SSS-Class Sui**de Hunter - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 111. How She Loves (3)
3
I ran to her and pulled her into my arms.
“Rabiel.”
So many words crowded my throat.
I could have said, “I’m sorry.”
Sorry for leaving scars on you that won’t fade.
Truly sorry.
Or perhaps I could have said, “Thank you.”
Thank you for trusting me, for waiting for me, and above all, for loving me.
For loving something like me.
But the words I wanted to speak were neither apology nor gratitude. This wasn’t the first time I’d apologized to her, nor the first time I’d thanked her.
Not now.
Tonight, the night we met again, I didn’t want to offer apologies or thanks.
‘Words I’ve never said before.’
I wanted to give her something I could offer only once in a lifetime. I wanted to bestow a language I could speak but once in all my years. My first. My last. My time—I wanted to give it all to Rabiel Aigim.
So. Therefore. Because of this.
I took her hand.
“Let’s get married.”
A proposal.
“…….”
Rabiel nodded slowly.
“I am called by many names. His Majesty the Emperor blessed me with the title of Silver Lily. To the Empire, I bear the name of the Aigim Family’s daughter. And yet my true name, Rabiel, I shall always leave as a vacant seat—reserved only to be called by you.”
We kissed.
Deeply.
4
We both woke before dawn.
The window was pale with blue light.
Hearing her breath, I turned my head and found Rabiel watching me in silence.
“…….”
“…….”
I gazed back at her without words. Then I moved my hand and found hers, pressing palm to palm. Cool fingers curled around mine. A beautiful woman. We shared breath, intertwined our fingers, and pressed our foreheads together.
“You’re a genius, Rabiel.”
It was dawn. In that hour before sunrise, every meeting becomes a secret rendezvous, every whisper becomes tender language. And those who share the dawn together are those who love each other.
I whispered.
“You’re extraordinary. Using my trauma-reading ability against me like that. Transmitting memories through it… truly, you’re brilliant. I could never have conceived of such a method.”
“You have a tendency to sanctify the pain of others,” she murmured.
Her hand brushed my ear lobe.
“You’re formidable yourself. How on earth did you persuade the Tower? Even to the Constellations, the Tower is like an inviolable administrator. I knew your tongue was silver, but to charm even the Tower…”
“Well, truth be told, I don’t remember clearly. It’s all hazy, like a dream. Perhaps whenever one meets with the Tower’s higher-ups, one’s memories become veiled like this.”
“Regardless, the fact remains that you succeeded. My lover is quite capable.”
“And the lover I adore is a genius.”
“An indisputable fact.”
We pressed our foreheads together and rubbed them gently.
We could marvel at each other.
Without vanity. Without pretense.
This alone made me endlessly happy.
“When shall we marry?”
“Are you rushing me?”
“I think that tone of voice is a bit cowardly.”
Rabiel laughed softly. I felt dizzy. Static electricity rippled down my spine and burrowed into my skull. No music in the world could match the beauty of her quiet laughter.
“First, we must dissolve the engagement with the Crown Prince.”
“Ah.”
Right.
Rabiel nodded.
“His Highness and I are bound by betrothal. In our current circumstances, marrying you would be legally impossible.”
“Well, actually, I don’t mind skipping the legal formalities. We could hold a small ceremony, just the two of us. That would be enough for me.”
“No. It matters to me.”
Rabiel cupped my cheek tenderly.
“This is the world I inhabit. The Empire is the nation I serve and protect. My world and my nation must surely recognize my marriage. Even if you are of common birth in this place, you are my beloved. Every citizen of the Empire ought to bless you.”
“But, um… wouldn’t it be difficult to expect people to react that way……?”
“It’s fine, Kim Gongja.”
Rabiel spoke with perfect calm.
“Any citizen of the Empire who does not bless this union will die by my hand.”
What do I do? She’s too magnificent. I’ve fallen again. I want to keep falling.
“Understood. We’ll hold the wedding in Rabiel’s world. But I have one condition of my own.”
“Name it.”
“Even if the engagement to the Crown Prince is dissolved, Rabiel must not be the one shamed by it. I won’t tolerate ignorant fools whispering behind her back.”
If anyone points a finger at my beloved, I’ll break theirs. If anyone spreads rumors about her, I’ll cut their tongue out. If anyone schemes against her, I’ll kill them.
I’m not joking.
I’ll show them hell itself.
“It must be crystal clear to everyone that this is the Crown Prince’s fault. Rabiel, you break the engagement.”
“Oh? Are you asking me to insult the Empire’s heir to the throne? Me—the eldest of the Aigim Family, a man who works in shadow for his nation?”
“Yes.”
“A simple matter.”
The two of us paused for a kiss.
Life felt considerably richer for it.
“Do you have a plan, sir?”
“Of course. Who do you think you’re asking? Every time His Highness the Crown Prince meets with his mistress, another document finds its way into my Library Repository drawer. I’ve been collecting them this way—we’re already at several hundred sheets. I’ve secured alibis and witnesses as well. If it goes to court, victory is assured.”
What do I do? She’s too magnificent. I’ve fallen again. I want to keep falling.
“Of course, it won’t actually be necessary to go to court. The Imperial Family won’t want such matters brought to light. I need only present the evidence documents and request an audience with His Imperial Majesty.”
“When are you planning to visit the Imperial Palace?”
“As soon as possible.”
Rabiel gently brushed my bangs back from my forehead.
“Once you marry me, Kim Gongja, you’ll become the consort of the Aigim Family. The Imperial Family will bestow a title upon you. And I shall become your spouse.”
My heart raced.
“In formal settings, I will call you my consort. You will address me as your spouse. Is that acceptable?”
“It’s a hierarchical society. Rabiel is the head of the Aigim Family. I’m just a foreigner, after all. Don’t worry about it. I’ll simply follow the Empire’s law. I don’t care about such things at…….”
“Good—I’m relieved you’re at ease with it. I knew you would be. Now, as a trial, try calling me your spouse.”
I hesitated.
“What? Are you embarrassed?”
“…….”
“You are embarrassed. I knew you would be. Let me demonstrate first.”
Rabiel’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
“My consort.”
My heart—
“…….”
I swallowed. Saliva pooled thick in my throat. I tried to open my mouth slowly, but it wouldn’t obey. My upper lip slid against my lower lip several times before I finally managed to produce sound.
“…S-spouse.”
Rabiel blinked.
Silence settled between us.
My beloved’s crimson eyes fixed upon me. How to describe it? Her face was exactly like someone who’d just glimpsed the soft pads of a hedgehog’s feet. In other words, I couldn’t read her expression at all.
“Kim Gongja.”
“Yes?”
“Say it again.”
“…Spouse?”
“Once more.”
Hmm.
“Spouse……?”
Rabiel’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Her shoulders curled inward just a fraction.
‘What is this reaction?’
At first, Rabiel maintained such an expressionless face that I didn’t notice. But soon, I understood. Could it be? Was it possible? Perhaps. Though I’d sooner believe the world would end—
“Rabiel, are you embarrassed right now?”
“Um…….”
Rabiel let out a small, flustered breath.
“Impossibly lovely. My man…….”
Embarrassment spread between us like wildfire. Madness.
My face burned crimson, my lips dried. Yet my mind raced sharp and clear. This would be the perfect moment to counterattack with something like, ‘And you’re the cutest thing in the world when you look like that’—I could finally repay all the damage she’s dealt me. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I felt like I’d die of shame.
Instead, I chose compromise.
“Spouse.”
Rather than one-sided attacks, we settled on mutual affection—a draw with no victor and no vanquished. Perhaps recognizing my strategy, Rabiel opened her lips as well.
“…My lord.”
“My lady.”
“My lord.”
“My lady!”
“My lord…….”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
“My dearest lord…….”
“My beloved lady.”
And so on, infinitely repeating.
When I came to my senses, dawn had become morning.
—Damn it, you fool…….
The Backhoe Spirit turned his back to me, muttering under his breath. In his own way, it was a posture meant to protect our privacy.
—Damned couple. Cloying as hell. Both of you lost your minds. Damn it all—when you were completely possessed by that butler bastard, didn’t I call for you so desperately? Huh? The moment you come to your senses, not a word of thanks for me, just cooing with your lover? Huh? Do I look that cheap to you? Should I just ascend to nirvana right now? Huh?
[Sparkle offers the Backhoe Spirit words of comfort.]
—Ah, now you’re all I have left! Sparkle!
A ghost and a sword forged a mysterious friendship.
‘I’m sorry and grateful to both of you.’
But for now, I wanted to cherish my love a little longer.
5
In love, I reminded myself of this Floor’s objective.
[To prevent the Annihilation of this world.]
And the primary cause of this world’s destruction lay in my lord’s artifact—the Holy Sword Fragment—and the runaway of its wish.
‘In other words, if I recover the Holy Sword Fragment, the danger of this world being destroyed by demons will disappear.’
But that was not the only cause leading this world to its doom.
—The Apostle of ‘the Ox That Reaps Ruins.’
—The Apostle of ‘the Warhorse of Eternal Plains.’
—The Apostle of ‘the Immortal Evangelist of Happiness.’
The beings from Other Dimensions that descended through the rifts of a torn sky on the final day.
I remembered clearly the invasion of the Apostles sent by other Constellations.
‘They will surely come.’
The mere fact that no Floor Clear message had appeared yet told me as much.
‘My lord had awakened as a half-Constellation by driving the Holy Sword Fragment into his heart.’
As it was said, a Constellation is the representative of a world—a barrier that protects it.
In other words, this world had possessed a defense half-formed.
But now my lord did not drive the Holy Sword into his heart. Therefore, there was no awakening as a Constellation either.
To put it plainly and truly, this world now stood without a Constellation.
“I shall set the wedding one month from now.”
One month from now.
“That would be exactly ten days after the moment I possessed this body, would it not?”
“Yes. I arranged it deliberately.”
He had intentionally chosen the very day this world was meant to face its destruction as the date of our wedding—denying that final hour of the world and making it our beginning instead.
How noble.
“Because of this, I’ve had considerable trouble. For the wedding to proceed one month hence, everything must unfold as planned.”
“What matters must be resolved, my lord?”
“First, dissolving the engagement with the Crown Prince. Second, my succession to Father’s title.”
Rabiel spoke as though it were obvious.
“To marry you as merely a Young Lady would be difficult. There are tiresome legal procedures to navigate, and society grows loud if word spreads that a commoner has been taken as a betrothed. Irritating. Better that I become a Duke and take you as my wife. As Family Patriarch, many things fall within my discretion.”
“I…….”
I found myself at a loss for words.
“Rabiel, I still carry many memories from when I was the Butler. Isn’t it quite difficult for an heir to ascend as Family Patriarch? Let alone the Aigim Family—so noble and exalted. Even if you wish for it, to inherit the Dukedom…….”
“True. Had I not been Rabiel Aigim, it would have been difficult.”
Rabiel spoke with perfect calm.
“But I am Rabiel Aigim.”
What do I do? She’s far too magnificent. I’ve fallen for her again. I want to keep falling for her.
“My family’s retainers have already sworn loyalty to me. Military authority rests with me. Should Father stubbornly refuse to surrender power, his only recourse would be to crawl before His Majesty and beg.”
Thump.
Rabiel placed a stack of documents on the table.
“I possess abundant evidence proving the Crown Prince’s infidelity. His Majesty is no less capable than the special forces he commands. Rather than extend loyalty to my powerless father, he will naturally choose to preserve the dignity of the Imperial Family.”
“It sounds like loyal sentiment, but Rabiel—isn’t that really just a threat to use leverage against His Majesty the Emperor……?”
“My lord.”
Rabiel regarded me with utter seriousness. At the sound of that word—my lord—I flinched. The two of us had taken to deliberately calling each other “my lady” and “my lord” when alone together, to grow accustomed to these new titles.
“Yes, my lord.”
“You have your vocation in the Tower, not in this world. Even if you rarely return to my world, to our Empire, I will understand. Just as you understand that I cannot abandon my place among the nobility.”
Hearing it put that way, I felt rather like a consort stationed in some distant foreign post…….
“But there will be times when you must stand beside me. Year-end celebrations, New Year festivities—such occasions demand it. And the events of a ducal household are always, by necessity, political. You will become the moon of Aigim, and—save for the Empress herself—you shall be revered as the most noble lady in this Empire. To some degree, you must grow seasoned in matters of statecraft.”
I see, then.
“Loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor and leverage against the Imperial Family need not be mutually exclusive. The Empire suffers no loss merely because my lord becomes master of the ducal house. On the contrary, we are fortunate to have gained a nobleman as capable as you. The arrangement benefits all.”
“My lady grasps not one principle but two. Capable, clever, and magnificent.”
“Naturally. I am Rabiel’s man, after all.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
The two of us shared a kiss.
Life had become considerably richer.
-Siiiigh…….
For some reason, the spirit’s face grew thinner and thinner.
-Who was it? Who taught this madman what love is? Who gave this fool’s obsession and curse the name of love……? Why does he love at all? If this man had never loved, I could still be happy now…….
[Sparkle designates the Sword Emperor with a sorrowful heart.]
-I was a worthless bastard. I…….
And we entered into a time of great busyness.
Not the best happy ending… no.
The finest wedding.
SSS-Rank: The Hunter Who Must Die to Live (Serial Publication)
Author │ Shin Noa
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyuk
Address │ 204, 288 Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Daelyung Post Tower 1st)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ www.jayplemedia.com
ⓒ Shin Noa 2019
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder, and its contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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