WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 317: Me and You, on the Frontlines of Time (1)

──────

1.

[Congratulations.]

[■ ■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■ is your Constellation.]

[You have become the sole disciple of ■ ■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■.]

It felt like a dream.

A dream which wasn’t mine, but someone else's.

-.......

The dream seemed both long and short, meddling with my sense of time. It was as if I was standing in the middle of a stream with the waters wrapping around both my sides at their own distinct paces.

The sensation of being devoured by time.

-Hmm.

Tick.

A day had passed.

Or at least, it felt like a day had passed.

-This is definitely fucked up.

‘What?’

-Never mind. It's useless to speak now. I'm also under the dominion of a power. Even if I spout nonsense right now, it'll just distort your memory, and surprisingly, mine as well.

‘…What are you talking about?’

-I'm simply stating a very obvious truth of life that speaking is often futile. I'm informing you, Zombie, that you've transitioned from a physical zombie to a temporal one.

What the hell?

-What do we do? This is rather nasty.

The Guardian Spirit muttered emotionlessly.

-Simply distorting memories would have been manageable, but this is likely [world manipulation]. Beyond the 60th floor, it's filled with perverted lunatics. It's lamentable that a pervert has attached to you, but thinking about it, it's fitting. Kim Zombie, this bastard, has all the qualities to attract all sorts of perverts in the universe.

‘…So, what exactly are you talking about?’

-What to do.

The Guardian Spirit's eyes sank.

Ignoring my question, the Guardian Spirit was lost in his own world.

-How do I take down this nasty star bastard?

At that moment.

“Mister?”

A very familiar voice gently tugged at my ears. Following the voice, I naturally turned my head and saw the [adorably precious] boy tilting his head in confusion.

“Do you have something troubling you…?”

“Ah."

His anxious expression and his worried gaze.

Every expression and gesture of the boy, perhaps even his very existence, flickered like a candle flame.

I wanted to protect that fragile and pitiful being.

“It’s nothing. Just…”

- Hey, don't talk about me. Let's see what happens.

“…Just lost in thought.”

My mouth felt dry. The thought of having to lie to this pure boy, to hide something from my [only Constellation] and [unique god], brought an unimaginably deep sense of guilt.

“Hmm.”

The boy smiled with his eyes.

“Is that so? Mister, you're quite the thinker.”

[■ ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■.]

“Thinking deeply is a sign of kindness, I believe.”

Saying that, the boy rested his head against my upper arm. A rich, pleasant fragrance lingered at the tip of my nose. For some reason, it was a scent I loved... a vividly green scent I had smelled somewhere else, on someone else.

-Hmm.

While enjoying this blissful moment, the Guardian Spirit spoke to me after days.

-This is definitely fucked up.

‘What?’

-Never mind. It's useless to speak now. I'm also under the dominion of a power. Even if I spout nonsense right now, it'll just distort your memory, and surprisingly, mine as well.

‘…What are you talking about?’

-Is this the first time you're hearing what I just said?

What the hell?

‘I knew you weren't in your right mind, but you've never been this off before. Maybe you're missing the Grey Spider? Sword Emperor, loneliness is an incurable disease.’

-Fine. Fuck. That's just great.

The Guardian Spirit smirked.

-So it automatically erases [any memory or event that interferes with its power], even when it doesn't know what I said. No doubt about it. It's an Enlightened Star-class Constellation.

"......?"

-Ah, please, I beg you, act a bit. If you weren't a Hunter, you might have been an actor. Is asking for a tiny miracle of not showing everything on your face too much to expect from you? Am I expecting too much from the world?

‘…It feels quite unpleasant, but for now, I'll grant you that miracle.’

-Thanks.

Tick.

A day had passed.

“We’ve finally defeated the remnants of the Blood Demon Sect, Mister!”

The boy rejoiced.

“Who would have thought the Mad Demon Sect, White Demon Sect, and God Demon Sect were connected to the Blood Demon Sect behind the scenes! And that the Heavenly Demon, the final boss, was hiding as the leader of all four factions! Unforgivable!”

“For Mister, the title of Heavenly Demon is more than just a name. You can't forgive them either, right?”

Indeed.

I am now traveling with the boy through the 61st floor.

It feels like a week has passed in the blink of an eye.

“They dared to falsely claim Demon Cult-like names in four different places, and even used the name of the Heavenly Demon without permission. What atrocious bastards!”

During this time, we had been defeating the false demonic cults.

We defeated the Blood Demon and destroyed the cult that kidnapped the boy. While rescuing the boy, I learned many things. That he was a Constellation who had lost his power. That he was on the brink of extinction without even a single disciple to believe in him.

『I will become your disciple.』

I told him that.

The boy cried and embraced me, saying he too would become my Constellation. Though powerless, he would create quests solely for me, and urged that we both keep our spirits up until we reach the 100th floor together.

『We pledge to accompany each other for life.』

Certainly, that was the case.

『A single Hunter and a fragment of a Constellation.』

This is our story alone.

-Huh.

For some reason, the Guardian Spirit laughed merrily.

-This is ridiculous. No wonder a Lexical Star-class Constellation like Hamusutra would be in charge of the beginner's stage. Hamusutra may be just as perverted, but at least they don't consider the world their personal property. It's actually a given, but there's no Constellation fulfilling this obvious role. Think about it. How scarce must talents be for someone like Hamusutra to guide newbies?

Enough with the side commentary.

“Alright! Mister, let's set off!”

The boy linked his arm through mine and smiled brightly.

“This time, it's a quest to beat down those White Demon Sect bastards! My one and only disciple!”

I smiled back.

“Yes, let's go right away, my god.”

-I'm just curious, but if I say the exchange between you two just now seemed extremely absurd to me, would this also be censored by the world?

[■ ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■.]

‘Huh? What did you just say?’

-Got it. Fuck. This bastard is being childish, see.

We continued our journey.

The White Demon Sect disciples were lawless villains.

On the eighth day of every month, the White Demon Sect descended upon the twelve worlds they had colonized and gathered three hundred children as sacrifices. They sacrificed the children's lives to accumulate inner power, and called the resulting power demonic arts (魔功).

I was enraged.

『Such evil is absolutely intolerable by the King of Death.』

Tick.

A day had passed.

『The King of Death did not hesitate in eradicating the false demonic disciples. In the eyes of the King of Death, they were clearly evil. There was no need to consider their circumstances. No need to ponder their past. No need to understand their hearts. Without a second thought, simply, the sword had to be swung.』

Tick.

Another day went by.

『A fight where one does not need to yield oneself, a fight where it's okay not to accept others, how pleasant is that? How enjoyable. How blissful. Perhaps the King of Death had long been thirsty for the joy of simply forgetting oneself and fighting.』

Tick.

Another day passed.

-If you're going to be childish, then I'll join you.

With every passing day, a ticking sound was heard from somewhere. It was a sound that quickly faded into oblivion, resembling the ticking of a clock's second hand or the sound of someone freely typing away on a typewriter.

-I don't expect much from you, Zombie.

As if playing the keys of a piano.

-But do this one thing for me.

‘Ah, what now?’

-Every dawn, I'll recite a sentence. Just don't forget those. Don't worry. They won't be sentences that threaten your adorable god. They won't shake the world, just meaningless sentences.

‘…So, you're basically talking nonsense.’

-Yeah. Nonsense.

The Guardian Spirit smiled.

His gaze wasn't on me but on someone else, beyond my shoulder, into the void.

-So, one sentence a day. Utterly useless nonsense. You can remember that much, right?

‘Let's hear it then.’

-This year is bound to be a jackpot because it's a bumper crop full of bullshit, even though it was made in a hurry.

'.......'

Pure, unadulterated nonsense, right?

If you squeezed it, nonsense juice would gush out.

-Remember it.

However, the Guardian Spirit's face was deadly serious.

-Forget it, and you're dead.

‘...Is there any point to this beyond using up enough of my life to run disk defragmentation?’

-Remember it before I chuck your entire life into the trash bin, you bastard. It's one sentence a day. I won't say anything more today, so please just listen.

'Hmm.'

It was rare for the Guardian Spirit to beg like this.

The atmosphere was slightly overwhelming due to his intense expression.

I sighed.

‘Alright, alright. I’ll remember it, happy?’

Tick.

Another day went by.

Every dawn, or at least when I felt it was dawn, the Guardian Spirit casually dropped a line.

-The sovereign is a saintly king, right? But the one who is the general now is a famed commander.

'.......'

-You seem to want to say something, but just burn it into your brain. Do I really need to beg you to listen to me?

‘No, you don't have to go that far. It just seems you're being incredibly stupid. It's pitiful...'

-Great. Feel pity all you want. Let's see how it goes.

Tick.

Another day passed.

I succeeded in slaying the White Demon Sect cultists. It was a grueling quest. The demonic fiends who had practiced human sacrifice for hundreds of years were powerful, and the strength they had accumulated remained solid regardless of their karma. Evil karma. Evil deeds. Evildoers. They formed a picture-perfect trifecta, and I had to give everything I had to defeat them.

-The evening brings me joy, because it's blessed by that saintess.

Tick.

Yet, the arduous battle was inexplicably enjoyable. Upon reflection, I seemed to love the act of clashing with full force.

Was that why joy had suddenly welled up from deep within me when I fought the Grey Spider of the Magic Tower?

-Let's become conmen in the local mart! That's the only way to enjoy the life of a star.

Tick.

The journey with the boy grew more enjoyable with every passing day. The world was still overflowing with evils this unmistakable. Victimization had not bred perpetration, and perpetrators did not masquerade as victims. They were villains one could slice cleanly apart like tofu with a knife.

-Terror be gone, death stay away.

Tick.

Still, the Guardian Spirit kept spouting meaningless nonsense.

Another day went by.

-Kim Gong-Ja, you're too fucking floaty, you fucker. I want to vomit.

'.......'

I just let it be.

Just as I remained myself, the Guardian Spirit would always be the Guardian Spirit.

After all, while people could change, the Sword Emperor couldn't just be replaced.

-Gong-ja.

The seventh day.

-Do you trust me?

Today, too, we were dusting off false demonic disciples. After the Blood Demon Sect, God Demon Sect, and White Demon Sect, only the Mad Demon Sect remained. After smashing the enemy's outpost, we joyfully headed towards the Mad Demon Sect's lair.

“Mm-hm-hmm~.”

The boy even hummed a little tune as he walked ahead. Watching his back, I felt proud. It was as if the canvas of my heart was being painted with the color of happiness.

The Guardian Spirit was like ashes randomly sprinkled on a colorful canvas.

‘No, I don’t trust you.’

-I trust you.

What's this?

Chills ran down my spine.

‘Are you insane?’

-But it's not just you I trust. I also trust Gramps Marcus.

'.......'

-If you fail to reach the 99th floor, Gramps will come up in your place someday. Though calling it “in your place” is funny, since Gramps is no substitute for you. Still, I trust you understand what I mean.

The Guardian Spirit's voice dissolved into thin air.

-To be honest, it's okay if you fail.

'.......'

-Trust means believing that each other will do their best. And "best" is not something defined by others but by oneself. Hence, a trusting relationship means each party deciding on their best and accepting each other's decisions. That's all there is to it.

‘Do you know that I'm really scared right now?’

I was serious.

Even if he cursed and swore at me 24/7, it wouldn't be as bone-chilling as this moment.

‘What exactly are you trying to say with such a prelude?’

-Just listen to me for once.

‘I am listening.’

-No.

The Guardian Spirit looked at me intently.

-Listen carefully.

-Do you remember the nonsense I've been spouting for a week?

‘I remember.’

-Your memory is shit. Do you really remember everything?

‘After you threatened me like that, should I just ignore it? And my memory is fine. It's just that yours is freakishly good, that's all.’

-Good to know.

The Guardian Spirit nodded slightly.

-Then recite them.

‘Out loud?’

-No. In your head.

'.......'

Fine.

I closed my eyes.

“…Huh? Mister?”

Perhaps because I suddenly stopped, the boy, who was walking ahead, also halted and turned to look back at me.

“Sorry, please wait a moment, my god.”

I asked for his patience.

I focused quietly.

‘The nonsense spoken by the Guardian Spirit.’

The image was of etching white letters onto a black canvas.

For an aura user whose karma was to manifest the products of consciousness in the outside world, it was not difficult.

I lined up the sentences from the past 7 days like bricks, one after the other.

This year is bound to be a jackpot because it's a bumper crop full of bullshit even though it was made in a hurry.

The sovereign is a saintly king, right? But the one who is the general now is a famed commander.

The evening brings me joy, because it's blessed by that saintess.

Let's become conmen in the local mart! That's the only way to enjoy the life of a star.

Terror be gone, death stay away.

Kim Gong-Ja, you're too fucking floaty, you fucker. I want to vomit.

It wasn't a difficult task.

However, the reason the Guardian Spirit had to say [such things].

To find that out, I accelerated the time of my consciousness.

‘He's not the kind to utter such embarrassing lines with mere nonsense.’

What could it be?

What kind of trick had he played?

‘What did the Guardian Spirit say?’

I recalled.

Somehow, inexplicably, parts of my memory were eaten away as if by worms.

Yet, I could still recall some voices.

『This is definitely fucked up.』

I remember.

But this alone doesn't serve as a clue.

『Is this the first time you're hearing what I just said?』

This too.

『Alright.』

Then, this?

『If you're going to be childish, then I'll join you.』

I paused my accelerated consciousness for a moment on this timeline.

"......."

Childish.

The Sword Emperor is originally a childish person.

Therefore.

Taking the first letter of what the Guardian Spirit said:

‘This’ year is bound to be a jackpot because it's a bumper crop full of bullshit even though it was made in a hurry

‘The’ sovereign is a saintly king, right? But the one who is the general now is a famed commander

‘The’ evening brings me joy, because it's blessed by that saintess

‘Let's’ become conmen in the local mart! That's the only way to enjoy the life of a star

‘Terror’ be gone, death stay away

‘Kim’ Gong-Ja, you're too fucking floaty, you fucker. I want to vomit

"......."

No, that's not it.

It makes no sense.

Even if I take the last word and sound it out… hurrycommandersaintessstarawayvomit? No. Even combining them in my head doesn't form a plausible message. Wait, just a moment.

Just a moment.

This year is bound to be a jackpot because it's a bumper crop full of bullshit even though it was made in a ‘hurry’.

The sovereign is a saintly king, ‘right’? But the one who is the general ‘now’ is a famed commander.

The evening brings me joy, because it's blessed by ‘that’ saintess.

Let's become ‘con’men in the local mart! That's the only way to enjoy the life of a ‘star’.

Terror be gone, ‘death’ stay away.

Kim Gong-Ja, you're ‘to’o fucking floaty, you fucker. I want to vom’it’.

"......."

■■■ ■■■■ ■■ ■■■■■ ■■ ■■ ■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■■ ■ ■■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■ ■■ ■■■■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■■■ ■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■■ ■ hurry.

■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ ■■ ■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■■ right? ■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■■ ■■■ ■■■■■■■ now ■■ ■ ■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■,

■■■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■ ■■ ■■■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■■■ ■■ that ■■■■■■■■.

■■■■ ■■■■■■ con■■■ ■■ ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■! ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■■■ ■■ ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■■ ■ star.

■■■■■■ ■■ ■■■■ death ■■■■ ■■■■.

■■■ ■■■■■■ ■■■■■ to■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■■. ■ ■■■■ ■■ ■■■it.

……

Hurry.

Right now.

That.

Con-Star.

Death.

To it.

.......

『Hurry and die to that Constellation, right now.』

"......."

“Mister?”

『Do you trust me?』

“Are you all right? You have been silent for quite a while, and your face has gone completely blank.”

『I trust you.』

“Ah. Could it be an internal injury from fighting those demonic fiends...? We did push ourselves through too many battles in succession. I suppose I rushed the quests rather badly. Shall we rest for a while before continuing?”

『Listen.』

"......."

I am.

“Mister?”

I am.

I placed a dagger in the boy's hand.

“Ah?”

I pulled the dagger towards my throat.

"......!"

The sound of flesh tearing erupted.

“Why… Mister… what the…?!”

Everything happened in an instant.

Before he had time to resist, or even enough time to use any ability or skill, I fixed his body in place with my aura and laid my life upon the immobilized blade.

My life was cut away at an angle.

[You have died.]

Beyond the blade, the boy wore a look of horror.

"----------!!"

A scream.

“Why! Damn it! Fucking..."

A shout.

[A skill has been activated.]

And then, the world around me shattered into pieces.

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