then, the Hunter soared high into the air.

Sword Saint, Marcus Callenbury.

"Haah!"

The current number one ranked Hunter's sword strike cleaved through the sky. Where the blade passed, the goddess figure split in two.

It was a swift and beautiful strike.

People gasped at the sudden development.

"What...?"

But it was only for a moment.

The halved illusion of the goddess quickly restored itself. Just as cutting through water is futile, the goddess returned to her beautiful form as before.

[...If you wish to accept this mission, say, 'Transfer.' Warriors, at that moment you will take your grand first step onto the eleventh floor.]

The illusion of the goddess continued to shine.

But that light was no longer holy.

A once torn deity was no longer divine.

"Hmm."

The Sword Saint landed effortlessly on the bell tower's roof. Dressed in a black suit like the first time I saw him in the bar, the elderly swordsman looked discontentedly at the sky, then slowly surveyed the plaza below.

"......"

Silence fell over the plaza.

-Hm.

The Sword Emperor commented.

-See, I used to do that too. Look. It's an NPC, right?

I was speechless.

'...Did you really have to confirm that?'

-Yeah. I can't understand people who don't check. When some enormous thing appears, don't you want to cut it with a sword first? Isn't everyone like that?

'Sigh.'

As expected, they're all lunatics. Birds of a feather flock together.

I enhanced my vision and hearing with Aura, carefully watching the Sword Saint, making sure not to make eye contact.

"Transfer."

The Sword Saint murmured softly. Woosh! A bright light enveloped the elderly swordsman, just like the goddess's light. Moments later, the Sword Saint vanished without a trace. Only the white bird droppings remained on the roof of the Italian-style bell tower.

"Ahahahat!"

Laughter broke the silence in the plaza. The Hunters turned their heads.

The source of the laughter was the Heretic Inquisitor, guild master of the Pantheon. The Heretic Inquisitor smiled brightly.

"We got beaten to the punch again! Ah! What a splendid day!"

The Heretic Inquisitor took off his clerical hat, bowing gracefully to those looking at him.

"Then, I'll see you all on the 11th floor! Transfer!"

Bright light enveloped the Heretic Inquisitor. The next moment, he disappeared. Only after watching him vanish did the Hunters belatedly realize.

"Uh..."

Both the Sword Saint and the Heretic Inquisitor had already ascended to the 11th floor.

That was the starting signal.

"T-Transfer!"

"Transfer!"

Numerous Hunters hastily shouted "Transfer." Whoosh! Whoosh! The plaza was quickly enveloped in bright light. Each time someone shouted, a beam of light shot up. The light beams from the plaza soon multiplied into thousands, illuminating the sky.

[Warriors, the ones who chose to climb the tower.]

Even amidst this chaos, the illusion of the goddess continued to recite softly.

[From the 11th to the 20th floors, you will face trials. The trials of faith.]

The goddess brought her hands to her chest.

As though offering a prayer to some unknown place.

[...You will find answers. The answers you find will reveal who you truly are. Thus, you will come to know yourselves...]

However, few paid attention to the illusion of the goddess. Everyone was busy, desperate not to fall behind others.

The few remaining people were either filming or taking photos with their cameras and smartphones.

"It's a pity."

Someone approached and muttered beside me.

It was the Paladin, the deputy guild master of the Vigilante Corps.

"A pity?"

"Think about it. Whoever, whatever being created this tower must have put in tremendous effort. Even that is a message left for us. But no one is interested."

The Paladin looked melancholy.

"It should be a moment to marvel and admire. The fact that such a tower exists, that we can use skills, all of it should be miraculous... But we've become too accustomed to everything by the 10th floor."

"You're more sentimental than I expected."

"Hm. I studied music in the outside world."

The Paladin cracked a smile.

"Does a girl who graduated from a music college seem more attractive?"

"Ah... It seems like it would be hard to make money."

"Ouch. You hit me with the facts."

We chuckled together.

The Sword Emperor quietly joined our conversation.

-Zombie, be careful. This girl is suspicious. Huh?

'Oh, what now.'

-She wouldn't approach you, a good-for-nothing, without any ulterior motives. Are you handsome or kind? No, you're subpar in everything. Aha, perfect! This girl must be a dark-hearted swindler! 100% sure!

This guy really... No, let's just drop it.

"Excuse me!"

At that moment, individuals with cameras approached us. They seemed to be internet broadcasters rather than journalists.

"Are you... Hunter Kim Gong-Ja?"

"Ah."

The Paladin showed a look of annoyance.

"It seems my presence has drawn attention. My apologies, Kim Gong-Ja. I shall head to the 11th floor first."

"Wait a minute. Did you approach me intentionally just for this?"

A suspicion suddenly struck me.

The Paladin's face revealed she was caught off guard.

"Ha-ha. I have an eye for gauging a person's true intentions."

An eye for gauging a person's true intentions? She was confident in assessing people's character?

The Paladin scratched the back of her head like a mischievous child.

"I wanted to see what kind of person you are, so I engaged in conversation. Think of it as a sign of interest."

"So, what kind of person do you think I am?"

"Hm. Well, the true answer lies within your heart. Transfer!"

Incredible.

She blatantly escaped.

Eventually, the Paladin left me as prey to the journalists and disappeared on her own.

-See, I was right, wasn't I? There's never a fault in my predictions!

'Shut up. You're noisy.'

As the Paladin vanished, more people crowded around me. I found myself surrounded by individual broadcasters and journalists.

"Hunter Kim Gong-Ja! Please, just a word!"

"Is it true that you cleared the 10th-floor boss alone? There's widespread speculation that your simultaneous joining of the major guilds was a pre-arranged scenario!"

"There's been an official announcement that your rank is E. Many question its accuracy. Could you confirm this...?"

"What's your relationship with the Paladin from the Vigilante Corps? You seemed quite close. Do you have a personal relationship beyond professional?"

"Hunter Kim Gong-Ja!"

Wow.

'Is this the [numerous handshake requests] that only successful Hunters get...'

Having experienced it firsthand, I could see why the Flame Emperor was annoyed by journalists.

I decided to respond with just one statement.

"I will clear the 20th floor too."

"What?"

"Thank you for your efforts. Transfer."

Whoosh!

A white light began to rise from my feet.

"Wait, just a moment! Hunter Kim Gong-Ja!"

"No! Catch him!"

"Just a few more questions-"

Sorry.

I think a mysterious persona is the best approach.

[Those who climb the tower.]

Right before the light completely engulfed me.

The goddess' voice echoed one last time in the plaza.

[May fortune be with you.]

Whoosh!

The light that wrapped around me faded. Slowly, my vision began to clear.

The first thing I saw was... a vast battlefield.

-Grrrr!

-Chweek! Chwee!

Monsters.

Grotesque creatures swarmed from beyond the horizon. Goblins. Orcs. Ogres. Monsters from the tutorial up to the 10th floor were now rushing together regardless of their species.

It was an overwhelming horde.

"Block them!"

"It's impossible! There are too many enemies!"

"Don't retreat! If we fall here, the empire is doomed!"

Defending against this horde... was merely a handful of soldiers.

Perhaps from an ancient to medieval civilization era? A group of soldiers clad in armor desperately defended the port. Forming a defense line with a deep river behind them, the human soldiers resisted fiercely.

"What's this?"

"What's happening here...?"

"Wow! Be careful of the arrows flying everywhere!"

Suddenly summoned to the battlefield, the Hunters were bewildered.

It was only natural for the Hunters to be bewildered. Until now, they had hunted monsters only in [safely prepared hunting grounds]. They had never experienced a battlefield as tense as this one, where violence could erupt at any moment.

But from the 10th floor onwards, such scenes were daily occurrences.

'It's truly the end of the tutorial.'

A battlefield where you could be beheaded at any moment.

A fight for survival on every floor.

"Wow!"

Suddenly, someone approached the confused Hunters. It was a soldier, but not just any - his armor was quite splendid. This general exclaimed as he approached us.

"Thank you! You've come to help our empire, brave warriors!"

The Hunters stirred.

"Warriors? What are you talking about?"

"Idiot. Didn't you hear what the angel said in the plaza? About the invasion of the Demon King. We must have been assigned the role of heroes."

"I can't hear from the back!"

"Wow, is this real? Are those soldiers real humans or NPCs...?"

"Quiet down there!"

Murmuring.

While the Hunters were chattering, more reinforcements kept arriving. People pushed and shoved each other in the chaos.

"Warriors! Please help us and save our empire!"

Fortunately, a few skilled ones like me knew how

to enhance their sight and hearing with Aura. While the less skilled were lost, a few Hunters heard the general NPC's words.

"This port is the last lifeline of the empire. To keep the capital supplied, we must defend this place. Warriors from another world! Please help us defend the Aegim Empire!"

Then, a voice echoed in my head.

[A Quest for Floor 11 has been given.]

Text appeared before my eyes.

[Defense of the Supply Route]

Difficulty: F~A

Mission Objective: Calamity has come to the Aegim Empire. The Demon King, a being known only in legend, has finally raised an army. The Demon King is cunning, vicious, and powerful. The Demon King's first move is to cut off the Aegim Empire's supply route.

Defend the port!

This battle will be the first step in saving the empire.

*However, if defeated in battle, the 12th floor will not open.

Seeing is believing.

"A quest...?"

"See, I told you. The Demon King really did appear."

"Where is the Aegim Empire?"

Until a moment ago, the Hunters were disoriented, but they began to grasp the situation. Some silently drew their weapons, while others formed teams with their comrades.

And one Hunter launched a sword strike at the goblins.

"Indeed."

The Sword Saint at the forefront sheathed his sword and murmured.

"I'm not sure of the details. But it seems we just have to defeat them."

Then, the Sword Saint plunged into the frontline.

The Hunters who had been hesitating now roared in unison.

"Woah!"

"Good! Follow the Sword Saint!"

"Damn goblins! I've beheaded thousands of your kind over six years!"

Thousands of Hunters charged with weapons in hand, followed by thousands more. The defense force quickly grew in numbers.

As the war turned into a free-for-all...

"Okay."