SSS-Class Revival Hunter - Chapter 381

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 381: The Gardener of the Rotten Flowers (3)

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A garden is different from a forest. A flower garden is not like a meadow.

Seeds do not grow inside rotten buds, and there are no bees to carry pollen, so every flower in this garden was planted by my own hand, one by one.

"The garden is now fully furnished."

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] sat cross-legged atop a hill, sucking on her staff.

"If this were a house, the site would be prepared, the building raised, and all the wallpaper and lining applied. Even the built-in furniture, lights, and air conditioning would be installed."

"Do mages use air conditioning?"

"Why wouldn't a world with magic have air conditioning? Why do you think mages are so temperamental? It's all because they don't have air conditioning."

"There must be a Constellation in charge of air conditioning then."

"Want me to introduce you?"

It's hard to tell where the joke ends and the seriousness begins. That's so characteristic of a mage.

"So, when is the housewarming?"

"Housewarming?"

"Yeah. Or a revival meeting? Which would you prefer?"

The mage again made such a mage-like remark.

With nothing but swordsmanship and martial arts in my background, I could only look at such a mage with a questioning gaze.

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] sighed and removed the staff from her lips.

"Constellations at this stage usually split into two groups."

"That would make surviving difficult."

"First, there are Constellations who show their sanctuary to their loved ones, planning a happy future. Second, there are those who gather their followers to spout long speeches about future visions."

"Constellations aren't much different, I see..."

The first is like a homeowner showing off a new house, and the second is like a CEO unveiling a new corporate building.

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] silently stared at me. Hmm. That look could mean, 'You're a Constellation making such lame jokes yourself.'

Continuing with that gaze, [The Staff of Time Immemorial] said.

"You'd belong to the former, wouldn't you?"

"Do I seem like that?"

"Yeah. Aren't you going to show it off to your husband? [This is our home, Raviel. The haven where we will live together. This sea was made by bringing our advisor to tears, and this towering mountain range is the mark our son left when he raised hell around the house...] Something like that."

Indeed.

"Why do you say that? You know very well I wouldn't do that."

"Oh, is that so? Why not?"

"Because then naturally it would lead to [Speaking of this flower, imagine. In a place not here, in a time not now, during a minor ice age, there was a group of sailors in despair…] Something along those lines."

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] shrugged with the staff in her mouth.

Feigning ignorance. Typical of a mage. Knowing full well, yet still making such remarks. I saw right through the act, yet waved the head of Hisimet Cretsu tied to my wrist.

"I once said to this basilisk."

-Humans are not dolls to be displayed in your glass garden.

-Nobody lives to be displayed by someone else, and nobody has the right to display another.

"Having said that, how could I do the same?"

Hisimet Cretsu whimpered and lowered its head.

I withdrew my wrist and concluded.

"I didn't plant these flowers to display them to someone."

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] once again detached the staff from her lips.

"Even if that someone is Raviel?"

"Even if it's Raviel."

No.

"Especially because it's Raviel."

I'm sure it would be enjoyable.

To hold Raviel's hand and explain this world I created. To talk about the ideas and considerations that went into making this place.

To explain to Raviel once again what kind of person I am, and for her to acknowledge it once more. To be recognized, from the depths of her heart, as that kind of person would surely feel sweet enough to melt my heart.

Would Raviel admire me? 'As expected of my wife.' Would Raviel sympathize? 'I am truly happy to have taken a good person as my partner.' Would Raviel join me? 'Yes, wounded flowers. I too will care for you together with Gong-Ja.'

How happy that would be.

That's why I won't do it.

"I will not invite Raviel to my sanctuary."

It must not be done.

"Forever."

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] put the staff back in her mouth.

"Isn't that a bit too much? Wailing Heaven, you even overcame a pillar like me. Why not trust yourself a little more? It might not be as scary as you think."

"Because I'm scared."

I continued candidly yet firmly.

"Sure, I'm strong. Undoubtedly, there are only a few stronger than me in the entire tower."

"......"

"But, Raviel is my [exception]."

No matter how much I resolve not to, how long will it last?

If I invite Raviel here, if I walk with Raviel through this place, I might, even unconsciously, treat the flowers I planted here as rare exhibits.

That's truly, truly terrifying.

"Shouldn't you resist such temptations as part of your duty? True faith manifests in times of trial."

"If it were something I could handle, it would be a trial. Undertaking such a task when it's impossible is foolish."

"Hmm."

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] clicked her tongue.

[It's not working], I interpreted from her expression and looked at her with incredulity.

"Mage, you really are a true wizard."

"Oh, is that a compliment?"

"Mutia said there should be no exceptions in the life of a god. The Tower Master said becoming a Constellation means bearing eternity, so I should think it over several times before locking my skill set."

I scratched the back of my head and continued:

"Then this inference becomes possible. I am still new to this, so I cannot be sure, but perhaps more Constellations fall because they fail to keep their word than because they are defeated by force. And here you are, trying to set a subtle trap to make me fall. True wizard, I acknowledge it."

"Yeah, it's a compliment then."

"It wasn't much of a cunning temptation, to be honest. It was too blatant. What are you trying to do?"

I looked straight at [The Staff of Time Immemorial].

"You said if I give up climbing the tower or fail along the way, you'd get your pillar position back. Is that why? Do you want to try a comeback even like this?"

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] also looked straight at me.

"What if it's true?"

"Then, despite being a pillar, you'd become a petty person unable to escape your desires. And knowing that such a petty person was a pillar, we'd know the level of other pillars and, consequently, the level of the tower supported by such pillars, but you wouldn't want that, would you."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because you were a pillar of the tower."

I stated.

"You should have that much dignity."

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] wiped her staff on her sleeve and smiled faintly.

"In the end, it's a compliment. Being praised by the person who ousted me isn't so bad."

"Why are you doing this?"

"I wish for you to reach the 100th floor."

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] declared.

"I hope the Sword Emperor's wish is fulfilled, that you officially become a pillar, and that the other pillars do not obstruct you."

"So why...?"

"To prevent you from tripping over a stone like a fool."

It was a statement loaded with implications.

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] flicked her sleeve and added.

"Especially such a clearly visible stone, even if it glitters like gold, you should avoid it."

Otherwise, you might not even make it to the 100th floor, it seemed to say almost audibly.

I remained silent for a while. In this place of rising and falling ground, lapping waves, and differences in air temperature, only the flowers stood still. I quietly listened to the wind caress the red surface and moisten the petals with the scent of water.

I spoke.

"Why do you wish for me to reach the 100th floor?"

"There are three reasons for that."

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] put both halves of the broken staff in her mouth, as though nibbling on a Pepero snapped in two.

"The first reason is easy to understand. If the person who defeated me loses before even reaching the 100th floor, well, would that not be rather embarrassing? Imagine how much the Pillars and Constellations would gossip. If I returned to work after that, every day would feel like being a Magic Tower branch chief excluded from her own cohort."

"Should I ask if pillars also gossip among themselves, or if the Magic Tower has something like being ostracized..."

"You're the one who said Constellations are all the same. What's different about pillars or mages?"

[The Staff of Time Immemorial] pulled one staff out of her mouth.

The saliva-drenched tip of the staff pointed at the flowers I had planted.

"The second reason is for these children."

"......"

"For those children, having you as a Pillar instead of me... and therefore for everyone, would be a good thing."

[The Staff of Time Immemorial]'s demeanor always had an air of a mage about it.

Deception. Secrets. Subtext.

Even in a casually thrown word, there was bone, at least a fishbone, but the words just now were gentle. Like fish flesh carefully deboned for a baby, they were safe to swallow without chewing.

And I, when I don't know what to say, just speak bluntly.

"You tried in your own way."

"Was that supposed to console me? It makes me want to brew a fresh cup of Job's tears tea and pour it into your nostrils."

"Well then. ...What's the third reason?"

"For the Tower Master."

That statement was also utterly gentle.

With a tender face and soft voice, the mage said,

"I couldn't do it. It would be impossible for the current pillars as well."

The same reason the princess hinted at me.

The reason why she had her eyes on me from the beginning, the mage spoke gently.

"So, someone else has to do it."

"Whether it's you, the Sword Emperor, or someone entirely different. Someone who's not a pillar, but preferably you."

The mage's lips closed and then opened again.

"I wish you would---"

"Make things easier for the Tower Master," she wished.

The voice of [The Staff of Time Immemorial] lightly settled in the garden of frayed flowers.

I held a housewarming.

I called my vassals. I didn't call Raviel.

There's nothing more to say about the latter. The conversation with [The Staff of Time Immemorial] says it all. This garden belongs to the flowers, and this flower garden does not entertain visitors.

"In the future, it may receive [Mourners]."

I stated.

"Some of these children might have families or loved ones. If these children wish to reunite with them, then we should facilitate that reunion."

"Indeed. So, mourners?"

After raising the water level with another cry, Ester, drying her eyes with the handkerchief Silvia handed her, continued.

"A kind of cemetery... No. A rehabilitation hospital would be closer. Rather than mourners, 'visitors to the sick' would be the more accurate term."

"Ah, that makes sense."

"But for a rehabilitation hospital to receive visitors to the sick, it needs doctors, nurses, and public service workers."

Ester blew her nose into Silvia's handkerchief as she went on.

"Naturally, I will assume the role of head nurse... that is, [Gardener]. As I mentioned before, within the gardens they protect, gardeners wield absolute power surpassing even the head of the family..."

"Silvia, just so you know, she's blaming you for becoming like this."

"That's absurd!"

Silvia accepted the handkerchief using only her thumb and index finger, her face showing utter disgust.

"No way no way no way no way. Really, really, rea---lly absurd! Advisor, really! You were already! Somewhat! Strange!"

"Chamberlain, do you want to be hit?"

"This is exactly what I mean! Advisor. Aren't you supposed to be a person of counsel, resorting to physical solutions for everything?"

"All wars are extensions of political solutions. And everything that happens in this world is physical. So... do you understand what I'm saying?"

"It means you're the one getting beaten!"

"The mass and velocity are correct. Your direction is a little off."

For a while, Silvia swung her hammer and Ester her greatsword, each aiming for the other's head.

Uburka munched on his salt-vanilla popcorn, as white as his skin, and said.

"Ugor. Daddy, aren't you going to stop them?"

"My son, before asking your father, shouldn't you learn to do things on your own?"

"Father, what do you think I've been doing all this time while you were gone? Ugor. Now it is your turn to do all the miserable work I handled while you were away."

"My family was already in ruins before the housewarming even started."

I lamented deeply.

Ah, but I didn't really stop Silvia and Ester from fighting. Kids grow up by fighting.

Letting them be, I looked at the others present.

"Director, Mr. Kim Yul."

I said.

"Would you take care of this garden?"

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