Chapter 40
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「Title: Ah, those Sneaky Bastards
-Why do these so-called Constellations keep hiding behind the curtain?
└Constellations need to make a living too...
└Come out and fight fair and square!!
└lol there are some like that sometimes
└If you're feeling wronged...you know what to do, right?
└What? What do I know?」
「Title: We've prepared this just for you!
(Picture of 'Lens of Truth' in the shop window)
-For just 6,900 won, you can expose those sneaky bastards? Wow, that's cheap. Why wouldn't you buy it?
└lol Look at the immediate sales pitch
└What is this?
└If you equip it, you can see hidden Constellations.
└Peeping glasses, oh yeah;
└Glasses that let you see everything clearly, dd」
「Title: Honestly
-Isn't it too much to affect gameplay with cash items?
└The Game company needs to make a living too...
└Maybe it's because you can't even afford microtransactions
└Whoa, don't say any more.
└I have the money; but it feels dirty
└Dirty?
└Go wash yourself. Go outside for a bit.
└?
└Why are you hitting me?」
「Title: Honestly, I think it's good
-Right in front of those bastards who act all cocky because of their abilities, "Cash item"
Seeing them all dumbfounded and stuttering makes me get a boner even in my sleep lol
└lol The satisfaction is real
└It's better to use it and have peace of mind than to be screwed over openly
└But its performance is really good lol
└Real value for money
└The description is short, but it feels authentic
└"Throws a spear at the enemy"
└"Ignores the enemy's stealth"
└So basic;」
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【The Eternal Sleeper】
"Gotcha."
-What?! What do you see?!
The Dragon Lord diligently bobs his head, trying to find what I'm looking at, but it's invisible to the eyes of an ordinary Constellation.
While being a Constellation is by no means ordinary, that's just the way of the world.
No matter how great they are, in front of a 'Player,' they are nothing but bits of data.
"I can see everything."
-Let me see too!
Leaving the frustrated Dragon Lord aside, I made my move before the revealed Constellation could hide again.
「Would you like to send a friend request to the Constellation, 'The Eternal Sleeper'?」
'Yes.'
Let's start by marking them.
「Black Sun's Incarnation: That name... I've heard it somewhere before.」
「Child of the Lost Star: I've never seen it before.」
「Black Sun's Incarnation: That's because you're a loner with no friends.」
'Oh wow.'
I chime in with Black Sun, who's going all in without any filter.
【The Eternal Sleeper】
A Constellation that appears through external events, not participating in the main story.
In my memory, their existence remains as something like third-rate heretics, mainly plundering powerless villages and committing evil deeds.
'You're a bit better.'
I compared Black Sun's name.
Black Sun, who participated in the main story and committed even more heinous acts, definitely had a larger scale.
This one felt clearly inferior.
'So.'
I was very much looking forward to it.
What grand plan could they be concocting—
To do such a thing with a lower caliber than the Black Sun's Incarnation?
"How should I..."
「Black Sun's Incarnation: Hmm...?」
"How should I cook this to make it a well-known dish?"
I have more than enough Faith Level to cast a Curse.
The scale of followers? I could deploy Belladis alone and turn their Religious Order into ruins.
I even wonder if it's necessary to go this far, but...
The Sin of daring to touch my follower.
This is a Sin that can never be forgiven.
I subtly hid one hand that was trembling with rage.
「Black Sun's Incarnation: ....」
「Child of the Lost Star: Why are you smiling...?」
「Black Sun's Incarnation: Be quiet.」
-Roooar!!
My gaze turns back to Calisa, who is roaring.
A gigantic figure, scales that seem impenetrable to any attack.
Two majestic horns rising above a ferocious-looking head.
'If that's not a Dragon, what is?'
During the story, I thought she would be the biggest enemy and boss mob.
But the developers, whose senses are still alive, not only humanized Calisa but also gifted her to me as a follower.
-Oooooh...!!
"Are you that happy?"
The Dragon Lord, flapping in sync with Calisa's excited roars.
When I look at him with cold eyes, he snorts and stares back at me.
-That's the true form of Calisa!
"Whatever."
-You're seeing it with your own two eyes! My daughter's resentment, returning to her original form and overwhelmed with emotion...!!
Is that so?
「Follower, 'Calisa' is overjoyed to be reunited with you!」
"...Doesn't seem like it?"
-No! It's true! I know Calisa better than anyone!
I barely managed to suppress the laughter that threatened to erupt at his bold assertion.
I can't wait for the three-way confrontation.
For now, I've succeeded in finding Calisa, my biggest Goal, and what remains is the revenge plan against the two Constellations.
-Shwing.
I drew my dedicated Holy Sword and pointed it at Calisa, who had transformed into a Dragon.
-...Huh?
The Dragon Lord looks at my actions with a puzzled expression.
-What are you doing now?
"Calisa still has that bastard's aura on her. I need to beat him up before he runs away."
-Are you going to use that Holy Sword?!
The Holy Sword.
One of the few overpowered weapons that can directly inflict penalties on Constellations.
If I swing the Holy Sword at Calisa in this state, it could cause damage not only to The Eternal Sleeper but also to me.
Because nominally, I am her Constellation.
However.
"Haven't I done this once or twice?"
-...What?
With the 'Lens of Truth' equipped, I have the authority to distinguish and attack the intertwined auras of Constellations separately.
'Pay up if you're feeling wronged.'
Ah. Can't do that anymore, can they?
「Would you like to use the 'Lens of Truth' to lock onto the Constellation 'The Eternal Sleeper'?」
As I affirm the status window that pops up according to my will, a part of the flowing aura becomes clearly visible.
'That's it.'
An aura wriggling like a worm, hoping for survival.
Calisa growling and looking this way.
As soon as I locked onto the target, I charged towards her.
"....?!"
The giant Dragon, startled by the sudden charge, but welcoming my presence with a willing attitude.
It's possible when she's human, but not now.
'Sorry.'
I look forward to her returning to a size suitable for hugging again.
「Using 'Sekratis'.」
Just like that, I swung Sekratis towards the approaching giant, or rather, towards the presence of a certain Constellation.
-Kyaaaaa...!!
「Successfully inflicted damage on the Constellation, 'The Eternal Sleeper'!」
'Accept my friend request.'
If you don't, I'll keep hitting you until you do.
Already weakened by the Blessing I placed on Calisa, the Eternal Sleeper couldn't muster any more strength even if it wanted to.
-Kieeek...!
'If they accept the friend request, I'll talk. If not, they die.'
Death is a rare word for a Constellation.
Anxious that the Eternal Sleeper might harbor ill intentions, a better idea struck me.
'No. Just don't accept it.'
Since the opportunity presented itself, I decided to take a more unconventional approach.
「Constellation, 'The Eternal Sleeper' has accepted your friend reque...
'Nope. Get lost.'
「You have canceled the friend request!」
「Black Sun's Incarnation: I, I'm scared...」
「Constellation, 'The Eternal Sleeper' requests to chat with you.」
-Grrrr! I can feel its presence!
The Dragon Lord, worried about Calisa, who was like a daughter to him, and the Eternal Sleeper, trembling within Calisa's body.
I pondered for a moment.
Even if I dealt with this bastard conventionally, it wouldn't feel quite right.
A fight had been picked, and misunderstandings had arisen with other Constellations.
Shouldn't I escalate things to a level where I could resolve both issues simultaneously?
'You think so too, right?'
「Constellation, 'The Eternal Sleeper' shakes its head violently.」
Even that Constellation doesn't disagree.
Therefore.
'Resist.'
With that strong intention, I swung the Holy Sword.
Hard enough to cause serious pain if not blocked.
-Crackle!
"...Ugh!"
A malicious burst of Mana erupted in front of the swinging Holy Sword.
The recoil violently threw back my arm holding the sword.
Looking closely, a red mark appeared on my fair skin, indicating a considerably powerful force.
-Wh, what?!
The Dragon beside me was startled and looked back at me.
-....!
Calisa, who had been passively submitting to the possession, also flinched and looked down at me.
"It resisted."
-What?!
"Quite formidable, huh?"
No. It's weak.
It's an extra among extras, not even part of the main storyline.
"Calisa will be in danger if we leave it like this."
-What?!
The Dragon Lord growled and became wary at the mention of danger.
-How dare you threaten my daughter!
As if ready to unleash Divine Power, I stopped the Dragon Lord and added a newly fabricated detail.
"If I attack now, Calisa will get hurt too."
She wouldn't.
But ending it here would be boring.
「Constellation, 'The Eternal Sleeper' shouts that it didn't do anything.」
'Yeah, I can't hear you.'
Ignoring the Constellation's silent outcry, I moved on to the next part.
-You despicable...!
The Dragon Lord, who took my words at face value, was enraged.
No one could resolve this situation without my knowledge anyway.
In other words, he had to believe whatever I said.
"...Ah."
Then, a brilliant idea came to mind.
"Hold on a second."
-Krr! Calisa! I'll save you! We'll go back together...!
"Ugh. Get out of my way, you're distracting me."
I smacked the Dragon Lord's massive head as it nudged closer.
-Grrrr...
Focusing my mind, I placed my palm on Calisa’s body, which was groaning in discomfort.
「Interfering with Constellation, 'The Eternal Sleeper'.」
#
'Please, let me go back.'
The Constellation, who had dreamt of Paradise, pleaded, trembling.
There was no escape.
Part of its existence, along with its Divine Power, was sealed within this enormous follower's body. The moment it tried to escape, it would surely be intercepted.
Now, the Eternal Sleeper had no choice but to comply with Ron's little game.
After resisting with all its might as instructed, it found Ron shifting all the blame onto it.
'No! It's not like that!'
While it was true that it had tried to use the follower, it never intended to weigh her life against its goals.
It simply wanted to open a 'Gate' to another, more peaceful world.
However, everyone present knew that this was just a self-serving excuse.
Then, it sensed a chilling presence infiltrating Calisa’s body.
「Interfering with Constellation, 'The Eternal Sleeper'.」
-Crazy...!
The Constellation was startled by the encroaching touch of death and tried to reject it.
「Failed due to the difference in Rank!」
But.
「Failed due to the difference in Rank!」
Having caught Ron’s attention, there was no escape.
'How did this happen?'
While consumed by self-loathing at its pathetic situation, the Constellation trembled before the approaching death.
A deep sense of helplessness.
Such an emotion was unbefitting of a transcendent being who treated mere mortals like pawns, controlling their lives at will.
-Wh, why are you doing this to me?
Abandoning even its Constellational authority, it pleaded abjectly for survival.
Why am I doing this?
The answer lay within itself, or rather, within myself.
Who was it that initially approached Ron's follower, taking advantage of his absence?
Who was it that tried to use Calisa’s abilities and potential to achieve its own ends?
'Didn't you see this coming?'
The entire situation unfolding around it seemed to taunt it with those words.
Then.
-Saaa...
The presence that had infiltrated Calisa and silently observed the Eternal Sleeper, formed a clear intention.
'Resist.'
-Wh, what...?
'Resist with all your might.'
The Eternal Sleeper found the Absolute Being's attitude utterly maddening.
Instead of demanding surrender, it was inciting a riot.
The pressure continued to intensify.
The Eternal Sleeper had no choice but to make a decision.
-Thump!
"Urgh."
Sharply honed Divine Power pierced the Absolute Being's body, which had been channeling energy into Calisa.
「Black Sun's Incarnation: Absolute Being...!」
The Black Sun Incarnation reacted, unaware that this was the same tactic used against it.
-Rooooar!
Calisa, who had been quietly observing the situation, also roared in shock.