Chapter 328: Starlight (1)

Chapter 328: Starlight (1)

1.

-Its a masterpiece.

Ancient times.

There was a temple where countless eons had repeated to the point where keeping track of time was meaningless, where even time itself had grown weary, and everything had come to a halt. In that place lived a beautiful dragon.

-Who might you be?

To say it lived might not have been quite accurate.

Its golden scales, once radiant, no longer sparkled. The golden eyes that once took ones breath away had long lost their focus. The voice. How long had it been since it had used its voice?

The dragon felt strange about its own vocal cords. The resonance transmitted from its lungs through its throat felt unfamiliar, as did the flesh surrounding its lungs and the bones piercing through that flesh. Listening closely, even the beating of its heart sounded alien.

The conclusion was clear.

-Who are you? I asked.

The dragon found its own existence burdensome.

-Even if I answer, you wont understand. A name is merely an address for those living at the same coordinates to inquire about each others well-being. I come from a different place than you.

-A different place?

-A place known as the main world.

The human swept back her golden hair with the back of her hand.

Shes no ordinary human.

The dragons golden eyes narrowed.

From the smallest gesture to the thinnest gaze, there wasnt a muscle this human did not control, no posture without meaning, and no voice without intent.

A monster, indeed.

And the dragon realized. Even though its scales had rusted and its heart had worn out, its instinct to assess those it faced was still very much alive.

Realizing this fact made the dragon feel genuinely good for the first time in a long while.

-What do you call a masterpiece?

-This place. The temple where you reside. You are the Dragon Emperor who grants the wish of return. All humans who served you have returned without exception, and those who returned naturally found success.

The good mood did not last long.

-Subsequently, those who did not serve you were treated as fools. You and I, and even those distant ones who cannot call you, and people on the opposite side of the world who cannot call me, all came to have faith in you. This is the result.

The human looked around.

-A world where all humans have become returners.

-.

-No, perhaps its a world where all humans wish for a return. No one possesses the advantage of time. Because everyone sought to have time. No one was able to have time..

This world had come to a stop.

Like statues stuck in the temple of Medusa, humans did not move an inch, and the world, having no aging or wearing to do, simply stopped breathing in a paused moment.

Except for one dragon.

-Thats regrettable.

Only the dragon remained alone in a world where everything else had stopped, becoming a unique god, an immovable mover, staying as a point of gold.

-You merely granted the wishes of humans. When the god overseeing regression rules the world, the ending is an inevitable stop. Its a joke only social butterflies would enjoy.

-So? Have you come to mock me, human?

The dragon growled.

-If you want to fight, then say so. I will not refuse.

-Why would I? A landlord fighting a tenant only leads to gossip.

-Landlord? Tenant?

-I am building a tower.

The human clasped her hands together.

-It would be nice if you could come there. Of course, you would have to take on several restrictions. Mutia.

-.

-If a god must live.

Somewhere.

-Dont you think that even gods should be given at least two chances?

The sound of a clocks hands moving could be heard.

The Ox that Harvests Ruins thought so.

2.

[The existence of The Ox that Harvests Ruins becomes faint.]

Mutias horn was cut off.

O God!

Lord Mutia!

Ah! Aaaaah!

I will kill you!

The Apostles of the Constellation screamed. They were horrified. Their rage was not far behind. Despite surely not having forgotten the pain they had suffered at my hands, as if they had, they gripped their hammers tighter and charged again.

Mutia.

The reason why Mutia could attack me in this tower.

Using the [Lady of the Golden Silk Case], an already concluded past, as a pretext for a proxy war between Hamustra and Mutia, and going to lengths to challenge me to a duel.

I quietly voiced my speculation.

Have I become a Constellation?

.

Silence enveloped us.

It was an artificial silence created because all two hundred Apostles had finally fallen under my sword, leaving no Apostle left to scream. It was not because my speculation hit the mark, causing everyone in the Colosseum hell to fall silent.

Yet, the timing was so perfect that it seemed as if the entire 62nd-floor stage fell silent in response to my question.

If Im not an ordinary hunter but have ascended to a Constellation, then your actions all make sense.

No one answered, so I continued.

While attacking an ordinary hunter as a Constellation is prohibited, a duel between Constellations would be much more lenient. Because they are equals. Because they are peers. The tower wouldnt be so strict in such cases.

When did it start?

At precisely what moment did I gain a status equivalent to that of a Constellation?

Perhaps right after clearing the 61st floor?

Something strange happened when I entered this stage.

I hadnt paid much attention to it at the time, but looking back, it was suspicious.

The Constellations had collectively declared war on me, or more precisely, on my forces.

The Eye Living in the Labyrinth swears to kill you.

The Incarnation of Love and Lust swears to tear you apart.

The Warhorse of the Eternal Plains prepares for war.

The Ox that Harvests Ruins swears your annihilation.

Of course, Fox~nim had provoked the Constellations.

But merely because of provocation, would the Constellations, who had been eyeing me as a potential ally and watched in real-time the madness I unleashed on the 50th floor, suddenly turn their backs on me?

Thinking it was just a joke message makes it simple.

However.

Having exchanged blows with Mutia, my suspicions deepened.

For some [specific reason], the Constellations no longer felt any reservation about attacking me.

For instance, If I, Kim Gong-ja, am no longer a novice and perhaps not even an ordinary hunter anymore.

For instance, Bae Hu-ryeong, who had no intention or will to become a Constellation, somehow held the title of [Sword Constellation].

For instance, becoming a Constellation happens naturally at some point, regardless of ones will.

Sword Emperor~nim.

-Yes?

How do Constellations send those messages?

Bae Hu-ryeong chuckled.

-I havent tried it myself, so I dont know. But just thinking about broadcasting a message, wouldnt it happen automatically? Your sword isnt in human form, yet it freely uses messages. I doubt theres a complicated system involved.

That makes sense.

I nodded.

Lets try it.

I closed my eyes.

In my mind, I thought of someone I could recall without a hint of blurriness until the moment of my death.

How are you doing?

Suddenly, an image formed in my mind.

There was about a cups worth of water in front of me. Or perhaps it wasnt water but white powder. Something in that cup diminished by exactly one spoonful.

Then.

[The Sky That Gathers Screams sends greetings to The Lady of the Silver Lily.]

I opened my eyes.

Yep. As expected.

.

Mutia was glaring at me, her teeth clenched.

I gave her a bright smile.

So it works.

*****

ED: Thats all for today

*****

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