Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
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"Phew, thank you."
"I'm sincerely grateful."
I had no idea why Aphrodite and Freya's sponsor constellations were threatening my life, but thanks to Laverin and Jessica's pleas, she'd somehow managed to soothe their anger.
'What the hell did those two do?'
The common traits between the two constellations. Their relationship with each other. Putting it all together, had they tried some seduction ploy and accidentally pissed them off?
'Nah, no way. What kind of constellation would use such a half-baked tactic and bring wrath down on themselves?'
Soha had unintentionally hit the nail on the head, but she dismissed the thought immediately for lacking any realism.
Of course, she knew constellations weren't perfect beings, but she also knew bone-deep that they weren't that sloppy.
"We owe you a debt."
"That's right. So if there's anything you want, don't hesitate to ask."
A favor from them, huh.
Soha found the situation bewildering, but honestly... it wasn't half bad.
To think she could saddle those two with a debt just by calming their constellations' tempers.
'What should I get out of this opportunity?'
Her mind was already sifting through the optimal options within the limits of what they could provide.
Elixirs? Unnecessary, since her own sponsors showered her with them endlessly.
Weapons or armor? Same deal—her power from the first floor made them redundant.
'Maybe that after all?'
She lacked nothing in info on the tower, growth, or gear.
So what did she need?
Soha's mind began methodically pushing priorities aside, one by one.
Fancier food, clothing, and shelter. Connections for team-based tower trials. And so on.
It kept shuffling back, back, until it halted on a particular item.
"...The Pantheon Ledger."
Any constellation that set foot in the tower even once had their info recorded there in real time.
Without exaggeration, the Pantheon Ledger contained data on every constellation in the tower.
"I'd like permission to use the Pantheon Ledger."
Soha resolved to seize this chance and learn about her own sponsors.
The Pantheon Ledger took the form of a book, but it transmitted constellation info not through text—straight to the user's brain.
Which meant even blind Soha could use it without issue.
'The Pantheon Ledger is managed in rotation by the most powerful constellations.'
And right in front of her were Laverin and Jessica, sponsored by Aphrodite and Freya.
Named constellations who handled Ledger duty.
"Use of the Pantheon Ledger?"
"Indeed. It's right around the time climbers get curious about their sponsors."
Pantheon Ledger.
At the words, Laverin and Jessica both voiced doubts before nodding in understanding.
Climbers usually wanted the Ledger to check out potential sponsor candidates.
"Very well. We'll speak to our sponsors and see if we can arrange priority access while we're on management duty."
"I'll make the same request."
Surprisingly, most climbers used the Ledger to scout constellations.
In places like Earth, where constellation lore wasn't mythologized everywhere, there was no way to guess who was who, what powers they wielded, or their personalities.
"Thank you."
'This cuts down the wait time.'
With so many climbers clamoring for it, access usually took ages.
But if Freya or Aphrodite pulled strings? She'd get fast-tracked, no wasted time.
"Um, could I ask one more tiny favor?"
"Of course."
"The epithet of the constellation watching over me... could you tell me what it is?"
To pull sponsor info from the Pantheon Ledger, you needed their exact epithet.
And Soha—now or ever—had no way to learn them on her own.
So she'd solve that problem here and now, too.
"Your sponsor's epithet, you say?"
"That's quite unique."
Why ask me for your own sponsor's epithet?
They seemed to think, but it was no big ask, so they readily agreed.
"The epithet of the constellation watching over you is as follows."
And so Soha heard her sponsor's epithet for the first time.
"Wha—'Black Despair'?"
It screamed demon lord or evil overlord, hitting her harder than expected.
"Still as dull a place as ever."
"You've arrived."
A vast, barren cavern.
The old man seated on a jade throne engraved with two ravens eyed the newcomer.
"Take a seat."
"Sorry, gotta pass. I'm not here to chat."
With a casual wave, a new throne materialized—cloud-and-lightning-embossed to match the man's vibe.
But he had no interest in talk, brushing off the offer with breezy indifference.
The old man narrowed his eyes.
"Not here to talk, eh? Then why make the trip?"
Crackle.
As his words ended, lightning surged from the man's body.
"Eh~ Just here to give a friendly warning."
"A warning?"
"Cut the act."
Unlike his tone, the lightning writhed violently, poised to unleash on the old man.
"You lot stuck your spoon in our marked territory."
"What's the problem with that?"
"Hey, got no sense of business ethics?"
"Business ethics... Not something for you to say, barging into my home and issuing threats."
Thud.
The old man stamped his staff heavily. The lightning spreading around them vanished like a lie, retreating into quiet submission.
No matter the man's power, this was the old man's home turf.
With their strengths evenly matched, location gave a massive edge.
"Besides, we behaved with perfect propriety."
"What?"
"Your side's constellation hogged it solo for seven days and got zilch. Naturally, we stepped up. If anything, we were disappointed—thought Olympus had more juice."
Olympus's leader.
Zeus ground his teeth but couldn't deny it.
Infuriating as it was, the old man was spot on.
"Ha! Think Asgard's any different?"
"Of course. Our constellations brim with charm, unlike yours."
Asgard's representative.
Odin implied—Unlike your Aphrodite, our Freya's so captivating she wrapped it in under seven days~—drawing a scoff from Zeus.
"Haha! Freya's beauty is famed, sure! But our Aphrodite holds her own. Didn't she just snag the Beauty Constellation award?"
Freya? Ever win Beauty Constellation? Nope~ Same league in words, but can't even bag one? Eh~ Aphrodite knockoff~ Just a nobody born in a myth without Aphrodite~
"Heh heh! Aphrodite's allure is known to all constellations. Why else would so many know her? Especially with all those gifts she got lately?"
Your Aphrodite rolls with every Tom, Dick, and Harry for loot? Proper slut. Beauty award? Rumors say she earned it tumbling with others. Olympus average as ever~
"Freya's no saint! Lent Mjolnir to some replica, didn't she?"
Like you're pure? We know your dirt too.
"......"
"......"
Nerves clashed in a sharp war of barbs, jabbing at weaknesses.
Each knew the other's soft spots, so the longer it dragged, the deeper the wounds.
"Hahaha."
"Heh heh heh."
But they couldn't stop here.
Not with pride on the line.
The pride of Olympus and Asgard's kings—their representatives—wouldn't allow defeat.
Whirr.
"What is it?"
"Hm?"
Before fresh blades could fly, something buzzed in both their bosoms—like a referee calling timeout.
"What? What nonsense is that. Why would Aphrodite..."
"Say that again. What about Freya?"
No way.
Zeus and Odin both rejected the incoming intel.
It was just too absurd.
"...You too?"
"Then... this is real?"
But with another constellation right there receiving the same report?
If it were just him, fine. But the enemy getting identical news planted seeds of doubt—this might be legit.
"What a lunatic!"
"Heh, never a dull moment."
Zeus and Odin's orders to Aphrodite and Freya had aligned perfectly.
Scout the outsider constellation entering the tower. Win them over.
But this? The reports weren't of success—they detailed betrayal, handing Olympus and Asgard intel straight to the enemy.