Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Faded Starlight (1)
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“Gaecheon, huh.”
Oh-jin sat on the sofa and opened his status window.
The section describing Gaecheon still offered no real explanation, only an inscrutable phrase.
He narrowed his eyes, recalling the moment he had used it.
*‘He who passes through me, to the garden of sighs,’ was it?*
It felt less like a meaningful phrase and more like an incantation required to cast a spell.
*‘She said only a part of Gaecheon was released.’*
In other words.
The ‘Gaecheon’ he had used was an incomplete technique.
And with that alone.
With a skill that wasn't even half complete.
Cheon Do-yoon, a 9-Star Awakened, couldn't even lift a finger before being devoured by the darkness of Heukcheon.
*‘Of course, it’s not like Cheon Do-yoon was in perfect condition.’*
Noctua, the source of his power, had been obliterated by Vega, and he had already been weakened from their previous fight.
But even taking that into account.
*‘It’s still an absurdly powerful technique.’*
To be honest, he had never really understood why the Constellations made such a fuss, calling Heukcheon a world-destroying power.
But now, he understood completely.
He had seen it with his own eyes and realized it.
—Heukcheon contained enough power to casually destroy a world.
*‘This isn’t a skill I can use at the cost of my body, like Exceed.’*
He replayed the memory of using Gaecheon in his mind.
A hazy consciousness, as if his entire body was melting away.
The distant sensation of feeling fading from his fingertips, as if he were becoming one with the black clouds.
*‘If it were just pain, I could endure it.’*
If it was just excruciatingly painful like Exceed, he could grit his teeth and bear it.
Enduring pain was one of his specialties, after all.
*‘But this is different.’*
It was a sensation of his consciousness slowly dissolving into Heukcheon, like ink in water.
It wasn't the kind of sensation you could just grit your teeth and bear.
Even this time, if he hadn't spotted the Stigma of Lyra shining in the deep darkness, he might never have regained consciousness.
“…It’s best to think of Gaecheon as a last resort, to be used only at the very, very end.”
Perhaps one day he would be able to handle Gaecheon without such side effects.
But for now, it was a skill he shouldn't use carelessly.
*‘Well, it’s a skill I can’t use even if I want to.’*
Was it because he hadn't fully absorbed the power of the Yong'an?
The power he had absorbed from Ha-eun back then had dissipated over time.
This meant that to move the Dragon Vein's mana again, he would have to absorb Ha-eun's power, like charging a dead battery.
*‘I can’t do that.’*
He couldn't use Heukcheon on her every time he needed to use Gaecheon, not knowing what the side effects might be.
*‘Even if I were to use it as a last resort, it would have to be after I can use it myself, without her help.’*
Vega had said that the amount of Dragon Vein he could handle would increase as Heukcheon’s bloom stage advanced, so eventually, he should be able to use Gaecheon on his own.
“Alright. Gaecheon is sealed until then.”
Of course, if he was backed into a corner where everything would go to hell without it, he would have no choice.
But otherwise, it was best not to use it.
*‘Now, let’s organize the other information I got from Cheon Do-yoon.’*
First, about the Black Star.
*‘He said the true identity of the Black Star’s Constellation is a Constellation exiled from the others.’*
In the past, they were called ‘Satellites’ and were ostracized by the other Constellations.
“Is that why they later became the Satellite Sect?”
Oh-jin tilted his head, a puzzled look on his face.
Something felt off, like a misplaced puzzle piece.
“This… I’ll need more information.”
The information he’d gotten from Cheon Do-yoon was too limited to make an accurate judgment.
*‘The important thing is that I have a lead.’*
Now that he knew the Black Star’s identity was a formerly exiled Constellation.
If he focused his investigation on that point, he would naturally find a way to deal with them.
“As for the other things…”
He had also obtained various pieces of information about the Heukseonghoe and the Demon Realm.
In particular, he had acquired quite detailed information on the Hippocampus faction, which was said to be the most active recently.
“I’ll have to organize all of this, too.”
He looked around, searching for a pen.
*Click.*
The door opened, and Ha-eun, looking like she had just woken up with her hair all messy, walked out.
“Are you feeling okay?”
Oh-jin paused his attempt to organize the information and approached her.
“Ah, yeah. I’m feeling better now.”
Ha-eun had collapsed right after ascending to a 9-Star Awakened.
It was likely due to the ‘reconstruction of the body’ that was said to occur when one became a high-ranking Awakened.
*‘They say aging stops after the body is reconstructed.’*
Literally.
One steps into the realm beyond humanity.
“So how is it, being a 9-Star? Is it much different from before?”
Oh-jin asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.
Since the number of Awakened who reached 9-Star was so minuscule, there wasn't much information on what changes occurred compared to before.
“Yeah. The difference is definitely huge compared to when I became an 8-Star.”
“In what way?”
“How should I put it… It’s like I’ve molted? Or something like that?”
Ha-eun stroked her chin as she continued her explanation.
“My body feels better, of course… but my mana circuits have expanded a lot. And the mana moves exactly how I want it to, just like that.”
“Ooh.”
So there really was a big difference starting from 9-Star.
“I just awakened, so I’m not used to it yet. But I feel like I’ve become totally awesome.”
“That’s great.”
“Wow… to think the day would come when I’d become a high-ranking Awakened.”
As if she couldn't believe it herself, Ha-eun pulled down her shirt and stared intently at the nine lines etched on her left chest.
*‘Wait, why does she keep showing me her chest?’*
Thank you very much.
No, that’s not it.
“Ahem.”
Even if it was just the upper part, he couldn't help his eyes from being drawn to her fair skin.
“You’re gonna burn a hole through my chest, you punk.”
Noticing his gaze, Ha-eun smirked slyly and pinched his side.
“Hey, I can’t help it.”
How could he not look when the woman he loved was being so defenseless?
“Are you just going to look?”
Ha-eun pressed her body against his, still holding her shirt down.
“W-Well… we’re… you know. Da-Dating now, right?”
Her face turned red as an apple as she fidgeted with her fingertips.
She seemed to hesitate for a moment, avoiding his gaze, before swallowing hard and asking cautiously.
“Do you… want to touch?”
“……”
*This is driving me crazy.*
Why has she become so forward?
“…Later.”
“Why not?!”
Ha-eun shouted, her face flushed.
“I finally worked up the nerve to say it, even though I’m dying of embarrassment!”
“This isn’t exactly a situation where we can just enjoy ourselves.”
“What do you mean… Ah.”
Ha-eun, who had been scowling and about to argue, snapped her mouth shut.
“…You’re right.”
A situation where they couldn't just enjoy themselves.
Just as he said, just because their long-held wish had come true didn't mean they could relax and be lovey-dovey.
“You haven’t… heard from Vega, have you?”
“No.”
Oh-jin nodded with a grim expression.
Vega.
She had been forcibly unsummoned after using her power in defiance of the law's restrictions to protect him and Ha-eun.
He couldn't just happily share moments of love with Ha-eun when he didn't even know what had happened to her.
Although it was a different feeling from what he had for Ha-eun, Vega had also become one of his precious people.
“…But she didn’t disappear or anything, right?”
Despite her usual bickering, Ha-eun had grown fond of Vega over time and asked with a worried expression.
“She hasn't been annihilated.”
The power of a Stigma was derived from its Constellation.
As long as the Stigma of Lyra remained, Vega's existence couldn't have vanished.
“But I’m sure she’s not in a good state.”
Oh-jin touched the silver pendant around his neck with a bitter look.
Just using a blessing had resulted in a month-long restriction from leaving the Sanctuary. He couldn't easily imagine how severe the penalty would be for completely unleashing her power like this time.
“I was planning on visiting the Sanctuary anyway.”
He had more or less taken care of the urgent matters, so it was time to check on Vega's well-being.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Alright. Then let’s get ready and head to the Sanctuary right away.”
He had originally planned to organize the information he got from Cheon Do-yoon before going.
But since things had turned out this way, it seemed better to check on Vega first.
“Hehe, I’ll get to brag to that Vega wench all I want.”
Ha-eun’s eyes sparkled as she smiled playfully.
How would Vega react when she found out he and Oh-jin were a couple?
Just imagining it made her shoulders shake with excitement.
“Ah, about that. We have to keep it a secret from Vega.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“There’s something I told Vega before.”
“Something you told her? What did you say?”
Ha-eun tilted her head.
“I lied and told her that she and I were lovers in my past life.”
“What did you say, you bastard?”
Ha-eun’s jaw dropped.
She recalled all the times Vega had smugly emphasized her relationship with Oh-jin.
“S-So that’s why that bitch was so high and mighty!!”
Ha-eun glared fiercely at Oh-jin.
“Why would you tell such a lie, you crazy bastard!”
“I had no choice if I wanted to deceive Vega.”
“Even so, this is… this is…!”
She clenched her fists, her shoulders trembling.
“NTR!!! This is NTR!!!”
*What is this woman talking about?*
“That silver-haired delinquent bitch is after my Oh-jinnie!!”
“Well, it’s true that Vega cares for me, but I doubt it’s romantic.”
At most, it was probably like a mother watching her child grow.
“…Do you really think so?”
“Just because we were lovers in a past life doesn’t mean it would lead to romantic feelings now.”
However, from Vega’s perspective, she would probably think he was seeing the past Vega in the current her, leading to complicated feelings.
If she found out he was dating Ha-eun in that situation, she might sense something was off.
“No, no matter how I look at it… Ugh, whatever. What good would it do for me to say anything.”
Ha-eun, who was about to say something more, let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
“…Wait a second.”
As she shook her head, something seemed to click, and she suddenly looked at Oh-jin.
“Don’t tell me that Isabella bitch too…?”
“Ah, we have to hide it from Isabella, too.”
She had a strange obsession with him.
Of course, it was likely an interest in him as a delectable prey rather than as a romantic partner.
But since he still didn't know what she was thinking, it was better to hide it as much as possible.
“Now a blonde delinquent too…”
Ha-eun looked at Oh-jin with a despairing expression.
*‘Why is this guy so popular?’*
It wasn't really her place to say, but Oh-jin wasn't the type to be popular.
So how on earth did two other women besides herself end up falling for him?
And one of them was a Constellation, a transcendent being, while the other was the daughter of one of Europe’s most prominent noble families.
*‘No… besides that, I heard she’s also called the Leech Queen or something.’*
He had also told her about Isabella's true identity.
“Oh-jin.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I just punch you in the face, like, really hard?”
“Why?”
Ha-eun let out a deep sigh and hugged Oh-jin’s arm tightly.
*‘I’ll never let them take him.’*
She had claimed him as hers long ago; she couldn't let him be stolen now.
“Ugh. Anyway, let’s get going.”
With Ha-eun clinging to him, Oh-jin headed for the Sanctuary.