Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 243: Star, the Four Overlord Conference (2)

Recently, Council members have been doubting the Sword Sky Tiger.

‘When the Tyrant was on his way to Germany, demonic beings attacked him… and all of them were believers of the <Purple Star Astrology>,’ Cha Ye-Eun recalled.

The Demonic beings scattered all over the globe suddenly started moving as if they were part of a single organization, putting the Council members on high alert. After Chang-Sun defeated everyone, they checked the dead demonic beings’ identities in secret and found one common denominator: their Guardians were all part of the <Purple Star Astrology>.

The <Purple Star Astrology> believers had certainly been causing more problems than the believers of the other <Societies>. However, the <Purple Star Astrology> had fewer believers, and they usually worked alone, so they hadn’t been considered a big problem until now.

However, the ambush against the Tyrant in Germany had alarmed the Council members enough to start discreetly monitoring the Clans and followers whose Guardian belonged to the <Purple Star Astrology>. Ye-Eun was in charge of the White Tiger Clan, which was the most powerful <Purple Star Astrology> Clan, along with the Crna Ruka.

Since the Clan was founded by a first generation Player, Ye-Eun had a lot of work to do, but she soon became certain that although the White Tiger Clan seemed like a mercenary group, it was, in truth, a pandemonium within the Clan. Although Munseong had been in seclusion for decades, he was still a demonic being. It was the same for the White Tiger Clan’s mysterious Council of Elders and the Future Strategy Department, the members of which usually worked in the shadows.

Ye-Eun even found a trace of the suspicious deal that the White Tiger Clan had made with the Highoff Clan as well as missing cases that hadn’t been properly investigated. To top it all off, she caught wind of several traces of Munseong using inhumane techniques to become stronger. In summary, the White Tiger Clan was too fishy.

“The birth of a demigod… This news alone made the public very happy because this was the first historical step humanity has taken since Jacque Valentine. Moreover, some are also saying the Tyrant should be considered a ‘king’ as well. It’s a festival right now, but what if… some people committed sadistic, unpardonable crimes like making human sacrifices to make all this possible? Shouldn’t we stop them somehow?” Ye-Eun muttered.

Munseong was now called the Sword Overlord instead of ‘Sword Sky Tiger,’ his old title, and was also being treated as a celebrity—no, a star all over the world, starting with the US. He even gained more followers since he was believed to be a pioneer to a new generation.

For the past decades, Jacque had been called the strongest Player, but people were now saying that Munseong was just as strong as Jacque.

“Munseong has already formed an alliance with the Gold Overlord of Jaynix Company and gave the hegemony of North and South America to the U.S. Feeling threatened, China publicly declared that they’ll branch out to the South China Sea and Africa. Meanwhile, the European governments have started to discuss unification again.”

<The ‘Divine Bell Overlord’ marches! Is his next destination Africa?>

<The four Overlords in Europe plan to discuss unification in Frankfurt, Germany.>

<The world of Players is swiftly changing. What will be the Five Great Clans’ next move?>

The order of the world was reforming in accordance with the changes that the Overlords were going through. With no way to tell who would rise to the top at the end of all this, anarchy began.

“It’s… tricky.” Jin Seok-Tae massaged his aching temples.

Up until now, the Ten Overlords and the Five Great Clans had maintained the balance of power like a powder keg. However, Munseung had just lit up that powder keg, signaling the start of a chicken race. Even though nobody knew how this barbaric, greedy, and ambitious generation would end, the Council members still had to decide what stance to take.

“Judging from your tone, though… there is a solution, isn’t there?” Seok-Tae asked.

Ye-Eun, who looked serious, faintly smiled. “So you have been my partner long enough for you to determine that, huh?”

“Before you mention a problem, you always come up with three to four solutions first.”

That was why Ye-Eun was considered the best Council agent in all the hundred and ninety-three offices of WPCFF around the world.

“It’s this.” Ye-Eun pulled out another news article from her drawer and slammed it on her desk.

Thump!

<Some say the Tyrant should also become a new Overlord! Did he really defeat the Killer Overlord?>

<The Tyrant vanished. What is he trying to do next?>

<Will the Tyrant show up in the Four Overlord Conference or the U.S.?>

“The Tyrant…” Seok-Tae mumbled.

“People call him the Tyrant Overlord now. Anyway, the power dynamic will change completely depending on where he shows up, his goal, and how deeply connected he is to the White Tiger Clan,” Ye-Eun said.

Everyone knew Chang-Sun and Joachim Wolff, who had recently become an Overlord, were related. If Chang-Sun stayed in the White Tiger Clan, the Four Overlord Conference would break down, and the White Tiger Clan, Jaynix Company, and Illuminati would form an alliance, which was the worst possible result. However, if Chang-Sun left the White Tiger Clan, the Four Overlord Conference would sail smoothly. After all, the relationship between the <Purple Star Astrology> and Chang-Sun couldn’t get any worse right now.

“That’s why I have to find out what Chang-Sun is thinking right now,” Ye-Eun said.

“Then…?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Beaming, Ye-Eun put down two plane tickets in her back pocket. “It’s my present!”

“The date on the ticket is… tomorrow?”

“Yup, it’s currently fourteen minutes past eleven right now. The plane leaves at 6 o’clock in the morning, so we have about seven hours left. Just grab some clothes before you head to the airport,” Ye-Eun explained.

“… A present? Are you sure you’re not kidnapping me politely, seonbae?”

“You’re not going, then?” Ye-Eun tilted her head.

Seok-Tae sprang up from his seat and put his hands above his eyebrows. “I have sworn my loyalty to you! As you can see, I’m saluting with both hands, not one. Yes, ma’am! Yes, ma’am!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know how loyal you are.” Ye-Eun tapped Seok-Tae’s shoulder.

Seok-Tae held back his tears, realizing that he would never meet the woman he had met on a blind date again.

Not paying attention to Seok-Tae’s condition, Ye-Eun looked back and forth between her plane ticket to Frankfurt, Germany, and the news article about Chang-Sun. His expressionless face flashed across her mind, then she remembered his faint smile when she rescued him. She occasionally recalled that smile, each time remembering it vividly.

‘His smile was quite cute,’ Ye-Eun thought.

In less than a year, Chang-Sun had reached the level of an Overlord. Did his pure talent really made that possible? Could he be another monster made by the White Tiger Clan? If so, what should Ye-Eun do?

‘I saved him…’ Ye-Eun clenched her fists. ‘... so I should be the one to take his life.’

Despite solidifying her resolve, her fists subtly trembled for some reason. It was as if she was afraid of something.

* * *

“Hey… my eyes aren’t deceiving me, are they?” Mars asked.

[The Celestial ‘War-Loving Fighting Deity’ blinks, then wipes his eyes in disbelief!]

“Your eyes are fine. Hahaha! Seriously… who is that guy?” Mercury muttered to himself as he looked at Chang-Sun.

[The Celestial ‘Sky and Earth Connecting Wing’ chuckles dumbfoundedly, his eyes sparkling!]

Kali’s appearance shocked Mars and Mercury. That Celestial died at the end of the <Myth War>, so how did she show up here as Chang-Sun’s subordinate? None of it made sense. Was the person behind Chang-Sun extremely powerful, just like the rumor spreading in <Heaven>? Even so, why would a Celestial like Kali become a mortal’s subordinate…? There were too many unanswered questions.

Minerva, the only Celestial here who knew the whole truth, smiled bitterly as she watched Kali and Chang-Sun. Looking at Chang-Sun, who showed no intention to hide Kali away, Minerva became certain. ‘He’s confident that no matter who notices what is going on, they won’t be able to stop him.’

Kali’s resurrection had probably turned <Heaven> upside down. When Minerva glanced up, all the Celestials that Minerva could see had their mouth open.

[The Celestial ‘Wrath Incarnation’ watches the Dungeon Channel KR-9,721 in sorrow!]

‘Durga is here?’ Minerva noticed.

Among the numerous messages from the Celestials was a message from Kali’s mother, with whom Kali had parted ways long ago. Minerva again saw with her own eyes what kind of impact Chang-Sun had made.

[The <Maleakhe> angels have put you on the wanted list!]

[The <L’Infernal> demons demand your cooperation. They wish to question you about the incident that happened in the ‘Star Grave’!]

Uriel and the guards tenaciously chased after Minerva and the others.

‘On the other hand…’ Minerva quietly turned her head to look at Pabilsag, who seemed furious at Tiamat for another reason.

“Mom! What did you mean by ‘marriage’?!”

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ scoffs at her daughter, telling her that grown-ups are talking.]

“Lee Chang-Sun is mine! Mine! I told you not to touch him!” Pabilsag waved her arms around in fury.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ nonchalantly answers that first come, first served.]

“Mom!” Pabilsag gaped.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ advises her daughter to go wash her feet, go to her room, and sleep.]

“I’m not a child! Stop sending me messages and just talk! Talk! You know how to talk!” Pabilsag shouted at the top of her lungs.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ yawns for quite some time, thinking that this is getting boring.]

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ already has a lot of work to do because she has to throw the <Maleakhe> angels off the track, so she decides to ignore her daughter.]

“Argghhh!! Mom!!!!” Pabilsag pulled her hair out.

Pabilsag seemed to be yelling at her mom because Tiamat had offered to marry Chang-Sun to establish an alliance. After all, nothing else could make an alliance more concrete. Besides, if Chang-Sun could have the Faraway Heaven of the Nine Heavens as his ally, then Minerva would also benefit from the situation through her secret alliance with Chang-Sun. Hence, she should be happy about Tiamat’s offer.

However, Minerva frowned as she looked back and forth between Chang-Sun and Tiamat. For some reason, her heart ached. ‘…Why does my heart hurt?’

* * *

[You have entered the Earth server!]

[You are currently in the sky of Frankfurt, Germany.]

“Thank you.” Chang-Sun bowed with his Jigwi’s wings spread open upon returning to Earth’s stratosphere. He could see one of Tiamat’s eyes through a spatial gap.

Due to her incredibly high divine class, she could distort the law of causality if she approached Earth, so she teleported Chang-Sun to it instead. Meanwhile, Kali was already back at the Changgwi Cave, and Uriel had returned to <Star Grave> after losing Chang-Sun and the others.

『Don’t mention it. I did what any ally should do. That being said, does this mean I can look forward to the gift you’ll bring the next time we meet?』

For some reason, Chang-Sun felt as if he knew what gift Tiamat was looking forward to. However, he decided to pretend as if he didn’t understand anything. “I’ll see you again.”

Tiamat chuckled.

『Don’t play too hard to get! Hahaha! You’ll become less charming if you do that, though… and you’ll become more attractive if you keep doing what you’re doing now. Anyway, take care.』

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ waves her hand in sorrow and asks you to meet with her again since your meeting with her only lasted for a short while!]

Thud!

After letting her daughter send a message, Tiamat closed her eye. When she did, Chang-Sun noticed the pressure that he had subconsciously been feeling completely disappear.

“Phew…!” Chang-Sun heaved a long sigh of relief.

He could feel the cool breeze in his lungs. From the ‘Owl’s Nest’ to the <Star Grave>, Chang-Sun had spent the past several days among Celestials, subconsciously tiring him out and tensing him up. Although Chang-Sun had reached the level of a demigod, it seemed he still had to go through <Exuviation> and <Transcendence> before becoming spiritually free.

『So this is Earth—the planet where you originally lived.』

Kali’s voice echoed in his head. She was probably looking at Earth. Chang-Sun also looked down, finding Frankfurt in the distance.

“Why are you talking like this is your first time seeing this place? You have the Elfin’s memory,” Chang-Sun asked.

『It was before my personality woke up, so it feels different. I understand now why you were so proud of this place.』

“I was?”

『You don’t remember? When I asked about your hometown long ago, you said that Earth is a blue planet with beautiful oceans and lights,』Kali reminded Chang-Sun.

Chang-Sun couldn’t remember saying that, so he just kept silent. However, he did feel how much he missed Earth. At the time, Chang-Sun had believed that he had forgotten everything about Earth, but deep down, it seemed he had always missed it.

He also noticed that Kali was in a similar state. She missed Himavat the snow mountain, her hometown. Unlike the blue Earth, the mountain was snow-white and filled with dense trees. Wanting Kali’s wish to come true, he said, “Your priests are on Earth to find me.”

『… Then?』

“We’re going find them. We’re near my next target location, so you’ll meet them soon.”

『Soon…!』

Chang-Sun imagined Kali clenching her fists. “But I have to take care of business first. It won’t take long.”

『What business would that be?』

Chang-Sun smirked. “Conquest.”

Here in Frankfurt, as his first step toward becoming Earth’s only Celestial, Chang-Sun would start turning all the people in Europe into believers of the ‘Divine Twilight.’