Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.18
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I stared at the string of notifications popping up one after another, a dizzying sensation washing over me.
'Right... I wasn't going to use it because it felt off-putting... but it fit so perfectly in my hand that I just used it without thinking.'
My mentality hadn't cracked, but reading that ominous message made my grip loosen.
Clang!
The sword slipped from my hand and hit the ground, ringing out with a sharp metallic sound.
"Oops, sorry for dropping you."
Since I'd already used it, I figured I'd pick it up and finish the fight first.
Shhrrk—
The Grave of Ten Thousand Demons scattered into pitch-black smoke.
"What the hell? Shit! Did it think I abandoned it just because I dropped it for a second? Did it disappear? You bastard! I was gonna use you even though you seemed ominous! You piece of crap!"
I was unleashing a torrent of curses when the smoke crept up from the floor like it was alive and reformed into a sword in my hand, wrapping around it snugly.
It was like a living creature.
"Did you come back after I cussed you out?"
I'd spat out the curses in excitement, but it had returned in an instant after I dropped it.
I focused on the Grave of Ten Thousand Demons. Then it hit me again.
That flickering green light. Did that designate the owner?
Anyway.
I checked the notification window I'd forgotten about amid the unease.
When Tulip took down the archer in party mode just now, it was 100 Gold.
But now it's 50 Gold.
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
'Does the party bonus double the Gold no matter who lands the kill?'
If that's true, then I just sacrificed 50 Gold to figure it out.
But if I think of it as an investment to uncover the info, it was cheaper than expected.
'What the hell is that function anyway?'
It's not the end?
I immediately recreated the party.
And while batting away the bow, I sent an invite to Tulip at the same time.
The moment I confirmed the notification, I swung the sword again.
The second archer fell in an instant.
And at that moment.
The pattern flowing along the blade lit up green again before fading.
'......?'
It wasn't glowing because of the owner designation?
Up until now, it had always given off a dark crimson light.
What is this?
Anyway, this confirms it even more.
Party effect: Rewards come regardless of who kills.
And the rewards even increase.
As I made that judgment, the last archer drew its bowstring toward me.
A bow drawn at close range might as well already be fired.
In that instant, I reached out without hesitation.
Whiiish!
The sword flew from my hand with a sound tearing through the air.
Soon after came.
Pfuk.
A quiet thud.
The chill metal pierced the archer's skull and stopped there.
Again, that ominous green light flowed.
But something even stranger happened.
Shhrrk—
The sword rippled black and turned to smoke once more.
Then it returned to my hand.
As if it had always belonged there.
'What is this thing......?'
An inexplicable shiver, an inexplicable sense of omnipotence coursed through my body.
I was instantly swept up in euphoria.
'Ah, this isn't the time.'
I tore off the cloth tightening my arm and summoned the Low-grade Bio Recovery Potion.
Blood flowed back into my arm, bringing a strange sensation.
Because blood hadn't circulated for so long?
Or because of the poison?
Whatever the reason, the sensation had dulled, and now as blood returned, a stinging ache rose up.
Around where I'd tied it tight for hemostasis, crimson bruises and dark red blotches spread.
Every heartbeat made the reddened flesh throb and pulse.
I clenched and unclenched my hand.
At first, no strength entered my grip.
Every time I closed my fingers, stiff muscles resisted.
'......This isn't something I can tough out.'
The moment I went to uncork it, Tulip called out urgently.
"Mister! I could...!"
Before she finished, I tilted the bottle.
The red liquid flowed down my throat.
"Gaaargh!!"
"Mister! Are you okay?!"
Not okay enough for jokes.
My whole body twisted.
Creak!
My fist clenched on its own.
Grind—crack—
My teeth ground, shaking my bones.
Detox... this hurts more than the torn wounds healing.
Insanely, madly, fucking hurts.
A sensation like skin ripping open, muscles tearing, veins burning with molten lava.
Every nerve screaming as it burned away.
My jaw trembled, clenched to keep from biting my tongue.
'Shit......'
My hand shook.
My body spasmed slenderly.
But my mind was clear.
Staying conscious, facing the pain head-on, made it all the more cursed and vivid.
It might hurt, it might not!
Why does it always fucking hurt me so much!
The pain peaked, then faded in an instant past some point.
Only then did I gasp for breath and lower my head.
Looking at my arm, the torn and gaping wounds had healed cleanly.
The skin reddened with bruises from the tight binding returned to normal.
But the stitches remained.
Tulip's handiwork.
'Stuff like this doesn't auto-decompose?'
Sighing at the incomprehensible mechanics, I looked up at Tulip.
"What's up."
She hesitated, then carefully spoke.
"Well... seeing your condition just now, I thought I could treat it..."
I closed my eyes briefly.
'......Fuck.'
300 Gold.
My 300 Gold.
The insane pain I endured.
"...If that's the case, you should've stopped me sooner."
"You drank it so urgently... I thought it was an emergency whatever it was. And honestly... I didn't even know it was a recovery potion..."
Fair enough.
What she drank was a deep golden color.
What I drank was pale red.
The colors were distinctly different, so she wouldn't know.
"...Well, it's in the past now. Don't beat yourself up too much over not stopping me sooner. I'm fine."
"You seem pretty beat up about it..."
"...Yeah. Lost 300 Gold."
I spat bitterly and turned my head.
"Right, you got Gold when I killed those monsters too, right?"
"Ah, yes! 50 Gold each!"
"......50 Gold?"
Something's off.
"What about when you kill them?"
"50 Gold."
This is weird.
50 Gold when she kills, 50 when I do?
I got 100 both times?
'Is this a party leader perk?'
Party leader gets double.
Party member absorbs the rewards from their kills.
Something like that?
Then both Tulip and I benefit?
But no matter how I think about it, this doesn't seem to be the 'function' the constellations are talking about.
Something important enough they'd hoard the info.
Meanwhile, the gallery was buzzing about me—or rather, my sword.
Why not post some useful info?
These bastards are unreal...
Then Tulip drew a question mark in her eyes.
"But why?"
"Nothing."
I clamped my mouth shut for a moment.
The difference between party leader and member.
No need to mention it now.
"More importantly, you said you could treat it."
"Yes! I figured it out from your symptoms."
"Yeah?"
"The veins turned dark blue and stood out clearly, with tiny capillaries spreading irregularly like a spiderweb along them."
I scratched my head.
"They weren't swollen, but abnormally prominent somehow. Definitely not normal blood flow!"
"Even if you tell me that..."
"Ah! And I suddenly got a new skill!"
"......What?"
I startled and looked at her.
"Suddenly? Why? What skill? What is it?"
In response to my questions, Tulip read off the skill info in a clear voice.