Chapter 230. < Hatred (3) >

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Translator: Seven

2.

The sun had set in this world.

I went out to the sunset street with Ja Soo-jung.

Babylon, as a city founded by displaced people who had no nationality, was a mixture of various kinds of flavors.

There was the smell of Indian spices. And the smell of Chinese incense.

Every person who pa.s.sed us had a different skin color and body odor.

Where are we going?

Ja Soo-jung asked.

This one can send Mr. Gong-ja back to your original world at any time. You already received your reward. Are there still things you want to do in this world?

Just follow me.

Hmph.

Ja Soo-jung snorted softly as she walked beside me.

Guide me wherever you wish.

The smells of the street were beginning to fade.

Do you know what Harlem smells like?

The smell of poverty which seemed to linger wherever you went. The smell of water. The smell of moisture. There was stagnant water acc.u.mulated in the shade on the side of the road because there was nowhere for it to drain away.

A plastic bottle was stuck head first in the muddy water.

It was as if it was measuring the water level of this poor pond.

We walked.

The more muddy water we stepped in, the more the smells of the street lost their nationalities, and the more prominent the smell of water became.

As the worlds sunset grew darker.

ah.

I entered a familiar alley.

Ja Soo-jung noticed too, and her lips twitched.

Mr. Gong-ja, this place-.

Shh.

I murmured.

Listen.

Ja Soo-jung closed her mouth.

Then, a small noise drifted from afar.

Si-, Sir Flame Emperor.

A familiar voice.

Why so suddenly!

It would be pointless to call for help.

A familiar sarcasm.

Theres no one around here anyway.

The Towers Number 1 Hunter, the Flame Emperor.

As if he had swallowed the sunset, Yoo Soo-has voice was practically glowing.

I never wouldve thought the hiding witch was so pretty. Aya. If I didnt know already, Id have been in trouble.

W-, with? What are you talking about

Kah. Looking at you now, youre really good at acting.

In the dark alley.

Yoo Soo-ha stood with his head tilted, pressing the Saintess. (TL: For those who havent realized it yet, the Saintess is the one Kim Gong-ja saw the Flame Emperor kill in the beginning)

Unlike your oldie granddaddy.

The moment those words came out, the Saintess face hardened.

Huh?

Your grandpa. The Sword Saint of whatever. You were going to get revenge for that old man.

Did you think I didnt know

To be precise, he didnt know.

However, Yoo Soo-ha had the [Returners Clockwork Watch].

A skill that sent him back a day when he died.

Thanks to that, Yoo Soo-ha knew [the future where he was attacked by the Saintess].

How, that, how did you

Of course, the Saintess didnt know about Yoo Soo-has skill.

Just like she hadnt known in my world. It was the same.

Im just that smart. I know everything.

Uht!

The Saintess moved her hand.

There was a brief flash of white in her palm that was probably her aura.

Aigo. The granddaughter is so aggressive.

However, the white aura disappeared before it could fully appear.

The Flame Emperor grabbed the Saintess by the neck.

Kup!?

You got a knack for killing people. I wonder how your granddaddy would react if he saw his granddaughters face right now. Huh? He probably wouldnt be able to forgive the murderer even if he is the same Ah, our idioms probably dont translate well, right?

Groaning, the Saintess struggled.

Her shoes, which were floating in the air, swung back and forth in a vain search for purchase.

I mean, I like b.a.s.t.a.r.ds like you.

In the past.

No matter how much you kill, it wont even leave a scratch on your heart.

In the same place, with the same characters.

And its annoying cause you act like nice people. Wow, f.u.c.k, is there anyone in the world who isnt trash?

At that time, I couldnt do anything.

Its not true. If you peel back your sh.e.l.l, its all trash. However, it takes a lot of work to peel it back, doesnt it? Its really tiring. Its like peeling a mandarin orange and getting the threads stuck in your fingernails.

Ugh, kuhp! Uhuk, up!

But its comfortable to make a brat like you. Ah, Im not tired at all. Its as if the inside of my brain was washed with detergent. I feel alive because of you. Really. Its thanks to you.

I had no choice but to watch.

I was shocked, and did everything I could just to hold my breath without letting anything out.

Thanks.

However, not this time.

Bye now. Saintess Isabelle.

Just as flames were about to erupt from the Flame Emperors palm.

My aura rushed to the back of the Flame Emperors hand.

!?

Taht!

The Flame Emperor reflexively let go of the Saintess neck and stepped back. Fwoos.h.!.+ My aura cut through the air where the Flame Emperors arm had once been.

Huk!

The Saintess sucked in a breath of air as she collapsed.

What

The Flame Emperor looked towards me with a shocked expression.

Until now.

One breath.

Salvation Sword.

Without letting out my breath, I ran forward.

At my call, a skill that had already become one with me answered.

[The Salvation of a Torn G.o.ddess answers.]

It was a skill that had once belonged to a man known as the Constellation Killer.

Just like nine golden cards made the Tower Master, two skills made the Constellation Killer.

One was the [Puppeteers Parade].

With the help of that, the Constellation Killer was able to return to a new body even if his old body was destroyed.

The other was [Salvation of a Torn G.o.ddess].

With the help of that, the Constellation Killer could forget yesterdays memories to obtain todays victory.

When I was killed by the Constellation Killer, I was given the choice to choose between those two skills.

I chose

Part timer?! You, what did you-.

The coffee you order for our office doesnt taste good at all, Guild Leader. Please change the delivery.

I rushed into the Flame Emperors chest.

The sound of my words was made by compressing my aura and sending it out as sound waves.

At that moment, the astonished Flame Emperors eyes widened even more.

I dont want to remember the taste of the coffee I had today.

I stated.

So Ill throw it away.

Then clenched my fist.

[Invoked the Salvation of a Torn G.o.ddess.]

A single blow.

Strengthen.

!

My aura, as red as the Flame Emperors aura, struck his abdomen. Kuk! A sound leaked out of the Flame Emperors mouth. Unable to withstand the force of my blow, the Flame Emperor flew toward the alley wall like a stick.

Boom!

The wall broke in half.

Huk, uhh ah?

Until now.

Two breaths.

Uh, uh, you Yoo Soo-ha Guild?

The Saintess seemed to regain some energy and looked up at me. She probably hadnt been hurt at all, and there was only a slight burn mark on her neck where shed been grabbed by the Flame Emperor. She looked confused.

I used to think the Saintess was purely a victim.

Im sorry, but please go to sleep.

Now, I just considered her as a person.

I pointed at the Saintess forehead and sent my aura out.

Ah

The Saintess collapsed with a groan. Shed fainted. This used to be an unimaginable exercise of force in the past, but now it was really simple.

Until now.

Three breaths.

Mother, f.u.c.ker!

The Flame Emperor rose up from the collapsed wall.

Small pebbles fell from his long ponytail.

This crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Hey! What the h.e.l.l are you doing?! No, are you really the part timer!?

Thats right.

f.u.c.k, you must belong to that witch no, no. Thats impossible. When that stupid terrorism happened

The Flame Emperor had trouble keeping up with the current situation.

That was natural. After all, from his perspective, I was just a frail F rank Hunter guild member.

Are you curious? Guild Leader?

The Saintess had no idea that the Flame Emperor had returned a day.

Likewise,

The Flame Emperor had no idea of what kind of being I was.

If you want to know, youll have to beat me.

Ha

I need to know if I am stronger than you.

I dont know what youre on about.

The Flame Emperors eyes were burning.

Im going to beat you up a little bit.

Blood coloured aura overflowed from my hands.

Im only going to beat you till you cant move.

And, I jumped at him.

By using everything I had.

Bulls.h.i.+t! I am the Number 1 Hunter in the Tower!

My infernal heavens will make you wail your dying wishes.

Infernal Heavens Demonic Art.

First Form.

Sword of Starvation.

I threw my fist at the Flame Emperor. The Flame Emperor tried to block my aura with a face that seemed to say I wouldnt let you hit me again. Right. I was basically a Swordsman, not a Fighter. Unlike the Flame Emperor, I wasnt in the best position right now.

However, my Master had cut through an entire snowy mountain without a sword.

Therefore, even if I didnt have a sword, I would pierce through this stream of fire.

+

[Infernal Heavens Demonic Art]

Rank: A+

Effect: The Demonic Cult. They hate the logic of the heavens. They curse it. And they did not stop at hating and cursing the heavens, but formed cults, eventually uniting under one doctrine. The Infernal Heavens Demonic Art is a martial art with the essence of that doctrine.

Those who awaken the Infernal Heavens Demonic Art can tear up the heavens and crush the tall mountains! However, you must deeply understand the hatred and curses contained in the basic movements of this skill.

The more you hate and curse the world, the more you overshadow the heavens. One who has mastered and reached the peak of the Infernal Heavens Demonic Art is the Heavenly Demon, the one who will overthrow the heavens.

However, it becomes difficult to maintain your sense of self if you use this new skill.

+

One blow.

A piece of my aura pierced the flames.

-urp, uh?

Today.

Yoo Soo-has head turned to the side as my fist hit his chin. Slowly. With my sense of time being infinitely prolonged by aura, the Flame Emperor couldnt hit me, and I was able to swing my arms a step ahead of him.

I throw away the memories of the mud puddles I stepped in when walking in the alley.

I roused my aura.

+

[Salvation of a Torn G.o.ddess]

Rank: A+

Effect: There was once a G.o.ddess who was devoted to a certain warrior. Although the G.o.ddess was torn apart by the warrior, she still wished to stand beside him. The G.o.ddess fell and was sealed in this skill card.

The G.o.ddess replaces memories with abilities. You can strengthen your abilities and might by giving your memories to the G.o.ddess. The more important the memory is to you, the stronger the buff you receive.

However, the strengthening effect does not last long.

+

The wind howled.

I swung my fist again, this time striking Yoo Soo-has stomach.

.

The Flame Emperors breath hitched.

Kuk, a groan escaped his mouth.

A few drops of gastric juice followed the groan, after which, Yoo Soo-ha collapsed to his knees.

Urk, kup, fu-! Huk.

Guild Leader.

I quietly looked down at the Flame Emperor.

I know youre mad that the Manager and I died. But Guild Leader killed her grandfather too.

You, urk, what the

So you should apologize for killing her grandfather first.

Until now.

I took five breaths.

I had no choice but to kill him, the Sword Saint tried to kill me without talking to me first. Nevertheless, Im sorry. Tell the Saintess that.

Until now.

It took many days.

You have to do it.

Why are you killing blindly?

The smell of the alley.

The smell of poverty which was like water.

No matter how strong the sun was in the world, its light never touched the shade. The puddles in the shade did not have the chance to fully evaporate, and when night fell or rain fell, it would rise as much as it evaporated once again.

It was stagnant and rotten.

Why?

It took a lot of sun to evaporate my rotted muddy water.

Why would you kill someone you dont know?

Guild Leader is strong. You are the strongest person in the Tower. Unlike other people, you can even throw away your life if you want to. You have less to lose. So why do you kill people like that?

I looked down at the man who burned my heart.

He was so strong that at that time, I had no way to defeat this man, so I just ran away, back in time, to the past, to 4,000 days before.

Thats right. I ran away.

I didnt know what to say to persuade this person, I didnt have the strength to convince this person, I didnt know how to attract this person, I had no confidence to face this person, so I ran away, and killed him before he could become this person.

I killed Yoo Soo-ha, not the Flame Emperor.

Dont live like that.

You f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

I was now stronger than him.

Incomparably stronger.

I could do a little more now.

I didnt have to hold my breath while watching the Saintess die, I didnt need to try to run, I didnt have to be scared of dying, I didnt need to be afraid of being abandoned, I didnt have to worry about meaning nothing to others.

I worked hard.

The Flame Emperor spat up some more gastric juices.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he muttered.

What bulls.h.i.+t, you motherf.u.c.ker

Why cant I be a bit nicer? Why are you asking me something like that? f.u.c.k. Look around. Where did you grow up that you could spout such bulls.h.i.+t

The Flame Emperors eyes were bloodshot.

Soo-jung is the same. You are the same, too. Seriously. You two are not human. Whoever picked you up and raised you to be so good. f.u.c.k. How is that possible?

The words he spat were also b.l.o.o.d.y.

How can you be so kind?

The blood thickened.

How can you be so how can people be so good?

The Flame Emperor glared at me.

Soft hearted b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. Get out of here. Ja Soo-jung, and you too, just go die. Just, just, die. Die. Get lost. f.u.c.k, really

Right.

If that was his scream.

Then I the Demonic Cults Young Master, the Moon of the Ivansia Duchy, the Ruler of the Hundred Ghosts, nodded.

0

The world isnt just made of b.a.s.t.a.r.ds like you.

And I wont let you become a b.a.s.t.a.r.d like you. I can do it, I will do it.

I touched the Flame Emperors forehead.

Because Im stronger than you.

And reversed the flow of my aura.

With a final curse, the Flame Emperor gently collapsed.

Bull-, s.h.i.+t

Thud.

The Flame Emperor fell to the ground.

Silence descended upon the alley.

The sound of small footsteps came from behind me. Turning around, I saw Ja Soo-jung looking at me.

Her purple eyes seemed to be asking.

What are you going to do now?

I nodded.

Hundred Ghosts Reincarnation.

Under the night sky, my shadow spread across the dark alley. The shadow crawled like a slime, and a figure formed from it.

+

[Hundred Ghosts Reincarnation]

Rank: SSS

Effects: Summon those that you yourself killed. The dead cannot use their abilities from when they were living. But if you want, the dead will be able to keep their memories and their looks from when they were alive. If you dont want it, theyll just be summoned as monsters.

However, you can only summon them once a week.

+

Wow. What the f.u.c.k is that?

The figure rising from the shadows was exactly the same as the man collapsed on the ground.

Where is this place? Why did you call me to such a dog-like place?

Yoo Soo-ha, who was dressed as a part timer of the Planetarium Cafe, frowned.

In this world, I was a part timer, but in my world, he had become a part timer.

Feeling a strange cause and effect, I spoke to him.

Yoo Soo-ha.

Huh? What the f.u.c.k? Whos that guy collapsed there?

Dont worry about that. Yoo Soo-ha.

What?

Do you think Im like a dog because I killed you?

Yoo Soo-ha looked at me as if he was wondering if Id lost my mind.

Did you eat some kind of medicine?

Answer me honestly.

Okay. Like a dog. If you were me, wouldnt you think Im like a dog? If you found a dog like b.a.s.t.a.r.d wandering around a hunting ground by himself and tried to smash the back of his head, then, after he kills you, he would summon you whenever hes feeling bored and make you dance, f.u.c.k. Just talking about it p.i.s.ses me off. You should just die. f.u.c.ker. Crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Right

I sighed.

Im also a b.a.s.t.a.r.d to some people

What was that?

Just. My wife was really not wrong

It was done.

It was time to admit it.

Sorry.

Yoo Soo-ha froze.

Hah?

Im sorry I killed you, f.u.c.ker. (TL: Best apology)

Yoo Soo-ha closed his mouth.

It would be great if he was silent because he was moved by my apology, and maybe a bit praiseworthy. But naturally, this guy would never do anything good or praiseworthy. Because he was a motherf.u.c.ker. However, Yoo Soo-ha just looked at me like an idiot.

Youre sorry for killing me?

Right.

f.u.c.k, I thought my ears broke but it turns out that its this b.a.s.t.a.r.ds head. Did you get shot? Ah, you wouldnt die even if you get shot, would you? Then you really mean that. Wow. Ive never heard [Sorry for killing you] before. Fuuuuuck. Im probably the first person in history who heard such an apology. When did you come up with that, f.u.c.ker?

Ahh.

This dog like man.

If he didnt swear when he opened his mouth, you would believe hed get pimples on his lips. Even when people apologized to him.

I looked back at Ja Soo-jung.

Ja Soo-jung was looking at me with a bright smile.

are you pleased?

Its really interesting, Mr. Gong-ja. Its so much fun when everyone agrees and its not just this ones opinion. Mr. Gong-ja, what kind of person would steal honey from all kinds of bees? The bees would buzz as they flocked over. Mr. Gong-ja, dont worry about this one, continue talking to Mr. Yoo Soo-ha. By the way, do they sell popcorn in Harlem? Mr. Gong-ja, this ones mouth is fervently demanding popcorn.

Ahh.

This dog like woman

Why is everyone around me crazy?

In this world where G.o.d, Devil and Man held hands, I held my head in my hands.

Hey

What?

I cant make up for making you like this, but No, I can. Im sorry for what I did to you. And Ill pay you back for it. Ill keep paying you back in the future. Is that okay?

Im scared because this this f.u.c.ker isnt taking like a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. What are you talking about? Say it so that a human can understand.

Youre lucky that Im such a strong person

I.

Pull out the most recent piece of my life.

Really, you should be glad Im strong.

A piece I stole from the Tower Master.

+

[The Earth Bone Dragons Skull]

Rank: SSS+

Effect: The ability to archive the memories of the living. Archived memories are placed in a box that can only be destroyed by the user.

Unless the box is destroyed, the user can recreate the body of a person who will inherit the same memories over and over. The body can travel around the world, create new memories, and update those experiences back to the box. Of course, if the user allows it!

Even if the body is completely destroyed, the box will not suffer any damage. Grant the privilege of immortality to those around you.

However, the memories of a destroyed body cannot be updated to the box.

+

Miss Ja Soo-jung.

Yes, Mr. Gong-ja.

That.

I said.

Ill bring this child back to life.

The Earth Bone Dragons Skull.

With the strongest card Id ever picked, a skill that preserves the other persons [memory] and gave them a [body], I declared.

Im gonna give this f.u.c.ker back.

I saved one human being.

(TL: 3.5k words)