Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Strange Happenings
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Rishir had been holed up, honing his astrology skills, for three full days.
"Oh? Tilla? Bellota and Camilla too—"
The hero-less hero party came to visit Rishir.
"Take this."
Tilla, at the front, handed over an armful of documents she was holding.
"This is—"
"Over the past few days, we gathered what we could on astrology-related info and materials. Mostly focused on guardian constellations."
"Well, we say 'we,' but pretty much everything was done by the two holy swords and the two heroes."
The elf Camilla let out a self-deprecating laugh from behind.
"Anyway, we just barely finished compiling it all, so we brought it over. Felix and Jane poured everything they had into it and are basically passed out asleep."
Rishir checked their conditions again at Tilla's words.
Skin glistening with oil.
Dry, frizzy hair.
Dark circles under their eyes.
The women of the hero party, who had captivated not just men but women alike with their radiant beauty, now had every trace of that glow buried under exhaustion.
"Oh dear..."
A sigh escaped Rishir unbidden.
The phrase "day and night" they had just used didn't seem like mere hyperbole.
They had literally pulled all-nighters for days, immersed in the work.
Seeing Rishir load up on guilt, Camilla gave a wry smile.
"You know we didn't go through all this just to hear you apologize, right?"
"..."
Rishir gave a wry smile in return.
Soon, a bright smile lit up his face.
"Thank you. All of you, for going to such lengths."
"Thanks... If anything, we're sorry we couldn't do more. After everything you've done for us. Especially Felix and Jane—"
Camilla let out a deep sigh.
"They were ready to offer their hearts for you. The two of them poured every ounce of strength into drawing out the power of discernment, and I've never seen them push that hard even in life-or-death battles."
Captivating the hearts of two heroes.
What a sinful man.
Camilla grinned playfully.
"Just so you know. Jane's mine, got it? Try stealing her and see what happens."
"As if...!"
Rishir answered without a moment's hesitation.
Then Bellota spoke up.
"We didn't come too late, did we? From what Felix said, Drwen called in some renowned grand sorcerer for you—"
"Ah, that got canceled. So your help means even more right now."
"Should we call that fortunate—? Anyway, glad we're not too late. We planned to bring good news sooner—"
Sigh.
Bellota weakly pushed up her glasses.
"Knowledge on guardian constellations turned out way more intricate than we thought. Even with full help from the holy sword Posena of discernment, compiling and organizing it was a huge ordeal. Tougher than sorting papers at the magic tower."
"Asking now, but—what's the deal? Why this sudden deep dive into astrology—"
Tilla followed up after Bellota.
"Skipping basics straight to advanced stuff like guardian constellations. Like jumping from magic basics to unique spells right away."
And the elf Camilla pressed with her usual bold intensity.
They had dug into the horrendously complex lore of astrology without question—for Rishir's sake.
Not for reward, of course.
They already owed him a debt they could never repay.
But still.
They needed to know.
Why they had gone through this.
How Rishir, a total novice in sorcery, had come to pursue advanced astrology wielding guardian constellation power.
"Something happen... with your sister?"
Camilla's words made their eyes gleam brighter.
"Ah, about that."
Rishir shared the full details he hadn't gotten to before.
"...So, I ended up becoming a guardian constellation— Yeah, anyway, that's how it went."
"Hold on."
An awkward silence followed those words.
Rishir felt a sense of déjà vu.
This situation felt familiar somehow?
"Ah. So, to help your sister and her companion, you sought to become a guardian constellation."
Bellota said, raising a finger.
As if neatly processing the jumbled info.
You don't need to explain.
We'll understand on our own.
It was a warm, considerate gesture—
"No. Literally, I became a guardian constellation."
"..."
Rishir's correction.
A deeper silence fell.
Having spent days pulling all-nighters on guardian constellation info, his words hit them especially hard.
"Ah, my head hurts."
The elf Camilla grimaced, clutching her head.
The other two followed suit, closing their eyes tightly or rubbing their temples to express the strain on their brains.
"Sorry, Rishir. We're too tired, so we'll—"
"Think we overdid it. Need to rest."
"This is... sorry...?"
They had stubbornly blocked Rishir's apologies before, but this time they accepted it meekly.
"Oh..."
An exclamation slipped from Rishir as he examined the documents from Tilla's group.
-Those pathetic things have some use after all!
Dangaleon's extreme praise(?) spoke volumes about the documents' value.
It wasn't shallow, fragmented lore like mere legends on guardian constellations.
More like a magical approach to guardian constellations.
The documents clearly delved into guardian constellations as advanced astrology—
explained from a magical perspective.
"They basically wrote a whole thesis... This could go straight into the Gray Magic Tower archives."
Rishir was impressed anew by the hero party's prowess.
Astrology, a branch of sorcery.
Guardian constellations, its advanced realm.
The pinnacle of fringe knowledge.
Even scouring the magic tower's vast repository wouldn't guarantee this much—
yet they had secured such depth on guardian constellations.
"Man, I'm stuffed. So good. Would give a five-star review if it were a restaurant."
Rishir nodded in satisfaction after skimming the documents.
"Perfect timing."
Astrology research session.
Or self-study in astrology.
Contrary to worries, progress had been smooth.
Now, he could descend as a guardian constellation without outside help.
Of course.
Very unstably.
The limits of self-study: aware of issues but unable to pinpoint them.
What was wrong?
His self-questioning met Mengi's silence—
and Dangaleon's pleas like 'There are no issues with the divine one!!! If there's a problem, it's these worthless vermin—'
In that sense.
The hero party's aid was perfectly timed.
Rishir still lacked astrology knowledge to be certain—
but he had a good feeling.
Borrowing this sorcery.
His unique essence's light would shine even clearer.
"Alright."
No reason to delay.
Rishir resumed preparations for the astrology research session.
Two more days passed—
The land of stars, source of astrology's power.
Rishir's consciousness resided there.
Until recently, entering the star land was a barrier—
now, entry itself was no issue.
"Eleven... twelve..."
Rishir was counting aloud.
Measuring how long he could remain as a guardian constellation in the star land.
"Hm?"
Then.
His gaze turned to the distant field.
A familiar crow, eagle-sized.
Flying toward him.
'The grand sorcerer?'
First reunion since they met days ago.
And unlike then, when even waving was impossible, now clear communication was feasible.
As the crow landed before him, Rishir spoke first.
"How have you been?"
-Gasp!!!
Flap flap!
Unsteady wingbeats.
The crow's beak gaped, emitting an old man's choking gasp.
Simultaneously, something clamped in its beak dropped to the ground.
'What a scaredy-crow.'
Why so startled?
Rishir approached, picked up the fallen item, and tried to hand it back.
But the crow shook its beak vigorously, refusing.
Its actions.
As if saying.
It's for you.
No.
An offering to you.
The crow's form faded and vanished.
Then, Rishir's form, astrology power spent, also blurred.
Thus expelled from the star land.
In his hand, the item from the star land remained.
A black orb reminiscent of the crow's eye.
"What is this?"
What was it for—
why did the grand sorcerer give it to him?
As Rishir pondered the black orb, Dangaleon spoke.
-That pathetic creature must be atoning for its insolence toward the divine one!?
"Insolence? Did it commit any?"
-It appeared before the divine one in that wretched form!!! And exhaled the breath of lowly beasts!!!
"Standards are too strict. Then everyone in the world has insulted me."
-Exactly!!! Those lowly scum sharing breath with the divine one is their ultimate insolence and greatest honor! So graciously accept that vermin's tribute!
"Tribute, huh..."
-Rishir.
"Ah, yes. Zarac. Listening."
-Offering tribute to a guardian constellation is one key way astrologers build bonds with them.
"...The grand sorcerer wants to bond with me?"
Ha.
A chuckle escaped Rishir.
"Strange things happen."
"..."
The astrology research members(?) stared silently at their leader.
The strange thing is what you're doing right now.
As if their gazes said.
"Anyway, wonder what it is."
Rishir eyed the black orb thoughtfully.
Find out what this black orb is when there's time.
"Today... let's call it here."
The devilish one minute.
Rishir muttered in satisfaction, having surpassed his self-named limit.
Now, he could stay as guardian constellation in the star land over one minute.
"Lunchtime now, huh."
Daylight still strong, flow good.
He wanted to keep the momentum, but mental drain was heavy.
Pushing further would mess up later schedules.
"Dangaleon. Astrology. Piece of cake, you said. This is tough. Tougher than magic in some ways? Right, Zarac?"
-That's...
That's not astrology—
it's enjoying guardian constellation essence in a living body that's the issue.
Zarac barely swallowed the words rising to his throat.
Sword or not, he swallowed them.
"Sleep early today, stock up on stamina."
And so.
As Rishir considered the disastrous choice of afternoon nap to fuel his 'eat-shit-astrology' doom loop.
Knock knock.
-Rishir. You free now? You have visitors?
Jane's voice from beyond the door.
"Visitors?"
"Rona! Fienne!"
Upon arriving at the mansion's drawing room, smiles bloomed on Rishir's face at the sight of the two.
"Hey, Rishir~"
"Look at this lucky guy. Anyone'd think you live here. Wait, at this point, do you?"
The refreshing young noble and haughty lady expressed their delight in their own ways.
In the drawing room, besides the two, Jane's group lingered under the pretext of reception.
Unable to curb curiosity about Rishir's guests.
The hero party's sparkling gazes focused on Rishir.
What's this what's this.
Who who who.
"Ah, everyone. Let me introduce. This handsome fellow is... Eron. Famous in Bondalles high society."
"That's my intro?"
Rona smirked but rose, playing along with Rishir's words.
Bowing gracefully with refined poise.
"Eron here. Rishir's best friend."
His fresh yet dignified smile fit 'young noble' perfectly.
Tilla. Bellota. Camilla.
They inwardly exclaimed.
If not for immunity from superior hero Jane, they'd have fallen for that smile.
Thus, the man(?) Eron instantly captured their interest—
but priority shifted quickly.
"And this lady here is— Fienne."
Nothing stimulated more than 'Rishir's woman acquaintance.'
Especially with her mysterious, seductive aura impossible to imitate.
All eyes converged.
Fienne basked in the attention—
while chiding Rishir.
"That's it?"
"Pardon?"
"My intro. That's all?"
"Ugh. My vocabulary's too poor to capture Fienne's beauty...!"
"Sigh. Never mind."
Her sighing seemed oddly satisfied.
She rose gracefully and curtsied.
Then, Rishir introduced Jane's group to them.
"Come to think, Fienne and Jane's party know each other, right?"
"Hm? Ah, yeah. First crossed paths at the holy sword trials. But first time actually chatting."
Greetings exchanged.
"Well, now that Rishir's here, we'll head out—"
Only Rishir and the two remained in the drawing room.
"So, you two. What brings you here?"
"What tone. Kinda distant?"
"Can't visit without business?"
"No, it's not—"
"You're the one with business here? Why stick around so long?"
"...Lots happened, let's leave it at that."
Rishir gazed out the window, striking a world-weary pose.
The two ladies shook their heads.
"Sure, sure."
"C'mon, Fienne. Calm down. Shall we talk about that first?"
"That?"
"Rishir. Heard the news?"
Shake shake.
Fienne sighed deeply at his look.
"A man who's special inspector of Bondalles, so oblivious to city affairs."
"Been locked in my room last few days. What's up? Another socialite? Or Goose? Demon maybe—"
"Wow... Rishir. Talking city-ending crises so casually."
"Bummer for you, but not that kind."
Great mage.
Great noble.
Fienne broached the two names.
"New guests at Goose mansion."
"What, now a continental hotspot."
"Your doing. Anyway—"
Fienne rose and said.
"Got time now? Let's go."
"With such lovely ladies? I'd make time."
"Haha! Always the smooth talker."
Rona approached Rishir, lightly nudging his arm with her elbow.
Then linked arms and said.
"On the way, tell us what's been happening?"
As Rona clung to Rishir.
Ahem.
Fienne's fake cough. She hinted.
"You two. Too close?"
"Hm? What's wrong. Friends do this. Right?"
Rona grinned brazenly, pressing closer.
Was it imagination?
Her fresh smile seemed slyly impure.
"..."
True ancestor's lip pouted.
Soon, she gruffly extended her hand.
"Rishir. Escort me."
"Here? Suddenly?"
"Not to you. To 'Eron'."
"..."
"..."
Sparks seemed to fly where their gazes crossed.
"Ugh, whatever!"
"Ack! Rona, you...!"
Dart.
Rona, arm-in-arm with Rishir, tugged him along.
The moment she bolted from the drawing room attempting to claim him.
"Eh?"
"Drwen?"
Opening the door, they bumped into the waiting figure outside.
The stern bob-cut woman.
Drwen.
She glanced alternately at Rishir and the two women, then said.
"Might you have time to talk now?"
"Ah, mind if I ask what for?"
"About that matter from before."
"That matter? Ah."
"Seems the time is ripe. You said then, call anytime if help needed."
Drwen raised her gloved left hand and said.
"Now, if you could remove this for me."
"..."
What now.
Succubus and true ancestor's eyes widened.