WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈
Chapter 239: King of Death’s Family (3)
──────
4.
Kim Yul.
I faced the man resonating with that name.
‘Handsome.’
The man had long hair. As the night wind stirred, his silver hair danced weightlessly in the air. It seemed that if its tiny roots attached to the scalp were cut, the hair would immediately drift away... possibly to some nameless desert.
Yes. The silver hair seemed to yearn for a desert. The place it left, the place it could leave anytime, the place it would eventually leave. Each strand of hair subtly carried a longing for the desert.
“Kim Yul.”
“I came when called. But is this place a Demonic Realm? The power gathered here is so formidable that even I, in my prime, wouldn’t have been able to determine the outcome if I had charged in.”
His sharply blue eyes swept over the mansion's courtyard. The Blood Ghost Troop, elites of the Demonic Cult and now warriors of our house, met Kim Yul's gaze with a baleful air.
“---A considerable force.”
The café part-timer who had once reigned as the absolute power of the Tower's fiftieth floor delivered that assessment with an utterly serious expression. Then again, Kim Yul always wore an utterly serious expression.
“How considerable?”
“If they were to ascend to the 50th floor as they are, the riff-raff wouldn’t dare approach. Even the witches who spin webs in the Magic Tower would have to engage them in battle to determine the true owner of the 50th floor.”
“And.”
I tapped Uburka’s arm.
“What if this kid is added to the mix?”
"......."
Kim Yul examined Uburka's entire body carefully, from his bulging chest muscles to thighs so knotted with muscle that they seemed to have become one enormous knot themselves. He tapped the muscles along which Uburka's ki channels ran, then raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Impressive. A monster?”
Kim Yul was expressionless.
However, I could tell he was genuinely admiring. When it came to reading Kim Yul's expressionlessness, I was as authoritative as the Head Librarian.
“The very model of a Heavenly Martial Body. Some martial artists can do no more than cleave a person with one stroke of the sword; this is called Human Martial. A great warrior may expand a nation's territory with a single swing; this is called Earth Martial. But Heavenly Martial is on another plane entirely. One stroke cleaves the heavens, so beneath that blade, how many people live or die and how many nations rise or fall are matters of no consequence. Astonishing. The forces gathered in this mansion alone could already invade and annihilate the floor of an ordinary constellation...”
“My son.”
"......."
For the first time since his summoning, Kim Yul clammed up.
A hint of confusion and turmoil mingled in his blue eyes.
To think I can disconcert someone like Kim Yul. Impressive, isn’t it?
“A son?”
Kim Yul turned his head to look at Uburka's stature, mine, and finally at Raviel. The most complex equations unfolded in his mind. Surprisingly, beads of sweat seemed to form on Kim Yul's forehead.
“How? ...It’s impossible. Both physically and racially, it seems impossible. A curse of the Tower? A skill's influence? No, but the rate of growth…”
“He’s my adopted son.”
“You wish to die, King of Death.”
Before I knew it, Kim Yul’s hand was gripping my neck. It didn’t hurt since he was a Ghoul who had lost his prime strength, but the icy glare was somewhat frightening.
“Y-you've become remarkably expressive. Your face is still blank, but you showed admiration for Uburka, and I even managed to make you act foolish...”
“I am human too. Can’t help it.”
Kim Yul released my neck with a sigh.
“I’ve lost the skill that traded memories for power. All I have is this notebook, documenting half of my life that I abandoned.”
Kim Yul took out a notebook from his pocket and looked down at it. His gaze, filled with many emotions, swept over the worn leather.
“I’ve already abandoned everything I could, and it’s impossible to abandon more. From now on, it’s only about gaining. As you promised me, King of Death. I am living a life.”
“Things that I wouldn’t have noticed before, or would have been quickly discarded, are now slowly settling and accumulating in my heart. As they pile up, the surface of my heart will eventually overflow. When that time comes, maybe I too will laugh, cry, get angry, and love like others.”
Kim Yul looked at me.
“If you had not brought my class president to me and reunited us, I would still be nothing more than a machine that kept nothing in its heart. King of Death, all of this is thanks to you.”
I smiled.
“That’s great, Mr. Kim Yul. But don’t you regret it?”
Kim Yul tilted his head.
“Regret? What do you mean, King of Death?”
“You have precious people now. Your class president. Hamustra, who may be a little unreliable but cares for you. Even if the skill that lets you discard memories returned, you could no longer cast them aside without hesitation, could you?”
"......."
Kim Yul pondered expressionlessly.
“That’s right.”
He nodded after a moment.
“I can’t abandon them.”
"......."
“There is someone who lived an entire life for the sake of my death. There is someone captivated by my life who loves me. I have enjoyed every luxury a human being could enjoy from birth until even after death. I cannot relinquish this good fortune.”
Kim Yul looked up at the night sky.
“I see.”
Then, he slowly turned to face me.
“I am happy now. King of Death.”
"......."
“You made me happy.”
Various emotions were swirling in Kim Yul's eyes, not just bafflement, surprise, and gratitude. His eyes, as blue as the sea, were stirring with a myriad of feelings.
“Is that your wish?”
Mixed in, there was an indiscernible concern.
“Do you intend to make everyone you meet happy? In my opinion, it’s not easy to change me this way.”
“Ah, it was really hard.”
“I lost my memories. To make me recover fragments of what I had lost, you created a [Trauma World]. I was unhappy. To prove that I had not been nothing but unhappy, you brought my class president to me. ...The cost-benefit ratio makes no sense. Even applying salve to one person's wound is this difficult. King of Death, what in the world are you dreaming of?”
I chuckled and scratched my head.
“It looks good, you know.”
“What?”
“Seeing everyone smile makes me feel really good.”
"......."
There’s a god who takes on our miseries in our stead.
A tricky situation.
If you’re born, it’s best to achieve your desires and laugh as much as you want.
It’s hard, but I think it’s worthwhile.
“Mr. Kim Yul.”
“Speak.”
“You now have things to protect.”
The orphanage director, Hamustra, and even the Planetarium Café he had grown rather fond of.
“But you don’t have the power to protect them.”
"......."
“You can peacefully enjoy the smell of books and coffee in the café built in the Great Library now. Hunters can’t rampage there. I guaranteed its safety, and the Black Dragon, Pantheon, Celestial Martial Clan, Sang-Ryun, and Vigilante Corps jointly invested in it. But conversely, your happiness is completely reliant on others.”
I grabbed Kim Yul’s shoulder.
There was a time when touching him meant risking my life.
But now it was so easy that Kim Yul couldn’t escape or shake off my hand.
"......."
Kim Yul knew this too.
Thus, waves stirred in his beautiful eyes.
I looked into those waves with a smile.
“Aren’t you afraid?”
"......."
“The director is weak. They are old. If some deranged hunter attacks them in earnest, we will later exact the cruelest revenge we can, but the director will still have no means of defending themself.”
Ripples trembled on Kim Yul’s shoulder under my hand.
“Hamustra is no longer a constellation. They are simply a frail little kid now, a child who loves reading books. That child has lost their power. If some lunatic attacks them, they will die.”
“What…”
Kim Yul opened his lips.
“What do you want from me?”
“I can protect them if you ask.”
I said.
“I can order my warriors, who are sharp and quick, to infiltrate the library and guard it 24/7. Not just that, if a situation arises and you die, I have the ability to turn back a day.”
"......."
“You can trust me with everything.”
Even then, it’s okay.
I won’t blame you.
As for the sins you have committed, I can keep you with me and see them properly dealt with as we go.
But.
“If you don’t want that.”
If you choose something else over safety and comfort.
"I will return life to you, Mr. Kim Yul."
Slowly, Kim Yul looked into my eyes.
“Life?”
“I’ve become a bit stronger than before. The abilities, the skills you had to give up when you became a Ghoul. I can restore them all to you.”
Kim Yul hesitated.
He looked around at the warriors emanating fierce aura around the courtyard. Until recently, like Kim Yul, they were powerless. They had knowledge of combat and immense tenacity, but they couldn’t utilize internal energy or execute martial arts.
“Indeed.”
Finally, Kim Yul's gaze landed on Ester.
From Ester's silent figure radiated the majesty of the constellation who had once destroyed the Aegim Empire single-handedly. Looking upon the Demon King who had overthrown the empire he founded, Kim Yul understood the true meaning of my words.
“You grow stronger with each passing day.”
“Well, the world won’t let me stay weak.”
“…The definition of [strength] will differ from person to person. But if someone supporting a family spends every spare moment swinging a pickaxe, moving their arms without rest because every second and every minute is precious, then that person is strong enough. Not wasting time. Living one's time. That may be the measure of strength.”
Kim Yul looked at me.
“You always live your time. Even though you can turn it back, even though you can rewind a day or a year and time should therefore be worth less to you than to anyone, you live each day as though it can never be turned back.”
Kim Yul muttered expressionlessly.
“That’s why I think you’re strong.”
And then, Kim Yul said.
“I also want to be strong like you.”
"......."
“I’ll try, King of Death.”
I fell silent for a moment.
‘Everyone is trying.’
I wanted to savor that fact for a while.
Ester. The child who had once been a doppelganger wanted to become human. That was Ester's wish. So she would strive to become human, and she would strive so that we could become father and daughter.
Silvia. Once a frivolous noble lady, she wanted Raviel. That's Silvia's desire. So, she'll work to have Raviel and fulfill the conditions Raviel set.
Kim Yul. The man who once became strong by discarding memories, now has things he can't discard. He doesn’t want to discard them ever again. That's Kim Yul's newfound wish. So, he will work to not discard himself.
‘Nice.’
Others too.
‘Yeah. That’s good.’
Because everyone has something to hold onto.
They will surely be able to try.
‘Just a small push is all it takes.’
And.
I can be that push for them.
“I will give you a physical body, Mr. Kim Yul.”
To be a catalyst for someone, I've become strong.
[The Earth Bone Dragon's Box is activated.]
[The Earth Bone Dragon's Box is completed.]
Just like Ester and the Four Demon Lords, the believers, Silvia Evanair, Kim Yul's existence also transformed into a black bead and dyed my heart.
Feeling that existence, saddened that it could not be white, I breathed out.
My breath was as black as my heart, and when it left my lips, it settled on the ground like a dense fog.
From there, slowly, a human form took shape.
"......."
Constellation Killer.
The man who emerged from being a ghost back to a human, slowly opened and closed his right hand. Repeatedly.
And he muttered.
“The passage I read in a book today was truly good. Beautiful.”
Kim Yul looked up at the night sky.
“But, there will be many more beautiful things waiting for me.”
In an instant.
Constellation Killer swung his hand, and the aura emanating from it sliced through the night air. Cutting and dividing, it even cleaved the moonlit clouds. The dark clouds silently scattered on either side of the full moon.
The white moon seeped through the parted clouds.
Kim Yul stared blankly up at the moonlight pouring over him.
“I can’t remember that passage anymore.”
"......."
“King of Death. What should I call you?”
I approached Kim Yul.
“Please call me Family Head.”
“Family Head.”
“Yes. Someday we will become family to each other. But I am wary of rushing to call each other family from the start. We still don’t know much about each other and are not very familiar.”
"......."
“We can certainly become closer.”
I took something out of my pocket.
A week after parting from the God.
During that time, I wandered through the city and prepared various things. While passing along an old road, I found a stationery shop. I walked past an elementary school student who was skipping school to hammer at an arcade cabinet outside, entered the shop, and found this.
“It's not a very expensive item, but…”
Swoosh.
I untied the yellow rubber band holding Constellation Killer’s hair.
The rubber band was very resilient, tightly binding Kim Yul's silver hair.
“This is a gift from me, while dreaming of the day that will eventually come.”
A moment later.
“Hmm. This is my first time tying it, so it’s not going well… Ah, I think it's done now. Anyway, I guess this is okay.”
A plain hair tie was now tied in Constellation Killer's ponytail.
I took the yellow rubber band and said,
“You won’t need this anymore.”
And simply burned it with aura.
"......."
Probably a very long time ago.
Hundreds of years ago.
Leafanta Aegim must have thought as he discarded 'Kim Yul's memory'.
[Even if I erase my memory, I should not forget the fact that I was abandoned by the world].
Students of Shinseo High School used the yellow rubber band to bully Kim Yul. Tying hair with a rubber band hurts. A simple yet effective bullying tactic.
Everyone could see Kim Yul wearing the rubber band, so everyone knew he was poor and a victim of violence.
It was a stigma.
Leafanta Aegim did not hesitate to discard Kim Yul's memories. After all, there were no good memories to hold onto. He wanted to discard them gratefully if possible.
But the evidence.
He wanted to leave the evidence that the world had abandoned him. He wanted to prove what kind of person he was, how he was born, and the life he led with such a stigma.
So he could curse the world to his heart's content.
"......."
The evidence of the past that had bound Constellation Killer for a long time was now burnt here.
With an expressionless face, or rather a dazed one, Kim Yul touched his hair tied with a hundred-won hair tie from any stationery store.
“I will serve as the representative of our house.”
"......."
“Mr. Kim Yul, become the House Shadow. As our house's shadow, investigate our enemies' movements and gather intelligence on them.”
“A spy?”
“Yes."
I pointed to the warriors hiding beneath the wall.
“One of the Four Demon Lords is the Ghost-Soul Flame Demon. They handled intelligence for the Demonic Cult, and the Spirit Consolation Unit under their command is an intelligence unit that held the martial world in its grip. Mr. Kim Yul, take command of them.”
“…Is this a suitable position for me?”
“You’re skilled at recording and analyzing information.”
I tapped the notebook in Kim Yul's left hand.
The old notebook trembled.
“From now on, don’t write in that notebook about people you must kill, people who killed you, or things you must discard.”
"......."
“Write only for all of us, for the house. Let that notebook become our house's diary. Mr. Kim Yul, prove us with your pen and your writing.”
Then.
“I will be very happy.”
Kim Yul fell silent.
Enough time for the split clouds to scatter and vanish passed.
Beneath the faint moonlight, Kim Yul knelt on one knee upon the parched ground: in the courtyard of an old Korean house that had merely endured the passing time after missing its chance to die, in an out-of-the-way corner of the city where he had been born and died.
“I understand.”
Bowing his head to me.
“I will lay my life atop your dream.”
And Kim Yul swore.
“My Family Head.”
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