Chapter 418

I am not a returner Episode 418:

War of the Stars (9)

Since ancient times, humans have believed that the soul resides in the shadows.

Your image under the moonlight as you walk down the street at night.

Black and huge.

A somewhat gloomy shape extending from beneath the feet like branches.

Believing that a part of one’s soul resides there is an idea that anyone would have tried at least once, even if they did not have magical or religious beliefs.

Cut that shadow with a ‘sword’.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been a meaningless act of just cutting the bare ground with a sword, which had no meaning at all.

It would be a different story if the act took place within a ‘sanctuary’.

“Wow!! “Wow!”

Ojin got down on one knee, clutching his chest.

A strange sensation that I felt for the first time in my life, completely different from when my flesh was cut by a knife.

The feeling of part of his soul being cut off by the sword was far beyond his imagination.

As if the ground I was standing on disappeared in an instant while I was walking down the street.

* * *

It felt like something that made up the existence of ‘Ojin’ had disappeared.

“Cough! Cough!”

Ojin clutched his chest and bowed down as if retching.

[I am my child!]

Vega hurriedly approached Ojin.

[This...]

Ojin’s body was seen becoming translucent like a ghost and gradually fading away.

“It’s already too late.”

Mobius looked back at Vega and spoke softly.

“A shadow is a concept that forms part of the soul. “Now that that concept has been cut, Ojin, the owner of the shadow, will also disappear from the world.”

[Yes, you bastard...!]

Vega’s golden eyes turned towards Mobius.

[I will not let you have your way!]

“Hmm. Are you planning on developing Vega’s ministry at the risk of ‘annihilation’?”

[That’s...]

“Hahaha! Of course you can’t do that. “Aren’t humans too insignificant to pay the price of ‘annihilation’?”

[....]

Vega’s eyes narrowed.

She crossed her arms and stared at Mobius as if it were ridiculous.

[There must be some misunderstanding.]

“Misunderstanding?”

[The reason the woman has no intention of performing her ministry here is because there is no need to do so.]

“...What do you mean?”

Even at this very moment, the very existence of ‘misdiagnosis’ is disappearing, so there is no need to go to such lengths?

[Do not look down on your child.]

Vega’s gaze turned to Ojin, who was curled up clutching his chest.

A faint silver glow appeared around his body, which was becoming translucent like a ghost.

[This woman’s child is the ‘star of the reverse sky’ that will change the fate that has been decided.]

It’s a joke!

Blue sparks flew out mixed with the silver halo.

Ojin, who had been curled up and moaning, staggered to his feet.

[How dare an insignificant constellation arbitrarily discuss the ‘end’ in front of a star in the sky?]

Rumbling!

A thunderbolt struck and shook the sanctuary of Moebius.

The shadowy fog parted and a brilliant silver light exploded.

“This is...”

Mobius stepped back as if he found it hard to believe.

Penetrating the ‘Dark Moon’ sanctuary he had developed, a silver ray of light began to engulf the surrounding area.

‘Nonsense.’

I knew well that Ojin could handle the sanctuary.

Being able to use the sanctuary and being able to deploy it were issues of completely different levels.

A sanctuary is a unique area that embodies the original source of stigmata.

It was absurd that a single awakened person, not a constellation, could develop it.

“ha.”

I let out a soft breath.

Blue sparks bounce between brilliantly sparkling silver particles.

A dizzying sense of omnipotence running down my spine.

My heart was pounding with a similar feeling as when I used ‘Gaecheon’.

“Now that I think about it, does this Vega sanctuary also have a different name?”

Anceladus’ sanctuary had a name that seemed to have something to do with it, ‘Dragon Palace’ and Mobius’ sanctuary had a strange name, ‘Dark Moon’, so wouldn’t Vega’s sanctuary also have a separate name?

I looked at Vega with questioning eyes, and Vega nodded quietly.

Fortunately, Ojin was not a ‘constellation’. If it had been a constellation restricted by the law, the stigmata would have burned away.

“Ugh....”

[Are you okay?!]

“No, I don’t think I’m okay.”

I should answer that it’s okay just to put Vega at ease.

My physical condition was so miserable that I couldn’t even show off like that right now.

‘Aren’t I also restricted by the law?’

A terrible pain and a feeling of helplessness weighed down my body to the extent that such questions crossed my mind.

“What about Moebius?”

[Probably in that state... it will soon disappear.]

Vega’s eyes were on Mobius, who was lying on the floor, motionless, like a corpse.

Mobius’ body was gradually turning into powder and scattering like grains of sand.

Since he was struck by the ‘thunderbolt of judgment’, it would be difficult for him to survive, no matter how much he was a constellation of Ophiuchus.

[Let’s go back to the sanctuary and get treatment quickly.]

Vega grabbed Ojin’s clothes and pulled him away.

-Moebius! There are a lot of bad demons out there right now!

One day.

A group of demonic beasts invaded the village where the girl lived.

-Don’t go...?

I grabbed the girl’s arm and begged her not to go.

-No. If I don’t go, many people will die.

The girl shook her head resolutely and continued.

-What Mobius said? The reason they gave me a ‘star’ is because it means protecting as many people as possible.

The word “no” stuck in my throat.

The reason I gave you the stigmata was simply to avoid the prophecy.

It’s because of my base selfishness in trying to protect myself.

I wanted to say that.

but.

-I am Mobius’ proud child!

I couldn’t tell.

I was afraid that the girl’s eyes, sparkling like starlight, would be filled with feelings of hatred.

My mouth didn’t drop.

-I’ll go out then! Do not worry! Other Awakened people are also fighting together!

The girl turned around, showing off her biceps with her thin arms.

I had no choice but to quietly look at the back of the girl leaving.

Ah yes.

As always.

I am.

just.

I have no choice but to watch━

“Huh!”

My breath catches in my dry lungs.

“Ah uh.”

In the blurry flickering of consciousness.

I stood up shakily, following the figure of the girl shining like starlight.

[How...?!]

I saw the silver-haired goddess looking at me with eyes filled with astonishment.

“Eve....”

Calls the girl’s name.

Once again.

Memories flash through my head.

-The child’s situation has become unfortunate. Did you say her name was... Eve?

A human with black hair and burning blue eyes.

He introduced himself as ‘Cheonma’.

-sorry. I knew there would be a war of stars... but I didn’t know that your child would die here.

He put his hand on my shoulder with sad eyes.

-Although there is no way to revive a dead child... I think there’s one thing I can help you with.

He smiled brightly and held out his hand to me.

-plural. Let me help you get revenge on those who left your child to die.

that day.

The starlight that twinkled inside me was swallowed up by the black sky.

-Now, Moebius. If you encounter an enemy that you cannot deal with with your own strength, try reciting this spell.

It’s an order.

I put my hand on my left chest.

I spoke the ‘spell’ he told me.

“He who...passes by me.”

and.

The black sky that had been dwelling within me opened wide.