2.
When I opened my eyes, all I saw was a dark abyss.
I looked around in every direction, but I could only see darkness.
It was the underworld I returned to every time I died.
[Your death has satisfied the skill condition.]
[The Constellation Killer's skills are being randomly copied.]
I stared blankly, shocked.
Naturally, I knew that the Constellation Killer's story took place in the past. However, that the past also contained the director's childhood… That, I never expected.
'The Constellation Killer and my orphanage director were classmates.'
They attended the same school. They were in the same class. They lived in the same time. For one of them, time had stopped forever. For the other, the hour hand had stopped for the rest of his life.
One clock was broken.
The other clock was damaged.
'Why…?'
Anger weighed on my heart.
'Why is it always the good men who end up damaged and broken? Why should the person who was hurt die while the one who hurt them is fine? Why did the world become a hell only for the one who feels guilty?'
My anger settled, but I couldn't be at ease. My emotions subsided. But my subdued emotions did not disappear. They were merely piling on top of each other.
The surface of my mind rose a little bit.
A surface that would overflow and become a torrent someday.
-Cough.
A voice flowed into my heated mind.
It was Bae Hu-ryeong.
-The best feeling in the world is always catching a zombie bastard off guard. I've seen a lot of things since becoming a ghost, but there's still nothing better than seeing a defeated Kim Zombie. Kukuku!
"...."
-What do you think? Isn't the 50th floor tough? The Constellation Killer isn't an easy prey, huh? Right, so do you still think it was a good idea to weasel your way up to the 50th floor? All of this is karma for what you did, bastard!
Bae Hu-ryeong had a sly smile on his face.
It was almost as if [I'd only fought the Constellation Killer a short while ago].
I could guess it from Bae Hu-ryeong's tone.
'…He didn't enter the trauma with me this time.'
Until now, we'd experienced the journey through the trauma together. Starting with the [Hellfire Residence], Preta, Master, Raviel. Bae Hu-ryeong sometimes complained about the trauma and sometimes remained silent. Nevertheless, he had always been with me.
This time was different.
For a month, I had been experiencing the trauma on my own.
"I had a nightmare."
-Huh?
Bae Hu-ryeong blinked.
-A nightmare? What nightmare?
"It was a trauma. This trauma was a bit strange. Sword Emperor, you weren't with me, and the Constellation Killer's mind wasn't fully recreated. Like there was an error there…"
I told him about what I experienced in the trauma. I recreated it. Of course, I didn't tell him that he had been my father. If I brought it up, his hair would probably turn white.
-Hmm.
Bae Hu-ryeong was lost in thought for a while after hearing my story.
-That's strange, isn't it? It doesn't make sense that I wasn't there with you. In the first place, I'm only called a ghost for convenience. In truth, I am a [skill].
Bae Hu-ryeong was right.
+
[Sword Constellation]
Rank: A+
Effect: A ghost from another world. He cleared the 99th floor in another world but failed the 100th floor and died. The resentment remained, causing him to become a ghost. He cannot interfere with the physical world, but it is possible to tamper with the owner's mind.
Seek advice from his rich experience and amazing skills!
※However, no one can see the ghost except for the owner.
※This skill was copied from Hunter Marcus Calenbury.
+
In the end, Bae Hu-ryeong's true identity was a skill.
He had memories of his past life, but he was restrained to a skill card.
-In other words, I am someone who lives off of you. Should I say a mental tenant? Unless you forcibly remove my skill card, there is no reason why I shouldn't enter a trauma with you.
However, Bae Hu-ryeong had not been able to participate in this trauma.
"…I guess. What's going on? Something's strange."
–Yeah.
The two of us pondered side by side in the dark space. Time passed slowly, but we still were unable to think of an answer. Eventually, Bae Hu-ryeong got tired of all the thinking and exclaimed.
-Ah, enough! I don't want to think about this anymore! In any case, if you just remember the strange feeling, you will get an answer someday. Hurry up and pick one of that Constellation Killer guy's skills! It's been a long time since we had a magic skill! That Golden Silk or something only had a Constellation's blessings, so her skills were trash.
Perhaps in response to Bae Hu-ryeong's words, cards began appearing from the darkness.
[The skill cards are being created.]
[Please select a skill card.]
In total, 10 cards appeared before me. It was a procession of silver and gold that flew through the air like they had wings.
-Now, let's peruse the Constellation Killer's collection! What the hell? This bastard's totally cheating, keeping all these dope skills. That's why Hunters who focus on skills are annoying. Huh? Look at this one.
Bae Hu-ryeong seemed excited as he read the backs of the cards.
Among them, two skills caught my attention.
+
[Puppeteer's Parade]
Rank: S
Effect: In some world, there lived an old puppeteer. The puppeteer was afraid of receiving love, but he wasn't strong enough to endure eternal solitude.
'Let's make another me.' So, the puppeteer designed it. 'Let the other me be loved. Let it live with people, among people. And if it gets hurt—I'll throw it away,' whispered the puppeteer. 'Erase it forever.'
Countless puppets lived.
Countless puppets were discarded.
This skill is a black art for the weak. The ability to choose or throw away memories. You can make 13 puppets that have the exact same appearance and abilities as you. When one puppet dies, another one awakens. Broken dolls can be repaired.
It is your imitation of immortality. A fabricated eternity.
※However, memories are not shared between puppets.
+
There was the Constellation Killer's secret.
'There are a total of 13 puppets.'
So what happened to the Constellation Killer's true body? Was the true body also included in the puppets? Or did the Constellation Killer have a separate body that was asleep somewhere else?
Then I heard another secret.
+
[Salvation of a Torn Goddess]
Rank: A+
Effect: There was once a goddess who was devoted to a certain warrior. Although the goddess was torn apart by the warrior, she still wished to stand beside him. The goddess fell and was sealed in this skill card.
The goddess replaces memories with abilities. You can strengthen your abilities and might by giving your memories to the goddess. The more important the memory is to you, the stronger the buff you receive.
※However, the strengthening effect does not last long.
+
That goddess was probably the [Guardian Goddess].
And the warrior must be the Constellation Killer.
There was little doubt.
The [Guardian Goddess] was divided into five parts—idol, compassion, prayer, sacrifice, and salvation. With this, I reaped four parts of the Goddess. The last part, salvation, was in the form of one of the Constellation Killer's skills.
-Hmph.
Bae Hu-ryeong snorted.
-All these skills are creepy because we don't truly know who the Constellation Killer is. It's foreboding. They're all good abilities, but it's unnerving. I don't know why the constellations would be so interested in a broken human…
I nodded.
"I've decided what to choose."
-Mm. The cons far outweigh the pros, though?
Bae Hu-ryeong objected.
-Just pass this time. You don't need [Puppet Parade] or [Salvation of a Torn Goddess] now. I hate to admit it, but your skill list is pretty complete. Except for your Goblin High Society…
"Goblin High Society is a skill that will soar one day."
-It's your head that will soar. No, it has already flown beautifully once. In any case, if you take a stupid skill now, you'll damage your synergy.
"Yes. I know that. But there is something I can use."
I had to defeat the Constellation Killer.
But victory didn't mean I had to get rid of him.
'I can do much better.'
I would make the Constellation Killer admit that his method was wrong.
It wasn't about simply overwhelming him with brute force. Rather, I would make [my method] defeat the [Constellation Killer's method].
That is what victory was.
'The Constellation Killer.'
I reached out for a card.
'Lefanta Aegim.'
Thinking about the Hunter who had multiple titles.
Thinking about the man whose first name I still don't know.
[Selection complete.]
[The skill is being copied.]
[You are regressing to 24 hours ago.]
■■.
Let's end our old nightmare.
3.
When I regressed a day, I hadn't even cleared the [Fairytale] World yet.
I spent a month in the Constellation Killer's trauma world.
But not even a single day had passed in the tower.
Eventually, I cleared the [Fairytale] World again. I knew that [The Evangelist of Everlasting Happiness] was planning a surprise attack in advance, so I cleared it much more easily than before. However, the willpower and stamina that I used were the same.
'Next time, I'm going to take a day off before I climb the Tower…'
Once again, I realized the importance of save points.
"Count-nim."
"Hm?"
Immediately after clearing the [Fairytale] World and returning to the Great Library, I spoke to the Count.
"I have a small favor to ask you."
"Ooh, what is it? Treasure of our Tower, prize of our Sangryun. Tell me anything! I'll help you."
The Count greeted me more enthusiastically than usual. The shape of her mouth was curved like the letter 'w'. Was it because the price to clear the stage was much lower than she thought it would be?
For a moment, I couldn't help but remember the Count I'd encountered in the trauma.
『He sent that sort of text.』
『Wasn't he really crazy?』
I froze.
"What's wrong?"
The Sangryun guildmaster in front of me tilted her head to the side.
"You're pale all of a sudden."
"…No. It's nothing. I just blanked out for a moment."
I quickly shook my head, trying to rid my mind of the thoughts.
The classmate in the trauma simply had the Count's appearance; in the end, it was fake. I couldn't compare the fake to the person in front of me. It was incredibly disrespectful to the Count.
"Did you put too much energy into the Apocalypse just now? Be careful. You need to be careful while you're young so you don't go nuts when you're old. Anyway, what's the favor?"
"I would like to send a letter to the outside world," I said.
"It doesn't matter if it's not a letter, but there is someone I need to contact as soon as possible. Count, you have the ability to interact with the outside world. Please help me send the letter."
"Oho? Of course. It's easy."
The Count held her fan.
"If it doesn't have to be a letter, you can use more convenient methods. Which country are you sending the letter to? It'd be a bit hard to send letters to countries with governments that have collapsed."
"That's fine. I'd like to send it to the country where I was born."
"Death King's birth country… Ahh. Then it's fine. There is an ambassador in that country, so we can get in touch with them right away. Let's see. Where is that woman?"
The Count looked around. It wasn't just us in the Great Library, but every Hunter with an epithet. The Count pointed to one of them with her fan.
"Communications Officer! Madame CO! Come over here for a bit."
"…What is it now?"
A middle-aged female Hunter approached us.
The seventh-rank Hunter. It was the Wide-Range Communications Officer.
The Wide-Range Communications Officer wore a sari, a traditional Indian dress, around her shoulders, and she frowned the entire way as she walked over to us. Perhaps she didn't get along with the Count.
"Let me introduce you. This is my friend, the Communications Officer, and she comes from the same homeland as I do. Ahaha, but the difference between our origins is like heaven and earth."
"If you just called me over here to talk nonsense, then I'll be on my way."
"Woah, woah. Calm down, Madame Brahmin. I'm going to set up a sanctuary to talk with the outside world, so please connect us for a while. It's a country with an ambassador, so it shouldn't be too much of a hassle."
"Why should I…?"
"It's not mine, but the Death King's request."
The Wide-Range Communications Officer turned to look at me.
I put my hands together and politely bowed my head.
"Please."
"...."
The Wide-Range Communications Officer also brought her hands together and bowed. She looked back and forth between me and the Count before sighing heavily as if she'd given up.
"…If it was some crude man's request, I would've declined it immediately. But Death King, I also watched from afar as you devoted yourself to the Tower. Your commitment should be rewarded. I'll help you."
"Yeah. As expected, you get along well with noble people. Like calls to like."
"If you run your mouth one more time, I'm leaving."
"Oh my, don't be like that. You should be more generous. But fine, fine. Hey, I get it. Let's just do this!"
The Count smiled before taking something out of her pocket. It was a small pouch. The Count then took a handful of glittering, purple powder before sprinkling it in a circle on the library floor.
"The Great Mother Vina. Vina. A wish is a prayer, please let it not be torn by screams. Let us be by your side as you stay by our side. Make this space your sanctuary."
Whoosh!
Purple light came out of the purple powder. The area of purple light was similar in size to a public phone booth.
Then, the Wide-Range Communications Officer turned to me.
"Give me your smartphone."
"Ah. Yes."
I handed my phone to the Communications Officer, who tapped the phone three times with a bent finger. Tap, tap, tap. It looked as though she'd drawn a triangle with her fingertips.
"Go through. Connect. When noise reaches someone, it becomes a sound, and when there is a person here and a person there, connections sing and the world makes a choir."
The smartphone was then wrapped in blue light.
The Communications Officer nodded slightly.
"Take it."
I took my phone back.
The Count beamed.
"Enter the sanctuary, Death King."
The Communications Officer grimaced.
"If you make a call, it will be received. If you send mail, they will reply."
"Call charges are measured separately, but I can pay that much for you!"
"However, following the agreement with the outside world, all communications must be monitored to ensure they remain within the scope of international law. That shouldn't be a problem, though. It doesn't matter if it's a crime as long as you don't mention it directly."
"Well, if you want to send a secret message, tell me separately. There are ways to bypass the laws."
The two of them spoke casually, but this was a collaboration between the Hunters ranked 5th and 7th. Only a handful of people could ever enjoy such a privilege.
"Yes. Thank you."
Holding my smartphone, I entered the sanctuary.
"...."
Then, I pressed it, [the first phone number I memorized in my life]. It was a number I hadn't dialed in years. But human memory was strange, for no matter how much time had passed, it was not a number I could ever forget.
Ring… Ring…
The phone's connecting sound rang for a while.
If the other person changed their number, then this would be pointless. But he said that he would never change his number so that we could call at any time.
He didn't lie.
-Hello?
I couldn't speak.
-Hello? Who is this?
"...."
The voice was a little older than the cries I heard on the rooftop of the trauma. It was a little more tired. But the essence hadn't changed, and I regretted that it took me so long to hear this voice that hadn't changed.
I should have called sooner.
Regardless of whether I abandoned the outside world and entered the Tower, I shouldn't have abandoned the people.
"…Director. It's me, Gongja. Kim Gongja."
Silence fell for a moment over the call.
-Right. It's been a long time.
The director.
The oldest voice in my memory reverberated.