Chapter 53: The Ultimate Fan (1)

Chapter 53: The Ultimate Fan (1)

「This is an amazing video BBS just acquired. You are looking at the Hunter known as the Black Witch leading the Hunter Raid Team on the eleventh floor. Ah! Zoom in here, please. Yes, perfect! Please pause the video for a moment.」

I sat in an empty waiting room, blankly watching the television.

「Can you see it, fellow viewers? The Black Witch is holding hands with another Hunter, who we presume is the Death King. Unless the video was fabricated, it looks like the Death King killed the eleventh-floor boss monster in one strike. Hunters like to call this One Hit Kill, but it’s never been done on a boss monster before.」

The two anchors buzzed with excitement.

「So, this is the first, isn’t it?」

「Yes, exactly. While yes, he had the Black Witch’s help, the Death King seems to be the only one who directly engaged the boss monster.」

The bottom of the screen read, “Death King to hold a press conference this afternoon.”

「Let’s go on to our next video.」

「The mysterious Death King returned to Babylon using the teleportation stone yesterday afternoon, revealing himself. As you can see, the Black Witch and Sword Star are with him.」

「It looks like the two Hunters are guarding the Death King.」

「I’ll increase the volume so our viewers can get a better feel for what it was like at the site.」

They played a video that seemed to have been taken on someone’s smartphone, showing me walking with a blank face.

「Look over here for a moment, please!」

「Don’t push! Mr. Sword Star! Please give me a comment!」

「Black Dragon Master, when will we hear the official announcement?」

「What is the relationship between you two...!」

I couldn’t take it anymore and had to use the remote control.

—Why did you turn it off? I was having fun. The Guardian, who had been watching the television with me, gave me a look of annoyance.

“I feel like I’m going to die from embarrassment!”

It had been a day since I earned the Sword Star’s recognition, and today was the day of the press conference. It was going to start soon. The Five Guild leaders were going to talk about the recent accomplishments in clearing the Tower; that job was mostly for the guild leaders, but I had been invited as a special guest. That was why I was in the waiting room.

—Who cares if you do? You won’t stay dead anyway.

“I still hate it!”

I had been watching the television because I had nothing to do before the press conference. However, that was a mistake.

—Tsk. Alright. Change it to a different channel.

“Every channel is talking about me anyway!”

It wasn’t just the news. Almost every channel talked about how the twentieth floor had been cleared. I couldn’t escape even if I got on the internet. I had actually become a celebrity overnight.

[The Goddess of Protection points out that this is an indication of how unprecedented your accomplishment is.]

The holy sword vibrated from its position on my waist.

[The Goddess of Protection says that a hero is a celebrity, which comes with a price.]

[The Goddess of Protection advises you to get used to your position!]

I looked down at the holy sword uncomfortably. “I was too tired to talk much yesterday, so I just went to sleep... But, Miss Goddess, aren’t you overrating me?”

[The Goddess of Protections says that you are light!]

The holy sword shook harder. For some reason, she sounded like an idol’s fangirl.

[The Goddess of Protection whispers that she still remembers the moment vividly. On the ramparts, you roared and declared that you would leave the empire in the hands of its people.]

[The Goddess of Protection found the moment very imposing...]

“Arghhhh!” I covered my ears. “Stop! Stop it! I said that when I was too emotional!”

However, it was no use. The holy sword spoke directly into my head. She continued to whisper about my embarrassing past.

[The Goddess of Protection says that a hero should love himself! A hero who doesn’t love himself makes the people around him miserable and will meet a miserable end. On that note, your confidence is amazing and exemplary!]

Yes, the Goddess of Protection was fangirling for me.

“Stop... Please stop...!”

It was just like the time I had fanboyed for the Fire Emperor. I wouldn’t really care if she did it when I couldn’t see her, but I heard her voice twenty-four seven.

[The Goddess of Protection confesses that she is happy that she gets to have a person like you as her second master!]

Oh my god. Her praise was genuine, but the memory she mentioned was one I found deeply embarrassing and wanted to forget about as soon as possible. However, she continued to bring up more of those memories and praised every one of them. It didn’t look like that was going to end soon. I wanted to die.

[The Goddess of Protection comments that the best part is when you took the Demon King of Autumn Rain under your command. You muttered, “A ruler has an obligation to protect their people.”]

No, that was it. I pulled out a bottle of oil used to maintain the sword. Glaring at the holy sword, I dabbed a cloth in the oil bottle.

“You asked for this.” I reached out for the sword, which flickered with white light.

[The Goddess of Protection feels a threat to her safety.]

[The Goddess of Protection asks you to stop.]

[The Goddess of Protection...]

Ten minutes later...

“Forget it. From now on, you’re Shiny, not Goddess of Protection. You don’t deserve to be called a holy sword!”

Now that I thought about it, this Constellation was pathetic. She had lost almost her entire world to the Demon King of Autumn Rain and I had to step up and protect her world. Just like Preta, she was in no position to act high and mighty.

“And you’re too noisy. My head is already at maximum capacity with Mr. Sword Emperor over there. And you keep saying ‘Goddess of Protection’ every time you say something. It’s too distracting! Don’t talk to me unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

[The Goddess of Protection—]

“I’m more than willing to return you to the Aegim Empire. You got that, Shiny?”

After a brief silence, the holy sword vibrated.

[Shiny answers, “Yes, Hero.”]

It was a “Gotcha, Constellation!” moment.

***

The press conference was held in the plaza. The crowd appeared to be well into the tens of thousands; they not only filled the plaza but also the alleys nearby. When we walked up to the platform in the plaza’s center, cameras flashed from all directions.

The Black Witch, the Sword Star, and I sat side by side at the table prepared for us. The Black Witch took the microphone.

“...Thank you for your welcome.”

The Black Witch’s calm voice triggered bursts of cheers in the plaza.

“Black Dragon Master!”

“I love you!”

“Please look over here, Black Dragon Master! Just this once!”

A group of people waved flags. Some were even holding up the magazines for which the Black Witch had modeled.

It was amazing.

Perhaps that was because the Saintess was yet to appear, the Black Witch currently reigned as the most popular female Hunter. She bowed obligingly before she moved the press conference forward.

“As all of you already know, we cleared the eleventh to the nineteenth floors. Various press and broadcasting networks have described that as a remarkable feat, and yes, it truly is. We were wondering how to announce this joyous accomplishment... but that turned out that it wasn’t necessary. You immediately advertised it for us. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for helping us save on advertising expenses.”

The reporters in the front row laughed quietly.

“But that isn’t our most proud accomplishment.”

The plaza slowly quieted down.

“I’m not talking about how we finally cleared the tenth floor after years of trying. It isn’t how we cleared the twentieth floor at a speed no one expected, either. What makes me the happiest is that we’ve taken zero casualties. No one died in this expedition.”

She spoke from her heart after making a little joke. I knew nothing about giving speeches, but the Black Witch of the Black Dragon Guild had deftly led the press conference right from the beginning. Is that what it takes to become the best guild’s leader?

I wondered if she was really the person who had been eagerly stuffing me into clothes yesterday like I was a doll.

“Everyone, please take a moment to look down at the plaza,” the Black Witch said. “You’ll see a name on each paving stone. They belong to our fallen predecessors who have given their lives to clear the Tower. Even when we cleared the second and third floors, many names were carved into these stones. “

The reporters’ cameras zoomed in on the floor.

“Thanks to their sacrifice, we’re standing here today, and I’m... truly happy that I can say this in front of them.” The Black Witch’s voice swelled. “Today, we carve no one’s name here.”

The cameras moved back and forth between the plaza and the Black Witch. The cover for tomorrow’s newspaper was decided, and so was the press conference’s mood. The crowd was chanting the Black Witch’s title.

I watched the conference with a carefully managed poker face. I was pleasantly surprised—I wouldn’t even need to come forward. This is why knowing the right people was important.

I felt much more relaxed as I glanced up at the air.

[01:22:10]

It was just like the time the eleventh floor had opened up. The moment the glowing countdown in the sky hit zero, the twenty-first floor would be opened.

I just want to be done with the press conference and head to the twenty-first floor...

The press conference smoothly progressed to a Q&A between the Black Witch and the reporters when one of the reporters sprang to his feet.

“I’m John Evans from Babylon Daily News! I have a question for the Death King, the new Rank 3 Hunter.”

Huh? Me? I looked at the reporter.

Naturally, the attention of everyone in the plaza was on me now.

“There are many discussions about the sudden increase in your ranking, Mr. Death King. The theory that you’re the product of a long program run by the Five Guilds is gaining the most credibility!”

“Uh...”

“If it’s true, that makes you a hero deliberately created by the Five Guilds. What do you think about these allegations?”

The plaza grew a little noisy.

“A lot of concerns have also been raised as to the Five Guilds possibly colluding to monopolize the rights to the eleventh to the twentieth floors. And I heard that you are going to have exclusive rights to the twentieth floor! Is that true, Death King?”

The commotion was growing.

The Black Witch maintained a blank expression, but she clicked her tongue. The sound was so quiet that only I could hear it. She sighed. “He’s trying to provoke you. Don’t answer him; I’ll take care of it.”

“No.” I shook my head. “People like that will continue to show up in the future anyway. I need to take a stand at least once.”

“But...”

“It’s okay.” I extended my hand to the Black Witch. “Please hand me the microphone.”

My mind was set. I was going to make sure no one would provoke me like that again before I got to the twenty-first floor.