Chapter 27: The Chosen Ones (3)

Chapter 27: The Chosen Ones (3)

The Hunters watched the Sword Star. For a long, tense moment, the Sword Star’s mouth remained shut.

“I-I... Mr. Kim...” he finally croaked.

The Sword Star had many choices right now. First of all, he didn’t have to trust the Paladin because he had no reason to. Although the Paladin was known for her upright character, she was also a high-ranking figure in one of the Five Guilds, so he could get angry and shout, “All of you are in this together!”

Or...the Sword Star could reveal his Detective Eyes, which was the Skill that showed him someone’s kill count. And then he could say, “I didn’t doubt Mr. Kim because I’m a geezer. It’s because of my Skill! It’s what my Skill told me, so what am I supposed to do? It’s only natural to trust my Skill over someone else.” Revealing his Skill wasn’t the wisest choice, but it would make for a decent excuse.

When people were at fault, they tended to become distrustful or make excuses to justify their actions to other people.

Then there are psychopaths like the Fire Emperor who would just kill other people.

Distrust, excuses, or a cover-up. The Fire Emperor had proved himself to be a psychopath by covering up his crime...and just like him, the Sword Star would decide what kind of person he was by the choice he made next. It was as simple as that.

The Sword Star’s lips moved without a sound until he came to a decision.

“...Your name is Kim Gong-Ja, yes?”

“It is.”

“If you truly didn’t kill anyone innocent... No, no. That isn’t what I’m trying to say.” The Sword Star sheathed his sword, shaking his head.

Sighs of relief wafted through the audience chamber as the Hunters surrounding Sword Star let down their guards a little.

The Sword Star adjusted his necktie. “Let me say it again. I’m truly sorry.” The Sword Star bowed deeply. “I’m in the wrong here. I reached a hasty conclusion which turned out to be a misunderstanding. A person’s life should not be decided so hastily, but that is what I have done until now. I decided who should die and killed them as soon as possible because that is what I believed.”

The Sword Star bowed a little lower.

“But it won’t happen again from now on.”

His voice was low, barely audible across the audience chamber, and thick with self-loathing.

“Since words are cheap, I would like to say that I would do anything you want... but please don’t take my life. I still want to live so that I can reach the top of this Tower. ...I made a grave mistake and it almost got you killed. But can you forgive this ugly old man so he can continue on with his life?”

The audience chamber was utterly silent.

The senior gentleman had many choices. He could have chosen not to trust the Paladin or used his Skill to excuse himself. However, he didn’t; instead, he admitted that he may be wrong.

My eyes met those of the Paladin, who was stealing glances at me. She nodded without saying anything. It was only a nod, but I could tell the Paladin was saying that everything the Sword Star had said was true. He was genuinely sorry and wasn’t going to kill someone based on his Detective Eyes. And he didn’t want to die yet, so he wanted my forgiveness.

—You’re really a geezer, Gramps, the Guardian mumbled. He didn’t say anything else, he just looked at the old man with a little regret.

It seemed to say that he was going to let me decide if I was going to forgive the Sword Star. His silence helped me make a decision.

“Mr. Sword Star.”

“Speak.”

“Teach me about the sword.”

The Sword Star stood up straight and looked at me inquisitively.

“It’s more...please accept my request whenever I ask you to spar. I have a swordsmanship teacher, but I don’t have a sparring partner, which is also important. I’m hoping you could be the one.”

I had promised the Guardian on the eleventh floor that I was going to start honing my sword skills. Making the Sword Star my sparring partner would be a good way to keep that promise. It would benefit me and grow my sword skills...

No, that wasn’t what I was trying to say. I shook my head. “I’m sorry. Let me say that again. Frankly, I can forgive you without any payback. But that would be embarrassing. I feel like I’m pretending to be more generous than you are, Mr. Sword Star. I’m not that remarkable. I’m just happy that a strong Hunter like you doesn’t consider me an enemy anymore.

“Still, blood was almost shed because of me. It’s just as embarrassing to say ‘Okay!’ and forgive you. I just don’t want to do that, so I’m going to ask you to teach me your sword since that’s what’s most valuable to you, Sword Star.”

I still felt so embarrassed that I was having a hard time keeping a straight face.

“Then I won’t be embarrassed...and you can save face, Sword Star.”

Fuck! I couldn’t believe how embarrassing it was to speak from my heart! Oh my god. I really had to believe that the reason why the Sword Star could have candidly asked for forgiveness was because he wanted to live. He seemed like a prideful person, so it was an amazing sight. I never knew that someone could genuinely apologize and beg for forgiveness to someone’s face. I would never be able to do it. I would rather kill myself instead.

“...Oh, my god,” the Paladin mumbled. “It’s...all true, surprisingly.”

The audience chamber fell into a heavy silence again. Silence was silence, but the air felt totally different from earlier.

“Uhh... For real?” the Viper blurted, breaking the silence. “He can forgive the Sword Star unconditionally, but he’s too embarrassed to act kind...? So he just wants the Sword Star to be his sparring partner?”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true, at least according to my Skill.”

“What? Is that rookie from a land of unicorns or something? How can he be that pure?” the Viper murmured.

He’d better shut up before I turned him into snake soup.

“...This is new,” the Black Witch said reluctantly. “How should I put it—I’ve only met people who clawed to get as much benefit as possible... It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone like Hunter Kim Gong-Ja. It’s a miracle that you’re still alive.”

I wanted to scream that I’d died. I died a lot. I died over four thousand times, to be specific.

[The Demon King of Autumn Rain offers you a reward.]

[Choose between the two rewards.]

I blinked. Huh? I have to choose one? I hadn’t heard anything about this in the last stage.

As if responding to my shock, two system windows appeared in front of me so I could choose.

Goddess of Protection

Description: The guardian goddess of the Aegim Empire is moved by your devotion and has decided to appoint you to an important position in the empire. You can be the empire’s prime minister, grand general, or imperial knight commander. Once you choose a position, you will receive the abilities and fame that come with it!

Hero of the goddess! Unite with your fellow heroes, and destroy the Demon King’s core on the twentieth floor!

※However, you cannot choose the goddess’s reward if you pick the Demon King’s.

I nodded as I slowly read through the description. This part is the same as what I already know. It was role-playing! After choosing a role, Hunters would act as people of the Aegim Empire. They could be the empire’s prime minister or commander of the imperial knights. It wasn’t just a title—the Hunter who acted as the commander received the knight commander’s abilities and reputation.

Hunters that had cleared the previous stage with high ranks were given a reward. They could choose a special role before other people!

[Listing the twelfth floor’s special classes.]

[Prime Minister of the Aegim Empire]

[Grand General of the Aegim Empire]

[Finance Minister of the Aegim Empire]

[Foreign Minister of the Aegim Empire]

[Imperial Knight Commander of the Aegim Empire]

[Imperial Guard Captain of the Aegim Empire.]

...

It was a long list of glamorous titles.

Man. I was impressed. I only got to choose a role like Guard A...

Before the regression, I had been on the twelfth floor, too. However, it was completely different back then. High Rankers had already taken roles like the imperial knight commander. Rankers also chose less important positions like a chief guard. How about now?

The stage reward is fabulous.

I could choose to be the empire’s prime minister and grand general. I was astonished by how different it was. I couldn’t agree more with the saying about striking while the iron was hot.

...What is the Demon King’s reward though? I turned to the second window, which had a description I had never heard of.

Demon King of Autumn Rain

Description: The Demon King is impressed with your performance and offers you the opportunity to work with it in secret. The Demon King promises you the exact same gifts as the goddess, plus one additional reward.

Kill the rest of the top ten champions! Once you succeed, the Demon King will use its ability to teleport you straight to the ninety-ninth floor of the Tower.

※Only one of the top ten champions can receive the Demon King’s reward.

※If more than one person chooses the reward, one of them will be selected at random.

※If no one chooses the reward, the Demon King’s reward will vanish.

I was at a loss for words. When I responded a little later, I heard two voices in my head.

What?

—Huh?

It was the Guardian and me. We blinked and reread the description of the Demon King’s reward. However, it remained the same.

[Kill the rest of the top ten champions!]

[Once you succeed, the Demon King will use its ability to teleport you straight to the ninety-ninth floor of the Tower.]

That was what was written on the window.

I looked around. The Sword Star, the Black Witch, the Inquisitor, the Countess, the Viper, and the Paladin.

I...can get to the ninety-ninth floor right away if I kill all of these people? I held my breath.

The voice spoke once again.

[Hunter Kim Gong-Ja.]

[Choose between the two rewards.]