SSS-Class Revival Hunter

Chapter 112: The Holy War (1)

Romance Fantasy Rule: Love needs no rule.

***

Life occasionally brought an unexpected gift.

“Lady Goldencup, I have something to tell you.”

“It’s been a long time since you called me Lady Goldencup. You always come with bad news when you do it. Let me guess what happened this time.” Lady Goldencup slowly lifted her teacup. “Do I have a half-sister that I don’t know about?

“No, you don’t.”

“I see. Then is my mother actually an illegitimate child of the late emperor? So I have some of the imperial blood and His Highness and I are star-crossed lovers?”

“No, she isn’t.”

“Or do I have a half-sister and a birth story that I don’t know? Am I full of gifts to be the protagonist of an awesome story?”

“No, you aren’t.”

“Then what is it, you dickhead?”

“I’m getting married soon.”

“Oh, marriage. It’s marriage. Marriage...” Lady Goldencup spat out the tea she was drinking, mainly on my face. The elegance from earlier vanished. “Marriage?”

“Yes, I’m getting married."

“Marrrrrieeeeedddd?”

“Yes, I am.”

“If this is a joke, it’s not funny. Butler, shall we go back to old times when I punched you in the face?”

“It’s not a joke.” I wiped my face with a handkerchief. “I wouldn’t joke with you about something like this. I’m really getting married. There’s no point in trying to stop me, the wedding date is already set for a month from today.”

“W-who are you marrying?”

“Lady Silver Lily.”

“Oh, what? So you were really bullshitting me.” Lady Goldencup sighed in relief. She seemed to believe that Raviel and I would never marry even if the world ended.

Well, that kind of reaction was to be expected.

“Do you think I’m lying?”

“Yeah, I don’t just think it’s bullshit, it’s a steaming load of bullshit. If you want to prank me, at least come back with something that’s believable. I give you an F for your creativity.”

“If it’s real, will you allow me to get married?”

“Hahahaha! Yeah, yeah. You have my blessing, Butler, if it’s real. My butler marrying into the most prestigious family of the empire would be great news, honestly. It’d elevate my family’s class by like six levels at once.”

“Then please put your seal here.” I showed her the documents I had prepared.

“Huh? What’s this, Butler?”

“This is the document to prove that you, as my master, permit my marriage. Once I have your seal, though, I’ll no longer serve you because I’d become the consort of the Ivansia family.”

“Ha!” Lady Goldencup burst into laughter. “Y-you, the consort of the Ivansia family... Hahahaha! Why are you trying so hard to keep up this joke? Wait, are you trying to write a novel or something? ’I, the butler, became the consort of the Ivansia family overnight?’ Hahahaha, that’s fucking hilarious—but I think the chances of me becoming the empress are higher.”

After laughing for a while, Lady Goldencup’s smile took on a different color. “Well, it’ll definitely happen this time.”

I remembered a part of the summary I read before entering this apocalyptic book.

The female lead received another chance at life.

I now had a rough idea of the story of Lady Goldencup before the Inquisitor would possess her.

I buried those thoughts for now.

“Can I have your seal?” I asked.

“Oh, gladly. Now I have another story to talk about when we’re older. As a generous master, I can’t turn down this opportunity for a whole load of fun.” Lady Goldencup broke into a fit of laughter again.

“Thank you. I’ll bring my fiance tomorrow so you two can meet.”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Consort of Ivansia, the second brightest moon in the empire. Please have a happy time with your imaginary duke.”

The next day, Raviel and I stood in front of Lady Goldencup.

“She’s here, my lady.”

Lady Goldencup’s jaw dropped to the ground.

“I’m sure it’s not needed, but I’ll introduce myself again,” Raviel said, fanning herself. “I am Raviel Ivansia, the heir apparent of the Duke of Ivansia. His Majesty has given me the title of Silver Lily.”

“Huh? Oh, yes, of course, I know, Lady Silver Lily...?”

“I’m here to deliver the joyous news of your butler’s engagement to me. His allegiance is to you, so it would have been very difficult for this marriage to proceed without your permission, but you’ve granted it. Thank you."

“Huh...?”

“This is the wedding invitation.”

Raviel tossed her the invitation. The edges were embellished with silver threads, and it bore a red wax seal carrying the Duke of Ivansia’s crest.

Stunned, Lady Goldencup picked up the invitation.

“Rejoice. You’re the first to receive an invitation, so I hope you appreciate what a great honor that is. Well, it’s for taking care of him until now.”

“B-Butler...? This is all a joke, right...?”

Raviel narrowed her eyes. “Rude. From today on, this man isn’t your butler. He’s my fiance. I do hope you don’t think that the Duke of Ivansia is lower than the Baron of Evanail. Treat my fiance with the respect he deserves from now on.”

“D-Duke Consort...?” Lady Goldencup looked at me like her soul had escaped her body. Her gaze was so desperate. She was silently begging me to tell her not to call me by that title.

“It was a great honor to serve you, my lady, but you should address me appropriately.” I bowed politely, and then I turned away. “Shall we go, Raviel?”

Raviel shook her head firmly. “That isn’t what we agreed on. You should call me ’my duke’ in front of others.”

“Ah, I’m sorry, my duke. I’m not used to it yet...”

“My consort is utterly adorable. Though that is one of the reasons I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I love you.”

We left the room together.

After a while, I heard screaming behind my back.

“What the heeecccckkkk...!”

As more magnolias fell, we grew closer to the day of our spring marriage.

***

My lover, Raviel Ivansia, was someone who always kept her word. She had said the wedding would be in a month, and so it would be.

“I confined Father in the family’s summerhouse,” Raviel said casually. “He still has a group of followers, but they’re negligible. I’ve finished negotiating with His Majesty and received his official recognition for my succession, so I’m already the Duke of Ivansia. I’ll now be called Duke Silver Lily, not Lady Silver Lily.”

My father-in-law got confined overnight.

Uh... Is this really okay? I felt subtly immoral because of the father-in-law I’d never met.

Raviel looked at me. “You’re now the fiance of the Duke of Ivansia. You’re the highest consort in the empire, short of the imperial family. Aside from His Majesty, Her Majesty, and His Highness, there is no one in the empire you should bow to first—not in this empire, at least. Regardless of their status, all of the people of the empire should bow to you. You’ll be treated with the utmost reverence where the imperial family isn’t present,” she seriously explained.

That was when I realized that something very big was going on. I had been treating the wedding like my love for Raviel—sweet and romantic—but it was more than that for Raviel.

I had a feeling I already knew what that was.

“But I’m just a commoner...” I said.

“Of course those rags in high society will talk. Gong-Ja, social class in this world is like an unnecessarily long dress. It’ll bother you wherever you go, but I’ve taken all possible measures.”

“What measures?”

“Before the marriage, I’ll elevate your social class by putting you in the imperial chief steward’s family register.” Raviel handed a piece of paper to me. “He’s been faithfully serving the imperial family for a long time. He also has a noble title, and he’s known for pursuing honor all his life. Above all, he has no children.”

Oh my god. Really. Ohhhh myyyyy gooodddd...

“C-can you do that?”

“I can do that if I want to.”

Raviel was dealing with piles of documents as we spoke. Her quill never stopped moving. It was hard for me to tell what those documents were and what kind of political impact they would create.

“I skipped unnecessary formalities. You just have to sign that document and you’ll be the imperial chief steward’s foster son.”

My father-in-law, whom I had never met before, was confined, and I was about to become the foster son of someone I had never met either. Something I didn’t know about was happening where I couldn’t see, I belatedly realized as I signed the adoption document.

A few days later, I was once again confronted with how significant it was to become the consort of the Duke of Ivansia.

“Greetings to he who shall be the second brightest moon in the empire.”

I walked around the academy just for a moment, but the young ladies and lords recognized me and politely went down on their knees; the news had spread to the academy too.

“My respect to the Consort of Ivansia.”

“Uh, okay...”

“Congratulations on your engagement. May Ivansia’s glory be eternal.”

“T-thank you.”

When I did so much as walk past them, the young ladies and lords stopped chatting or whatever they were doing and they kept silent until I had completely passed by them. The academy’s guards and knights politely saluted when they saw me and even the teachers bowed without exception as if that were perfectly normal.

I had experienced being surrounded by crowds when I became the Rank 3 Hunter or a star overnight, but... that was nothing like what I was seeing here.

This is what social class is.

I wasn’t a celebrity. They didn’t surround me and hold up their smartphones to take a photo of me. They simply kneeled.

... This is amazing.

They would probably only do it in front of me. Once I disappeared from their sight, they would exchange all kinds of nasty rumors and gossip about my lowly birth or the mysterious break-up of the engagement between the crown prince and Raviel—but no one dared to do it where I could hear.

One day, a servant of the academy broke a water bottle and gasped. I happened to be passing by, so I tried to ask if he was okay, but he and the other five servants nearby kneeled at once.

“M-my apologies!”

“I’m terribly sorry!”

“We beg for your forgiveness for his ignorance...! ”

I was left speechless by how they naturally asked me for forgiveness—in other words, I was free to punish them instead of forgiving them. It left me paralyzed. This was crazy. Absolute madness.

—What’s the matter? Of course it’s natural for them, the Guardian said, swimming in the air. Your Tower is the odd one for having no official social hierarchy, honestly. You’ll see once you get to the fiftieth floor, but most Towers have a social hierarchy.

He had said that after the fiftieth floor, it would mainly be about competing with Towers from different worlds.

The Guardian picked his ear using his little finger and blew the earwax off of it.

—Your duke’s family is supposed to be the most powerful family after the imperial family, right? That practically makes you a queen, Zombie.

A queen...

—Congratulations on becoming Cinderella, boy.

The servants, trembling, had their faces pressed against the floor.

Suddenly, Raviel’s words came to mind.

“My world and my country should acknowledge my marriage.”

“All of the people in this world must bless you.”

That was what she meant. After just a few days, I was at the top of the social pyramid.

This is... Raviel’s world. Then... how should I handle it?

I shouldn’t be just Kim Gong-Ja or the Death King, a Hunter with a title. I had to act like the spouse of the highest-ranking noble in this country.

I bent forward and picked up a piece of the broken water bottle and quietly placed it into the hand of the servant who had dropped it.

“A necklace is closest to your heart. Place your mistake closest to your heart and reflect on your mistake. Don’t wait for me to forgive you. Forgive yourself when you think it’s time. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes, I will...!”

I turned and walked away.

On the evening of the same day, Raviel said, “You made a thoughtful response, my consort.”

I sliced ​​my steak with a knife and fork, learning table manners as I had dinner. Raviel was using her knife and fork slowly from the other side so that I could watch and learn.

“Umm... Hmm... Did I do a good job?”

“It was flawless. If you just forgave them, people would have said ‘The duke’s consort can’t be strict with the ones below him because of his lowly birth. How is he supposed to manage the ducal family like that?’ If you were to reproach them harshly, a rumor would circulate about you becoming arrogant after rising through the hierarchy overnight.”

Either outcome would have been a mess.

“People would talk badly about you whether you forgive or reproach them. In a time like this, the incident itself isn’t important, how you resolve it is. You did well by creating a beautiful story.” Raviel smiled. “What happened today has already spread throughout high society. Those with pure curiosity will admire your heart, and even those sly serpents out there will admit your wisdom. I thought you were a layman in politics. What magic did you use, my lover?”

“... I just thought of you, Raviel.” My knife sliced into the egg yolk, the color of a chick. “I learned that you were working hard in places I can’t see or know about.”

“Hmm.”

“Thinking about how hard you were working for me naturally made me put myself in your shoes.”

I just thought about what would be the best move for my spouse.

“If I forgave the servant, people would think of me as a generous consort; if I reproached the servant, I would be thought of as strict—but I thought becoming a wise consort would help you the most.”

“Why?”

“My generosity and strictness don’t make you generous or strict.”

The candles on the table slowly melted.

“But my wisdom makes you a wise person too because choosing a wise spouse means that you’re an equally insightful person.”

Raviel wiped her mouth with a white napkin. “You thought of me.”

“Yes.”

“Gong-Ja, you already helped me. The people of this world will never know, but you’ve saved this world from doom. You’ll continue to save it in the future. Isn’t it okay for you to act as you please a little bit?”

“No.” I shook my head firmly. “I’m going to be with you for my entire life. My entire life. I don’t want to obsess over what I’ve done for you; I don’t even want to think about it. What I want is to give you a lot more—something more precious than anything I’ve done for you already. I hope that meeting me is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to you. I hope that being with me is your greatest joy. I want to be your greatest meaning in life.”

“... You aren’t just luck or happiness.” Raviel stood up from her chair and slowly approached me. She bent forward. “You’re my miracle.”

Our lips met.

***

Not everyone surrendered to the name of Ivansia.

"I am! Against! This marriage!”

Lady Goldencup came to me every day and complained. While the crown prince was summoned by the emperor, Lady Goldencup protested to me—she was unable to confront Raviel directly.

“Didn’t you already stamp the document?”

“It’s invalid. Invalid! I thought that was a joke! ”

I shrugged. “Regardless of what you thought, the documents are perfectly legal.”

“Urghh... Ugggghhhh! ” Lady Goldencup chewed her fingernails. “Weird. This didn’t happen last time... Is this the butterfly effect I caused? No, that’s unlikely... Ahhh, Dear Ruin-Harvesting Cow, what is going on...?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, pretending I’d never heard of the Ruin-Harvesting Cow.

“... It’s nothing! ” Lady Goldencup gritted her teeth. “Forget it. I’m sure this is all Silver LIly’s doing!”

“That’s Lady Silver Lily to you. She’s soon to be the Duke of Ivansia, so show some respect.”

“Urgh, Butler, I really hate you! I’ll never forgive you!” Lady Goldencup gave me a glare and stomped out of the room.

She slammed the door so hard that the hinges squeaked, expressing her opposition to this marriage place. Lady Goldencup was probably going to be the biggest obstacle to the wedding. I wasn’t worried at all, though.

Ten days were left before the wedding. @@novelbin@@

“Mr. Death King!” Someone who was dressed in Lady Goldencup’s clothes opened the door again. “I think I became the female lead of this apocalyptic book!”

I smiled at him from my chair. “Mr. Inquisitor.”

“Yes, Mr. Death King!”

“In ten days, Constellations from different worlds are going to invade.”

The colleague who used to be my biggest problem had now become the best support I could ask for right now.

“Please prepare for a holy war, SSS-Class theologist.”