Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Constellation
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“Descent of a Constellation is predicted using external dimensional distortions, the form of tachyons and quantum fluctuations appearing in Earth's current dimension, spatial changes in Earth's dimension extrapolated via the Schrödinger-Multidimensional Equation, and so on.”
“What's the Schrödinger-Multidimensional Equation?”
“It's an equation created by the Foundation's scientists. It hasn't been released to the public on Earth yet, and based on the current trajectory of technological development, it'll probably be announced in about 1,750 years.”
According to the Foundation, the Constellation was expected to descend within a week, or like the Munchkin Mary Sue Constellation, it had already descended and would reveal itself alongside its incarnation within that timeframe.
“I'll give you advice tomorrow. I need some time to organize my thoughts as well.”
I rescheduled with Kim Dong-wook and returned home, where I compiled information on the Constellations I knew.
[Old Geezer Constellation]
A Constellation that turns its incarnation into a martial artist.
The incarnation descended upon by the Old Geezer Constellation has their body transformed into the Heavenly Martial Physique, an ideal constitution for cultivating martial arts, and learns the martial techniques taught by the Old Geezer Constellation, becoming an expert capable of taking on an entire nation single-handedly.
It has two patterns: If the incarnation is a good person, they become an extra life that saves the world and the player by perishing alongside a powerful entity the player couldn't stop.
If the incarnation is evil, they destroy the world outright, so you must find and kill them before they grow too strong.
‘Extra life or game over. That's why it's also called the “All or Nothing Constellation.”’
[Zodiac Constellation]
The moment it descends, everyone's fate becomes bound to their zodiac sign.
Even players are subject to daily horoscopes based on the birthdate they entered in the game, which can threaten their survival or bring them fortune—essentially adding a fortune system to the game.
‘There's no specific way to defeat the Zodiac Constellation, but if you survive for a year, it runs out of power and vanishes on its own.’
[Constellation that Plays Hero as a Hobby]
A Constellation that grants immense power to its target, allowing them to act as a vigilante.
Upon becoming its incarnation, they gain tremendous power, enough to overpower or escape most danger-rated entities, which greatly aids survival—but committing even the slightest misdeed causes their body to explode and kill them.
‘During its first descent, you can choose to accept or refuse. If it descends on someone else, the only survival method is to avoid picking the option that lets the incarnation commit misdeeds until they've done something evil.’
There were many other Constellations besides these.
“University Fossil Constellation,” “Community Specter Constellation,” “Boomer Constellation,” “Otaku Constellation,” and so on.
‘Every Constellation has a strategy, and a survival method if it successfully descends.’
That was why, excluding the Munchkin Mary Sue Constellation, most were rated as danger-level or safe.
‘But I can't let my guard down. In the six months since I quit, a ton of new entities have been added.’
Otherwise, the current situation—where fewer than half of the entities I've encountered are ones I recognize—can't be explained.
‘Maybe they held some kind of event in the meantime.’
Even while I was actively playing Entity Hunt, there had been events.
Over a hundred new entity types were added back then, so if they'd held another event in the past six months, countless new ones would have been introduced.
‘Especially since I quit right around when Entity Hunt's popularity was tanking, the odds of an event being held then are high.’
Anyway, that's just speculation, so let's move on.
The important thing is which Constellation descends.
“Here’s the information on the Constellations I know.”
“Oh! Thank you! Any chance you could give a lecture on it?”
“Of course.”
I visited the Foundation and began lecturing the agents.
“So, when dealing with the Otaku Constellation, knowing Japanese makes it easier to gain favor, and the key is to be familiar with popular anime. And absolutely never say things like ‘kimochi warui,’ ‘cheese gyudon,’ or ‘I might just take a water shower.’”
A few days later, the date predicted by the Foundation arrived.
“Seung-hoon, Sephirot hasn't detected the descended Constellation.”
“Well... that's unexpected.”
Even the Munchkin Mary Sue Constellation was detected by Sephirot.
Of course, it was after the incarnation had adapted somewhat and begun wielding its power in earnest, but for a normal Constellation, it should have been detected immediately.
‘Which means it's not an ordinary Constellation.’
So where could it be?
“...Entity Combination.”
I linked “Forgotten Alchemist's Equivalent Exchange Scales” and “Upside-Down Quest Ticket Dispenser.”
[Reward: Information on the currently descended Constellation and the location of its incarnation.]
[Mission: Donate 330 trillion won.]
[Deadline: 24 hours]
“Honey, donate 330 trillion won evenly across the world. Make sure it's spread out as much as possible to avoid inflation in any one spot.”
『Understood.』
After donating the not-insubstantial sum worldwide via Sarang-i, the information on the Constellation and its incarnation flooded into my mind.
“A university?”
A prestigious one in Seoul, no less.
In front of a university located in Seoul.
I drove onto the campus of a school where just mentioning the name would make people nod and say, “Oh, that place!? You must be really smart!”
“I heard the university is on break right now. And the incarnation is here?”
『Mr. Lee Seung-hoon, remove your hands from the steering wheel.』
“Sorry.”
『Do not place your hands above your waist under any circumstances. This is a warning.』
“Got it.”
It turned out that even during break, there were students taking summer session classes.
‘Then the incarnation must be one of three types.’
Administrative or security staff, facilities workers, etc.
Educational staff like professors or teaching assistants.
Or a summer session student, or just a grad student.
‘Summer sessions have low enrollment, so investigating should be quick.’
Since a Constellation-descended incarnation would show massive changes from before the descent in various ways, digging into that would reveal them easily.
“This will make comparisons a breeze.”
I held the roster Sarang-i had obtained via hacking.
It contained photos and info on current staff, summer session students, grad students, professors, and instructors. I strolled the campus with it in hand.
‘I went to university once too. Nostalgic.’
As an auditor, but education's doors are open to all, so doesn't that make me a student too?
I first covertly checked the staff who'd clocked in—no major changes.
‘Next, the students.’
To investigate summer session students, I tried auditing.
“Um, auditing... as in?”
“Yes.”
The professor seemed troubled at first but soon smiled brightly and granted my request.
“Of course! Please do!”
“I should be the one thanking you.”
More enthusiastic and open-minded than expected.
Some stuffy ones wouldn't allow auditors.
“Alright, that concludes today's class.”
“Professor, no report?”
“Oh, a report... Yeah, should we do a report?”
“Happy to.”
“Then, for next class, research examples of negative and positive effects from actual policy changes and submit as a report.”
After class, the professor pulled me aside.
“If Sarang Trading needs researchers for environmental surveys, please put in a good word!”
No wonder he was so accommodating—he had an agenda.
Infiltration went smoothly.
“Professor, I don't quite get this part.”
“Oh ho, that's a sharp question. Unfortunately, class time is up, and I have another session, so I'll leave it to you all.”
“A report?”
“A report... Yeah, let's do a report.”
Auditing life let me relive memories and pick up new knowledge—double the fun.
“Professor, I'd like a more detailed explanation on this.”
“Time's short, so report instead.”
Was it because I was Chairman of Sarang Trading?
All professors and instructors welcomed my auditing.
“Hey, are you really Chairman Lee Seung-hoon?”
“Yes, that's me.”
“Whoa! For real!? Insane!”
A few outgoing, friendly students asked for autographs or handshakes.
“Wanna grab dinner drinks? There's killer dakgalbi right up ahead.”
“Join our club? We welcome outsiders!”
Some invited me for drinks or to join clubs, but I turned them all down.
A few days passed like that. At the final summer session class, while scoping out the students, I spotted an odd one.
‘Not on the roster.’
The guy in the back row had looks that could pass for a male celebrity I didn't recognize.
‘About 185 cm, big build—Western physique.’
Many female students in the classroom stole glances at him.
The male students too—probably wondering why a celeb was here.
“Shin Ki-cheol.”
“Yes.”
During roll call shortly after, I got his name.
‘Shin Ki-cheol?’
He was on the roster.
But he looked nothing like the photo.
‘Found you.’
That confirmed it.
This guy was the Constellation's incarnation.
[Name: Shin Ki-cheol]
[Height: 172 cm]
[Weight: 80 kg]
[Currently a sophomore in Business Administration]
[Discharged from military, took a year off due to timing issues; worked convenience store part-time during leave]
[Clubs: None]
[Hobbies: Games, web novels]
Owner of a physique teetering between overweight and obese.
Face: your average college kid with horn-rimmed glasses.
‘Previously favored checkered button-up shirts.’
Yet this guy had transformed overnight into a male idol lookalike.
‘Constellation intervention?’
Constellation incarnations sometimes undergo physical changes upon descent.
Or the Constellation grants power that reshapes the body—so either way, clear signs of Constellation involvement.
‘But none of the Constellations I know cause changes like this right from the start.’
Meaning it's one I don't know.
Probably added in the six months since I quit.
‘Constellation of Transformation? Constellation of Prettiness? Constellation of Handsomeness? Constellation of Male Idols?’
What kind was it?
‘Constellation of Popularity, or maybe Romance?’
Even during class, female students' attention didn't wane.
Tons of stolen glances, and the lecturing professor—a woman—kept eyeing him noticeably.
‘Good thing, though. No vision of doom in his right eye.’
But no complacency.
It might not show because the Constellation hasn't decided to act in earnest.
Or, like Sephirot failing to detect it, the Constellation's concealment ability might be so strong that even my right eye can't see the doom future.
At that moment, Shin Ki-cheol let out a sleazy chuckle.
No— it was the voice of the possessing Constellation.
‘“Hear” isn't the right term.’
I sensed the Constellation's voice where my right-eye and left-eye visions overlapped.
Feeling sound with eyes—utterly beyond human senses.
‘When the fields of view from the Doom-Seeing Eye and the Soul-Past-Seeing Eye overlap, I can sense the Constellation's voice.’
I didn't get the principle, but it let me identify the Constellation.
As expected, a beauty-related Constellation.
No, not even beauty-related.
A Constellation I never saw coming.