Blessing of the Stars (2)
“Hmph, hmph~”
Isella Carsein returned to her room feeling like she might float away at any moment.
Finally, Father’s eyes have been opened...!
The reason was that, in just the past few days, she had resolved the biggest issue gnawing at her heart.
At last, the day had come to spread the teachings of the Lord God together. Even if the entire kingdom rejected her, Isella was confident she wouldn’t waver from her convictions. After all, the Star’s Enlightenment she had witnessed was undoubtedly the truth.
“Rachel, help me change my clothes.”
“Yes, Princess...!”
At Isella’s command, her exclusive maid approached like an innocent puppy to assist her. Isella pitied those who, like her maid, had yet to attain enlightenment.
“I wish that day would come sooner.”
“Pardon?”
“The day when the true light spreads across the whole world.”
“Oh... you mean that dream story?”
“Yeah~”
Knowing no one would believe her, she always framed it as a dream to share her hope. The universe enveloping this world was far too cruel and brutal. That was why one must hold an even stronger desire to reach toward the light.
“Ugh... Constellations really seem scary.”
“Hehe, you think so too?”
“Yeah... It feels like if you don’t obey, divine punishment will strike immediately...”
It wasn’t wrong. Even now, somewhere out there, malevolent gods treated humans like toys.
The maid, gently brushing Isella’s hair, spoke up.
“But for me...”
“Hm?”
“No matter what, I think now—seeing you so happy, Princess—is better.”
“Oh my, aren’t you sweet, our little Rachel.”
Ever since receiving permission from King Edmund, Isella’s complexion had grown healthier and brighter day by day.
“This is the happiest time of my life, too.”
“Really?”
“Of course! Serving the Lord God I adore is even more thrilling and ecstatic than I imagined.”
-Shiver.
Recalling that moment made her shoulders tremble involuntarily.
“People say the Blessing of the Stars marks a hero candidate or whatever, but I couldn’t care less about that.”
“Hero...!”
“You’re interested in heroes too?”
“Of course! They’re like saviors, protecting citizens from evil gods...!”
“Hehe, so cute.”
Isella felt her heart warm at her lively maid’s attitude.
“Still, I love things as they are now. Even if hero qualities emerge, I’ll stay by the Lord God’s side no matter what.”
A flow of stars is felt somewhere...
A strange atmosphere swept through the room, imperceptible to ordinary humans, but they lacked the ability to notice the incongruity.
“And I’ve felt it before.”
“Huh...?”
In an instant, Isella’s ever-bright demeanor grew serene. Her voice carried a distant quality, as if gazing beyond the clear sky to the far horizon.
“Among those countless stars, there’s a terrifying one that devours other stars.”
“...A terrifying star?”
“Yeah. If there’s a sky, there’s always something higher beyond it.”
-So...
Isella paused, letting the words linger. On that day, amid the enlightenment from her Lord God, she had accidentally glimpsed something ominous.
In the embrace that had warmly held her through any threat, Isella had seen one star radiating a fearsome aura.
A mad star that would burn its own body to inflict harm. She prayed such malice would never reach her Lord God. Of course, the Father God would never face peril, but wasn’t that the human heart? Wanting the beloved to always be safe and at peace.
-Stroke.
Isella tightly gripped the church symbol she always carried. A decorative item she habitually clutched when stressed or overwhelmed. It belonged to her constellation, the Father God.
Child Blessed by the Stars (S)
Isella had once viewed this trait as a curse in her life. But now, grateful for allowing her to meet her Lord God, she lived in constant thanks.
“...Princess?”
“Yeah, it’s nothing. Rachel, let’s finish up quickly and head to worship.”
“Yes...! Understood.”
Feeling proud of her energetic maid’s response, Isella prepared to greet the day.
From afar, it looked like comedy, but up close, it was tragedy. That described my situation perfectly.
-Kwaaaa!!
A star was falling. Wrapped in unidentified brilliance and wreathed in flames, a meteor hurtled toward us from above.
What?
The utterly absurd situation paradoxically calmed my mind. Shock therapy?
“Ahh, it’s a staaar...”
The mysterious girl still clung tightly to my clothes, letting out some inexplicable exclamation of awe.
Child Blessed by the Stars.
I now understood the meaning behind that name. But the timing was too perfect.
Why now, of all times? Why pop out just as I’d finally stepped outside to activate the Sanctuary for the first time?
The reason lingered in the still-visible alert window.
Due to the first object activation, accumulated luck begins to take effect!
This is luck?
Indignation surged. If a star falling from a clear sky was luck, what was misfortune—dropping dead on the spot?
Screw this.
“Kyaaah!!”
“Meteor! A meteor’s falling!!”
Pedestrians fled in terror. It was certainly rare; everyone stared at the descending spectacle in abject fear.
As if meteors are common.
Avatar of the Black Sun: Hiiiek....!
And what are you?
Avatar of the Black Sun: M-M-Mad star! Run...!
It recognized the thing too and contributed to the panic.
“Lord God...!”
Belladys tensed beside me, ready to protect me.
“Hmph.”
I’d finally gone out, only for some rock to ruin it. And it was aimed right at my Sanctuary.
I just fixed it up.
Leaving it would turn the area to dust. I couldn’t allow that.
“Guess I’ll block it. It’s our Sanctuary, after all.”
“...!”
Belladys looked at me with eyes full of trust.
“Waaah...”
The problematic lucky girl just kept marveling in awe.
I’ll deal with you later.
With that plan, I deployed a suitable defense skill.
Curtain of Divinity (S)
The max-reinforced skill generated a massive barrier over the area. Normal attacks shouldn’t even scratch it.
Thus, I decided to watch from behind the barrier.
I’d love to vaporize it outright.
But I didn’t want to advertise my presence, so I aimed to cover it discreetly.
However.
-Drip.
“...?”
My skill, meant to block the meteor and minimize damage, allowed external intrusion and failed its role. A mind-stopping phenomenon.
Cutscenes due to 'events' cannot be interfered with!
An event?
One that drops a meteor on my head out of nowhere? Luck plus event wasn’t that bad, but still.
-Kwaaaa!!
How is that good?
I couldn’t view the massive boulder plummeting to shred the area positively. With no choice, I shifted the skill’s direction.
Armor of Holy Light (S)
“Stick close.”
A skill centering on me, extending barriers to selected allies. Good was good, but I prepared for the worst.
-Fwoosh!!
Vast holy power surged, wrapping us in a barrier to block any attack.
“Ahh, Lord God...!”
Belladys, reacting to my holy power, caressed her body in ecstasy.
“Wow...!”
I’d hastily included the girl too, and she just showed innocent wonder.
Is this right?
Treating her as an ally for now, I hoped she wouldn’t betray my trust.
-Shwooo!!
The meteor was nearly upon us. Fierce winds followed as it crashed precisely near the Sanctuary I’d covered.
Then came.
-KABOOOM!!
An ear-deafening explosion. Vision flickered. Fearing harm to the two beside me, I embraced them, covering their eyes.
“...Ugh!”
Even Belladys is affected?
Her reaction suggested the scene was overwhelming. Despite mustering holy power, the meteor’s impact was burdensome—likely another constellation’s influence.
I recalled the earlier event window.
The probability of the 'Child Blessed by the Stars' appearing greatly increases!
Recalling its ominous meaning now made my head throb.
Has to be this way?
A constellation power tied to stars. A blessing born from falling across the cosmos to fulfill one person’s wish. The “flow of stars” tormenting me seemed like buildup for this moment.
What the hell.
I could feel a chaotic star party erupting around me.
-Fwoosh!
As I waited for things to settle, the hazy afterimages sharpened. Dust cleared by an intangible force.
-Shwooo...
A peculiar, steaming boulder—like freshly unearthed—greeted us.
Sudden Event Occurred!: 【New Star Hero】
Ah.
Avatar of the Black Sun: Run... We have to run...
Shut up already.
Seeing the fresh event window, my gaze naturally turned to the girl.
Child Blessed by the Stars.
Per the lore, hero qualities stem from the stars’ choice. Rare probability stacked on rare probability. Chosen by the holy sword falling with the star, a new hero is born.
Super lucky star power, basically.
So.
This kid glued to my side was a talent bearing star qualities and hero potential.
“Wow...”
But why do it in front of someone else’s house? Pick a secluded, romantic spot.
From memory, heroes never acknowledged other constellations under the same sky.
Loathing, maybe.
And this spot was right in front of a temple they hated most.
Flirting with disaster?
Its behavior was utterly unpredictable. Begging to be killed?
Stuck unable to act, distant commotion approached amid the sudden chaos.
“W-What’s happening?!”
Regarium guards in official uniforms arrived to protect citizens, confused by the meteor—and spotting the girl at my waist.
“A k-kid?”
“Did you... cause this?”
“No way...”
Half right.
It fell seeking her, so probably.
“Huh? Dunno.”
But the girl innocently shook her head, her sky-blue hair swaying appealingly.
“Damage is minimized, at least.”
“As expected of the Lord God...!”
For a boulder three times an adult man’s size, only a crater formed—no other harm. Buildings intact too; lucky.
“Let’s pull back.”
Our veils hid us from notice except the girl. Best to slip away and return to the kingdom.
Not good.
Getting tangled in hero business was bad news.
“Handsome big bro, gooo...?”
As I subtly pulled away, the blue-haired girl pouted, watching me.
Please don’t follow.
“Huh...? What’s that over there?”
“Uncle, don’t you see it?”
“See what?”
She pointed frantically to alert them to us, but ordinary eyes couldn’t detect it. Hers were exceptionally special.
“Eeeeng, don’t go...”
Realizing explanations failed, she toddled over and clung to my waist like gum.
“...Shall I kill her?”
“No, not kill.”
Belladys’s patience was fraying. The girl ignored it, refusing to let go.
Avatar of the Black Sun: Just kill her now!
Who? Me?
Y-You. You’re the strongest among us.
Then take the curse penalty yourselves?
…
Harming a star-blessed human incurs a price. The star-mad bitch’s scheme targeted only constellations. Thus, she couldn’t have a religion or followers. For victims, no greater disaster existed. Pray not to meet her—or pass by coincidentally if you did.
“Don’t abandon me...”
Please.
So let go of my hand, please.
-Clank. Clank.
“K-Kid. Come with us for now.”
Finally, exasperated guards approached to pry her off.
“Nooo!”
The wailing girl desperate not to be separated, and burly men straining to protect her. When her grip luckily slipped, we swiftly teleported away.
-Nooooo!!
Her scream echoed, but if she pulled a holy sword from the meteor? Catastrophe.
Ditch for now.
I decided to return to the warm royal embrace.
“Hmm...?”
Lisia, mid-skewer, sensed the sky’s anomaly. A star plummeting through the heavens.
-Gulp.
Swallowing hastily, she headed to the scene.