Chapter 18: The body may pass away, but the heart…..

I executed a makeshift plan to defeat Mister Oh-ho-ho.

Honestly, thinking back now, except for the moment Kang Arin was temporarily disabled by an unexpected attack and Baek Taeyang and I rushed in, I dare say it was close to perfect.

No matter what anyone says, we successfully landed ‘One Big Shot.’

But the B-rank wall was higher than I thought, and just before death….

“Cough!”

“Yui’s awake!”

The cave floor collapsed.

If it were an ordinary cave, I could understand.

Natural disasters always happen without warning.

But this is a dungeon.

A space in another dimension that scientists claim even a nuclear bomb couldn’t destroy.

And the floor collapsed?

And there are bizarre situations where humans transform into monsters?

My mind couldn’t comprehend the situation as I slowly opened my eyes.

“Yui, are you okay?!”

Kang Arin helped me up.

I took her hand and slowly stood up.

I saw Cheok Chaerin and Baek Taeyang, who had already composed themselves and were surveying the surroundings.

It seemed I had fainted because I had the weakest physical abilities among them.

Or maybe it was because of the shoulder injury.

“I’ve temporarily stopped the bleeding in your shoulder…”

“I can move. The muscles and nerves aren’t severed.”

I barely stood up and moved my shoulder.

A sharp pain, unlike anything I had ever felt, shot through my body, but since I had no weapon, it didn’t matter.

My sword had been destroyed, serving as a lightning rod.

Gasping for breath, I barely managed a deep breath and looked around.

A space filled with moisture, perhaps the bottom of the cave, with various stalactites and stalagmites.

A place that looked like a temple made of collapsed debris and stones.

“A hidden dungeon?”

“Ha! It seems a miracle happened.”

Baek Taeyang complained, kicking a pebble.

Then, with his uninjured arm, he threw away his broken staff and said:

“…Maybe Santa does exist? Giving us some extra time to play around before we die.”

“Don’t jinx it by saying things like that.”

Kang Arin glared at him, and Baek Taeyang shrugged in response.

But he and Cheok Chaerin diligently explored the surroundings.

Come to think of it, I think I saw a man before the cave floor collapsed….

“Was it my imagination?”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing.”

Then, with Kang Arin’s help, I stood up.

We all gathered and slowly moved towards the stone temple.

If we were lucky, there might be an exit right beyond this temple.

With that small hope, we moved forward, but all we saw was a pile of rubble.

“Yeah, life never goes according to plan.”

No one could say anything to Baek Taeyang’s cynical remark.

But, hoping to find a glimmer of hope, I moved away from Kang Arin’s support and looked around.

A stage that looked like a fighting arena, like the center of the Colosseum.

I pondered the incomprehensible space.

“Doesn’t this place look like it’s made for fighting?”

“Yeah, it looks like a boss monster is about to appear.”

“An F-rank dungeon boss would be a piece of cake!”

“Better than that monster.”

Along with their individual opinions, we searched the interior, hoping to find a boss monster.

Like in a game, defeating a boss monster might open an exit or a room with treasure.

While diligently searching, a shocking message appeared before my eyes.

[Hunter of the Moon requests contract termination.]

“Ah…”

Tears welled up in my eyes.

I thought I had been abandoned by my Constellation.

And I replayed the events of the recent battle.

Even though we had no tank or support, and the opponent was B-rank…

It was an objective fact that I was the weakest among these shining talents.

I understood it intellectually.

If I were a Constellation, I would have been disappointed by my performance in that fight and considered abandoning me.

But just as I was about to make excuses, like how I’m good at planning or improvising…

[Hunter of the Moon says it’s a misunderstanding!]

“…A misunderstanding?”

“Yui, what’s wrong?”

As tears welled up in my eyes, Kang Arin rushed over, worried.

Baek Taeyang and Cheok Chaerin also approached, wondering what was wrong.

“…Well, my Constellation.”

[Hunter of the Moon says this is for your sake.]

“For my sake…”

[Hunter of the Moon apologizes.]

I communicated with my Constellation in front of everyone.

Although the words were filtered, it wasn’t difficult to understand my Constellation’s message.

I interpreted the intermittent messages and understood why she wanted to terminate the contract.

A ploy to overcome the current situation, citing [Hunter of the Moon]’s lack of ability as a Constellation.

“…Then, do I have to… contract with another Constellation?”

[Hunter of the Moon says yes.]

“Can I contract with a new Constellation right away?”

[Hunter of the Moon nods.]

Even if it’s a discarded piece, the more Incarnations a Constellation has, the better.

But seeing her go to such lengths… it seemed like this decision was made out of a desire to save me, not for personal gain.

She’s a good Constellation who genuinely cares for me.

I clasped my hands as if in prayer and sent a thank-you message to [Hunter of the Moon].

“…I will follow. No matter who I contract with, I will always be [Hunter of the Moon]‘s faithful Incarnation.”

[Hunter of the Moon is deeply moved.]

No matter who I contract with, this loyalty will never waver.

As I was making that vow, Kang Arin’s group looked at me in surprise.

“I’ve never heard of a Constellation terminating a contract to save an Incarnation.”

“Same here.”

“Woohoo www That stubborn Incarnation is going to be a handful for whoever takes her.”

Although his tone was crude, Baek Taeyang was right.

I have no intention of being loyal to the new Constellation who takes me.

I will somehow survive this dungeon and return to [Hunter of the Moon].

As I was vowing my loyalty, a message window appeared before our eyes.

[Atheist Human wishes to contract.]

“Constellation-niiiim?!! Again!!?”

[Atheist Human flinches.]

“…Well, I don’t mind.”

Kang Arin jumped up and down, while Cheok Chaerin crossed her arms and accepted.

Kang Arin looked up at the ceiling where the Constellations were watching and said:

“Constellation! What’s with increasing the number of other women… I mean, Incarnations! Again!! Without telling me -!!!”

“That is indeed unsettling. It would be different if it were a man.”

[Atheist Human is flustered!!]

“Unni Cheok Chaerin, you didn’t explain properly either!”

…….

What is going on?

Humans nagging their Constellations?

And the Constellation is even flustered by their nagging and watching their expressions?

This was completely different from anything I’d ever known.

However, Atheist Human somehow managed to calm the two women.

The conclusion of this farce was that they would talk after getting out alive.

What am I even watching?

[Atheist Human requests a contract.]

A message popped up before my eyes.

I suddenly felt annoyed.

A Constellation who contacted me immediately after [Hunter of the Moon] spoke.

He must have spoken directly to my Constellation, and all sorts of shady deals might have gone on in the process.

And I really didn’t like how he was receiving the jealousy of those women.

He seemed like a Constellation similar to Zeus, the womanizer I hated most.

So, I deliberately acted stubborn and said:

“The contract is temporary. Even if my body strays, my heart will always…”

I trailed off and glanced in another direction.

As if my feelings had been conveyed, a trembling message window appeared in the air.

[Hunter of the Moon is deeply, deeply moved.]

Don’t worry.

This loyalty will never change.

And so, I terminated my contract with [Hunter of the Moon].

[Contract terminated.]

[Bestowed abilities withdrawn.]

“Ah…”

I suddenly felt weak.

My enhanced physical abilities diminished, and even the magic power that had felt as natural as breathing was reduced to almost nothing.

My movements became sluggish, as if I were submerged in deep water, and I felt uncomfortable, as if deprived of my senses of sight and touch.

And right before my eyes, my new Constellation presented a message.

[Atheist Human requests a contract.]

[Hunter of the Moon sends you her trust.]

Don’t worry.

I will always be [Hunter of the Moon]’s faithful Incarnation.

And so, I said to [Atheist Human]:

“I will contract.”

[Contract established with Atheist Human.]

“”Tch.””

The sound of Kang Arin and Cheok Chaerin clicking their tongues.

They’re both good people, but they become foolish when it comes to Constellations.

I firmly resolved not to become such a fool and proceeded with the contract.

Then, the physical abilities and magic power that had been taken away returned.

My vision cleared, and my body overflowed with vitality again.

But this was just getting back what was taken.

“Give me an ability.”

Since we’ve contracted, there’s no need for pleasantries.

He’s just a Constellation who needs to lend me an ability for a while and then disappear.

As I thought that and deliberately spoke rudely, an ability came in.

I immediately opened my status window.

There was no change in my stats, and below them, where my original abilities should have been…

[B] Crescent Moon of the Lake

• Consume magic power to emit water from your weapon.

[A] Hunter’s Intuition

• Roughly gauge the strength of your opponent.

• Cannot gauge the strength of prey exceeding a certain level.

The abilities I first received from [Hunter of the Moon] were gone.

The water ability, which could be applied in various ways in combat depending on how it was used, was deleted.

Furthermore, Hunter’s Intuition, essential for survival and incredibly useful, was also gone.

And what appeared was….

[SS] Fluid

You can control Fluid, a divine substance.

Fluidity

• Generate black liquid from your body.

• Can alter the consistency of the black liquid.

• Can be delicately controlled within a 15m radius of your body.

Vibration Dispersion

• Even if thin in consistency and thickness, disperses vibrations from impact.

……?

Am I seeing things?

I cautiously rubbed my eyes and looked at the status window again.

But the SS-rank was still clearly there.

Giving an SS-rank ability from the start?

And without any cost, like lifespan, or any other risk?

I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded by this ability that defied common sense.

My status window, invisible to others.

Kang Arin, looking dazed, asked me:

“What ability did you get?”

“Arin-ah… Unni Chaerin….”

I asked the two who had become Atheist Human’s Incarnations before me.

What if he gave me this ability recklessly, just to overcome this situation?

If I say I received an SS-rank ability, they might fight each other.

But we have to defeat Mister Oh-ho-ho now.

I closed my eyes tightly and, bracing for trouble, said:

“I got an SS-rank ability….”

“Huh? I got one too.”

“I also have an SS-rank.”

The two women asked back, as if it were obvious.

Their abilities were completely different.

But they were all SS-rank?

At best, I thought I’d get the lightning ability Cheok Chaerin received.

I can’t even imagine how many abilities this Constellation has.

“Show me your ability!”

“I’m curious too.”

The two women asked, crossing their arms.

Since it was my first time using this ability, I cautiously manifested it.

“It’s an ability called Fluid….”

Black liquid came out of my body.

No, it felt more like slime or clay than liquid.

And as the ability description said, I could freely control the black liquid within a 15m radius.

No, I could control it even if it extended beyond that.

Just with less precision.

“Wow! This is my face!”

It was so delicate that I could sculpt it into any shape.

Incredible precision and maneuverability, allowing me to sculpt objects from my mind.

And as expected of an SS-rank, it didn’t end there.

“My fists are tingling…?”

“This is very soft.”

I could also adjust its consistency as I wished.

At its lowest consistency, it was soft and pliable like liquid, with an elasticity like spiderwebs.

At its highest consistency, it became as hard as diamond, capable of blocking even Cheok Chaerin’s sword.

And it was incredibly resistant to impact; even when made as thin as cloth…

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

“It feels like a playful tap.”

“Even when made as thin as cloth, it has incredible defense.”

It demonstrated durability capable of blocking even Kang Arin’s punches.

Of course, it dispersed vibrations, not negated them, so… if made too thin, it would eventually break.

Baek Taeyang, watching, made a request.

“Hey, then make me a staff.”

I used my ability to create a black staff and threw it to him.

He swung it a few times, seemingly satisfied with its lightness and sturdiness.

“This is a cheat!”

“It’s a cheat.”

“Cheater.”

The three of them showered me with insults.

But it was a cheat ability, so their complaints weren’t unfair.

Of course, it wasn’t a perfect, all-purpose ability without weaknesses.

“Beyond 15m, precise control is impossible.”

Changing its consistency was about the limit.

Beyond 15m, delicate abilities like sculpting were impossible.

Furthermore, once it detached from my body, controlling its shape was also impossible.

And most importantly….

“It withstands lightning… but there are traces of melting.”

“It seems vulnerable to fire.”

It’s very weak to fire.

Yes.

It only had two weaknesses… no, practically only one weakness: fire.

A cheat ability I had never heard of or seen before.

Kang Arin and Cheok Chaerin showered me with complaints.

“Yui and Unni Chaerin have cheat abilities! What about me?! Constellation-nim is so mean!!”

“You’re greedy, even though your growth limit was removed.”

“Unni Chaerin can also turn her body into lightning! If she has enough magic power, she’s invincible!”

“No, logically, won’t you be the strongest over time?”

“I want a cool ability too! Something flashy!!”

The three of us bickered about who had the bigger cheat.

“…….”

Only Baek Taeyang watched from afar with cold eyes….

As we bickered and experimented with my new ability, getting used to it, a message appeared before my eyes.

[Hunter of the Moon is expectant.]

“…….”

I instinctively averted my gaze.

[Hunter of the Moon greets you!]

“Well…”

[Hunter of the Moon is silent.]

“…….”

Silence fell between us.

But that was only for a moment.

The stone temple rumbled, and a heavy sound echoed from the entrance.

A grotesque and disgusting sound, as if a giant mass of flesh was being dragged.

I hurriedly formed a new plan and took a fighting stance.

“Uh… prepare for battle!!”

[Hunter of the Moon screams.]

I’m sorry, Constellation-nim.

But I haven’t lost my heart yet.

Someday, I’ll definitely return… I’ll try…!

It would be even better if I returned with this ability…….