The Patriots' Mercy
[Constellation Jinhaeseong falls silent for a moment.]
[Constellation Cheonjeja shows interest with a benevolent smile.]
The thick, oppressive air pressure eased into something more pliable. My jaw relaxed, making it easier to part my lips.
"That was too abstract. Let me explain with the equipment."
I spoke in the most polite tone I could muster.
"...May I be so bold as to ask a favor, Lord Jinhaeseong?"
Requesting directly from the Great King would go against propriety, so I turned to the Lord Chungmu instead.
[Constellation Jinhaeseong nods with sunken eyes.]
It must have been the right answer.
"Hemo, get ready."
〔……! ……!!〕
Seemed like it understood.
As I explained how I'd reached the hidden stage, Hemo spat out the equipment I'd used at just the right moments.
[Constellation Cheonjeja feels intense curiosity toward your items.]
[Constellation Cheonjeja laments having no physical body.]
"Hemo, show off a bit more for the Great King and the General."
〔……. ……!! ……!!!〕
And Hemo did just that.
[Constellation Jinhaeseong sneaks a glance at your sword while pretending not to care.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong flies into a rage at the narration.]
"Can you bring Blood Shadow right in front of the General?"
Hemo obeyed perfectly again.
These were constellations.
'They gave up becoming gods out of lingering concern for their descendants.'
Choosing to remain in this secular world in this form.
[Constellation Jinhaeseong puts on a prim expression, as if to say he'll acknowledge what's worth acknowledging.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong ultimately flies into maximum rage at the narration!]
Stop it... narration...
Don't be so mean to a hero who saved the nation...
[Constellation Cheonjeja is greatly impressed by your ingenuity and persistence.]
[Constellation Cheonjeja smiles warmly, wishing to bestow the 'hidden stage reward.']
Hard to react.
An unintended hidden stage.
For some reason, the constellations residing there wanted to give me a special reward.
A dream?
I pinched my cheek. Too hard—nearly ripped off the mask.
Oh my god.
Even constellations can't see through the Surprise Texture Mask? Worth every credit?
[Before the bestowal.]
The Great King spoke after a pause.
[Constellation Cheonjeja wishes for you to become his servant.]
"...Pardon??"
If my subordinates learned about the Eternal Blessing, they'd react just like this.
Mirror therapy works wonders.
Can't let it slip.
[Constellation Jinhaeseong startles and glances sideways.]
[Constellation Cheonjeja just smiles at Jinhaeseong's scolding.]
Let's see.
Prime Minister Hwang Hee served until he was eighty-eight...
I remember reading that in a history book...
I habitually touched my cheek. Probably looked reluctant.
'Right.'
The Surprise Texture Mask hid my emotions from the constellations.
Borrowing the voice modulator, I cleared my throat.
[Constellation Cheonjeja gazes at you with shining eyes full of brilliance.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong watches you with gleaming eyes.]
"It is an incredibly gracious offer."
Sorry.
[…….]
[…….]
Great King, General.
"...But I must politely decline."
Can't form an eternal contract.
How to explain without offending them.
[Constellation Jinhaeseong detects lese-majeste.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong grips the Twin Dragon Sword and assumes a drawing stance.]
Wh-what lese-majeste!
No time to backpedal—the General flew into maximum rage.
Given his temperament, it was almost natural hostility.
Even in his final moments, he'd been utterly loyal to his sovereign.
Already on guard, and now I'd defied the Great King's will with rudeness.
Rooooar.
The atmosphere vibrated, forming a fierce vortex.
Trapped in the statue for some reason, but a constellation was still a constellation.
His presence alone could crush a mortal in an instant.
[Constellation Cheonjeja, with a sour expression, waves off Constellation Jinhaeseong.]
Then the Great King restrained the General, saving me.
He looks sour too...
[Constellation Cheonjeja asks for the reason.]
Chance to salvage.
I steadied my voice and began.
"...I cannot fathom which part of me you've esteemed so highly, as my humble mind is too dim to grasp your ocean-deep intentions..."
[Constellation Cheonjeja demands a short, simple explanation.]
Did I offend him?
[Constellation Cheonjeja has greater interest in modern Korean than classical.]
Ah, got it.
I licked my nonexistent chapped lips.
"The truth is... I've already made a contract with someone."
[...? Constellation Cheonjeja expresses doubt.]
This was the key part.
I phrased it as neatly as possible.
"I already possess a 'Blessing.'"
[Constellation Jinhaeseong uncrosses his arms.]
[Constellation Cheonjeja's eyebrow twitches.]
"...?"
[Constellation Cheonjeja asks you for a moment to speak.]
"Yes, of course."
[Constellation Cheonjeja calls Constellation Jinhaeseong aside.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong glances at you once before listening to his sovereign.]
[Private conversations between constellations cannot be heard.]
Bought some thinking time.
'A gamble.'
Mentioning the Blessing flustered the Great King and General.
Fair enough.
A Blessing was a boon directly bestowed by a constellation upon a mortal.
The Millennium Gate was still years away.
Constellations wouldn't interfere with the human world for a while yet.
As a mere mortal, I didn't know the details, but perhaps they had unspoken rules among themselves.
I could only speculate.
'Gambling that they know Blessings come from constellations as recompense...'
Thanks to my brother again. Seo Boseok was Korea's sole Blessing holder.
One drunken night, he'd spilled the truth.
-The name of the saint who gave me my Blessing... or alias, anyway.
Strange powers and supernatural phenomena.
Still unknown who that constellation was.
'At the time of hyung's death...'
Long before constellations began speaking to humans openly.
One clear fact: The constellation that blessed Seo Boseok granted superhuman power, true to its name.
Consider the storm my brother stirred in Korea's hunter society in just three years.
'A Blessing transcends even superior awakening.'
Like the gap between 2D and 4D.
'Though I know nothing about my own Eternal Blessing...'
Thanks, hyung.
One life coin earned.
I let out a sigh that aged me a decade.
[The constellations have finished talking.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong eyes you with fury, Constellation Cheonjeja with suspicion.]
Damn. Zero coins?
[Constellation Cheonjeja makes a proposal.]
"...What proposal?"
[Constellation Cheonjeja wants to know the constellation that bestowed your Blessing.]
[Will Constellation Cheonjeja use 'Eye of Wisdom' on you?]
[Constellation Cheonjeja assures you there will be no harm to your life.]
Unexpected luck.
[Constellation Jinhaeseong shoots a skeptical glare, as if to say 'really?']
No.
[Constellation Cheonjeja scolds Constellation Jinhaeseong.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong wilts but nods in the end.]
Wonder if I should even stay here.
But.
'This is an opportunity.'
I had no right to question the source of my Eternal Blessing as a mortal.
An immortal must speak first for a mortal to reply.
What if souls were equals?
Interference possible.
The Great King seemed eager to know the second constellation breaking taboos on this peninsula.
Same here.
I nodded firmly.
"...Please do."
The golden gargoyle's eyes blazed brighter.
A gaze piercing my solar plexus...
Not sound, but a muscular shudder burrowing in—formless words, meaningless void, agonizing echoes of painful truth clinging to the depths of my ears, reflux surging, vomit as nauseous denial, screams from organs, heaven, earth—
Shwick!
[Constellation Jinhaeseong swings the Twin Dragon Sword, repelling the alien intrusion in one stroke.]
Hah, hah.
I clutched my chest and lifted my head.
The chill edge of the blade hovered at my jaw.
The Twin Dragon Sword was invisible, but the threat to my neck was seared into my brain.
[Constellation Jinhaeseong awaits his sovereign's command.]
[Constellation Cheonjeja staggers, hand to his forehead.]
I forced my trembling legs to stand.
Collapsing felt like losing my head to the formless blade.
Drip, drip.
Nosebleed from my chin slid through empty air, not the floor.
'The Twin Dragon Sword really is at my throat.'
While Lord Chungmu awaited the Great King's command.
[Constellation Cheonjeja pulls Constellation Jinhaeseong back.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong flinches in confusion.]
[But sheathes the Twin Dragon Sword at his sovereign's stern gaze...]
"...Thank you. And sorry."
[Constellation Cheonjeja shakes his head—no need to apologize.]
"What I'm sorry for... is that I can't explain how I got this Blessing... I don't even know myself..."
I laid it all bare honestly.
Instinct told me.
The Great King had used divine power to uncover the source of the Eternal Blessing.
To repay even a little, only truth would do.
[Constellation Cheonjeja says he understands that too.]
"Truly... thank you..."
[Constellation Cheonjeja looks at you with worry-filled eyes.]
[Constellation Cheonjeja has much to say but must hold back due to 'taboo.']
[Constellation Cheonjeja laments his situation with a faint sigh.]
"May I ask one thing?"
The Great King permitted with silence.
"How did you two end up remaining in the mortal realm?"
[Constellation Cheonjeja falls silent.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong glances at his sovereign.]
"Just confirm if my thinking is right."
Silence.
Second permission.
I rubbed my heated philtrum with the back of my hand. My snap hypothesis. Seeking confirmation.
"Did you know? Korea's Chaos Gates are so meticulously refined, other countries envy us."
All concentrated at the Yeouido 64 Building. Minimal casualties. The Association and guilds built empires on that advantage.
Fertile soil. Foreigners called it heavenly favoritism. Scholars failed to explain and went home.
And now.
I think I know why.
Artificial order infused into Chaos Gates, symbols of disorder. Beyond human capability.
"You two... gave up divinity to impose order on this land."
Constellations were demigods on the cusp of godhood. They designate awakeners as servants to spread their fame and ascend.
Future approaches to hunters weren't pure concern. Voices only for top hunters.
These two.
Abandoned ascension.
Sacrificed futures to nurture descendants on this peninsula.
Reminded me of one person.
Yeah, my brother.
[Constellation Cheonjeja ...]
I'd been rude.
So I calmly closed my eyes.
[...softens his rigid expression.]
[Constellation Jinhaeseong accepts your deduction impassively.]
"Great King, and General."
I bowed my head.
"We—you and I—have already received so much. Not just my Blessing; I can't in good conscience ask more of you. So please forgive my rudeness in declining your generosity."
I didn't lift my head.
A fleeting warmth gently stroked my crown.
[Pitiful child.]
Not narration.
[Pitiful people. My people, burdened with carrying far too much karma. It pains me that, having already used divine power through the ‘Hyean (Eye of Wisdom)’, I can no longer grant you anything.]
"...Your words alone are a blessing."