The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 23

<Sub Quest- Reconnaissance>

The eternal unknown world, the tower has also appeared in this world.

But it looks different from the towers you've seen before.

Why don't you go inside and check it out for yourself?

Clear Condition: Clear the 3rd floor of the tower

Clear Reward: Acquire Skill <Constellation Summon>

'But this quest... I can't ignore it.'

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> sublimates his inner joy into vomiting blood!]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> sends you a subtle look of expectation!]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> begs you to summon him. This time, he promises not to ask for something like a soul.]

'If I do, I'll be killed by these excited constellations.'

But first, in order to understand why these Constellations are so exciting, they need to know what a constellation is.

In some novels, Constellations are very impressive beings.

Omnipotent beings, surpassing humans. Divine figures who endlessly support their contractors. They appear to rescue their contractors when they are in danger, like guardians.

But here?

Not at all.

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> asks you to talk about anything because he's bored.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> is crying because of <The Last Flame of Life> dumped her!]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> is winking at you playfully.]

These Constellations in this novel are, so to speak-

'Shady customers.'

VIPs are VIPs, but they are shady VIPs. They are divine beings, but... not much different from humans.

"I don't want to go in. It could be dangerous."

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> asks who is more dangerous, the tower or you.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> says that if you die, you can just come back.]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> threatens you to shut up and go in.]

"...."

Aren't these Constellations really bad? Isn't it too harsh on Renee?

Of course, she can think that way. But before that, let's consider the perspective of the Constellations.

Anonymous Constellation A: No, why can't this body be summoned and see the light after being trapped for five thousand years? In my time, the Constellations did everything the contractor asked.

Anonymous Constellation B: We are also worried about Renee.. but is there a being that can make Renee shed even a drop of blood?

Anonymous Constellation C: (Refuses to be interviewed)

"Okay, I understand. I should go in."

She, who made a contract with these Constellations, is a sinner.

'To be honest, it's just annoying. It's not dangerous.'

Renee reluctantly broke a little bit of the bottom of the tower.

Since no one had entered this tower yet, she had to use force to enter.

'Hey, if you enter like this, a bunch of monsters will swarm in.'

Annoying. Renee equipped the skill of <Lord of Vicious Blood> in her left hand and the skill of <Queen of Waves and Healing> in her right hand and jumped into the tower.

Now it was time for a hundred-eyed insect or a mud pile with a hundred legs to attack her.

"Guys, let's finish this quickly. Dum... huh?"

Huh?

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> opens his eyes wide and looks around.]

"No one's here."

Are they hiding? She quickly looked around. And she had to admit it. There was nothing here.

'There was no presence earlier, it wasn't that the monsters were hiding their presence.'

It really wasn't there. These guys weren't rolling their heads...

They really didn't exist.

'But why?'

If they were going to leave the tower empty like this, why did they create it? And what about that ominous aura from earlier?

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> beckons you, saying she found something.]

Renee looked closely at where her Constellation was pointing.

There was a small altar-like thing there.

And there was a thin black stone monument next to it. And there were small letters engraved on the monument.

[The <Emperor of Temptation> urges you to read it quickly.]

'...There was nothing like this in the tower of my past life.'

What kind of system has prepared something like this?

These bastards really know how to piss people off. She picked up the monument and started reading the letters.

 

『[System Alert!]

Hello, user.

Welcome to <What If An S-Class Hunter Becomes A Villainess?>

We apologize for posting this notice in this manner due to an issue with our system announcement board.

First of all, we are sorry for not being able to provide the promised rewards even though you completed the main quest of your past life.

...』

'What is this? Is this a notice left by the system?'

Renee read the monument faster in astonishment.

Since the system had never directly intervened in the novel before, it was even more surprising.

『Even though unexpected bugs have occurred in our system, causing delays in reward distribution.

We are making every effort to eliminate that bug, but as you know, we are in a quite difficult situation.

 

However, we understand the eagerness of the user to wait for the reward.

Therefore, after urgently convening a meeting, our system came up with one solution.』

They were still conscientious people. Renee wiped her chest. Finally, she would receive the reward and go home.

『Right, the user will help us remove the bug!

 

The bug in this novel is this tower! So, if you clear the entire tower, all bugs will be removed!』

'...Was it not conscience but malice?'

For a moment, Renee almost exerted force in the hand holding the monument, almost breaking it.

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> asks you to read a little more patiently.]

『But the genre of the previous novel was a hunter story, and the genre of this novel is fusion romance fantasy, so we are planning to change the clearing method of the tower a bit.

We want to emphasize once again that our system always prioritizes your enjoyment and happiness.

Therefore, we have upgraded the tower's clearing method, so please enjoy the patched tower!

 

Also, we promise that there will never be another bug this time.

Thank you for trusting us again.

 

We wish you a quick clear, user. :)

 

The system, always watching over the user.』

'These little bastards.'

Even after reading the notice, Renee stood still for a long time.

She couldn't do anything to quell this anger with all her might.

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> suggests that you don't necessarily need to summon him.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> hands you warm water.]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> offers to put a handsome dream in your dreams tonight.]

<Last Quest>

A 'trial' is prepared on each floor of the tower. Clearing this 'trial' will also clear that floor.

Clear the last floor of the tower.

Clear Condition: Clear the trial on the last floor of the tower.

Clear Reward: Bug removal and end of regression. Return to the original world.

Shortly after, a notification popped up about a new quest.

It was the final quest she had been waiting for so eagerly. However, she didn't feel any joy at all.

Even though the clear reward was to return to the original world, she couldn't trust it at all.

'Do they really expect me to believe that there won't be any more bugs this time?'

How can she believe them?

They don't even tell her how many floors this tower has. They'll probably make her wander in this tower forever.

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> suggests that you start by checking the trial on the first floor.]

'...Right. It's not like I'm the only one hoping for this damn regression to end.'

The Constellations also needed Renee's regression to end in order to regain their freedom.

So, needless to say, they were just as desperate as Renee, even though they didn't say it out loud. It was a worried look, fearing that Renee might fail the real quest.

'Fine. At the very least, they wouldn't have prepared difficult trials for the tower. If they have any conscience left.'

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> guarantees that he will clear any quest for you.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> praises that you are the strongest in this world, and there is nothing you cannot overcome.]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> encourages you to do whatever you want, Renee.]

Receiving the encouragement from the Constellations, Renee felt a little better, easing her frustration and injustice.

Yeah. They're going this far to support her, so well, is there anything she can't do?

"Alright, I got it. Well, at best, it's probably just killing some monsters. Have you ever seen me fail a quest?"

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> nods, saying that he has never seen you fail.]

With the support of the <Lord of Vicious Blood>, she forced a smile and checked the trial of the tower.

[Trial of the Tower] - 1st Floor

The genre of this novel is romance fantasy. However, the tower doesn't appeal to you, who have no interest in romance.

Therefore, you must satisfy the tower. In order to have romance, you need a male protagonist, right?

But the female protagonist of this novel is none other than you.

Therefore, it is up to you to choose the male protagonist.

Clear Condition: Designate three male lead candidates and engrave their names on the monument.

Clear Reward: Clearing the 1st floor of the tower.

"...."

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> remains silent.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> remains silent.]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> remains silent.]

"Well, now I'll see. If there's anything I can't clear."

***

Meanwhile, what were the two men doing while Renee was absent?

 

They were both in the guesthouse provided by the temple's envoy, without saying a word.

Both of them were not in a good mood.

Cedin,

 

'Did Young Lady find me annoying? Did you leave me behind because you don't trust me....'

He was depressed by that thought. 

Ishir, on the other hand,

'Why did I feel upset the moment Renee left? Was it because she left on her own? Or because she doesn't trust me?'

He was displeased with this thought. 

In any case, both of them had a common factor in Renee being the cause of their discomfort.

 

The two men pondered for a long time with an uncomfortable feeling.

They wondered how they could improve their mood.

And then, they both simultaneously came up with the same solution.

'First, we need to send that bastard away and be alone with Renee!'

Even the method was the same.

 

So, the two men spoke at the same time.

"Cedin, I've been thinking-"

"Your Highness, I have something to say-"

 

!

When the two men made eye contact, they had the same thought again.

'That bastard had the same idea as me!'

"You go first, Cedin."

"No, Your Highness, please go ahead."

"...Alright. Let's get straight to the point."

Ishir smirked and crossed his arms.

How to send this treacherous dog back home in a graceful manner.

"Go back."

"I refuse."

"Are you defying me?"

"You ordered me to come here as your escort, Your Highness."

"Fine. Then I'll give you the title, so leave."

Cedin calmly smiled at Ishir's words. That smile was not the same as the one he showed Renee.

"Your Highness, I know my worth."

"...!"

"Alone, I may have no value, but if I go to Princess Edin, I understand well enough what will happen."

"Are you trying to threaten me now? I am the Crown Prince, not you. Even if you leave, it won't be a problem. Listen, the 'secret' Renee has is the truth."

"Well, you see. Even a young child knows that a sword master is much more valuable than dozens of mastery-level sword experts."

"If I just kill you here and now, your value will disappear completely."

The two men stared at each other for a long time. They were almost at the point of drawing their swords, engaging in a battle of skills.

 

How much time had passed? Ishir was the first to extend the hand of reconciliation.

"Then, shall we have a temporary truce?"

Cedin's words also made sense.

They couldn't hand Cedin over to someone else right now. It would be better to kill him than to hand him over.

In their previous fight, Ishir had the upper hand, but now it was uncertain.

Sword masters could never be certain of their superiority over each other. Renee was the only exception.

So, neither of them could fight each other now.

"Alright. Let's not touch each other."

"Agreed."

The two men seemed to have reached a dramatic agreement, but deep down, they were sharpening their swords even more.

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