Even with Plenty of Constellation Tickets...?
"Even if you give me a lot of Constellation Tickets...?"
People have their fated connections. It's up to you, Hero, whom to choose.
But be careful—the two heroes among them killed each other over a woman.
Hero Trust stabbed Hero Captain Eagle, who married his own daughter.
Of course, Trust fell in that fierce battle too...
Hero Daegomgei, left alone, successfully drove off the Maou single-handedly.
"Waking up to some brutal news right away." What kind of alarm is this savage? The hero who founded the Trust Union with his comrade over a woman...? No, more than that—would anyone normally think of marrying their comrade's daughter?
"She's my bride—I even went to her doljanchi." Does a comrade say stuff like that? I might need to seriously rethink my relationships.
Congratulations on forming your first party!
I pray you grow strong with reliable comrades...
Did you know? According to Trust Union research, parties of five with one woman often disband due to infighting.
Conversely, with one man, lives are often lost. Think carefully about party balance!
Should I just pull the covers over my head and sleep...? Party balance... I absolutely need to recruit a guy next. No, maybe urgently. Even a day tripper?
Dwarves are a race that harbors flames. Most are born with craftsmanship and artisan skills!
Short stature makes mining easy, and sturdy bodies resist illness.
The one who taught them techniques and gathered the dwarf race to found a kingdom was Hero Park Chun-sik.
All he wished for was one thing: that female dwarves would wear dresses.
...Daegomgei... what kind of battles did you fight? How is it that out of four—no, five party members, four feel like total wrecks? A compulsion to study history hit me hard.
Praying for your future! Here's 3 Constellation Tickets.
The goddess was always generous, but especially so today. I staggered out of bed, rubbed the sleep from my eyes, and grabbed the tickets.
Today's agenda: get a refund from the inn and meet Larirure Larirarion at the guild. Yesterday was total chaos. Exhausted, I decided to rest fully for the day. Nothing but letting my weary body recover.
Thanks to Po'runga and Larirure dragging me tirelessly around Trust Union, by the time we reached the inn, my legs wobbled like a newborn fawn's.
"Alright, first..."
I summoned the Metal Mimic (Chamber Pot) and filled it with clean water. Used Create Water, steadied my breathing, and tried an Enhancement. A dazzling light confirmed failure, so I gripped a ticket.
"Bad luck out of the way... here goes!"
Constellation [Sno■■Owl]
...But drawing this means no sleep.
(I hear your voice! Thoughts of all things—living, non-living—reach me.)
Constellation [Kn■■n]
Salt? (Broken Phantasm - Upon taking set damage, detonates a 10km radius like a nuke.)
Constellation [D■■toD■]
From a recent ■■ I watched; hope this keeps you from being a punching bag despite low stats.
(Skill Probabilistic Retaliation: 20% chance to nullify attack/damage (including status effects) and reflect 50% of received attack power as damage to foe. On 1 proc, 15% chance for mega-success: ignores defense/resistance, deals 150% of received attack power. 3. Risk Burden on/off. Increases proc chance for 1/2 by 20% but takes 1.5x damage and higher target probability.)
.....My first thought: What do these constellations even want?
They clearly can't communicate with each other. Otherwise, they'd coordinate, right? No idea how many there are, but it's gotta be chaos up there. From their perspective, we're just entertainment, so they toss random stuff?
I quietly opened my skill window. No status or inventory, but skills exist, huh.
True Word · Mantra
- Hear thoughts of living and non-living things.
- Proportional to caster's empathy.
The first skill I ever got... hears voices of living and non-living without discrimination.
.....Does the bed have thoughts? Plants or weapons...?
Passive? I leaned toward the chamber pot. As a metal mimic, it should have some monster instincts. But poking and rubbing yielded no reaction.
"No idea how to use this." It says I can hear, but... low empathy? Makes sense at just 21.
I shouted True Word Mantra! dramatically, but nothing. The constellation mentioned trembling... feel kinda bad.
[Detected constellation skill matching existing skill name.]
[Skills/descriptions mismatch; detecting matching skill.]
[Choose which of the two skills to receive.]
"Oh.... it works like that?"
..But no indication which is which. The latter's basically "die"—explode on damage? Felt the constellation's malice.
"Then the former..."
Broken Phantasm
- Class Magic Spell
- Dispels illusion/phantom spells/magic.
- Cannot use: Missing prerequisite sub-skill.
"....Just a direct translation of Broken Phantasm..." Any use for this? Maybe apply to memorize spellbook someday. Better on Fireball though.
Counter Combat Reflection
- Master Class Combat Skill.
- Probabilistically nullifies and reflects attacks.
- Reflection power scales with Combat Mastery proficiency.
- Cannot use: Missing prerequisite sub-skill.
"Can't use it." Not even a martial skill—Master level? Even Po'runga hasn't mastered martial arts' ultimate technique. Pie in the sky... But Masters use skills like this? Reflect any attack? Kinda scary.
Not too shocked though. Human-scale compared to Maou. All three new skills: useless for now. Info gained: I choose on name overlap? What happens if constellations give duplicates?
"Hope nothing happens today..." No real luggage—just rice. Innkeeper treated me to pricey breakfast, wishing health wherever. Don't skimp on humans or Merchant God leaves... Luck totem treatment, but not bad.
"This big city... housing prices okay?" Party lives together, bought 3-story building—old small clan (guild) place. Successors moved; leader/vice married, disbanded. Larirure's acquaintance discount, bought outright. Still oversized for two.
"Busy morning." What to call this building...? Party base out front: staff hauling furniture. Minimal essentials she checked yesterday, plus her dorm stuff. Bought big anticipating party growth?
Stepping in, 1st floor lobby screamed guild. Greeted busy staff laying tables, chairs, carpets; headed to 2nd.
"Whoa." Blacksmith forge and jewelry tools everywhere. Knew she was blacksmith/jeweler, but whole floor as workshop? Unexpected.
3rd floor: living quarters. Larirure hefting bed one-handed. I scanned closets, bookshelves, beds; caught breath.
"Morning, Larirure."
"Yeah, good morning, Radamu."
"If not rude... why no rooms on 3rd?" No privacy walls anywhere. Beds opposite at least. This huge 3rd floor for two? Taxes/maintenance insane...?
"Party base too, but ultimate goal's marriage. Gotta get used to living together."
"Uh.... if I don't like...? Personal space..."
"Don't worry—hang curtains."
"Okay then."
No point overthinking—headache. How long this lasts...? She seems to like me, but no spark. Not bad person... Who knows! Women! No interest in lewd stuff anyway!
Curtains up quick; sat at 1st floor's big round table for plans.
"Larirure, why sit next to me at a 10-person table?"
"To hear better. No need far? Dwarves have short arms too."
Couldn't retort; nodded. Constellations probably cursing "ungrateful punk".
She suggested breakfast at restaurant first. Early meet from dawn promise.
"Restaurant close—queue opens soon."
"I can make Chicken Summon fried chicken. That work?"
"Marry me."
Plated fresh golden fried chicken. She blurted, covered mouth. Face crimson, head on table, silent.
"Great skill."
At least look at me praising. Waited; she calmed, bit in. Muttered luxury of daily fried meat.
"Building pricey?"
"Hmm, depreciation/years considered, acquaintance discount cheap. 10 PP—10,000 GP. Guild adventurer tax break... 25 GP monthly maintenance."
"Tough for F-rank...?" 25,000 SP every 30 days... 90 SP/day stretch.
She munched calmly.
"I'm dwarf. Make and sell."
Production jobs rare, dwarves moreso. Jewelry too—week in mines, rich quick. F-quests for stamina training. Rear training yard available.
.....This pillar man route?
".....Bit cowardly, but I got infinite money method."
"If male escort, I'll pay—do me."
"Not that! This."
Summoned wet wipe, handed over. Sniffed, chewed, spat paper.
"Make booze—30 SP/bottle. Fried chicken backup."
High foot traffic, no issue.
"Infinite booze? Spiritus/vodka endless?"
"Yes."
"Fried chicken refills?"
"Yes."
Larirure's eyes glazed; hands shook. Po'runga shocked too—get it. Confirmed; she toppled from chair.
Thud.
"Larirure?"
"Best... isn't it......"
.....Shook head. No disbanding now. Won't starve or go dry even broke? Repeated till no plans advanced.
"Got quest sheet though."
"Shoulda asked that first!"
This sis... problematic another way..!