SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 336

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 336: The Constellations’ Auction (3)

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I have a lot of Constellations.

It's a sentence that could become a novel title with a bit of tweaking. Something like [My Infinite Constellations] or [I Have 999,999,999 Constellations].

That is how many Constellations I have.

"Cheep."

Firstly, around my neck hangs the fox god.

[A Music Box Just for You] was coiled around my neck.

Instead of seizing the world's time, my god took hold of mine. Was this proof of that? The fox always used its tail as a scarf, gently tightening around my breath.

Its authority is 'Absolute Interference Immunity'.

No one can deny or distort my time.

That alone may seem simple, but through it, I've gained immunity to the unfathomable 'changes in causality.'

"Kee... Keekuk..."

And on my wrist, a serpent.

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth] hung like a bracelet.

The snake emerged from the egg it had crafted, compelled now to gaze beyond its world. It's time for it to not comprehend the world with its mind, but to awaken to it with its body.

The one consolation was that the knowledge already in its head was quite extensive. No, the most extensive of all.

Its authority is 'Total Revelation of Secrets'.

No adversary can conceal their secrets from me. Origin. Source. Roots. Strengths and weaknesses alike.

There might still be adversaries about whom I have too little information, but there would no longer be any about whom I had none at all.

-Oh, what a field day for you, our Kim Zombie. Immunity to status ailments and now holding a real-time monster manual in your grasp.

Behind me stood the Guardian Spirit.

[The Sword Constellation] was present.

Let's just skip this gentleman.

[The Goddess of Protection feels it's time to sort out the hierarchy.]

And lastly, there was Shiny.

[The Goddess of Protection points out that everything in the world is ordered by seniority. The first Constellation to join the hero was herself, and she entered through the most proper route, thus, the fox and snake should rightfully address her as their senior.]

[The Goddess of Protection openly declares that although she is lenient and generous towards humans, she remains strict towards the Constellations.]

Shiny is... what exactly?

Really, what is she?

How did she manage to hide her crazy side while she was with Kim Yul? Or did it only blossom after she met me?

-Zombie, they say a sword takes after its master. When it was the Constellation Killer's sword, it had the heft of the Constellation Killer, but after becoming yours, it's as light as a rabbit's fur. Whose fault do you think that is?

I couldn't possibly know.

A true mystery.

"…No bids?"

Off to the side, [The Staff of Time Immemorial] spoke.

"Was my voice too soft? Let me repeat. The 64th floor has been cleared. It's now the 65th floor's turn. If there's a Constellation wishing to bid for the stage, please do so promptly. We can't wait forever."

Indeed.

There's a reason I started boasting about my own Constellations. It's because no one else was participating in the auction.

I felt like an auction item too expensive to sell.

"Sigh..."

Even after three minutes, the auction didn't proceed. The mage sighed in disappointment.

"Everyone's too scared. Petrified. After the Phoenix got knocked down by the King of Death in one hit, they're utterly frozen in fear. This is why modern Constellations are said to lack resolve. In the past, they were a bit more…"

On and on.

Meanwhile, the hierarchy war between the fox god, the serpent, and Shiny heated up fiercely.

[A Music Box Just for You inquires politely about the well-being of the intelligence within the skulls of these B-grade Constellations.]

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth merely points out, as a matter of objective fact, that it may have been defeated by the King of Death, but not by you lowly beings.]

[The Goddess of Protection mentions B-grade and argues that being an actual B-grade makes one the strongest, citing Earth's comics as evidence.]

[A Music Box Just for You scoffs at citing comics by authors who abandon their serializations.]

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth threatens to reveal your ages.]

[The Goddess of Protection encourages this, as it would only prove that the snake is the youngest.]

"Cheep?"

"Keeek?"

-Brrr.

It's noisy.

They are so damn noisy!

Having three Constellations in one place just makes for an endless noise fest?!

[The Goddess of Protection offers a brilliant idea to you.]

What is it?

[The Goddess of Protection reminds you of the very obvious fact that she is also a Constellation.]

"Yeah... So?"

[Then, she suggests that she could also bid for the stage and win the auction.]

"Huh?"

I blinked.

"…Wait. Is that even possible?"

[The Goddess of Protection extends her blade, assuring you that this violates no rule.]

"Ah, don't extend it. You cut me. I'm bleeding right now... Anyway."

My mind raced. Srrrk. As I fiddled with the sword's hilt, I worked through the calculations one by one.

"But to win the auction, you need something of value, right? Like faith or something, as a wager? That's like currency for Constellations. Do you have money?"

[The Goddess of Protection smiles triumphantly.]

Shiny explained as follows:

1. Originally, she was a Constellation overseeing [Protection] and [Immortality], quite a high-ranking one.

2. During that time, the Constellation Killer established the Aegim Empire. She became the de facto Guardian Deity of the Aegim Empire, securing a lifetime pension, so to speak.

3. But just then, Kim Yul sealed her away.

4. Her believers continued to send faith, but since she was sealed, she had no opportunity to use it. It was a situation where deposits were made, but no withdrawals could happen, so the faith just accumulated like in a savings account.

5. After eons, the hero unsealed her.

6. When she finally checked her neglected account, oh my?

Shiny shimmered brightly.

[The Goddess of Protection is confident there's no Constellation with a cash reserve to match hers.]

In short, Shiny had become filthy rich in savings.

"Indeed... Being sealed was a blessing in disguise, in a sense."

[The Goddess of Protection declares she will demonstrate her status.]

That seemed more like reckless spending than demonstrating status, but I couldn't quite point that out.

Either way, Shiny did what she could and wanted to.

[The Goddess of Protection places a bid.]

[The Staff of Time Immemorial], who had been urging the other Constellations to join the auction, turned this way. Even the perpetually easygoing mage's eyes held a faint trace of shock.

If I were to translate that subtle expression into human language, it would probably be 'Really? Are you seriously going to stoop that low?'

"King of Death, are you really going to stoop that low?"

My translation skills haven't waned, it seems.

"Yeah, but it's not me doing it. It's my sword."

"Thieves also say it was their hand that did it."

"No, it's different. I might be the nominal owner, but that doesn't mean she has no free will. She wants to do it, so how can I stop her?"

"But still, you know, there's something called moral integrity..."

[A Music Box Just for You cashes out its savings account.]

The fox growled from around my neck.

[A Music Box Just for You places a bid!]

The mage fell silent.

I protested.

"It's not me. It's my scarf."

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth places a bid.]

"My bracelet just..."

"Oh, I really..."

The mage rubbed her forehead.

"These damn balsamic vinaigrette creatures. Fine. When has life ever gone the way I planned? If there's no violation of the rules, do as you please."

[The Goddess of Protection doesn't care who else bids; she only wants to know who bids the highest.]

"Ugh."

The mage sighed.

"…I'll change the manager of the 65th floor to the 'Goddess of Protection.'"

[A Music Box Just for You protests that this cannot be!]

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth is astonished at how much was spent.]

Despite my lack of involvement, the sheath of the holy sword rattled slightly.

[The Goddess of Protection casts a truly pitying look upon her juniors' sadly thin wallets.]

And as expected, chaos ensued.

[Quest Cleared.]

[The 64th floor has been cleared.]

[The manager of the 65th floor assigns you a quest.]

[The Hero’s Swordsmanship]

Difficulty: B

Objective: The ruler of the 65th floor, [The Goddess of Protection] Hwiya, demands that you strike a pose of [The Hero’s Swordsmanship].

*However, if the [Goddess of Protection] finds the pose unsatisfactory, you must strike the pose again.

Hmm.

I held my sword at an angle, much like a transforming robot drawing its weapon for a climax scene.

Fittingly, the moment I angled the sword, a brilliant flash...! erupted from the blade.

[Quest Cleared.]

[The 65th floor has been cleared.]

"Incredible."

I shivered.

"This is just too sneaky…"

"It's you who's being sneaky."

The disgrace didn't end there.

[The Goddess of Protection demands that her juniors address her as 'senior.']

[A Music Box Just for You immediately jumps into the auction for the 66th floor stage!]

Refusing to acknowledge this, the fox cried out, and the serpent hissed in protest.

[A Music Box Just for You places a bid.]

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth places a bid.]

[The Goddess of Protection sighs in pity.]

[The Goddess of Protection places a bid.]

What is it...

What exactly are they doing this for...

-Mascot battles are meant to heat up.

The Guardian Spirit snickered. He looked exactly like the older guy from the neighborhood enjoying a fire from a safe distance.

-Let them be. They're sorting out their hierarchy among themselves. This is a form of loyalty competition.

"I didn't ask for this kind of loyalty, though..."

-They are offering to clear stages while you sit still. If that is not loyalty, what is? Just be grateful and enjoy the free ride.

It was a highly questionable free ride.

As the chaos intensified,

[A Music Box Just for You pours in its fortune!]

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth reveals its hidden savings account.]

[The Goddess of Protection doubles her bid.]

The mage rubbed her forehead.

"…I'll change the manager of the 66th floor to the ‘Goddess of Protection.'"

A fox and a snake cried out as if the sky was tearing apart for a brief moment.

[The Dance of the Sword]

Difficulty: B

Objective: The ruler of the 66th floor, [The Goddess of Protection] Hwiya, demands that you perform a sword dance.

*However, if the [Goddess of Protection] finds the dance unsatisfactory, you must dance again.

Floor 66 was a desolate plain. It was night, and a solitary moon hung in the sky.

Under the unusual moonlight, I began to dance with Shiny in hand. I must have looked quite mad...

[Quest Cleared.]

[The 66th floor has been cleared!]

It was remarkable.

"Congratulations, King of Death. You're the first hunter to smash through stages in this manner since the Tower was erected."

"I wish I'd be the last as well."

"Let's see how the next floor's auction goes."

The mage grimaced.

"Alright. Let's start the auction for the 67th floor."

[A Music Box Just for You places a bid!]

[The Eyes Dwelling in the Labyrinth places a bid!]

[The Goddess of Protection places a bid!]

And then, at that moment,

[The Reddest Sommelier places a bid...]

At last, a new participant appeared. The mage's eyes lit up, and she immediately raised the staff high.

"Awarded! The manager of the 67th floor will be changed to 'The Reddest Sommelier'!"

"Cheep?!"

"Keeek! Keeek!"

"No complaints. I'm both the host and the judge. Bids are confidential, so I can't disclose them. That's the rule I just made."

The mage shouted.

"Hey, King of Death! Hurry up, before they change their mind!"

And so I did.

[You have entered the 67th floor.]

[The Reddest Sommelier manifests.]

Ever heard of crocodile tears?

Crocodiles are said to shed tears while crunching through their prey, so their tears have become a byword for false grief. If you killed something, then you killed it; if you are sad, then you are sad. What meaning is there in crying as though you are grieving after you have already killed it?

"Sniff... Sniffle..."

But the crocodile tears falling before me seemed genuinely heartfelt.

"Sniff... Sob... Sniffle..."

It was a crocodile dressed in a cape.

The crocodile, seemingly built to walk on two legs rather than four, pounded the ground with its hands. Cloaked in not just a shoulder cape but also a fine suit, it would have passed for a respectable gentleman if not for its crocodile head.

"Why, oh why, has this befallen me...!"

The Crocodile Gentleman was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Despicable, King of Death! Despicable! How could you resort to something so underhanded? You should have waited quietly for other Constellations to enter the auction, preferably for a hundred or two hundred years! Why? Why could you not wait until then and instead buy up all the stages?"

"You were planning such a vile delay tactic, weren't you..."

"Lowly creature! Never have I seen one as vile and despicable as you!"

It was not me, but the crocodile kept going on about it.

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