WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈
Chapter 26: The Chosen Ones (2)
──────
"…A conversation?"
"Yes. Frankly, I'm quite perplexed."
In the audience hall of a palace, inspired by some empire's royal court, on the 12th floor stage, my voice softly flowed.
"I don't understand why the Sword Saint is attacking me. Although the Sword Saint is seeing me for the first time, I have always admired your noble swordsmanship. But now you draw your sword against me, and it's quite troubling."
The Sword Saint's expression hardened.
Even though I was speaking nothing but the truth.
'It can't be helped.'
The old man's face had hardened for a reason.
On the night the Sword Saint and I first met - a night he probably no longer remembers - he accused me:
-Did you think I would not realize that you were an elite assassin sent by the Black Dragon?
-I don't know if it was the Black Witch from the Black Dragon or who hired you, but I will kill you with all my might!
He suspected me of being an assassin.
'An assassin raised by the Black Dragon.'
Even now, the Sword Saint probably harbors the same suspicion. I'm perceived as an assassin employed by the Black Dragon. Or rather, he might suspect even worse.
'Perhaps a top-class assassin secretly nurtured by the five major guilds.'
-Hmm. Well.
The Sword Emperor nodded in agreement.
-From a third-party perspective, you do seem rather unusual.
'Exactly that.'
An unexpected hero appearing out of nowhere!
A mere E-rank hunter conquers an invincible stage. Immediately after the conquest, he forms an agreement with the five major guilds and is promised treatment equal to that of a guild master...
'It's too suspicious.'
-Right. To Marcus, you're not a self-made hunter. You’re a fake hero created by the major guilds conspiring together. Tsk.
The Sword Emperor clicked his tongue.
-You said your kill count was about 4090, right?
'Probably around 4093 by now?'
-Right. To Marcus, that number 4093 doesn't just represent the humans you've killed. Because you're not a lone hunter, but a puppet raised by the major guilds.
From the Sword Saint's perspective, it could only be seen that way.
-In short…
'Yes.'
All in cahoots.
'The major guilds used me to assassinate that number of people.'
The major guilds, reigning over the tower.
They have been secretly assassinating at least 4093 humans.
It was a mere misunderstanding and delusion, but to the old swordsman, it was a most repugnant sight.
"Huh."
If the Sword Saint had been a slightly less righteous old man, he might have backed down here.
"Whether it's the outside world or Babylon, they're much the same."
However, the Sword Saint knew no compromise.
He knew, yet refused.
"Ever since I entered this tower, every day, you all have been throwing your offers at me. You kept insisting to join a guild. But I firmly refused. Do you know why?"
The Sword Saint gripped the hilt of his sword tighter. His hands were old. The skin sagged. But the bulging veins under the skin were not old at all.
A lion's mane may age, but its teeth remain sharp.
“In this tower, in this new world, I wanted to show that a person could stand supreme alone. Unlike the outside world, which reeks from people being bound by blood, nationality, and background, here a single sword is enough to stand unrivaled. A person can succeed through talent and effort alone.”
"…"
"Such was the hope I intended to give to many people, and that's why I have not joined any clique until now. But what are you all doing?"
The Sword Saint pointed his sword.
"You all are nothing more than stagnant, rotten muddy water."
The guild masters stirred.
Anger. Humiliation. Resentment.
Dark emotions swirled on the guild masters' faces. The Sword Saint's recent remarks were a declaration of war. While some, like the Heretic Inquisitor, remained unaffected and smiled, most guild masters' expressions soured.
"Sword Saint. You, of all people, should not be saying such things..."
“Ha! Have you already forgotten that you alone sat out the assault on the 5th floor? Old man, dementia must have rotted your brain!”
"And you too. Mr. Callenbury. If you had used your connections in the outside world, the current food shortage would have been much less severe, and our Sang-Ryun would have..."
The uproar boiled over.
The hunters gathered here had known each other since the tower's early days. Was it because of the accumulated emotions? The atmosphere in the audience hall quickly turned murky.
"You should have shown the attitude befitting the number one rank. But you lived alone, thinking only of yourself. If you hadn't been so proud, do you know how many hunters could have been saved?"
The Black Witch spoke as if laying a curse.
"Not just the 5th floor, but the 7th and 9th too. If only you had cooperated, the losses would have been halved!"
Viper of the Celestial Martial Clan radiated murderous intent.
"As a member of a wealthy family in the outside world, if you had lent a hand, our current situation would have been much more stable. You say we are like stagnant muddy water? Then you're nothing more than a responsibility-shirking child."
The Countess from Sang-Ryun glared bitterly.
A complete mess.
The guild masters' curses, murderous intent, and glances met the Sword Saint, who only slightly furrowed his brow. His dismissive comment only added fuel to the fire.
"Be quiet."
"…"
"Adults like you are babbling on and on... Do you think I'm your grandfather? Shut up. If you want to fight, use your swords."
The atmosphere in the audience hall became uncontrollably hostile.
-Bravo! That's Marcus for you, my one and only disciple.
The Sword Emperor alone admired, oblivious to the mood.
-There is nothing I hate more than hearing hunters prattle about connections and politics. If they have time for that, they should swing their swords one more time!
He had a point.
But...
I felt regret, unlike the Sword Emperor.
“Even with only ten of us here, we are still fighting.”
The hunters in the tense atmosphere looked at me.
I sighed.
"Even the NPCs of the 11th floor fought together to protect their empire. But look at us. We, the hunters, are pointing fingers and arguing who's more at fault. Isn't that a bit shameful compared to NPCs?"
"…Hunter Kim Gong-Ja."
The Black Witch spoke up.
"This is none of your business. It's more serious than you think..."
"I understand. But as hunters, shouldn't we focus on what we need to do?"
I looked around the audience hall.
"Let's focus on clearing the 12th floor."
"…"
"Being a beacon of hope and reducing sacrifices in conquering the tower are noble, but please, let's focus on clearing the stage in front of us."
I particularly looked at the Sword Saint.
"Even if they are just NPCs... their empire is in danger of extinction, right? They're asking for our help. If the summoned heroes, instead of caring for the empire's wellbeing, are just squabbling among themselves, what kind of farce would that be?"
"You..."
I was sincere.
The Sword Saint couldn't threaten my life anymore. The disparity in power was clear. So, my focus now was only on how to clear the 12th floor.
The complex emotional battles and political fights among hunters were of no concern to me.
“What makes someone a hero? If you solve what someone else could not, that makes you a hero. We cleared the 11th floor, so let us clear the remaining stages too.”
"Kim Gong-Ja is right."
Fortunately, someone responded to my words.
The Paladin.
The Deputy Guild Master of the Vigilante Corps stepped forward.
"Although it's hard to understand why the Sword Saint attacked Kim Gong-Ja, it's clear that now is not the time for us to fight each other. Everyone's too heated."
"…"
"…"
The Paladin tried to mediate, but no one relaxed their guard. Not the Sword Saint, not Viper, not the Countess, not even the Heretic Inquisitor. Everyone was prepared to attack if necessary.
Words alone would not convince them. Everyone distrusted everyone else because of all the feelings that had accumulated over the years.
"Ha."
Realizing this, the Paladin sighed.
"Alright. I'll make a sacrifice."
At the word ‘sacrifice,’ the hunters turned to look at her.
In the focused attention, the Paladin softly chanted.
"Open Skill Card."
Flash!
A soft light rose from the Paladin's hand. A moment later, a silver card appeared in midair.
A card that could never be seen by others unless the owner permitted. It was the Paladin's skill card.
"…Deputy Guild Master."
The Black Witch looked worriedly at Paladin. Top-ranking hunters rarely ever revealed their skill cards. A skill was a hunter's secret weapon. Revealing it to others was akin to scoring an own goal.
"It's fine. It doesn't matter."
However, the Paladin calmly flipped the card.
"Everyone, take a good look."
+
[Lie Detection]
Rank: A-
Effect: You can detect whether someone is lying or not. This applies to people, NPCs, and monsters alike! However, what the other party believes to be 'true' might objectively be 'false'. Is it trust or doubt? The final decision is always up to you.
*However, there is no guarantee that people will believe what you say.
+
I was taken aback.
'Lie Detection!'
This was the skill the Flame Emperor had once falsely claimed to possess. So it was the Paladin who had it, not that Flame Retard.
'It's a skill perfectly suited for the deputy guild master of the Vigilante Corps!'
The Vigilante Corps was a guild that maintained public order. Naturally, the tower was full of criminals. Just look. Even the number-one-ranked Flame Emperor and Sword Saint had murdered me where no one could see.
In such a world, [Lie Detection] would be immensely useful in identifying criminals.
"As you can see."
The Paladin spoke while holding the card.
"I have the ability to detect lies. It's the skill that helped me rise to the position of deputy guild master of the Vigilante Corps. Sword Saint."
"…What is it?"
"If you trust me, ask Kim Gong-Ja anything right here. I will tell you if his answer is a lie or the truth."
The Paladin looked back and forth between the Sword Saint and me with an impassive gaze.
"Kim Gong-Ja, the same goes for you. If you trust me, I will vouch for whether your answers are lies or truths."
"…"
"Doubt is a poison that eats away at humans, and truth is the most powerful antidote. We may not be able to regain the trust we've lost so far, but at least we can cooperate on the 12th floor."
"Hmm…"
The Sword Saint stroked his beard, deep in thought.
'Wow.'
I thought to myself.
‘This is fucking sweet.’
It was an unexpected stroke of luck. But it was the right answer. The reason I became a suspect in the first place was because of the Sword Saint's skill, the so-called [Eyes of a Detective]. Since the skill had caused the suspicion, it only made sense to use a skill to resolve it!
"I'm fine with it."
I responded immediately.
Being the first to accept it put me in a more advantageous position.
"…Paladin girl. You are the only one here who hasn’t harmed a single person. Very well. I will trust you too."
The Sword Saint also accepted with a meaningful remark.
The Paladin nodded.
“I will take that as agreement from both of you. Then, Sword Saint, please ask Kim Gong-Ja your questions. On my honor and the reputation of the Vigilante Corps, I will judge your exchange fairly.”
"Hmm."
The Sword Saint glared at me.
His face was resolute, as if he had been waiting for this moment to expose my heinous crimes to the world. It was a look of assured victory.
-Ah, dear...
The Sword Emperor let out a wail.
-Ah, my Marcus! Old stubborn man. This is why I always say not to rely too much on skills. Those who live by the skill, perish by the skill! Ah, dear, dear.
'Be quiet.'
Unfortunately, the Sword Emperor's voice could not reach the Sword Saint. This ghost bastard was my ghost bastard now.
"Hunter Kim Gong-Ja."
"Yes."
"You have killed over 4000 humans. Isn’t that right?"
The old man pointed his finger at me dramatically, as if to say, 'Now, your evil deeds will be unveiled to the world!'
I smiled.
"Yes."
"Oh, look at that! You wretched beings. You employed this lad as an assassin and committed atrocities. I will reveal this to the world and..."
"It's a lie."
The Paladin stated.
"What?"
"It's a lie."
The Paladin repeated calmly.
"Kim Gong-Ja said 'yes' to your question. That answer was a lie. To clarify, Kim Gong-Ja did not kill over 4000 humans."
"…"
"Are there any more questions?"
Silence.
The Sword Saint remained silent while the Paladin tilted her head.
"But 4000? Strange. Is it even possible for one person to kill that many? Logically speaking, it seems near impossible."
"That’s because you all... raised this young man as a top-class assassin..."
I laughed brightly.
"Right. I am a top-class assassin."
"It's a lie."
"…"
The aged swordsman's mouth hung open in shock.
"Pa-Paladin girl. I misjudged you! I trusted that you would mediate without deceit, but..."
"Whether to trust my words or not is up to you."
The Paladin replied steadily.
"Believe it if you want, or don't if you don't. Didn't I ask the same question to both of you from the start? Will you really trust me?"
"…"
"To change your words now would be... petty. No, very petty. Sword Saint, that's not like the attitude you usually show."
"Wa-wait!"
The old man looked at me desperately.
"Surely you must have killed at least one person!"
"Ah. Yes. I have indeed eliminated someone."
The Paladin nodded.
"That's true."
"See!"
"But it was just one person."
"…What?"
The Paladin nodded again.
"That's true."
"…"
"Of course, killing one person doesn’t change the fact that I am a murderer. But, Sword Saint, I can tell you this much. I killed him because he truly deserved it. He tried to kill me first."
"That's true."
“No, if he had only tried to kill me, that would have made him a gentleman. He was the real mass murderer. A mass murderer! I once saw him committing murder, burning someone alive without batting an eye! That fucking bastard!”
"That's true."
“I cannot know for sure, but he killed dozens of people. No, probably well over a hundred. Yes, he was capable of that. That is the man I killed. Call me a murderer as much as you like. But do you know what? Even if I went back into the past again, I would fuck him up first. Wow. Fuck. No human being should be able to become as vicious as he was.”
The Paladin slowly nodded.
"It's all true."
"…"
The Sword Saint fell silent.
He slowly looked around. The look on his face said he didn’t understand what was happening, but looking around probably helped him grasp the situation.
Because all the guild masters were looking at the Sword Saint with a '...what are you doing?' expression.
"Ahahaha! Ahahat!"
The Heretic Inquisitor burst into laughter, holding his stomach.
"Kim Gong-Ja, a top-class assassin of our 5 great guilds! What an interesting idea. It would have been great if it were true, but, Sword Saint! Unfortunately, we only met Kim Gong-Ja yesterday!"
"And that's also true."
"…"
The Sword Saint’s silence deepened.
-Tsk tsk tsk. The one who thrives on skills perishes by skills.
The Sword Emperor only clicked his tongue.
"Hmm. Anyway, I've answered your questions."
I grinned mischievously.
There was nothing wrong in the words of the young master.
"Apparently, there was a big misunderstanding between us. I'm glad it was just a misunderstanding. But, Sword Saint. Because of that misunderstanding, you attacked me, and if the guild masters hadn't protected me, I would have likely died unfairly."
"…"
"I think I deserve an apology at this point. What do you think?"
The Paladin nodded.
“Perfectly true. A sound argument without a single logical leap.”
"…"
"Apologize to Kim Gong-Ja, Sword Saint."
The old man's face became pale.
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