Chapter 366
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 366
Chapter Title: The Constellation of the Black Star (2)
[I-Impossible!]
Vega shook her head, her face a mask of horror.
[How could a Constellation of the Black Star manifest on Earth?!]
And it hadn't manifested in a corporeal vessel like Vega or Regulus, but in its true form.
Of course, Vega herself had been able to manifest in her true form on Earth for a short time, but that was only possible because she was the Polaris Constellation.
For them, who were nothing more than satellites exiled from the Sanctuary in the past, it was impossible to manifest in their true forms on Earth, a place that wasn't even the Demon Realm.
No, to be precise.
It should have been impossible.
"...Looking at that, it doesn't seem to be the case."
Oh-jin bit his lip as he watched the image of the Hippocampus Constellation on the screen.
Even though he wasn't facing it directly, he could vividly feel the intense pressure.
It was an aura that couldn't be felt from a constellation manifested in a corporeal vessel—an aura that only a true transcendent being could emit.
"Is the reason you've called us here because of the Black Star Constellation that appeared in Japan?"
"To be exact, we received an official request for support from the Kurōshi organization. They only mentioned you, Mr. Oh-jin... but it seemed like a task too difficult for you to handle alone, so we contacted Mr. Woo-hyeok and Ms. Ha-eun as well."
Just as Director Han said, it wasn't a job Oh-jin could handle by himself.
"We did contact the other Seven Stars, like Mr. Allen and Ms. Rebecca... but they all said they were away on other matters."
So that's why they asked Lee Woo-hyeok and Ha-eun for help.
Oh-jin clicked his tongue and nodded.
'This is probably the limit of the Awakened the Association can gather with its own power.'
Even though the Association's influence in Korea had grown thanks to Oh-jin's achievements, that was still a matter limited to Korea.
They wouldn't have been able to summon the 'Seven Stars', who were tied to different countries and factions with various intertwined interests.
'And it would be pointless to just scrape together a bunch of nobodies.'
This wasn't just a typical demonic beast incident. With a Black Star Constellation having appeared, a force of at least high-ranking Awakened was required.
[Even so, to burden my child with the matter of a Black Star Constellation alone! How utterly irresponsible!]
Vega's eyes flashed fiercely as she glared at Director Han.
Director Han, despite his large frame, flinched and quickly spoke.
"O-Of course, we have no intention of leaving this matter solely to Mr. Oh-jin! In the first place, according to the terms of the contract between the Association and Mr. Oh-jin, we cannot issue any commands or orders."
Director Han continued speaking rapidly, keeping a wary eye on Vega.
"We just wanted to inform you that a request for support came from Japan along with this footage!"
So, the choice was ultimately Oh-jin's to make.
"Haa."
Oh-jin let out a deep sigh and nodded.
"I understand. Let's go to Japan."
He couldn't just sit idly by, knowing a Black Star Constellation had manifested on Earth, just because they were short on personnel.
[B-But, my child! This is far too dangerous!]
"I know."
Constellations were transcendent beings, fundamentally different from humans.
On top of that, the Black Star Constellations had also received the power of the 'Heavenly Demon'.
They were on a completely different level from any enemy he had fought so far.
But.
No, precisely because of that.
"We have to make a move before that thing does something."
It wasn't some heroic resolve to reduce innocent casualties.
The Black Star Constellations wouldn't have just crossed over to Earth for no reason.
It wasn't the Black Star Constellations that had started to move.
'He has started to move.'
The Heavenly Demon.
He closed his eyes, recalling his past self.
He didn't know why the Heavenly Demon hadn't acted directly and sent a Black Star Constellation to Earth instead, but he was certain that he was involved in its manifestation.
[B-But...]
Vega, who seemed to know this fact all too well, was about to argue but instead let out a deep sigh and bowed her head.
[...I understand.]
Nodding with difficulty, Vega turned to Director Han and said.
[Could you play the video again?]
"Ah, yes! Of course!"
Director Han shot up and grabbed the remote for the projector.
The video soon began to play again.
Watching it a second time didn't reveal anything particularly different.
It just showed a black rift opening on a desolate beach, and the Hippocampus Constellation walking out from within, accompanied by a horde of grotesque, horse-headed demonic beasts.
-Hmph?
*Bzzzt!*
The video ended with the Hippocampus Constellation, Enceladus, turning its head toward the camera.
"When was this footage taken?"
Oh-jin, who had been staring intently at the video, turned his head and asked Director Han.
"Three days ago, around 2 PM. A member of the Kurōshi went to investigate after detecting a strange mana wavelength and filmed it."
"That member...?"
"He died at the scene."
"......"
It seemed that just after Enceladus turned its head, the screen flickered and shook; the person filming in secret must have been discovered.
"Have there been any other movements in the last three days?"
"No. For now, there are no signs of them having left the coastal area, but they haven't been able to pinpoint their exact location, either."
The number of horse-headed beasts glimpsed in the video was close to a thousand, yet they couldn't find any trace of them?
'This is getting complicated.'
It would be one thing if they were rampaging instinctually, but demonic beasts that moved in an organized fashion like this were much trickier to deal with.
[Rewind the video for a moment.]
"Ah, yes."
Director Han rewound the video.
Vega, her eyes narrowed as she watched the screen, spoke.
[Again.]
"Yep."
[Stop.]
"R-Right here, you mean?"
The video was paused on the scene just after Enceladus had stepped out of the black rift.
The moment its hooves touched the sand, the surrounding seawater churned violently.
[This is...]
Vega, who had been staring intently at the video, her eyes glinted sharply.
[There is no Sanctuary.]
"No Sanctuary?"
[I am referring to the churning seawater. It is not the effect of a Sanctuary, but simply a reaction to Enceladus's mana.]
"...What's the difference?"
Oh-jin tilted his head, unable to understand.
Ha-eun, Lee Woo-hyeok, and Director Han, who were listening in, also frowned in confusion.
Among those gathered here, only one other person besides Vega understood.
[Hmph. So that's how it is.]
It was Regulus, a fellow constellation.
[When a constellation manifests in its full, true form, a Sanctuary is naturally created around it unless intentionally suppressed.]
A Sanctuary was a domain where a constellation could freely wield its authority.
It was a presence similar to an aura.
Of course, to properly use the Sanctuary's power, it was necessary to 'unfurl' the Sanctuary surrounding the body, as Vega had shown before.
What Vega was pointing out now was that even the basic Sanctuary that should have been enveloping its body was not visible.
"So, the fact that there's no Sanctuary means..."
[It means that the Black Star Constellation has not fully manifested in its true form either.]
In other words.
Although the degree might differ, did it mean that the Black Star Constellation was also not completely free from the laws' restrictions?
"So, does that mean we can beat the crap out of it if we just put our minds to it, even if it's a constellation?"
Ha-eun asked, clenching her fists.
Vega nodded with a bitter smile.
[Even without a Sanctuary, it remains powerful... but it will not be able to draw out the true power of a constellation.]
So it wasn't an opponent that was completely beyond them.
"Well... either way, it looks like we have no choice but to go and see for ourselves."
Oh-jin let out a short sigh and stood up.
Now that he knew a Black Star Constellation had manifested, there was no time to dawdle.
'There's no gate to the Sanctuary in Japan, so it'll be difficult to go directly.'
Just as he was about to ask Director Han to book him a flight.
"It will be faster to take the Valhalla Guild's private jet rather than booking a separate flight."
Lee Woo-hyeok gently raised his hand and made the suggestion.
"Are you coming with us, Mr. Woo-hyeok?"
Unlike Oh-jin, who was a lone wolf, Lee Woo-hyeok was the Guildmaster responsible for an entire guild.
He hadn't expected him to silently participate in a mission that clearly had only risks and no rewards.
"Before I am the Guildmaster of Valhalla, I am an Awakened who has inherited the power of a constellation."
An Awakened.
When the first rifts opened and demonic beasts overran the world, they were the chosen heroes who took up arms for humanity.
Though that fact had been half-forgotten now, with the majority of Awakened acting for personal gain and interests.
At their core, the Awakened were heroes who fought to protect humanity.
"However, it will be difficult to deploy the full strength of the Valhalla Guild."
Meaning he couldn't lead his entire guild into a potential death trap because of his own choice.
'Guess not all siblings have the same personality.'
He was so different from the Lee Shin-hyeok he had glimpsed through the succession.
"Then I will let the Kurōshi organization know that you will be arriving soon, Mr. Oh-jin!"
"Please do."
"If there's any equipment or supplies you need, the Association will prepare them for you!"
Things he needed.
'Not really.'
He was tempted by Kim Si-hoo's equipment, but.
Even if he requested it now, it would take too long to be completed.
Using off-the-shelf items instead of custom-made ones wouldn't be very effective.
"Nunna, you need anything?"
"Huh? Me?"
Ha-eun crossed her arms and sank into thought.
After a long moment of contemplation, she snapped her fingers as if a brilliant idea had struck her.
"D-Duty-free cigarettes?"
"......"
Oh-jin stood up and grabbed Ha-eun by the scruff of her neck.
"I'm just going to go home, change, and come back."
"Hey, why not! What's wrong with duty-free cigarettes!"
"Be quiet."
Oh-jin dragged Ha-eun and headed home.
***
They arrived at Kansai International Airport aboard the Valhalla Guild's private jet.
It was his first time back in Osaka since his fight with the Hippocampus's Executor, Kurosaki Sosuke.
"Oh-jin, I think that's them over there."
"Yeah... it certainly looks like it."
As they stepped out of the airport, they were greeted by rows of menacing-looking men in black suits lined up on both sides.
In the center, spread out on the ground, was not a red carpet, but a giant sheet of paper scrawled with unidentifiable Chinese characters.
At a glance, it seemed to be covered with characters like 'Loyalty' and 'Honor'.
'Oh, for fuck's sake.'
Oh-jin stopped in his tracks at the cringeworthy sight that made the back of his head burn with embarrassment.
"Huh? H-He's here!"
One of the Kurōshi members spotted Oh-jin and exclaimed excitedly.
And then.
""We greet you, Oyabun!""
Hundreds of yakuza bowed deeply towards Oh-jin and shouted in a thunderous voice.
The attention of everyone around the airport instantly focused on him.
Oh-jin stared at the Kurōshi members with a dumbfounded expression.
"...I'm your Oyabun?"
Since when?