Celestial Witnesses
As my blood vessels tightened, the constellations...
[......]
[Constellation, Cheonjeja expresses gratitude to them.]
Fell silent. Soon, their eyelids closed as well. The stars twinkling in the night sky faded in color, vanishing into the darkness.
Vanished...?
The constellations had stepped back.
Strength drained from my legs. Ah, right—I'd drawn a lot of blood to activate Eternal Blessing with Jangsanbeom. The anemia I'd suppressed under tension now reared its head belatedly.
〔......!!〕
Hemo caught my nearly crumbling form, propping me up with its body.
You're such a good Red Slime, Hemo.
'My eternal ally.'
As I curved my pale lips into a smile,
"Good child, it's too early to let your guard down."
Baridegi's words made my hackles rise.
"Fear not. Those stars have just left this place. However..."
"You mean the real test starts now."
The stars hadn't fled. From here on, they would appoint themselves as my watchers.
The Great King had reined them in, saying my potential would entertain them more, so wait a little. By putting himself forward as guarantor.
It meant he would hold the fan alongside me.
Intrigued by the proposal, the constellations had decided to observe me going forward.
From now on, the stars were my overseers. Within their domain, every action and word of mine would be exposed.
Imagine living a full day in a place with no blind spots from CCTV.
That was my future.
"You're a remarkably clever child."
Baridegi smiled faintly, with a touch of sadness.
"Your intellect, greater than others', might be drawing you closer to the abyss."
"I'll endure it."
I couldn't whine.
It wouldn't be right.
I didn't want to tarnish these great beings' sacrifice.
"If only... I had more power..."
As Baridegi sighed self-deprecatingly, the Great King shook his head.
[Constellation, Cheonjeja tells Baridegi not to blame herself.]
[Constellation, Cheonjeja gazes at you.]
[Constellation, Jinhaeseong also looks your way.]
I swallowed dryly.
Even if these two rebuked me, I'd accept it humbly. I had to. The Great King and General had sacrificed much for me.
...And the culprit behind this mess was none other than me. Because I'd foolishly bet against Mephistopheles, these three had appeared.
'Thanks to that, I saved people's lives.'
That was my excuse. Still, they were constellations. Their view on life might differ from humans'.
So.
To sum up.
I had no face. I'd made the choice, yet they were sharing the burden with me...
Thud.
The Great King placed a hand on my shoulder.
[Constellation, Cheonjeja speaks.]
I squinted my eyes.
It's alright, child.
"...?!"
He spoke aloud.
Constellations only used their true voices among themselves or not at all with mortals.
I've seen your sincerity with my own eyes.
How could I address you with a false voice?
"B-but... won't that affect your status as constellations...?"
You seem to know more about us than we thought.
But it's fine.
Just as your world and ours differ, so does our knowledge.
My heart ached. I'd doubted their true intentions for a moment, and guilt washed over me.
Worrying about our power waning is our burden. Not yours.
The Great King eased my guilt. His gentle tone left me dazed. Pent-up fatigue surged like a tidal wave.
You told us before.
The General chimed in.
That you wanted to set this country right.
His tone was a bit rougher than the Great King's. But the hostility had softened greatly from before.
It even chased away my drowsiness, revealing a warrior's solemnity.
"Yes... I did say that."
We've seen your resolve in your actions.
The General continued.
A person's true nature emerges when death looms.
You must have felt more than the fear of death just now.
Indeed.
When the constellations grilled me like roasting beans, I'd glanced at the railing below for a split second.
Scared shitless.
The composure I'd maintained against Mephistopheles melted away under their pressure. It was like the lord of hell whispering in my ear.
Yet you didn't compromise in that moment. Words alone, we wouldn't have believed. But at the final instant, we saw your nobility.
That resolute expression, unchanged.
There, I saw your 'sincerity.'
Undefeated in battle.
Resolved to live or die.
The General's direct words carried heavy weight.
And so.
The lead weight in my chest lightened—then grew heavy again.
'You've misunderstood.'
If only they knew how many constellations I'd fooled with the Surprise Texture Mask.
But confessing here... no, that wouldn't do.
Anyway.
The Great King spoke to me with a benevolent expression.
Overcoming fear wasn't just your feat alone, raw gem.
I thought he meant me.
No.
Pat, pat.
'Come to think of it.'
The Great King hadn't removed his hand from my shoulder.
He wasn't touching me—he was comforting my small, precious Red Slime friend!
You too are a comrade lending strength to this gem with your courage.
Impressive.
What is your name?
...Um, Great King.
"This friend can't speak."
I sensed Hemo's telepathic intent through my skin. Our unique body language, honed over time together. Non-verbal exchange.
Unless I interpreted,
it couldn't answer the Great King's question.
Ah.
How pitiful.
This child lacks language still.
His gaze turned sympathetic.
Then, impressed by your cleverness,
I shall bestow a small gift.
[Constellation, Cheonjeja bestows 'Hunminjeongeum' upon Red Slime 107666.]
...Huh?
Now, try speaking.
Little commoner.
Hemo protruded a part of its body from my shoulder like a bump.
Then babbled from its knothole-like mouth.
〔■■■......!〕
Hm?
Confusion flickered across the Great King's face.
Hemo had babbled.
A huge leap from before, when it couldn't even make a sound.
But.
"Probably because it has no voice..."
No voice?
"It's essentially liquid, so no vocal cords."
Ah, I see.
To overlook that!
The Great King tapped his forehead. His crown nearly toppled, but the General swiftly caught it. Even the Duke of Chungmugong navigated social graces. Somehow reassuring.
What to do... I've given only half a gift.
Creating vocal cords now would exceed our intervention in this realm...
He smacked his lips in regret.
Meanwhile, the forms of these three steadfast allies began to blur.
Geomdan Gate was truly cleared.
Time for otherworldly beings to return beyond, and us to reality.
If only I could hear the slime's voice before closing my eyes...
Regret drips from the sentence like meat juices.
'Sending you off like this...'
My conscience stung.
I didn't see it as farewell.
Just apart for a while. They'd expended much power in Geomdan Gate.
Then, one entity caught my eye.
My head throbbed from blood loss, but.
'That's it!'
Inspiration struck.
I stepped past the three toward the furry lump sprawled in the hallway.
"......"
"......"
I poked the furball with my foot.
"Get up."
Twitch.
"......"
Ignoring me?
'Even with time stopped, this guy's awake.'
Among mortals, only Hemo and I could move.
But this was a phenomenon.
"You've been listening the whole time."
The three looked baffled.
They thought my behavior odd.
Please wait a moment. I don't want to be remembered as a madman...
Poke, poke.
No reaction. Hemo extended a tentacle to prod the furball threateningly.
Get up? Get up? Get up?
......!
It stirred.
The guy ignoring me reacted?
'Ah.'
Hemo had stuck a sticker on it.
From Jangsanbeom's view, the tiny precious Red Slime was the direct tormentor?
"P-please... s-spare..."
A voice leaked from the fur.
"Interpret what Hemo's saying to those three."
I said.
Jangsanbeom obeyed.
"Th-thank you... f-for s-saving my m-master..."
Why's he stuttering so much?
Anyway, Hemo's sincerity reached the Great King.
Oho.
Marvelous!
Using a voice anomaly as a messenger bird!
Raw gem, you're truly a tempting wellspring of ingenuity!
Aaah.
Once on the Great King's radar, I'd be worked to near death...
Fortunately, the constellations faded first.
Pity.
But we'll meet again.
We'll watch you from anywhere.
The Great King promised a next time.
A warmth worlds apart from their entrance.
I watched the three dissolve into glowing specks.
Time resumed. The inky blackness dominating the hallway receded. Colors spread like paint on canvas.
Frozen blood began to flow again in relief.
'Good.'
Really good.
Tension released—perhaps why dusk veiled my vision.
"Ah..."
Exhausted, understandably.
'It's over.'
Finally over.
Farewell to this damn Geomdan Gate. And all civilians safe.
'Though shackled by the constellations' attention.'
This was my best.
"Hemo."
One favor.
Jangsanbeom instantly relayed Hemo's will.
"......■■!"
Sorry. Ears ringing—can't hear well.
I surrendered to exhaustion, closing my eyes.
Eternal Contract: Dedication activated
Nanjung Flag (True) effect activated!
All stats +4, plus event reward +1
Special reward for subjugating the Ruler!