Chapter 18: Blessing of the Stars (2)

“Hng, hhng~”

Aisella Carsein returned to her room, feeling as if she could fly at any moment.

‘Father’s eyes have finally been opened...!’

The reason for her elation was the resolution of the biggest problem that had been gnawing at her heart these past few days.

The day to spread the teachings of her Lord God together had finally arrived.

Even if the entire Kingdom were to oppose her, Aisella was confident she would not bend her will.

Because the ‘Realization of the Stars’ she had witnessed was undoubtedly the Truth.

“Rachel, help me change my clothes.”

“Yes, Princess...!”

As Aisella commanded, her personal maid approached her like an innocent puppy, ready to assist.

Aisella pitied those, like her maid, who had yet to achieve Realization.

“I wish that day would come soon.”

“Yes?”

“The day when the true light spreads throughout the world.”

“Uh... Are you talking about that dream again?”

“Yes~”

Knowing that no one would believe her, she always borrowed the name of a dream to convey her hope.

The Universe that enveloped this world was so cruel and merciless.

And because of that, she had to hold onto her desire for the light even more strongly.

“Ugh... Constellations are really scary, aren't they?”

“Hee hee, do you think so too?”

“Yes... I feel like if I don't listen to them, divine punishment will come right away...”

That wasn't entirely wrong.

Even now, somewhere out there, evil gods who treated humans like toys were abundant.

The maid, who was gently combing Aisella’s hair, asked,

“But still...”

“Yes?”

“One way or another, it's all the same, but I like it better now that you're happy, Princess.”

“Oh my. You speak so prettily, our Rachel.”

After receiving permission from King Edmund, Aisella’s complexion had indeed become healthier and brighter day by day.

“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, too.”

“Really?”

“Of course! Being able to serve my beloved Lord God is even more thrilling and ecstatic than I expected.”

-Shudder.

Just recalling that moment made her shoulders tremble involuntarily.

“People talk about the Blessing of the Stars being the makings of a Hero and all that, but I'm not really interested in such things.”

“A Hero...!”

“Are you interested in Heroes?”

“Of course! They're like heroes who save citizens from the evil gods...!”

“Hee hee, how cute.”

Aisella felt her heart warm at the maid’s cheerful attitude.

“But I like it now. Even if the qualities of a Hero manifest in me, I will always stay by my Lord God’s side.”

「The Flow of Stars is felt somewhere...」

A strange atmosphere, imperceptible to mere humans, swept through the room.

However, they had no ability to discern that sense of unease.

“And, I’ve felt it before.”

“Yes...?”

For a moment, Aisella’s consistently bright demeanor became serene.

In a distant voice, as if she were looking far beyond the clear sky, she said,

“Among those countless Stars, there is a terrifying Star that devours other Stars.”

“...A terrifying Star?”

“Yes. If there is a sky, there must be a place higher than that.”

-So...

Aisella trailed off, lost in thought.

That day.

Within the Realization bestowed upon her by her Lord God, she had coincidentally encountered an unsettling feeling.

Within the embrace that had comforted her amidst any threat,

Aisella had seen a single Star with a terrifying aura.

A single, frenzied Star that sought to inflict harm, even if it meant burning itself out.

Aisella hoped that such malice would never reach her Lord God.

Of course, Father God would never be in danger, but that was simply human nature.

The desire for loved ones to always be safe, to always be at peace.

-Stroke.

Aisella tightly clutched the Religious Order’s symbol, which she always carried with her.

A trinket she habitually took out whenever she felt impatient or stressed.

It belonged to her Constellation, ‘Father God.’

『Child Blessed by the Stars (S)』

A trait she had once considered a Curse in her life.

But now, she was grateful for it every day, as it had allowed her to meet her Lord God.

“...Princess?”

“Yes, it’s nothing, Rachel. Shall we finish quickly and go to pray?”

“Yes...! I understand.”

Feeling proud of her maid’s energetic reply, Aisella prepared to welcome the day.

#

A comedy from afar, a tragedy up close.

That perfectly described my current situation.

-KwaaAAAA!!

A star was falling.

A meteorite engulfed in an unidentified light, trailing flames, was falling right above us.

‘Huh?’

The situation was so unexpected that it oddly calmed me down.

Was this shock therapy?

“Ah, a star...”

Still tugging at my clothes, the unidentified girl let out an incomprehensible exclamation.

‘Child Blessed by the Stars.’

I now understood the meaning of that name.

But the timing was too perfect, wasn’t it?

Why now, of all times?

Why did this happen the moment I finally stepped outside and activated the Sanctuary for the first time?

The reason was in the notification window that was still open.

「Due to the first Object activation, the accumulated luck begins to take effect!」

‘This is luck?’

A feeling of injustice welled up inside me.

If a star falling from a clear sky was luck, then was misfortune instant death on the spot?

‘Damn.’

“Kyaaaak!!”

“A meteor, a meteor is falling!!”

People walking on the street screamed and ran away.

It certainly wasn't a common occurrence, as everyone was terrified, watching the unfolding situation.

‘As if meteors are common.’

「Black Sun's Incarnation: Hieek....!」

‘And who are you?’

「Black Sun's Incarnation: C-Crazy star! Run...!」

He seemed to recognize it too, contributing to the panic.

“Lord God...!”

Bella, beside me, was also tense, trying to protect me.

“Hmm.”

I couldn’t let some falling rock ruin my outing, especially since it was right in front of my Sanctuary.

‘I just fixed it, this is ridiculous.’

If I left it alone, the entire area would be reduced to dust.

I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

“I’ll have to stop it. It's our Sanctuary.”

“...!”

Bella looked at me with eyes full of trust.

“Wow...”

The lucky girl in question was just marveling at the spectacle.

‘I’ll deal with you later.’

With that in mind, I deployed a suitable defensive skill.

「Divine Veil (S)」

The skill, strengthened to its limit, created a giant protective barrier over the area.

Any normal attack should bounce off without a scratch.

And so, I decided to observe the situation from behind the barrier.

‘I’d like to obliterate it completely, but…’

I didn’t want to advertise my presence, and I wanted to handle it discreetly.

However.

-Thud.

“...?”

My skill, which should have blocked the meteorite and minimized the damage, instead allowed external intrusion, abandoning its role.

It was a baffling phenomenon that made my mind go blank the moment I saw it.

「Intervention in the production due to the 'Event' is not possible!」

‘Event?’

Suddenly, a meteor is heading straight for me?

It's supposed to be an event coupled with good fortune, so it shouldn't be as bad as it looks.

-Kwaaang!!

'How is that a good phenomenon?'

I couldn't possibly look favorably upon the existence of that gigantic rock that looked like it was about to tear the entire area apart as it plummeted.

I had no choice but to change the direction of my skill.

「Armor of Holy Light (S)」

"Hold on tight."

A skill that creates a protective barrier around me and extends to selected individuals.

It's better to be safe than sorry, so I decided to do my best, just in case.

-Hwaaak!!

An immense Divine Power surges, and a protective barrier that seems capable of blocking any attack surrounds my body.

"Ah, Lord God…!"

Bella, reacting to my Divine Power, rubs her body with an ecstatic expression.

"Wooow…!"

In the urgency of the moment, I cast it on the little girl as well, and she expresses her wonder with a purely innocent look.

'Is this right?'

I decided to protect her, considering her an ally for now, but I sincerely hope she doesn't betray my trust.

-Shwaak!!

The meteor has now approached within a hair's breadth.

Following the fierce wind pressure, it landed precisely near the Sanctuary I was covering.

What followed was…

-Kwaaaang!!

An explosive roar that felt like it would deafen me.

And flashing vision.

Worried that the two around me might get hurt, I covered them with my arms and even shielded their eyes.

"...Ugh!"

'Is Bella getting hurt too?'

She seems to be struggling with the situation unfolding before our eyes.

Even though I'm bolstering her with Divine Power, the impact of the meteorite seems to be quite overwhelming.

Probably due to the influence of another Constellation.

I recalled the event window that had popped up earlier.

「The probability of the 'Girl Blessed by the Stars' appearing has greatly increased!」

Remembering the ominous meaning contained within it, now that things had come to this, made my head throb.

'Seriously?'

The power of a Constellation related to stars.

Falling from the far reaches of the Universe, a blessing born to fulfill the yearning and desires of a single person.

It seemed that the 'Flow of Stars' that had been bothering me all this time was a build-up for this very situation.

'What the…'

I could feel a chaotic star party centered around me.

-Whoosh!

As I waited for the situation to settle down, the blurry afterimage gradually began to clear.

The thick dust was pushed away by an invisible force.

-Shwaaaak…

A peculiar-shaped rock, steaming as if freshly unearthed, greeted us.

「Sudden Event!

:【New Hero of the Stars】」

'Oh.'

「Black Sun's Incarnation: Run… We must run…」

'Shut up.'

As I saw the freshly popped-up event window, my gaze naturally shifted to the little girl.

-The girl blessed by the stars.

According to the setting, the qualities of a Hero originate from the selection of the stars.

A slim probability, compounded by another slim probability.

If chosen by the Holy Sword that falls with the star, a new Hero is born.

Simply put, it's just super lucky star power.

'So...'

This little girl clinging to me possesses the qualities of the stars and the talent of a Hero.

"Wooow..."

But why in front of someone else's house?

There must be other secluded, romantic places.

As far as I remember, Heroes never acknowledged the existence of other Constellations under the same sky.

'Or should I say, they loathe them.'

And yet, the current location is right in front of the Shrine, the place they hate the most.

'Is this flirting?'

Their behavior patterns were completely unpredictable.

Is this a blatant cry for death?

Caught in this dilemma, I sensed a commotion approaching from afar due to the sudden incident.

"Wh-What happened?!"

Wearing the official guard uniform of the Regarium Kingdom.

While the guards, who had rushed to protect the citizens, were confused by the presence of the meteorite, they spotted the girl clinging to my waist.

"L-Little one?"

"Did... you do this?"

"No way..."

'It's half true.'

Since the meteor likely fell to find the girl, it's probably half true.

"Huh. I don't know."

But the girl shook her head as if she genuinely didn't know anything.

Her flowing sky-blue hair beautifully accentuated her presence.

"I minimized the damage, but…"

"As expected of our Lord God…!"

Considering a rock three times the size of an adult man fell, there's no damage besides the crater on the ground.

It was fortunate that the buildings were relatively intact.

"Let's get out of here."

Thanks to the veil I'm wearing, they haven't noticed our presence except for the girl.

It seemed best to just leave like this and return to the Kingdom.

'Not good.'

Getting involved in anything related to a Hero wasn't a good situation.

"Handsome mister, are you leaving…?"

As I subtly moved away, the sky-haired girl made a crying face and looked at me anxiously.

'Please don't follow me.'

"Hmm…? Is there something there?"

"Mister, can't you see this?"

She desperately pointed behind her, trying to make us known, but there was no way ordinary people could perceive us.

The girl's eyes were very, very special.

"Huh, don't go..."

Realizing her explanation wasn't working, she just ran and clung to my waist.

"...Should I kill her?"

"No, don't kill her."

Belladis's normally violent patience was wearing thin.

The girl, oblivious, clung to me like glue, refusing to let go.

「Black Sun's Incarnation: Just kill her now!」

'Who? Me?'

「Y-You. You're the strongest among us.」

'Then will you take the curse penalty?'

「....」

Harming a person blessed by the stars comes with a corresponding price.

It's because of the meddling of a star-crazed lunatic who targets only Constellations.

Because of this, she can't have her own religion or followers.

But for those on the receiving end, she's nothing short of a disaster.

They can only hope to avoid her, and if they do meet, pray that it's just a passing encounter.

"Don't leave me…"

'Oh, please.'

So please, just let go of my hand.

-Clank. Clank.

"L-Little one, come with us for now."

Finally, the guards, unable to stand by any longer, approached and started to pull the girl away.

"No!"

The girl screamed, unwilling to be separated, and the adult men struggled to protect her.

Luckily, her grip loosened, and we quickly used teleportation magic to escape the scene.

-Nooo!!

I thought I heard the girl's desperate cry, but if she were to pull out a Holy Sword from that meteorite, it would be a complete disaster.

'Run for now.'

I decided to return to the warm embrace of the Royal Family.

***

"Hmm…?"

Lisia, who was eating a skewer, sensed a disturbance in the sky.

The sight of a star streaking across the sky.

-Gulp.

Quickly swallowing her food, Lisia decided to head towards the scene of the incident.