Chapter 26
Chapter 26- The Chosen Ones (2)
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Translator: HH
“…Talk?”
“Yes . To be honest, I’m a bit taken aback right now . ”
On the stage of the 12th floor, the palace, we were in the reception room . My voice rang out in the middle of it .
“I don’t know why you’re attacking me . You may be seeing me for the first time, but I used to admire your sword technique . Since you’re raising your sword to me like that, it’s really awkward for me . ”
Sword Saint’s face stiffened .
Even though I was telling the truth .
‘I guess he would be like that . ’
There was a reason his face hardened like that .
The first day he met me, the day that he didn’t remember, Sword Saint had said this .
-Did you think I wouldn’t know you were an assassin sent from Black Dragon?
-I don’t know if the Witch sent you, but I’ll do my best to kill you!
He thought I was an assassin .
‘And an assassin from the Black Dragon at that . ’
He was probably thinking the same thing right now . That I was an assassin employed by Black Dragon who killed many innocent lives . No, he might be even more sure of himself now .
‘Or a special assassin from the Five Large Guilds . ’
-Mm . Right .
Bae Hu-ryeong nodded his head .
-From another’s respective, you’re really weird .
‘Exactly . ’
The appearance of a new hero when no one was expecting it!
An E Class hunter had cleared the unclearable stage . And as soon as he did, he made a deal with the Five Large Guilds and was promised to be treated the same way as the Guild Masters…
‘It’s too strange . ’
-Right . From what grandpops Marcus sees, you’re not a hunter who worked hard to get there . You’re a fake hero that the large guilds set up . Tsk tsk .
Bae Hu-ryeong tsked his tongue .
-Zombie . How many was your kill count at? 4090?
‘It’s probably at 4093 now . ’
-Right . The 4093 grandpops Marcus sees is just the number of people you’ve killed . Because you’re not a hunter that moves alone, but a hunter that was created by the large guilds .
That was the only result that the Sword Saint could come to .
-And…
‘Yes . ’
The same bunch .
‘He probably thinks of it as a number that I killed on orders from the large guilds . ’
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The large guilds that ruled the tower .
That they had killed 4093 humans .
It was a misunderstanding…but to him, it was probably a dirty sight .
“Hah . ”
If he was less of a just geezer, he would’ve stepped back here .
“Babylon is no different from the outer world . ”
But the Sword Saint didn’t know how to step back .
Even if he did, he denied it .
“After I entered the tower, you begged of me every day . To apply in a guild . But I refused . Do you know that?”
Sword Saint gripped his sword even more . His hands were old . Skin sagged . But the veins that popped out weren’t old at all .
A lion’s teeth weren’t less sharp because of age .
“I wanted to show that in this tower . That in this new world, you could rule at the top alone . ”
The Sword Saint looked around him with violent eyes .
“Family, country, where you’re from . Unlike the outer world, you can survive by yourself with a sword in this palace . If you work hard, you can succeed . ”
“…”
“To show that hope to people, I didn’t join a guild until now . But what have you guys done?”
He lifted his blade .
“You’re no different from the rotten water riddled with dirt . ”
The Guild Masters squirmed .
Rage . Humiliation . Hate .
Emotions swirled in their eyes . What the Sword saint just said was an announcement for war .
There were some who just smiled like it was nothing, like the Heretic Questioner, but most of the guild masters’ faces didn’t look too good .
“Sword Saint . I don’t know about others but you…”
“Ha! You forgot about how you just skipped out when we were subjugating the 5th floor? Seems like you forgot because of Alzheimer’s!”
“Yeah, Mr . Calenberry . If you used your connections from the outer world, we would have more food, and Sangryun…”
They all shouted .
All the hunters here had known each other from the beginning of the tower . Was it because they had a lot of held back emotions towards each other? As emotion clashed against emotion, the atmosphere in the reception room soon became dark .
“If you’re a Rank 1, you should’ve shown the attitude appropriate of it . But you were all good yourself . You lived by yourself . Do you know how many hunters we could’ve saved if you didn’t act so arrogant?”
The Witch of Black Dragon spoke like she was cursing him .
“It’s not just the 5th floor . If you helped us on the 7th and 9th floor, we would’ve suffered half the damage!”
The Venomous Snake of Chen-mu Mun showed murderous intent .
“Someone who was from a rich family in the outside world . If you helped a bit, the tower would’ve been more settled . We’re rotten water? Fine . Then you’re a kid that doesn’t have any responsibility . ”
Count glared at him .
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It was a mess .
Even with the curses and murderous gazes of the Guild Masters, Sword Saint just grimaced . Everytime he spoke, he made it worse .
‘Be quiet . ”
“…”
“What are you adults blabbering on about…do you think I’m your grandfather? Put it away . If you’re gonna attack, attack with the sword . ”
The reception room became uncontrollably violent .
-Dang! As expected of grandpops . Definitely my one and only disciple .
Bae Hu-ryeong could’t read the mood and just exclaimed in astonishment .
-There’s nothing more disgusting than players talking about connections or politics . If you have time to worry about that, you should fight with your sword instead!
What he said made sense .
But…
I had a regretful heart .
“Even in a place with just 10 people, you fight . ”
The hunters all looked at me .
I sighed .
“Even the NPCs of the 11th floor fought to protect their empire . But look . Hunters like us are just pointing fingers at each other saying whose fault it is . Isn’t it embarrassing to be worse than NPCSs?”
“…Hunter Kim Gong-ja . ”
The Witch spoke .
“It doesn’t have anything to do with you . It’s worse than what you…”
“I know . I get it but…there something that we should do if we’re hunters . ”
I looked around the reception room .
“Let’s focus on clearing the 12th floor first . ”
“…”
“It’s good to give hope to people, and respectable to decrease damage, it’s all good . But please work at clearing the stage that’s in front of you . ”
I especially looked at Sword Saint .
“They’re just NPCs…but their empire is in danger . They want help . If we were summoned as warriors and just fight with words amongst ourselves, how pathetic is that . ”
“You…”
I was being genuine .
Sword Saint couldn’t threaten my life here anyway . Since the gap in power was too clear . Then my only focus was clearing the 12th floor .
I wasn’t interested in their politics or their emotional qualms .
“What’s a warrior? Helping others solve what they can’t . Since we cleared the 11th floor, let’s solve the other stages as well . ”
“Kim Gong-ja is right . ”
Thankfully, there was a hunter who agreed .
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Crusader .
The Civil Milita’s Vice Guild Leader stepped up .
“I don’t understand why Sword Saint attacked Kim Gong-ja . But this isn’t the time for use to fight . That one thing is clear . You’re all too tense right now . ”
“…”
“…”
Crusader stepped to the center . But no one let their guards down . Sword Saint, Venomous Snake, Count, and Heretic Questioner were still ready to attack if needed .
They were too distrustful of each other to convince each other with words .
Because of the emotions that were held back for a long amount of time .
“Sigh . ”
Realizing that, Crusader sighed .
“Fine . I’ll sacrifice a little . ”
At the word sacrifice, the hunters looked back .
Crusader murmured to herself at the center of attention .
“Skill card open . ”
Whoosh!
Light soared up from Crusader’s hand . A moment later, a silver card appeared . It was a card that no one else could see unless the hunter allowed them to . It was the skill card of Crusader .
“…Vice Guild Leader . ”
The Witch seemed worried about the Crusader . The high rankers didn’t reveal their skill cards towards others . It was the secret weapon of a hunter . Showing it to others was like revealing your weakness .
“It’s fine . It doesn’t matter . ”
Then Crusader flipped the card over .
“Look closely . ”
[Lie Detection]
Rank:
Effects: You can tell whether someone is lying or not . It applies to not only people, but NPCs and monsters! But what they think of as ‘truth’ may actually be ‘false . ’ Trust . Doubt . It all lies in your hands .
※However, you cannot guarantee that others will believe what you say as the truth .
My eyes widened .
‘Lie Detection!’
It was the skill that the Flame Emperor lied about having . So . Crusader had it, and not Flame Emperor .
‘It fits the VIce Guild Master of the Civil Master perfectly!’
The Civil Militia was a guild that maintained order . Crimes were rampant in the tower . Like this . The Flame Emperor or Sword Saint killed people where others couldn’t see .
It was this kind of world . [Lie Detection] could be used in telling criminals apart .
“As you can see . ’
The Crusader spoke with the card in hand .
“I have the ability to tell whether someone is lying . It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this is the skill that got me to where I am . Sword Saint . ”
“…What . ”
“If you trust me, ask anything you want to Kim Gong-ja . I’ll tell you whether he’s telling the truth or not . ”
The Crusader looked at me and Sword Saint with apathetic eyes .
“Kim Gong-ja . Same goes for me . If you believe me, I can guarantee whether what you’re saying is the truth . ”
“…”
“Doubt is poison that swallows humans up, and truth is the most powerful antidote . You can’t regain the lost trust, but with this, we’ll be able to work together on the 12th floor . ”
“Mm…”
The Sword Saint was deep in thought, rubbing his beard .
‘Wow . ’
And I thought to myself .
‘It’s lit . ”
This was the best opportunity . It was luck that I didn’t expect to come my way . But…this was right . The reason why the Sword Saint was suspicious of me was because of his skill . Since a skill had made him suspicious, a skill could be used to resolve it!
“I’m fine with that . ”
I answered immediately .
It would be advantageous to the person who accepted it first .
“…Crusader . You’re the only person who hasn’t hurt anyone here . Fine . I’ll believe you as well . ”
The Sword Saint spoke mysterious words and accepted it .
Crusader nodded .
“Then I’ll take it that both of you agree . Sword Saint . Ask what you want to Kim Gong-ja . I’ll put my honor on the line and fairly judge your answers . ”
“Mm . ”
Sword Saint glared at me .
His face was ready, like he had been waiting for this moment . Was it because he wanted to prove how bad I was? His eyes were full of victory .
-No…
Bae Hu-ryeong spoke up next to me .
-Noo, grandpops Marcus . You boomer . This is why I said not to rely too much on your skill . One who lives by skills dies by it! Nooo, no .
‘Please be quiet . ’
Unfortunately, grandpops Marcus couldn’t hear Bae Hu-ryeong’s voice . This ghost bastard was my ghost bastard .
“Hunter Kim Gong-ja . ”
“Yes . ”
“You killed over 4000 people . Isn’t that true . ”