SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 313

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 313: The Next World (3)

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Over the course of a fortnight, various events unfolded.

[The Whip that Descends on the Self-Abuser has reclaimed her Constellation.]

[The Fist that Grasps the Sun is recruiting new disciples for the first time in 233 years!]

[The Gatekeeper Guarding the Southeast has been released from its seal.]

[The Claws that Rend the Night Sky has been released from its seal.]

[The Soliloquy of Failure has been released from its seal.]

First and foremost, five Constellations that had been sealed by the Magic Tower were liberated.

Not all Constellations were fortunate enough to have devoted disciples like the [Berserker].

Some had been sealed for as long as 900 years, others for as little as 200. Over those truly vast spans of time, some once-glorious Constellations had declined until they had not a single disciple left.

"The last disciple to worship me died 302 years ago."

One Constellation muttered.

The Constellation was beautiful, with black hair so long that it spilled across the carpet throughout the room. True to the epithet, [The Claws that Rend the Night Sky] raised night-sky eyes toward the empty air.

"I was always a minor Constellation."

"What power do you govern?"

"It's hardly worth mentioning. If, in your lifetime, you've ever laid in a bed or someplace else, and reached out towards the night sky with the intention of scratching it with your nails, even just once, that would have been a gesture of faith towards me."

"......."

"How does that sound?"

The Constellation of the night sky smiled silently.

"Isn't it minor?"

"No, it's quite fascinating. I mean, it's not like you're pretending to be a god. Why would the Grey Spider nail down such a Constellation?"

"Who knows? She must have had her own reasons. Perhaps she found it annoying that a message about me appeared whenever someone reached toward the night sky. Then again, I am a Constellation, so perhaps she coveted my power. Or perhaps she was trying to save me."

"Really?"

"Either way, I don't hold any grudges against her."

The Constellation, which until a few days ago had been pinned through the heart, having its mana siphoned for centuries, now gazed out the window with a shadowed look.

"Hatred is a potent energy. It sharpens the existence of both the sender and the receiver. Just like love, greed, or hope, it can keep someone who ought to die alive. King of Death. Our savior. Do you understand my words?"

"Yes."

I nodded, recalling the eternity of my 4000 days.

"I understand what you mean."

Our gazes met.

"I know it well."

"......."

Many things happened.

The spiders lost their spire, but in return they received a mountain of duel challenges and, as a bonus, the right to migrate to the world of the dead. The Mountain Snail Tribe put their renowned building skills to work and constructed living quarters for them.

The destinations for migration varied. Some wanted to live in the New Continent, others in the empire of Raviel, and some in Babylon.

"Most of them are mages who have lived for over a hundred years! Pure high-class talent!"

Black Dragon Master, who had been struggling with a perennial shortage of skilled workers, was ecstatic.

"We can recruit these people as we please, right?"

"It doesn't really matter, but don't stop anyone from challenging them to a duel."

"Eh? What's that supposed to mean?"

I explained.

After hearing the whole story, Black Dragon Master lamented.

"Why can't there be people who have both character and talent, no matter which world they're from? Not that I'm one to talk."

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"Right. You're not one to talk, indeed."

Black Dragon Master sighed deeply and lay down.

"Alright. I keep saying this, but I'm not in a position to judge anyone... Anyway, you've had a tough time."

"Any problems here?"

"Focus on your own problems. We can handle ours. Oh, didn't Hamusutra say they want to compile our adventures into a spin-off?"

"What is that even...?"

"I've nominated myself for the mukbang genre. How about 'Black Dragon Food Fighter' for the title? It's a story where I travel across worlds, eating delicious food. Sounds like a hit, doesn't it?"

"Seriously, what even... I can certainly see that Anastasia needs some healing. Make sure you get some rest. I'm off."

Whether or not 'Black Dragon Food Fighter' will come to fruition remains to be seen, but the competition for recruiting the Witch Clan was definitely on.

Even considering that they occasionally received life-and-death duel challenges they could not refuse, the mages were undoubtedly valuable recruits.

"I'll offer you double whatever offer you've received so far as a salary."

The ultimate victor in this competition was the Countess.

"Moreover, in our Merchants Union, we have an entire race of talented individuals known as the Fairy Tribe, well-versed in trade. It's like having a team of employees who are a joy to manage. Black Dragon, Pantheon, they're all good places with noble causes. But why go there and suffer under the pretense of responsibility?"

"I swear my allegiance! Waaah! Woof!"

"Right, right. You understand me. But try to cry like a cat, if you can."

"Nyaa! Meow! And could you protect my life too? I really don't want to fight any duels...."

"That's impossible, I'm afraid."

"Damn it, meow."

Thus, some spiders who had initially sworn allegiance to the Magic Tower, then to me, swore allegiance to the Merchants Union, all within a mere fortnight. Isn't this a lesson in life?

However, there were spiders who didn't align themselves with any faction.

"How could I do that?"

It was the former leader of the old Tower, the Grey Spider.

"Got any plans?"

"I have to take responsibility."

The Grey Spider said, sipping plain water from a paper cup.

"Have you seen the challenges that have come my way?"

"Yes."

I nodded, thinking of the sheer volume of paper, enough to make me seriously worry about the ecosystem of the already wood-starved 50th floor.

"There were a lot."

"Yes. And they'll keep coming... I have to accept them. I need to tie up loose ends. Only then can I move on. Do you understand what I mean?"

The Grey Spider's words had a double meaning.

Among those who sent challenges, there were surely people whose guts would twist so badly that they could not sleep unless they tore apart the Grey Spider's flesh, people for whom even cold water would feel hot enough to burn their mouths until they saw her corpse. There would be people unable to take a single step forward until they settled things with the Grey Spider, one way or another.

"Yes."

Again, I nodded, recalling the eternity of my 4000 days.

"I understand what you mean."

And so, the Grey Spider made the empty wasteland her new nest. Anyone who bore a grudge against her was welcome to come there and challenge her to a duel.

She would hardly be alone on any given day.

Only if that day ever came.

Even if a thousand years passed a thousand times over, it would still seem unlikely, but if there ever came a day when she woke up in the morning and went to bed at night without anyone seeking her out. If she were allowed the luxury of sipping a mouthful of water over an hour under the stretched-out midday sun.

Then, at last, the Grey Spider could move on. After a thousand years, she could rise from her place and finally head towards the next world.

I asked.

"What would you like to do when that time comes?"

The Grey Spider smiled.

In that smile, I remembered someone. Someone who knew they could die at any moment and thus, no longer put on airs or felt regret. It was a smile born from total acceptance, illuminated by pure brightness.

"Well, that would mean I'm quite fortunate."

The Grey Spider looked up.

It was nighttime, and since the place she had chosen to stay had no ceiling, the star-filled night sky stretched out endlessly above.

The Grey Spider reached out with her slender fingers towards it.

"If I'm that lucky, I might be able to climb the tower."

The Tower.

"Are you planning to challenge it again?"

"I've decided not to wait any longer."

I didn't ask any more questions.

The Grey Spider didn't say anything more either.

The three of us just looked up at the same night sky.

A fortnight that flowed as it should.

My work was wrapped up with arranging part-time jobs at 'Café Planetarium' for the disciples of Hamusutra. Seeing Hamusutra in a café uniform, the Assistant Writer screamed in delight.

"I've missed you, Head Librarian! Kyaa! What's this!?"

"I'm wondering the same thing..."

Hamusutra glared at me with rotten eyes. There was somewhat sufficient reason for resentment, as ten disciples simultaneously grabbed Hamusutra and vigorously rubbed their cheeks against Hamusutra's.

Given Hamusutra's small stature, it was fair to describe the situation as a hamster stuck between sofa cushions.

"Gong-ja. Did I not tell you that these people are little better than my stalkers, or perhaps even more terrifying?"

The hamster protested as its cheeks were stretched.

"I am grateful that you saved people with whom I have ties, but I never asked you to bring them directly to me like this..."

"We'll never let you go, Librarian!"

"We'll be together forever."

"I'll spend the rest of my life working part-time here!"

"To think that living as a human could be so tough and bitter..."

Well, that's good. That's great.

Of course, there were those who were not so fortunate.

I'm not talking about Hamusutra.

The Mahos Army Commander asked the Assistant Writer.

"Wait a minute, Assistant Writer. Didn't you agree to ascend to the 51st floor with me?"

"Eh? Fuck off."

The Assistant Writer's mouth responded before her brain.

The Mahos Army Commander was disheartened. The Assistant Writer floundered while looking at the commander.

"Ah, that... um. There are things more important than life."

"What would that be?"

"Being a fan."

Another person with rotten eyes was added to the Planetarium.

The Assistant Writer, on the other hand, was indignant.

"Ah, what! This is a line that only the real protagonist can say!"

May you enjoy a happy life as a fan.

While the humans beneath the sky each reached out to feel along the edges of the world, carefully touching places where they might lean, stand for a moment, or merely pass through, the Constellations came to me.

"I've thought long and hard about how to repay you."

[The Claws that Rend the Night Sky] spoke as a representative of the Constellations.

"It wasn't just me pondering; I discussed it with the other twelve Constellations. For a single hunter, especially one who has just reached the 50th floor, to be rewarded by several Constellations together... It's unprecedented."

"Thanks to you, I was able to reunite with my adorable little one..."

[The Whip that Descends on the Self-Abuser] added. She played with the night sky's hair spread across the floor.

"I thought about giving you a great weapon as a gift, but the holy sword at your hip seems more magnificent..."

"Honestly, you don't seem to have much desire for material things, which makes it difficult for us."

However, [The Claws that Rend the Night Sky] continued.

"But since you claim to be a successor of the Sword Emperor, fortunately, some of us knew what kind of gift a Sword Emperor might appreciate."

The night sky clasped its hands together.

"May this be the answer for you."

Whoooosh.

A soft light enveloped my body.

[The Claws that Rend the Night Sky acknowledges the quest completion.]

[The 50th floor stage has been cleared!]

As my vision gradually whitened.

"May a Constellation that crafts a quest just for you appear someday... King of Death. Although we are not your dedicated Constellations, the existence of such a Constellation would be a very, very happy thing..."

The voice continued.

[The Whip that Descends on the Self-Abuser acknowledges the quest completion.]

[The 51st floor stage has been cleared!]

And it went on.

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth acknowledges the quest completion.]

[The 52nd floor stage has been cleared!]

The Constellations that participated in the Anti-Demon Alliance.

[The Bell That Rouses the Dead acknowledges the quest completion.]

[The 53rd floor stage has been cleared!]

One by one, those who had the right to judge whether a hunter was qualified to ascend to the next floor.

[The Last Sword Remaining in the Wilderness acknowledges the quest completion.]

[The 54th floor stage has been cleared!]