The Constellation's World
The place I headed after spouting nonsense in the training grounds was none other than Namgung Cheonho's room.
"……But why is Mr. Namgung completely fine?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, why is he normal! It's unfair!"
"Does this look normal to you?"
But what was unexpected was that unlike Han Gamin, Namgung Cheonho was simply sleeping peacefully. As Han Gamin grumbled with a pouty expression, I let out a sigh and continued.
"See Cheonho's face? The guy who was so cautious and meticulous during the tutorial is now lying in bed having the time of his life right after entering the tower. That can't be normal."
As expected, a small statue sat by his bedside. Of course, because of the mental status abnormality flowing out, Han Gamin didn't seem to notice it, but I could see it clearly.
Grab!
Twist!
Without further delay, I twisted the statue's neck. Just like in my room and Han Gamin's, the statue crumbled away, revealing a single faded bead.
Twitch!
As if proving that the status abnormality in this room had been neutralized, Namgung Cheonho, who had been lying on the bed, began to stir. But that only lasted a moment. The man who had been lying as if dead suddenly sat up and blinked at me.
"……?"
"Are you alright?"
Even after my question, Namgung Cheonho stared into empty space in silence for a long while. Like someone who had just woken from a long dream and was trying to recall it.
"Where am I?"
"Your room, Cheonho."
"Yes……?"
At my words, Namgung Cheonho began turning his head this way and that, examining the lodging with a confused expression. But true to his quick judgment, it didn't take long for the bewildered look in his eyes to settle.
"Are you alright?"
"Hmm…… To be honest, my body feels better than usual, but I'm quite confused right now."
"How much do you remember?"
"……Getting on the carriage with the knights?"
He had a larger memory gap than Han Gamin. But the biggest difference between her and Namgung Cheonho was none other than the dream.
"I had a dream."
"Well, you were sleeping, so that makes sense."
"No… not that kind of dream. How should I put it…… It was incredibly vivid, like a past-life experience……"
He began explaining the contents of his dream in detail. It was a similar type of illusion to the one I had seen. But as I listened to him speak, I couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
He had been a king in the dream. Just as I had carried out orders as the king's close aide, he had given orders to his knights and mages as the king himself. He said he had sat on the half-destroyed throne and issued commands without much thought. Orders to bring the children. Orders to gauge public sentiment. And even orders to implement a certain plan I had received in the illusion.
"But something felt off."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't remember the faces of the vassals who received my orders, but I could feel that they were sad."
Sad, huh……
"Was there any other information? Like discovering the way to the second floor, or hearing something strange?"
At my question, Namgung Cheonho stroked his chin as if deep in thought and frowned.
"Ah…… Right before that mage entered the room I was in, a knight said something to me."
"What did he say?"
"I don't remember exactly, but I think he said something like 'The children are the future of this nation'…… Hearing your explanation, it doesn't seem to add up."
I nodded at his words. It seemed that was the maximum amount of information Namgung Cheonho had obtained from the illusion.
Rustle.
Memorial Piece
……
※ (???)
When combined with other Memorial Pieces, some lost functions are restored.
The Memorial Piece I obtained by destroying the statue in the training grounds was reacting. From now on, my task was to gather as much new information as possible and return. Han Gamin, who had figured out what I was about to do, looked at me and offered encouragement.
"Have a good trip. Well, for us it'll be over in the blink of an eye anyway."
"Yeah. While I'm at it, I'll make sure to confirm the way to the second floor too."
I transferred the two Memorial Pieces, large and small, into one hand. Then, the color of the Memorial Pieces gradually returned to blue, and a notification appeared before my eyes.
Your stat 'Mana Lv.6' is reacting with the 'Memorial Piece'.
Amidst my blurring vision, I caught sight of blonde hair—whether it belonged to Han Gamin or Laurent, I couldn't tell. And when I closed my eyes and opened them again, a new landscape unfolded before me, just as I had expected.
***
A place lined with splendid decorations. When I opened my eyes, knights and civil officials in court attire were lined up on both sides, and I was seated to the right of the king, looking down at the people. After blankly observing my surroundings for a few seconds, I recognized that this was a familiar place I had visited before.
'Before it became ruins……?'
It was the same place where I had an audience with the king in the illusion. Of course, the atmosphere and the fact that it was packed with people were different, but based on the structure of the room, I could tell it was the same location.
[Your Majesty, the situation is not good.]
One of the civil officials lined up on the right stepped forward and spoke in a firm voice.
[……Report.]
The official representing them bowed his head in obedience to the command. Then, as if he had been prepared, he took out a report from his sleeve and began reciting the current state of the kingdom.
'What happened here?'
The reason for the order to bring the children from the city into the castle. The thought of the children who had been separated from their parents made me feel strangely uncomfortable. But then again, you have to hear the whole story. It seemed there was an unexpected narrative.
[Estimated 2,700 infected in the Nathan District, 1,500 in the Forian District. Estimated 4,100 infected in the Desran District, the Grash District……]
The longer the official's report went on, the deeper the sighs that escaped from the mouths of the people lined up on both sides. From the mention of the infected, it seemed an epidemic that the kingdom couldn't handle was spreading. Even after the official finished his lengthy report, the king remained silent. The profound silence caused the vassals to fall silent as well, and the first to speak in that silence was none other than the 'king'.
[There is…… a way.]
At the king's words, everyone's heads lifted. But that only lasted a moment. The moment his next words followed, complaints burst from the vassals' mouths in an instant.
[Let us bring the children into the royal palace.]
[Th-that's……!]
[Your Majesty! Bringing the infected into the royal palace? It's too dangerous!]
[This epidemic is no ordinary disease. With the mortality rate among the people exceeding ninety percent, that is far too dangerous!]
At their words, the king impassively observed their selfish behavior. Then.
[As the Constellation said, the children are unharmed, are they not?]
At the word 'children,' the people's expressions hardened. Unfamiliar information began pouring into my mind like a tsunami crashing onto the shore.
'Ugh……!'
A world where an epidemic had run rampant. People fell ill without knowing why and died in the streets. Like someone who had inhaled poison gas, pus oozed from their entire bodies, and their bodies, desperately fighting to maintain immunity, burned like fire. But this disease only affected adults who had finished growing. For some reason, children who had not yet experienced secondary sexual characteristics were free from this hellish disease.
[What if those children bring the pathogens into the palace?]
[Oh, that's right! They lived with the infected! They could very well be carriers……]
[You people.]
The king cut off their flimsy excuses decisively.
[Do you think it is right for us all to perish together?]
[Th-that's……]
At the vassals' question, the king took a deep breath. The air in the royal palace, protected by the Constellation's authority, was clearer and fresher than anywhere else, but the malice felt beneath it was beyond description.
[The children are the future.]
The king recalled it. On an ordinary, peaceful morning, the existence known as the 'Constellation' had appeared and granted them a single opportunity.
["I grant you my authority."]
'One week……'
An infinite loop of just seven days. So that they could survive until the epidemic completely disappeared, the Constellation had performed the miracle of 'seven days repeating infinitely' for them. So we decided to endure. Until the day the epidemic disappeared. Even if we ate all the food, it would reappear in the same place after seven days, and even if a building collapsed, it would be perfectly restored after seven days. But there was one thing that did not repeat with time…… and that was 'people.'
[In the end, we will die. Whether from old age, an accident, or going mad in this eternal time.]
Over the past few months, as hundreds of thousands of citizens died, the city had suffered near-total destruction. The only survivors were a few lucky citizens, barely one percent, and countless children who had barely survived after losing their parents.
[Let us accept the children.]
At the king's words, the vassals had no choice but to nod reluctantly. Shortly after, in the place where all the vassals had left, the king looked at me.
[May I ask you for one favor?]
[Command me. I will obey.]
At the king's question, I reflexively nodded.
[Make a magical tool. For the children who have lost their parents and are entering the palace.]
[What do you mean?]
[……A statue.]
A medium for curses made of wood.
[Make a statue so that the children's brainwashing is maintained until the epidemic completely disappears and the Constellation regains its power.]
So that the children who had been separated from their parents would not go mad.
[I will trust only you.]
I nodded and left my seat. Soon after leaving the king's audience chamber, I climbed the dark stairs at the end of the corridor. I walked and walked and walked again. Thus I arrived at the top of the castle. I carefully pushed open the old, crude wooden door. Bizarre magical tools whose purpose I couldn't discern came into view. In the corner, traces of reagents used in attempts to cure the epidemic were scattered everywhere. Ignoring them, I walked toward the large blue gem placed in the corner.
A mana stone that could fix magic or curses. I reached out and began infusing mana into the Memorial Piece. My mana flowed in. Black magic like curses devoured mental strength, so my memories and emotions began to be injected into the mana stone along with the mana. After finishing the work, I barely managed to lift my head while enduring overwhelming fatigue. Then, for a few seconds, I stared blankly at the blue mana stone that sparkled with a mirror-like luster.
At that moment, I realized one thing.
'……'
Reflected through the mana stone was a familiar face. The young man with the exact same face as Noya, the king who had ruled the first floor of the tower, was shedding tears as he gazed at the mana stone.