Chapter 39. Calisa (2)

The Dragon Constellation was special.

From its very birth, it possessed a clear stellar will, distinct from other Constellations.

Light and Darkness.

Good and Evil.

Its mission was to stand at the center, upholding order against encroaching chaos with the strongest discipline.

Calisa was sick of it all.

-Eternal Night, the most valiant and glorious position.

The Dragon of Dragons, their Incarnation, whispered to Calisa.

-A position solely for you, my successor.

‘.....’

She saw countless Stars.

The auras of Constellations, radiant and majestic, containing the fate of the world.

Ordinary beings should feel awe in their presence—

But Calisa felt no such interest.

She had been forced into countless battles simply for being born.

Calisa had a hobby of observing the flow of life, something more static and peaceful, but the Dragon Lord deemed her hobby misguided.

-Dragons do not know defeat.

Even though they had already experienced one grand defeat, the Dragon Lord spoke as if they had completely erased such shame from their mind.

Yes, perhaps.

Calisa’s rebellious spirit might have stemmed from the lengthy battle she experienced that day.

-Stay here.

‘Yes…? But, my brethren—’

-There’s no need for you to intervene.

Countless brethren were dying right before her eyes, yet she was merely watching from the safest cradle.

Calisa couldn't understand the Dragon Constellation's intentions at the time.

The invading force was the Religious Order of the "Parent God," a being whose power was growing at a terrifying rate.

As she had heard in rumors, and as she now witnessed with her own eyes, Followers imbued with powerful Divine Power were palpable.

A red-haired human Follower, traversing the battlefield like a beast.

A horrifying Vampire, shrouded in death, launching new attacks with the blood of fallen Dragons.

Besides them, powerful Followers continued to defile the Dragon Sanctuary.

Calisa watched all the devastation they wrought.

And as time passed…

Her Constellation, the "Dragon Lord," who had always stood on the side of the strong, now became the loser.

Semi-forcibly, they formed a contract with their Constellation and offered Calisa as a sacrifice.

On the day the contract was fulfilled…

Calisa felt a sense of dissonance within herself.

‘...I don't feel anything.’

The presence of the Constellation she had harbored within disappeared, and a different Divine Power filled the void.

Her life had been turned upside down, and she had to face a new phase, but…

What Calisa felt wasn't sadness or fear, but a kind of liberation.

-Thump. Thump.

Her heart beat.

It wasn't an ominous feeling.

Like a child leaving home with excitement in search of adventure, a fresh shock propelled Calisa forward.

Endless battles, the Dragon Lord's duties she was forced to follow simply because she was born…

Calisa became a Follower of the Parent God after that day.

#

「Name: Calisa

Strength 9 Agility 8 Mana 10 Intelligence 6 Spirit 9」

「Possessed Trait: Protection of the Ancient Dragon」

「Due to the trait possessed by this Follower, they have high Divine Power resistance!」

-I will definitely come back for you.

The Dragon Constellation vowed as she left.

The strongest Dragon Constellation.

And the most noble Dragon created by that Constellation, a being like a daughter.

-Calisa.

The Dragon Lord firmly believed that she would return someday.

Even if she had temporarily fallen into the arms of that detestable being.

However…

‘Oh, most powerful Dragon.’

Calisa was so content with her current situation.

‘I’m sorry. I like it better here.’

The Parent God's embrace had everything.

Freedom, tranquility, Love, and everything else Calisa desired.

The tiring position of constantly having to be angry and prove her own strength…

It didn't suit Calisa at all.

‘I… I like it here. I deeply admire the Parent God.’

But she couldn’t bring herself to express her feelings clearly.

This was the last consideration and affection for the Dragon Lord who had cared for her.

Although she was sick of her past life, she wasn't heartless enough to ignore the kindness she had received.

And so…

-Ding!

「Due to the Blessing of a higher-ranked Constellation, ‘Protection of the Ancient Dragon’ is replaced with ‘Blessing of the Parent God.’」

The last trace that remained on Calisa like a Curse was overwritten by the one she loved.

“......”

In the darkness, the deeply submerged consciousness of a woman slowly surfaced at someone's call.

Despite being in a state where she could never awaken due to the Constellation that manipulated dreams, Calisa's unique trait and—

The miraculous synergy with her Constellation’s Divine Power…

-Thump!

Her heart pounded again.

Even if she was lost in an endless wandering dream, the faith engraved in her instincts did not disappear.

「Constellation ‘Dragon Lord’ is interfering with Follower ‘Calisa’!」

「Follower ‘Calisa’ uses the skill ‘Polymorph.’」

-Crack!

A transformation granted with a trivial permission.

Shedding the alluring human flesh like a husk, Calisa returned to her former self.

-...Ah.

Ignoring the disgusting sigh coming from somewhere…

Calisa looked up at the sky, following the ecstatic aura.

There was a man there.

A captivating appearance that seemed to melt her just by looking at him.

His body lacked any special adornments, yet his mere presence commanded the atmosphere.

‘Ah…!’

Calisa was certain.

This man was undoubtedly the Lord God she had been waiting for.

-KRAAAAAAAA!!

Overwhelmed with joy, she instinctively roared with all her might.

#

[Unexpected Event Occurred!]

[Would you like to move to the designated area?]

As soon as I granted Polymorph, the status window popped up. I responded immediately.

-....

“What are you doing?”

-What…

“I found Calisa. Aren’t you coming?”

-...! I’m coming!

“Then either release Summon or shrink your body.”

It's not like you're making a public announcement. How can you go anywhere with that huge body?

The Dragon Lord immediately transformed his body at my words.

-Is this enough?

“Much better than before.”

The form that followed was a golden lizard the size of my upper body.

Satisfied, I immediately responded to the status window’s prompt.

[Leaving the Sanctuary…]

While waiting for the brief loading time, a notification popped up in the message window.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: ...What are you planning?]

‘What.’

[Black Sun's Incarnation: Do you realize how absurd this is…?]

[Child of the Lost Star: Black Sun.]

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

[Child of the Lost Star: Don't dare try to fathom the will of the Absolute Being.]

Just as I was about to ignore him, the Child of the Lost Star stepped in and marked the Black Sun’s question for me.

‘Nice timing.’

It’s always best to reveal these things at the highlight.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: You, you think this is normal? Two Constellations! If we’re not careful, the providence…!]

‘Providence.’

To be worried about that troublesome thing even now, he’s so naive.

No. Actually, most Constellations are probably thinking the same thing as the Black Sun right now.

Let's cause chaos in this 'Dianon' playground, but let's enjoy it while following our own rules.

What a bothersome setting.

‘Think about it.’

[Black Sun's Incarnation: Uh…?]

‘Who can stop me now?’

The Black Sun is worried that the providence will be distorted and affect the world.

But that premise is wrong from the start.

Providence.

An unspoken rule designed to prevent Constellations from fighting amongst themselves and turning the whole world upside down.

But the truth is.

Even if that providence is distorted, even if it doesn't exist at all.

It doesn’t actually affect the world, including the Regarium Kingdom and other nations.

It was just wordplay by the Constellations, wrapped in Jealousy and selfishness from the beginning.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: Th-that's not-]

‘Why not?’

Constellations have never questioned the System.

They, too, are created by the developers, trials and rivals for the players.

So, they never thought about where these rules came from.

Like sheep in a pen, they simply believed in and followed providence.

[Child of the Lost Star: Oh, Ohhhhh…!!]

‘What’s with him?’

Leaving the suddenly ecstatic Child of the Lost Star in the chat, I looked at the name of the stunned Black Sun.

‘So, enjoy it.’

The situation is now escalating to an insane scale, involving a major Constellation and a hidden Constellation.

-KRAAAAAAAA!!

‘Whoa.’

The loading finished, and I arrived at the scene.

I paused for a moment, seeing Calisa's Dragon form for the first time in a while.

The previous graceful appearance was gone, replaced by a huge Dragon roaring and displaying violent physicality.

-That's it! Calisa!

The Dragon Lord flapped his small wings excitedly beside me.

What a doting fool.

‘Hold on a second.’

Suppressing my excitement, I waved to Calisa.

At the same time, I didn’t forget to remove her abnormal status with a skill.

[Casting a High-Level Blessing on Follower, ‘Calisa’!]

-KIIEEEEEEK…!

Then, an ominous scream echoed from somewhere.

‘There you are.’

It was definitely the presence of something, presumably a Constellation, that hadn't fully separated from Calisa.

I immediately pulled out the appropriate item from my inventory.

[Equipping ‘Lens of Truth’.]

Sunglasses-shaped item.

It has the effect of revealing the identity of hidden Constellations.

[Child of the Lost Star: I've never seen that kind of equipment before. What is that?]

[Black Sun's Incarnation: I sense a strange energy…]

I didn’t answer them, but showed them with action.

The Lens of Truth stylishly settled on my eyes.

And—

【The Eternal Sleeper】

“There it is. My dopamine.”

The name of the hidden Constellation began to appear.