Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Guardian Constellation
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"Whoa. Things are getting wild. Huh? Our little one's pretty impressive, isn't she?"
Senior knight Rotna said, looking up at the sky.
The clearing beneath the night sky where their camp was set up suddenly lit up like dawn for a moment.
Hamun's crystal orb wasn't just glowing—it was spewing light, illuminating the surroundings with a deafening brilliance.
"Hey, Gelrad. Isn't it? At this level, she's practically a grand archmage, right? Or maybe grand astrologer? See? Night's turned into morning!"
She poked the Red Tower Master Gelrad beside her, seeking agreement.
"…"
"Gelrad?"
But Gelrad's expression was far from normal.
Astrology was the realm of sorcery.
Gelrad, a mage, wasn't as versed in astrology as Hamun, but traveling with her had taught him plenty.
And to him—
The current astrological phenomenon was anything but normal.
It was obvious enough even without deep sorcery knowledge.
The energy emanating from the crystal orb was completely different from any usual astrology session.
"Hamun! Aren't you pushing too hard?!"
Gelrad shouted toward Hamun.
"Hamun!"
Roera, right beside her, was already wearing a grave look, worried about Hamun's condition.
The beastkin girl's face was drenched in cold sweat before anyone knew it.
The small, animal-like ears poking up from her head were trembling violently.
"Hamun! Pull yourself together! Stop the ritual first!"
"No!"
The beastkin girl cried out with effort.
"It's... it's almost done...! Please trust me!"
"No, kid, this isn't the time for—"
"Hamun!"
Roera cut off Rotna.
She could see Hamun conducting herself as a proper astrologer.
Sensing that resolve, Roera showed her trust with a serious expression.
"Tell me what to do next."
"…"
Hamun reached out her hand to Roera.
"I'm sorry... lend me a little strength."
Roera gripped Hamun's hand firmly.
"Ooh...!"
Exclamations burst from those around them.
Another kind of radiance erupted from their clasped hands.
The Hero's glow.
It shone vividly even amid the rampaging crystal orb's light.
"And—"
Hamun, her condition improved, continued cautiously.
"And?"
"Tell me... about that person named Rishir...!"
"...Out of nowhere? Well, he's got a fierce look, but turns out he's surprisingly reliable—"
"Not that! Is he a mage? A swordsman? A priest? A spirit user? Or—...!"
"He's a mage! Definitely!"
Roera declared, though inwardly confused.
It was the first time Hamun's astrology had unfolded so intensely, and the first time she'd asked questions like this.
'Why does something go wrong with him of all people...!'
If a comrade got hurt over something involving her brother, nothing could be more horrific.
Roera poured more strength into her clasped hand with Hamun, supporting the astrologer fully to prevent that.
"Kyaaak!"
It was then.
The crystal orb's radiance intensified, and Hamun was pushed back, tumbling over.
Her small body landed softly in the Hero's arms as he quickly moved behind her.
"Ah, Hero...! Thank you!"
Roera silently stroked the slender girl's head.
"Ah..."
Hamun forgot her fatigue from the ritual's strain and smiled shyly.
"Damn... I should've learned astrology too."
Rotna watched enviously, shaking her hands.
"Yeah, right. You learning astrology? Gross."
"No, Gelrad. You saying that is what's gross."
Her tall, sturdy frame moved, and her golden hair, tied back high, swayed dynamically.
Every action from the Hero Roera drew everyone's attention.
The way she held the beastkin girl in a princess carry made many gaze in admiration.
The crystal orb's light faded before long.
The astrology session concluded like that.
After the situation settled.
The Hero's party gathered around the campfire again.
"So, Hamun. What happened?"
Rotna asked Hamun.
Hamun looked at Roera and said,
"Hero. You'll meet that man, Lord Rishir, in Bondales."
"...Really?"
"Wait!"
Rotna shouted unconsciously upon seeing Roera's expression.
"What if he moves somewhere else while we're heading to Bondales?"
"Rotna. How many times do I have to tell you? Astrology isn't some location-tracking spell."
Gelrad, the middle-aged man in the red robe, sighed.
"Hamun observed the possibility of the Hero and that man meeting. Right, Hamun?"
"Ah! Yes! Exactly!"
"Possibility... observation... Speak in terms we can understand."
Fine.
I'm uneducated.
But whatever.
A sword-slinger just needs to swing her sword well.
These party members are too—
Rotna pouted and muttered.
Ignoring her, Roera said to Hamun,
"Hamun. Good work. Thanks for your effort."
Was it the campfire's serene light tinting her face?
Probably not.
Roera.
She gazed at Hamun with a soft smile.
That expression, contrasting her usual cynicism, held tremendous power.
"Hero..."
Not just Hamun, but everyone else stared, entranced.
"...Gelrad, I think I found my calling. Astrology. Teach me properly."
"Forget it. Hamun's level of astrology is innate."
"Then tell me how to be reborn as Hamun!!!"
"Shut up and be quiet."
Gelrad waved Rotna away like a fly and asked Hamun,
"So, Hamun. What was that just now? It looked like something went wrong with the astrology."
Runaway.
Gelrad intoned the word meaningfully.
"That's how I saw it. Was I right?"
"…"
After a brief hesitation, Hamun nodded.
"Yes. In the sense that the astrology briefly escaped my control, you could say that."
"The astrology escaped your control?"
Rotna's perpetually playful expression turned serious.
"First time for everything?"
Hamun sometimes failed when divining powerful beings' fates.
However.
Nothing like this had ever happened.
Hamun's astrology going out of her control?
Gelrad, grasping the implications, grew even graver.
"That means... the subject of this astrology holds a rank far higher than any being we've seen before?"
Not just the speaker Gelrad, but all listeners wore puzzled expressions.
Even tracking Swordmaster 'Outsider' on a family's request hadn't caused this.
A guy at early 3rd realm months ago surpassing a Swordmaster now?
"Pfft."
Rotna's scoff voiced everyone's thoughts.
It had to be some external factor.
"Hamun. Any guesses?"
At Gelrad's question, Hamun held out her palm eagerly.
Rotna's hand reaching to meet it was snatched by Gelrad.
"When tracking that man's trail, I saw five stars with his name."
"...Lord have mercy, what's that mean?"
Gelrad rubbed his temples against the headache.
"So, four others with the same name around him now?"
He offered the simplest interpretation for his headache. It didn't help.
"...Is Rishir that common a name? First I've heard it."
Rotna muttered. Gelrad nodded unwittingly in agreement.
Interpreting five stars that way was too simplistic for astrology.
"And that's not all."
Sword.
Magic.
Holy.
Spirit.
And black magic.
Hamun folded her fingers one by one as she listed them.
"Those stars were each walking different paths."
"What the."
They pondered gravely.
Surprisingly, senior knight Rotna offered the first solution.
"Maybe it's like this? That Rishir guy can handle all five."
They all turned cold stares on her.
Not even looks at a drunk would be that icy.
"Tch."
Rotna scratched her head awkwardly.
"No, I mean, like, he's loaded with artifacts or something."
"Rotna."
"Ah, yeah! Take it back! Just venting frustration with nonsense~ Sorry~"
A moment later.
Rotna muttered discontentedly.
"You guys don't have any ideas either."
A suspiciously high-rank star.
And the number five.
They couldn't unravel the mystery in the end.
The next morning.
Roera's group finished preparations smoothly and were about to set off.
As always.
"Hey, kid. Time to get up. Growth spurt? Weird... body's the same size, but sleep's getting longer."
This was routine too.
Hamun.
She slept soundly amid the morning bustle.
Everyone had grown used to the beastkin girl's naps.
Rotna casually wiped her drool and woke her.
"Hamun?"
Something was off.
No matter how much she called, the beastkin girl wouldn't wake.
"...!"
Rotna's expression turned serious.
The senior knight's sharp senses detected the girl's disrupted breathing.
This had never happened before!
"Hamun!?"
Hamun lay face-down.
Rotna urgently sat and turned her over.
"Whoa, covered in cold sweat...!"
Her face, slick with sweat, came into view.
"Rotna. Tormenting the kid first thing in the morning? Busybody in the wrong places."
Gelrad, watching from afar, clicked his tongue.
"No, Hamun's condition is off!"
Roera, already at the front ready to move, hurried over at the commotion.
"Hamun, you okay?"
"Hero..."
"What. Ignores me but answers the Hero right away? This brat faking illness for Hero's attention?"
Hamun giggled mischievously at Rotna's words.
But everyone's faces darkened further.
Her condition was clearly abnormal.
"Don't tell me it's from yesterday?"
"No!"
As Roera's face filled with guilt, Hamun cried out desperately.
"Actually... for a while now... my body's been off..."
"Kid. Related to your awakening being delayed?"
"...Sorry for hiding it. Didn't want to trouble you all... Plus... I thought it'd get better with time..."
Rotna and Gelrad were about to scold their young comrade out of frustration—
"I see. Hamun. If you judged it that way, it must've been right. You know your body best. This is just an unavoidable issue now."
"…"
Roera's words.
They perfectly cleared the air.
Hamun stopped hesitating, and Rotna and Gelrad dropped unnecessary rebukes.
The priority was solving the problem.
"Hamun. Any idea on the cause or fix?"
It was then, as they sought a treatment—
-!!!
A roar echoed from somewhere.
Their gazes turned skyward.
A massive eagle circled above them.
Roera and Rotna's eyes hardened at the sight.
This wasn't their first encounter with that eagle.
They'd sensed it lurking around recently.
"Hero!"
One of the knights rushed up with urgent news.
Roera's group carefully carried Hamun and followed.
There, they found two beastkin facing off against their group.
"...!"
Their expressions changed upon recognizing the beastkin.
"Hero."
Rotna murmured lowly.
Roera and Gelrad nodded.
A mysterious woman shrouded in a cloak.
A massive warrior guarding her back.
And a majestic tail and ears contrasting Hamun's petite ones.
Roera's group instantly knew these two were no ordinary folk.
Roera stepped forward as their representative.
"…"
The two beastkin's eyes gleamed as they regarded her.
"The Holy Sword's master... I see. No wonder that star shone so brightly—"
The woman murmured meaningfully.
She pulled back her hood and spoke.
Her eyes, sharp as a bird of prey's, revealed themselves.
"Holy Sword's master. I should reveal my identity too, but since time is of the essence, that can wait."
"What do you—"
As Rotna and Gelrad moved forward, Roera raised a hand to stop them.
Her gaze went to Hamun on Rotna's back.
"This about the girl?"
"Yes."
"Introductions later. Care to explain briefly what's going on?"
Roera's group tried gauging their levels, preparing for any contingency.
Her eyes first went to the man behind the woman.
He was bear-like.
He exuded maximum intimidation to deter any from disrespecting his lady.
Yet his realm was hard to measure.
Roera vaguely grasped the source of his confidence.
Roera's Hero party and their following knights.
He seemed capable of protecting the woman from them all.
Having gauged the man, her interest in the woman he guarded grew.
What kind of person commands such a man?
"…"
Suddenly, they sensed it.
The woman's aura enveloping them.
"I see stars and fates. Like that girl."
The woman spoke amid it.
Her gaze fixed on Hamun.
"That girl made a foolish mistake."
Their faces twisted at her blunt words toward a comrade.
But now wasn't the time to quibble.
She showed no hostility—perhaps even intent to help.
"Care to elaborate?"
Gelrad gestured politely.
"Simple tale. A powerless girl wandered defenselessly draped in treasures, drawing shady eyes."
Her slender finger pointed at Hamun.
"The child now pays the price for wielding power beyond her station."
The woman explained thus:
Handling strong astrology carries great risk.
But Hamun was unprepared, attracting a mighty 'evil spirit's' attention.
"Hamun unprepared? No way! How talented an astrologer is she!"
Rotna burst out in frustration.
The warrior behind the woman chuckled softly.
As Rotna glared, the woman continued.
"Girl, name your guardian constellation."
"Guardian... constellation?"
As Rotna mulled the term, Gelrad explained.
"Astrologers wielding spiritual power are constantly exposed to other spirits. Like evil ones— A guardian constellation protects the astrologer from them."
"My guardian is..."
After hesitation, Hamun spoke with effort.
Her guardian was some nameless warrior.
Stalwart and righteous, but not legendary enough to leave a name—
The woman stated without pause.
"Your guardian lacks the power to protect you now."
"...!"
Hamun's face crumpled.
Dismissing an astrologer's guardian—
Was little different from scorning a priest's god.
"No... that's not true...!"
Hamun protested weakly.
"Is that so? Then explain your current state."
"…"
Hamun squeezed her eyes shut, unable to reply.
"So, what. You didn't come just to pick on our kid."
Rotna growled at the woman.
The woman's gaze was on Roera.
"I'll help you."
"What's your angle approaching us?"
To Gelrad's question, the woman replied calmly.
"To incur a debt from the Holy Sword's master."
"…"
Roera and the woman's eyes met.
Eventually, Roera nodded.
The woman nodded satisfactorily too.
Following her instructions, Rotna set Hamun down.
"Sorry, Hamun."
"Don't apologize, Hero... I'm the one troubling you..."
Ignoring teary Hamun, the woman silently prepared the ritual.
The warrior helped, setting up structures around.
"Let's begin immediately."
The woman extended her hand to Hamun, softly calling her guardian.
"Thunder that cleaves the earth."
"...!"
Not just Hamun—the others' faces filled with shock too.
"Thunder that cleaves the earth..."
Rotna murmured lowly.
It was the name of a great warrior etched across the continent.
"…"
The woman's eyes turned white.
The great guardian's power dwelled in her.
With it, she aimed to exorcise the evil spirit clinging to Hamun.
Then.
Her white eyes clouded black like ink spilled in water.
"...!"
She jolted up in alarm.
She began scanning around.
"What happened?"
Roera asked, sensing the ominous vibe.
"Not just one."
The woman muttered.
The same time.
-Zwinni!!!
Rishir, preparing a gift in anticipation of reuniting with Roera.
Suddenly, Dangaleon addressed him.
-That ugly wench has a message for Zwinni!
"Hey. Ugly wench? She has a name: Mungi. Anyway, what'd she say?"
-She peeked at Zwinni's star yesterday, and something nasty attached to that one!
"Something nasty? Like a wild beast?"
-Some 'trailing heaven's maggot swarm' or whatever!
"...Definitely nasty? So, that thing attached to... Roera? No, one of Roera's comrades? Explain in detail."
-Judging by traces left on Zwinni. If left alone, that astrologer might get eaten by the pest! Asks if Zwinni wants to ignore or help!
"…"
Rishir pondered gravely.
Not for long.
His little sister.
Or her comrade in danger.
The answer was set.
"Obviously help. Anything specific I need to do?"
Sensing presence, Rishir looked down.
The ugly spirit gazed up at him with her signature blank look.
-If Zwinni lends power, she'll bless and protect it with Zwinni's strength!
"Bless?"
Rishir chuckled unwittingly.
The curse-spewing ugly one becoming a blessing spirit.
Rishir placed his hand on her head.
"...~"
The spirit rubbed her head against his hand.
Her emotionless face seemed faintly pleased.
Her tiny lips moved.
"Urgh, aaagh...!!!"
Shadows fully consumed the woman's eyes, spilling over to stain her face.
"Lady Yoan!!!"
The warrior fretted behind her.
"Hamun! Snap out of it, Hamun!!!"
Hamun too groaned, convulsing unconscious.
"Trap, it's their trap... We must escape now...!!!"
The woman's face filled with despair.
Just as she too was about to black out like Hamun—
"...Huh?"
"Hamun?"
The two astrologers' fits stopped abruptly.
-Zwinni! It's done, all good now!
"Oh, already?"
Rishir removed his hand from the spirit's head.
"…"
The blessing spirit regretfully tried grabbing his hand with both arms.
"Huh? Doesn't seem over yet?"
-This lustful wench knows no satisfaction!
"Lustful now too?"
Hm?
Then, Rishir felt a strange sensation and looked around.
Imagination?
Felt connected to something.
No.
More like something stuck to him.
Like a speck of dust on skin.
-Zwinni? Uncomfortable somewhere!?
"...Nah, nothing."
It was truly negligible.
Rishir quickly dismissed it.