WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈
Chapter 256: One Who Does Not Clear the Stage (2)
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[We are now entering the 38th floor.]
The moment the voice of the tower resounded.
A change occurred in the hologram we were watching.
“Look over there!”
The Heretic Inquisitor thrust his head forward with a little “Heave-ho!”
I was sitting on the sofa, so the only place where the Heretic Inquisitor could stick his head in was over the backrest. Hanging from it like a child riding piggyback on their father, the Inquisitor peered ahead.
“Something is emerging from the sea surrounding the right side of the continent!”
It was just as the Heretic Inquisitor said.
In the hologram, something gigantic was rising from the depths of the sea.
“Aha! It’s incredibly huge!”
The Heretic Inquisitor bounced about like a little kid watching a monster movie.
But the other companions gathered in the eliminated contestants' waiting room could not share that excitement.
Speaking on behalf of all of us, the Black Dragon Master murmured.
“What’s that?”
[It] resembled a long-necked turtle.
When it fully rose, waves rolled from its knees. As the monster lifted its long neck akin to a skyscraper and roared, its bellow alone caused tidal waves in all directions.
“That’s a dragon that has been sleeping since the dawn of this world.”
The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages said.
The Black Dragon Master flinched.
“...A dragon? There was a dragon on the 37th floor, and now another dragon on this floor?”
“Yeah. And actually, that dragon is the true dragon... In your terms, it can be considered a [Constellation].”
The Princess smiled brightly.
“Think of the Red Dragon from the 37th floor as one of the apostles controlled by that dragon!”
Grrrrrrrrrr-
The monster in the middle of the sea belched.
Thud!
The monster with a blue carapace, blue hide, and blue eyes raised its enormous forelegs and headed toward the shore.
Thud!
An earthquake struck with every step. Kuwoong! Kuwoong! After only a few strides, the monster had already left the open sea and was trampling the beach. Kuwoong! When the monster moved once more, it crushed the dense jungle trees like stalks of sorghum.
Grrrrrrrrrr-
The monster shook the seawater from its head. Every falling droplet formed a pond of its own. Kiiik! Fish from the sea, crabs wandering the beach, and beasts hiding in the jungle became entangled as they fled. Kiiik! Kkik! The world grew clamorous with the cries of creatures from land and water fleeing together.
[The Constellation 'The Ki Dragon Dwelling in the Abyss' roars!]
Even though we were just spectators from afar.
"......."
"......"
We all fell silent.
It's natural to become quiet when faced with a monster almost the size of the Korean Peninsula.
“Hmm! It’s tricky.”
Let me correct that.
Bambolina seemed to have something to say.
“I just checked with my skill, the Compendium of All Gods... and this truly is difficult!”
“Well, it’s that big. It’s hard to figure out what to do with human power.”
The Countess made the remark in disbelief, but Bambolina shook his head.
“Of course, size is an issue, but it’s not just about the size! More problematic is the nature of that Constellation.”
Right.
Constellations have types, and they vary greatly. Simply being strong does not make one a Constellation. At least from what I know.
Uburka didn’t become a Constellation just by lifting dumbbells. He overcame himself again and again to reach the status of a Constellation.
Born with albinism, destined to be an enemy of the sun. However, Uburka overcame the sunlight by learning Aura and enveloping his body with it. Physical limits. Life limits. Every time an unavoidable limit approached, Uburka overcame it by reconstructing flesh and bones with Aura.
The overcomer.
He who defies the world that birthed him, the sun that nurtures the world, the life indebted to the sun, everything - and ultimately transcends. The Constellation [The Muscle Pig Dreaming of Parricide] proved his will and thus earned the right to become a constellation shining in the night sky.
‘On the other hand.’
Constellations like that monster were different.
“That Constellation belongs to the Primordial class!”
The Primordial.
Nature.
Constellations that [constitute] this world.
“Even that gigantic monster is not the true body. It is merely a terminal of sorts, a puppet controlled through a link to the Constellation's consciousness!”
If the Constellation's true body were compared to a gigantic sea anemone, that monster would be no more than one tentacle growing from it.
“Therefore, fighting and killing it is nearly impossible! However, if a way is found, hmm. Instead of destroying that puppet, sealing it to trap the Constellation's consciousness within and inflicting continuous pain to shatter that consciousness might be the only way!”
Shiny shuddered. So did I.
What Bambolina described was almost exactly what the Constellation in the world where my master had lived suffered at the hands of the Constellation Killer.
Unaware of such details, the Black Dragon Master stroked her chin.
“Indeed. It’s like a curse.”
“Yes! Initially, the medium is a puppet. The counter must be along those lines.”
“That’s right, there is a way to confront it... But can those children over there use it?”
“The idea itself is straightforward. Saying the medium is a puppet means it's rooted in primitive sorcery!”
As the Black Dragon Master and the Heretic Inquisitor continued their discussion, someone crossed their arms.
It was the Paladin.
“The problem remains whether such a method is necessary.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“If we go by the Inquisitor's words, that Constellation seems like a creator of that world. Meaning the residents of that world could only exist because of that Constellation, so why would they antagonize such an entity unless they are mad fanatics with a belief like [Constellations must absolutely be killed]?”
I shivered. So did Shiny.
After all, there was someone with that background among my vassals.
Nevertheless, the Paladin's point was sharp.
‘As expected of the Paladin.’
Before I returned,
Flame Emperor Yoo Soo-Ha only cleared up to the 40th floor.
And since it was a world quest and not an individual racial quest, I knew the contents of this floor.
“But that creator is trying to destroy the world now, aren't they?”
“The same logic can counter that, Black Dragon Master. If the Constellation doesn't want to commit suicide, there's no reason to destroy the world. It’s not like the world’s residents are causing havoc against the whole world.”
That was also true.
‘Actually, even if they caused havoc, it wouldn't lead to destruction.’
Flame Emperor.
During the past when Yoo Soo-Ha climbed the tower, the continent was in a mess incomparable to now.
Fanatical elves worshiped the Flame Emperor as their god. Yoo Soo-Ha ordered those elves to slaughter and conquer. The race and its god went mad together, exterminating every other race or reducing them to slaves.
‘Except for the Earth Spirit Tribe.’
Why those children survived is a story for another time. For now, the important point is this.
‘That Constellation doesn’t destroy worlds.’
It merely does something a little nastier....
[The Constellation 'The Ki Dragon Dwelling in the Abyss' roars!]
The jungles, beaches, and seas trembled.
The roar emitted by the Ki Dragon was so grand that it resonated clearly to the opposite coast.
-To those living upon my skin!
-To the races born from my breath!
-I am the great flow! There is no flow in this sky, land, or sea that does not originate from me.
-I am the flow, and the flow is me. Those who can feel the flow are my priests, and those who can use the flow are my warriors.
People around the world turned their heads.
The Earth Spirit Tribe wrinkled their noses, the Mountain Snail Tribe quivered their antennae, the Fairy Tribe pricked up their ears, the Gill-Fin Tribe opened their gills, the Vampires flapped their wings, the Pure Humans shifted their eyes, and the Ghost Tribe turned their single horns.
In an instant, in a fleeting moment.
Their noses, antennae, ears, gills, wings, eyes, and single horns all pointed in one direction, and beyond that, in the distance, lay a gigantic monster. Its hind legs on the tidal beach, its front legs in the tsunami-swept jungle.
-...This is unbelievable.
The Guardian Spirit, with crossed arms, let out a groan.
-That turtle kid, it just sent 'Aura' 'Telepathically' to 'all races' living in this world, didn't it?
It was as the Guardian Spirit said.
That immense ability instantly resonated across the entire continent.
[The unidentified voice causes the Pure Humans Race to tremble in fear!]
[The unidentified voice makes the Gill-Fin Tribe shed their scales!]
[The unidentified voice puts the Earth Spirit Tribe on alert!]
[The unidentified voice startles the Fairy Tribe!]
[The unidentified voice aggravates the Ghost Tribe's mood!]
[The unidentified voice makes the Vampiric Tribe swiftly fall asleep!]
[The unidentified voice surprises the Mountain Snail Tribe, and they continue their work.]
Utter chaos across the continent...
“It's a bit too varied to call it chaos, isn't it...?”
What’s going on?
Why aren’t they all running away in panic or lying flat on the ground or crying out loud?
‘During the Flame Emperor's time, it was like that...’
Especially the Vampires and the Mountain Snail Tribe. Why did the Vampires suddenly fall asleep, and why did the Mountain Snail Tribe simply go back to work?
"......."
I glanced back and forth between the Black Dragon Master and the Heretic Inquisitor. Neither avoided my gaze; in fact, they seemed very confident.
“Didn't I tell you? The Vampiric Tribe merged with the Dream Demon race. They just entered a strategic meeting at the racial level. It's very, very, very, very important to consolidate opinions before acting.”
Anastasia said it nonchalantly, as if stating an absolute truth.
“I educated them to continue working if it seems they’re not about to die immediately! Swinging a hammer one more time is more beneficial in life!”
Bambolina said it with a ridiculously bright smile.
"Indeed......."
I couldn't help but lament.
“So this is my best friend and my subordinate....”
As I looked at my human relationships, I heard a tsk-tsk-tsk sound.
-Really, birds of a feather flock together. A match made in heaven.
The Guardian Spirit watched the hologram while picking at one ear.
-So, what's this 'flow' the turtle is talking about?
Ah.
That.
‘Aura.’
-Huh?
‘It's evident in the name of the Constellation. Ki Dragon. The world's Aura flows through the breath of this Constellation.’
-Ho ho.
If the Amazon rainforest is the Earth's lungs, then this Constellation can be considered the lungs of Aura.
The Guardian Spirit wiggled his thick eyebrows.
-Indeed. Indeed. So that’s why the kids in that world are exceptionally good at Aura? There’s a lot more Aura floating in the atmosphere compared to other worlds?
‘That’s right.’
-Well then.
The Guardian Spirit nodded as if he understood everything.
-After all, you’re damn smart when it comes to Aura, but the Earth Spirit Tribe was learning at an alarmingly fast rate. Now I see, those brats were spoon-fed by the world. Huh? I knew about silver spoons and gold spoons, but an Aura spoon too?
‘...Well, I'm not sure if that’s such a good spoon to have.’
-Huh? Why? Isn't it always a good thing if Aura learning is easier?
'.......'
I didn’t respond to the Guardian Spirit’s question.
-I bestow my blessing upon all that you have achieved!
The Ki Dragon in the hologram roared again.
-You are truly my priests and warriors!
It was an acknowledgment of those who live.
-But sadly! There are still those who are neither my priests nor warriors, walking on my body!
It was also a denial.
-After being given such a long time, how are there still so many 'worthless ones'!
Worthless ones.
‘Those who can't use Aura.’
The Constellation that constituted the natural world had just called the vast majority of the world's population 'worthless.'
"......."
Anastasia’s face darkened.
The use of such [words] was all too familiar to her, having fled from Ukraine.
-I can no longer tolerate those who are 'worthless', unable to accept and feel my breath, using resources that should belong to the worthy.
As the atmosphere in the waiting room grew heavy, the blue Ki Dragon shouted.
-[Selection] will begin!
Then.
A voice echoed in our heads.
[Displaying the 38th floor quest.]
Perhaps it was the consideration of the Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages.
Even we, who had already been eliminated and had no right to participate in the quest, could see the contents of the 38th floor quest.
+
[The Great Selection]
Difficulty: EX
Objective: The Constellation that has been forming this world since the beginning has awakened. 'The Ki Dragon Dwelling in the Abyss' is a being made of Aura, and for this reason, this world was richer in Aura than other worlds.
Now the Ki Dragon wants to claim its dues for those prosperous times.
Those who cannot feel its breath. Those who cannot use or detect Aura. The Ki Dragon treats these people as 'worthless' and seeks to sweep them from this world.
Among the native races of the continent, those who are Aura users will survive.
All others will perish.
Save as many lives as you can!
+
And then, silence fell.
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