Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: The Grand Stage
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Oh-jin headed to the appointed location with Vega and Riak.
After walking for some time along a long, starlit path, a vast plaza the size of four or five soccer fields combined came into view.
“So there was a place like this in the Sanctuary.”
It was a place not found on the map at the entrance.
The vast, magnificent scenery of the plaza, like something out of Greek or Norse mythology, overwhelmed Oh-jin.
Just because it was a plaza didn't mean it was filled with shops and merchants selling various goods.
Lining the wide path were vivid statues that looked as if they could come to life at any moment, and at the end stood a large, circular structure reminiscent of the Colosseum.
[This is a place where humans are generally forbidden from entering.]
“So, is it a place where only Constellations gather?”
[Hmm. Not exactly. The main gathering place for Constellations is elsewhere.]
“Hmm.”
Then what is this place used for?
As he looked around, puzzled, Riak, who was following behind, spoke up.
“It's usually a place where Holy Spirits test their mettle against each other, or where Constellations compete in strength.”
“Constellations compete in strength?”
Oh-jin turned to Riak with surprised eyes.
Were Constellations some kind of street thugs, settling things with one-on-one fights?
“Conflicts between Constellations are quite common.”
True.
Even if they were Constellations, mentally, they weren't all that different from humans.
After all, hadn't friction just arisen between Vega and Deneb, the so-called Pole Stars?
Even so, he had never imagined that transcendent beings like Constellations would resolve their conflicts by, for lack of a better term, 'duking it out'.
“Well, unless the Constellation has a remarkably low divine status, direct confrontations between them are historically rare.”
“Then?”
“Usually, they hold proxy battles. They have the Holy Spirits who inherited their souls compete to determine the victor.”
“Hoh.”
So that's why this kind of arena exists.
It was comparable to the nobles of the medieval era.
When discord arose between nobles, they often had their knights fight proxy battles.
“So, is my fight with Deneb's Apostles also a kind of proxy battle?”
“You could say that.”
It was quite an interesting fact.
To think that Constellations resolved their conflicts through proxy battles.
‘I never even knew Constellations had so many conflicts in the first place.’
From a human perspective, the image of Constellations was just like that of the gods from Greco-Roman mythology, such as Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.
He thought they'd be living peacefully, laughing merrily in their magnificent temples within the Sanctuary, but to think there was this side to it.
‘Then again, conflicts between gods were common in Greco-Roman mythology too.’
Whether gods or humans, conflict was inevitable wherever intelligent beings gathered.
“Anyway, if this is an arena where Constellations fought, it probably won't get destroyed during a fight.”
“To be precise, even if it gets destroyed, it will be restored quickly.”
“Like fighting inside a Sanctum?”
Riak nodded.
As they were chatting and heading toward the arena.
-Murmur, murmur.
A commotion could be heard from inside the arena.
[Hmm…?]
Vega's eyes narrowed.
Even if Deneb and his twelve Apostles were all waiting inside the arena, the commotion was too loud.
[What is this?]
Frowning, she approached the arena entrance.
“Vega-unni!! Over here, over here!”
A voice like morning dew drifted from inside the arena.
“Unni?”
Oh-jin turned his head in the direction of the voice.
A woman with fluffy pink hair came scurrying from the arena entrance.
She was a woman who exuded an innocence and freshness like a newly grown sprout.
[S-Spica?]
“It's been a while! Has it been a whole year? I was worried since you haven't been in touch at all after getting an Apostle!”
The woman called Spica approached Vega with a friendly smile.
‘Spica?’
He had heard that name somewhere before.
Rummaging through the drawers of his memory, Oh-jin easily figured out who the name belonged to.
‘She's the Constellation of Virgo.’
Did that mean the woman currently exuding the fresh charm of a college freshman was one of the Constellations of the Zodiac?
[What are you doing here?]
Vega looked at Spica with a bewildered expression.
In response to her question, Spica simply tilted her head.
“What am I doing here? I'm the one hosting this proxy battle.”
[…Hosting?]
“What, you didn't hear, Unni? Rumors have been flying for a month now that your Apostle and Deneb's Apostles are having a proxy battle.”
[Wh-what?]
Vega's jaw dropped.
She had never blabbed to any other Constellation about the duel between Deneb's Apostles and Oh-jin.
For rumors to be circulating among the other Constellations when she had said nothing meant one thing.
[Deneb, that bastard…!]
Vega clenched her fists, her face contorted.
“What, you're just getting here? You're a little late.”
A playful boy's voice reached his ears.
High above the arena.
Deneb was standing on the outer wall, which rose high like a castle rampart.
Vega glared sharply at Deneb and yelled.
[What is the meaning of this!]
“What do you mean? It'd be a shame to hold a showdown between the Apostles of the Pole Stars without a single spectator, wouldn't it?”
Deneb crossed his arms and smirked.
Though his words were casual, it wasn't hard to discern the intent behind them.
‘Is he trying to humiliate Vega in front of the other Constellations?’
The Apostle that the Constellation of Lyra had managed to find after so many years.
He intended to satisfy his own vanity by showing the other Constellations the sight of Oh-jin being miserably defeated by his Apostles.
‘What a childish way of thinking.’
Oh-jin let out a short laugh.
Vega seemed flustered, as if she hadn't expected Deneb to go this far.
‘Just as I thought.’
If Deneb's goal was to humiliate Vega.
He had expected him to pull some kind of trick.
[…Deneb. I knew you were frivolous, but I never thought you'd be this shameless.]
A chilling killing intent emanated from Vega.
She took Oh-jin's hand and turned around.
[Let's call off the duel.]
“Hmph. Trying to run away? Our *great* Constellation of Lyra?”
[Think what you will.]
Vega replied coldly, turning her head away.
If this duel had remained a matter between her and Deneb, she could have endured a certain amount of humiliation even if Oh-jin lost.
But if the other Constellations found out about it.
The mocking gazes would fall not only on Vega, but on Oh-jin as well.
‘I cannot allow that.’
Oh-jin was the Star of Rebellion. A hero destined to save this world.
If he, who must lead the charge against the coming doom, were to be branded a 'loser', it would undoubtedly become a major flaw in his future path.
“Are you sure you want to run? Hundreds of Constellations are in the stands right now, waiting just for you.”
[…….]
“Even if you're humiliated, isn't getting crushed in a fight much better than running away?”
[…You bastard.]
Vega bit her lip, her expression anxious.
Just as Deneb said, even if she took Oh-jin and left now, the outcome wouldn't be much different.
The 'loser' frame would simply be replaced with 'coward'.
“It's fine.”
[B-But!]
“I told you, didn't I? That I would win.”
[…….]
Vega's lips tightened into a firm line.
Of course, she believed in Oh-jin's talent and abilities, but.
He was still a fledgling who had only become an Awakener a year ago.
‘Even if my child is a Regressor, facing not one, but three of Deneb's Apostles is…’
The absolute lack of time could not be solved by 'regression' alone.
It was like having your meticulously leveled RPG account deleted and having to start over; no matter how extensive your knowledge of the game, you couldn't instantly reach a high level.
“Hmph. If you're so confident, stop trying to run and get in here already.”
Deneb, looking down from the wall, scoffed and gestured for Oh-jin to enter.
[…Hah.]
With a deep sigh, Vega turned back toward the arena.
“Hmm… Looks like something happened.”
Spica scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.
But that was only for a moment.
Shaking her fluffy pink hair, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Oh-jin.
“You're the famous Lightning Wolf, right? I've heard about you a few times from my Apostles, but this is the first time I'm seeing you in person!”
“I'm Kwon Oh-jin.”
“Yep, yep! I heard! You're much more handsome than I thought.”
Spica's eyes twinkled as she approached Oh-jin.
Vega subtly stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
[Don't you already have an Awakener you boast about, calling him your 'fated one'?]
“Huh? Oh my, what's this?”
Spica's eyes widened as she looked back and forth between Oh-jin and Vega.
“D-Don't tell me, Unni…?”
[It's not the kind of relationship you're imagining.]
“Kyaaah! No way! The stone-faced Unni, for real?!”
[Did I not say it isn't!]
With a flustered expression, Vega clamped a hand over Spica's mouth.
‘Fated one?’
Oh-jin tilted his head, watching the two of them.
Spica, having barely escaped Vega's grasp, wore a mischievous grin.
“Sorry, sorry. I was just a little surprised because it was so unexpected.”
[A-Ahem.]
“Hmm. So Vega-unni got an Apostle like this.”
Spica nodded, looking intrigued.
She patted Oh-jin's shoulder lightly and smiled brightly.
“Please take good care of my unni~! She's a little clumsy with her emotions, but that's part of her cute charm.”
[Be quiet.]
“Hehehe.”
Watching the two of them chat so familiarly, Oh-jin looked surprised.
‘I never thought Vega had a Constellation she was this close to.’
She had barely ever mentioned other Constellations, so he hadn't even considered it.
“As the host, I can't take sides, but I'll be rooting for you in my heart!”
Spica, who had appeared like a storm, scurried off and entered the arena.
[Hah. Really… Why am I surrounded by those who have no dignity as Constellations?]
Vega let out a deep sigh and whipped her head toward Oh-jin.
[Ahem. In any case, don't pay any mind to what Spica just said about a 'fated one'.]
“I'm very curious now, though.”
[Did I not tell you to pay it no mind!]
“Haha. Alright, alright.”
He let out a light laugh and entered the arena with Vega, where the battle would take place.
In the center of the Colosseum-like circular structure was a wide arena over 100 meters in length and width, surrounded by rows of spectator seats.
-Murmur, murmur.
The Constellations who had already arrived and filled the stands began to stir at Oh-jin's appearance.
Whispers could be heard, like, “So that's Lyra's Apostle,” and “He's in for a rough time.”
Oh-jin looked at the Constellations filling the stands and let out a dry laugh.
‘They must not have anything better to do.’
Then again.
What else was there for Constellations to do inside the Sanctuary?
For them, bound by the constraints of the Law and unable to move freely, there was likely no better entertainment than a 'proxy battle'.
‘Especially if it's a proxy battle between the Pole Star Constellations.’
And so, under the watchful eyes of hundreds of Constellations, Oh-jin entered the arena.
“Thank you all for gathering here today!!!”
As they entered, Deneb, who had snatched the best seat with the clearest view of the match, shot to his feet.
Deneb turned to the Constellations filling the stands and spread his arms wide.
“You all know that Vega finally got an Apostle recently, right?”
Deneb grinned and looked at Oh-jin.
“Today, right here, you'll all get to see exactly what kind of human Vega's much-talked-about Apostle is.”
Deneb raised his hand high.
“Now! I hope you all enjoy the show!”
*Snap!*
With the snap of his fingers, a massive holographic screen appeared in the sky above the Colosseum.
The screen showed a close-up of Vega's stiff, hardened expression.
“The sight of the Star of Lyra's fall!!!”
Deneb's clear laughter echoed throughout the arena.