WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Ryuu

Editor: Abstract

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

SSS-CLASS HUNTER WHO DIES TO LIVE

Chapter 374: Blue Blood (2)

For thirteen full days, the thirteen slaughter dolls honed their blades, all for the purpose of capturing me alone. The Constellation Killer, a name that evoked fear among the constellations, had marked me as an unmistakably more powerful being and had been preparing to hunt me down.

"I'll abandon the memories of the last thirty days."

And this was the result.

"Argh, ugh... Keuh, ah...!"

Ultimately, I vomited blood. It was the price for dispersing my aura to protect the fox and Hwiya. Thanks to that, both the fox and Hwiya were safe. However, the aura that once flowed nobly in my veins had dried up, and the aura that filled my heart was also depleted.

'I'm going to die. This is it.'

I fell to my knees.

'No, let's die.'

Blood kept flowing from my mouth.

'Let's die like this and return to a day ago. Knowing what kind of strategy the enemy will use next time, I can respond. Let's die. Dying is the only way to survive.'

Even amidst the excruciating pain that wracked my head, I was searching for the only path to survival, or rather, the path to death.

'Anyway, I don't have the aura to block the next strike. Let's not block it. Leave it. I'm going to die!'

Coughing up a clot of blood,

I waited for the sixth attack to strike me down. Little did I know that a hunter of the Constellation Killer's caliber would regard himself as the weaker party and me as the stronger, attacking me with full force, but this would only be this time. I was caught off guard this time. Next time, in the next battle, I would definitely…

"Cough! Keuh, huh... ugh...?"

Why, though?

"What are you doing...?"

The next attack didn't come.

"Hurry up and kill me..."

Straining, I lifted my head.

A pair of fresh green eyes,

And more eyes.

Nine pairs of blue eyes surrounded me, looking down from all sides.

"I won't kill you."

"What...?"

What does that mean?

"I won't kill you, The Heaven that Gathers Wails."

Five of the nine slaughter dolls approached. My right arm. My left arm. My right leg. My left leg. Each limb was grabbed, and even the ki point on my nape was pressed. My entire body was literally sealed by the dolls.

"I've researched a lot about you."

As the ki point was pressed, I couldn't even move my mouth freely. Breathing was difficult. No, it was made so that I could barely breathe by blocking my ki point.

"Many constellations were interested in you. I went to each of them, trying to learn what they knew about you. Only after annihilating nine constellations did a clear picture of you emerge."

Looking back, it wasn't just about deploying all thirteen to capture me; it seemed he had also exterminated nine constellations to gather information. This madman.

"You're strong, and you've grown too fast."

"Keuh, hrmph..."

"To think of it as growth within a limited time, it's abnormally fast. It could mean you have tremendous talent, but I came up with a more logical hypothesis. It's that [time is not limited for you]."

Damn it.

I remembered the conversation I had with the Constellation Killer before the fight began.

『We have definitely met before.』

『I see. So you are a master of time.』

At that time, the Constellation Killer had reacted quite blandly.

I thought it was because of his inherently calm nature, but could it be, that before the fight even started, he had speculated that I possessed time-manipulating abilities?

Was his bland reaction because he had already anticipated it?

"Of course, I couldn't figure out how you were manipulating time. There were too many possibilities, but regardless of the method, it was clear that [time] was your resource and strength."

Thinking about it,

The Constellation Killer was originally a hunter.

He always made sure to know what kind of entity he was dealing with, its strengths, weaknesses, and only then would he engage in battle.

Long ago, when I first encountered the Constellation Killer on the 50th floor, didn't he say this while hunting monsters?

『To kill [those who split and die], one must precisely [split them in half].』

『The true body of the Screamer lies in its scream, kill it by burying it in sound." 』

A meticulous strategist who studied the enemy's weaknesses.

That was the Constellation Killer.

And this time, he had thoroughly studied me before making his move.

"Therefore, I won't kill you, The Heaven that Gathers Wails. I'll merely seal your time away."

Seal.

"How would you..."

"It's simple. I'll cause a rift between this space-time and the outside world. Then, I'll encase you in ice and leave you here. This isn't ordinary ice, but ice that will never melt."

"You will be forever trapped in this place where time has come to a halt. I will make sure of it."

Damn it.

"To trap a person... in eternal torment... you say it so casually...!"

"I don't understand what you mean."

The Constellation Killer tilted his head slightly as he drew a dagger from within his cloak.

Thrust!

A cold sensation sliced through my chest and pierced my heart.

[‘The Claw Stained in the Dawn - Replica’ begins to seal you.]

The dagger the Constellation Killer had plunged into my heart was made of ice. Having wandered through worlds for countless years, he must have acquired all sorts of curious items. It seemed this ice dagger was one such item in the Constellation Killer's collection, and as soon as it penetrated my chest, it triggered an extraordinary effect.

[Warning. Once the seal is complete, only conscious thought will be possible.]

[Your world will soon be sealed.]

[Time remaining: 61 seconds.]

Crack, crackle, snap.

From the point of impact, ice formed. It started with my chest, then spread to my collarbone and shoulders, expanding around my chest like the blossoming of a blue flower bud.

"You're too late even if you try to send a message to your comrades now, asking for reinforcements."

Sensations faded away.

"In 60 seconds, no one will be able to reach this place in time to rescue you. And after a minute, this stage will be isolated. I will make it so."

As I became numb, I realized that I had felt this sensation, this chill, this coldness somewhere before.

"Winter..."

"What did you say?"

"The martial realm... The sealing technique used on 'The Golden Dragon Dwelling in the Great Lake'... Is this it?"

The Constellation Killer slightly tilted his head.

"That's right. I'm surprised you knew."

"......"

"When I was searching for a way to defeat you, I came across this item. I used several items to seal the 'Golden Dragon,' and the records clearly state that this item was also used."

How could I forget? This sensation. This chill. This coldness.

It was none other than the ice and snow that had forever trapped the world of my master.

'The Golden Dragon Dwelling in the Great Lake' was originally the ruler of my master's world. The dragon had an empathetic sword embedded in its chest, eternally unable to die, merely decaying. It was the Constellation Killer's doing.

Now I knew that not only the empathetic sword but also the item currently impaled in my heart had been used by the Constellation Killer to seal the dragon.

So,

The winter that killed my master's world was now trying to kill me.

[Time remaining: 21 seconds.]

If I had the strength to clench my teeth, the grinding noise would have resonated throughout the space.

[Time remaining: 20 seconds.]

Yes, Constellation Killer.

I acknowledge it.

You are a fearsome hunter. Now I truly understand why the Sword Emperor couldn't kill you, how you managed to draw with the Sword Emperor.

The Constellation Killer, who went all out deploying thirteen bodies, is undoubtedly on par with the Sword Emperor. You're comparable even to the only one who reached the 99th floor.

[Time remaining: 19 seconds.]

And so, you have led me to defeat. Not just a simple death, but a true defeat in every sense. Soon, I will be frozen in time, and the 81st floor stage will be isolated, becoming a deserted island unreachable by my comrades.

Yes.

If I had been a lone being.

[Time remaining: 18 seconds.]

If I had been a solitary existence like you.

[Time remaining: 17 seconds.]

Raviel.

[The Heaven that Gathers Wails sends a message to Silver Lily Duchess.]

I'm sorry.

[The Heaven that Gathers Wails asks Silver Lily Duches to bring about his death.]

Now, please die.

"......?"

The Constellation Killer looked at me once more, tilting his head in confusion.

"I can't comprehend."

Ice had now covered my entire body. It was cold. My whole body was freezing. Only my face, specifically my eyes and mouth, remained unfrozen by the ice. The Constellation Killer watched the last bits of my exposed skin being enveloped by ice.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Ah..."

Is that so? Am I smiling?

Ice had crept up to the very edge of my mouth, and I hadn't even noticed, but surely, my lips were curved in a smile. Not a mocking one, but a genuinely happy smile.

"Can you imagine..."

"What?"

"Someone who can die upon being asked— within 10 seconds."

My left eye was covered in ice.

"Do you have such a person?"

My right eye was sealed by ice.

"You don't."

My nose.

"Despite having the chance, throughout centuries, you chose to remain alone... Always."

Finally.

"That's why you lost to me Constellation Killer."

My lips.

[Time remaining.]

[5 seconds.]

My heart.

[4 seconds.]

Just before being completely frozen.

[A Certain Returner's Love (EX) has been activated.]

[3 seconds.]

My breath stopped.

[You share a timeline with the other party.]

[The timeline ends.]

[2 seconds.]

Death closed my eyes before the winter could engulf me.

[You have died.]

[1 second.]

In my mind, two voices overlapped.

[Seal complete. You have been sealed—]

[You will return 24 hours back to the past.]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Once again, I opened my eyes.

"What should we eat today to get a good reputation for our meal?"

"Well, personally, I'm in the mood for some fish and chips after a long time."

"Ahaha, that's an unexpectedly interesting choice!"

It was a place all too familiar to me.

The communal living quarters.

A space where my comrades, friends, and family gather when they wish, chat when they desire, and eat what they crave, there I was, seated on the sofa, awakening once more.

"......."

I had returned to 24 hours prior.

"What do you think, Master?"

The Heretic Inquisitor, seated across me on another sofa, turned to look my way.

"Fish and chips might be a bit too... Oh? Master, your expression seems unusual."

"Huh?"

Following the Heretic Inquisitor's words, the Black Dragon Witch, Countess, Viper, and Paladin, all who shared and promised to continue sharing their time with me, were gazing at me.

"That is indeed an odd expression."

"Indeed. It's as if you're a tuna who realized too late that it bit into a plastic bag instead of prey."

"Hey, what kind of expression is that...?"

"Nisha, this is all because you suggested such a peculiar dish as fish and chips. I firmly believe it would be better to just have fries separately."

"Ah, fries sound good. Let's go with fries. It's been quite a while. There were days when I used to survive on burgers for all three meals."

"Hmm. That's a story from a very long time ago!"

I smiled.

"Ahaha…."

Really.

It doesn't feel like I'm going to lose.

"Bambolina."

"Yes, Master?"

"Could you bring me an alarm clock, please?"

The Heretic Inquisitor pulled out a smartphone and activated the alarm clock app. Handing the phone over to me, the Heretic Inquisitor tilted his head in confusion.

"I shall, but why do you suddenly need an alarm?"

"Um, not exactly an alarm but I need a stopwatch... Let's see."

I pressed the timer.

The clock, previously displaying 00:00:00, immediately started racing.

I nodded with a smile.

"Yes, that should do it. Now, let's see how long it takes."

"…? I don't understand what's happening, but if Master needs it, please, feel free to use it!"

"Thank you."

I leaned back into the sofa.

My friends looked at me as if I was odd, but since I wasn't typically any less odd on other days, they soon returned to their chit-chat. The night snack was decided a day early to be fries. Viper, along with Silvia, headed to the kitchen to fry some potatoes.

One minute.

A comfortable time passed.

Three minutes.

Paladin and the Countess started a verbal spat that was more like a display of affection.

Six minutes.

The Black Dragon Witch slapped the back of their heads with a slipper, telling them to stop, despite wearing sportswear and slippers – in fact, the Black Dragon Witch was missing one slipper.

Seven minutes.

Eight minutes.

Nine minutes.

And when the phone screen displayed 00:09:21—---

"Th-this is not allowed here!"

The outside became noisy.

One of the Four Demon Lords who was on guard duty outside the quarters raised his voice urgently. Thud, thud. The sound of more than one person's footsteps, no, the footsteps of dozens, traveled through the corridor to this living room.

The Black Dragon Witch and the Heretic Inquisitor immediately stood up. Despite being in sportswear and slippers, with the Black Dragon Witch even missing one slipper, both wore expressions full of vigilance. They stared down the corridor beyond the living room door, from where the approaching footsteps came.

"This is a place where the top brass of our tower gather. It would be troubling if you were to behave like this…"

"Shut up. You're noisy."

Boom!

The living room door was blown off its hinges.

Thinking it was an attacker, my friends were about to rush in, but they froze when they saw the person who appeared where the door had been. They stared at the intruder, eyes wide with shock.

"Hmm."

But the intruder didn't care about the gazes of the homeowners at all. Leaving behind dozens of knights, the intruder slowly turned their head, scanning the living room.

Our eyes met.

The moment our gazes locked, I couldn't help but give a bitter smile.

"It took 9 minutes and 43 seconds, Raviel."

"You took 13 minutes and 27 seconds. It's proven that I'm considerably faster than you, Gong-Ja."

Raviel smiled.

Her red eyes slightly narrowed.

"So, which son of a bitch do we have to beat up?”

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