Secrets Beneath the Stars
It had been a week since they established a hideout to avoid any unforeseen dangers and began staying there.
Brenar had steeled herself for considerable discomfort, yet the life she actually experienced was not the least bit inconvenient. If she exaggerated slightly, it felt as comfortable as a casual camping trip—and even cozy.
The foundation for that comfort lay in the fact that both she and Yujin were spiritualists above level four who required no food for survival, along with the smart tent’s array of conveniences, including its self-cleaning functions.
Yet Yujin’s contributions were every bit as remarkable.
From locating the hideout to setting it up with additional layers of concealment, everything was completed in an instant, without her needing to lift a finger. His patrols were so thorough that there was no room for her to intervene, and in between he still found time to bring back several delicious foraged items.
There had naturally been concerns about potential toxins or disease in the food, but he had already verified basic safety using the portable multi-tool analyzer he received as a reward during the preliminary examination. She could find no fault with any of it.
He moved through this wilderness like someone who had lived in it all his life.
“Did you study specifically for situations like this?” she asked one evening after the sun had set. They were sipping tea brewed from an aromatic wild herb whose name she did not know.
“Not exactly studying… You already know I come from the nomadic tribes of planet G-164. Before I applied for Galactic Empire citizenship, I spent a long time wandering.”
“So you have plenty of experience with this sort of life.”
“Yes.”
“It couldn’t have been easy, living as a drifter. There must be a story behind it.”
After the question left her lips, she quickly added, “You don’t have to answer if you’d rather not.”
A brief silence fell between them.
Yujin toyed with the metal cup of warm tea the smart tent had provided, pondering for a moment before a faint look of resolve crossed his face.
“I believe it’s all right to tell you, Commander. You’re not the sort of person who would covet what I possess.”
What followed was a story that surprised even Brenar—an eleven-level spiritualist—though only slightly.
It was the tale of how Yujin was both a congenital spiritual ability holder and the inheritor of a spiritual martial art regarded as half-legend among the nomads.
After the tribe of his birth had been dismantled, he had been unable to remain long with any other group until he had perfectly memorized and mastered the art, fearing it might be stolen from him.
Martial arts would have been especially difficult to train in secret, she thought. The tribes he relied on would have been strangers he could never fully trust.
Understanding the circumstances, she gave a natural nod, then asked again with mild curiosity.
“You must have undergone multiple scans during the citizenship process. It seems your congenital ability isn’t the kind that draws attention.”
“They failed to detect it at first… so I was reluctant to reveal it myself. Somehow…”
“I have no intention of holding it against you, so don’t worry. I understand your position.”
Yujin bowed his head in gratitude, then raised one hand. A faint violet light sparkled from his palm, accompanied by the distinctive wave of illusion-type spiritual power, before both vanished.
“This ability helped me greatly during my wandering days.”
“Illusion type. A rare category, and one that truly doesn’t stand out.”
She nodded in understanding. Even among illusion abilities, the mechanics and effects varied wildly. “I’ll ensure there are no complications. When we return, receive a proper scan. It will help you chart a clearer path for your growth.”
“Understood. To be honest, I’ve been wondering when and how I should reveal it.”
Brenar gave a soft chuckle at the relatable remark.
Another comfortable silence settled until Yujin spoke first.
“May I ask for one piece of advice?”
“Advice? On what matter?”
“I was taught that at my current spiritual level, I must now choose the training method I will follow going forward.”
“It seems you already have something in mind.”
“I wish to learn the training methods of the Repair System.”
“The reason?”
She asked even though she could roughly guess. Had he not framed it as a request for advice, she would have simply let him choose alone. For a spiritualist, it was far too important a decision to risk future resentment.
Yet she felt no reluctance. Yujin simply did not seem like the sort of person who would hold grudges.
“The memories I gained from consuming that pill—apart from the pain—appear to offer considerable help to my growth.”
“That makes sense. Gun Yu-gyeom was a level-ten spiritualist who had reached the Nascent Soul stage as a Repair System practitioner. Those memories will undoubtedly prove valuable.”
They were not mere information but vivid experiences that carried emotion as well. It was more than enough reason to pursue the Repair System’s methods.
“And the ceiling isn’t low, either.”
“Exactly.”
“Then let me offer some advice…”
She paused to organize her thoughts before continuing.
“I learned the training methods of the Galactic Empire. Compared to the Repair System path you wish to follow, they diverge sharply from level five onward, only converging again around level thirteen. Despite the Repair System’s far longer and deeper history, and despite its methods having been proven superior in many respects, this difference exists for a reason.”
This would be new information to Yujin. His citizen level was still too low to access such records.
“The reason is to avoid the Three Tribulations of Cultivation. The memories you obtained should contain information on them, correct?”
“Yes, they do.”
“The higher-tier methods of the Repair System surpass those of the Empire in many ways. If not for those inscrutable tribulations, many believe they would have already conquered this vast universe long ago.”
“...Is the Repair System truly that powerful?”
“Yes. At least according to what we have determined, there are few civilized forces in the universe that can stand against them.”
In truth, the Galactic Empire had been pushed to the frontier precisely to avoid such mighty powers. They had been forced into a remote sector plagued by the endless incursions of Xenos—the Infinite Devourers—from the Void Sanctuary, a place no one truly wished to claim.
Having spoken this far, she suddenly shook her head.
“I’ve strayed from the main topic, but regardless, choosing the Repair System is by no means a wrong decision. If you can properly overcome the Three Tribulations of Cultivation, it would be the absolute best path.”
“Then I must prepare myself for that ordeal.”
“Consider it carefully before choosing. Reversing the decision later would require tremendous suffering.”
Afterward, she continued explaining every piece of helpful knowledge she possessed. It was the first time she had offered such concentrated guidance to a single soldier.
Suddenly she looked up. Through the transparent ceiling of the Obscura Dome, a night sky glittering with stars came into view.
As a citizen of the Galactic Empire—and as a commander who personally piloted a cruiser across the stars—the sight stirred countless emotions within her.
To feel this comfortable…
She had the distinct impression that she would never forget this scene for a very long time.
Along with the soldier named Yujin who had created both the situation and the atmosphere.
By saving her life and demonstrating his competence at every opportunity, he had steadily built her favor.
Once the moment felt ripe, he had revealed portions of his hidden abilities under the guise of seeking career advice. The maneuver succeeded perfectly; he aroused no suspicion whatsoever.
Now I simply need to manage the scan results for what I’ve shown. That will make it flawless.
His exceptional mental defense had to remain well concealed, while the fact that he could disguise his realm needed to be revealed only faintly. Everything had been calculated based on past experience—he was confident he could fool the machines.
Despite his confidence, the reason he had deliberately taken this risk was, of course, to ensure smooth production of his primary dharma treasure.
He could not predict exactly how he might need Major Brenar’s assistance in the future. Moreover, the process of crafting the treasure might require him to disclose his possession of illusion-type abilities anyway.
Therefore, this had been the optimal time to reveal them. Like a preventive inoculation, accepting a small risk early greatly reduced the chance of future suspicion.
In any case.
The Demensys cruiser contacted Major Brenar four days later. It was the precise moment when she had completed her minimum recuperation and could begin exerting her power once more.
After their safe return, Han Yujin was granted special leave for his significant contributions. In contrast, Major Brenar—the ship’s commander—continued her duties despite not having fully recovered from her injuries.
Because the existence of a demonic Repair System practitioner and Xenos had already been revealed once, the planetary exploration mission proceeded with extreme caution and meticulousness.
In the meantime, following the discussion he had with Major Brenar, Han Yujin succeeded in revealing his Dream Illusion Only Mind divine ability at exactly the desired level during an examination in the ship’s medical sector.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Even while occupied with operations, Major Brenar visited him several times. On one occasion she handed him a personal ether elixir, telling him to consider it an advance on his rewards. It was a full level-five elixir.
At the same time, she granted him unrestricted access to the ether training rooms of level six and below.
Excellent.
It was the perfect support for someone who needed to focus on cultivation. Despite being ordered to take special “rest,” he practically lived inside the training room.
In this manner he completely digested the effects of the Soul-Eating Dao-Achieving Pill he had previously suppressed with latent energy. The introductory achievement of the Taiyi Five Elements Dao Scripture, which had felt slightly unstable, now felt properly solidified.
Afterward, he busied himself examining the jade slips obtained from the demonic practitioner’s storage.
Though the contents belonged to the demonic path and clashed with his own inclinations, they had belonged to a Nascent Soul stage practitioner. Each slip was worth its weight in gold.
Actually, this is rather good, isn’t it?
The thought occurred to him suddenly. Orthodox knowledge could be obtained without difficulty once he visited the Repair System later, but acquiring demonic knowledge would clearly prove far more challenging. Moreover, even the portions he would never use directly offered undeniable value in understanding his enemies.
Time flowed as smoothly as water.
For someone ordered to take special rest, the days were peaceful and fulfilling, free of any possible complications. No significant issues arose during the ongoing planetary exploration mission, either.
Having already faced a demonic Repair System practitioner and such a dangerous battle once, the odds of a similarly perilous problem appearing again were in fact extremely low.
Perhaps for that reason, Major Brenar visited Han Yujin more frequently than expected.
While chatting about how admirable his diligent training was, she occasionally brought up the demonic practitioner.
“He certainly had skill. To raise such a massive Xenos biological colony without showing any signs of planetary contamination…”
“Did all activity cease when the owner died?”
“It went beyond cessation—they completely vanished. It suggests he wasn’t the type to attempt something beyond his capacity.”
Listening, Han Yujin could only nod inwardly. There were few groups as sensitive to backlash as demonic Repair System practitioners. According to the jade slips he had acquired, the sect that man had belonged to would have been especially strict in that regard.
It had been called the Harmony Demon Sect—a place that summoned actual demons and fused them with their own bodies or souls.
Then, finally.
After four more months had passed.
The Demensys cruiser successfully completed its planetary exploration mission, established a solid foundation for management, handed the duties over to another legion’s forces, and returned to the Empire.
Now it was time to receive the rewards for their mission accomplishments.