Chapter 23

Chapter 23

The Meaning of Guardianship (1)

A harbinger of divinity.

The light was not bright enough to be called divine. Yet, it was majestic. It sparkled as coldly and bluely as an illuminated glacier.

It was like the festival of a northern village.

But Blue Sirius’ heart was not the same. I felt the sensation of her blood running cold, something I hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Anger was a good motivator to bring out more power than usual.

And if that anger had started as love, even more so.

The dusty clouds that had been dimming the surrounding scenery became a snowstorm, chilling the air. In that icy wind, Blue Sirius’ hair fluttered coolly.

“Jae-jung... I’ll rescue you quickly. Wait.”

Crackle!

As she took a step, huge ice crystals formed at the center of that spot. The ice crystals gradually diverged from their original shape, extending like blades. The ominous ice blades pierced Paradox’s feet.

Feeling that sensation, Paradox laughed interestedly.

“Hahaha! That’s almost a 6-star level! Libra, is it similar to yours?”

“Shut up. I’m not bound by the number of stars now.”

“You’re right. That was the case.” Paradox chuckled again and opened his palm. The spear that had been flung away flew back to his hand.

The long handle retracted into the shaft, becoming shorter, like a baton containing another baton. The blade of the spear folded in the opposite direction. Through this process, it became a shield, its original form.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”

“...What?” Libra asked, and Blue Sirius’ brow twitched.

“Why are you reacting like that? Didn’t you just tell me to get lost? I’m just doing as you said. What’s the problem?” Paradox said, brushing off the dust and frost on the shield. “Moreover, aren’t you two each a star? It’s a perfect balance, so I don’t have a reason to interfere.”

“You’re going to let me go?”

“If I don’t, I’ll kill this man right now, you see?”

He lifted the red steel boots. Then he immediately lowered them again. The boots grazed Han Jae-jung’s cheek, trampling the ground. It was a clear threat.

Blue Sirius quickly thrust out his ice spears. It was a volley of icy shards, meant to cool his boiling insides. Paradox bent his waist softly, dodging them. Icicles passed through the spot where his face had been.

“Do you want to die?”

“I’m sorry. Could you please give me some leeway? I don’t have any outstanding mobility. If you chase me, I’ll have to fight unwillingly. It’ll just be me running away quickly, that’s all. Hmm? No, I’ll withdraw that.”

Paradox smiled brightly, as if he had come up with a new hypothesis.

“Haha, I didn’t even need to ask for permission to run away.”

One of his blue eyes turned red. It had achieved perfect balance.

The Paradox Principle was activated.

He had copied the ability.

Before long, a golden scale appeared on his shoulder. He had copied Libra’s star.

“I’ve done it this way. I’m really sorry about this.”

Paradox bowed his head, not towards Blue Sirius, but towards Han Jae-jung. Leaning over him, Paradox whispered softly. “Let’s clash again sometime. Then I’ll be able to see your full power.”

Han Jae-jung chuckled wryly. What a kind fellow, giving sermons and encouragement to someone on the brink of death.

Paradox straightened his bent back and this time greeted Blue Sirius.

“Let’s meet one-on-one next time.”

It was an indirect announcement of a coming battle. Blue Sirius would now be unable to avoid the confrontation. As Paradox bid farewell, a round sphere rose up onto his shoulder. It was easy to recognize it as one of the stars from the scale position.

“The deal is complete.”

Clang. With those words, the scale on Paradox’s shoulder became horizontal.

Red and blue smoke scattered. It was a teleportation using the deal, just like what Libra had done before. While it could be seen as an unfair trade, given that the cost was only one star, considering Paradox’s abilities, the loss was not that significant.

After all, the starlight would recover over time.

“Well, goodbye everyone.”

And so, Paradox calmly disappeared from sight.

“That bastard really left.”

Libra was the only one left. Blue Sirius scrunched up her face in displeasure. To leave so calmly without any punishment, how infuriating.

But she pushed aside her displeasure for now. There was still a task to be done.

To be dominated by the stars, or to be chosen by them.

Which of the two, desire or duty, will you bear?

He was neither of those.

[THE BIG DIPPER.]

Just before the light touched me, a green armor enveloped my body. Somehow, there seemed to be a crack in it.

[ORIGIN.]

Kwaaaaaang!!!!

Simultaneously, the light engulfed me.

That was the last of Han Jae-jung’s consciousness.

Where the light had swept, not a single life seemed to remain. The asphalt road had melted, emitting a pungent smell. The path was shrouded in flames. Debris from the collapsed buildings, not even grazed, simply lying around, decorated the road.

There was light, and darkness descended. The smoke rising from the melting and collapsing created a different kind of obstruction to the vision.

“Jae-jung!”

Blue Sirius, in a state of panic, ran towards that place.

Freezing and clearing the obstacles around, she ran towards the end where the light had reached.

Libra had already disappeared from sight.

“Please... God... Don’t do this to me... Please....”

The moisture in her voice betrayed the agony she was feeling now.

[Guardian, calm down.]

“Can’t you see the situation right now?!”

She raised her voice angrily even at the mascot, who never got angry.

The smoke gradually cleared.

[I’m saying this because there is evidence.]

The loyal-dog-like mascot continued speaking without a hint of discomposure.

From within the smoke, a human form emerged, not ashes, but a person. While all the paths where the light had fallen had melted, one person’s form remained intact.

[Life signs are detected.]

Covered in wounds all over, but not a corpse.

[He is still alive.]

He was alive.

***

Ippotranslation

***

In the dark unconsciousness, Han Jae-jung felt a warm touch. It was the same sensation he felt when having a nightmare. When the scenes of losing his entire family would torment him in his dreams, someone would hold his hand like this. It was his lover.

Why?

Now, he could not remember the faces of his family or his lover. Had they all drifted apart so long ago that their memories had evaporated? He felt saddened by this and tried to recall a name.

“Seol-hwa...”

His eyes snapped open. Has he finally gone mad? Why was that name coming out? Startled, Han Jae-jung sat up.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not Seol-hwa.”

A sarcastic voice. He turned his head towards the source.

“Pink... Deneb?”

The pink hair cascading down her neck, the small stature even while sitting, the tiny yet soft hands connected to his right hand. What captivated his eyes was not just her appearance, but her attire as well.

A dress with a mix of white and pink colors, along with a celestial robe flowing down her shoulders, like a goddess’s wings.

This was not her usual look, but a transformed appearance.

“Are you very disappointed that it’s me?”

Unlike her soft-looking outfit, her attitude was not particularly gentle.

/ippostranslations