Impersonation and the Perils of Fangirling
Five years ago, after the first Gate opened. As time passed, hunters began appearing and closing the smaller gates one by one. Yul, who had thought hunters and all that were from some other world entirely, was just twenty years old back then.
The world turning into utter chaos right when she was about to start adulting was pretty damn infuriating, but she'd gotten over it. At least until she got dragged into a Gate herself.
It was late at night, down some alleyway, and there wasn't a soul around. What the hell kind of Gate opens up in a place like this? Sucked in right at the brink by a timing and situation so ridiculously contrived it felt scripted.
[■■, Blind Sovereign of the Sky requests a contract with you.]
Instinct told her this was one of those constellations the hunters talked about, so Yul tumbled forward yelling "Okay!" and just like that, the contract was sealed.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky shouts that our Yul is king-level awesome and must smash everything!]
...If it weren't for crap like this, I might've thought it was kinda normal.
The name sounded pretty badass. Unlike her.
She'd only gone to the Hunter Management Bureau to register formally, and one slip of the tongue had led to all this. Yul wanted to punch her past self.
Crunch.
"Ah."
The banana milk carton in her hand crumpled.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky fidgets anxiously, wondering if our Yul is mad because I talked too much.]
Just reminiscing for a sec. No big deal.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky is moved, wondering if you're talking about our first meeting.]
[Our Yul was the world's strongest from the very first awakening! clutches chest]
Yul breezily ignored the status window and kept walking. Failing presale ticketing today would suck, but with general sales in two days and full prep, there was still hope.
Unemployed dropout. Total time freedom was pure bliss.
She checked her watch. 11:58 a.m. Ticketing started at 2 p.m.
Two hours left... maybe hit a café?
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky cautiously asks if you really have to drink Americano.]
[Any more caffeine is bad for our Yul, sniffles]
I won't die from that much.
Yul replied indifferently and scanned for a nearby café. Cafés were everywhere in Korea, so it was a cinch.
She stepped in and rattled off her order like always. "Iced Americano..."
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky sniffles.]
"...Just a grapefruit ade, please."
Damn it. Yul cursed herself for going soft on her star.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky sobs in emotion, saying our Yul is too kind.]
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky has gifted a chest of gold bars to the home of their incarnation.]
"What the actual fu—"
"Ma'am?"
The server flinched, handing back her card. Yul waved it off with a forced smile. No, it's fine.
Grabbing her buzzer, she headed to a seat and unleashed a torrent of words.
Gold bars? What the hell, gold bars!
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky proudly declares there's nothing they won't do for our Yul.]
[Asks if our Yul doesn't like stuff like this.]
Of course I'm thankful, duh.
The problem was cashing them in meant hitting a hunter-only shop. Rare herbs, materials, gems from dungeons—or even constellation gifts—were all handled there. Too risky for regular markets; they'd tank the economy.
Yul hadn't set foot in one since going dark. Her inventory was piled high with rarities.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky suggests going in awakened state.]
[Proposes no one will recognize you thanks to the bandages.]
Sneaking in a comeback suggestion again, huh.
Her constellation had been bummed about her retirement. Not desperate to grind her—it just loved her stealing the global spotlight more than she did.
Bzzz.
Her buzzer went off. Yul grabbed her ade and bounced from the café.
Stepping onto the main road, her phone pinged.
Ding.
⊳ Location: Near Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
⊳ Estimated Rank: C
⊳ Type: Sudden, Gradually Expanding
⊳ Status: Management Bureau hunters and guilds dispatched
A safety alert. Yul let out a short whistle at the rare sight. Gates had been popping less lately, but this sudden one proved they were still gates.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky asks if you wanna check it out—it's not far.]
Dispatch complete. They'll handle a C-rank easy. Gradual expansion means minimal damage.
If not, what was the point of the Bureau and guilds? Yul ignored the sulky window and hurried on.
That's when she reached her usual ticketing PC bang.
"...Huh?"
World's Strongest Comeback Prayer PC Bang
"..."
It had been normal last year. Either the owner changed or lost his mind. That name was nuts.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky is super proud that even lowly creatures praise our Yul's greatness.]
[Subtly suggests making a comeback while you're at it.]
I told you I'm resting? Not even a full year off. News counted it—288 days!
She'd taken a leave and busted ass for a while. Time to focus purely on fangirling.
Ding-a-ling.
"Welcome."
"Hey, uncle."
Yul bowed politely. The middle-aged guy at the counter grinned back.
"Long time! Ticketing again?"
"Yeah. Fanclub presale today. Gotta nail it this time... or general sale day after...!"
"Yep, no better specs than ours! Grab a comfy spot."
As a regular for months to years, they were tight.
About to sit anywhere, Yul paused. "Uh, uncle."
"Yeah?"
"The... name change?"
She pointed at the banner and sign. World’s Strongest whatever.
"Oh, that! Changed it last week."
"Last week? Why?"
"News did a 280-day disappearance prayer event. Got me choked up..."
Choked up over that? Yul averted her eyes slyly.
Are we dating? Nation's not celebrating anniversaries with me. What happens at 300 days?
Yul moonwalked backward to her seat quietly.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky begs that with so many yearning for your return like this, maybe it's time to move?]
Can we mutually agree to terminate the contract?
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky freaks out and shakes head. Begs for reconsideration, clinging to your pant leg even.]
Hmm.
Yul shut the constellation up effortlessly and pulled up the booking page with practiced fingers.
Time to spare. But ticketing was like course registration—you queue devoutly!
She gripped the mouse, inhaled deep.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky laments wanting to wave a lightstick for our Yul too.]
The digital clock ticked seconds away. Minutes flipped.
Right before the click button lit up.
"It's—it's up!"
A high school dude two seats over yelled.
All eyes snapped to him as he stood.
What, legendary drop? Yul ignored quick and locked on her monitor. Ticketing first.
"World Ranking #1! 'Lee Sunjoo Killer' is back!!"
...Until those words hit.
The guy waved his monitor with the hunter board open. PC bang went dead silent for a beat.
Exactly three seconds later, cheers and gasps exploded.
"F-for real? Student, you sure?!"
"Holy shit, it's true! Eyewitness reports!"
"Lemme see, kid! Me too!"
In the joy-filled room, one person stayed silent.
"...What the hell is that?"
Yul dreaded the incoming window.
...Star? Star-nim?
Alone in the frenzy, she sweated bullets. The eerie quiet was scarier.
Wouldn't be weird if it demanded I hunt the impostor now...
Ding.
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky feels extreme rage.]
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky strongly desires to seize that insignificant worm and tear its limbs off right now.]
[Constellation, Blind Sovereign of the Sky vows to hunt down the constellation contracted to that lowly worm and drag it to hell...]
Aigoo, psycho.
Yul rubbed her forehead at the palpable fury in text.