Chapter 60
The Constellation farming operation was a resounding success.
And so, now…
Returning to Lagnis’s quarters, I faced her, her expression strangely tense.
“Why do you look so anxious?”
“It’s… nothing…”
A somewhat fragile appearance, not befitting the image of a ruthless follower wielding black flames.
It was her true self, shown only to me.
Honestly, I had a rough idea of where her anxiety stemmed from.
I was a Constellation, and Lagnis was my follower.
She was afraid of her life in Dungeon City coming to an end.
“If you have any wishes, tell me.”
“Constellation, I…”
As Lagnis hesitated, I pondered inwardly.
‘But why is she anxious?’
“Where… where do I have to go now…?”
“Huh?”
“I know my Task in Dungeon City is complete. That I… can no longer stay here.”
She could stay if she wanted to.
As I looked at her with an expression of incomprehension, Lagnis spoke again.
“I’m… afraid that the Master of Black Fate will abandon me.”
“Why would I abandon you?”
That was a preposterous thing to say.
Just what kind of beings were the Constellations in Lagnis’s mind?
Even if they were Constellations, abandoning their followers just because they didn't like them…
‘I want to burn the world!’
Abandoning them…
‘Oh Absolute Being, if you join forces with me, I’ll offer half of my followers as a sacrifice!’
“…”
I was speechless.
I had momentarily forgotten the average Constellation's nature.
Lagnis’s anxiety was understandable.
“We still have unfinished business.”
“…?”
“Your revenge.”
“After that’s over… what will happen to me…?”
“Then you can do whatever you want.”
Lagnis made a face like an abandoned puppy at my words.
‘Did I say something wrong?’
It seemed my words had inadvertently sounded like I was abandoning her.
“If you wish, you can stay under Black Fate, or you can stay here.”
“…!”
Only then did her expression brighten.
Her slightly drooping elf ears perked up.
“I will follow you!”
“O-Oh…”
Leaving Lagnis, who answered quietly and solemnly, I went to check on the Constellations I had just recruited.
#
“…”
“How is it?”
“…”
The Constellation remained silent for a long time, seemingly in shock.
Actually, they had been silent ever since I brought their Divine Bodies here.
It seemed the mental shock was significant.
“O-Oh, you’re here…!”
One Constellation, noticeably quicker to adapt than the others…
…was the ‘Lion of the Sun’, still dressed in a maid outfit, in her beast-man lion form.
“That’s too noir of a greeting. Try again with a healing vibe.”
“Welcome…?”
“Again.”
“Master has arrived…! Meow!”
Uh… I didn’t expect that.
Anyway, after accepting the Lion of the Sun’s greeting, I looked around the space I was in.
The white room assigned to me.
I had manipulated it to give it a more thematic feel.
A fountain, well-maintained paths, neatly trimmed bushes that exuded a refreshing atmosphere.
It was a space perfect for occasional strolls, a space not just for me, but for ‘us’.
“Feeling better?”
“I feel great…! But…”
Burning Cat's gaze shifted cautiously towards the back.
The four figures still looked dejected.
Beautiful women, each dressed in attire befitting their image, according to the current trend(?).
Beings who were once exalted above all others, denizens of the underworld who had plotted to harm me.
“These clothes suit you better than your Constellation forms.”
Recalling a stoic protagonist recommending a sword to an archer, I looked at them with a satisfied expression.
“B-But, the authority of a Constellation…”
“Be quiet. The more you remind us, the more painful it is…!”
One Constellation, unable to contain her frustration, spoke up, only to be rebuked by her companion.
「Black Sun's Incarnation: It’s gotten a bit crowded.」
‘You were the only visitors before.’
And even among you, I was the only one who actually existed.
I hadn’t had a moment of rest since I arrived, but the lack of human warmth was truly lonely.
‘Followers can’t come here.’
I wanted to invite my beloved followers later if I had the chance, but it was probably unlikely.
“Ahem…”
The Constellation fiddling with her shortened skirt looked at me expectantly.
“What? Why?”
“C-Can’t I… wear more… practical clothes?”
“These are perfectly practical, what’s wrong?”
“Like… what the Absolute Being is wearing…”
Her starry blue eyes glanced at my pants.
Clothes that covered a comparatively larger area of skin.
In contrast, what the Constellation in front of me was wearing was flashy, something you’d wear to an event.
“They don’t wear out.”
“That’s not the point—”
“Is it that uncomfortable? But I can’t let you change clothes alone.”
There were four other Constellations in the same situation.
One of them seemed to be enjoying it, though…
“I’ll… try to get used to it.”
Finally, under the resentful gazes of her companions, the Constellation gave up and stood still.
“So.”
The Divine Body with a calm expression looked at me.
“Why did you bring us here?”
“Reason?”
“Even though we’ve become Divine Bodies and our rank has decreased, we’re still alive. That means you have something you want us to do.”
I did have something in mind.
“You have to work. I can’t just let you play around here.”
“A Constellation working…”
The Constellation, used to living as she pleased, naturally expressed her dissatisfaction.
Come to think of it, these were quite the valuable assets.
They had always had their every whim catered to, their every tantrum tolerated.
‘I am guilty.’
This was all because they hadn't been properly educated from a young age.
While the concept of time might not apply to Constellations…
…I couldn’t just leave them with such chaotic personalities.
“So, should I change your clothes into something else?”
“…!”
The Constellation’s face paled, and she shook her head vehemently.
“Anyway. Let’s talk business.”
The Constellations’ objective was obvious.
It was also related to the reason they tried to harm me.
To become the Absolute Being of this world.
“You’ve always coveted my position.”
The five gazes were fixed on me simultaneously.
“Even when I was observing this game… this world… I was curious. Why do you strive to become the Absolute Being?”
Why were these individuals, who were considered influential in the universe, so obsessed with this tiny planet?
The answer lay in the unique setting of this world.
“You dopamine addicts.”
This was practically the only place where Constellations could directly see, feel, and intervene.
Presence.
The most crucial concept for a Constellation to interact with living beings.
“Why? Because…”
“It’s our calling.”
To make the stars their own.
The gathered stars would become the very flesh of the Constellation, eternally adorning the universe.
“So, out of all the stars, why are you so obsessed with this one?”
For Constellations, subjugating stars was as natural as breathing.
However, they had failed to subjugate this planet, ‘Dianon’.
It seemed to have sparked an unforgettable desire in those Constellations.
Like the cliché line, ‘You’re the first to treat me like this!’
That was the raw essence of the world’s setting.
Back to the present—
“So, all the more reason you should be under me, right?”
“…What?”
“You want to become the Absolute Being, right? Then you have to learn from me, the Absolute Being, to find the clues.”
“What… what are you talking about?”
A Constellation learning under someone?
The five Constellations stared at me, dumbfounded by the absurd logic.
“…”
「Black Sun's Incarnation: What… what does that even mean…?」
Sorry, but I didn't know what it meant either.
I just needed to keep them here and came up with a suitable excuse on the spot.
“It… might not be wrong.”
“Lion of the Sun, have you truly lost your mind?”
As the other four Constellations glared at the traitor with resentment, the Lion of the Sun broke out in a cold sweat and retorted.
“You should think carefully. Five Constellations of our caliber gathered together. And this is all we achieved?!”
“That’s because you gave up without even trying to fight!”
One of the Constellations exclaimed indignantly.
They hadn't even fought.
They surrendered immediately after exchanging glances with me.
“So? Are you sure you can win if you fight? Even if you do win, do you think other Constellations will just stand by and watch your forces get decimated?”
“Ugh…”
“Wouldn’t it be better to secure your position and face other Constellations with confidence?”
“Oh.”
That made sense.
Come to think of it, it sounded like something I would say.
「Black Sun's Incarnation: …?」
“Shhh.”
It was best if they convinced themselves without me having to persuade them.
“So just…”
The Lion of the Sun pleaded with the other Constellations, trying to persuade them.