Returning to My Roots (1)

'Can't let them see me as a pushover... that's right. Push and pull is key. I have to make the contractor cling to me—never the other way around.'

Before Serpina upgraded to a contract constellation, while chatting with other constellations on Fate Road, she made up her mind. She vowed to become a strict, cool-headed constellation with real skills—one that contractors would cling to.

Occasional deviations from one's usual behavior create a stark contrast effect. Just like how Reina, who thought Serpina was cold and cynical, discovered she was running a fan gallery for her and managing it with fanatical zeal.

And the reverse held true as well. Serpina froze in shock at a side of Reina she'd never seen before, forgetting what she was about to say.

'What did this kid eat wrong?'

Serpina still remembered the moment she first met Reina. How could she forget? Reina was the very first contractor Serpina signed after finally qualifying as a contract constellation following years of training.

"A Thousand Silver Blades. I wish to speak with you."

"How intriguing."

Back then, Reina—still sharp-edged, precarious, and utterly drained from adapting to the possessed world—was far more volatile than now. Ignoring the other constellations showing interest in her, she approached Serpina first. She proposed that Serpina give her a try.

'I blew it. What if she gets scared and backs out?'

Serpina put on the calm, composed act she'd planned long before becoming a contract constellation, treating Reina with cold cynicism. But inside, she was a wreck. Hearing the tremor in Reina's anxious voice, she worried that the first contractor to approach her might slip away because of her attitude.

"I'll pass any test you give."

But Reina, fueled by venom from her adaptation phase, stuck around tenaciously no matter what Serpina said. Once the contract was sealed, the constellation's performance and the contractor's life were intertwined—like fate-bound companions. That very bond was the biggest reason Serpina dove headfirst into creating Reina's fan gallery.

Of course, that persona meant Reina never fully opened up to Serpina beyond a certain point. A constellation was just a constellation. With so much else demanding her attention, Reina was content with their strictly business relationship, pouring her focus elsewhere.

'Yeah. I know all too ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠well.'

Serpina let out a small sigh as she read the replies to her lamenting post. Still, she couldn't shake the lingering wish in her heart that Reina would notice, even a little, how she—and this whole community—felt about her.

"But..."

And now, in this moment, part of Serpina's wish was coming true.

"It's strange. You, who always insisted it was never your fault even when staring death in the face after a failure."

Stunned as she was, Serpina instinctively activated the camera. It captured the angle of Reina looking up at her.

"I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠still don't think those failed climbs were due to my own shortcomings. It's just... looking back, I've hardly ever expressed gratitude for all I've received."

There was definitely a change in Reina's state of mind. Serpina's hand trembled slightly. Words failed her; her mouth just opened and closed.

'Has this kid ever smiled at me?'

Serpina had collections of Reina's smiles in photos and videos, but they were all directed at others. Recalling how Reina had always kept her head ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bowed in the sanctuary, speaking stiffly and only about business without so much as a grin, Serpina shivered.

"W-We don't have time for this."

Snapping back to reality, Serpina slapped her own cheeks. Time in the sanctuary for communication wasn't infinite—she couldn't waste it gawking in awe.

"Listen up from now on! Coming down to the 30th layer was the right call. Good job—no need to worry. F-First, let me tell you exactly what to do right now."

With the community window open beside her, Serpina hurriedly recited the results of the heated gallery debates.

'Good thing we've got justification now.'

Reina smiled faintly, head lowered, as she listened. Serpina's words were hampered by restrictions—parts omitted, distorted, turned vague or ambiguous. But that no longer mattered to Reina.

After all, it was the challenger's duty to interpret and act on a constellation's advice, opinions, or trials at their own discretion. And now, Reina had a way to glimpse their true feelings: the fan gallery, where they vented freely.

"Oh no—when time's up, come right back. I've got something for you!"

Having burned through the limit, Serpina hurriedly told her to return immediately. She watched Reina's retreating figure, fidgeting anxiously with a wave goodbye.

'H-How much did she catch? Her insight stat's nerfed hard, so the distortions must be brutal!'

Worried as she was, Serpina was also thrilled as she began typing into the community.

It was, of course, the video of their conversation this time—complete with the thank-you.

'Yeah, if she'd just been honest from the start.'

After leaving the sanctuary, satisfaction curved her lips naturally. I'd only known the Serpina from the story, assuming that was her true self. Worried I'd get arrogant? What pointless misunderstandings we'd harbored.

"Hehe, looks like your chat with the constellation went well."

The branch chief approached, gauging the moment—had he been waiting? I'd overheard something about him being a politician in Japan before entering the tower. His knack for reading the room and seizing opportunities was impressive.

"Everyone's curious about your plans, Lady Reina. Will you go solo? Form a separate party? If a party, will it be with guild members and such?"

"My guildmates still have plenty to do. None are ready to come back down here."

My guild, Over Moon, was built around my early ally Kim Ji-eun and her connections. They're all in the upper layers, but only she and I have hit 150, so the rest need to prioritize climbing to the next raid.

"Then, solo after—"

"I'll handle it."

I cut him off with a smirk at his opportunistic face. Branch chiefs at each layer see and hear a lot, pull strings too. Pushing challengers tied to them isn't impossible. Help would be convenient, but I didn't need or want it.

'Since I'm here, time to reclaim my beginner's mind.'

Exiting the sanctuary alone, I recalled my first time at the 30th layer. Back when Kim Ji-eun and I were so much weaker, insignificant. Every moment a life-or-death gamble.

A few years later, I'd changed a ton, but the tower's scenery hadn't budged. Probably never would. Walking on foot to my destination gave me plenty of time to reminisce.

'A pickpocket?'

But immersed too deep in nostalgia, I'd let my guard down completely—and sure enough, someone dipped into my pocket.

"Hah."

I clearly spotted the retreating figure vanishing into the crowd. Original sunglasses, cap, hair tucked in, hood up—passersby didn't recognize me, just as I'd wanted. Never dreamed it'd make me a crime target, though. The sheer audacity irked me.

'Well, it's always been like this.'

A ridiculous chuckle escaped. High population density, clueless newbies everywhere—despite the tidy city facade, security sucked. To the petty crooks here, a high-layer descender like me, slacked into total vulnerability, was prime prey.

'Let's see your face.'

I could've alerted the branch chief to hunt them down or just let the trivial wallet go. Instead, I moved myself. The stealth and speed screamed superhuman challenger, not civilian. The gallery strategy tips mentioned solo-unfeasible tasks—could be useful if caught.

'There.'

Tracking was easy. The wallet had clung to me long enough for traces of my Radiance trait to linger. Just follow the aura.

After putting distance, the aura halted—likely thinking they'd escaped. It led to a dim alley between buildings. Killing my presence, I crept closer. There: a hooded figure's back, staring rigidly at the stolen wallet like they'd seen something forbidden.

"You probably know, but the Federation Council offers bounties for maintaining tower order—catching crooks like you. Plenty of self-proclaimed vigilantes hunt criminals for it."

I smirked at the figure, frozen upon seeing my business card.