Mom Is My Constellation - Chapter 4: Fury Over the Ruined Bedding
"...Doesn't it feel like you're getting mad about the wrong thing, Mom?"
The house is destroyed. Sure, it was a tiny one-room apartment the size of a nostril, but a house is still a house.
"Damn, the bed..."
Ah, my blood pressure's already spiking right from the start of this regression. I poked my head out through the crumbling wall, and there it was—the ugly mug of the bastard who turned my cozy nest into a doghouse.
Sung Hyun-sook can't contain her rage at all this mess after finally tidying up the bedding with such effort!
[Rawr-!]
A dozen monsters with physiques like bodybuilders were howling in the middle of the street in broad daylight.
Yeah, it was those guys.
Orcs. For some heavenly prank, a gate had exploded right near my place on the very first day of my awakening. Losing my home was just icing on the cake. So what did I do? I bolted. Well, more precisely, I charged in, got my ass handed to me without landing a single hit, then bolted.
It wasn't my willpower. I swear it wasn't some hero complex kicking in from the awakening high.
The Central Plains Sword God, that damn bastard, pushed me into it saying I should have a flashy debut battle now that I'd awakened.
Central Plains Sword God. The name alone sounded like some peak master, stirring up courage I didn't even have. Wow! A constellation like that sponsoring me? And the result? Exactly as described. One orc punch to the solar plexus sent me flying like a bullet, teaching me that reality is a shithole.
After that, I learned my awakening rank was F. Might as well be neck-and-neck with a regular unawakened civilian.
"Well, regressing doesn't mean an F-rank instantly becomes A or S..."
I'd vowed not to live like a total mess in this second round. Throwing myself into a fight I couldn't win wasn't courage—it was recklessness. No way was I repeating the same stupid mistake like an idiot.
Staying here was dangerous, so let's head to the shelter. The moment I turned toward the front door without a second thought...
Sung Hyun-sook clutches her excited heart, saying a flashy debut ceremony is all prepared and this is perfect!
"Mom?"
Why's she suddenly talking like the Central Plains Sword God? It's giving me chills.
"What was I doing around the time you just became a constellation?"
Sung Hyun-sook nods sadly, saying you were dying in the poison fog.
"...So you have no idea how I lived before regressing. Mom, back then I got completely wrecked by those orcs without landing a hit."
Sung Hyun-sook crosses her arms, saying you should pay them back a hundredfold this time.
"No, I said they were way out of my league!"
Frustrated, I lightly tapped the boulder embedded in the wall like some modern art piece.
"See this! An F-rank like me can't even properly break a single boulder like—"
Crack-.
Uh.
...It broke?
I stared in stunned silence at the crack forming on the boulder.
Sung Hyun-sook shrugs, saying it's all thanks to those vitamins making you healthy!
Don't lie. Those weren't vitamins. And that's even better. Thump-thump. Amid my pounding heartbeat, a hologram with Mom's voice popped up with a ding-.
Sung Hyun-sook sternly advises you to focus.
Focus. For some reason, I knew exactly what she meant. Ignoring the orcs' roars from outside, the people's screams, and the explosions, I turned inward.
And... whoosh-!
A whirlwind-like roar echoed around my chest. I listened to the sound of Mana circulating through my circuits.
Mana. The source of power unique to players. It was surging within me.
"Oh..."
If it was just existing passively, I wouldn't be this shocked. It's different—that's why. The mana that used to barely respond like a constipated trickle even when I strained with all my might pre-regression was now gushing like water from a burst dam, instantly obeying my will through the circuits.
"What the hell did you feed me?"
I stared blankly at my fist swirling with blue energy flows. No one in my first round had ever seen such pure, clear mana boiling from my body.
Suspicious, I pulled up my player info.
Ding-.
Skills:
Strength Enhancement (E-rank, Basic)
[Information viewing restricted due to sponsor intervention.]
...What the hell?
This messy, unhelpful status window. It's my own body—how am I supposed to fight if I don't even know what's what? Especially that x. Unknown variables in stats? Never heard of such a thing.
The base starting stats in parentheses seem the same as pre-regression...
The basic skill given upon awakening is the same too. For reference, E-rank Strength Enhancement is basically useless without mana. At best, it lets you lift one more rice sack.
Back to stats... Adding an unknown x means some kind of bonus effect. I guessed it tied to the hidden 'Special Notes,' but I wouldn't know exactly until Mom spilled it.
"...This has to be the vitamins. Right, Mom?"
Sung Hyun-sook winks at our son♡, saying she'll tell you if you go show her you beating those bastards to death.
Sung Hyun-sook burns with determination, saying she can't stand seeing our son♡ get beaten even if a knife's at her throat.
"Playing it like that, huh?"
Whatever that x was, plus was plus. I was stronger now, no doubt—not weaker. Proof? The boulder in front of me with my fist print clear as day.
This changes everything.
I smashed the boulder blocking my path.
Boom-!
It shattered, spraying stone dust as if it was natural.
"...No joke."
A sleazy grin that would look unlucky to others crept onto my face.
Can't stand seeing her son get beaten? Totally agree.
[Grraaah-!]
The dozen or so orcs, fully riled up, were rampaging through the city streets. Every act of destruction brought screams and explosions without end.
"Players! Where are the players?! How can there not be one around?!"
"Aaaah-!"
"No, my restaurant!"
The helpless civilians were the ones shedding tears at the indiscriminate rampage. Thrust into mortal danger, they ran toward nearby shelters with every ounce of strength.
But safe evacuations don't always happen smoothly.
Stumble!
"Ah...!"
A young boy with a backpack tripped while running and twisted his ankle, unable to get up.
[Grrr...]
One orc from the pack slyly approached the fallen boy. Thick saliva dripped from its jagged fangs protruding from its maw. A massive shadow loomed over the boy's pale face.
"P-Please, spare—"
[Grraaah-!]
Before the boy's whimper could end, the orc raised a wooden club studded with spikes high.
Crunch-!
Immediately after, a gruesome sound of flesh mashing echoed chillingly—from the orc's groin.
[Guh...?]
The orc with a stone lodged in its privates convulsed in place, still holding the club aloft, then collapsed foaming at the mouth.
"...Nah, I was aiming for the head."
I'd thrown a fist-sized stone like a fastball. Great velocity, but accuracy sucked. I patted the stunned boy's head.
"You got hurt falling earlier, right? Stay put and wait here."
"S-Sob, y-yes... Big bro..."
...In the first round, this kid would've gotten clubbed to death.
Sung Hyun-sook fumes, wondering what parents are thinking leaving kids alone in this day and age.
Right? I picked up the club from the orc that died of shock from its ruptured groin. Hmm, almost as long as my torso, but thanks to the vitamins, it felt like an aluminum bat. Nice grip.
[Grrr...!]
As I swung it experimentally, an enraged orc charged at the death of its comrade. Shoulder-tattooed orc.
I definitely got knocked out by that guy's punch.
I remembered that face clearly.
"Thanks to you, I nearly swam the River Styx right after awakening, you bastard!"
I hurled a prepared stone at its shin.
Thwack-!
Direct hit.
[Kuh...?]
The guy with its leg bone shattered hesitated mid-charge. Thanks for stepping up first—makes revenge easy. In return, I smashed the spiked club into its crown.
Crunch-!
I thought it was just the grip, but the impact felt even better. The orc's head caved in, spilling blood as it fell. Tsk, splashed on my face. That bastard's punch used to ache my solar plexus every morning, but no more.
Constellation Sung Hyun-sook watches our son♡ fondly!
Mom? Even so, isn't fondly watching your blood-soaked son a bit grotesque? ...Nah, whatever. Our mom was a fiery S-rank player, so maybe.
Sung Hyun-sook advises that beating them barehanded is more efficient than using weapons!
"R-Right."
Makes sense—feeling the impact directly with your fist beats a club. Taking Mom's advice, I threw the club at one of the shocked orcs.
Thwack-!
The club flew like a missile, embedding perfectly in its chest. About ten left?
[Kraaak-!!]
The remnants roared in unison and charged. Hey, even if you're built like steel-chewing brutes, don't you have any pride?
Sung Hyun-sook glares sharply, telling you to prepare for a spanking if you lose.
If I lose, it's not just a spanking—your son dies, Mom. But she wouldn't say that if it was truly hopeless. I decided to trust the power of those love-packed vitamins.
Tap-!
I stomped forward, diving fearlessly into their midst. Then drove my mana-charged fist into the nearest one's gut.
Bam-!
Watching its belly crumple as it flew back, I couldn't help but marvel.
"Insane."
This was really from my fist? I was dying to know what Mom fed me. To find out, I'd fight hard in front of her.
Whoosh-!
A heavy axe blade swung at me; I ducked low and evaded easily. The axe cleaved only an unlucky comrade.
Squelch-!
It buried deep into the face of an orc sneaking behind me. I was more surprised than they were. What can I say... my body reacted before my brain could think? My reflexes were night-and-day different, exciting me like a kid.
"Thanks for the team kill!"
As thanks for the assist, I uppercut the jaw of the one who'd swung the axe.
[Ku, huck-?!]
Its neck snapped back, a fang breaking off and falling. I snatched it mid-air and jammed it into the forehead of another trying something from the left. Thunk!
At the same time, I scanned the battlefield.
How many left?
Damn, too chaotic to count.
[Kraaa-!!]
Then, a particularly massive one—twice the size—bellowed deafeningly. A 6-meter musclebound giant with three boulders slung on its back like a yoke. I knew it the moment I saw it.
"You're the one who wrecked my place."
Cheap rent, near the station, kind landlord. Decent for a one-room. And you smashed it?
"You're dead."
Thud-!
I leaped like a rabbit, clinging to its face.
[Grr...?]
The giant orc flailed its arms to pry me off in panic. Like hell.
"Quit flopping and stay still!"
Thwack-!
I kneed its throat hard.
[Guhk...?]
Monster or man, a throat strike weakens anyone. As it clutched its neck gasping, I grabbed one of the boulders on its back with both hands.
Whoa, this one's heavy. Not much help, but I activated my E-rank Strength Enhancement anyway.
Sharing is caring, right?
Skill: Strength Enhancement
Strength increased by 5% for 10 minutes.
Sung Hyun-sook frets anxiously—what if you strain too hard and hurt your back?!
I've noticed lately—Mom's scoldings and worries hit weird points. With the boulder raised, I wrapped my legs around the giant orc's neck for support and looked down at the remaining orcs standing dumbfounded below.
About six left?
Considering the boulder's size, four or five could go in one hit.
"I'll show you the price for wrecking someone's precious home."
Technically, this guy did it, but whatever. I hurled the boulder at the dumbly clustered orcs.
Boom-!
The six got pancaked without a chance to dodge. One survived barely, but its lower half was crushed awkwardly.
[Kreeaak-!]
...Better off dead, huh? Crunch-!
Meanwhile, I snapped the giant orc's cervical vertebrae with both hands. The 6-meter behemoth slowly tilted forward, then crash!—toppling onto the half-crushed orc.
Done.
I hopped lightly off the giant's corpse.
"Whew..."
A weary sigh escaped despite myself. I'd fought in a total trance, forgetting myself. I turned and surveyed the chaotic aftermath.
"...Wow."
Hard to believe I did all this. Pre-regression, four goblins would've had me screaming for my life.
Standing dazed, staring at the gruesome-yet-proud scene, I felt eyes on me and glanced at the roadside.
There, "Uh, uh?"
People who'd been fleeing without looking back were now stopped, staring at me.
What, why are they—
Ah.
...Would be weirder if they didn't.
A brief silence passed, then clap-clap-clap!
Applause erupted toward me. Some whistled wildly in cheers.
"Insane! Who the hell is that guy?!"
"That was awesome!"
"We had a player like that in the neighborhood? No joke!"
"First time seeing a player fight live... wow..."
Their fervent cheers enveloped me. Eyes full of admiration, cheers, phone cameras raised. Pre-regression, I'd never gotten this praise.
So this is what spotlight feels like.
What's it feel like? Orgasmic.
...For about five seconds. Then mortifyingly embarrassing.
"N-No, everyone. Uhmm..."
Now I get it. Joy is fleeting; embarrassment lasts forever.
Sung Hyun-sook tears up, saying our son♡ is so proud!
Can't you see your son dying of shame, Mother?
"......"
Still... her words made my chest ache warmly. She'd be thrilled. Her son achieving something? Only that kindergarten perfect spelling score at seven.
Already dying of embarrassment—if I teared up in front of everyone, it'd be true mortification.
"I fought pretty well, right? So tell me the vitamin's secret as promised."
Sung Hyun-sook gladly accepts our son♡'s request, of course she'll tell you!
◈ Oral capsule made by grinding Millennia Snow Ginseng from the back mountain of the Honor Hall.
◈ All starting stats quadrupled upon consumption.
Skills:
Strength Enhancement (E-rank, Basic)
Special: Love-Packed Vitamin in effect (Starting stats +400%)
What is it, what is it? I checked the item first.
=====
...Am I reading Korean wrong?
Millennia Snow Ginseng? That staple martial arts novel miracle herb?
Sung Hyun-sook snorts—what's so weird about feeding her beloved son some wild ginseng?
You're the only mom in the world feeding her son Millennia Snow Ginseng. Guess it grows casually on the Honor Hall's back mountain...
...Wait a sec.
Is now the time to marvel at ginseng? Quadruples all starting stats just by taking it?
"For real?"
=====
"...For real?"
I thought she'd fed me vitamins, but it was a cheat key, Mom.
I love you!