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SSS-Class Suicide Hunter (Web Novel) - Chapter 290: Forsaken Believers (1)
Chapter 290: Forsaken Believers (1)
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Translator/Editor: Ryuu
Kwaaaang!
As the explosion rang out, the tavern patrons were thrown into disarray.
"What the, what's going on?"
"Damn it. It's starting again…!"
The customers neither evacuated nor hid under the tables. They simply grabbed the glasses and appetizers on the tables with both hands, wary of them toppling over. Here, on the 50th floor, an explosion was just a part of daily life.
「Ah, ah. Mic test. Mic test.」
Amidst the chaos in the hall, a voice echoed from the sky.
Including me, people looked up to find the source of the voice.
「We apologize for the inter-floor noise from the Magic Tower.」
Magic Tower.
That place, along with this open-air tavern, was one of the familiar locations on the 50th floor.
When I previously tried to capture the Constellation Killer, witches from the Magic Tower also participated. Their base, the Magic Tower, composed of five spires, stood tall in the sky.
It was like the fingers of a giant of the earth reaching for the sky.
'A power that has ruled over this 50th floor for over a thousand years... Was that it?'
I glanced at the Guardian Spirit.
'Isn't that place an enemy of yours?'
-Nah, nah. I don't really have any feelings towards them.
The Guardian Spirit claimed nonchalantly.
-It's just that they unilaterally hate me. Really. On the contrary, I think I'm quite aggrieved.
'...But didn't you destroy one of the original six towers? How is that an aggrieved person's behavior?'
-Now, look. Those kids always look so gloomy. They're always holed up in their tower, doing research, almost to the point where you can smell mold. I just made a little hole in the tower to suggest they ventilate once in a while. Thinking about it, I should be thanked. I even did a remodeling for free. Anyway, the richest folks on the 50th floor have no sense of decency. Tsk tsk tsk.
'It seems to me that you just have no sense of morality....'
The voice sent from the Magic Tower resounded throughout the city. People drinking outdoors, vendors laying out their stalls, vagabonds playing dice in broad daylight, everyone paused their daily activities and blankly gazed up at the five towers.
「I will be the spokesperson for the Magic Tower. Well, it's nothing much. Today, terrorists who don't know their place tried to mess with us, so we have to make this announcement.」
「The explosion sound that just scored a goal in your eardrums was the result of those terrorists’ doing. Hey, hey. Bring them here. Not there. Tsk! That's right. There.」
At that moment, voices other than the spokesperson's sharply cut through.
「The Magic Tower is imprisoning our comrades!」
「We are followers of Hamusutra!」
I flinched.
They were followers of Hamusutra?
「We are all officially enrolled Librarians! The Magic Tower is illegally oppressing and imprisoning us!」
「Everyone! If we don't unite and rise up now, someday you too will end up like us….」
「Ah. Ah. Okay, that's enough. Phew.」
A sigh from the spokesperson was heard.
「Anyway, those without a master have such loud voices. Now, have you all grasped the situation? The disturbance this time was completely caused by losers abandoned by their Constellations. Just so you know....」
「Shut up! We were not abandoned by Hamusutra!」
「Do you know the difference between the strong and the weak? The strong only have to be quiet when they want, but the weak have to be quiet even when they don’t want to.」
Kwajik!
A strange tearing sound burst from beyond the sky.
「Ugh! Urk...!?」
「Yes, as you can see, these guys are weak. It would be fortunate if they were just weak, but they even tried to damage our Magic Tower security system. The result? Well... I have a tooth in my hand right now. Do you get what I'm saying?」
「Please don't mess with the Magic Tower. That's the message I’m trying to convey.」
The surroundings buzzed.
「Oho? Trying to intimidate me? Listen here. When I say shut up, it doesn't just mean close your mouth. It also means shut your eyes.」
Kwazook, tzeeeuuk! Keeeiiii….
The ominous sound stretched towards the cloudy sky. With each twist of the sound, gasps, groans, and someone's screams intertwined. The moans were cut into seven parts and scattered across the sky of the 50th floor.
"......."
"......."
Silence descended upon the open-air tavern.
The Hunters each looked around cautiously, trying to ignore the screams coming from the sky. They all realized this was a sort of public execution. Only the tavern's owner grumbled, "Tsk, they're ruining our business again," while cleaning the bar.
「Ah. Ah. Testing the mic once more.」
「If you happen to see old followers of Hamusutra while walking around, or in places that aren't common path, please report them. Those kids are trouble, you know? There's a small reward, but think of it as contributing to the city's security....」
「Ugh, this is bothersome. Anyway, you've all got it, right? In my hand right now are eight teeth – front teeth, canines, molars, all combined. These teeth could belong to your friend or to you.」
「May fortune be with you.」
The voice abruptly cut off.
The sky was enveloped in silence as always. But the people of the 50th floor city seemed to find the silence in the sky burdensome. After about 10 seconds, the bustling noise of daily life hesitantly returned.
"Those damn things. Catching rat-like believers again...."
"The Librarians are really pitiful. Hey, where did Hamusutra disappear to?"
"Well, it's obvious. He was probably killed by the Constellation Killer, right?"
"Ugh. This is all because of one guy, the Constellation Killer. So many people are suffering."
It was a conversation I couldn't help but be interested in. I turned towards the table next to me.
"Excuse me. I'd like to ask something…."
"What is it?"
An elderly Hunter frowned.
A hunter with curly hair and an eyepatch over her left eye.
Not just her, but all the Hunters at the same table, regardless of gender, were had curly hair and eyepatches.
"......."
Overwhelmed by their striking visuals, I momentarily lost my words.
Stammering, I asked as politely as possible.
"…Uh, well. I haven't been up-to-date with the 50th floor happenings lately... I've only just returned here after three months. What exactly is going on with the Magic Tower?"
"Uh? You haven't heard about Hamusutra's disappearance?"
The curly-haired Hunters stared at me.
It was extremely uncomfortable.
"I think I've heard something like that...."
"Oh my, the rumor is that the Constellation Killer killed him!"
The curly-haired Hunter group seemed eager for someone to listen to their chatter. They noisily talked among themselves, tearing into bread appetizers that looked like something out of an Indian feast.
"From a while back, the faith in [Great Librarian of All Knowledge] abruptly ended. The Constellation was always indifferent to its followers, never responding to prayers, but now it feels like it doesn't even exist. Here. This friend used to be a follower of Hamusutra."
Curly-haired Hunter A poked the rib of curly-haired Hunter B.
B grimaced and chewed on a piece of bread, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.
"……Keep it down. It’s not the case anymore."
"Heh. Hamusutra might have had few followers, but their loyalty was really high. And then suddenly, it disappeared, right? I understand why the Librarians are in despair."
"......."
I sensed an ominous premonition. Something big, something I never anticipated and didn't even know about, had happened because Hamusutra lost the power of a Constellation.
“That… Was the [Great Librarian of All Knowledge] originally popular…?”
"Hmm? No, not really popular."
Curly-haired Hunter A asserted.
"[Great Librarian of All Knowledge] was too unfriendly to hunters. Other Constellations guide you through small quests and naturally lead to the final quest, right?"
"Ah. Yes...."
Is that so?
I've never worshiped a Constellation, so I wouldn't know.
But to curly-haired Hunter A, it seemed unthinkable that I didn't worship a Constellation. He spoke as if it was the most natural thing.
"But the [Great Librarian of All Knowledge] was different. It just throws one goal like [Save this world from destruction] and leaves the rest up to you. Tsk tsk. It's irresponsibly frustrating."
"......."
“There's no reward or hint during the quest. Normally, if a hunter faces danger, a Constellation gives a chance or two, but this one just mercilessly lets you die! To put it nicely, it's high freedom, but to put it differently, it's just neglecting its followers. How could it be popular?”
“……That's exactly why I liked Hamusutra. It's different from ordinary Constellations that just throw quests. Hamusutra gave us a world where we can be active. Get it? It prepared everything and didn't interfere with us players. How great is that!”
"See? Such a fanatic."
A chuckled.
"But it's over now. As I said, the responses just disappeared!"
"......."
"Their followers are really foolish. If your master dies, you should quickly choose another Constellation to serve, but Hamusutra's followers are so loyal, they won't switch faith. Instead, they're banding together to survive…. How could those spider-like Magic Tower folks let them be? 'Ah, hunters without the backing of a Constellation,' and they capture them to enslave."
"Shut up! Hamusutra isn't dead! He’s just laying low to avoid the Constellation Killer's pursuit!"
Hmm….
"Wow, scary. Should I shut up just because you say so? The Magic Tower people said it. The strong don't need to be quiet. I've been serving [The Lonely Seeker] for over 20 years, soon to be an Apostle. And you? You lost your beloved master and switched faith like a loser, didn’t you?"
"You bastard!"
“Uh... Excuse me.”
I interjected between the two Hunters' quarrel.
"What if the Constellation Killer isn’t the one who killed Hamusutra?”
"Hmm?"
“What?”
The Hunters looked at me as if I was spouting nonsense.
I was clearly being looked down upon as a beginner.
Carefully, I continued.
“What I mean is… the reason for Hamusutra’s disappearance isn’t clear, right? It's possible that someone other than the Constellation Killer killed him. Or maybe, just maybe…… he didn't die at all.”
"He didn’t die?"
Curly-haired Hunter A asked with a mocking tone.
"The aura of the Constellation has completely disappeared. Despite the followers' calls, there's no response. If he's not dead, did he run away or something?"
“……Maybe…… he fell and became human.”
“What, fell? Human?”
A laughed loudly. Even B, who had been arguing with A, looked incredulous. Actually, all the curly-haired Hunters watching our conversation chuckled.
“Ha! This guy is definitely a newbie.”
"Fell? I've never heard such a thing in my life."
"Listen, young man. A Constellation is a Constellation, and a human is a human. Especially Hamusutra, a renowned Constellation among Constellations. Maybe dead, but where did you hear such ridiculous urban legend?"
"......."
It's true though.
Hamusutra really became human and is working part-time at a cafe.
As a part-timer, he's so popular he's getting a lot of tips from customers...
“Of course, it could be someone other than the Constellation Killer. Another Constellation could have done it. But that's unlikely! So far, no one has claimed to have killed Hamusutra. What a great feat that would be, who would hide it?”
“Right. Hunters wouldn't miss a chance to brag.”
“Constellations have no reason to hide it either. The Constellation Killer, that crazy guy, is the one to blame.”
"Hmm......."
I asked one last question.
“What if, just maybe, the Constellation Killer isn't the culprit? What then?”
That's when it happened.
Curly-haired Hunter B's eyes flashed menacingly.
"We'll capture that bastard and kill him!"
Bang!
B, unable to contain his anger, slammed the table.
“How dare! Someone other than the Constellation Killer harm our heavenly Librarian, our precious Master! He'll be condemned to the void and fed to the monsters! That villain! I’ll tear him limb from limb, nail him from head to toe!”
B's eyes, once a follower of Hamusutra, blazed with fury. A deadly aura. The other Hunters joined in, agreeing fervently.
“Hamusutra fanatics are formidable. Their love for their master is real. Heh. If there's a real culprit, all the universe's Hamusutra followers, all the stage's Hunters will swarm and kill him.”
“Yeah. The extermination squad will have thousands!”
“That’s only because the Constellation Killer is a universe-class lunatic that everyone's keeping quiet. If it's not him? Oh, then it's real trouble. I don't even want to think about it.”
“A storm of blood will rage!”
The Hunters, except B, laughed heartily.
As if they had heard an amusing joke.
Of course, I didn’t find it amusing at all.
-Zombie, do you understand now?
"......."
-Everything I told you is nothing but the truth.
The Guardian Spirit grinned at me, sweating bullets.
-You really are the real evil boss. You crazy cult leader, fucking sharp tongued bastard.
Right……
At least I now know there’s one thing I need to resolve on the 50th floor…....
