SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 36

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 36: My Death Is... (3)

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The white light subsided. The moment I opened my eyes, I was already back in the middle of the battlefield.

A familiar scene unfolded before my eyes.

-Kirrr, Kieeek!

Strange monsters howling.

Soldiers fighting and bleeding against them.

A legion of thousands of monsters rushed to capture the harbor.

11th floor stage. The Supply Route Defense Battle.

The first battle to protect the Aegim Empire was unfolding.

"Thank you! You've come to help our empire, brave warriors!"

The welcoming figure of the general NPC was no different from the last cycle. Wearing the same armor, with the same expression, he recited the same lines.

"Brave warriors! Please help us save the empire…"

But that was it.

Everything changed from that point on, compared to the last cycle.

"Black Dragon, assemble!"

A harsh voice cut through the battlefield. The Black Dragon's master, the Witch. As she had done in the battle at a certain city gate, which only I remembered, the Witch shouted with aura-filled voice. Something about her voice instinctively captured people's attention.

"From now on, Black Dragon takes command of this battle!"

The Witch surveyed the battlefield imperiously.

"Celestial Martial Clan! Vigilante Corps! Take the left wing and break through! Pantheon and Sang-Ryun, take the right wing! We, the Black Dragon, will break through the center. If anyone has a problem with my command, speak up after the battle! If you have the luxury to chatter now, catch one more orc!"

The world had changed.

"Uoooh!"

The shouts of the hunters were evidence of change.

The giant guilds moved in unison. Was it because they shared information about the 11th floor stage being a mass battle from me? Unlike the last cycle, where hunters were dumbfounded, there were no such hunters this time.

"Follow me, everyone! If any bastard dies before I do, I'll kill them first!"

The Celestial Martial Clan, led by Viper.

"What the heck... No, never mind. Everyone, back up Celestial Martial! Make sure those boars don't get isolated!"

The Vigilante Corps, led by the Paladin.

"Ahaha! Independent actions are punishable by death, everyone! Strictly move in teams!"

The Pantheon, led by the Heretic Inquisitor.

"Everyone's so full of energy. Let's move slowly, don't rush."

Sang-Ryun, led by the Countess.

There was no gap in any guild's formation. Everyone remained faithful to their role as they broke through the battlefield. Hunters specialized in combat led the charge with their swords, while support specialists chanted magical skills from the rear. A mighty river! Like a rough current, the hunters pushed the monster army back again and again.

"Ooh...!"

The general NPC exclaimed in admiration. Perhaps moved by the sight before him.

"Clearly God has not yet abandoned the Empire! Look! The heroes who crossed from another world are driving the monsters back without pause! Soldiers of the Empire! Can we simply stand idle? All forces, follow me!"

The soldiers roared and charged together.

I stepped back and observed the scene.

"……"

Right.

People only need a small hint.

With just a little change from me, with a bit more covert action, the landscape unfolding on the stage changes so drastically.

At that moment, the Guardian Spirit spoke quietly.

-Zombie, are you okay?

'Yes? What do you mean?'

-Aren't you the type who likes to stand out in front of others? You're crazy for people's attention. Doesn't this decrease the attention you get compared to the last round?

'Well, I suppose so.'

I shrugged.

'But this doesn't feel bad either.'

-Ho? Look at you. Have you grown a bit?

'Growth, my ass... I still intend to claim whatever I can.'

Suddenly, I felt a gaze on the back of my neck.

Turning around, I saw the aged swordsman silently staring at me.

The Sword Saint.

"Oh."

I asked, a bit startled.

"What are you doing there... sir?"

"I'm watching you."

The Sword Saint replied matter-of-factly.

"Didn't I say that earlier? I'll decide whether to kill you or not after following you for 5 days. So, I'm observing."

"…Eh. Um. You're not seriously planning to follow me around 24/7 for 5 days, are you?"

"Strange question. Of course, that's my intention."

Oh my.

What's this? A stalker?

"No, sir, you should fight monsters too! The quest rewards are given based on contributions to the battle!"

"Hmm."

The Sword Saint glanced away and casually swung his sword.

Swoosh!

A blue aura swiftly swept forward. About twenty goblins, unable to even scream properly, had their heads flown off. A fountain of blood bloomed in the middle of the battlefield.

The Sword Saint turned back to me leisurely.

"I'll take care of the swordplay intermittently, so don't worry."

"……"

"Focus on your own tasks without concern for me."

Indeed, a true old-timer.

The senior was on a different level.

"Phew, this is something."

Shaking my head, I approached the Witch of Black Dragon. The Black Dragon guild members tried to block me, but upon seeing the Sword Saint following me, they hesitated. Eventually, the Witch noticed our approach and gestured to allow us through.

"What's up? Hunter Kim Gong-Ja. And the old man too."

The Witch frowned and got irritated.

"I'm busy commanding the guilds right now. I'm too swamped to think straight, so I'd appreciate it if you finished your business within thirty seconds."

"I have no particular business," the old man said indifferently. "I merely followed this young man here."

"What? What is that supposed to... Never mind. I don't care! I don't have time to bother with you right now. Please, if it isn't important, get out of here. Ah, you there! Team 4!"

While rebuking the Sword Saint, she hurriedly issued orders to her guild members.

"Don't foolishly charge forward, stay in your positions! If you don't want a spear in your butt, stay put and don't move! What are you doing, Team 12! Are we here for a stroll!? Hunt properly!"

"Sorry, Black Dragon Master!"

"Sorry my foot! If you have time to apologize, swing your sword once more!"

She seemed really busy.

I quickly stated my business.

"Black Dragon Master. I have a reward from clearing the 10th floor."

"So what about it? What's the reward?"

"It's a mini-map reward. I can see the entire battlefield as if it's a mini-map. Enemies and allies are marked as dots. Naturally, I can also see where the enemy commanders are."

"……"

Finally, the Witch turned to look me in the eye.

"Really?"

"Why would I lie? It's true."

"Then why didn't you come to me sooner instead of now!"

Abruptly, the Witch grabbed my right hand.

"Speak! Where is the boss monster!?"

Her true nature seemed to emerge whenever she was completely frazzled.

"Um, right over there."

I pointed in the direction indicated on the mini-map.

"Surrounded by monsters, it's not clearly visible, but over there-"

"Consent to use my skill! Hurry!"

"Ah, I consent to the use of Black Dragon Master's skill."

"Teleport!"

Whoosh!

The next moment, the Witch and I were floating in mid-air, plummeting towards the ground. In the midst of the battlefield's sky. Far below, a swarm of monsters and human armies were clashing fiercely.

The Witch, with her black hair fluttering in the wind, shouted.

"Where!?"

"There!"

I had to shout loudly to be heard over the roaring wind.

"I’m pointing in the direction of-"

"Teleport!"

With each call of the Witch's Teleport skill, we rapidly approached the location of the boss monster.

I held the Witch a bit tighter. There was no particular intention, just a thought that I might fall from the sky if I only held her hand.

She seemed to understand my intention and cooperatively stayed still, continuing to shout with a frown.

"Do you have some confidence in using your sword!?"

"I can handle the boss here!"

"Then I'll Teleport you above the monster! Finish it in one blow! Got it!?"

"Yess!"

I understood very well what she meant.

"Teleport!"

As the last Teleport concluded, we flew right above the boss monster.

Just ten meters below.

A great goblin wielding a luxurious golden staff was squawking orders at surrounding monsters, seemingly commanding the legion.

"Kim Gong-Ja!"

"Iyaaaaaa!"

I wrapped my body in aura and yelled. Hearing our voices, the great goblin commanding the monsters looked up, puzzled.

-Gurk?

The great goblin's gaze met mine.

But it was already too late.

Swoosh!

My blade precisely penetrated the great goblin's skull. The body split in half.

Despite being a boss monster, the great goblin could not even resist. It merely stared at me aggrievedly until the end. Then again, considering I alone had killed it twice, it had every reason to feel wronged.

-Gurk...

-Kurrk...?

The monsters, having suddenly lost their leader, stared at me in confusion. The swift turn of events seemed too much for them to comprehend.

I smirked at them.

"Why?"

Trampling over the great goblin's corpse.

"Do you all want to be sliced in half too?"

Only then did the monsters belatedly scream in terror.

-Kieeeee!

-Kurk! Kur?

Goblins and orcs, mere pawns, scattered in utter panic. One fleeing led to six, and six led to thirty. Like dominoes falling, monsters started fleeing in all directions.

"Ajaa!"

The Witch clenched her little fist beside me.

"Well done, Kim Gong-Ja! My goodness! We may clear the stage in less than an hour! Probably fewer than fifty hunters died! Maybe fewer than thirty... Ah! It couldn't possibly get better than this!"

This excited demeanor of the Witch was new to me.

Was she emotionless in the last cycle because too many hunters died early on? Now, with fewer casualties, she's happier?

'She's simpler than I thought.'

Someone who's sad or happy depending on the number of casualties.

I smiled.

"Easy there, let's calm down a bit."

"People should get excited when they're excited! I'll praise you again. Really well done, Kim Gong-Ja! It's unprecedented to clear a stage with so few sacrifices since the tower‘s beginning. You should be proud!"

The Witch smiled brightly.

Not just the slight curl of her lips as when she spoke from the ramparts, but a genuinely broad smile.

"Even though you could have hoarded the clear reward for yourself... really... I'm glad to have a new hero like you. What a relief."

"……"

"From today, all the media and reporters in the tower will rush to you, so be prepared!"

Pure goodwill.

'Right.'

The Witch extended her hand for a handshake.

'That's it.'

Grasping her hand firmly, I thought.

'Of course, just receiving attention from ordinary people, from lots of people, makes me happy. It simply feels good. Being held up as the best, envied, resented, and treated as a hero by them all feels incredible.'

But…

'It's not the same as being acknowledged by these people.'

People who have lived diligently.

Even if they can't say they've achieved the best in life, they can definitely say they lived their best.

The Sword Saint, who reached the pinnacle with a single sword.

The Witch, who built the largest force in the world of the tower.

And many others living their lives earnestly.

'I...'

Holding the Witch's hand tightly.

'I want to live a life recognized by these people.'

Not just that.

'I want to protect them.'

So they won't be manipulated by the Demon King.

Those who had lived earnestly... I did not want to insult or profane them as the Flame Emperor did. I did not want to ridicule them, meet them only with cold mockery, or pass the time with underhanded tricks. I wanted simply to acknowledge them sincerely... and be acknowledged by them.

No.

To be admired by them.

Even if it seems an impossible dream.

'I want to live that way.'

In a slightly changed world.

I, too, wanted to change a bit more.

That was my deepest desire.

-Darn kid.

The Guardian Spirit muttered.

-Watching you is actually worthwhile.

Soon after, the announcement for clearing the 11th floor echoed.

Huge letters floated in the sky.

[Contribution Ranking]

1st. Kim Gong-Ja

2nd. Black Witch

3rd. Heretic Inquisitor

4th. Viper

5th. Paladin

6th. Countess

7th. Sword Saint

...

As the world changed, the clear rankings subtly shifted.

The Sword Saint, who was 2nd last cycle, slid down to 7th.

Meanwhile, the Witch, previously at 6th, jumped to 2nd.

[The top contributors will be given early entry into floor 12.]

[Until the top contributors receive their rewards, the remaining participants cannot enter floor 12.]

[Once again announcing to everyone. The top contributors...]

Finally, the voice opening the 12th floor, the floor of the Demon, echoed.

"With this momentum, we might even clear the 20th floor soon."

The Witch spoke with a slightly flushed face.

"I expected at least five thousand sacrifices... A great start."

No.

If left alone, the 12th floor will result in horrific sacrifices.

Above all, they will lose the Countess, the head of Sang-Ryun and an essential link for dealings with the outside world. If the trade route to the outside is severed, the Tower's economy will collapse in an instant. A period of chaos will follow. The casualties may reach not five thousand but fifty thousand, or even surpass fifty thousand and reach five hundred thousand.

'That’s why…'

Therefore,

'I'll carry.'

Blinding light enveloped us.

When I opened my eyes again, I was there.

The imperial audience hall.

The marble floor, not yet stained with blood like last cycle, was still white.

"Oh?"

"Hmm."

Hunters were summoned one after another. Their expressions upon seeing me varied. Some smiled, 'I knew you'd be here first,' and others resented, 'Even this time, you're first.'

Just like last round.

"Hunter Kim Gong-Ja! You were amazing!"

The Heretic Inquisitor, rushing to praise me, was also the same.

"Cooperating with the Black Dragon Master like that! Is pinpointing the boss monster your reward from the last stage? Probably..."

"Wait a moment."

But unlike last round, the Heretic Inquisitor couldn't continue praising me. I raised my hand to stop his words. He looked puzzled.

"Yes?"

"I have something to say to everyone first."

The hunters looked at me.

The Witch remained slightly flushed. Viper wore a listless frown. The Paladin looked impassive. The Countess watched while fanning herself.

As everyone watched with various expressions-.

'Where's the Sword Saint?'

I first checked the old man's whereabouts.

"……"

The Sword Saint stood alone in a corner of the audience hall. Quiet. Despite our eyes meeting, he showed no particular reaction, just silently observing me with crossed arms.

'Good enough!'

Far different from the last round when he immediately attacked with his sword.

'It's done now!'

The frustrating conflicts that erupted at the beginning of the 12th floor are now gone.

I had made them disappear. I had succeeded in halting their hostile relationship, if only for a little while.

Feeling my heart pounding, I spoke.

"Yesterday. I told you something."

"Yesterday? What was it?"

"My favor."

The Heretic Inquisitor's question was met with my response.

"I asked if I ever asked for a favor, to please listen just once. I said that."

"Ah, yes! Of course, I remember!"