SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 244

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 244: Era of the Heroes (2)

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As both armies withdrew, the plain opened up, and moonlight poured generously across it. Only the mountain peak embedded in the very center obstructed the moonlight.

In the deep of the night, where even the stars seemed to hold their breath, we walked under the shadow cast by the mountain peak.

"Is Viper over there?"

At my question, Kim Yul nodded.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Without a doubt."

Kim Yul nodded while looking down at his notebook. Dim starlight streamed over his silver hair. Would I be showing too much favoritism toward my own family member if I said the seasoned air of a veteran detective lingered around his eyes?

"I have identified every tent's location. The Ghost Tribe tried to conceal the Seven Heroes' quarters deep inside the camp, but not well enough to hide them from shadow-bodies like us. Family Head, trust me, and trust the Spirit Consolation Unit you assigned as my subordinates."

"Alright."

I nodded in response.

Kim Yul served as our family's Shadow, its intelligence chief. Assigned under him was the Spirit Consolation Unit, which had dominated the flow of intelligence throughout the martial realm since the days of the Demonic Cult.

I'd wager that no intelligence agency in the world could outdo our clan.

"Let's go."

We entered the Ghost Tribes' camp, avoiding the moonlight.

The camp's paths were as complex as a maze, winding here and there. Tents lined the roadsides, and between them, the Ghost Tribes, exhausted from battle, emitted sleepy snores.

At last, we found a tent that looked somewhat luxurious.

-Nyahahaha!

-Cheers! Pour more drinks here too!

Those voices were unmistakably from today's battlefield.

A red drape fluttered, carrying boisterous voices and the fragrance of liquor from inside the tent.

'This is it.'

It was certain. This was the camp of the seven Ghost Tribe heroes, the enemy's stronghold.

As I inquired with my eyes, Kim Yul slowly nodded in confirmation.

'Okay.'

Then there's no need to hesitate.

"I'll be back."

I stepped into Viper's camp.

The tent occupied by the Seven Heroes of the Ghost Tribe was luxurious.

Red silk adorned the tent, while red-dyed wool lay across the floor like a carpet. Soft pillows were scattered everywhere, and each of the Seven Heroes chose a favorite to hug tightly or rest their head upon.

They were having a drinking party.

"Pour it!"

"Drink up!"

"Ah... you guys really love drinking too much. Excessive drinking is harmful to health---a well-known fact, right?"

"Haha. Since you can't drink because of your injury, you're making such pitiful comments. How unsightly, Dark Swordsman."

"Ah, I have already shown an unsightly side once. Well, that is what I am here for, so I will not complain."

As they passed the cups back and forth, the seven Ghost Tribe heroes chattered away.

"......."

But.

They were all Viper.

"What the heck are you doing now......?"

When I muttered without thinking, the Seven Heroes of the Ghost Tribe, or rather, the seven Vipers, flew into a panic like seven dwarfs who had just been fired by Snow White.

"What, what's this!?"

"An enemy!"

"Everyone---form the Seven Star Formation!"

"Hey, wait a minute... as always, you guys are too hot-headed."

With a confused Viper, a wary Viper, a Viper springing instantly into action, and a coolheaded Viper assessing and mediating the situation, this blowout assortment of Vipers made me feel as though I were losing my mind....

"Ah, would you all quiet down!"

"Hm."

Finally, after my rebuke, all the Vipers coughed in unison.

Then, the Sword Maiden with red hair spoke as their representative.

"What's this, King of Death... What brings you here in the middle of the night?"

"What else? I came to ask why this war started."

"The reason for the war?"

"Yes. Didn’t you say you’d answer after the battle? I’ve ended the fight. Now, please tell me."

The seven Vipers looked at each other.

One of them, scratching the back of her head, answered.

"Sigh. It's a hegemony war."

"A hegemony war?"

"Yes. Your Earth Spirit Tribe and my Ghost Tribe. At a glance, their characteristics overlap, right?"

I thought about it.

Both are races with abundant muscles and love fighting.

"Until now, it was all about the renaissance of art, discovery of new continents, and such, but how long can two lions share the same plains? That's why the king of the Ghost Tribes sent a letter to the chairman of the Earth Spirit Tribe, challenging them to a duel to decide the superior!"

I was incredulous.

"Two lions? Didn’t you get completely thrashed during the holy land war?"

"Ha! Don’t you know about the best-of-three series?"

"I don’t get it... I don’t want to. Anyway, this is why the war started?"

"Indeed, it’s true we're killing each other for no good reason, but what can we do? It was a mutually agreed fight."

As she spoke, the Sword Maiden sharpened her sword against a whetstone. Each stroke fluttered her clothes, emitting a deep rose scent.

But, she was Viper.

"That's right. What can we do about a mutually agreed upon ‘duel war’? It’s like a collective version of a life-and-death duel, isn’t it?"

A slender woman picked up on the Sword Maiden’s words, shrugging her shoulders. Her sharp gaze sent tremors through the night air.

But, she was Viper.

"In short, what is happening now is a 'duel war' staking the pride of both races! We have no right to tear them apart and stop them merely because we find it unpleasant!"

A girl with twin braids spoke while crunching on an apple. Despite her small stature, her hearty eating made for a huge gap, making her extremely cute.

But, she was Viper... Let’s stop here.

"…Alright. I get the situation. But why possess seven people at once? It’s driving me crazy."

"Hmm. Simple reason."

This time, a sharp-looking young man answered.

Since entering the tent, the young man had just leaned against a pillar, looking perfect even in the shadow.

"Possessing multiple people is much more powerful than just one. It’s easier to seize power too. We, the seven heroes, are essentially the leaders of the Ghost Tribe. This way, we can steer the entire tribe as we desire."

His calm words were followed by nods from the other heroes.

"In short, it's a measure to lead this war advantageously."

"A rightful decision for a god leading a tribe, perhaps?"

"Ah, that’s why we’re the seven heroes."

Though the scene was remarkable, I didn’t pry further.

I sighed and spoke.

"So, do you plan to keep participating in the war? All seven of you?"

"Yes. Is there a problem with that?"

I bit my lower lip in contemplation and then spoke.

"Problem aside, I have a proposal."

"A proposal? What kind?"

"Surrender in this war."

At my words, the playful smirks on the faces of the Vipers vanished, replaced by an intense murderous aura.

When the seven Vipers acted out their individual characters, it was impossible to dispel the comedy. The more thoroughly they committed to those characters, the more ridiculous they became.

However, now, abandoning all character and expressionless, the seven diverse individuals acting with a single will was no longer comical, but rather eerie.

"Surrender? Why?"

I addressed the group of Vipers.

"I understand why the two races are fighting. I also understand that we have no right to stop it."

"Uh-huh. And then?"

"And following that logic, what you meant by 'one side overwhelmingly winning to minimize damage' is now clear to me."

If a fight is inevitable and unstoppable, as Viper said, one side achieving a decisive victory would indeed reduce casualties.

"And continuing with the same logic, one side completely surrendering would be the path with the least casualties. That’s why I’m suggesting this."

"Oh. So you know how to talk bullshit too?"

All seven Vipers simultaneously spat in disdain.

"How about this, King of Death? Your tribe surrenders instead. Oh, what's this? The conclusion is opposite but the result is the same? Wouldn’t that be acceptable?"

"Celestial Clan Master. I am being serious."

"I am being serious too, you bastard. Or do I look like I am screwing around right now?"

The piercing gaze of seven pairs of eyes was like a sharp sword thrust at me.

I...

"I only wish to minimize the damage."

"Uh-huh. Then you surrender, King of Death. Understand?"

"That’s not possible."

I sighed and candidly revealed my thoughts.

"The Earth Spirit Tribe that I lead... they have a peculiar political system. It’s easy yet difficult to unite them under one cause. And in this case, it's extremely difficult."

The fervor in the Vipers' attitude receded slightly.

I continued.

"To make my children surrender, I first need to possess the strongest among them. That individual must consent to my possession. Then, I have to propose the idea of surrender to the entire tribe, and knock down anyone who opposes it."

In such a scenario of 'absolute surrender,' almost all the Earth Spirit warriors participating in the war would express opposition.

The probability of someone strong enough to take down all those opposing me consenting to my possession is next to zero.

"But Celestial Clan Master, you can unite the Ghost Tribe behind a single decision much more easily, can you not?"

I looked at each of the seven Vipers in turn.

"You just said this: 'The entire Ghost Tribe moves at their will.' It's faster for you to persuade the Ghost Tribe than for me to persuade the Earth Spirit Tribe. That's why I’m asking you."

"......."

"I am begging you, Celestial Clan Master. Please grant me this one request. I will compensate you generously. You do not want more of the people you lead to die either. So..."

"Our children,"

Viper interrupted me abruptly.

"have lost too much."

The murderous intent in their seven pairs of eyes had subsided.

But their will burned just as intensely.

"The Heretic Inquisitor, those damn snails, defeated us. Our kids, not even ten years old, had their horns broken and were whipped into slavery."

Before I regressed, there had been a saying in the Tower.

"What next? The holy land coalition army, gathered to wash away their humiliation, with the Ghost Tribes at the forefront. But then, suddenly, your tribe appeared and, as you said, completely thrashed us."

The one who saved the most people in the tower is the Master Alchemist.

The one who killed the most people in the Tower is the Master of the Pantheon.

"The Ghost Tribes were resolute. Even as other tribes celebrated the renaissance of art, we quietly gathered strength in secret."

The most feared person in the Tower is the Black Dragon Master, and the noblest is the Paladin.

"But that backfired. In the end, we were left behind in the discovery of the new continent."

But the person most respected by his own guild members, by his own people, is the Celestial Clan Master.

Such tales existed.

"Our children have lost too much. They have only known defeat."

And that was still the case.

"Now, you’re asking those children to surrender again?"

"......."

"I can't do it. That's truly impossible."

I understood Viper's words. My proposal was indeed harsh.

But I clenched my fist.

"In the end, you will lose again."

"Because of that big guy, Uburka, you brought in?"

"Because the situation demands an overwhelming victory to reduce casualties. It’s better for both your and our children if Uburka is tossing mountains around rather than your seven heroes rampaging through our lines."

I looked directly at Viper as I spoke.

But the seven Vipers scoffed in unison.

"King of Death, you underestimate me too much."

"Even the Ghost Tribe hero you possessed could not get close to him. It will be no different if all seven of you charge him at once."

"That's true. But what makes you think I haven't prepared anything?"

The seven Vipers looked at me with a crooked smile.

I frowned.

"And what is this 'preparation' you speak of?"

"Ah. Trying to get spoilers... Just know that I have an ace up my sleeve that can turn that white muscle pig into first-grade pork."

"...Bluffing will not change reality, Celestial Clan Master."

"Why? Scared? Then drop dead."

Indeed.