SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 328

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 328: Starlight (1)

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-A masterpiece indeed.

Ancient times.

An era so distant that counting time lost its meaning, when even the epochs grew weary and time itself had tired out, everything came to a standstill. There was a temple where everything had halted, and in it lived a beautiful dragon.

-…Who might you be?

It might not have been accurate to say it lived.

The golden scales that once dazzled no longer shimmered. The golden eyes that used to take one's breath away had long lost their focus. And the voice, how long had it been since it last spoke?

The dragon felt estranged by its own vocal cords. The resonance traveling from its lungs through its throat felt unfamiliar. The flesh enveloping its lungs was strange, the bones piercing through the flesh felt foreign. When it listened closely, the beating heart sounded alien.

The conclusion was clear.

-I asked who you are.

The dragon felt burdened by its own existence.

-Even if I answer, you won't understand. A name is merely an address used by those living in the same coordinates to inquire about each other's well-being. I come from a different place than you.

-A different place?

-It is called the Home World.

The human brushed back their golden hair with the back of their hand.

‘This is no ordinary human.’

The dragon's golden eyes narrowed.

From the slightest gesture to the thinnest glint in the eye. This human had no muscle they did not control, no posture without meaning, no voice without intent.

‘A monstrous being, indeed.’

And the dragon realized. Despite its rusted scales and worn-out heart, its instinct to assess others was still alive and breathing.

Confirming this fact, for the first time in a long while, truly a long while, the dragon felt pleased.

-What is the masterpiece you speak of?

-This place. The temple you reside in. You are the Dragon Emperor who grants the wish of regression. All humans who served you regressed without exception, and those who regressed naturally trod the path of success.

The good mood did not last long.

-Soon, those who did not serve you were treated as fools. You, I, those who cannot be called 'you' in the far distance, and people on the opposite side of the world who cannot call me, all came to worship you. This is the result.

The human looked around.

-A world where all humans have become regressors.

-......

-No, perhaps a world where all humans wish for regression. No one possesses the advantage of time. Because everyone sought it, no one had it.

This world stood still.

Like statues stuck in Medusa's temple, humans did not move an inch, and the world, having no more aging or wearing to do, held its breath in a paused moment.

Except for a single dragon.

-How regrettable.

Only the dragon remained alone in a world where everything else had ceased, becoming the sole, unique deity, an immovable prime mover, lingering as a speck of gold.

-You merely granted the wishes of humans. When the god overseeing regression dominates the world, the end is an inevitable halt. A joke perhaps only social butterflies would appreciate.

-So? Have you come to mock me, human?

The dragon growled.

-If it's a challenge you seek, then say so. I shall not refuse.

-Imagine the landlord fighting with a tenant, it only leads to gossip.

-Landlord? ……Tenant?

-I am building a Tower.

The human clasped their hands together.

-It would be wonderful if you could join us there. Of course, you would have to bear several restrictions, Mutia.

-......

-If a god must live.

Somewhere.

-Don't you think a god should at least receive two chances?

The sound of a clock ticking echoed.

The Ruin-Harvesting Cow thought so.

[The Ruin-Harvesting Cow’s existence becomes faint.]

Mutia's horn was severed.

"O deity!"

"Lady Mutia!"

"Ah! Ahhh!"

"I'll kill you!"

The apostles of the Constellation screamed. They were shocked. Their rage was no less intense. Forgetting the pain they had suffered at my hands, which was certainly unforgettable, they gripped their hammers once more and charged in.

Bravely.

But flames care little for the courage of moths that fly into them.

"You have no right to lecture me about the original version, Mutia."

I swung my sword without taking my eyes off Mutia.

"Aaaaahhh!"

An Apostle subjected to the exact pain of having a shoulder blade sliced diagonally screamed and went flying. Many more Apostles charged behind them, so the screams never ceased.

"Probably the [Returner's Winding Clock] I possess was also a skill created by you. Although it has strict conditions, it contains the power of regression, nonetheless."

"Hyik! Aaaah! Ah, ugh! Ump,"

"In other words, you are the cause behind the Flame Emperor. If he succeeded thanks to [Returner's Winding Clock], while I lived an unlucky life in the shadow of that success, then the ultimate cause was you. It violates all reason for the one who ruined a life to boast that she will repair it."

"Aaaaaah!"

"Of course, I won't beg you to return my life. I have no intention of going back. But, how many people have had their lives twisted by your power?"

Thud.

I walked through hell, eliciting screams.

Breaking through the defenses created by the apostles, crossing the wall of bodies and the river of people, I approached Mutia.

"I have the right to punish you."

"......"

"Are you prepared to live on as a human? Golden Constellation."

"I…"

A voice leaked through Mutia's teeth.

"I did nothing wrong."

It was a precarious sound, like the wind blowing through an ancient canyon.

"It is just… A child once came and knelt before my palace. A clear child. A transparent human being. Their mother had been struck and killed by a carriage, and they found it unbearably unfair."

Screams resounded.

"They did not want to blame the noble in the carriage or seek revenge. They only wanted to tell their mother, as she left home that day, to take care on the road, to walk carefully because the rain made it slippery, and to come home safely. Just those few words…"

Screams resounded.

"They asked me to let them say only that. And so, because that heart was so dear…"

Screams echoed.

"What wrong have I possibly committed!"

The master of all ruins cried out.

"I merely knew how to do a bit more than you all! From birth, it was so, and as I grew, it became even more apparent! That's all there was to it! I did what I could. Was my birth a mistake? Was my life misguided? You… you dare… what right do you have to judge me!"

"You could have spoken first."

I did not stop my steps.

Despite the apostles' screams, numerous obstructions, attacks, and even facing the blazing eyes of the Constellation, I continued to walk.

"What?"

"I have no complaints about you granting Goldencup's wish. Silvia wished for it, and you responded. That's all there is to it."

Thud.

"Even though it ruined Raviel's life, I still have no complaint. Thanks to it, I met Raviel. Everything that followed was something I did as the agent of Hamusutra, [the Pond Where Memories Gather] and [the Head Librarian of the Great Library of All Things]."

Thud.

"You appointed Lady Goldencup as your agent. I became Hamusutra's agent and defeated Goldencup. That's the truth of the matter. Gods clashed, fought a fair duel, and a conclusion was reached."

Thud.

"Why do you object to that?"

"......"

"More precisely, why do you resent me? If anything unfair happened during the duel, you could have raised it with Hamusutra then. Why did you silently accept defeat at the time, only to come now and demand a rematch from me, a mere agent, rather than Hamusutra? No, this is not even a duel. You launched a surprise attack on your own authority."

That’s right.

It wouldn't be 'normal' for a Constellation to attack a hunter.

If a hunter had challenged a Constellation, it might be understandable, but for a Constellation of Mutia's caliber to personally pick a fight with a hunter is extremely rare.

Not because the Constellations are noble beings.

'The Tower Master must have set restrictions.'

Consideration for hunters.

Prohibition of massacres.

Actions permitted only when they fit with the stage gimmick, etc.

Even Mutia herself had exclaimed not long ago.

『Was the tower you looked up to such a heartless entity!』

There must be restrictions on the Constellations unknown to me.

This tower, setting the 1st to 10th floors as tutorial areas and the 11th to 49th floors as beginner areas, meticulously manages difficulty levels.

In some ways, it seems even more disadvantageous for the Constellations than for the hunters.

"I will ask."

"......"

"Mutia."

The reason Mutia could attack me in this tower.

Using the already concluded past event of the [Goldencup Incident], which was settled as a proxy war between Hamusutra and Mutia, to insist on a duel with me, even going to such lengths.

I quietly articulated my conjecture.

"Have I become a Constellation?"

"......"

Silence pervaded.

It was because the two hundred apostles had finally fallen under my sword, with nobody left to scream. It was an artificially created silence. It was not because my conjecture struck a nerve, silencing everyone in the coliseum hell.

Yet, the timing coincided so perfectly that it seemed as if my question silenced the entire 62nd floor stage.

"If I'm no longer just an ordinary hunter but have risen to the rank of a Constellation, then your actions all make sense."

No one answered, so I spoke.

"Though it's forbidden for a Constellation to arbitrarily attack a mere hunter, duels between Constellations would be subject to much looser rules. They are equals, after all. Peers. The tower wouldn't be so strict about that."

When did it start?

Exactly at what moment was I recognized as having a status comparable to a Constellation?

"Perhaps right after clearing the 61st floor?"

When I entered this stage, one 'strange thing' happened.

I didn't pay much attention to it at the time, but looking back now, it was suspicious.

All the Constellations simultaneously declared war on me, precisely on my forces.

『The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth swears to kill you.』

『The Incarnation of Love and Lust swears to tear you apart.』

『The Warhorse of the Eternal Plains prepares for war.』

『The Ruin-Harvesting Cow swears to annihilate you.』

Of course, the fox provoked the Constellations.

But just because they were provoked, would the Constellations, who had been eyeing me as a potential pawn, who had clearly watched in real-time the madness I unleashed on the 50th floor, suddenly turn their backs on me?

'It would be normal to think they were just playing around with the messages.'

However,

After the exchange with Mutia, my doubts deepened.

For some [certain reason], the Constellations no longer felt burdened by attacking me.

Perhaps Kim Gong-Ja, no longer a beginner, perhaps not even just an ordinary hunter anymore.

Perhaps even the Guardian Spirit, who had no intention or will to become a Constellation, somehow possessed the title of [Sword Constellation].

Perhaps becoming a Constellation is something that happens naturally, regardless of one's own will.

"Sword Emperor, sir."

-Yeah.

"How do the Constellations send those messages?"

Guardian Spirit chuckled.

-I've never done it, so I don't know. But I suppose just thinking about sending out a message would make it happen on its own? Your sword isn't in human form, but it uses messages freely. I doubt there's a complicated system involved.

"Indeed."

I nodded.

"Shall we give it a try?"

I closed my eyes.

In my mind, I envisioned someone I could recall without a hint of vagueness until the moment of my death.

'How are you doing?'

Suddenly, an image formed in my mind.

I held about a cup of water within me. Or perhaps it was not water, but white detergent powder.

Whatever filled that cup decreased by exactly one spoonful.

Then.

[The Sky That Gathers Screams sends greetings to the Silver Lily Duke.]

I opened my eyes.