SSS-Class Suicide Hunter

3.

We barely made it to the cafe through the crowd.

There were many faces waiting for me in the cafe.

“Ahahaha, welcome! ”

Inquisitor. The guild leader of the Manchuria waves his right arm.

“I never thought I'd clear 20 floors in five days! It's the best fun I've had since I built the tower. With all due respect, Kim Gong-ja Hunter! No, I should call you the Four Kings now! ”

“I wonder if this is still a dream.... ”

The paladin sips iced coffee.

“Honestly, I thought the Black Dragon Juice, the Sword, you, and the three of you would fail to attack and die. They even raided the 20th floor by themselves. Amazing.If you have a secret, please let me know. ”

“The secret.”

I sat on one side of the table.

“I just wanted to be nice. ”

“That's very practical advice. ”

The paladin smiles bitterly.

“Anyway, it's been a long time. Gentlemen, how have you been? ”

“Well, it's only been five days. ”

The Earl smokes cigarettes with his armpit.

“We stayed in the throne room for the first time, as promised. Promises are promises. But after a while, the NPCs of the Empire suddenly start wandering around. What a surprise!”

“Ah."

This is when you defeated the Demon King on the 12th floor.

I defeated the Demon King and received a quest. The time stopped by the wind began to flow again.

“I didn't think of that. What happened?”

“The Imperial NPCs thought we were trespassing against the Imperial Palace! ”

The Inquisitor frowned.

“Someone dressed up in great clothes, 'catch them too! and he said," Oh, my God. The Knights of the Empire and Elite Soldiers gathered to hunt us down. Ouch, your back is cold! ”

“But this kid has a lot of tricks. ”

The astronaut viper.

The one-eyed hunter shrugs and breaks the Inquisitor's head.

“First he was captured, then he escaped from prison. I mean, really. ”

“Hahaha! Isn't this fun! I can't believe there's a secret passageway hidden in the dungeon! It was like going back to my childhood!" Huh? You were captured by the Bulgarian mafia as a child. ”

“Yes!”

The Inquisitor smiles deeply.

“That's why it reminded me of my childhood and it was fun. The dungeon! Escape! Ah, the ornaments that made my childhood so beautiful! Now it's all just a distant memory. ”

“Bastard…. ”

The serpent sighs deeply.

The guild leader seems to have taken an active role in filming the Demon King's heroics.

“Yes. I know we've all had a wonderful life out there. ”

The witch shrugs and joins the table.

“The Earl was born in a rubbish village in India. Serpent, you were a gangster's parent. The paladin had a hard time in Venezuela. ”

"......."

“So we're all scum when we see it from the outside world. Don't you think?”

The atmosphere of the café sank in no time.

Only the sound of the paladin sipping coffee quietly flowed.

“... This is not a good place to come and go. ”

The paladin took a quick look at my face.

“Do you mean to treat the Four Kings as one of us now? ”

“Yes."

The witch said.

“You may not know it, but the Four Kings have made a crucial contribution to the attack on the tower. ”

“We know that. ”

“No, I don't know. ”

The witch shakes her head.

“In this raid, we didn't have one fatality. Even on the 11th floor, a lot of hunters joined together. All because the Four Kings taught me strategy and tactics. ”

Hunters stared at me.

Mmm-hmm.

“It's true. ”

“I am. ’’

The witch opened her lips.

“I want to make this man the hero of our tower. ”

There was silence in the cafe.

The witch looks around the table one after the other.

“Earl, you're too revealing the money. ”

“I can't deny it's true. ”

“Inquisitor, you've killed too many people. ”

“Yes! It was a necessary sacrifice! ”

“Paladin. You don't like being noticed. ”

“It's personal. ”

“And the viper. You…."

“Huh? What is it? ”

“... I'm sorry. You're so ugly. ”

"........"

The serpent grunts. He looks unfair. However, he soon frowns.

It was a portrait of a middle-aged man who felt awkward.

“You know swordsmanship is an old man who's crazy about swords. ”

“Hmm.”

“I can't, because I often have to be weak behind my back. ”

After looking at the table in turn, the witch turned to me one last time.

“On the other hand, the tetrarch still has no public image. We can make you the perfect hero no matter how hard we try. This is our chance. A chance to reshape the tower. ”

“Indeed.”

The Inquisitor strokes his chin.

“We're old people, so we're a little low! I keep shooting Hunter news with magazines, but sales are steadily dropping outside the world! ”

“Yes, that's what I'm talking about. ”

“Then I guess I'll have to go into image making today! ”

Ugh, and the Inquisitor stood up.

And I started to wander around like a puppy.

“Hmm. He's a little short. It's OK! If you look at me, you'll see that it's all covered by red photo! ”

“Er... ”

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

A smile blooms over the little hunter's face.

“[Hot little man, king]. Catch a phrase like this and it'll work! ”

Hunters come around without a word from me.

A witch, Earl. Serpent. Paladin.

I came close, regardless of my affiliation, and thoroughly examined my body.

“I was wondering if you're seeing anyone right now! ”

“Er... There isn't.”

“How many of you have entered the tower and gone private? ”

“None.”

“I mean, I wouldn't worry about it. Excellent!”

I don't know what's best.

Hunters, the top rankers, start talking quietly.

“I've been watching him the whole time, and he's got a little jab shovel when he smiles. So I'm going to push on to the mysticism concept. It's okay to have a blank expression. ”

“But it's hard to say that no one is dating at all. ”

The paladin said.

“We need to make a verse that doesn't exist this way. Otherwise, people outside are saying nonsense... ”

“It's okay. I'll take care of that. ”

“Wow! Is this the scenario of love breaking out after five days of fighting together?" Ah-ha-ha, nice! We can create a story that people will love! ”

“How about donating a substantial amount of money to the orphanage so far? I have a steady donation of anonymity for this occasion. Let's just say it was the Four Kings' donation. ”

“Yes, please, Earl. ”

What is it?

What the hell is going on?

“Let's call a photographer! Let's do it!”

The Inquisitor smiles brightly.

“Call all the designers. You're going to have to send a picture to the press today anyway. There are already some 11-story battles on video, so I'm going to put them on the Internet at just the right time! ”

No, I don't.

Wait for me.

“Hey, guys…. ”

“Don't worry. ”

The witch stopped me and smiled.

It was a deep, year-round smile.

“The tetrarch. You don't have to do anything. We'll take care of everything. You... are. You just have to do what you've been doing. ”

“No, you said it was a mystical concept. Don't you need a designer or something? ”

“I'm only asking you for one day. ”

The witch calmly put her hands together.

“Everyone wants to know about you. One picture. Let's just take one picture and show it to people. It's okay, Four Kings. The designers who signed a contract with us are amazing. ”

It turned out to be 30 minutes later, but it was never a single photograph.

“Look here! ”

Pow!

Ten designers came and dressed me. I touched my head. Every time I put on my clothes and touched my head, the photographer popped the flash.

“Yes, good. Take the Dagger this time! Like a wolf chasing a game in the grass! ”

“No… wait…. ”

“Excellent! ”

Pow!

Behind the photo article are hunters gathering. They struggled by examining my poses with the eye of a falcon.

“Isn't the suit surprisingly well suited? ”

“Maybe I should go with a little bit of a pervert. ”

“No! I've already taken over the concept of a lying bastard! ”

“Not really. What should I do... How about an adventurous young man?" ”

“Let's go with that. ”

Pow!

“Excellent! ”

Very good shit.

Puh-puh-puh-puh! Kuhahahahaha!!

Earlier, the messenger rolled around in the air.

After one hour and two hours, I couldn't see the end of the film, so my patience was also broken.

“I won't! Beat it!”

I took off my suit and threw it on the floor.

“Hunter needs to work hard to get to the tower! What kind of press image are you taking? You didn't even wake up on the 10th floor because you cared about all this nonsense, and you've been backing me up for years! ”

Quiet.

Was it the sound of my sincerity? The air cracks. The witches and all the hunters stare at me indiscriminately.

Then I nodded.

“... That's not a bad line. ”

“Hmm. What an adventurous young man! ”

“This magazine is pronounced [The One Who ascends the Tower of Hunter]. ”

“We had that kind of passion in our 20s... ”

It didn't work.

“Oh, thank you! I'm here to talk about the 20th floor, and I'm going to give you every right from the 10th floor to the 19th floor, so make it my land on the 20th floor! ”

Hunters nod again.

“I also like the concept of being greedy. ”

“How about this for tomorrow's newspaper? [Warrior King, announce electrocution. Declare that you will distribute the rights of the 19th floor from the 10th floor to all hunters. Turns out he's happy just attacking the tower.] ”

“I vote yes!”

“On the second page, [Four Kings, known for their generous donations to orphanages] should be a good fit. ”

“Yes. Let's say the 20th floor was a token of our gratitude and respect to such a king. ”

“Perfect! Ah, what a beautiful finish! ”

Wrong.

He didn't listen to a word I said.

These people are distracted by the thought of making me a hero.

“Give it up, young man. ”

The swordsman bluntly said.

The old prosecutor was leaning against the pillar of the building.

“The same thing happened when you ranked # 1. There's an old tickle in the world. You have to grow a beard differently. I heard all kinds of things. ”

Oh, my god.

“Those kids want to be seen outside the world. [We're doing well, too.] Sort of a qualification.”

The old man mutters.

“I would have left everything outside the world and come to the tower anyway. What a pathetic thing.... ”

The sword turns its head.

“Let's go.”

“Yes?”

“You're never going to stop doing this here. After they take photos, they'll say," Let's take a video, "and then they'll say," Let's get ready for a press conference. "Those kids. If you don't run now, the whole day will be gone. ”

It was a terrible story.

I said without a word to worry about.

“Let's run away! ”

“That's a good point. ”

We ran with errors at our feet. Behind my back, I said, "Ah!” I heard shouting, but I didn't stop.

“The Four Kings!"

The witch screams.

“We're having a press conference tomorrow, so come back in the morning! You can't be seen sneaking around! Get on the roof and run! Look out!"

The messenger smiles.

He's not an angel or a goddess, he's just like your mother.

I really did.

I don't know what she is.

4.

Suddenly, there was sunset in the world.

As the witch advised, we fled on the roof. Looking down from above, there are still hundreds of people gathering in front of the cafe. It's full of reporters from the station.

If we had gone out the front door, we'd be in trouble! ’

You swoop across the red-brown roofs.

The place where we stopped was a bell tower in the square.

A guard guarding the bell tower, touching the smartphone, recognized us late.

“Huff! Mr. Sword!? ”

"Hmm."

The sword just landed on the bell tower.

“I'm sorry, could you excuse me for a moment? ”

“Oh, that's... that's... ”

“Five minutes is enough. ”

The young guard was terrified. It must be embarrassing for a living legend to ask you to step aside. Then I looked at him, and the guard opened his eyes.

“No way!? ”

“Oh, yeah. ”

“Wow. Wow! I've never seen anything like it. Wow! Awesome!”

The guard rumbles through the bag. A romance novel popped out of my bag. I think I brought something to take time off while I was on guard duty.

“W-we only have this piece of paper! Can I have your autograph, please? ”

I handed over the novel as if I were familiar with the sword.

“Do you have a pen? ”

“Hey, here it is! ”

“What's your name? ”

“Well, I haven't received my name yet...! ”

The old prosecutor signed off on a clean hand.

The guard accepted the sign like an innocent boy and turned to me.

I don't know why, but my eyes were very shiny.

“Sa, may I ask the king as well?" ”

“Huh."

My signature?

“I've never done anything like this before... ”

“A lifelong wish! Please!”

At some point, I gave him a novel and a pen.

Receiving a signature is a lifetime wish. How light a life is.

I looked down at the novel a little awkward. It already contains the signature of the Sword. When I picked up the pen and tried to write my autograph, I suddenly remembered that it was the first time I had ever written the name 'The King of Kings’.

By the time I realized it, I had already written the sword and my handwriting side by side.

+

Swordsmanship.

The Four Kings.

+

"......."

“Go, thank you! Thank you so much!”

The guard ducks at your waist. The guard quickly returns the novel book in case the cause of death disappears.

When the security guard took the novel, I was captivated by a strange emotion, and it was hard for me to know what it felt like.

“Hey…. ”

“I'll use it as an heirloom! Don't worry! I'll never sell it to anyone else! Oh, thank you both so much! Have a great weekend!"

The guard quickly steps down the bell tower. "Ouch! We're done!” My exhilarating voice disappeared further and further down.

When the voice finally disappeared, there was a red oar in the bell tower.

And only the sound of two people's breaths remained quiet.

"......."

Neither of them talked for a while.

And...

“Stir, Swordsman. ”

“Come on, young man. ”

The voice of the sword and I clashed against each other. At the same time, I was talking out loud.

Nice silence, but not for long.

I told you.

“To the Swordsman, I would suggest that I killed a great many people. a mass murderer who must be convicted. ”

I looked at the sword with a calm face.

“But even if you look in the mirror, you will also see the mass murderer who killed many people. The Swordsman himself. ”

The sword was looking at the sunset, not at me.

“But you don't want to condemn yourself like that. It must be because you have clear criteria for killing someone. That's the criterion of punishing those who hurt many. ”

I continued to speak to the side of the sunset.

“I've also done it with clear standards. That's the criterion: punish many who harm others. ”

It's been preparing me ever since I lied to the Sword that I was a prophet.

“If you killed someone because someone had killed a lot of people before, I've killed someone because someone has killed a lot of people in front of me. ”

Therefore, it was a precise lie that had been prepared specifically for the sword.

“So, Mr. Sword. The sword and I are actually walking the same path..."

“Youth.”

But before putting it all in his mouth, the old man called me quietly.

“You don't have to convince yourself. ”

Mmm-hmm.

“Mr. Sword, I... ”

“Youth.”

On a formal call, I shut up.

The old man said, still staring at the sunset.

“I'm different from other hunters. ”

It was a whimsical word.

“The Black Witch, Earl. Inquisitor, Serpent. Paladins... All of them were swept away by the outside world. But I'm different. Born without need, lived without want. ”

Marcus Calenberry.

I knew the old man was from a great family. Rather than knowing, I searched for him a long time ago. The famous price in Northern Europe.

“By the time the tower appeared in the world, I had already done my part. I've run a company, I've married, I've had children, I've seen children have grandchildren and grandchildren. I've already succeeded enough. ”

The sword's voice was bold.

“But then I wondered. ”

“Question?”

“Is it true that my success stems from my skills? I was just curious. ”

The old man slowly pulls the sword out of the sheath.

“Was it not due to being born into a purely good family? ”

The sunset shines.

Even though you haven't cut anything black, you're red.

“Isn't it just a bird that was born under a good family, educated, met good friends, and drank only the best? I pride myself on accomplishing everything... but maybe it's just the mistake of a caged man. ”

The swordsman said.

“No.”

It was a sharp voice like a blade.

“It can't be. ”

There was a red heart like the sunset.

“I was certainly born with good things. But nevertheless, I was proud to stand up for myself. I wanted to prove that I wasn't delusional. ”

“... That's why you came to the tower. ”

"Hmm."

The old man nods.

His wrinkles were deep and thick.

"Anyone who enters the tower can never return to the outside world. Only this one body. Without a family, no family, and no sidekick to support me... I wanted to prove my life with one body.

However, the sword muttered. "

“You seem to have let your guard down without even knowing it. ”

“Skill Card open. Public.”

Paaaaaah!

A silver card appeared in the sword's hand.

+

[Detective's nemesis]

Rank: B-

Effect: Knows the opponent's kill count. Does not include indirect killings. Only murders committed with clear intent are counted.

However, there is no way to kill.

+

“Fool.”

Swordsman lowered his skill card

“I decided to trust only my eyes and hands... Someday. I was really relying on [Skill] one day. I saw it with my own eyes rather than with my own, and I believed in the judgment of my skills rather than judging them myself. ”

And...

“Young man, I'll ask you one last time. ”

The old man's blue eyes turned towards me.

“Have you ever killed a single innocent life? ”

Is that so?

So you said you didn't have to try to convince yourself, I convinced you.

Yes, well, reasoning is to do with the head, as I just did.

No matter how elaborate a lie may be, it only grabs someone's head like that, because it doesn't catch their heart.

“No."

Persuasion, not convincing.

“I've never done that. Swordsman.”

As you did towards the pillars of the tower,

I said through my heart.

“I won't do it again. ”

The sword closed its eyes quietly.

It's like engraving on my face and my voice.

There was silence.

And...

“Suck!"

The cards were blown.

The card that flew into the air, the red blade cracked.

A double-sided card.

A golden sunset leaked out through the gaps.

“I trust my own eyes. ”

Soon, the cards turned to powder and scattered the mountains.

Skill has been destroyed.

“It's been five days. Thank you for being so stubborn with the old man. ”

The swordsman draws his sword.

“Now that I mention it, breaking through with you on the 12th and 19th floors was quite an enjoyable experience. Rest well today. The 21st floor will open as soon as the press conference is over tomorrow. ”

The old man stepped on the floor.

Just before jumping onto the roof of another building, he looked back at me.

“I look forward to seeing you on the next floor. Four Kings.”

And soon, I was away from the bell tower.

"......."

After a long time, I stood tall.

I opened my mouth trembling.

“Sword man. Just now…."

- Uh-huh.

“Did you just acknowledge me? ”

- I think so.

I let go of my mind.

“Wow... ”

My knees relax, and I slowly sink down. The stone floor is cold. I stopped being red and stared at the sky as it began to get dark.

“Wow, it's... it's really over. The 20th floor is mine now. The guild leaders will take care of the media... Yes, it's really over. ”

The messenger smiles.

Looks like someone cleared the 50th floor.

“I feel like I've cleared the 90th floor. ”

Zombies, sometimes I wonder if you're big or small.

“Actually, I get confused sometimes... ”

Anyway, I finished everything up to the 20th floor.

It was when I was overwhelmed by naughtiness thinking that way.

[Goddess of Protection admires your accomplishments!]

A voice that I hadn't heard in a while rang out.

“Huh?"

Then we'll see.

Despite defeating the Fall Rain Demon King, the Goddess of Protection remains silent. No, except when you defeated the 12th floor for the first time, the Goddess of Protection was actually silent at all times.

[Goddess of Protection acknowledges all your deeds!]

In the meantime, I hear a voice telling me whether to release my anger as quietly as possible.

[The Goddess of Protection considers you to be an apostle, even if you are a liar.]

[Goddess of Protection acknowledges that you may continue to use yourself!]

But there was a strange sound.

“… you can use yourself in the future. What's that supposed to mean? ”

[The Goddess of Protection has been well together and asks me what I mean.]

It was even more incomprehensible.

“How are things going so far? ”

[Goddess of Protection asks me to look down.]

I looked down.

There was nothing but the stone floor.

[Goddess of Protection asks you to look a little more to the left.]

I looked to the left.

There was my leg and back.

In the waist dancing, the legendary weapon that the emperor of the Aikim Empire had received from the goddess, the protective sword of Lepanta Aikim, was worn in the stables.

“… wait. Do you?”

[Goddess of Protection urges you to pay attention to your waist.]

I felt strong.

It suddenly dawned on me when I was fighting the Demon King on the 12th floor.

At that moment, it is clear that the goddess of protection squeezes out the final power. As soon as it was finished, something in my hand gushed white.

There were no other miracles.

“No, wait. It can't be that [Goddess of Protection], which was mentioned occasionally while fighting the Demon King... ”

I can't believe I just said that.

“Were you... a sword?" ”

In a minute.

The voice responded.

[Goddess of Protection confirms!]

Oh, my god.

I guess the sword I used was really a sacred one.