SSS-Class Sui**de Hunter - Chapter 49

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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 49. How to Face the World (3)
“Light… light……?”
The Holy Paladin Commander from the Temple stammered.
The brilliant white radiance pouring from the Jewel of Light had dimmed somewhat.
Now there was no need to close one’s eyes.
“A person is light? What on earth does that mean?”
“I told you… this person is simply… simply light…….”
The Lizardman Mage’s voice wavered.
It was difficult to read expressions on a lizardman’s face normally, but now it was unmistakable. The mage was moved. Tears like morning dew glistened in her slitted serpent eyes.
“You cannot perceive this radiant soul……?”
“I… I confess I don’t understand.”
“Why not? Is something wrong with your eyes? Or is it your head……?”
The Holy Paladin Commander’s expression darkened. His intelligence was now in question.
“No, what I mean is—I have no idea what you mean by ‘light.'”
“Ah.”
The Lizardman Mage let out a sharp breath.
Then she spun around to face the Holy Paladin Commander.
“This is exactly why the Temple’s fools are so hopeless……!”
“What, what did you say?”
“This person here, yes? Is light! Completely, genuinely light, and yet you don’t see it. Have you no eyes? No mind? The light is white… not just any light but white light!”
“But… isn’t light naturally white?”
“This is precisely why there’s no reasoning with such inferior humans!”
The Lizardman Mage thumped her chest in frustration. Thump-thump. If her irritation grew much worse, she looked ready to strike not her own breast but the Holy Paladin Commander’s skull instead. He seemed to sense it too, falling instantly silent.
“A person with such a luminous soul could never deceive us!”
The Lizardman Mage’s voice rose with conviction.
“Even if this person were to deceive us, every deception would serve our purpose! Foolish humans. Those of you with corrupted souls would do well to obey this person’s words in silence. This must surely be the Apostle of the Goddess!”
The Lizardman Mage looked toward me.
Her eyes sought confirmation of her words.
She was not alone. The entire army gathered at the Acacia Forest Path held its breath, staring at me.
“Mm.”
I crossed my arms with confidence.
“Indeed.”
While maintaining the most solemn expression I could muster.
“I am precisely the Apostle of the Goddess.”
“Just as I thought!”
Murmur, murmur.
The soldiers whispered among themselves. After the Empire’s general and now the mage of the Mermaid Waterfall had both vouched for my identity, the tale took on a life of its own. Three men make a tiger—speak of a tiger often enough among three people and they’ll swear it exists.
“So that person is light.”
“What is light?”
“At any rate, they certainly glowed. That sword was gleaming like mad…….”
“Heard it was the Emperor’s blade or some such thing.”
“Must be from some noble house then.”
The majority of soldiers who had viewed the Guardian Holy Sword with suspicion now wore expressions that wavered between doubt and wonder.
Of course, to complete the three-man tiger, one more voice was needed.
“No! I still don’t understand!”
The Holy Paladin Commander stepped forward.
“Say this person is the Apostle of the Goddess and is made of light! But why would this youth—this honored one—come here in person to block our path! Have you all forgotten? We have a mission!”
The Holy Paladin Commander pointed forcefully past my shoulder.
“We must burn that place!”
Estelle’s Hometown.
Where Agui said paradise lay.
“His Holiness did not merely concern himself with the witch. Those heretics who follow the witch! They too cannot escape Divine Punishment! If you are truly… the Apostle of the Goddess, then surely you will lead the way in executing that punishment!”
“…….”
A gentle tug. Someone behind me grasped my sleeve. It was Agui. I didn’t even need to turn to see that terror had seized her.
‘It’s all right.’
I remained composed, arms folded.
‘The greatest lie is ninety percent truth and ten percent falsehood!’
Recalling the advice Baehuraeng had given me, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Holy Paladin of the Temple, choose your words carefully. It is not for you to determine how Divine Punishment should be executed. The decision of what penalty to inflict upon the wicked is mine and mine alone to make.”
“But……?”
“I have gathered all evil unto myself, and Divine Punishment has already been executed.”
I spoke quietly.
“To execute Divine Punishment in the mortal realm—that is my calling.”
“Your… calling……?”
“Let me show you.”
I raised my right hand.
A ripple.
In an instant, my shadow spread across the Acacia Forest Path.
-Grooooogh!
Skeletons began crawling forth from the shadow.
The soldiers screamed. The Holy Paladin Commander’s face went pale, and the other commanders recoiled in alarm, drawing their weapons. Even as they did, the skeletons multiplied—from dozens to hundreds, from hundreds to thousands.
Before long, the Continental Forces were completely surrounded.
Baekgwi Hwansaeng.
Four thousand skeletons had been resurrected.
-Grooooooogh!
-Urrgh! Woooogh!
The creatures roared savagely, awaiting only my command.
Given that Agui stood beside me, you could tell I still had Baekgwi Hwansaeng in active mode. I could summon the dead at will.
But the continentals, ignorant of the truth, would see it differently.
“Ah, demons!”
The soldiers lost all composure at the sight unfolding before them. Thousands upon thousands of monsters had erupted from nowhere—worse, from the very earth itself, as though tearing free from hell.
It was, quite literally, a Depiction of Hell.
“Wo… your divinity.”
The Holy Paladin Commander trembled uncontrollably.
“What… what are these dreadful things?”
“My calling.”
I placed a hand on Agui’s head.
Agui flinched slightly but said nothing.
“Look well. Do you think this vast world contains evil only in the form of witches? Each and every one of these creatures is a wickedborn I have collected—demons equal to the witch herself.”
“These… all these monsters……?”
“Indeed.”
I narrowed my eyes and gazed toward the distant sky.
Like a hero ensnared by tragic fate.
“The Goddess commanded me thus: go forth to the surface world in my stead, and eradicate the evil that overflows! Eradicate it and gather it unto yourself! And so she has granted me this power.”
My voice grew naturally solemn.
“To eradicate all the world’s evil is my mission. To gather demons into hell is my calling. You now behold my hell.”
“Good heavens…….”
The Lizardman Mage gasped.
Tears welled in her eyes once more.
“Are you telling us these are all wickedborn equal to the witch……?”
I nodded.
“Indeed.”
“Then… while we knew nothing… the Goddess’s Apostle has been traveling alone, standing solitary, bringing judgment upon all the evil that plagues this world……?”
“Indeed.”
“Merciful heavens. No one has acknowledged your sacrifice, yet you bear such a burden. How could one mere human endure this alone……? Apostle of the Goddess, are you… are you truly well……?”
“Mm.”
I nodded, arms folded across my chest.
“This is my calling!”
Austere and solemn and grave.
“You need not trouble yourselves with punishing the witch. You need not concern yourselves with her minions. All the wicked have already been gathered by me. They shall, beneath my shadow, suffer and anguish eternally. I am their very hell!”
“Ah… radiant light……!”
The Lizardman Mage collapsed, sobbing.
“Now I finally understand why you shine with such brilliant light! While we knew nothing, the Apostle has been ceaselessly saving our continent!”
I nodded once more.
“Truly, it is so!”
The greatest lie is ninety percent truth and ten percent falsehood.
Though the path was paved with lies, the conclusion remained true.
Did it truly matter, so long as the conclusion was right?
-This bastard…….
Baehuraeng’s expression turned to one of admiration.
I have nothing left to teach you. Go down the mountain.
‘Ah, but Master, it is all thanks to your wisdom. How could an unworthy disciple such as I abandon his teacher?’
No, zombie. Your character has long since surpassed my own.
Baehuraeng sighed deeply.
This master is too pure-hearted to manage a scoundrel like you.
‘How humble you are. I still have so much to learn from your wicked nature, Master. Please, retract your words.’
Have you never heard the saying, “The student surpasses the teacher”?
‘And have you heard, “There is no disciple greater than the master”?’
Master and disciple vied to praise each other’s character.
In this barren age of human relations,
here existed a beautiful and touching bond between teacher and student.
“In any case.”
I withdrew my Baekgwi Hwansaeng.
Whoosh.
Four thousand skeletons vanished in an instant. The Continental Forces watched in stunned silence as the creatures sank into shadow like a drowning ship.
“Do not concern yourselves with the witch and her servants. As long as I draw breath, they shall remain trapped in my hell, suffering eternal torment. This is the Goddess’s will, and this is the Goddess’s divine punishment.”
“…”
“Surely you do not mean to defy the Goddess’s solemn decree?”
The Holy Paladin Commander hesitated.
“Ah, if I may… Apostle, are these vile demons truly contained? What I mean to say is… if these demons were to escape into the world, the devastation would be beyond measure…”
“Indeed.”
I nodded slowly.
“In other words, you wish to verify that I am truly keeping these demons secure.”
“I, I beg your pardon, but yes…”
“Very well.”
Snap.
I flicked my fingers.
One skeleton that had not yet been dismissed approached. It stood between the Holy Paladin Commander and myself.
The Holy Paladin Commander stumbled backward several paces in shock.
“A, Apostle, why does this skeleton…?”
“I shall dispel your doubts entirely.”
I tapped the skeleton’s shoulder.
“Baekgwi, reclaim your memory.”
Surge.
Filth rose from the skeleton’s shadow. Crawling up the white bones, it took shape—muscle formed, flesh solidified, clothing emerged.
When I blinked, what stood before me was not a bleached skull, but a handsome man.
“What the hell! What the—damn it!”
A beautiful man with a foul mouth,
“What is this? What—you bastard! What grudge do you have against me? What did I do to deserve this? Damn it! I’ll kill you! I swear I’ll kill you!”
Blazing eyes burning with fury.
Yes.
I had restored Yu Suha’s memory.
“You crazy son of a bitch! I’ll tear you apart! You worthless scum, you dare—I swear I’ll crush you, no matter what!”
“As you see.”
I steadied myself on Yu Suha’s shoulder and turned to face the commanders. Yu Suha thrashed and struggled, but to no avail. There was no way for him to resist his ‘master’—not in this state.
“This man, too, is an evil equal to the witch.”
I let my expression grow solemn.
“Or rather, a demon more cruel and merciless than she. The witch was born a monster from the start, but this man was born human and yet committed unspeakable atrocities. He burned away anything that stood in his path…”
“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”
There was no need for further explanation.
“Damn—you! I’ll rip you—!”
The Acacia Forest Path filled with his curses. Baekgwi Yu Suha spewed every curse known to existence from his lips.
As the profanities poured forth, the commanders’ faces grew paler. In less than sixty seconds, Yu Suha had described fifteen different methods of killing me. Quite impressive.
“And what are all these—lizard! Pointy-eared freak! What are you staring at? You trying to get yourselves killed—”
After another minute, his curses had turned on everyone present. Then on their families and parents. He even added roughly ten new methods of murder to his repertoire.
“What, what obscenity is this! What darkness!”
The Lizardman Mage recoiled in horror.
“We do not even need the Jewel of Light. That man… he truly possesses a demon’s soul!”
“Without question…”
The Elf Ranger Captain groaned.
“In all my long years, I’ve seen many foolish humans… but never one quite so hideously, wickedly corrupt as this.”
Oh.
Rejoice, Yu Suha.
At last, even in this world, your greatness is being recognized.
-Zombie, isn’t this desecrating the dead?
‘Exactly.’
-Isn’t it a bit much?
‘Yu Suha deserves it anyway. Besides, Sword King, you called me the Zombie Lord yourself. The Zombie Lord commanding a zombie-like fool around—what’s so strange about that?’
-Hmm.
Baehuraeng nodded deeply.
-Now that you mention it, you’re right. I can’t logically refute that….
‘See?’
-Your personality truly does surpass mine by far, zombie.
That was only a minority opinion.
Snap!
I flicked my fingers again.
“Dance.”
“What, damn it, wha—”
The moment my command fell, Yu Suha began tap dancing. His heels clicked briskly across the flower-strewn path. Tap, tap-tap! Whether he’d spent time in clubs back in the day or not, Yu Suha’s footwork was surprisingly impressive.
“No, this—wait, hold on! What is this, you—”
“Dance again.”
Snap!
Yu Suha’s dance shifted from tap to jitterbug. Fortunately or unfortunately, Yu Suha had a talent for dancing. After finishing the jitterbug, he immediately launched into a Cossack dance.
“I’ll kill you!”
Yu Suha howled while performing the Cossack dance.
“I’ll, I’ll kill you dead! You bastard! I, you, damn you! You! I swear to you! I will absolutely!”
Again, he was performing a Cossack dance.
Anyone who’s seen it knows the truth: no matter how thick the curses or how dreadful the imprecations are, nothing sounds remotely frightening when delivered during a Cossack dance.
Even if Hitler rose from the dead and began a speech, if he were performing a Cossack dance, no one would take his words seriously.
That is the true power of the Cossack dance.
“Damn, damn it! Shit, shit!”
Yu Suha, too, seemed to grasp the Cossack dance’s potency.
Realizing that nothing he said was having any effect, he merely spat curses and diligently worked through the dance steps.
The background music and backdrop were flawless.
“Hmm.”
I turned to regard the Holy Paladin Commander.
“Are you still concerned?”
“…”
The Holy Paladin Commander stood slack-jawed.
“Demons cannot defy my commands under any circumstances. Take comfort.”
And so.
The Holy Paladin Commander slowly knelt.
“Apostle of the Goddess… might I be permitted to ask your name…?”
His voice trembled.
All of the Continental Forces were watching me.
I met their gaze squarely, arms folded across my chest.
“My name is Gongja.”
The Holy Paladin Commander bowed his head.
“We shall obey your every word, Gongja…!”
The commander who had been screaming until the very last to burn the town abandoned his attack.
Then.
[Congratulations.]
A familiar voice chimed.
[Normal Stage cleared.]
[Hidden Quest ‘The Hero of the Frozen World’ completed!]
A rather unfamiliar voice also spoke.
-Another lunatic!!
The voice’s owner clutched their belly and rolled about laughing.
-This madman! You’re the first to ever clear a quest like this! No, the first ever! Man, where the hell did someone this crazy crawl out from? Hey, I’ll admit it! Kim Gongja!
‘Admit what?’
—You are the light of all the maniacs!
That was a minority opinion.
SSS-Rank Must-Die-To-Live Hunter (Serialized)
Author │ Shin Noa
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyeong
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyeok
Address │ 204, 288 Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Daelyung Post Tower 1st)
Email │ [email protected]
Homepage │ www.jayplemedia.com
© Shin Noa 2019
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder, and no part of its contents may be used in any form or by any means without the permission of the company and the author.
Violation of this shall result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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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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