Episode 52. < Paradise after the ending. (3) >
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3.
We barely made it through the crowds and arrived at the cafe.
Nostalgic faces were waiting at the cafe.
“Ahaha, welcome!”
Heresy Questioner. The guild leader of the pantheon waved his right arm.
“I never thought I would clear the 20th floor in five days! This is the greatest feat since the tower was built. I sincerely respect you, Gongja Kim Hunter! no. “I guess I’ll have to call him Death King now!”
“Even now, I’m wondering if it’s just a dream… .”
The paladin sipped iced coffee.
“Honestly, I thought the three of you, the Black Dragon Master, the Sword Saint, and you would fail in the attack and die. You even conquered the 20th floor by yourself, right? That’s amazing. “If there is a secret, please let me know.”
“It’s the secret.”
I sat on one side of the table.
“I just have to live a good life, right?”
“That’s very practical advice.”
The paladin smiled bitterly.
“Anyway, it’s nice to see you after a long time. everyone. “How have you been?”
“Well, even though it’s been a long time, it’s only been 5 days.”
Cuckoo. The count sucked on his cigarette with a bamboo stick.
“We stayed in the throne room at first, as we promised you. Because a promise is a promise. But for some reason, after a while, NPCs from the empire suddenly started wandering around. I was really surprised!”
“ah.”
This is a story about when the devil was defeated on the 12th floor.
I defeated the demon lord and received the quest. Time that had stopped due to that wind began to flow again.
“I hadn’t thought about that. “What happened?”
“The Empire’s NPCs thought we were weightlifters who invaded the imperial palace!”
The Heretic Questioner was distracted.
“Someone in a great suit said, ‘Get those weightlifters!’ He shouted. The Empire’s knights and elite soldiers flocked to catch us. Yaaaa, it sent a chill down my spine!”
“But this kid has many talents.”
Cheonmu-munju’s poisonous snake.
The one-eyed hunter scratched the Heretic Questioner’s head.
“Once he was captured, he escaped from prison. meaning. “Really.”
“Ahaha! Wasn’t it fun! Who would have thought that there was such a secret passage hidden in the dungeon! It was like I went back to my childhood!” “Huh? I heard you were captured by the Bulgarian mafia when you were young.”
“yes!”
The Heretic Questioner smiled innocently.
“That means it was fun because it reminded me of my childhood. prison! underground! escape! Ah, these are all decorations that made my childhood beautiful! Now it has all become a distant memory.”
“Crazy guy… .”
The viper sighed deeply.
While I was busy taking pictures of the Demon King, the guild leader and his party seemed to be active as well.
“huh. “I know we all had wonderful lives out there.”
The witch shrugged her shoulders and joined the table.
“The Count was born in a trash village in India. Viper, your parents were gangsters. “The Paladin had a hard time in Venezuela.”
“…….”
“So, to the outside world, we are all trash. “Isn’t that right?”
The atmosphere of the cafe calmed down immediately.
Only the sound of the paladin sipping coffee flowed quietly.
“… “It’s not something worth talking about in a place like this.”
The paladin took a quick look at my face.
“Does this mean that Death King will now be treated as a member of [us]?”
“okay.”
said the witch.
“I don’t know about you, but Death King contributed decisively to conquering the tower.”
“We know that.”
“no. I don’t know.”
The witch shook her head.
“We did not have a single fatality in this attack. This was even though numerous hunters jointly participated on the 11th floor. “It’s all thanks to Death King teaching me strategies and tactics.”
The hunters’ eyes were focused on me.
hmm.
“It’s true.”
“I am.”
The witch opened her lips.
“I want to make this man a hero who represents our tower.”
There was silence in the cafe.
The witch looked around at the hunters surrounding the table one by one.
“count. You make money too.”
“It’s true, I can’t deny it.”
“Heresy Questioner. “You killed too many people.”
“yes! “It was a necessary sacrifice!”
“Paladin. “You don’t like receiving attention from other people.”
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“It’s a personal thing.”
“And a viper. you are… .”
“ok? What?”
“…Sorry. “You are so ugly.”
“……..”
The viper opened his mouth. An expression of resentment. But he soon lowered his head.
It was a portrait that conveyed the sadness of middle age.
“As you know, Geomsung is an old man who is only crazy about swords.”
“Hmm.”
“I can’t because there are many times when I have to act secretly behind the scenes.”
After looking at each table in turn, the witch looked back at me one last time.
“On the other hand, Death King still has no image to the outside world. If we work hard, we can make him into a perfect hero. This is your chance. “An opportunity to renew the tower’s image.”
“indeed.”
The Heretic Questioner stroked his chin.
“We’re old people, so it’s true that we’ve lost some of our wits! “We continue to publish hunter world news through magazines, but sales to the outside world are steadily decreasing!”
“huh. “That’s what I’m saying.”
“Then I guess I should start making images today!”
“Wow,” the Heretic Questioner stood up.
And it started circling around me like a puppy.
“Hmm. He’s a little short. it’s okay! “If you look at me, you can see that everything is covered in photos!”
“uh… .”
no. Wasn’t the point of your charm that you emphasized that you were small?
A wide smile bloomed on the little hunter’s small face.
“[Small but hot man, Death King]. “If you catch these phrases, it will work!”
Before I could say anything, the hunters came around.
witch. count. venomous snake. Paladin.
Regardless of affiliation, people came closer and carefully examined my entire body.
“Just in case, I’m asking, are you currently dating anyone?”
“uh… . “I don’t have any.”
“What about the Sagwon people since entering the tower?”
“No.”
“In other words, there is no need to worry about an affair happening. It’s best!”
I don’t know what is best.
The top ranked hunters started talking amongst themselves.
“I was watching this guy from the side, and when he smiled, he looked a little bit sassy. So, I think I’m going to push for a mystical concept. “It’s okay because I’m good at keeping a straight face.”
“But it’s difficult not to date anyone at all.”
The paladin said.
“There is a need to create a love affair that does not exist here. Otherwise, people outside will spread false rumors… .”
“are you okay. “I will take care of that.”
“Ohh! Is this a scenario where love blossoms while fighting together for five days? Ahaha, good! “I can create a story that people will like!”
“How about donating a lot of the money you’ve earned so far to an orphanage? For times like this, there is something I have been donating anonymously. Let’s just say it was actually a donation from Death King.”
“huh. “Please do me a favor, Count.”
what.
What is happening now?
“Let’s call a photographer first! “Let’s take a picture!”
The Heretic Questioner smiled brightly.
“Please call all the designers as well. Anyway, I will have to send out at least one photo to the press within today. “I have already recorded several videos of the battle on the 11th floor, so I will post them on the Internet at the appropriate time!”
no.
wait.
“Hey, everyone… .”
“Don’t worry.”
The witch interrupted me and smiled.
It was a smile that conveyed deep experience.
“Death King. You don’t have to do anything. We’ll take care of everything. you are… That’s right. “You just have to do what you have done so far.”
“No, they said it was a mystical concept. “Wouldn’t it be okay to not have a designer?”
“I’ll just ask you for one day today.”
The witch calmly folded her hands together.
“Everyone in the world wants to know about you. 1 photo. Just take one picture and show it to people. huh? It’s okay, Death King. “The designers who signed exclusive contracts with us are amazing.”
Although it was revealed 30 minutes later, it was definitely not a single photo.
“Please look here!”
click!
Up to ten designers came and dressed me. touched her head Every time the clothes were put on and the hair was touched, the photographer set off the flash.
“Yes, that’s good. This time with a dagger! “Like a wolf hunting for prey in the grass!”
“no… for a moment… .”
“very good!”
click!
Hunters were huddled together behind the photographer. They whispered, inspecting my pose with eagle eyes.
“Don’t you think the suit suits you surprisingly well?”
“Maybe I should go with a slightly naughty vibe.”
“It’s not possible! “I already took the lead on the mischievous concept!”
“but. What the heck… Then, how about a young man with a burning sense of adventure?”
“Let’s join that.”
click!
“very good!”
It’s so damn good.
-Fuhuhuhuhuhu! Fuha, fuuu! Hahahaha!!
From earlier, Bae Hu-ryeong was rolling around in the air.
One hour passed, then two hours passed, and there was no sign of the filming ending, so my patience eventually ran out.
“I won’t! “I’ll hit you!”
I took off my suit and threw it on the floor.
“Hunter just has to work hard to climb the tower! What kind of press image or photo shoot! “Because you worry about such useless things, you haven’t even been able to clear the 10th floor and have been lagging for years!”
quiet.
Did my sincere words work? The air became cold. All the hunters, including the witch, looked at my face closely.
And he nodded.
“… “The line just wasn’t bad?”
“hmm. “You are truly a young man with a burning sense of adventure!”
“The motto of this magazine is [A Hunter is a person who climbs the tower].”
“We also had that kind of passion in our 20s… .”
Not even a seed was eaten.
“Ah, that’s it! I’m here to talk about the 20th floor. “I will give you all rights from the 10th to the 19th floor, so please keep the 20th floor as my land!”
The hunters nodded again.
“I also like the concept of not being greedy.”
“How about this for tomorrow’s newspaper? [Death King, sudden announcement. Declared that rights to the 10th to 19th floors would be distributed to all hunters. He revealed that he was satisfied with just conquering the tower.]”
“I agree!”
“It would be appropriate to include an article on the second page titled [Death King, known to have regularly donated to orphanages].”
“huh. Let’s say we offered the 20th floor to the Death King as a sign of gratitude and respect.”
“It’s perfect! Ah, what a beautiful ending!”
Wrong.
He didn’t listen to anything I said.
These people are now obsessed with making me a hero.
“Give up. young people.”
Geomseong said bluntly.
The old prosecutor was standing with his back against the pillar of the building.
“The same thing happened when I was ranked number one. They say that there is such a thing as old age in the world, and that you have to grow your beard differently. “I heard all kinds of stories.”
oh my god.
“That’s what those kids want to show to the outside world. [We are also living proudly and well]. “It’s a kind of sense of entitlement.”
The old man muttered.
“I would have abandoned everything in the outside world and come to the tower anyway. What is so regretful… .”
Geomseong took a step back.
“Let’s go.”
“yes?”
“There is no end to it if we keep doing this here. After taking pictures, they will say let’s take a video, and after taking a video, they will say let’s prepare for a press conference. Those are the kids. “If you don’t run away now, the day will be gone.”
It was a terrible story.
I said without any hesitation.
“Let’s run away quickly!”
“It’s the right decision.”
We ran with the Aurors on our toes. “Ah!” from behind my back. I heard him shouting, but it didn’t stop.
“Death King!’’
The witch shouted.
“We’re holding a press conference tomorrow, so come back in the morning if you can! I don’t want people to see me, so I sneak around! When running away, climb onto the roof! be careful!”
Bae Hu-ryeong laughed.
-hey. That person is not an angel or a goddess; she just looks like your mother.
It really was.
I don’t really know what kind of person my mother is.
4.
The sunset has already set on the world.
As the witch advised, we climbed onto the roof and escaped. Looking down from above, there were still hundreds of people gathered in front of the cafe. The fact that it is full of reporters from broadcasting stations is a bonus.
‘If I had gone out through the front door, I would have been in big trouble!’
I skipped over the red-stained roofs.
The place we stopped was the bell tower built in the square.
The security guard guarding the bell tower, fiddling with his smartphone, belatedly recognized us.
“omg! Oh, Sword Saint!?”
“hmm.”
The Sword Saint easily landed on the bell tower.
“I’m sorry, but could you please leave for a moment?”
“ah. that is… That is… .”
“Five minutes is enough.”
The young security guard was embarrassed. You can’t help but feel embarrassed that a living legend is asking you to leave. Then our eyes met, and the security guard’s eyes lit up.
“No way, Death King!?”
“ah. yes.”
“wow. Wow! This is my first time seeing the real thing, wow! oh my god!”
The security guard hurriedly rummaged through his bag. A romance novel popped out of my bag. It seemed like he brought this and that to pass the time while on guard.
“Well, this is the only paper I have right now! “Can I ask for your autograph!?”
Geomsung took over the novel as if he was familiar with it.
“Is there a pen?”
“Hey, it’s here!”
“What is your name?”
“Well, I haven’t received my tinnitus yet… !”
The old prosecutor signed with neat hand movements.
The security guard accepted the sign like an innocent boy and then looked back at me.
I don’t know why, but his eyes were extremely bright and sparkling.
“Can I ask Death King too!”
“uh.”
My signature?
“I’ve never done anything like an autograph… .”
“This is my lifelong wish! please!”
Suddenly, I was handed a novel and a pen.
It’s been my lifelong wish to get an autograph. How light life is.
I looked down at the novel a little awkwardly. Geomseong’s signature was already written there. As I picked up the pen and tried to write down my signature, I suddenly remembered that this was my first time writing the name ‘Death King’ in letters.
When I realized, the swordsman and my handwriting were already written side by side.
+
Geomsung (劍星).
Death King.
+
“…….”
“Thank you! thank you!”
The security guard bowed his waist. Fearing that the autograph might disappear somewhere, the security guard quickly returned the novel.
When the security guard took the novel away, I was overcome with a strange feeling, but it was difficult for me to know what kind of feeling it was.
“excuse me… .”
“I will make it an heirloom! Don’t worry! I will never sell it to anyone else! Oh, thank you so much to both of you! Have a happy weekend!”
The guard quickly walked down the steps of the bell tower. “Ahh! I caught it!” And the excited voice disappeared further and further down.
When the voice finally disappeared, a red glow appeared on the bell tower.
And only the quiet sound of the two people breathing remained.
“…….”
Neither of them spoke for a while.
and.
“Hey, Sword Saint.”
“Look, young man.”
The voices of the Sword Saint and I collided and fell apart. It was because they had to say it at the same time.
The pleasant silence did not last long, however.
I said.
“To the Sword Saint, I will be seen as having killed an enormous number of people. “He is a mass murderer who must be condemned.”
I looked at the Sword Saint with a calm face.
“But even if you look in the mirror, Master Swordsman, you will also see a mass murderer who killed countless people. “The Sword Saint himself.”
Geomseong was looking at the sunset, not at me.
“But the Sword Saint will not try to condemn himself for that. This may be because the Sword Saint has clear standards for killing someone. This is the standard of [punishing those who have harmed many].”
I continued speaking to the side of his face covered in twilight.
“I also did it with clear standards. This is the standard of [punishing those who harm many people].”
It’s something I’ve been preparing since I lied to the Sword Saint that I was a prophet.
“If the Sword Saint killed someone because someone killed many people before, then I have been killing that person because someone will kill many people in the future.”
So, it was an elaborate lie prepared especially for the Sword Saint.
“So, Sword Saint. Sword Saint and I are actually walking the same path… … ”
“youth.”
But before he could finish saying it, the old man quietly called to me.
“There’s no need to try to convince yourself like that.”
hmm.
“Sword Saint, I… .”
“youth.”
I closed my mouth at the soft call.
The old man said with his eyes still focused on the sunset.
“I am different from other hunters.”
At first glance, it seemed like a random statement.
“Black witch. count. Heresy Questioner. venomous snake. Paladin… . They are all children who have been treated harshly in the outside world. But I am different. “I was born without any shortcomings and lived without any shortcomings.”
Marcus Callenberg.
I knew that the old man in front of me came from a great family. Rather than knowing, he searched for it when he was deep in research about it. They say he is from a famous family recognized in Northern Europe.
“When Top appeared in the world, he had already established a family. I have run a business, gotten married, had children, and seen my children give birth to grandchildren and grandchildren. “It has already been successful enough.”
The voice of the Sword Saint was calm.
“But I have doubts.”
“Do you have any doubts?”
“Is the success I achieved really due to my skills? “I just suddenly became curious.”
The old man slowly took out the sword from its sheath.
“Wasn’t it purely thanks to being born into a good family?”
The sunset shone.
The sword was red even though it didn’t cut anything.
“Aren’t you just a bird who was born into a good family, received a good education, met good friends, and grew up drinking only the best? I am confident that I have achieved everything on my own, but… “Maybe it’s just the illusion of someone trapped in a cage.”
Geomseong said.
“no.”
It was a voice as sharp as a knife.
“That can’t be possible.”
A heart as red as the sunset was there.
“I was definitely born to enjoy good things. But, despite that, I was proud of myself for standing tall. “I wanted to prove that my pride was not delusional.”
“… “I guess that’s why you came to the tower.”
“hmm.”
The old man nodded.
His wrinkles were deep and thick.
“Those who enter the tower can never return to the outside world. There is only this one body. In this place with no clan, no family, and no close associates to support me… I wanted to prove my life with my own body.
“But,” Geomseong muttered.
“It seems like I let my guard down without realizing it.”
“Skill card open. open.”
Paaaat!
A silver card emerged from the Sword Saint’s hand.
+
[Detective’s insight]
Rank: B-
Effect: Know your opponent’s kill count. It does not include indirect killings. Only murders committed with clear intent by the other party are counted.
※However, the method of murder is unknown.
+
“It was stupid.”
Geomsung looked down at his skill card.
“Even though I decided to trust only my eyes and hands… Suddenly. Indeed, before I knew it, I was relying on something called [Skill]. “I saw it through skill rather than with my own eyes, and I blindly trusted the judgment of skill rather than my own judgment.”
and.
“young people. “I will ask you one last question.”
The old man’s blue eyes turned to me.
“Have you ever killed even one innocent life?”
is it.
I was convinced that that was why he said there was no need to try to convince himself.
Yes. Convincing is something you do with your head, like I just did.
No matter how elaborate a lie is, it will only grab someone’s head, but it will not capture their heart.
“no.”
Persuasion, not persuasion.
“I have never done that. Sword Saint.”
Like when he did it towards the pillars of the tower,
I spoke through my heart.
“I won’t do that again.”
Geomsung quietly closed his eyes.
As if he were ruminating on my facial expressions and voice.
There was silence.
and.
“Sigh!”
The card was blown.
The red blade cut the card flying in the air.
A card split in two.
A golden sunset leaked through the gaping gap.
“I believe my eyes.”
Soon, the card turned into light dust and scattered to pieces.
The skill was destroyed.
“You’ve had a hard time over the past five days. “Thank you for complying with the old man’s stubbornness.”
Geomseong raised his sword.
“Now that I’m here to tell you, it was quite an enjoyable experience breaking through from the 12th to the 19th floor with you. Get some rest today. “As soon as we finish the press conference tomorrow, the 21st floor will open.”
The old man stepped on the floor.
Just before jumping to the roof of another building, he glanced back at me.
“I look forward to your performance on the next floor as well. “Death King.”
And in an instant, he moved away from the bell tower.
“…….”
For a long time, I stood there in silence.
I opened my mouth hesitantly.
“Geomje nobleman. just now… .”
-uh.
“Did the Sword Saint just acknowledge me?”
-It seemed like that.
My heart sank.
“Wow… .”
My knees became weak and I slowly sat down. The stone floor was cool. I stopped turning red and looked at the sky that was starting to darken in confusion.
“Wow, really… It’s really over. The 20th floor is now mine. As for the media, the guild leaders will take care of it… . yes. “It’s really over.”
Bae Hu-ryeong chuckled.
-What is the end? Anyone who sees it will think that the 50th floor has been cleared.
“I feel like I cleared the 90th floor just by feeling.”
-Tsk tsk. Zombie, I sometimes get confused as to whether you are courageous or narrow-minded.
“Actually, I get confused sometimes too… .”
Anyway, I finished all the work up to the 20th floor.
While thinking that, I was overcome by a strange feeling of satiety.
[The Guardian Goddess admires your achievements!]
A voice I hadn’t heard in a while rang out.
“ok?”
If you think about it.
Despite defeating the Demon King of Autumn Rain, the Guardian Goddess remained silent. No, except when she first defeated the Twelfth Floor, the Guardian Goddess was actually silent the entire time.
[The Guardian Goddess acknowledges all your actions!]
Voices were heard one after another, as if they were trying to vent their anger at having been silent for so long.
[The guardian goddess believes that even if it is a lie that you are her apostle, you are actually qualified to become an apostle.]
[The Guardian Goddess acknowledges that you may use her in the future!]
But there was a strange sound.
“… You can use me in the future too. “What do you mean?”
[The Guardian Goddess is upset and asks what I am saying as we have been living well together until now.]
It was even more incomprehensible.
“Are you doing well together so far?”
[The Guardian Goddess tells you to look down.]
I looked down.
There was nothing except the stone floor.
[The Guardian Goddess tells you to look a little further to the left.]
I moved my gaze to the left.
There were my legs and waist.
At his waist, he wore a legendary weapon, the so-called Lefanta Aegim’s Guardian Sword, in its sheath, said to have been given by the goddess to the first emperor of the Aegim Empire.
“… wait for a sec. if?”
[The Guardian Goddess advises you to focus your attention on your waist.]
I felt strong.
The scene of the fight against the Demon Lord’s army on the 12th floor suddenly came to mind.
At that time, the sound of the guardian goddess squeezing out her last strength rang out. As soon as those words were finished, something I was holding emitted white light.
There were no other miracles other than that.
“no. Just wait. She couldn’t possibly be the [Guardian Goddess] who was occasionally mentioned while fighting the Demon King… .”
I said with a feeling of no way.
“you… Was it a ‘sword’ by any chance?”
After a while.
A voice responded.
[The Guardian Goddess affirms!]
oh my god.
It seems that the holy sword I used was truly a holy sword.
etc,
