Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.26
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I nodded in satisfaction.
"Tulip, explain the basics to her."
"Yes!"
Hearing the reply, I turned to Kang Harin.
"Listen carefully, then check your skills and report back to me."
Kang Harin nodded and looked at Tulip.
"Okay, this is the status window!"
Good, good.
Tulip enthusiastically reached out and began explaining the attributes in earnest.
A moment later, Kang Harin extended her hand into the air.
"So, my skills are... Blessing of Flames, Touch of the Forge, Endurance of Wrought Iron, Hot Press Forming. Four in total."
"Wow! You have four right from the start, sis?"
Tulip's eyes widened.
I was just as surprised.
It wasn't just the number.
Unlike Tulip's straightforward skill names, these had a more profound ring to them.
"Explain what each one does."
Kang Harin nodded and read off the descriptions.
"That's all!"
Both Tulip and I were speechless for a moment.
"......A string of passives capped with an active."
"What's an active?"
"Not sure exactly, but passives seem always-on, while actives probably need mana."
"Mana?"
"Think of it like the energy mages use to cast spells in games or stories."
More importantly, these are incredibly useful.
Being able to handle metal without a hammer or blacksmith tools means crafting or repairing weapons on the spot as needed.
"Good pick."
"They're good, right?"
I stopped browsing the gallery and looked at Tulip.
Come to think of it, with things like this, I recalled her looking refreshed because the weather was nice.
I thought it was just her sunny, innocent personality.
'But... if the comments are right, night is dangerous?'
I didn't know the exact difference, but Tulip's absence was now critically detrimental to me.
If she hadn't been there from the start, maybe, but now...
Still, there was a way.
Not certain yet, but if the info was accurate... Tulip could likely recover in flames.
Not simple, of course, but she was definitely the key for me.
"Everyone, go wash up."
"Wash... up?"
"This might be your last shower. Enjoy it fully."
Tulip and Kang Harin fell silent.
Perhaps imagining a grim future, even if briefly.
But no time to dwell now.
"Potions refresh you, but they're expensive. Whining about being musty and demanding luxury gets you kicked from the party."
I glanced at the closet.
"Grab any of my clothes to change into. Food after you're all clean."
Kang Harin smiled awkwardly and spoke.
"I came in wearing shoes already..."
"Quiet. Who first?"
Tulip raised her hand.
"I'll go first."
She rummaged through my clothes pile.
"You visiting the flea market? Don't fuss over pretty ones—grab anything and go."
"Got it."
Tulip replied, rummaged a bit more, picked a few, and headed to the bathroom.
Then Kang Harin cautiously broached.
"Yoo Juhan... that's your name, right? Juhan, you seem cool."
"No flattery. Suck-ups are the most dangerous in situations like this. Just raises my guard."
"But I mean it."
I silently regarded her.
Kang Harin lowered her eyes and quietly added,
"You could've left me behind, but you accepted me anyway."
"...You moved with real intent to try."
Kang Harin gazed at me steadily.
I met her eyes without flinching.
"Sorry for the informal speech earlier. I was too on edge."
"......You're still informal."
"Switching to polite now would be weirder. Wouldn't it feel off if I suddenly added 'sir'?"
Kang Harin stared for a while, then chuckled.
"I'm fine with it."
"You want polite?"
"......Just keep it informal."
Kang Harin picked clothes and went to wash.
Tulip emerged, shaking her hair, and asked,
"What're you doing?"
"Oh, a scroll. Got it from ghouls—thinking of using it."
Tulip blinked and tilted her head.
I shook the paper in my hand and explained.
"Scrolls are rare as hell, and unlike games, no visible reinforcement limits."
Frying pan aside, even Grave of Ten Thousand Demons showed none.
"Means each one's precious, but hoarding without using is silly."
Tulip still looked confused.
I picked up the frying pan.
"Watch."
I unfolded the scroll with both hands.
Strange characters filled it, with a faint golden magic circle in the center.
The circle writhed like living threads of light.
I held the scroll over the frying pan. Mentally commanded strongly.
'Apply.'
The scroll trembled lightly, engulfed in blue flames.
"Eek!"
Tulip startled beside me, but I stayed calm.
The fire wasn't hot—warm and gentle, wrapping my fingertips.
Flames leaped to the frying pan instantly.
Paper scattered into light, and new patterns etched the surface.
Thin gold lines intertwined into mystical runes.
Everything flashed once, then seeped away.
Tulip's eyes went wide.
"Wow! What happened?"
"Sigh... Hoped it'd explode, but it succeeded..."
"Huh? Why hope for explosion?"
"Curious what failure does."
I swung the frying pan lightly.
The feel in my hand was distinctly different.
'Even just holding it boosts strength noticeably...'
I examined the frying pan.
What if it failed? Destroyed? Or just no effect?
Tulip marveled beside me.
"This is awesome! Keep reinforcing to make it stronger?"
"Maybe. Issue is scrolls are rare, and we don't know failure effects."
By the time I finished browsing the gallery and washed up, dinner was ready.
Menu: ramen. The last luxury meal before gas and water cut off.
Familiar instant scent stung my nose; noodles softened in boiling water.
A meal I'd normally shrug off felt like a festival, even just the first day of the apocalypse.
'Means our reality is that dire.'
Plus, sponsorships rolling in 100 gold chunks just for changing clothes? Unknown bitterness swallowed with hot broth.
After eating, we set night watch immediately.
"What's night watch?"
"Exactly what it sounds like: stay awake and guard."
In a world where anything could happen at night, at least one awake.
"Waking and sleeping again is worst, so I'll take the middle."
I pointed at party members.
"First two hours Tulip, last one Harin. I cover the middle five."
"Five hours alone? You need sleep too, mister. Recover vitality!"
"Right, Juhan. How to last five alone? We move tomorrow."
Not wrong.
But realistically, I was best for it.
Boosted Vitality stat, mental fortitude to pull all-nighters.
Above all, I needed to exploit the night.
"Even if Tulip boosted Vitality, she'll tire mentally. Watch is more boring than taxing. Harin's short final hour since both lacking."
Boring night for all, but I'd scout gallery for intel.
Not sacrifice—strategy.
"Rest max for tomorrow."
"Still..."
"Arguing shortens sleep. Go."
Firm tone silenced them.
Tulip took first watch; Kang Harin and I sighed, lay down.
Staring at ceiling, slow breaths.
'How long will this quiet night last?'
I fell asleep sooner than expected.
How much time passed with eyes closed?
BANG!
Sudden impact shattered night's silence.
Sleeping body jolted awake reflexively.
"Eek! Mister!"
Tulip's short scream rang out.
Disaster came far swifter than imagined.