WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 290: Forsaken Believers (1)

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1.

Kwaaaang!

As the explosion rang out, the tavern patrons were thrown into disarray.

"What the, what's going on?"

"Damn it. It's starting again…!"

The customers neither evacuated nor hid under the tables. They simply grabbed the glasses and appetizers on the tables with both hands, wary of them toppling over. Here, on the 50th floor, an explosion was just a part of daily life.

「Ah, ah. Mic test. Mic test.」

Amidst the chaos in the hall, a voice echoed from the sky.

Including me, people looked up to find the source of the voice.

「We apologize for the inter-floor noise from the Magic Tower.」

Magic Tower.

That place, along with this open-air tavern, was one of only two locations on the 50th floor familiar to me.

When I previously tried to capture the Constellation Killer, witches from the Magic Tower also participated. Their base, the Magic Tower, composed of five spires, stood tall in the sky.

It was like the fingers of a giant of the earth reaching for the sky.

'A power that has ruled over this 50th floor for over a thousand years... Was that it?'

I glanced at the Guardian Spirit.

'Isn't that place an enemy of yours?'

-Nah, nah. I don't really have any feelings towards them.

The Guardian Spirit claimed nonchalantly.

-It's just that they unilaterally hate me. Really. On the contrary, I think I'm quite aggrieved.

'...But didn't you destroy one of the original six towers? How is that an aggrieved person's behavior?'

-Now, look. Those kids always look so gloomy. They're always holed up in their tower, doing research, almost to the point where you can smell mold. I just made a little hole in the tower to suggest they ventilate once in a while. Thinking about it, I should be thanked. I even did a remodeling for free. Anyway, the richest folks on the 50th floor have no sense of decency. Tsk tsk tsk.

'It seems to me that you just have no sense of morality....'

The voice sent from the Magic Tower resounded throughout the city. People drinking outdoors, vendors laying out their stalls, vagabonds playing dice in broad daylight, everyone paused their daily activities and blankly gazed up at the five towers.

「I will be the spokesperson for the Magic Tower. Well, it's nothing much. Today, terrorists who don't know their place tried to mess with us, so we have to make this announcement.」

「The explosion sound that just scored a goal in your eardrums was the result of those terrorists’ doing. Hey, hey. Bring them here. Not there. Tsk! That's right. There.」

At that moment, voices other than the spokesperson's sharply cut through.

「The Magic Tower is imprisoning our comrades!」

「We are followers of Hamusutra!」

I flinched.

They were followers of Hamusutra?

「We are all Librarians who officially entered through the public route! The Magic Tower has illegally persecuted and imprisoned us!」

「Everyone! If you don't unite and rise up now, someday you too will end up like us….」

「Ah. Ah. Okay, that's enough. Phew.」

A sigh from the spokesperson was heard.

「Anyway, those without a master have such loud voices. Now, have you all grasped the situation? The disturbance this time was completely caused by losers abandoned by their Constellations. Just so you know....」

「Shut up! We were not abandoned by Hamusutra!」

「Do you know the difference between the strong and the weak? The strong only have to be quiet when they want, but the weak have to be quiet even when they don’t want to.」

Kwajik!

A strange tearing sound burst from beyond the sky.

「Ugh! Urk...!?」

「Yes, as you can see, these fellows are pathetically weak. If weakness were all they had, that would be one thing, but they are sly enough to have tried sabotaging our Magic Tower's security system. The result? Well, I have one of their teeth in my hand right now. You get what I mean, don't you?」

「Please don't mess with the Magic Tower. That's the message I’m trying to convey.」

The surroundings buzzed.

「Oho? Trying to intimidate me? Listen here. When I say shut up, it doesn't just mean close your mouth. It also means shut your eyes.」

Kwazook, tzeeeuuk! Keeeiiii….

The ominous sound stretched towards the cloudy sky. With each twist of the sound, gasps, groans, and someone's screams intertwined. The moans were cut into seven parts and scattered across the sky of the 50th floor.

"......."

"......."

Silence descended upon the open-air tavern.

The Hunters each looked around cautiously, trying to ignore the screams coming from the sky. They all realized this was a sort of public execution. Only the tavern's owner grumbled, "Tsk, they're ruining our business again," while cleaning the bar.

「Ah. Ah. Testing the mic once more.」

「Whether you are walking down a road or somewhere off the roads, please report any former followers of Hamusutra you see. They are a nasty lot, you know? There should be a small reward, so think of it as doing your part for the city's security....」

「Damn, even this is a bother. Anyway, you all understand, right? I have eight teeth rolling around in my hand right now, counting incisors, canines, and premolars. These teeth could be your friend's, or they could be yours.」

「May fortune be with you.」

The voice abruptly cut off.

The sky was wrapped in silence as always. But the people of the city on the 50th floor seemed unable to shake their discomfort with that silence. Only after about ten seconds did the bustle of everyday life hurry back.

"Those damn things. Catching rat-like believers again...."

"The Librarians are really pitiful. Hey, where did Hamusutra disappear to?"

"Well, it's obvious. He was probably killed by the Constellation Killer, right?"

"Good grief. One Constellation Killer, and now all these people are dying."

It was a conversation I couldn't help but be interested in. I turned towards the table next to me.

"Excuse me. I'd like to ask something…."

"What is it?"

An elderly Hunter frowned.

A hunter with curly hair and an eyepatch over her left eye.

Not only her, but every Hunter at the same table, regardless of gender, had curly hair and wore an eyepatch.

"......."

Overwhelmed by their striking visuals, I momentarily lost my words.

Stammering, I asked as politely as possible.

"…Uh, well. I haven't been up-to-date with the 50th floor happenings lately... I've only just returned here after three months. What exactly is going on with the Magic Tower?"

"Uh? You haven't heard about Hamusutra's disappearance?"

The curly-haired Hunters stared at me.

It was extremely uncomfortable.

"I think I've heard something like that...."

"Oh my, the rumor is that the Constellation Killer killed him!"

The curly-haired Hunters apparently craved someone who would listen to their gossip. They noisily chatted while tearing apart bread snacks that looked like Indian naan.

"Some time ago, their connection to the [Great Librarian of All Knowledge] was abruptly severed. That Constellation was always indifferent to its followers and never answered however much they called, but now they cannot sense its existence at all. Here, this friend used to be one of Hamusutra's followers."

Curly-haired Hunter A poked the rib of curly-haired Hunter B.

B grimaced and chewed on a piece of bread, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.

"……Keep it down. I'm not one anymore."

"Heh. Hamusutra might have had few followers, but their loyalty was really high. And then suddenly, it disappeared, right? I understand why the Librarians are in despair."

"......."

I sensed an ominous premonition. Something big, something I never anticipated and didn't even know about, had happened because Hamusutra lost the power of a Constellation.

“That… Was the [Great Librarian of All Knowledge] originally popular…?”

"Hmm? No, not really popular."

Curly-haired Hunter A asserted.

"[Great Librarian of All Knowledge] was too unfriendly to hunters. Other Constellations guide you through small quests and naturally lead to the final quest, right?"

"Ah. Yes...."

Is that so?

I've never worshiped a Constellation, so I wouldn't know.

But curly-haired Hunter A seemed unable even to imagine that I did not serve a Constellation. She moved on with her explanation as though it were obvious.

"But the [Great Librarian of All Knowledge] was different. It just throws one goal like [Save this world from destruction] and leaves the rest up to you. Tsk tsk. It's irresponsibly frustrating."

"......."

“There's no reward or hint during the quest. Normally, if a hunter faces danger, a Constellation gives a chance or two, but this one just mercilessly lets you die! To put it nicely, it's high freedom, but to put it differently, it's just neglecting its followers. How could it be popular?”

“……That's exactly why I liked Hamusutra. It's different from ordinary Constellations that just throw quests. Hamusutra gave us a world where we can be active. Get it? It prepared everything and didn't interfere with us players. How great is that!”

"See? Such a fanatic."

A chuckled.

"But it's over now. As I said, the responses just disappeared!"

"......."

"Their followers are really foolish. If your master dies, you should quickly choose another Constellation to serve, but Hamusutra's followers are so loyal, they won't switch faith. Instead, they're banding together to survive…. How could those spider-like Magic Tower folks let them be? 'Ah, hunters without the backing of a Constellation,' and they capture them to enslave."

"Shut up! Hamusutra isn't dead! He’s just laying low to avoid the Constellation Killer's pursuit!"

Hmm….

"Wow, scary. Should I shut up just because you say so? The Magic Tower people said it. The strong don't need to be quiet. I've been serving [The Lonely Seeker] for over 20 years, soon to be an Apostle. And you? You lost your beloved master and switched faith like a loser, didn’t you?"

"You bastard!"

“Uh... Excuse me.”

I interjected between the two Hunters' quarrel.

"What if the Constellation Killer isn’t the one who killed Hamusutra?”

"Hmm?"

“What?”

The Hunters looked at me as if I was spouting nonsense.

I was clearly being looked down upon as a beginner.

Carefully, I continued.

“What I mean is… the reason for Hamusutra’s disappearance isn’t clear, right? It's possible that someone other than the Constellation Killer killed him. Or maybe, just maybe…… he didn't die at all.”

"He didn’t die?"

Curly-haired Hunter A asked with a mocking tone.

"The aura of the Constellation has completely disappeared. Despite the followers' calls, there's no response. If he's not dead, did he run away or something?"

“……Maybe…… he fell and became human.”

“What, fell? Human?”

A laughed loudly. Even B, who had been arguing with A, looked incredulous. Actually, all the curly-haired Hunters watching our conversation chuckled.

“Ha! This guy is definitely a newbie.”

"Fell? I've never heard such a thing in my life."

"Listen, young man. A Constellation is a Constellation, and a human is a human. Especially Hamusutra, a renowned Constellation among Constellations. Maybe dead, but where did you hear such ridiculous urban legend?"

"......."

It's true though.

Hamusutra really became human and is working part-time at a cafe.

As a part-timer, he's so popular he's getting a lot of tips from customers...

“Of course, it could be someone other than the Constellation Killer. Another Constellation could have done it. But that's unlikely! So far, no one has claimed to have killed Hamusutra. What a great feat that would be, who would hide it?”

“Right. Hunters wouldn't miss a chance to brag.”

“Constellations have no reason to hide it either. The Constellation Killer, that crazy guy, is the one to blame.”

"Hmm......."

I asked one last question.

“What if, just maybe, the Constellation Killer isn't the culprit? What then?”

That's when it happened.

Curly-haired Hunter B's eyes flashed menacingly.

"We'll capture that bastard and kill them!"

Bang!

B, unable to contain his anger, slammed the table.

“How dare some nobody who isn't even the Constellation Killer harm our Librarian, who is like the heavens above us, our precious Master! I'll pound them to a pulp and throw them to the monsters of the void as feed! Bastard! I'll tear them limb from limb and drive great needles into them from head to toe!”

The eyes of B, who had once been a follower of Hamusutra, blazed with fury. The killing intent was tremendous. The other Hunters chimed in with cries of agreement.

“Hamusutra's fanboys are formidable. Their love for their Master is genuine. Heh. If there really is a culprit, Hamusutra's followers from every universe and Hunters from every stage will swarm over and kill them.”

“Yeah. The extermination squad will have thousands!”

“That’s only because the Constellation Killer is a universe-class lunatic that everyone's keeping quiet. If it's not him? Oh, then it's real trouble. I don't even want to think about it.”

“A storm of blood will rage!”

The Hunters, except B, laughed heartily.

As if they had heard an amusing joke.

Of course, I didn’t find it amusing at all.

-Zombie, do you understand now?

"......."

-Everything I told you is nothing but the truth.

The Guardian Spirit grinned at me as I sweated profusely.

-You really are an evil boss, you crazy cult-leader lich bastard.

Right……

At least I now know there’s one thing I need to resolve on the 50th floor…....

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