Chapter 116
Translator: uly
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
"Yeah, got it. You're saying not to mess with the singularity candidate, right? Not that big a deal, so I'll play along."
"I like how quick you catch on. Shall we move on to the next item, then?"
"...What else is there?"
In that instant, Artemis's face stiffened, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
I thought this would wrap things up, so what's this about something else lurking behind?
Her right eye twitched downward as she brought her right thumb to her lips.
It was her signature sign of displeasure, the one that only appeared when she was annoyed or dissatisfied.
Chirrr.
Perhaps sensing the influence of the space's owner, the crickets' exquisite chirps rode in on a cool breeze, but it did nothing to soothe her grumpy mood...
If not for that, their conversation surely would have turned even more hostile than it already was.
"It's a follow-up to what we discussed earlier. Since we're pursuing friendly relations with the singularity candidate, don't you think there are those plotting against it?"
Apollo wasn't the type of constellation to let an opportunity like this slip away.
He quickly picked up on the moment his sister's mood softened and immediately launched into the second agenda.
Unlike the two siblings, it was information on the radical constellations intent on nipping discord in the bud, just like before.
Should they kill the singularity candidate like they used to? Or forge new friendly ties?
In terms of sheer numbers, the overwhelming majority favored sticking to the old ways.
But when it came to the balance of power, it was surprisingly even—because most of the high-profile constellations like Apollo and Artemis had sided with this faction.
"Lately, though, some constellations have started shifting to the enemy side, bit by bit."
The reason? One group had covertly declared their stance, insisting the singularity candidate must die.
"That group's identity is Pandemonium. A faction rivaling our Olympus has fully turned to the enemy side."
"Pandemonium? Those perverts all of a sudden? Last time, they were the ones hiding the singularity candidates."
The first singularity had caught everyone off guard.
But the second had been anticipated to some degree; they'd culled candidates on a massive scale.
Yet the Tower still plunged into an era of chaos much like the first time, all because Pandemonium had mobilized en masse to shelter everyone suspected of being singularities from the other constellations.
"So why the sudden change with those perverts? I figured they'd hide the singularity this time too."
"I thought the same."
But reality had flipped the script.
Apollo fixed his eyes—glowing with heat like the captured sun—on the scene reflected in the lake.
Artemis might not have noticed, but the black-clad corpses strewn about were definitely backed by the Pandemonium he'd just been talking about.
'For Pandemonium to move as a whole, it has to be on Satan's orders. No doubt.'
So why was Satan gunning for the singularity?
After pondering deeply, Apollo shook his head and muttered while gazing at a spot obscured by trees in the distance.
"...Better to hear it straight from one of their constellations than speculate."
Whoosh!
"Wh-what the hell?!"
"Moths must be exterminated."
Artemis jumped at Apollo's sudden outburst of flames.
He'd been mumbling to himself one second, then unleashing his authority the next—who wouldn't be startled?
But that reaction stemmed from her not yet realizing a third constellation was present. Considering it'd been spying in secret until now, Apollo's move wasn't exactly misguided.
Especially if the intruder was from Pandemonium, now their enemy.
"Our wild child is so oblivious to her surroundings that she misses even non-hostile gazes. Her exasperated brother has to step in himself."
"Me, oblivious? I'm a hunter!"
Apollo's strike, wreathed in solar flames, incinerated everything around the two constellations in an instant.
Using power like that without warmup in another constellation's domain should have been exhausting, but was it their shared blood? Or Apollo's iron will?
"As expected of me. Not even winded by that. Whew~ My power as Apollo is simply terrifying."
"What are you blabbering about by yourself?"
He hadn't broken a sweat on his forehead, maintaining his leisurely demeanor while singing his own praises.
"And I haven't killed it yet, either?"
But Artemis's expression remained sour.
Half because she couldn't stand Apollo's antics, and half because the intruder had survived such an attack with tenacious vitality.
Chirrr.
No cricket made by Artemis's power could survive the sun's all-consuming blaze.
"Hm. To think the one peeping on my wild sister was you."
[Oh? You knew?]
"Even someone as great as me couldn't pinpoint that. I just knew someone was sneaking peeks at my sister."
"Why are you in my domain? Beelzebub."
One of Pandemonium's top executives.
[Endless Gluttony], Beelzebub.
A bizarre voice, gender indeterminate, emanated from the crickets. Artemis instantly pierced its identity, crossing her arms and unleashing cold hostility toward the intruder in her home turf.
[Come on, you said I could call you Berl~ last time, right?]
"Shut up and answer me."
"Our wild child can't answer if she's telling it to shut up."
"Shut up."
Whose side are you on?
Artemis's piercing glare shifted from Beelzebub to Apollo.
Her eyes screamed: 'We're already ganging up here, and you're picking sides from the start? Is this really the play?'
[Well, why do you think I came here?]
"I see. Here as a messenger again?"
[Better cost-performance than the others, right?]
As long as it was insects, it held ample dominion—not just in Paris—small size for sneaking into enemy domains, low effort. Perfect.
"So why are you here?"
[I have a proposal for you, Artemis. Though it seems I've missed the timing.]
"Missed the timing... I get it. Trying to recruit my wild sister to Pandemonium's side?"
[Bingo~.]
Apollo truly believed coming straight to Artemis after wrapping up with Aphrodite was his masterstroke.
What if he'd been too late and she'd allied with the enemy?
'Just imagining that nightmare is criminal.'
Gulp.
"Recruit? Why the hell would I hang with you creeps?"
[Aw, I thought we got along pretty well.]
"We don't! Piss off already."
"Hold on. Chasing it off now would be a waste."
Apollo covertly wiped the cold sweat beading on his palms and reined in Artemis.
This was squarely her domain.
Identity exposed, they couldn't talk if she didn't want to.
Couldn't squander a chance to glean info through dialogue.
"Come now, my wi—er, Artemis. Sit and enjoy some refreshments."
"What the hell's with the creepy act all of a sudden?"
"Beelzebub, why not join and grab a bite?"
[Your intentions are transparent. However...]
Flutter.
"I see no reason not to oblige."
Beelzebub had transformed from cricket into a cute, cloaked child, hopping onto the chair Apollo prepared.
"Heh~."
Its tiny frame—half Apollo's height—left its legs dangling, kicking the air in a way that sparked cuteness, but the two constellations here weren't fooled by appearances.
"You're distracting; quit swinging your legs."
"Ehh~ Berl's just in a good mood, can't help it."
"It is rather spirited."
"...Tch. So damn prickly."
If anything, the childish form only amplified their unease through the dissonance!
Crunch.
"Well then, Sun Constellation Apollo. What do you hope to gain from me?"
Undeterred by their attitudes, Beelzebub munched on Apollo's snacks like it was routine and asked.
"Satan's intentions and Pandemonium's goal."
"As for the latter—don't you all already know?"
"You crave an era of chaos."
"Ding dong dang~."
Pandemonium desired chaos.
That's why they'd protected singularities from other constellations last time.
Once singularities grew strong, massive chaos would engulf the Tower.
"So you're killing them instead? Protecting them like before would raise your odds of getting what you want."
"We have our own prophets, you know?"
Though Pandemonium's prophets lagged slightly behind others in precision.
'Still, it's just a matter of detail. The core predictions are too similar to dismiss.'
Crunch.
"What we want is one thing alone. The quiet seed of fury sprouting now."
And for that, we of Pandemonium shall kill the singularity (Isoha).