Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.13
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"Why is a grown man so scared?"
"……."
"It's anesthetic. Anesthetic."
The girl calmly replied as she administered the anesthetic.
"But it's tighter than I expected and not going in easily. Is it because of the muscles? You've been working out hard, huh, mister."
One thought suddenly crossed my mind at her words.
'It's probably because my physical durability has evolved...'
What if needles won't even pierce later?
If that happens, how would I get treatment then?
'No, whatever. If it's that tough, I probably won't need this kind of treatment anyway.'
While I was lost in such pointless thoughts, the suturing on my anesthetized arm was finished.
When I looked down at it, I was momentarily speechless.
"......Are you messing around with my arm right now?"
"Ah, no......"
The girl's eyes wavered slightly.
"I just... thought since we're stitching it anyway, it might as well look pretty...... An idea just popped into my head......"
"……."
"......Should I undo it and do it properly?"
This is driving me crazy.
"......Just leave it."
I swallowed a sigh and examined my arm.
"You stitched it like a work of art."
......It really was art, in the literal sense.
A single tiger flowing along my forearm.
It wasn't just suturing the wound; it was intricately embroidered along the stitched areas.
A graceful form, as if I'd gotten a tattoo.
"Don't mess around with this side."
I extended my other arm.
"If you really have an itch, make it an eagle instead of a tiger."
"Yes, yes! An eagle!"
"No, I'm not forcing you to engrave anything."
"Yes......"
She replied in a subdued voice and picked up the syringe again.
Poke.
Once more, the needle slowly pierced the flesh.
"……!"
My eyebrow twitched.
Anesthetic injections hurt more than expected.
The needle is thick, so you feel the flesh tearing, and as the injection goes in, that spot throbs hotly.
The sensation of the liquid infiltrating, burrowing into the skin.
The inner arm growing heavy.
As the drug spreads, the muscles stiffen, and a dull pressure builds.
'Still, though...'
Compared to suturing without anesthetic, it's heavenly.
Compared to the potion, it's divine.
Guan Yu, who underwent surgery without anesthetic, earns even more respect.
I wonder if Guan Yu had 'Spirit of the Constellation' too.
Lost in such thoughts, the treatment ended quickly.
"Your current condition doesn't seem to need any other treatment besides stitching the torn parts."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. But don't strain too hard so the flesh heals well!"
The girl's fingertip pointed to the sutured area.
"If you overdo it... this could burst open."
"……."
This is just real modern medicine.
All that talk of divine powers, skills, and whatnot—it's ridiculous.
Still, compared to when I stitched it myself, it finished unbelievably fast.
And the quality is much higher.
"Put those items in your inventory since the treatment's done. It's better for you to hold them than me."
I dusted off my palms and continued.
"Storing is simple. Look at the item you want to store and think 'Store in inventory.'"
"......Yes?"
She looked up at me with a blank face.
"No 'yes?' Inventory is like a bag. It has a fixed capacity, so pick what you need carefully and store it."
I kept explaining to preempt the obvious follow-up questions.
"And don't store them separately—put them in a bag or pouch first and store that all at once."
"Why?"
"It only takes one slot that way. Oh, and you can only store things you're touching."
"Ahh......"
"Got it?"
"......I have no idea what that means."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Then slowly opened them again, letting out a sigh.
"Watch closely."
Only after I demonstrated a few times and explained did she fully grasp 'inventory.'
"Now you try."
"Store in inventory!"
She shouted while staring at the medicine.
"You don't have to say it out loud."
In an instant, the medicine on her hand vanished smoothly.
Her eyes widened.
"Wow!"
She waved her hands in the air.
"The item just disappeared right in front of me! So amazing!"
She exclaimed in awe.
"Mister, you really are a god!"
"......That's not me—you did it."
"You gave me that ability!"
"......I told you, it's not my Constellation."
She ignored me and grinned broadly.
"I don't care! To me, you're a god!"
She placed her clasped hands over her heart and said.
"You saved my life!"
"......Don't sneak in informal speech like that."
"Informal speech? What's that?"
She tilted her head.
"Don't mix banmal."
I let out a short sigh.
"......Never mind. Do whatever. I'm using banmal without asking your opinion anyway."
"Yes!"
The corners of her mouth lifted.
"Did you pack all the stuff I told you to? If you're done, we're moving out soon."
"Moving?"
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"What, you wanna stay here? Then you stay. I'm going to scavenge for food."
The girl flailed in panic.
"Ahh, I'll go too!"
She clenched her fists in front of her chest and looked at me with resolute eyes.
"......Since you saved me, mister, I want to use this new life for you!"
It was an innocent face and gesture unlike a high schooler.
Whether it's because it's 1999 or this girl, I don't know.
"……."
I stayed silent for a moment, then chuckled lowly.
"You shouldn't make promises like that lightly."
"Why?"
"The foot chopped by a trusted axe hurts more."
She muttered with a pouty face.
"Where's that? Everything hurts if it chops you."
I snorted lightly.
"Yeah. But it wounds the heart."
"......?"
Maybe because she's only been in the hospital, she looked like she didn't understand.
I moved to step away, figuring whatever.
"Mister, wait!"
The girl urgently called me back.
"What now."
"Sponsorship? My Constellation sponsored 5,000 Gold."
"......What?"
My eyes widened slightly for a moment.
5,000 Gold?
I glanced at her.
'Contracting changes the sponsorship scale, huh.'
Obviously.
They spare no investment for the Incarnation they've chosen to raise.
'More importantly...... Should I explain what Gold is? Usage, places to use it, everything?'
I crossed my arms and pondered.
Even if I've decided to take her as a companion, isn't it too early?
Since she's by my side to grow her Incarnation quickly, spilling all info too soon isn't a great strategy.
'Who knows how she'll change once she thinks she's sucked all the sweet juice.'
I might trust this kid at minimum, but Constellations are untrustworthy beings.
I stared at her steadily.
"Saving you doesn't give me the right to meddle in your judgments arbitrarily from now on."
"......Suddenly?"
Her eyes rounded.
I shrugged.
"Even if you choose to kill me someday, that's your freedom."
"......Yes?"
"Of course, being human, I'd resent you while dying."
I continued flatly.
"So, if that moment comes...... At least send me off painlessly in one shot."
"......What on earth are you talking about?"
She looked utterly confused.
Seeing her like that, I smirked.
"Can't you do that much as thanks for saving you?"
Not that I want to die.
'Strictly speaking... it's because I don't want to die.'
I'm just planting a tiny seed called guilt in her heart for when that time comes.
"……."
She seemed to mull over my words, lips pressed tight.
Then she muttered softly.
"Why would I kill you, mister."
"Don't say it so definitively."
I cut in with a low voice.
"Nothing's certain in this world."
She flinched.
"What I said earlier. It's more hurtful when someone declares like you now and then betrays."
Her lips bit tight as if speechless for a moment.
Then... her expression slowly flushed red.
"I hate that!"
Her eyes wide, fists clenched trembling, she shouted.
"I can declare it! I won't harm you, mister!"
"……."
"No thoughts of betrayal either!"
Her eyes reddened emotionally, but she gritted her teeth and said.
"So...... Don't say weird stuff!"
I quietly watched her.
And smirked.
"Yeah?"
"Yes!"
She gripped her fists tight and stared straight at me.
"If you're so sure, I'll raise you. More precisely, symbiosis."
Her face brightened again.
So bright it made me feel sorry for upsetting her.
"Now you'll have to hunt monsters to survive too. Can you handle it?"
Instead of answering, she nodded vigorously once.
"I told you. This life is one you gave me."
At that moment, two large sponsorships arrived for me.