Chapter 24. Festival of Corpses

As with other Constellations...

Their reason for interfering with Dianon was, in the end, quite trivial.

Boredom.

From a primordial time, the origins of which they couldn't even recall, up until now.

Drifting through the desolate void, they eventually discovered a shimmering world.

It was around that time that they earned the title 'Constellation' and gained the ability to interfere with the world of 'Dianon.'

The 'Lost Star's Descendant' was, naturally, one of them.

-.....

After a flurry of negotiations...

After the Lord God, 'Ron,' departed, the world was left empty.

In a place with a cosmic backdrop, where only distant stars could be seen, the 'Lost Star's Descendant' stared blankly into the void.

-Good stuff.

The Lost Star's Descendant manipulated the Community window and checked its contents.

Surprisingly, there was already someone there.

[Black Sun's Incarnation]

He had accepted it since it was a Constellation of the Absolute God's level, but this was another shock.

The identity of that subtle sense of discomfort he'd been vaguely feeling.

That violent, ferocious Constellation had been confined and imprisoned here.

-Interesting. Very interesting.

It seemed that this 'Community' ability held a part of the Constellations' existence, allowing them to exert influence.

It even allowed for easy conversation.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: Aren't you going to say hello?]

At the message, delivered with apparent reluctance, the Lost Star's Descendant felt another fresh wave of excitement.

Conversation was possible.

Originally, communication between Constellations was incredibly difficult and complex.

Not only did they not use the same language as humans, they didn't want to.

Therefore, for a 'conversation' to even take place, the other Constellation had to lower their head and ask for consideration from the other party.

But this—

[Black Sun's Incarnation: What?]

[Lost Star's Descendant: It's interesting. Very interesting. To have this level of manifestation ability, compressed so effectively and easily usable. It's like stuffing another world into your pocket. Even so, there's no sense of dissonance...]

[Black Sun's Incarnation: Ugh, damn it. Are you going to hog the chat window?]

[Lost Star's Descendant: Chat window?]

[Black Sun's Incarnation: Stop acting dumb and just get to the point. It's annoying.]

[Lost Star's Descendant: Why aren't you properly enjoying such a benefit?]

The Lost Star's Descendant, being a Constellation no different from others, understood it very well.

The 'loneliness' of enduring this wide-open, empty world alone.

The very existence of the chat window—

A channel to freely communicate with other Constellations without any risk—

'The universe would be flipped upside down.'

If other Constellations knew, it wouldn't be strange for them to go crazy trying to seize this chat window.

[Lost Star's Constellation: It would have been better if it were someone else here, not you.]

[Black Sun's Incarnation: ...What?]

[Lost Star's Constellation: Have you already forgotten? The atrocities you and your Religious Order have committed.]

The Lost Star's Constellation knew very well.

Because his long-cherished desire was to punish those who negatively influenced the human world, like the 'Black Sun's Incarnation.'

Silence briefly fell over the chat window.

However.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: So what?]

[Lost Star's Descendant: What?]

[Black Sun's Incarnation: Whether my Followers cause harm to others, or do bad things, what's it to me? You're acting all high and mighty.]

Although he was now unwillingly playing the role of a pet due to the returned Absolute God...

The Black Sun's Incarnation wasn't an idiot who didn't understand the ways of the world.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: What makes you so righteous? You're the one sucking the lifeblood out of your Followers.]

[Lost Star's Descendant: .....]

It wasn't wrong.

When he made contracts with his Followers, he took half their lives in return, and more if necessary.

That was his unique characteristic, the way he maintained his existence.

After exchanging blows by poking at each other's sore spots, the two Constellations entered a lull and paused their chatting.

-Still interesting.

The Lost Star's Descendant muttered alone in the empty space.

It returned as an even greater stimulation because he had never experienced it once in his life.

Even if it was anger, resentment, or other negative emotions.

The Constellation, formed from a scattered shape, asked the void.

-What are you planning?

If he dared to predict his course of action, more Constellations would be drawn to this ability in the future.

With the massive collective thus created...

What kind of future was He, the Absolute God, envisioning?

The Lost Star's Descendant felt a peculiar sense of crisis from the immense addictiveness emanating from the Absolute God's power.

-I want to analyze this further.

Thus, a Constellation obsessed with the chat window was born.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: Just shut up...!]

The Black Sun's Incarnation was driven to the verge of tears by the incessant chatter, even without anyone responding.

#

[Returning to the world, Dianon.]

Finally, I returned to my original world.

'Is this the original world?'

To be precise, it would be the 'familiar' world.

For me, transformed into a Constellation, the original world was that pure white room.

"...Huh?"

Ding, ding, ding. Checking the chat window at the constant notifications...

"Oh shit."

I could see the Black Sun's Incarnation wailing and the Lost Star's Descendant, excited to have found his voice.

I hurriedly turned off the chat and muted the notifications.

“My sanity was almost tainted.”

It seemed like the Constellations, who usually just stared at distant stars in the Universe, found this a novel form of stimulation.

‘Fighting.’

I sent a cheer to the Black Sun's Incarnation, who was diligently keeping them entertained, and moved to take care of my backlog.

Since I'd gone through the trouble of personally resolving the issue, it was time to receive my sweet reward.

First, I examined the 'Holy Sword' I received from the mainland craftsman.

[Celestial and Terrestrial Oath, Secratis

-Grade: Myth

-Description: A legendary sword that has personally chosen you from the Flow of Stars. It possesses a dangerous power capable of shaking the very order of the world by simply being wielded.]

“Whoa.”

The grade and description alone were overwhelming.

Perhaps because it was a special sword bestowed by a Constellation to another Constellation, it seemed to be markedly different from other Holy Swords I'd seen.

‘So now, I have two Holy Swords.’

One is mine, and the other is the Hero's that I just acquired.

My oh my.

I could wield one in each hand!

It seems like the Religious Order's influence is growing stronger by the day.

‘As for the Followers…’

This time, I checked the Follower recruitment tab.

The Sword Saint who unexpectedly rolled into my lap, and…

The Hero, a Special S-grade talent obtained by evolving the ‘Elite Follower Recruitment Ticket.’

‘The dopamine rush is insane.’

To obtain a Hero, who usually attacks Constellations on sight, as a Follower unit…

If the Game Community were still active, there would be countless players green with envy at this achievement.

‘Sweet, sweet victory.’

When the conflict first arose, I was prepared for a full-blown war with the Heroes, but somehow I managed to pocket them instead.

‘Even better.’

As long as it's beneficial for our Religious Order and its Followers, I'm all for it.

“I wonder if they're taking good care of them.”

The Sword Saint, Lisia, who was causing a commotion in the square, and that little Hero.

Since I personally gave instructions, they should be treating them very well.

[(EX) Grade Skill, 'Constellation Reign' is activated.

With my newly acquired skill, I set off with a light step to visit my new Followers.

‘But…’

One problem was holding me back.

“This is a first with Lisia.”

I managed to meet Bella face-to-face smoothly, but this is my first time with Lisia.

Should I just unleash my Divine Power?

She would immediately realize it was me, leaving no room for doubt.

‘That wouldn't be fun.’

However, this is a precious moment, meeting her in person in the mortal realm.

Couldn't I elevate it into a more dramatic and beautiful production?

The perverted instincts within me continued to whisper their suggestions.

‘Hmm.’

While I was pondering, this happened.

-Ding!

[Sudden Event Occurred!]

[An 'Undead' invasion has begun.]

[Warning! If the invasion is not repelled, the Regarium Kingdom will be destroyed.]

“What's this now?”

Just when I was about to sort things out, this sudden emergency popped up.

“...Wait a second.”

However, having experienced all sorts of unexpected events, I found myself strangely pleased by this situation.

Perhaps this was a good opportunity to make a strong first impression on the new ‘Sword Saint’ and our Filial Daughter Follower.

I immediately put on my 'Hermit's Hood (+9)' and headed to the scene of the incident.

#

-Rumble rumble....

“Huh....?”

As the guards at the gate sensed something amiss and surveyed the surroundings, they saw a massive horde approaching from beyond the horizon.

“Shit!”

“What is that?!”

Using an artifact to identify them more accurately, they saw an army composed of death itself.

Their numbers were comparable to the entire military force of a nation.

Even as one of the guards hurriedly sent out a message, the Undead horde continued to advance, and advance.

Their target: the Regarium Kingdom.

Thanks to a magic portal, they easily breached the heavily guarded defenses.

Today, an uninvited guest had arrived to expand the Religious Order’s influence, putting the entire Kingdom army on high alert.

-Elder Lich.

A monster ranked among the highest of the Undead, wielding death and defying the natural order.

“Gods, absolute beings, Holy Swords. None of them exist.”

This was a Revelation directly from his Lord God.

“Nothing can stop us.”

At the center of the Undead horde, the Elder Lich commanded his subordinates.

Let's bestow true rest and new enlightenment upon these lost lambs.

The Dullahan, a headless Knight.

The Ghoul, a horrifying beast of flesh.

The Banshee, a wailing spirit.

And countless others, a horde beyond imagination, had arrived to devour a Kingdom.

Today was undoubtedly their day of celebration.

“Advance.”

The Elder Lich commanded his army, thirsty for blood and death.