Ch.170Interlude, On the Continent (2)

The tower that observes stars and records constellations.

The scholars of the Grey Tower are known for being leisurely and lazy.

They repeat a lifestyle of waking up late in the evening, observing constellations while yawning, and going to bed early in the morning. Not only has their sleep schedule been distorted, but since there’s little change in their work, their lives are very static and even boring.

Stars and constellations are like that by nature. No significant changes occur in a day or two, and changes can only be observed over the course of at least a year. In other words, forgetting to observe for a day or two wouldn’t greatly affect their work, which also meant that the workload itself wasn’t much.

‘Money-eating hippos.’

‘Couldn’t we drastically cut their budget without any problems?’

‘If you want to taste Nayuta’s Meteor, the Master of Grey Tower, it might not be a bad idea to try.’

‘They work little and earn a lot.’

‘I want to get a job at the Grey Tower too.’

‘How to live life without effort.’

Therefore, the Grey Tower’s reputation within the Empire wasn’t very high. A place where lazy geniuses get jobs. The best workplace where you work little and get paid a lot. Such evaluations were dominant for the Grey Tower, but…

About two years ago, that evaluation was reversed.

Someone who pulled out Excalibur appeared, Arthur’s constellation and Merlin’s constellation stirred in the night sky, causing the celestial bodies to realign, and amidst that chaos, even the malefic stars moved.

With major events that should have occurred over hundreds of years happening in quick succession, the scholars of the Grey Tower had to scream. Moreover, when the birth of the youngest 2-star who simultaneously obtained two stars overlapped during this time, their workload was piling up to the point of overflowing.

Just as the scholars who had applied to the Grey Tower to live an easy life and earn money comfortably were finishing recording the realigned celestial bodies after busy days without a moment’s rest.

“Huh?”

A gift arrived for them.

It was a gift sent by Najin from the Outer Continent.

“Huuuh…”

“Th-that, wh-why is that falling?”

“Huh?”

“S-senior? Suddenly four stars are falling?”

“They’re worn-out stars, but… they’ve been in place for over 150 years, and now so suddenly?”

One month after Najin left for the Outer Continent.

Four stars fell.

They were the stars of the Holy Fire Guardian Knights, Shurain.

“Hu-huuuuuuuh!”

“Here, here!”

“Stars are falling here!”

“No, they’re rising?”

“What is that star? A star I’ve never seen before… there’s no record…”

Two months in.

Six stars that had fallen earlier suddenly rose, flashed brightly one last time, and then scattered as if exploding.

“Huh.”

“……”

“My goodness.”

Amidst this, one star rose.

It was the third star that Najin had raised to the sky.

The moment they confirmed that Najin was the owner of that star, the scholars of the Grey Tower had to clutch their heads. When they realized that Najin’s star was related to the fall of the previous stars, they screamed while clutching their heads.

The fall and birth of stars mess up the celestial bodies. The laws must be recalculated, and their positions must be measured again. In other words, it meant that they had to observe the sky they had diligently observed for the past year “from the beginning, again.”

They screamed at the fact that their entire year had been wasted, rather than the fact that the youngest 3-star had been born. While the Grey Tower was receiving praise for being worth its budget for almost the first time since the founding of the Empire… they began working again, reducing their sleep.

And four months after Najin’s departure.

“Kekekeke.”

A scholar of the Grey Tower looking up at the sky burst into laughter. It was such a refreshing laugh that if the Empress of Bliss had been beside them, she would have unconsciously applauded.

The scholars who looked at him with a ‘why is he acting like that?’ reaction began to look through their telescopes one by one, and soon they too began to burst into laughter.

The fall of 8 stars, the appearance of the Empress of Bliss with 10 stars, the intervention of the Sacred Host of the School of Blood with 8 stars, the descent of dozens of constellations as a result, the scattered constellations, falling stars, the battlefield of stars, and the rising star.

The scholars who observed the chaotic state of the celestial bodies muttered “fuck” along with a hollow laugh.

And, flash.

In the battlefield where numerous stars were falling, Najin obtained his fourth star. Moreover, beside it, a fifth star that seemed about to be completed was shining.

“……”

The first to receive the records released by the Grey Tower were the imperial court and the historians recording history.

The Emperor burst into laughter.

The historians quietly clutched their foreheads. They had no energy left to scream, nor any hair left to clutch.

Four months after Najin left for the Outer Continent.

The Empire was facing yet another chaos, the number of which was unknown.

* * *

Najin spread out the newspaper he was handed.

“Najin, Who Exactly Is He?”

“19-year-old Sword Seeker, obtains one star just two months after setting foot on the Outer Continent, and now, two months later, obtains yet another star.”

“Shatters the records for youngest 1-star, 2-star, 3-star, and 4-star by a large margin.”

“Age is just a number.”

“Grey Tower scholar claims ‘This is inhumane treatment, work improvement needed.'”

“Imperial historian Durec causes controversy by blurting out at a drinking party, ‘That bastard, fuck, is he having duels with Sword Masters or something? Does he have ten lives?'”

“Grey Tower claims this is unprecedented and unexampled.”

“Large-scale descent of constellations observed, confirmed to be related to the Morning Star…”

Amidst the sensational headlines lined up, Najin read the newspaper with somewhat tired eyes. Why all this fuss? Every article was full of superlatives like “historic,” “unbelievable,” “amazing,” “marvelous.”

‘I mean, is all this really necessary…?’

These were quite burdensome words for Najin, the person in question. Merlin, watching Najin from the side, glanced at him with disbelief.

-Do you know how long you’ve been in the Outer Continent?

‘About 4 months, right?’

-And what did you do during those 4 months?

‘I obtained 2 stars.’

-Yes. Then how do you think that looks to the people of the continent?

Najin thought carefully.

Even with just 2 stars, the Empire had been turned upside down. Normally, it was common sense that the more stars one had, the harder it became to obtain new ones, but in his case, he was actually gaining momentum.

2 stars in just 4 months.

Hmm, Najin nodded.

‘It is surprising.’

-It’s beyond just surprising.

As Najin continued checking the newspaper, Juel opened her mouth. As always, she spoke with an expressionless face.

“Currently, your status within the Empire is equal to or greater than mine.”

“What?”

“Don’t citizens scream and cheer wherever I walk? It will be similar for you. Although your face isn’t as well-known as mine, there won’t be few who recognize you.”

People do scream wherever you walk, but I’m not sure that’s cheering. Najin just slowly nodded.

“If you enjoy the commotion, I won’t stop you, but it would be good to be careful when walking outside.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

“Yes, then rest well. I have some matters to attend to.”

Juel rose from her seat.

As she turned to leave the room, Juel suddenly stopped in her tracks. Then she turned her head towards Najin.

“I’ve been thinking for a moment.”

She caressed her chin with her one remaining hand.

“Since I have no subjectivity, I see the world very objectively. Based on that objective view, it seems I saved your life. It wouldn’t be strange to be called your ‘life savior.'”

Najin slowly nodded.

It wasn’t wrong.

Although Juel didn’t save Najin alone, it was true that thanks to Juel, he was able to escape from that situation.

“To save you, I sacrificed a large amount of starlight and even one of my arms. Oh my, my arm hurts. It’s throbbing. It’s very uncomfortable.”

She didn’t look like she was in pain at all, nor did she look uncomfortable. Without even trying to act, Juel spoke in a dry voice as if reading a textbook.

Glance.

Juel briefly looked at Najin. Najin seemed to understand what she wanted to say, so he reluctantly opened his mouth.

“Thank you. I will definitely repay this debt.”

“I recommend repaying it in a material way, not a mental or ideological way. For example, through methods like duels or sparring.”

“…I’ll consider it.”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

2.

After about a week, Najin was able to get up from his sickbed. His body wasn’t fully healed yet, but he had recovered enough to move. Najin, who got up from his bed, walked to the warehouse where his belongings were stored.

There, Najin’s items, recovered by the battle priests of the School of Blood, were placed.

The longsword, the spear of the cross star, and the military flag that Najin was holding at the moment he collapsed. Najin stood there for a while, looking at the military flag engraved with the symbol of the Golden Horned Knights.

‘I am Najin. I am a disciple of the Empire’s First Horn, Alderan Basaglia… and an apprentice knight of the Golden Horned Knights.’

Najin had said that in front of Alderan.

Now that Alderan Basaglia had become a clown, Najin was the only remaining member of the Golden Horned Knights. Looking at the military flag that Alderan had tied most strongly to the place closest to his heart, Najin remained silent.

Expressionless, silent, calm.

Outwardly, Najin seemed unaffected, but Merlin, who shared Najin’s inner thoughts, felt the turmoil within. Najin was quietly angry. That fierce flame and killing intent were aimed at the Empress of Bliss.

Definitely. Definitely, I will kill her.

Another purpose to be achieved had emerged. Chewing on that purpose, Najin exhaled deeply. Najin doesn’t get consumed by anger. He suppressed his emotions, looking forward to the day when he would unleash that anger.

‘Come to think of it, Merlin.’

Najin suddenly asked Merlin.

‘Why do I still have memories of Alderan Basaglia, my master? All information related to him seems to be distorted.’

Even Juel Lazian, a transcendent, couldn’t escape that distortion. But why was he fine? Did Merlin intervene like she did in the Outer Continent? Najin thought so, but Merlin shook her head.

-I intervened then, but I haven’t intervened since returning to the continent. You just remember it.

‘Then how?’

-I don’t know the exact principle, but… I guess it’s related to the stars you’ve obtained.

The stars of Penetration and Unyielding.

Those two stars are deeply connected to Krinbel and Alderan Basaglia, the Golden Horned Knights. Pointing to those stars, Merlin said.

-A star is something that belongs only to you, something others cannot interfere with. And a star is also yourself. Their stories are contained in the stars you possess, so they aren’t forgotten.

Krinbel, Alderan Basaglia, Golden Horned Knights, Empire’s First Horn, Charging Horn, Victory Sword, and so on.

Their characteristics and their stories are melted into Najin’s stars. Something that only belongs to Najin, something that nothing can interfere with. Najin tightly grasped the star that rose above his palm along with the military flag of the Golden Horned Knights.

The leader of the Golden Horned Knights.

The Empire’s First Horn, Alderan Basaglia.

Recalling the time spent with the helmeted knight, Najin vowed. Definitely, no matter what, he would kill the Empress of Bliss and restore his honor.

“……”

Najin rose from his seat with his belongings packed.

There was someone he needed to meet.

Someone who had memories of Alderan Basaglia. There was exactly one such person on this continent.

‘The Empire’s First Sword, Gerd.’

He needed to meet that old Sword Master.

3.

Najin didn’t head straight to the Outer Continent.

He needed time for his body to fully recover, and there was also someone he needed to meet on the continent.

Najin walked through the city with his robe pulled down deeply, looking for a carriage heading to the capital of the Empire.

‘It does seem a bit excessive…’

Be careful because someone might recognize you? Honestly, he wasn’t sure yet, but since Merlin recommended covering his face, Najin did so.

While wandering around the city like that.

Najin suddenly looked at his hand. Right now, Najin was taking out and caressing a ring that he wore around his neck and kept in his chest, a habit he had developed recently.

An artifact gifted by Dieta before he left for the Outer Continent. When he held it in his hand, he could feel a moderate warmth, so Najin often unconsciously caressed the ring. He was doing so now, and looking at that ring, a brown-haired girl came to mind.

It might be nice to visit her since I’m back on the continent.

As Najin was thinking this, blue hair swayed at the edge of his vision.

-Hmmmm. Hmm…

With a disgruntled expression, Merlin was looking at the ring in Najin’s hand. When Najin asked what was wrong, Merlin just muttered in a grumpy voice, “Nothing. It’s nothing, but…”

Since Merlin had been acting like this for a while, Najin didn’t think much of it. As he was looking for a carriage heading to the Empire, a familiar emblem came into his view.

The emblem of Dieta Company.

There was a building with that emblem. Why would there be an emblem of Dieta Company in such a remote city close to the Outer Continent? Najin tilted his head and entered the company.

Clunk.

Najin opened the door and went inside. Despite the size of the building, there weren’t many employees, and even those few were busy with their own work, showing no particular reaction to a customer entering.

“Excuse me.”

Najin tapped the employee’s table with the back of his hand. Only then did the employee look up at Najin and answer indifferently.

“If you’re here to pick up an ordered item, please go to that counter. If you have an item to order, use counter number 3. Requests are accepted in the next building.”

He waved his hand dismissively.

Najin suddenly remembered Dieta saying, ‘If you need to find me, show this to an employee.’ Najin took out the emblem from his chest.

An emblem with a bright golden flower carved on it.

He placed that emblem in front of the employee. The employee glanced at the emblem Najin had placed down with an indifferent look…

“…!”

Clunk, he stood up from his seat.

He looked back and forth between the emblem and Najin. The employee widened his eyes as he confirmed Najin’s face, which had been hidden by the robe.