Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Black Star's Sacred Relic (1)
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[Ooh!!]
A gasp of excitement.
Her beautiful golden eyes, which looked as if they were made from molten gold, sparkled.
[Exquisite! A truly astonishing flavor!]
Munch, munch.
The silver-haired goddess, now shrunk to about thirty centimeters, exclaimed as she gnawed on a hamburger the size of her upper body.
Given her size, she looked like a hamster nibbling on a sweet chestnut.
“…Constellations can eat?”
Ha-eun asked with a hollow laugh.
Though she couldn't see her, the sounds were enough to paint a clear picture.
[We have no need to eat, but that does not mean we are incapable of it.]
Wipe, wipe.
Vega tore off a piece of a napkin and dabbed her lips.
Even a simple motion like wiping her lips was noble and elegant, but because of her size, it was more cute than beautiful.
“Is this your first time having a hamburger?”
[It is my first time having human food altogether.]
*Poof.*
Sprinkling some strange silver dust, Vega flew through the air and landed neatly on my shoulder.
[After all, this is the first time I have ever accepted an Apostle.]
She reached out a tiny hand and tugged on my earlobe.
It tickled.
“…But I still don’t get it, no matter how much I think about it.”
Ha-eun frowned as she continued.
“Why did you choose Oh-jin of all people? What’s so special about that guy?”
An Apostle of Polaris.
No matter how she looked at it, it was a title that didn't suit Oh-jin.
[What’s so special, you ask? There is no being in this world more special than this child.]
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
[Huhu. You would not be able to understand.]
Vega crossed her arms and straightened her back.
[One day, you too shall understand. Nay, the entire world will come to know.]
She continued, her voice filled with conviction.
[This child will become a being greater than any other.]
“…What?”
Ha-eun’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
What on earth had Kwon Oh-jin done to earn such praise from the Constellation of Polaris?
“Lady Vega.”
[Huhu. I have prattled on for too long. My apologies.]
Vega smiled elegantly and shrugged.
[And….]
Her sparkling golden eyes turned to Ha-eun.
[Are you not special as well?]
“…What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ha-eun tilted her head as if she’d just heard something completely out of the blue.
Oh-jin felt the same.
He looked at Vega with questioning eyes.
[Hmm. Were you not aware?]
“What wasn’t I aware of?”
[It is nothing. For now… it is of no consequence. I have spoken out of turn.]
Vega looked at Ha-eun’s sightless pupils and let out a short sigh.
[If only I could help you with my power….]
She shook her head with a look of regret.
“Hmph. Help me with what? I’m living just fine without it, so mind your own business.”
[Huhu. I do admire that confident attitude of yours.]
Vega stretched and turned around.
[In any case, I must be going to sleep now. Even in this state, manifesting for too long will lead to severe restrictions.]
“So you can only be active for about three hours a day?”
[It is possible to do more if I push myself. But there is no need for that right now, is there?]
“Well, I suppose not.”
There was nothing Vega could do even if she stayed awake right now anyway.
[Then, my child, I shall see you again tomorrow.]
Floating lightly into the air, Vega moved above my head and gently stroked my hair.
*Wooooong!*
Vega’s body turned into silver dust and was sucked into the pendant.
“……”
A silence descended upon the room.
A sense of desolation lingered, as if a storm had just swept through.
“…Haaah.”
Ha-eun let out a deep sigh.
“How in the world did things end up like this….”
“I told you, I didn’t expect this either.”
I had explained to Ha-eun that since I was Vega’s only Apostle, she had manifested to follow me personally.
It was only natural for her to be confused, as a Constellation manifesting and trailing its Apostle was unheard of.
“…Hey, Kwon Oh-jin.”
“Yeah?”
“Sit here.”
*Pat, pat.*
She patted the spot next to her on the bed, her tone commanding.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“Shut up and sit down, you punk.”
Tilting my head, I sat on the edge of the bed, and Ha-eun promptly rested her head on my thigh.
“…What are you doing?”
“Stay still.”
“What the…”
“Ahem. You're not going to listen to your nunna?”
Lying with her head on my thigh, Ha-eun curled up like a shrimp and gently closed her eyes.
Awkwardly, she reached out and placed her hand on my thigh.
The warmth spread through my palm.
A familiar warmth she had felt her entire life. She smiled faintly.
“Heehee! Lying on my Oh-jinnie's lap is the best. You like it too, don't you, pal?”
“You’re fucking heavy.”
“What, you little shit?”
“Just kidding. You’re so light, it’s like you’ve got nothing in that head of yours.”
“…Why? That feels even worse.”
Ha-eun frowned and pinched my thigh.
Ouch.
“Mm, yeah. That’s my Oh-jinnie.”
For some reason, Ha-eun burst out laughing.
“Your nunna is going to sleep now.”
“Wait.”
If you fall asleep like that, how am I supposed to sleep?
“If you don’t like it, try being two years older.”
“This is so unfair.”
“Heeheehee.”
Ha-eun’s shoulders shook as she snuggled in closer.
Before long, only the sound of her soft, even breathing filled the room.
“Sigh.”
Looks like I won't be getting a good night's sleep.
* * *
Two days later.
Oh-jin did a final check of his gear before heading to Mok-dong.
‘Two signal flares and two smoke bombs, emergency rations and a rope. And finally, three mid-grade potions.’
He had spent a considerable amount of money on the mid-grade potions, but it couldn't be helped.
‘With a new gate, there’s no telling what star-rank monster might pop out.’
Trying to skimp on money here could lead to unnecessary trouble.
“Damn it. But these are seriously expensive.”
He trembled, holding the mid-grade potions that cost millions of won each.
Even if it was an investment for the future, the absurd price made his stomach churn.
‘Those crazy quacks.’
All they did was throw some Sacred Stone powder and Stigma mana together, so why were they so ridiculously expensive?
‘I’m definitely getting the Aquarius Stigma later.’
If he could get his hands on the Aquarius Stigma, he could make a fortune just by making and selling potions.
[Are your preparations complete?]
“Yes.”
Oh-jin shouldered his heavy backpack and opened the door.
A cool dawn breeze tickled his nose.
‘A Sacred Relic.’
Every Sacred Relic had different abilities and was divided by grade, but they all had one thing in common.
‘They’re damn expensive.’
Even a 1-star Sacred Relic cost over ten million won.
A 3-star was over a hundred million, and from 5-star onwards, they surpassed a billion.
‘If it’s a 6-star….’
At least several billion, up to ten billion won.
It wasn't for nothing that guilds searched for Sacred Relics with bloodshot eyes.
“Puhahaha!”
Oh-jin’s shoulders shook as he licked his lips.
His steps toward the station felt lighter.
—An hour later.
After taking the first train to Mok-dong, Oh-jin headed toward an area with tall buildings.
“Kwon Oh-jin from the Association. I apologize for the early hour, but could you open the rooftop door for me?”
“Ah, yes. But what’s this about?”
“I have something to investigate in this building.”
“Um… alright.”
The security guard, who had initially eyed me with suspicion, opened the rooftop door without much question after hearing I was from the Association.
*Fwoosh.*
Stepping out onto the rooftop, the entire view of Mok-dong spread out before me as a cool wind brushed against my cheeks.
‘Being part of the Association is certainly convenient at times like this.’
Oh-jin leaned against the rooftop railing, took out a calorie bar he had brought, and crunched down on it.
[Are you going to wait here for the rift to open?]
“Yes. I know it opens today, but I wasn't told exactly when or where.”
Just because he was a regressor didn’t mean he knew everything about the future, so not knowing this much should be fine.
[Hmm. In that case, I shall undo my manifestation and return inside.]
“I’ll let you know when the gate opens.”
[Understood.]
Vega once again turned into silver dust and entered the necklace.
“Hoo.”
I sighed and shook my head.
‘Having her around is inconvenient in many ways.’
Having to be mindful of every single word I said was exhausting.
‘But.’
It wasn't all downsides.
‘In an emergency, I can borrow her power.’
That was also the reason he could challenge a new gate, not knowing what powerful monsters might be inside, without much worry.
‘If things get hopeless, I’ll just get her blessing and run.’
He knew well from personal experience just how phenomenal the power of Vega’s blessing was.
No matter what variables arose, with her blessing, he should at least be able to escape.
“Alright, come on out.”
He muttered, leaning against the railing and looking down at the Mok-dong scenery.
After waiting for about three hours.
-Woooooong!!!
I could see a pillar of blue light shooting up in the distance.
‘It’s here.’
The harbinger of a new gate.
Oh-jin confirmed the location where the blue light was rising and quickly made his way down the building.
“Kyaaaaaaah!!”
“A g-gate!! It’s a gate!!”
“Q-quickly, call the Association!!”
“What good is the Association these days?! The guilds! Report it to the guilds!!”
As I headed toward the pillar of blue light, I saw people who had been walking around screaming and scrambling to get away.
‘What a mess.’
It felt like I’d gone back to eight years ago.
To the day the first gates opened on Earth.
Back then, I was one of those people fleeing with a terrified expression, but—
‘It’s different now.’
Oh-jin smirked and continued on his way.
-Wooooong!!
He threw himself into the newly formed gate.
His vision distorted, and a wave of nausea, as if his insides were flipping over, washed through him.
“Hah!”
His distorted vision returned to normal, and the scene inside the gate unfolded before his eyes.
A cave so vast it made his jaw drop.
Stalactites like the fangs of a beast jutted out like awls, and streams of gray water trickled down between them.
The interior was dark, but an orange glow from an unknown source made it bright enough to see.
“Lady Vega. We’ve arrived.”
I tapped the silver necklace, and the silver-haired goddess appeared with a bright flash of light.
[Ho. So this is the inside of the rift you spoke of.]
Vega floated around, looking about with interest.
Though her eyes sparkled as she glanced around, she didn't seem particularly surprised that the gate had actually opened.
‘Does that mean she completely believed my words?’
It seemed she thought it was only natural for the gate to open on this day, since the words came from him, a ‘regressor’.
‘…Should I be happy about this, or not?’
It was good, of course, that she already trusted him completely, but at the same time, it felt a little hollow.
His plan to eliminate any lingering doubts with this venture had become meaningless.
‘Well, whatever. It’s all for the best.’
It wasn't like he could complain that Plan A worked when he had a Plan B ready.
‘And I can’t let my guard down here.’
Trust was hard to build but easy to lose.
No matter how much she believed he was a regressor, if suspicious things started popping up one by one, that trust would surely erode.
“Let’s head a little deeper inside.”
[Very well.]
Oh-jin headed deeper into the cave before other Awakened could follow.
As he walked, following the faint orange light,
-Squelch.
The sound of sticky, viscous fluid echoed in his ears.
“That’s….”
Oh-jin’s face hardened as he looked in the direction of the sound.