SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 330

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 330: Starlight (3)

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“Huh?”

I blinked in surprise.

“You guys made the [Returner’s Winding Clock]?”

“…Yes.”

Mutia answered. A grinding of teeth intruded in the middle of the word, so the actual pronunciation was closer to 'Y-grrr-es.'

However, I was a man generous even to the defeated. I kindly pretended not to hear. I had the right to ask Mutia anything I was curious about, whether she grinded her teeth or not after all.

“My skill was obtained from the Flame Emperor. The Flame Emperor, as far as I know, received the skill from [The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages]. It's the first time I am hearing that you were involved in its creation.”

“It’s like a movie.”

“What?”

“I said it’s like the movies you enjoy watching.”

The golden Constellation looked up at me with eyes full of hatred. The reason for such an angle in her gaze was because Mutia was still kneeling. Because, well, I had the right to demand the loser to keep their knees touching the ground.

“To make a movie, there needs to be a director, a producer, and sponsors. An EX-grade skill is equivalent to a blockbuster movie in your terms. [The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages] is like the director of that movie... or rather, closer to a producer.”

“Hmm.”

I recalled a memory.

「I'm really sorry! King of Death!」

「It was me who gave the skill to the Flame Emperor!」

The Princess had once told me this while bowing her head all the way to the ground.

I see.

So the Princess had not created the skill all by herself from beginning to end.

“What was your role then?”

“…I am adhering to the etiquette that the loser must answer the winner's questions. But may I stand up now to answer? It’s embarrassing in front of the children.”

“Eh, standing is more tiring than sitting. Just tell me as you are.”

“Damn you.”

Mutia scratched the ground with her nails.

“One day, the princess came to me and said she wanted to make a regression skill. As regression falls under my domain, she needed my permission first.”

“A domain dispute?”

“Something like that. I initially refused but eventually agreed on the condition that it would be a skill that could only regress [just one day], and only if accompanied by a severe penalty.”

Penalty.

“And then, that snake bastard interfered.”

“[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth].”

“Exactly. That snake bastard.”

It seemed Mutia thought she had the right to call the traitor whatever she wished. A reasonable assertion. I respected that right.

The golden Constellation spoke.

“The snake bastard suggested that the skill be activated only upon death.”

"......."

“I found the penalty interesting and agreed, but it wasn’t just that. The snake bastard, the Constellation governing secrets and labyrinths, wanted not just any death, but a [labyrinth activated upon death].”

Labyrinth. Maze. Or trap.

I pulled out the skill card of [Returner’s Winding Clock] and looked down at it.

[Returner’s Winding Clock]

Rank: EX

Effect: Activated automatically on death. You will return 24 hours back in time from the moment of your death. Your memories and stats are preserved while returning.

*However, the higher your Hunter Rank, the more severe the penalty becomes.

*Skill copied from Yoo Soo-Ha

“…So that labyrinth was a trauma?”

“Correct.”

Mutia nodded.

“The snake bastard said, [People's lives are often compared to paths. Like having walked a long way. But to others, that path is twisted and an unfathomable puzzle. Other people's lives, their pasts and their paths, I consider them the ultimate mazes.]”

The great snake had said.

「Humans are contemptible beings.」

「But each harbors a palace within their heart, hiding a maze.」

「Would that not make each one a labyrinth, a maze-palace?」

While conveying the snake's words, Mutia gnashed her molars.

“A truly snake-like suggestion. So we decided to install the maze of death in your skill."

"......."

“Perhaps it wasn't just the two of us involved. The Tower Master…”

Mutia was continuing her story when she suddenly furrowed her brow and looked up. Floating in the sky, now turned black from its original blue, was one of the pillars, [The Staff of Time Immemorial].

“…Is it alright for me to speak up to here?”

“Huh? Ah, it doesn't matter to me.”

The mage holding a thin, long staff yawned as if bored.

“The King of Death has already met the Tower Master in person. He's effectively treated as having the highest security clearance. The language of the home world is probably translated for him too.”

“What? He directly met the Tower Master?”

Mutia raised her eyebrows and turned to look at me.

The look in her eyes seemed to say, 'What kind of person are you?'

“What exactly are you?”

“Who knows? I may not know exactly what I am, but I do seem to be someone [The Ruin-Harvesting Cow] has to kneel before while speaking.”

“You fucking… No, never mind. Let's not speak of it.”

Mutia sighed.

“Anyway, since the princess is also the Tower Master's daughter, it's possible she used powers from other Constellations as well, not just from the snake bastard and me. By asking the Tower Master, that is.”

“Hmm.”

“So your existence is indeed troublesome.”

The golden eyes glared at me.

“Because of you, both the snake bastard and I are in danger.”

“Eh?”

“As long as you remain alive and well, I cannot grant my believers' wishes. No, faith in me itself is beginning to waver!”

I tilted my head, still not understanding why Mutia and Hisimet Cretsu held animosity towards me, even after hearing the whole story of how my skill was created.

“You can’t fulfill your believers' wishes because of me? Why?”

“You connected the time with that Silver Lily or whatever!”

Mutia growled.

“Regression should be exclusive, do you understand? The value of regression is established by the fact that only I have returned to the past. If someone else knows that time has been reversed, the value of regression, my power, plummets! Yet! You and Silver Lily drew a [Line of Time] together!”

“…A Line of Time?”

“You return, and Silver Lily knows. Silver Lily returns, and you know! No matter what, one of you realizes [time has been rewound]!”

Ah.

“Are you talking about [A Certain Returner's Love]?”

“That's right!”

Mutia shouted, engulfed in anger.

“Even if I fulfill a believer's wish and regress them, they can no longer enjoy an exclusive position! Because of you two! Do you understand? I can no longer claim absolute power over time. My power has been compromised!”

As Mutia raged on, I went over Raviel's skill in my head.

[A Certain Returner's Love]

Rank: EX

Effect: For a returner, love is like poison. No matter how much they struggle, they can't share time with the one they love. Thus, a certain returner had a burning desire, 'Let my beloved keep his memories.' This desire reached the tower and was granted.

You share a timeline with your beloved. If your lover goes back a day, you go back a day. If you go back a day, so does your lover. This is the vow of a ring. This is a marriage of time.

May fortune be with both of you.

*However, it only activates when you and your lover mutually love each other.

“I see.”

I understood the whole picture.

“If only I were the regressor, it would be fine. It would also be fine if Raviel were the only regressor. But because we share each other's timelines…"

A sort of line connecting each other.

From now on, even if a new regressor is born, they cannot ignore the red line of time we have drawn.

If a new regressor goes back to the past, Raviel and I will immediately know that [the world has been rewound].

There can no longer be a regressor who monopolizes time alone.

Except for Raviel and me.

“I was curious why that skill was ranked EX, but… there was indeed a reason for the highest ranking.”

“Because of you two, my position as a Constellation has plummeted!”

“Yes, I see why you're hostile towards me.”

Of course, it wasn't something I needed to concern myself with.

Nor was it something Raviel needed to worry about.

“Why would anyone make something like [Returner’s Winding Clock]? It’s all self-inflicted.”

“Don't laugh! It was the princess who first mentioned making it, not me!”

“I'm not laughing. Anyway, you were the ones who attached the trauma penalty, weren't you? Raviel having [A Certain Returner's Love] is, if you think about it, thanks to the trauma penalty. Hmm. I'm a bit sorry to say… but this is entirely your own doing from start to finish.”

“Damn the Tower! Damn the princess!”

[The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages manifests.]

“Did someone call me?”

“No one called you! Get lost, you accursed wretch!”

“That's so mean…!”

[The Princess Who Strolls Through Mirages gets lost.]

For a brief 6 seconds, someone popped their head out from beneath the ground and then vanished right away.

It was agreed that no one would mention this incident.

“Well, leaving aside the reason you attacked me…”

I glanced at the spot where the princess had disappeared and said.

“What about Hisimet Cretsu? What made that Constellation anxious enough to form an alliance with you?”

“Hmph. Why don’t you ask that traitor directly?”

Mutia turned her head away.

“Thanks to you, my power is already tattered. I can't even create a new regressor anymore, and even if I could, I'd have to get your consent first. That’s no longer fitting for a respectable Constellation. …I am resentful.”

“Mutia!”

“We have no one but you, Mutia! We would never serve another Constellation!”

“We will remain loyal until the end of the world!”

A few of the two hundred apostles who had regained their senses cried bitterly. Mutia looked around at them, sighed deeply, and said.

“…Anyway, find out about Hisimet Cretsu's circumstances yourself. I've adhered to the manners expected of a loser. I wish you wouldn't insult me further.”

"Fair enough."

I had proven to be stronger than Mutia in the domain of regression through this duel.

If the currents of time flowing through this Tower were a history book, only Raviel's time and mine would form its imperial annals, while the times spun by Mutia would be demoted to tributary streams.

'I've gotten everything I could out of Mutia. Now it’s time for...'

I turned my gaze.

To the sky.

Floating there, watching the conversation between the victor and the vanquished, was [The Staff of Time Immemorial].

“O Pillar.”

“I’m listening.”

“Two Constellations senior to me conspired to ambush me. I received no prior warning, and I even had to figure out I had become a Constellation on my own. The latter is especially unfair, isn’t it?”

“[The Snake Dwelling in the Labyrinth] used its power to collaborate with [Ruin-Harvesting Cow] to achieve that.”

“But that doesn’t change its unfairness.”

“That’s right. And that’s exactly why I appeared as the judge.”

The pink eyes gazed down at me.

“If you want something, say it. If I find it reasonable, I'll grant it.”

“Yep. I’m supposedly at the level of a Constellation now. Well, I won’t throw a tantrum.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I’m currently on the 62nd floor, right?”

“Yep. Unless both of our memories are severely damaged.”

“What I want as a reward is very simple.”

A broad smile spread across my entire face.

“Please appoint [The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth] as the manager of the next 63rd floor stage.”

“Oh.”

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] slightly tilted her head.

“That’s an interesting request for a reward. Why?”

“I detest the fact that it fled during the battle.”

“It could be seen as a wise action, couldn’t it?”

“To betray a comrade you promised to stand with is utterly despicable.”

“There might be room to see it as a wise action as well.”

“Most importantly, it picked a fight with me, so I have the right to see it through. In the interests of rewarding good and punishing evil, karmic retribution, and making the one who tied the knot untie it, you ought to grant my request.”

“If the world worked on rights, there would’ve been no need for the Tower.”

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] stroked her staff.

“This is the Tower, after all. Alright, I'll grant it.”

At that moment.

[The Constellation observing the story in secret is shocked.]

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth protests against the unjust treatment!]

Although it had fled in body, it had left its eyes and ears here.

The protest messages poured in, but [The Staff of Time Immemorial] didn't even blink. To be precise, she blinked only when she felt like it.

“It’s not really unjust.”

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth screams that this must not happen!]

“I’m a Pillar. It can happen.”

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth vows to never forget this incident!]