Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 314: Star, the Last Cryptical Book (6)

―You miss him.

Ye-Eun had a thought that wasn’t that different—no, she thought of the same thing that Ithaca did at the time.

Ye-Eun wanted to see Chang-Sun, meet him, feel his face with her hands, kiss him on the lips, and feel his warmth. She also wished to hear his voice, look him in the eyes, tell him how much she loved him, and stay by his side.

Before passing away, Ithaca told Chang-Sun not to cry or blame himself. Having lived a life without regrets ever since she met him, she hoped he would keep living and become happy. To that end, he had to forget about her as soon as possible and find someone else.

‘Shit! It’s… It’s all bullshit!’

However, she didn’t mean any of the things she said. Rather, she wanted to yell at the top of her lungs and tell him several times that she wished to live and be by his side for eternity as his significant other. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with his hand in hers.

How would she feel if Chang-Sun really forgot about her and met another person? What if he drew his new woman into his arms from her back, whispered his love in her ears, and asked her to stay by his side just like he used to do with Ithaca?

Just thinking about the possibilities made her quiver in rage. His side was hers and hers alone, and others weren’t allowed to take her place. She wanted to ask him not to forget her for the rest of his life and to keep remembering her love, which would remain even after her passing. Chang-Sun should only smile at her.

However, aware that all of her desires stemmed out of greed, she stopped herself from saying any of them. She knew how much pain he would be in once he was left alone in this world. Hence, she held herself back and ignored how she truly felt.

Hsan forcefully brought up all the desires, sincerity, and hopes she had bottled up deep in her heart and showed them to her. Nevertheless, she still had no way of knowing how selfish her hope was or how much pain she would put Chang-Sun through again. It could even be too much, just like Hsan said.

Ithaca knew she should turn down Hsan’s offer and tell him that she would remain here… but she couldn’t. Her desire to remain by Chang-Sun’s side rendered her speechless.

―…

In the end, Ithaca answered Hsan’s question with silence.

―I understand. Then I’ll send you back.

Paaah…

The mirror showed Hsan holding out his hand and a pool of light enveloping Ithaca, preventing her from seeing the look on his face.

―I hope you two won’t repeat the same mistake over there as I did.

Mistake? Regret? Ithaca wished to ask Hsan what he meant, but he was already turning in the opposite direction as if to say he had no intention of answering her question. Right before she was completely enveloped by the pool of light and left Hsan’s residence, Ithaca noticed his lips were slightly curved, which was the first and last emotion Hsan showed her.

Ithaca lost consciousness not long after.

Now that Ye-Eun thought about it, all her memory fragments seemed to be the residue of her memories after going through samsara numerous times. Maybe that was what Hsan meant by her journey being difficult.

These vast universes, parallel universes, and multiverses had countless civilizations, so the possibility of Ithaca reuniting with Chang-Sun was close to zero. That was why Hsan warned her that she would have to wait for a very long time before she could meet him again.

After repeating multiple lifetimes, during which Ithaca couldn’t even remember how she was born or died, she started to live as someone named Ye-Eun and finally met Chang-Sun.

“Are you from the Council?”

Chang-Sun was already a celebrity when Ye-Eun met him during the punitive expedition against the Highoff Clan. Even though he rescued the people trapped in the [Phantom Maze Circle], he never flaunted his accomplishment and treated it as if it was nothing. It was as if doing such a feat was nothing out of the ordinary for him. Unaware back then that he was the person that she had been searching for for so long, she got an odd impression of Chang-Sun.

Idiot. That was what she wished to tell her if she were to go back in time. How could she have forgotten about it? She had been desperately wanting to meet him again and stay by his side, so how… How in the world did she forget?!

“I’ll explain the situation later in detail. Can you extradite these men first?”

“I got lucky,”

“Thank you for your help.”

However, Chang-Sun was an idiot too. Going through samsara so many times heavily wore down a lot of her memories. On the other hand, he still had all of his.

‘Yet he still didn’t recognize me? I should tear off all his hair when I meet him later!’ Ye-Eun couldn’t help feeling sulky until she recalled the impression that she had when they first met during this lifetime.

The feeling that their first encounter wouldn’t be the last could have been Ithaca shouting from her subconsciousness.

[You have regained all your memories!]

[Your divided Myths have been merged!]

[You have fully awakened.]

[You have completed <Exuviation>.]

[You have completed <Transcendence>.]

…

[Congratulations! You have successfully awakened to your past life.]

[Your soul and Spirituality Class have grown.]

…

[Your third class…]

…

The messages notifying her of her growth popped up before her, but she couldn’t bring herself to be happy. After all, it was actually bad news. Her soul growing meant that her divine punishment would become even more severe.

[Gaia's Curse corrosion progress: 84%]

‘Any higher, and things could get dangerous.’ Ye-Eun bit her lower lip.

She didn’t care about her awakening, but once the divine punishment overwhelmed her, she would end up going through samsara again before she could even meet Chang-Sun.

‘No! I finally met him, so I can’t do that…!’

Nevertheless, she couldn’t stop the divine punishment from aggravating because she wouldn’t survive against Munseong if she sealed her divine power again.

Booom―!

At that moment, Munseong appeared in Ye-Eun’s blind spot, which was created by the clouds of dust. Like a tiger going after his prey, he lunged and swung his sword so swiftly that by the time Ye-Eun noticed him, it was already too late to dodge. Hence, Ye-Eun turned toward Muneong and aimed her magical gun at him instead.

Clang!

As Ye-Eun narrowly blocked Munseong’s sword using the barrel of her gun, the magic circles above her quickly spun, activating magic spells that increased her black weapon’s durability and attack damage. She then aimed it right at Munseong’s forehead.

[The Authority ‘Magic Engraving’ has been activated!]

[The following magic spells have been applied: Durability Enhancement, Bullseye Precision, Straight Pierce, Curse Annihilation, Increase Damage, Combo Explosions.]

Bang!

Ye-Eun pulled the trigger, firing her revolver. Imbued with six magic spells, her Magical Argentum Bullet threatened to leave a hole in Munseong’s forehead.

However, before it could hit, [Tiger Kill] rose up from below Munseong’s feet along with a cloud of dust. Taking the form of a tiger, its jaws opened wide.

Crunch.

The attack crushed the Argentum Magical Bullet, causing it to explode in midair.

Bang, bang, bang.

Ye-Eun pulled the trigger several times, but [Tiger Kill] bought enough time for Munseong to move away.

[Gaia's Curse corrosion progress: 89%]

Unable to break through the tiger’s defense, every magic bullet she fired burst into fragments. The tiger sustained damage as well, causing it to disappear with holes all over it. However, another [Tiger Kill] tiger swiftly showed up and charged at Ye-un.

Munseong created the Authority [Fierce Tiger Sortie] by improving the nine [Tiger Forms] as he pleased.

‘Heoju is the original Authority owner, but Munseong’s is better!’ Ye-Eun thought.

Upon getting all of Ithaca’s memories, Ye-Eun learned that all of Munseong’s techniques came from—no, surpassed Heoju’s long ago. Nevertheless, she still couldn’t grasp how that could possibly happen.

A Guardian and their apostle were in an absolute dominator-subordinate relationship, not an ordinary contractual one. Apostles were basically their Guardians’ puppets, considering all their power and Authorities came from their Guardians.

[Gaia's Curse corrosion progress: 91%]

Even if an apostle became a Celestial in the future by achieving <Exuviation> and <Transcendence>, they would still be their original Guardian’s subordinate by the end of it all. However, Munseong had done the exact opposite. Despite being Heoju’s apostle, he not only gained a Divine Class but also far exceeded Heoju’s level. As far as Ithaca knew, only Chang-Sun, the one who protected her from numerous Celestials, had done such a feat before.

‘He’s… as talented as Sun?’ Ye-Eun didn’t want to believe it, but the danger was far too imminent to deny reality.

[Gaia's Curse corrosion progress: 94%]

Roarrrr!

She activated [Blink] and narrowly managed to dodge the tiger’s attacks, but four more tigers appeared and came at her.

“You look like you have a lot of questions on your mind.” Munseong ran behind the sprinting tigers. “That’s only natural, though. You and I walked down different paths, after all.”

Ye-Eun spun her magical gun and repeatedly pulled the trigger. She fired each magical bulletin in a different direction, striking different tigers in an arc. Activating [Guided Pursuit], an engraved magic spell, her bullets unconditionally hit her targets.

[Gaia's Curse corrosion progress: 96%]

[Warning! Your current ‘Gaia’s Curse’ corrosion progress is rapidly increasing! Once it reaches 100%, your soul may dissipate! You are highly advised to take a rest!]

Boom, boom, boom―

Hit right in their foreheads, the tigers disappeared, but Munseong didn’t seem bothered by it in the slightest. He just kept destroying each of Ye-Eun’s magical bullets as he slid forward and swung his sword toward Ye-Eun’s lower body.

Slash!

Blood splattered in the air as he left a deep cut on Ye-Eun’s left thigh. She closed one of her eyes as she grimaced in pain. With Munseong so close, Ye-Eun used the opportunity to hit his head.

[Gaia’s Curse corrosion progress: 96%]

[Warning! Your ‘Gaia’s Curse’ has corroded most of your soul! The corrosion is too high! It is impossible to slow it down now!]

[Warning!]

[Warning!]

Bang, bang, bang―!

She fired her revolver three times.

Boom, boom, boom!

Munseong turned so fast that he left afterimages in his trail. Ye-Eun’s magical bullets hit the ground instead and exploded upon impact.

[The Player ‘Munseong’ has activated the Authority ‘White Tiger Rampage’!]

Slash, slash, slash―!

Munseong’s sword danced in the air, leaving a deep cut on the back of Ye-Eun’s right knee. Losing her balance, she fell to her knees. Munseong slashed the left part of her waist next, her blood seeping through her clothes. He then targeted her right shoulder, left nape, jawbone, cheek, ear… the tiger’s claw attacks slaughtered her so swiftly that it didn’t take long for her to be covered in blood.

[Gaia's Curse corrosion progress: 97%]

[Warning! Your soul is about to dissipate!]

Ye-Eun had no time to respond. Using up every ounce of her mana and divine power, she tried to counterattack, but Munseong was so fast that following his movements was the best she could do. To make matters worse, exerting herself so much caused her divine punishment to rapidly worsen.

It was currently at ninety-seven percent. Now on the brink of death, she felt suffocated. Did she really have to die like this? She finally recovered her memory and could meet Chang-Sun again. The fact that she might have to leave him again put her in despair.

Thump…!

Unable to withstand the strong force weighing down on her left shoulder, Ye-Eun dropped down to the ground.

Thuddd!

Not wanting to yield, she glared at Munseong, her eyes filled with spite, but Munseong just nonchalantly stood as he pinned down Ye-Eun with his foot.

“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you, but you’ll become my key. You’re the last cryptical book and the last descendant of the Quirinale clan in the <Saha World>. With you, I’ll be able to open the door to R’lyeh,” Munseong said.

“…!”

[An external force is preventing you from using your mana!]

[An external force is preventing you from using your divine power!]

Realizing what Munseong was planning, Ye-Eun tried to escape, but she couldn’t even move an inch. It was as if she had been tied up with invisible chains.

Ziiinng!

Not long after, the ground shook, and a pitch-black haze rose amid the numerous glass shards. The haze entangled in the air and took a unique form before it sank back on the floor, resembling a door.

Rumble, rumble…!

[The key has been verified!]

[The door to R’lyeh has been opened in accordance with the law of Quirinale!]

Woosh, woosh, woosh…!

“It’s finally opening up,” Munseong murmured.

The more the shape turned into an actual door, the more Munseong’s eyes were filled with exhilaration. Having been eagerly waiting for this moment for the past couple of decades, he finally showed some emotion. All his earnest wishes would come true once he took a step forward, so he couldn’t help but feel elated.

‘No…!’ Ye-Eun screamed in her mind.

Meanwhile, like water gushing out from a broken pot, Ye-Eun quickly lost her vital force. She felt as if someone was pulling her consciousness down, causing it to slowly drift away. The world around her spun as darkness gradually consumed it.

[Gaia's Curse corrosion progress: 98%]

‘... Sun.’

For the last time. If she could meet Chang-Sun so she could apologize for not recognizing him sooner, she wouldn’t mind if it would be the last time they met. However, despite how desperately she wished, getting to see him now seemed impossible.

‘I… will do… a better job… next time…!’

She felt infinitely worse for failing.

[The ‘■vine Twilight’ has descended!]

However, before Ye-Eun completely lost consciousness and her head helplessly drooped, a message popped up before her.