Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Interlude – The Goddess's Atonement (2)
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"What are you talking about?"
[It means exactly what it sounds like.]
With a look of resolve, Vega clenched her fists tightly.
[When one commits a foolish act, they must atone for it accordingly.]
Her gaze was so intense it felt hot.
[I must receive punishment from you.]
"No, I mean, what kind of punishment..."
As Oh-jin stood there with a bewildered expression at the unexpected turn of events.
"H-Hey!"
Spica cautiously approached, having put down her microphone.
Coming right up to him, Spica's eyes sparkled like stars as she tightly gripped both of Oh-jin's hands.
"Would you maybe like to come see my temple sometime?!"
"Huh?"
*What is she on about now?*
"Oh, I don't mean anything by it~ It's just, well, watching you fight earlier piqued my interest, you know?"
She stomped her feet excitedly, her cheeks flushing pink.
She said she didn't mean anything by it, but her heated gaze, like someone staring at a grand feast, seemed to suggest otherwise.
Spica wasn't the only one showing interest in Oh-jin.
"Um... if it's possible, could you visit my temple as well?"
"Khahahat! I'm impressed by your spirit! I grant you permission to enter my temple!"
Constellations, who had somehow come down from the stands, swarmed around Oh-jin, showering him with requests for handshakes.
"Aah! I-I called dibs!"
Spica shouted, stomping her feet.
"..."
Oh-jin looked at the Constellations gathered around him and swallowed a dry laugh.
*I didn't expect such a passionate response.*
It seemed his performance in the proxy battle had left quite an impression on the Constellations.
Well, yeah.
With the blood rushed to my head, I hadn't realized it then, but thinking back now, I really did do some crazy shit.
*Still, this reaction is a bit surprising.*
Honestly, considering what I showed in the match, I expected them to be wary of me or view me with displeasure, calling me a madman. I never thought they'd show such fervent interest.
[How noisy.]
Vega slightly narrowed her eyes as she looked at the Constellations swarming around Oh-jin.
The heated atmosphere instantly cooled at her frigid tone.
[If you wish to invite my child to your temples, speak to me directly.]
"...Uh."
"W-Well."
The Constellations stammered, their faces flustered.
Seeing this made it clear just how high the Polaris Constellation's standing was among the others.
[Is there no one?]
Vega glared at them with murderous eyes, as if she would tear apart anyone who dared to speak up.
The Constellations who had been approaching Oh-jin with interest backed away with awkward smiles.
[If not, then we will be on our way.]
Vega spun around and pulled Oh-jin by the arm.
"Vega, wait..."
[Hurry.]
It seemed she had no intention of stopping.
Oh-jin swallowed a groan and followed Vega.
"Grrr. You've really made an impression on the Constellations, kid."
"It worked out well."
I thought I'd made a mistake by getting too heated in the middle of it, but a reaction like this wasn't bad.
"Things are going to get tiring from now on."
"I know."
Having drawn this much aggro, it was certain that troublesome things would happen, for better or worse.
But it was still better than hiding my power and living in the shadows.
"By the way, Vega."
[What is it?]
"That thing you said earlier, about being sorry for doubting me. Can you tell me the details?"
[...Let us discuss that once we are back at the temple.]
Oh-jin nodded and picked up his pace.
His body ached all over and he was exhausted since his internal injuries hadn't fully healed yet.
*I need to get to the bottom of this.*
I needed to confirm where I had made a mistake.
* * *
"...So that's what happened."
After arriving at the temple.
Oh-jin heard the story from Vega.
A fragment imbued with the energy of Black Heaven had been left in the room after he was freed from the Laws' restraints.
Since Oh-jin and Liaq were the only ones who had entered that room in the first place, it was only natural for her to be suspicious.
*Damn it.*
A cold sweat ran down his spine.
Oh-jin recalled the sound he'd heard while using Heaven's Opening.
*I did hear something breaking.*
I can't believe there was a fragment stained with Black Heaven's energy there.
[Do you have any idea what happened?]
"..."
Oh-jin slowly closed his eyes.
*How can I cover up this fatal mistake?*
Only one method came to mind.
"Adam's Apple."
[Adam's Apple... you mean the sacred artifact you used to break the Laws' restraints?]
"Yeah. It seems the Heavenly Demon... no, to be precise, the 'Snake' reached out to it."
Like forcing puzzle pieces that don't fit together.
He fabricated a story.
"I got this while dealing with the Hippocampus faction."
Oh-jin took out a round tablet with a sinister snake emblem drawn on it.
[That is what you showed me then.]
"Yeah. The fact that a Black Star Society Executor had this means the 'Snake' has extended its reach to Japan as well."
[Are you saying it might have had some effect on the sacred artifact you acquired?]
"Exactly."
It was a rather lame excuse.
But now that the existence of the 'Heavenly Demon' within the Black Star Society was known, it wouldn't be strange for the Queen of Ophiuchus, his fanatical follower, to possess the energy of Black Heaven.
[I see... so that is what happened.]
Vega let out a sigh of relief, her hand on her chest.
She didn't look completely convinced, as if some parts still bothered her.
Still, it seemed her suspicion towards him had been more or less resolved.
*I've managed to get past it for now.*
It felt like I'd just barely managed to grab onto a tree root on a cliff where one misstep meant a fatal fall.
[I am sorry. I should have spoken to you first.]
Vega looked at him, her face filled with guilt.
But only for a moment.
As if having made a firm decision, she grasped both of Oh-jin's hands.
[As I thought! I require a harsh punishment!]
She'd said this before.
"What do you mean, punishment?"
[Did I not fail to trust my child and instead doubt him?]
Vega looked at Oh-jin with a heated gaze.
[Grant me a harsh punishment so that I may atone.]
Looking at her intensely shining golden eyes, it was clear she wouldn't let this go easily.
Oh-jin looked at her with a troubled expression.
"...What do you want me to do?"
Punishing a Constellation.
He couldn't think of what to do.
[First, you must slap my cheek hard!]
"No, that's a bit much."
Slapping Vega's cheek.
Not that he could inflict even a speck of damage even if he hit her with all his might.
*I don't want to do that.*
Just imagining slapping Vega's cheek seemed to make every cell in his body revolt violently.
"A slap is a bit much."
[Hmm. Is that so?]
Vega fell into thought.
She paced around the temple, lost in thought, until her eyes widened as if she'd had an idea.
[In that case, my b—]
"Your b—?"
[N-No. Wait a moment.]
Vega cleared her throat, ahem, and steadied her ragged breath.
[L-Liaq.]
"Yes, Lady Vega."
[Go outside.]
"Pardon?"
[D-Did I not tell you to go outside!]
Vega urgently shooed Liaq out of the temple.
Not knowing why, Liaq was chased out of the temple with a whimper.
*What on earth is she planning?*
Oh-jin tilted his head, looking at Vega, who wore a solemn expression.
Vega traced the temple floor with the tip of her toe and opened her mouth.
[You know... th-that thing. When a child has done something wrong... uh, you spank their bottom.]
*Lady Vega?*
[Th-This time, I failed to fulfill my duties as a Constellation and showed a foolish side... so, uh, couldn't you say I am no different than a child?]
*Your logic is a bit strange, Goddess.*
"Don't tell me you're...?"
[A-Ahem!]
Vega averted her gaze, her cheeks flushed.
It wasn't hard to imagine what kind of 'punishment' she was talking about.
*So.*
Let me get this straight.
I'm being asked by a transcendent being born from the stars, one of the top three Constellations of Polaris, to spank her tush with my bare hands?
*Oh.*
No, not 'oh,' FUCK!!!
"I don't think I can... do that."
[...You will not do it this time either?]
Vega looked at him with sad eyes.
[Will you not even grant me the chance to atone... and instead make me suffer for the rest of my life with this burning guilt?]
No.
[Fine. If that is your wish... I shall accept it.]
Vega clasped her hands in front of her chest, her eyes welling up with a pitiful expression.
Oh-jin tore at his hair and writhed.
*What am I supposed to do?!*
Spanking Vega's butt.
His head grew hot at the thought of something he'd never even imagined.
If it were Ha-eun, I could have just passed it off as one of her usual jokes.
But since she was being so serious, it was awkward to refuse.
*I should have just slapped her cheek!!*
He thought about changing his mind now.
But he didn't feel like slapping the cheek of a Vega who looked so pathetic, like she was about to burst into tears.
[My... child?]
Vega looked at him cautiously.
Her slightly frightened eyes, her flushed cheeks, her every hesitant movement—they all fiercely stimulated Oh-jin's guilt.
*Damn it.*
If she had actually committed a sin deserving of punishment, it might be different.
But being asked for punishment by the very person he was deceiving, who was apologizing for doubting him, made his brain feel like it was about to burn up with guilt.
[Really... you will not do it?]
Unaware of his inner turmoil, Vega urged him on with her teary eyes.
Oh-jin squeezed his eyes shut.
Now that she'd gone this far, there was no other way.
"Fine... I'll do it."
As he squeezed out the words, Vega's expression brightened considerably.
[Th-Then. I am in your hands.]
Leaning against the temple wall, Vega carefully turned around.
In an awkward posture, she gently stuck out her rear.
The beautiful line of her bottom was visible through her silver dress.
"..."
*Gulp.*
He swallowed hard.
Oh-jin's hand trembled as he cautiously raised it.
*Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!*
His head was burning up as if being poked with a hot iron.
Reason and instinct were grabbing each other by the collar, wrestling and disrupting his thoughts.
As he stood there for a long while, locked in conflict.
[Are you not... going to hit me?]
Still leaning against the wall with her rear presented, Vega carefully wiggled her bottom.
"..."
*Snap.*
The sound of something snapping echoed in his head.
He could feel his instinct, which had been holding reason by the collar, flash a victorious grin.
*Ah, to hell with it!!!*
As if he had made up his mind, Oh-jin raised his hand high.
He tensed his palm, his eyes wide as he stared at Vega's rear.
*It's time for the silver-haired goddess's spanking punishment!!!*
He swung his hand, a string of words too vulgar to be called human language running through his mind.