WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈
Chapter 92: Falling (2)
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Romance Fantasy Rule 1
"Any man near the protagonist is inherently suspicious."
Romance Fantasy Rule 2
"The most ordinary man is actually the most extraordinary."
My heart pounded. I was anxious. Like the keys of a broken piano, it beat out of rhythm. That was how deeply the Heretic Inquisitor's smile carried an ominous scent.
A premonition of sliding further into the abyss.
I couldn't fathom the depth of this pit.
"Heretic Inqu---."
"Seems you’re unharmed, Lady Goldencup."
Before I could finish saying his title from the Tower, Lady Silver Lily addressed her first by her title in this world.
She had stolen the name from me.
“I heard you were attacked by assassins…. You’re truly a girl raised in the outskirts. Tough as a weed. Are assassins a trivial matter for you?”
“Hmmm."
The Heretic Inquisitor curled her lips upward.
I realized a bit late that it was a sneer.
Words he would never normally utter flowed from her lips.
“Did you come all this way late at night just to praise my health? I sincerely thank you, Lady. Just like His Highness, so many care for me, an unworthy one. Tonight's misfortune feels almost like a blessing!”
Lady Silver Lily's eyes turned venomous.
There were two spikes in the Heretic Inquisitor's words.
'You're the mastermind behind the assassins, aren't you?'
Threat.
'The Crown Prince came to me personally out of concern.'
And provocation.
"......Your mind is as unkempt as a weed. There's a fine line between imagination and delusion. It’s that boundary that determines human dignity. I hope you maintain the etiquette befitting a noble.”
“Ah, sorry! I didn't realize slapping someone's face at a ball was in keeping with noble etiquette. My mistake. I grew up in a family from the outskirts, unaware of the Ducal family's manners!”
"......"
“If it’s not too rude, may I be invited to your salon someday? I wish to learn etiquette directly from you, Lady. Since I’m not accustomed to slapping people, I need to learn the correct angle and strength.”
Her tongue revved like a motorcycle engine.
Wondering where the engine sound came from, I soon realized, what the hell? It was my own heart beating.
Thump, thump.
An ominous premonition wrapped around my heart and then gripped my throat.
“You’re impudent, Lady!”
“A lowly baron’s daughter speaking such nonsense…”
The Heretic Inquisitor's tongue waltz infuriated the Ducal family's servants. Among them, there must be some who betrayed their master and were seduced by the Crown Prince. Whether it's one or several, that’s not important now.
“I'm sorry!”
I quickly interjected between gold and silver.
Lady Silver Lily’s brows narrowed.
“You are…”
“Today's shocking events have greatly disturbed my lady. Considering the turmoil, rest is desperately needed. As it's late, Lady, perhaps it's time for you to retire? Any misunderstanding can be cleared tomorrow.”
"......"
Lady Silver Lily clamped her lips shut.
The servants behind her fumed, but that was all.
Once the master raised her hand, everyone stopped their actions. Silence suddenly enveloped the corridor. Such control over subordinates isn’t possible unless they're strictly reined in usually.
“Wait, butler, what are you saying?”
To my surprise, it was the Heretic Inquisitor, now Lady Goldencup, who protested against me.
“I still have much to say to the Lady. Don’t conclude our conversation so abruptly…”
“Be quiet, please.”
I grabbed the Heretic Inquisitor's wrist and practically dragged her away. She struggled and protested, “Ah, wait, Butler! Please wait!” but I refused to release her wrist. We absolutely could not allow our immersion in the characters to deepen any further.
“Lady.”
Just before exiting the corridor, I looked back. Lady Silver Lily was gazing at us with an indistinct expression.
"...What is it?"
“I have always admired how well-mannered the Ducal family's servants are. Tonight’s events proved again how dignified and proper they are compared to someone like me.”
I respectfully bowed my head to her.
“I have learned much. Although unworthy, I offer my respect to you, Lady.”
“......”
“Please excuse me now.”
And then, I pulled the Heretic Inquisitor out of the corridor.
Although she had resisted at first, the Inquisitor had already grown docile.
The spring night's garden. Between the ballroom and the dormitory, a vast garden spread out.
Newly bloomed magnolias drooped their heavy heads. Beneath the white trees, the fragrance was thick.
A night bird, bewitched by the floral scent, gave a pale magnolia a tap with its talon, and a petal fell.
“My goodness.”
The Heretic Inquisitor stepped on the fallen magnolia.
“Ah."
She stopped and looked up at the night sky. A moment later, she turned to me with a blank, dazed expression.
The hunter reputed to be the craziest in the Tower murmured as if unable to believe what she had just done.
“King of Death…… What did I just say back there?”
As soon as I shut the door to the dormitory, I said,
“Let’s set a password.”
We were silent on the way to the dormitory. No words flowed between us. Silence wound around our ankles, making it slightly difficult to walk.
Was this due to the deepening immersion in our characters? The path from the garden to the dormitory naturally came to mind.
Perhaps as immersion deepens, the memories of the characters become clearer. Whether this is good or bad, it’s hard to judge right now.
“A password..."
The Heretic Inquisitor blinked.
“A secret password…?”
“If we leave it like this, we’re really in danger. We need to stay alert.”
“That’s right. King of Death. You’re correct. Yes..."
The Heretic Inquisitor seemed to be struggling desperately to catch hold of her continually slipping voice. When the speed of someone's speech outran the speed of thought, it was a red warning light that the person before me was in danger.
I firmly held her face between both hands and forced her to meet my eyes.
“When spring comes the magnolias fade.”
“Yes…?”
“When I say [When spring comes], you reply [the magnolias fade]. That’s our password. A signal to snap out of it. Now, repeat after me. When spring comes?”
“The magnolias..."
“Again. When spring comes.”
“The magnolias fade.”
The Heretic Inquisitor's gaze gradually returned. She began looking directly ahead instead of into the distant void. She shook her head with an “Mm,” then nodded with an “Mm!”
“Yes! I'm back to my senses!”
“Okay. Good job.”
“Thank you, King of Death! Ah, what a storm of astounding events today. This day will be remembered forever.”
“How about a cup of tea to calm down?”
“Please!”
Good. Not yet. It was too early to abandon this cycle.
I wrapped a blanket around the Heretic Inquisitor and headed to the kitchen. Fitting for a dormitory of a noble academy, Lady Goldencup's room had a small kitchen. I easily found tea leaves and a kettle.
“Wow."
I was astonished while brewing the tea.
“My body just moves on its own…”
I had never properly brewed tea with loose leaves before, always using tea bags. But now, as if I’d been handling a teapot for a long time, my hands moved automatically. A side effect of immersion.
Even worse, my body was actually enjoying brewing the tea.
'Lady prefers her tea with milk, mixed with a spoonful of honey.'
I hummed to myself.
'Got the precious honey by asking the academy's exclusive servant. Cost a bit, but since she's so frugal and doesn't waste, a little luxury like this should be fine...'
[Immersion into your character is intensifying.]
[Your immersion rate is currently 6%.]
No, it's not okay!
Not okay at all!
Damn it!!
Stupid romance! Why am I happy about adding honey to black tea? Should I crack open my skull and smear honey on my synapses?! Stuff a beehive in my head!
[Shiny is worried about your condition...]
[However, Shiny voices the minority opinion that the Hero's butler attire is highly desirable.]
My weapon was gleefully sparkling on her own. Maybe it's just my imagination, but her sparkle seemed even brighter. Her master, me, was crouching, gripping my head in agony.
'I can't let a butler's mentality consume me.'
I clenched my teeth.
'No way. After how hard I've worked to clear the stages until now!'
Determination surged within me.
Even while brewing tea, I resolved not to do it like the original character. I used a teapot I normally wouldn't, chose a teacup I usually wouldn't, and then served the tea to the Heretic Inquisitor.
"King of Death."
After taking a few sips of tea, the Heretic Inquisitor tilted her head.
“Yes?"
“The tea tastes weird!”
“So?”
“Unless my sense of taste has gone dull, this briny taste is salt, is it not?”
“That's how this tea is supposed to taste.”
“Oh, I see. So, this is closer to saltwater than tea? Objectively, it would be classified as plain saltwater.”
“Just shut up and drink.”
“Understood! I'll shut up and drink well!”
The Heretic Inquisitor slurped up the tea.
“Thank you for the drink! It was very salty!”
The Heretic Inquisitor beamed. Yes. This was how it should be. Our natural-born psycho had finally recovered his old innocence.
“So, what’s the plan now?”
“We need to either get Lady Silver Lily hooked up with the Crown Prince or completely shatter the love line between Lady Goldencup and the Crown Prince. Let's aim for one of these endings.”
“A smashing strategy..."
The Heretic Inquisitor whimsically named the operation.
I prefer the latter of the two endings.
I've never experienced romance myself, but---
‘Isn’t breaking them apart easier than pairing them?’
It might be hard to pair Lady Silver Lily with the Crown Prince, but it should be easy to break Lady Goldencup away from him.
On this front, the Heretic Inquisitor and I were in 100% agreement.
“Then the Crown Prince's love for Lady Goldencup must cool! Do you have a brilliant plan?”
“I do.”
Realization struck while brewing the tea, nearly losing my mind. This stage calls for extraordinary measures.
‘There's a way.’
It was a method not only for lowering the Crown Prince's favorability toward Lady Goldencup, but also for preserving the minds of both of us, especially mine.
“What’s this brilliant idea?”
“If the Heretic Inquisitor acts more like [Lady Goldencup] and I act more like [a proper butler], our immersion rates will increase.”
On the other hand…
“What if we do [things Lady Goldencup would never do] and [things a butler would never do]?”
“Our immersion rates might drop. Even if they don’t drop, they won’t increase at least. What do you think?”
The Heretic Inquisitor's eyes sparkled.
"......Ah, indeed. Simple yet effective. You’re truly a hunter who conquered the impregnable 10th floor and cleared up to the 20th floor in a row!”
"Thanks, but let's focus. So, our conclusion is simple.”
I snapped my fingers, activating a skill.
“From now on, let's become [Delinquent Lady] and [Delinquent Butler].”
The Heretic Inquisitor tilted her head.
“Huh?”
Then Ghoul Reincarnation unfolded. Unlike in [The Veritable Records of the Heavenly Demon], there was no need to summon many ghouls. There was only one ghoul that we, and I in particular, urgently needed right now.
My shadow wriggled and transformed into the form of one person.
"......"
Ponytail tied back.
Eyes more annoying than any other creature in the universe.
“Hey...."
The Flame Emperor - Yoo Soo-Ha appeared.
Immediately upon being summoned, Yoo Soo-Ha grimaced, his face crumpling like a used tissue, and he started talking.
“Fuck, you bastard. What kind of fucked-up shit are you trying to make me do this time...?”
“All right. Let's zip those lips. Zip.”
“---Uhmp, uhmp!! Uhhhhhhhmp!”
No matter how viciously he spoke, he was a ghoul who could not defy my commands. Yoo Soo-Ha could only keep wriggling like a caterpillar wrapped in spiderwebs.
Seeing the Flame Emperor in this state somewhat lightened my gloomy mood. How should I put it? Like closing the lid on a trash can? It felt like my heart's fine dust was being cleanly swept away. The Flame Emperor. He was like the dustbin of a vacuum cleaner.
“Heretic Inquisitor.”
“Yes, King of Death!”
“You look too much like a model student from the outside.”
I spoke with a stern expression.
“Whether it's gestures or behavior, it’s all too pure. But to truly become a delinquent lady, your current state is far from enough. You’re severely lacking."
“Ah."
The Heretic Inquisitor pricked up her ears.
“Please enlighten me on my shortcomings! I’m eager to learn!”
“Yes, I’ll teach you. A one-on-one specialized tutorial.”
I slowly looked at Yoo Soo-Ha.
“The best tutor will guide the Heretic Inquisitor on the path of delinquency.”
“Ah, I’m excited!”
“Uhmp---, uhmp!! Uhhhhhhhmp!”
The Heretic Inquisitor smiled as innocently as a puppy. Yoo Soo-Ha scowled like a son of a bitch. Between the puppy and the bastard, I nodded solemnly.
“Let’s become delinquents.”
The next day, Sormewin Academy exploded.
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