Chapter 313: The Next World (3)
6.
A lot of things happened over the course of a fortnight.
[The constellation "The Whip That Descends on the Self-Abuser" has regained its stars.]
[The constellation "Fist Holding the Sun" is recruiting new followers for the first time in 233 years!]
[The constellation "Guardian of the Southeast Gate" has been released from its seal.]
[The constellation "Claws Scratching the Night Sky" has been released from its seal.]
[The constellation "Failed Monologue" has been released from its seal.]
Firstly, the five constellations sealed by the Magic Tower were liberated.
Not all constellations were fortunate enough to have admirable followers like the [Berserker].
For periods ranging from 900 to 200 years, these constellations had been sealed. Some constellations, once glorious, had declined to the point of having not even a single follower left.
"The last follower who served me died 302 years ago," muttered one constellation.
It was a beautiful constellation with black hair. The hair was so long that it flowed across the entire room"s carpet. The [Claws Scratching the Night Sky], true to its alias, looked up into the void with eyes that resembled the night sky.
"Originally, I was a minor constellation."
"What kind of authority do you have?"
"There"s not much to call an authority. If, in your life, you"ve ever laid in bed, or not in bed, and stretched out your hand towards the night sky, attempting to scratch it with your fingernails, that act would be considered faith towards me."
"...."
"How about it?"
The constellation of the night sky smiled silently.
"Not so minor, is it?"
"No, it"s amazing. Not like pretending to be a G.o.d or anything. Why would the Grey Spider seal such a constellation?"
"Who knows. She must have had her own reasons. Maybe she was annoyed every time a message about me appeared when stretching towards the night sky. Or perhaps she coveted my power because I"m a constellation. Maybe it was to keep me alive."
"Really?"
"Either way, I don"t hate her."
The constellation, who until a few days ago was nailed to a cross and drained of magic for hundreds of years, gazed out the window with a shadowed look.
"Hatred is a potent energy. Both the sender and the receiver become more distinct. Just like love, greed, or hope, it keeps someone who should die alive. The Death King. Our savior. Do you understand what I"m saying?"
"Yes."
I nodded, recalling the eternity of 4000 days.
"I understand."
I locked eyes with the night sky"s gaze.
"I know well."
"...."
Many things happened.
The spiders lost their spire but gained a mountain-like arena, and additionally, the right to migrate to the Lion World. The Snail Race demonstrated their architectural prowess, creating living quarters for the spiders.
The destinations for migration varied. Some wanted to live in the New Continent, some in Raviel"s Empire, others in Babylon, and so on.
"Most of them are magicians who have lived for over a hundred years! They are high-quality talents!"
The Black Dragon Witch, who had always suffered from a perpetual shortage of manpower, rejoiced.
"Can we recruit these people as we please? Huh?"
"There"s no particular issue. Just don"t stop anyone who challenges them to a duel."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
I explained.
After hearing the whole story, the Black Dragon Witch lamented.
"Why can"t we have people who are both morally and skillfully competent in any world? I know I shouldn"t be the one to say this."
"I"m here, aren"t I?"
"Yeah. You shouldn"t be the one to say that."
The Black Dragon Witch lay down and sighed deeply.
"Alright. I"ve said it before, but I"m not in a position to judge others… Anyway, you"ve worked hard."
"Is everything fine here?"
"Focus on your own problems. We"ll handle issues here. That"s right, isn"t it? Hamustra said he wanted to gather our achievements and create a spin-off."
"No, what"s that…".
"I"ve entered the mukbang genre. How about "Black Dragon Food Fighter" for the t.i.tle? It"s a story about me traveling through various worlds and just eating delicious food. It"ll sell, right?"
"Seriously, what… I can see why Anastasia needs some healing. Please take it easy and rest. I"m leaving now."
So, whether "Black Dragon Food Fighter" will be created or not remains to be seen, but the compet.i.tion to recruit the witch race definitely heated up.
Even considering the unavoidable life-or-death duel requests, the magicians were undoubtedly valuable talents.
"I"ll offer you double the salary of any offer you"ve received so far."
The final winner of this compet.i.tion was the Count.
"Moreover, in our alliance, there are talented individuals from the entire Elf race. It"s like having a host of capable subordinates ready to be commanded. Black Dragon, Ten Thousand Temple, all good places with their own merits. But why should one go there to work themselves to death under the pretense of responsibility?"
"I swear my loyalty! Wah! King!"
"Right, right. You understand what I"m saying. But could you cry like a cat for me?"
"Meow! Meow! And, could you please protect my life too? I really don"t want to do any duels…"
"That"s impossible."
"d.a.m.n it."
Thus, some of the spiders who had originally sworn allegiance to the Magic Tower, then to me, switched their loyalty to the alliance. All within a mere fortnight. Isn"t that a prime example of the unpredictability of life?
However, there were spiders who didn"t align themselves with anyone.
"How could I do that."
Naturally, it was the former leader of the old Magic Tower, the Grey Spider.
"Do you have any plans?"
"I have a responsibility to bear."
The Grey Spider spoke while drinking plain water from a paper cup.
"Have you seen the duel requests that came for me?"
"Yes."
I nodded, recalling the considerable amount of paper that made me seriously worry about the scarcity of trees on the 50th floor.
"There were a lot."
"Yes. And they will keep coming… I have to accept them. To tie up loose ends. That"s the only way to move forward. Do you understand what I"m saying?"
The Grey Spider"s words had a double meaning.
Among those who sent duel requests, there would definitely be people who couldn"t sleep unless they ripped apart the Grey Spider"s silk or saw her dead body. People who would feel hot water as cold until they witnessed her demise. People who couldn"t move forward a single step without settling their score with the Grey Spider in some way.
"Yes."
Again, I nodded, recalling the eternity of 4000 days.
"I understand what you mean."
And so, the Grey Spider chose the vast, empty wasteland as her new nest. Anyone who bore a grudge against her could come there to request a duel.
She would hardly have days alone.
But if ever that day comes.
Even if a thousand years pa.s.s a thousand times, it may still seem far off, but if really, someday, there comes a day when no one seeks her out from morning till night. If she is granted the luxury of sipping a cup of water for an hour in the stretched sunlight of midday.
Only then would the Grey Spider be able to move on. To rise from the place she had stayed for a thousand years and finally head towards the next world.
I asked her.
"What would you like to do when that day comes?"
The Grey Spider smiled.
In that smile, I recalled someone. Someone who knew they could die at any moment and therefore didn"t put on airs or feel regret anymore. There was a pure brightness born from complete acceptance in that smile.
"Who knows. If I"m that lucky."
The Grey Spider looked upwards.
It was nighttime, and the place she had chosen to stay had no ceiling, so the starry night spread infinitely above.
The Grey Spider reached out with her dry fingers towards it.
"If I"m that lucky, I could climb the tower."
The tower.
"You"re going to try again?"
"I"ve decided not to wait any longer."
I didn"t ask any more questions.
The Grey Spider didn"t say anything more either.
The three of us just looked up at the same night sky.
7.
The fortnight flowed as it should.
My work was concluded with arranging part-time jobs at "Cafe Planetarium" for Hamustra"s followers. Seeing Hamustra dressed as a cafe employee, the a.s.sistant Writer screamed in delight.
"I"ve missed you, Librarian! Eek! What"s this!?"
"I really wonder what this is all about…"
Hamustra looked at me with a rotten gaze, as if to blame me. There was somewhat sufficient reason for that, considering that ten of his followers simultaneously grabbed him and affectionately rubbed their cheeks against his.
Given Hamustra"s small stature, it would be fair to describe the current situation as a hamster stuck between couch cus.h.i.+ons.
"King. Did you ever mention that these people are no different from stalkers or even something more terrifying?"
The hamster complained as his cheeks stretched out.
"You saved people who are connected to you, and I appreciate that, but I never asked you to bring them directly like this…"
"We"ll never let you go, Librarian!"
"We"ll be together forever."
"I"ll end my life working here as a part-timer!"
"Living as a human is indeed tough and arduous…"
Well, that"s good. That"s very good.
Of course, there were those who didn"t fare so well.
And I"m not talking about Hamustra.
The commander of the Mahos army asked the a.s.sistant Writer.
"Wait a moment. a.s.sistant Writer. Weren"t you supposed to climb the 51st floor with me?"
"Huh? Screw that."
The a.s.sistant Writer"s tongue responded before her brain.
The commander of the Mahos army was disappointed. The a.s.sistant Writer fumbled as she looked at him.
"No, it"s just… um. There"s something more important than life."
"What"s that?"
"Being a fan."
Another person with rotten eyes was added to the Planetarium.
The a.s.sistant Writer was rather indignant.
"Ah, what! This is a line that only the real protagonist can say!"
Enjoy your happy fandom.
While the people under the sky reached out to touch the edges of the world, cautiously searching for a place to lean on, stand for a while, or pa.s.s by, the constellations in the sky came to me.
"I"ve thought a lot about how to repay you."
[Claws Scratching the Night Sky] spoke as a representative of the constellations.
"It wasn"t just me pondering; the other twelve constellations discussed it too. To decide on a reward for a hunter, and that too one who has just reached the 50th floor… It"s unprecedented."
"It"s thanks to you that I was able to reunite with my cute little one…"
[The Whip That Descends on the Self-Abuser] added, gently touching the night sky"s hair spread on the floor.
"I thought about giving you a great weapon, but the holy sword at your waist already looks more impressive…"
"Honestly, you don"t seem like the type to have material desires, which made it difficult."
But, said [Claws Scratching the Night Sky].
"You claim to be the successor of the Sword Emperor. Fortunately, some of us knew what kind of gift the Sword Emperor would appreciate."
The night sky clasped its hands together.
"May this be the right answer for you."
Whoooosh.
A soft light enveloped my body.
[The constellation "Claws Scratching the Night Sky" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 50th floor stage has been cleared!]
As my vision gradually whitened.
"I hope someday a constellation will create a quest just for you… Death King. Although we are not your dedicated constellations. The existence of such constellations, it"s a very, a very happy thing…"
The voice continued.
[The constellation "The Whip That Descends on the Self-Abuser" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 51st floor stage has been cleared!]
And it continued.
[The constellation "The Eye Living in the Labyrinth" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 52nd floor stage has been cleared!]
Constellations that partic.i.p.ated in the Anti-Magic Alliance.
[The constellation "The Bell that Mourns the Dead" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 53rd floor stage has been cleared!]
One by one, those with the authority to judge whether a hunter is qualified to ascend to the next floor.
[The constellation "The Last Sword in the Wilderness" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 54th floor stage has been cleared!]
They formed a unified voice and spoke to me.
[The constellation "Fist Holding the Sun" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 55th floor stage has been cleared!]
[The constellation "Guardian of the Southeast Gate" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 56th floor stage has been cleared!]
[The constellation "Failed Monologue" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 57th floor stage has been cleared!]
[The constellation "The Lone Seeker of Truth" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 58th floor stage has been cleared!]
[The constellation "The Incarnation of Love and l.u.s.t" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 59th floor stage has been cleared!]
[The constellation "The Warhorse of the Eternal Plains" acknowledges the completion of your quest.]
[The 60th floor stage has been cleared!]
Finally.
[Your existence becomes even more distinct.]
[The level of the Death King increases.]
[Your skill slot expands.]
The next world colored my vision.
[Your Hunter rank is now S-Cla.s.s.]
[May luck be with you.]