SSS-Class Revival Hunter-Chapter 336: The Constellation Auction (3)

I had a lot of Constellations helping me. With a few adjustments, this could be the title of a novel. Something like My Infinite Constellations or I have 999,999,999 Constellations by my side. That was how many Constellations I had.

“Peep.”

First, my fox god—Your Exclusive Music Box—coiled around my neck. Instead of controlling the world’s time, the god had a grasp on my own time. As if they wanted to prove that, my fox god always wrapped their tail around my neck, gently constricting my breath. Their power was immunity to any temporal interference. No one could deny or distort my time. That was it, but because of that, I now had immunity to abilities like causal alteration.

“Kiee... Kiiii...”

On my wrist was a thin snake; the Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye hung there like a bracelet. The snake was now out of the egg they had created and had to gaze out at the outside world. The season when they had to experience the world, not just learn about it, had arrived for them. Their only silver lining was their extensive knowledge—perhaps they had the most comprehensive knowledge out there.

Their power was the complete revelation of secrets. No enemy could hide anything from them and I. The enemies’ birth, origin, strengths, and weaknesses would always be exposed. Some enemies could have insufficient information for us, but everybody had something.

—Maaaaan. Kim Zombie, you now have a debuff immunity item, as well as a monster guidebook that you can read in real time.

[The Goddess of Protection feels like it’s time to set order in the house. ]

[The Goddess of Protection points out that everything in the world has a hierarchical order. The first Constellation to join the hero’s side was her. Well, at least the Constellation that joined the hero’s side through the most orthodox route is her, so the fox and the snake should address her as Senior.]

[The Goddess of Protection does not hide the fact that she is lenient and generous toward humans but strict toward Constellations.]

Shiny was... what? What was she truly like? How had she managed to hide her madness when she was with Kim Yul? Or did her madness bloom after she met me?

—Zombie, people say that a sword resembles its owner. When she was the Constellation Murderer’s sword, she was as serious as him, but after she became your sword, she became as light as rabbit fur. Whose fault do you think that is?

I had no idea. It was a real mystery.

“No bids?” the Primordial Staff said from a distance. “Did I talk too quietly? Let me repeat. The sixty-fourth floor has been cleared, so now it’s time for the sixty-fifth floor. If any Constellations wish to bid on the floor, please do so right now. I can’t wait forever.”

Right. I had a good reason for doing my Constellation introduction: no one was participating in the auction. I felt like the sixty-fifth floor was an item that was too expensive to be sold.

Three minutes passed without any bids. Disappointed, the Primordial Staff sighed. “Hmph... All of you are terrified and chickening out. The Death King knocked the phoenix out in one blow, so you’re all scared. That’s why it’s said that Constellations these days are weak-hearted. Back in my day—”

While she rambled, the war of hierarchy between the fox, the snake, and Shiny intensified.

[Your Exclusive Music Box politely asks for the well-being of their brain to be kept in mind because the third-rate Constellations don’t seem to know their places.]

[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye points out that the Death King defeated them, not the lowly Constellations known as Your Exclusive Music Box and the Goddess of Protection.]

[The Goddess of Protection says that she would like to present the Earth’s manhwas as evidence to show how third-rates can become the best.]

[Your Exclusive Music Box scoffs, telling her not to use the manhwas on hiatus as evidence.]

[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye threatens to expose the other Constellations’ ages.]

[The Goddess of Protection says that the Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye is welcome to do so since it will only reveal that the Constellation is the youngest one here.]

“Peep?”

“Kieee?”

Shiny could only vibrate.

These guys were so loud! With three Constellations gathered in one place, there was never a moment for silence!

[The Goddess of Protection suggests a wise plan to the hero.]

“What is it?”

[The Goddess of Protection mentions the obvious fact that she is also a Constellation.]

“Yeah... so?”

[The Goddess of Protection proposes that she should bid in the auction and win the floor.]

I blinked. “Huh? Wait, is that even possible?”

[The Goddess of Protection vibrates, proudly stating that this doesn’t violate the rules.]

“Ah, don’t do that. You cut me. I’m bleeding now... Well, never mind.”

As my mind raced, I fiddled with the sword, calculating everything.

“To win the auction, you need to pay a price, like Faith. I heard that’s a kind of currency for the Constellations. Do you have any money?”

[The Goddess of Protection smiles triumphantly.]

According to Shiny’s explanation, she used to be a fairly high-ranking Constellation of protection and immortality. During that time, the Constellation Murderer had founded the Aegim Empire, where she became the official guardian goddess of the empire. In other words, she had secured a lifetime Faith pension.

However, right after that, Kim Yul sealed her away. Despite her followers constantly sending Faith, she had no opportunity to use it due to the seal. It was like a savings account where deposits could be made but withdrawals were impossible—Faith had accumulated without purpose.

After a long time, I broke her seal. That was when she checked her savings account and ta-da.

[The Goddess of Protection confidently declares that no other Constellation has more money than she does.]

Shiny shone brightly. In short, she was sparkling with wealth.

“I see... In a way, being sealed away was a blessing in disguise.”

[The Goddess of Protection declares that she will show her true class.]

I thought it was more of a display of wealth than class, but I couldn’t bring myself to point that out. Anyhow, Shiny did what she could and wanted to do.

[The Goddess of Protection has made a bid.]

The Primordial Staff, who had been urging the other Constellations to join the auction, turned to look at us. Even the mage, who always seemed so calm, showed a hint of shock in her eyes, as if asking me “Really? Are you really going to play that dirty?”

“Death King, are you really going to play that dirty?”

My facial expression translation skills were still sharp after all.

“No, not me. My sword, however...”

“Pickpockets also say that the real culprits are the hands that stole people’s wallets.”

“No, this is different. Although I’m her master, that doesn’t mean she has no free will. She says she wants to do it, so how am I supposed to stop her?”

The Primordial Staff grumbled. “Still, there is business etiquette that they should—”

The fox growled.

[Your Exclusive Music Box took out everything from their savings account.]

[Your Exclusive Music Box has made a bid.]

The Primordial Staff fell silent.

“It wasn’t me. My scarf did it,” I protested.

[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye is bidding.]

“My bracelet...”

“Freaking hell.” The Primordial Staff pressed a palm on her forehead. “You balshitty[1] rascals. Well, when has life ever gone according to plan anyway? There’s no rule against this, so do as you please.”

[The Goddess of Protection doesn’t care and wants to know who is the highest bidder.]

The Primordial Staff sighed. “I’ll change the sixty-fifth floor manager to the Goddess of Protection.”

[Your Exclusive Music Box protests that this can’t be possible!]

[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye is horrified and wonders how much was spent.]

Even though I didn’t move, the holy sword in the scabbard rattled. The expected chaos ensued.

[The Goddess of Protection gives a pitying glance to her juniors and their small wallets.]

[The quest has been cleared.]

[The sixty-fourth floor has been cleared.]

[The manager of the sixty-fifth floor has assigned you a quest.]

Hero’s Sword Arts.

Difficulty Level: B

Goal: Hwia, the Goddess of protection who rules the sixty-fifth floor, requests you to take your heroic pose with your sword.

※If she is not satisfied, you will have to pose again.

Hmm.

I held the sword at an angle. It was like a transforming robot drawing its sword and aiming it at an enemy in an animation movie.

As expected, a flash of light immediately erupted from the sword.

[The quest has been cleared.]

[The sixty-fifth floor has been cleared.]

A chill went down my spine. “That’s incredible. It’s like you’re cheating...”

“You’re the one who’s cheating,” the Primordial Staff grumbled.

The humiliating parade of cheating didn’t end there. As if refusing to acknowledge what just happened, my fox god let out a shrill cry, and the snake whined too.

[The Goddess of Protection demands that her juniors call her Senior.]

[Your Exclusive Music Box has joined the auction on the sixty-sixth floor!]

[Your Exclusive Music Box has made a bid.]

[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye has made a bid.]

[The Goddess of Protection gives them a pitying glance with a sigh.]

[The Goddess of Protection has made a bid.]

What was this? What in the world were they doing?

The Guardian cackled, looking exactly like a neighborhood bully enjoying the fight.

—A mascot selection battle is always intense. Leave them be. They’re just sorting out their ranks among themselves. Think of it as a kind of loyalty competition.

“I never asked for that kind of loyalty...” I muttered.

—They’re offering to clear the floors on your behalf, so what else can this be? Just sit back and enjoy it.

It was subtly unsettling to just relax, especially as the chaos intensified.

[Your Exclusive Music Box has bid all their fortune!]

[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye has revealed their hidden secret account!]

[The Goddess of Protection has doubled her bid!]

The Primordial Staff pressed another palm on her forehead. “I’ll change the manager of the sixty-sixth floor to the Goddess of Protection.”

For a moment, one fox and one snake cried as if the sky were torn apart.

Sword Dance

Difficulty Level: B

Goal: Hwia, the Goddess of Protection who rules the sixty-sixth floor, requests you to perform a sword dance.

※ If she is not satisfied, you have to perform it again.

The sixty-sixth floor was a desolate plain. It was nighttime, with a lone moon hanging in the sky. On this unexpected moonlit night, I danced with my sword. Even I felt like a complete wacko...

[The quest has been cleared.]

[The sixty-sixth floor has been cleared.]

Amazing.

“Congratulations, Death King. You’re the first hunter to clear stages in this way since the tower was built.”

“I hope I’m also the last.”

The Primordial Staff sighed in exasperation. “We’ll see that after the next floor auction. All right, let’s begin the sixty-seventh floor auction.”

[Your Exclusive Music Box has made a bid!]

[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye has made a bid!]

[The Goddess of Protection has made a bid!]

[The Reddest Sommelier has made a bid.]

A new challenger finally appeared. The mage’s eyes gleamed sharply, and she raised her staff high. “Sold! The manager of the sixty-seventh floor is now the Reddest Sommelier!”

“Peeeeep?”

“Kieeeee! Kieeee!”

“I don’t take objections. I’m both the auctioneer and the judge. The bid price is confidential, so I can’t tell you. That’s the rule I just made.” The Primordial Staff turned and shouted, “Hey, Death King! Hurry up and go up before he changes his mind!”

I did as I was told.

[You have entered the sixty-seventh floor.]

[The Reddest Sommelier has appeared.]

Many people had probably heard of the term “crocodile tears.” Crocodiles shed tears when they devoured their prey, so that expression was commonly used as a metaphor for false tears. Killing was one thing, and sadness was another thing. There was no point in crying after killing everyone.

However, the crocodile’s tears seemed a bit too real.

“Oooooooooh... Oh... Oooooooooh...”

It was a crocodile wearing a cloak. He looked as if he walked on two legs instead of four. He was also wearing an elegant suit, not just a cloak, so if his head hadn’t been that of a crocodile, he would have looked like a respectable gentleman.

He was pounding the ground with his front paws.

“Why me? Why is this happening to me?!” he wailed. “You’re nasty, Death King! Nasty! How can you play this dirty? Why didn’t you wait for the other Constellations to go up for auction? You could have waited another one or two hundred years! Why couldn’t you wait instead of hogging the floors?”

“That’s evil... That was your tactic?”

“You’re despicable! I’ve never seen someone act this cheap and unfair!”

“It wasn’t exactly my idea,” I said sourly.

1. The raw is “you balsamic sauces.” It's from ssibal(씨발). When something has the ‘ss’ sound, some people use it as a softer insult. ☜