Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: End of Childhood - Epilogue (3)
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6.
“Everyone. It’s truly an honor to meet you all like this.”
The manuscript Choi Uk had written and handed to me. As expected… it was filled with elegant rhetoric.
“In a world where nations and daily life have vanished, while your families and lives were under threat, your hardships must have been immense…”
I don’t know why.
Why my voice trembled so much as I said those words.
At that moment, a sob came from somewhere.
Then, one by one, from here and there… they began to kneel before me.
Why… why are you doing this?
Strangely, the letters on the manuscript blurred.
I tried repeatedly to read it.
But the tears made the letters invisible, and in the end, I had no choice but to lift my head.
And then.
I saw all the citizens collapsing to the ground, weeping bitterly.
“How could this be… everyone… it’s you, the citizens, who deserve my salute.”
I knelt on the platform.
Pushing the manuscript aside and bowing my head deeply, I began to speak in a trembling voice.
“I know full well… how much pain you’ve endured all this time… because of the families and hometowns you’ve lost…”
At that moment, I thought of it.
“...Some of you must have lost friends.”
Kim Gye-sang’s smile.
- I hope I can see the kids in the world I’m heading to now.
“...Some must have lost reliable brothers.”
That brought Hong Byeong-gyu and Im Yong-gon to mind.
- Hyung, thank you so much for coming back alive.
- They must be truly proud of you.
“...And many must have lost beloved younger siblings.”
- H-Hyung made us stay human, right?
- Just… I hope we can keep gathering like this and laughing from now on.
I recalled Yoon Geon-woo’s stutter and Cha Seung-hyeon’s innocent words.
“...You’ve all lost those irreplaceable bonds… great and small… that words can’t even express.”
I also thought of all the comrades who had died fulfilling the mission of nightmare hunting. And.
- Can you tell her “Mommy’s sorry”?
Kserinia’s tears.
- AIEHAAAAAAAAAA….
The final cry of the dragon Scesari.
- May Tarhye Rondel guide your path… Dursiel. Aden Terivasla. Perbirion.
Gaineib’s heartfelt prayer.
- I’ll go ahead and wait for you there, with him.
- Will you let me go now? To that twilight paradise you spoke of…
- So this weary old soul can greet the dawn…
Arczrehid, Roheirits, and Paul’s smiles as they dreamed of paradise.
“Enduring that pain… surviving until now… remaining human… thank you so much…”
These words were also a belated thank you to them.
And now, I had to say them not to those who went ahead, but to those left behind.
“Just a little longer. Let’s endure just a bit more. Let’s hold on just a bit more. Even if we live in suffering, so that our children can live in a world like before. In that world full of laughter and happiness…”
A wail rose from someone.
I had to pause for a moment.
Not because of that sound, but because I had to hold back my own tears.
“Will you… give me just a little more time…?”
And then I said it.
Pleading to the people, to the humanity within them.
“Then I promise… our children, at the very least… will never have to live in a world like this. I swear it.”
“……………!”
“So everyone… let’s not lose hope. Let’s keep fighting… let’s walk together… and I will surely… one day, surely… end this nightmare…”
The sound of weeping enveloped the paradise.
It wasn’t the sorrowful sobbing like before. It was a different kind of crying.
A cry filled with hope.
A cry carrying the brilliance of a future.
“...I will end it.”
I know.
There’s only one way to turn that “one day” into reality.
I must gather the fragments of dawn.
Hunting the first “Exalted One” was not the end of nightmare hunting—it was the beginning.
Yes.
I am still in the nightmare.
And now, I must venture deeper into it once more.
And I.
I want to go there.
No matter how narrow and perilous the path, I will carry the dawn of the world upon it.
7.
「Carlen, don’t take it too hard.」
Cathedral chapel.
From each censer, pure white starlight mist rose. In it, the forms of beautiful men and women appeared.
「Nothing goes as we wish in this world, does it?」
The one who said that was the fairy from the third censer. Lysabera.
「Stop agonizing and accept it as the will of the stars.」
It sounded like comfort, but a closer listen revealed clear mockery.
「But you confidently said before that the vessel would die or “they” would appear… Your judgment isn’t what it used to be, Carlen.」
Carlen wore her usual bewitching smile, but a cold aura swirled around her.
「Enough, Lysabera. What good does infighting do us?」
The one who chided her was Songpa-gu’s administrator, Tantereska.
The only First-Class Scribe among the Star Messengers.
Lysabera flinched and showed signs of backing down.
「Actually, what bothers me isn’t what Carlen reported.」
Tantereska spoke softly with her eyes closed, as always.
「For a Hunter chosen by Absolute Labelhein’s Sovereign to die so pointlessly… It couldn’t happen unless it was suicide.」
「I’m sure I reported it clearly. It was definite suicide. He lured out an “Exalted One” and died.」
「With Labelhein eliminated, there are now four Hunters chosen by Absolute Sovereigns in this city…」
Tantereska opened one eye.
A succession of… chaos.
The Hunters chosen by other Absolutes ruled each paradise city as leaders…
「I can’t comprehend this <Association> group’s methods at all.」
Lysabera spoke in an amused tone.
「Hunters offering soulstones to mortals? Who even came up with that?」
Hunters must endlessly gather soulstones to grow stronger.
But the <Association> was bizarre.
They used those soulstones to provide food, clothing, and shelter to paradise citizens, reducing labor hours.
「Do I really have to spell it out? The answer shines as clear as the morning star.」
Carlen replied with a sharp smile. Did she think her sisters were mocking her?
She had no choice but to think so.
Just look at Songpa-gu under Tantereska’s management—it was night and day compared to Seodaemun-gu.
「Songpa-gu is ruled by the [Blood Clan]. The Lead Hunter tames mortals with the sacred blood of She-Piker?」
「Yes. They’re tools allowing Hunters to focus on the hunt.」
It was then.
Smoke rose from the third censer, and slowly, the form of a handsome man took shape.
Gwanak-gu’s administrator, Biltanter.
The only one in youthful form.
The sole male among the Star Messengers, a Second-Class Scribe, and subordinate of the Seven Star God.
「We’ve just finished subjugating an “Exalted One” here too.」
「……………!」
「It was quite the spectacle. I regret my sisters couldn’t see it with me.」
Biltanter meant it sincerely.
Gwanak-gu’s Lead Hunter.
The Holy Apostle who chose him was Balladon’s Absolute Sovereign—the Lord of the Abyss.
「Jeong Sang-hyeon and the group he leads, the <Church>, stood out. He’s an impressive talent.」
「Balladon’s Sovereign has always had a good eye. Wasn’t “he” also one he chose?」
「“He”… Compared to the mythical battle “he” fought in the Apostle War, it’s lacking…」
「That’s because “he” was exceptionally outstanding.」
「Hm. Still, he’s praiseworthy.」
As Biltanter finished, he sensed the sisters’ subtle mood.
「Aritaveir, dear sisters. What were you discussing?」
Aritaveir.
The phrase symbolizing the Holy Apostle they served, the Mother of Truth. Defying it was like defying their master.
「I’ll explain.」
Carlen reluctantly summarized her previous words briefly.
「……I can’t understand it.」
Biltanter asked in disbelief.
「Carlen, doesn’t your district have “that Hunter” chosen by the Mother of Truth?」
「……….」
「How did this happen? First-Class Scribe, is this the Mother’s will?」
Tantereska gave a quiet shrug.
「I don’t know. But one thing was clearly revealed to me.」
She looked at Lysabera.
「Lysabera. The land you manage completed the second “Exalted One” hunt. Yes, how are things now?」
「What do you mean by “things”?」
「I’m asking if the second act of the hunt is ready.」
Lysabera smiled faintly.
「Of course.」
Seoul’s northeastern Nowon-gu.
Ruled by the [Divine Group].
Its leader was a Hunter graced by Iikilas’s Absolute Sovereign.
「Unlike Seodaemun-gu, we didn’t take a break. We’ve already hunted ten subordinates.」
「Good.」
Tantereska let out a low sigh.
「Seodaemun-gu and its leader’s folly… regrettably, it will cost countless Hunters dearly.」
Biltanter cautiously interjected.
「First-Class Scribe. Is this truly the Mother’s will? Shouldn’t we stay out of it?」
「No. The moment the fourth “Exalted One” was hunted, the second act began. We’re merely hastening its rise.」
As Biltanter fell into reluctant silence, Tantereska opened both eyes.
「Carlen, Lysabera.」
From those eyes.
The starlight of the outer universe swirled brilliantly.
「Connect the star veils of Seodaemun-gu and Nowon-gu. So the two paradises north of the river can communicate.」
「……………!」
「Bil and I will connect Songpa-gu and Gwanak-gu south of the river.」
「……………!」
「This is not my will—it is the Mother of Truth’s command.」
Her usual gentle tone vanished, replaced by the First-Class Scribe’s overwhelming pressure. Thus.
「Aritaveir.」
Carlen, Lysabera, Bil. The Second-Class Scribes bowed their heads in unison and replied.
「May all be as the Mother of Truth wills.」
The mist rising from the censers.
With those words, it slowly dissipated, and the visions within finally vanished.
「Have you been waiting long?」
Finally, Lysabera rose from the altar and turned. There.
Stood the Lead Hunter.
A woman cloaked head to toe in robes of pure white and blue, wearing a bizarre skeletal horse mask.
“No. I just arrived.”
A heavy, cold pressure.
[Lv: 257]. One who had hunted ten subordinates and even an “Exalted One.”
「Do you remember… what I mentioned before about the second hunt?」
“How could I forget?”
She let out a cold yet seductive laugh.
“My Lord always mentioned it during prayers.”
Lysabera burst into laughter scented with starlight.
「Then rejoice, Lead Hunter of Iikilas.」
“……?”
「Be bold in the grace of the star that chose you—the day has finally come.」
Seodaemun-gu’s <Association>.
Nowon-gu’s [Divine Group].
Gwanak-gu’s <Church>.
Songpa-gu’s [Blood Clan].
「Now, go.」
The day had arrived when each group’s Hunters would hunt one another, drawing closer to transcendence.
「The day has ended, and night begins.」
Yes.
Childhood was over.
The time of predation had come.
「Fulfill the second karma of the hunt—the [Karma of Predation]—and draw nearer to the crown of transcendence.」
Sword Saint of the Fallen World.
Part 1: End of Childhood (Complete)