The Shadows of the Constellations
"......This works."
The tablet screen lit up as Constellation Reports poured in one after another.
Apostle has cleared the tower's 5th floor.
Reward: +1,000 CP
Apostle has completely cleared the Goblin theme (floors 1~5).
Reward: +10,000 CP
My finger paused at the second report. Clearing an entire theme gives a huge bonus... Yeah, file that away.
"Eighteen thousand...?"
It felt like just yesterday I was agonizing over every 50 CP message. Grumbling that 200 CP for clearing floor 1 was chump change.
"Though it does add up in the end."
Anyway, a total of 11,000 CP opened up real possibilities. I decided to splurge at the shop for the first time in ages and bought a cola.
Chiiiik—not a bad celebratory fizz sliding down my throat. Booze... someday. Felt too soon for now.
"Emotion expressions... apostle slots... #Tags..."
All three were tempting. The one pulling me most was #Tags. Giving Jin So-yul more power right away? That alone was reason enough.
But there was one fatal flaw.
"Random."
I couldn't choose which #Tag came out. Getting #Regression first... looking back, pure luck. If it'd been #TS... that would've been beyond disaster. I'd probably be watching Earth-Branch 8 by now. Or some other country.
Plus, that recent battle was still fresh. Against the chieftain, all I could do was two messages. Right now, all I could send her was a single emotion line.
Warning... Watching... Pointing... Had to time them perfectly to convey meaning, and Jin So-yul read between the lines. But that was her skill, not the system's adequacy.
"Low-grade promotion condition was... two or more apostles, right?"
Two apostles trigger promotion. Low grade unlocks two hidden functions. More constellation powers, basically.
More ways for me to intervene? Welcome news.
"Especially communication... maybe two sentences at once. Or voice. Anything's better than this."
And one more thing: party system unlocks at floor 10. Jin So-yul can't solo to 100. Needs a partner. Second apostle essential soon. Delaying the slot means falling behind.
"Can give #Tags later. But expanding the team? Sooner the better."
I glanced at Jin So-yul on the tablet. Exhausted, staring at the ceiling. Seeing her like that solidified it.
Giving #Tags matters, but she can't reach 100 alone. She'd repeat the pre-regression failure.
Decision made. Apostle slot addition: 10,000 CP. Unlimited emotion messages: 5,000 CP. Total 15,000. Leftover 3,044 as emergency funds.
(1/2)
Emotion Expression Messages (Unlimited)
Back down to the 3,000s. Spent everything in one go. But necessary. And hey, messages are free now. Honestly, that thrilled me most. So many times I'd held back over 50 CP.
Content: Whatever message.
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension smiles.
"Feels good."
『My lord?!』
Jin So-yul's shoulders jerked. Sudden message—deciphering its meaning. But she quickly composed herself and spoke.
『The 5th-floor reward... better if you see it yourself. You might already know, my lord...』
No sooner had she finished than the whole world rumbled. Messages floated around her.
Congratulations on clearing the 5th floor, Earth-Branch 7—South Korea.
Constellation influence now projects onto Earth-Branch 7—South Korea from this moment.
"Constellation influence..."
『Constellations... not great memories. Ah! Not you, my lord... just...』
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension expresses doubt.
『Ah, you were watching. The messages... are you okay?』
She bandaged her wound lightly and added,
『Can we talk a bit? About constellations.』
Her serious tone had me gripping the tablet with both hands.
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension urges explanation.
『Haha, yes. I'll explain. First... in the previous timeline, constellations appeared upon clearing the tower's 5th floor. Just like this.』
"Same trigger, as expected."
『Everyone welcomed them at first. Constellations grant power, choose vessels... it gave people hope.』
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension listens intently.
Hope... an odd word. I could guess from webnovel clichés, but hearing it from her made it heavier.
『There are good constellations. Ones who truly guide their apostles, save them in crises, give meaning to every action.』
"So they do exist."
『But... those good ones lost their cherished apostles one by one and left this world. In the end, most remaining constellations treat this world like a game.』
Her gaze turned behind her. The 5th-floor entrance, where she'd first stepped in.
『Some threw apostles into danger for fun. Others made their own apostles fight each other for entertainment.』
Classic trope.
『Worse still... they used apostles like chess pieces, then broke the contract and bailed when bored. Losing the contract means losing the constellation's power.』
"......"
『I've seen apostles die mid-tower battle right after contract termination. That moment... I thought the world had ended. So I never contracted with anyone. For nine whole years.』
Nine years. For Jin So-yul, who'd witnessed the horrors firsthand, it must've scarred her deeply. That's why she insisted on soloing even in life-or-death climbs.
『Going alone is slow. Exhausting... Other apostles got strong fast from constellation powers, but I was always bare-handed. No worry of termination, though.』
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension expresses pity.
『Hahaha... it's fine. I didn't clear 100, but... I came back.』
"......"
A brief silence.
『Contracts with good constellations are a huge boost. Proper ones let you blitz to 5, 10, even 20 in one go. But those are rare.』
"Figures."
『But you're different, my lord. I'm so relieved. Truly grateful...』
She trailed off.
『Anyway... rambling a bit. More constellations are good, but... not always.』
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension offers comfort.
Her eyes widened slightly on screen. Another one, her face said. Then a faint smile curved her lips.
『...Thank you for listening.』
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension denies it.
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension smiles.
Something I didn't know was there. Needed to learn it. Especially... why Jin So-yul rushed tower clears.
Clearing 5 unlocked constellation intervention. Got it. But if that's all, isn't it a net loss? She said they weren't pure benefit.
But would she overlook what I just realized? With millions in South Korea alone, no way.
Something hidden, then.
Content: Why rush the tower?
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension expresses doubt.
"Ah, crap. Wrong one."
『My lord...?』
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension points at the tower.
『The tower?』
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension points at Apostle: Jin So-yul.
『Yes...?』
"Tough nut."
After much trial, all I got was her eyes spinning. Clear now: constellation system blocked it. They even sold tower rules in the shop for CP.
Something hidden. But no access yet.
Right before regression, some dragon constellation sent text. Try again with better comms later.
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension shakes head.
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension points at magic circle.
『Sorry...』
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension shakes head.
Constellation Observer of the 0th Dimension smiles.
『Ah, yes! Heading out now.』