Chapter 22: Sword Saint (2)

-Saaaah...

The world crumbles away.

What’s revealed afterward is a bottomless, distant darkness.

And adorning it, a brilliant cluster of stars.

The home of the Constellations, the place where their true bodies reside. It was the Universe.

‘Just the same as always.’

I hadn’t seen this during my interaction with the Black Sun's Incarnation, but this was the original in-Game scene.

-Swish!

My body is pulled somewhere once more.

After waiting briefly, I realized that although I was still in the Universe, a floor I could stand on had appeared.

“Arrived.”

「Black Sun's Incarnation: Heh, Hehk...!」

Ignoring the terrified reaction, I waited for the room's owner to appear.

-Ssst...

Suddenly, glittering dust particles began to form beneath my feet and swept away in unison.

Entwined and entangled, they quickly took on a fully human form.

「Constellation, 'Child of the Lost Star' faces you.」

『Child of the Lost Star』

A notification, along with the message, informed me that the owner of this room had arrived.

“.....”

Not a clearly defined human shape, but a being barely maintaining its form.

That is the approximate appearance of the Child of the Lost Star.

Even in the lore, it was explained that it had suffered significant damage due to a past incident and hadn’t yet recovered.

That imperfection was the Constellation's true form itself.

-Absolute Being.

A neutral voice echoed throughout the space.

The unsettling tone, like a natural mosaic filter, made me frown involuntarily.

“Greetings.”

-We didn't expect you to return. We thought you had gone somewhere.

I had left.

To that dreadful, endlessly repeating 'real life.'

The agony of waking up early every day and preparing for the day ahead.

‘It’s a real hell.’

Those living comfortably with the snap of their fingers wouldn't know.

The feeling of belonging somewhere like a part, repeating a daily routine you hate every morning.

“But I've returned like this.”

I said, spreading my arms exaggeratedly.

The form, its entire body composed of the Universe, watched me and then continued speaking.

-Our child mistakenly attacked your Follower. We apologize.

“Oh.”

Unlike someone else, a rather polite reply came back.

I neatly folded the settings window I had been looking at.

I was going to gift them a comprehensive curse set if needed, but this makes the conversation quicker.

「Black Sun's Incarnation: .....」

‘They're more amicable than I thought.’

This was a new side I hadn't seen in the Game.

Within the Game, this Constellation was always silent and refused to interact with other Constellations.

“So, what exactly happened?”

-There was a Flow of Stars.

The human form made of stars raised its head, gazing at a distant fragment of the Universe.

“Isn't that something you govern?”

The Child of the Lost Star slowly shook its head at my question.

-No one can interfere with the Flow of Stars.

-Saaaah...

Suddenly, a star beyond the Universe showed movement.

And not just one or two.

Amidst the countless stars, countless meteors were heading somewhere.

‘Whoa…’

A rare sight, difficult to see even in real life.

‘Are those all Holy Swords?’

「Black Sun's Incarnation: Hieek...」

The Black Sun's Incarnation has been trembling in fear since arriving here.

-The Holy Swords are searching for their owners.

“I know.”

-But finding a suitable owner is not an easy task.

The number of Heroes was significantly low.

Meeting one is practically a miracle.

Therefore, some humans deified their existence alongside the Constellations.

‘It doesn't seem like their life is easy either.’

Originally, a Constellation's life depends on the Followers who worship them, and they must live each moment fiercely.

Among them, the Constellation in charge of these Heroes must have it even harder due to the scarcity of Followers.

‘They should've set the conditions a little less strict.’

How many truly good people are there in this rotten world?

-Therefore, we are grateful to you.

“...Suddenly?”

-You helped with the guidance of the Holy Sword and the birth of the Hero.

Upon hearing those words, the sky-blue-haired girl who was throwing a tantrum and the meteorite falling from the sky came to mind.

Things I unintentionally set in motion.

Side effects of the luck unilaterally applied by the System.

‘Who knew it would turn out like this.’

If I had known things would unfold this way, I wouldn't have come at all.

-Please, can you forgive our child?

The Hero they mentioned must be the Sword Saint who attacked our Filial Daughter.

“Hmm.”

I pondered for a moment.

Eliminating the Sword Saint here would delay the manifestation of the Hero, a troublesome existence that would appear later.

‘Ah, handsome oppa…’

The girl with innocent eyes looking up at me.

An unpleasant, prickling sensation pressed down on my insides.

‘She really seemed clueless.’

Even the prospective Hero I just met seemed quite lacking.

As if they had sacrificed something human in exchange for immense talent, Heroes were always like that.

Unable to speak, blind, or having a very problematic personality.

The Constellation, perhaps misinterpreting my silence as a negative response, started to make excuses on their own.

-...You could easily ignore my Curse and recover from the damage. So, I ask you.

A request.

This means the other Constellation has given up quite a bit.

‘It must be important.’

“The Sword Saint. Why did she do that?”

Why did she suddenly attack our Filial Daughter?

The Child of the Lost Star answered after a brief pause.

-There was a misunderstanding. The energy felt deep within you, the Black Sun's Incarnation's energy.

“Ah.”

「Black Sun's Incarnation: Ah.」

Could the Community's existence be affecting the human world as well?

This was news to me.

‘But even so.’

Even the Sword Saint, I didn't expect her to grasp such a subtle feeling.

A hidden NPC is indeed a hidden NPC.

-That child is special. Her senses and talent for discerning Constellations are exceptional.

So it seems.

-That's why she misunderstood your Follower, thinking they were a pawn of the Black Sun.

"Hmm, I see."

I understood the whole story.

Black Sun, those absolute bastards.

It's funny coming from me, but the world's hatred towards the Black Sun…

It's viciously resentful.

'Well, it's all karma.'

Who told them to live like such assholes anyway?

Because the Constellation is like this, the Followers underneath suffer too.

「Black Sun's Incarnation: .....」

Leaving the speechless Black Sun's Incarnation aside, I looked at the sparkling form.

"So?"

-.....

"A misunderstanding occurred, and our Follower was attacked. It's only because she's one of mine that she dodged it well. If it had been another Religious Order, a Follower would have died a pointless death, you know?"

-I know.

"So, I think there needs to be some kind of compensation."

Even if humans are of a lower standing than Constellations, insignificant even…

My Followers are the ones I truly cherish and care for.

Such a Follower, and among them, my Filial Daughter, was almost hurt.

Because of such a ridiculous misunderstanding.

Honestly, from the moment I arrived here, I was ready to press the curse button at any time.

'It's infuriating.'

Let's keep business and personal matters separate.

A Constellation named 'Descendant of the Lost Star' should understand this much.

Even if they're a bit lacking.

-Your Demand is reasonable.

"You think so too, right?"

-You've helped me three times, but I almost harmed your Follower.

Three times.

The Meteorite once, and that girl once.

'So there's one left?'

-One was saving the Princess of Regarium.

"Was that related to you?"

-She wasn't destined to be a Hero or Sword Saint, but she was related to this side.

『Child Blessed by the Stars (S)』

This wasn't a detail from the Game…

'This is how it connects?'

I wondered if it was something like a Blessing of the Stars, but why is this real?

Anyway, that adds another grievance.

"I feel even more wronged."

-What do you want?

"What I want…"

I thought for a moment.

I've already achieved everything as a Constellation, what's left is object control and meeting other Followers.

In other words, my happy playtime.

'There's nothing they can offer?'

The conclusion was that they had nothing to offer me.

They're a Great Constellation-level weaponized group from the start.

It's not like I need some Holy Sword and a Hero...

-I'll give you a Holy Sword.

"...What?"

-Even if the times have changed, essential values do not. There will definitely be a moment when you need it.

"No, is it okay to just give it away like that?"

-It's fine, since the Holy Sword has chosen you.

The Holy Sword, not a Hero, but me?

"Then what about that little kid?"

-In that sense, I'd like to make you a proposition.

The Descendant of the Lost Star raised their hand, summoning a bright halo of light.

-Tsspit.

The radiant light it emitted soon took the shape of a sword, imbued with meaning.

A Holy Sword.

The Hero's weapon that destroys evil had now arrived in the space where we were.

"No, I don't need it."

-I haven't said anything yet.

"Put it back."

-This Holy Sword wants you.

"Are you kidding?"

Damn. What am I supposed to do with that?

It's for humans to take and play Hero, it truly has no meaning to me.

Weapons with similar Ability to a Holy Sword are already overflowing in my storage.

It's just for adding to my collection, nothing more, nothing less.

It's nothing but a white elephant.

"I don't need it, so refund it or give it to another human."

-That's not possible. This Holy Sword intensely desires your existence.

"This is driving me crazy."

To think I'd even get a love call from a weapon.

And even if I say I don't need it, it's one-sided.

If I refuse until the end, will it become some kind of weaponized whoopie cushion?

-Please. I beg you, accept it.

Now the Constellation of the Lost Star is openly begging.

'Is it that important?'

「Black Sun's Incarnation: From their perspective, one Holy Sword and one Hero are valuable assets.」

The Black Sun's Incarnation chimed in from the side.

「Constellation, 'Descendant of the Lost Star' is requesting a trade with you.」

"....”

I ran a quick Simulation.

There's no equipment as recognizable to humans as a Holy Sword.

Just holding it is enough to become a super insider.

'Then what about my playtime?'

My beautiful vacation retreats a step back, alongside the title of Constellation.

Instead.

I can feel the thrill of a cool, radiant, sparkling Follower, brimming with style.

Two world lines clash intensely in my Head.

As I agonized over this dilemma, the sparkling Constellation spoke again.

-And, my proposition isn't about the responsibility of the Holy Sword.

"Then what is it?"

-That child.

"Who?"

-The girl you met.

The unidentified girl who suddenly clung to my waist.

The human with sky-blue hair, possessing the qualities of a Hero.

-Can you take that child under your wing?

“...?”

At those words, my thoughts momentarily stopped.

-Of course, along with the Sword Saint beside her.