SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 222

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 222: The God in the Square (2)

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The world shattered like a mirror.

Craaack-.

Slowly, bit by bit, the scenery of the parliament hall crumbled. The amniotic fluid flowing underfoot shattered. Marquis Baek Seol-To trembling beside me shattered. The nobles shattered. Craaack! Crack...

The world shed its skin through the shattered panes of glass.

Through the fissures of the fracture, a different landscape peeked through, not of the parliament. The sight of Marquis Baek Seol-To wielding a whip. Viscount Dae Ha-Ran burning a village. The world split into a hundred, a thousand fragments. From each crack, screams leaked out.

"That's right, Mr. Gong-Ja."

Kaleidoscope.

This was Jaa Soo-Jeong's world.

"Your deduction is correct.”

Splash.

Jaa Soo-Jeong, with amniotic fluid on her feet, walked to the center of the parliament. As she stepped, the world shattered around her, crack, crack, and through each broken scene, another place was revealed.

“This life of mine isn't the first.”

"......"

I inhaled sharply.

“How many times has it been?”

“I do not know. No, I could find out, but I wonder whether I could give you the answer you want. Mr. Gong-Ja, you are worried that I might collapse from exhaustion after repeating hundreds of millions, even trillions, of lives, aren't you?”

Indeed.

Raviel is a strong person. Even Raviel, trapped in a repeating cycle of ten days, had her heart rot away. What if someone, not just for ten days but for an entire lifetime, is perpetually repeating it?

What would gather in their heart?

What foul stench would emanate?

“I was bestowed with an innate ability from the beginning.”

Jaa Soo-Jeong had reached the center of the parliament by now.

Even the central throne was shattered like glass. The armrest of the chair broke off, and through the void, glimpses of Viscount Chun Heuk-Shin engaging in cannibalism flickered. One leg of the throne was also broken. There, too, someone unknown was dying.

“Many dragons live in this world, and many have lived here in the past.”

Jaa Soo-Jeong sat down.

On the throne with broken armrests and a shattered leg.

She rested her arms on the sight of people killing each other, and her legs on the sight of people being killed.

“There are those who have made special contracts with dragons. The Dragon Emperor's guards, Dragon Knights. The titles vary by region, but they share one thing: their descendants inherit the Dragon Blood.”

“Dragon Blood?”

“Yes. Think of it as a lesser copy of a dragon's power.”

Jaa Soo-Jeong caressed the armrest of the glass throne.

“For example, imagine a dragon that can build a vast library, stocking it with records of everything in the world. That's the dragon's power. In contrast, the ability of Dragon Blood would merely allow one to enter that library and occasionally borrow books.”

Jaa Soo-Jeong was expressionless.

Her lips, no longer smiling, parted.

“The relationship between the Dragon Emperor and the Dragon Knights can be likened to that of a god and its followers. Hence, those who receive Dragon Blood are sometimes called apostles.”

I flinched.

“Apostles...”

“Among the apostles you know, Lady Goldencup would be one.”

The image of the lady, wielding a giant hammer and cursing the world, came to mind.

Goldencup's power. It was a body impervious to physical damage.

“My ability is [Perfect Memory].”

Jaa Soo-Jeong said.

“I remember everything I've seen, heard, and felt. Not only remember, but I can also revisit those memories as if in a lucid dream.”

“Doesn’t it sound familiar, Mr. Gong-Ja?”

There was.

Very close by.

I recalled the face of a part-time worker who now greets customers with a beaming smile in some café.

The former owner of the Grand Library that once collected records of everything in existence. The Great Librarian of All Knowledge.

“Hamusutra......"

“[The Pond Where Memories Gather].”

Jaa Soo-Jeong spoke the librarian's true name.

“I inherited Hamusutra’s powers. Long ago, an apostle who worshiped Hamusutra as a god descended into this kingdom. Although the apostle was eventually defeated and perished, they left behind a descendant before dying. If you trace my lineage, it leads to that apostle.”

Thanks to that, Jaa Soo-Jeong said.

“Things like this are possible.”

It was the moment she raised a finger.

Craaack-.

The glass window that covered the whole world shattered once again. A shard of glass fell, touching another identical shard. When the two shards collided, they suddenly shone brightly, turning into a pure white butterfly.

The two shards of glass became the wings of the butterfly. The world, shattered into millions of pieces, fell, and from them, hundreds of thousands of butterflies fluttered.

Craaack, crack...

Like flower petals carried by the wind, white butterflies bloomed all over this world.

“Come here, Mr. Gong-Ja."

Jaa Soo-Jeong beckoned.

"......"

I took a deep breath and headed towards the mirror throne.

Crackle.

Around me, white butterflies were already fluttering chaotically. One passed right before my nose. A voice leaked from its wings.

-The Count has fallen in battle, my lady.

The butterfly was made of two glass shards. Each silvery wing harbored its own scene. On the wings of this butterfly was portrayed Count Ah Ru-Ho.

The young count's lips moved slightly.

-What about my eldest brother?

-No news. He led a squad to retrieve the count's remains, but we've yet to hear back. I must disrespectfully say, it’s likely...

-Ah.

-Young lady. It's unavoidable. You are a dignified member of the Tiger Count's family. Misfortune befalls everyone, but a tiger swallows the incoming misfortune, chews it up, and then spits it towards the world that dared challenge them.

-I’m ignorant of politics. I'm not ready.

-People are born into the world unprepared, and meet death unprepared. Life isn’t about preparation, but endurance. Young lady, ascend to the seat of the count.

The white butterfly lightly flew away.

Into the midst of countless butterflies fluttering like dense flower petals.

"......"

On the wings of one butterfly was the image of Marquis Baek Seol-To, holding back tears. Viscount Chun Heuk-Shin, clenching her teeth, was there too.

Viscount Dae Ha-Ran muttered while suppressing her anger.

-During the rebellion, those cowardly bastards did nothing. In the parliament, they all act like great generals and decorated heroes. Damn, should I just wipe out these bastards?

Hundreds of thousands of butterflies, each emitting their own sound, fluttered away.

“As you can see.”

Jaa Soo-Jeong spoke to me, who had reached the throne.

“All the past events I've experienced are recorded here. Originally, I could only remember my own life, but after acquiring [Golden Dragon's Eye] and [Ice River Dragon's Breath], I began to encompass others' lives as well.”

"......"

“This is a world where my memories are recorded. Only two people, including you, have ever stepped foot here. You can take pride in it, Mr. Gong-Ja.”

“Am I invited into the lady’s consciousness right now?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Jaa Soo-Jeong spread her palms.

“In your terms, you're peeking into my skill.”

A card, glittering in gold, formed there.

Among the skills possessed by the Tower Master, this was the last card.

[All Lives ]

Rank: EX

Effect: Originally, it was just an ability of ‘perfect memory.’ However, it has blossomed into a completely higher-dimensional skill through the overlap with various other skills. This is a glass garden where every human, object, and event you've experienced is faithfully recorded. If you wish, you can replay any of the memories stored here.

But there’s more.

Flutter.

Something landed on the back of my hand.

It was the butterfly I had seen earlier.

-Aaaaah!

From the transparent surface of its glassy wings, a red scene flowed. A scene now somewhat familiar to me. The playback of Marquis Baek Seol-To whipping.

Only.

The face of the child groaning under the whip was different.

-Ugh, huff! Ah, aaaaah!

It was Jaa Soo-Jeong's face.

Much younger than now.

I involuntarily gasped.

“Lady, what is this...?”

“If the person who encountered Lady Baek Seol-To that day had been me instead of that young free citizen.”

Whack!

The thick whip tore into young Jaa Soo-Jeong's back, blood staining the snow.

"This is a scenario flowing under the assumption of 'what if'. I completely grasp the cause and effect of the past. 'What if someone else had been there then.' 'What if something else had happened.' I can reconstruct countless IF scenarios."

"Why would you view such IF scenarios…?”

“To know."

A scream burst forth.

"How much pain the child killed by the marquis had endured."

In the scene reflected by the glassy wings, Jaa Soo-Jeong foamed at the mouth and collapsed to the ground.

"People do not want others to claim they understand them so easily. They hate it when someone rashly says, 'I understand you,' without knowing how badly they truly hurt or how much they suffered. Of course they do. We are all strangers to one another.”

Whack!

The small back convulsed.

Struck by the whip, Jaa Soo-Jeong clenched and twisted the snow on the ground, as if trying to grasp onto a dying life.

“I will stand before those who have suffered in this kingdom and say, 'I know how much pain you've endured.'"

The snow gripped in her hand melted from her body heat.

It trickled down.

At the end of the melting snow, a pool of blood had formed.

The clear water slowly spread over the crimson surface.

"I know the pain they have experienced, the pain they have endured, the pain they will endure. Only when I fully understand all of it, can I finally speak to them without any lies."

I know how much you've suffered.

"Now they can vent that same measure of pain upon me."

"The Golden Rule..."

"Yes. That's right. Only through me can the kingdom’s marginalized and sacrificed people finally feel understood."

"......"

"Those with grievances and hatreds that had nowhere to go, nobody to direct them at, can now vent on me. Do you see? I don’t just console them with mere sympathy or with words alone."

Jaa Soo-Jeong said.

"I truly understand."

With transparent eyes.

"They can be truly understood."

"......"

"By ascending to the position of the duke, not a single person in the kingdom will be neglected anymore. Of course, misfortune will not stop. Someone will suffer. But now, through me, the kingdom will understand their pain. Accept it. Alleviate it."

I…

Once again, I looked around blankly.

-Save me! Please, general, save me!

It was hell.

-Aaaaah!

-Ugh, ……huff. Ah…….

In this glass garden, Jaa Soo-Jeong bled, screamed, and died on behalf of others. From the pillars of the garden, from the arches supporting the dome, from the countless glass windows forming the walls. Around the pillars, under the dome, beside the walls, from the fluttering wings of hundreds of thousands of butterflies. Everywhere, Jaa Soo-Jeong bled.

-My, my name is Baek Seol-To, the marquis’s daughter.

It wasn't just that.

-In your position as a commoner. Consider it an honor!

In an IF scenario on one of the glass wings, Baek Seol-To visited Jaa Soo-Jeong to apologize.

In that world, Jaa Soo-Jeong didn't die.

Compared to the original commoner child, Jaa Soo-Jeong was stronger and healthier. Although her body was damaged from the whipping, it wasn’t fatal.

-My name is Jaa Soo-Jeong.

-Jaa Soo-Jeong? What a strange name.

-You are, lady...

In that world, Jaa Soo-Jeong and Baek Seol-To grew closer.

Born a commoner, Jaa Soo-Jeong was intelligent and capable enough to fill the gaps in Baek Seol-To's knowledge.

Thanks to secret tutoring from Jaa Soo-Jeong, Baek Seol-To managed to complete the homework her grandfather assigned.

-I, I got praised by grandpa for the first time! What do I do!? I'm so happy. I can't stop smiling...

-Congratulations, lady.

-Yes! It's all thanks to Jaa Soo-Jeong!

Baek Seol-To grabbed Jaa Soo-Jeong’s hand and jumped for joy.

There was no sign of the haughty, prejudiced noble lady, only disdainful of mixing with commoners.

A small coincidence created change.

A small change led to an encounter.

A small encounter was shaping a human being.

-I will live for you.

Viscount Chun Heuk-Shin, who met Jaa Soo-Jeong a bit earlier, smiled brightly.

No, she was no longer a viscount. Chun Heuk-Shin cast aside her noble title and joined the Special Forces with Jaa Soo-Jeong. The two became close comrades and brought the kingdom's criminals to justice one by one.

-Civilian massacres should be avoided, general.

-Why?

Viscount Dae Ha-Ran, who had Jaa Soo-Jeong as her adviser, pouted.

-Isn't it faster to massacre?

-Faster, but not right. It will make things much more difficult later. This may be enemy territory now, but it will eventually be reclaimed as royal land. General, you must create citizens for the kingdom, not enemies...

Countless glasses.

Countless white butterflies.

In countless worlds, Jaa Soo-Jeong bled, screamed, and died. This was the left wing of the butterfly.

And on the right were slightly better possibilities. Scenes without victims, without murderers, continued. This was the right wing of the butterfly.

Her world was filled with many butterflies, and with them, many deaths and lives.

"Because I wasn't there."

Glass and butterflies. Blood and screams. Death and life.

"Because I was too late. Because I was born too late. Every tragedy in this world happened."

Under the white fluttering butterflies.

The god clasped her small hands together as if praying somewhere.

"If I had been there, you all would have met a slightly better ending. Lived a slightly happier life. It’s my fault, my sin for not always being there with you. So, I will scream as much as you have suffered."

Forever.

"......"

I read the rest of the words engraved on the card.

[All Lives ]

Rank: EX

But there’s more.

You know how past events were constructed through various causes. The more precisely you understand these causes, the more accurately you can construct IF scenarios.

You can simulate the world.

*However, this skill can only be activated while you possess [Golden Dragon's Eye] and [Glacier Dragon's Breath].

There, lay a skill that could create hell.

“Mr. Gong-Ja.”

The owner of All Lives spoke.

“You asked how many times I have repeated this life.”

"......"

“It’s pointless to answer how many times. I don’t just repeat my own life. The kingdom’s citizens, everyone who lived and died in the kingdom. I eternally live their lives on their behalf.”

Therefore.

That’s why Jaa Soo-Jeong’s life was a trauma.

The reason why her entire life was chosen as a trauma unlike others.

"Always..."

I was at a loss for words.

"Are you always replaying these scenes, even while sitting in the parliament just now?”

“Yes."

“And even while smiling in front of your lovers?”

“Yes."

Jaa Soo-Jeong said.

“I'm sorry.”

Thud.

A word fell from Jaa Soo-Jeong’s expressionless face.

“I'm sorry.”

"......"

“I'm sorry for being born late. For not living with you. For not being able to save you.”

I'm sorry.

The butterflies fluttering around the glass garden all simultaneously uttered that one phrase. Happy IF scenarios faded. The silvery wings reflected reality, where Baek Seol-To whipped a young commoner, Viscount Chun Heuk-Shin devoured human flesh, and Viscount Dae Ha-Ran burned down a village.

“I'm sorry.”

The young god apologized to everyone.

For all the deaths that occurred in this kingdom, all the disasters, all the catastrophes. To those killed by people. To those who killed people. To those killed by non-human entities. To non-humans.

For everything.

“I'm sorry, everyone.”

That was the only breath left in her heart.

“Lady…”

Unable to endure, I took a step forward,

“I'm sorry, Mr. Gong-Ja.”

Jaa Soo-Jeong grasped my left hand.

“Because I wasn't by your side, Mr. Gong-Ja.”

A warm something passed from her hand into mine.

Looking down, in my hand, a white butterfly had folded its wings and curled up.

“That's why you were killed by Yoo Soo-Ha.”

For a moment.