Ch.1818. Blessing of the Stars (2)

“Hmm, hmm~”

Aisella Karsein returned to her room feeling as if she could float away at any moment.

‘Finally, Father’s eyes have been opened…!’

The reason was that she had resolved the biggest issue that had been gnawing at the Arsein family’s heart these past few days.

At last, the day had come when they would spread the teachings of their deity together.

Even if the entire kingdom were to reject her, Aisella was confident she would not bend her will.

After all, the “Star’s Enlightenment” she had witnessed then was certainly the truth.

“Rachel, help me change my clothes.”

“Yes, Princess…!”

The personal maid approached like an innocent puppy to assist Aisella when commanded.

Aisella could only pity those like her who had not yet attained enlightenment.

“I wish that day would come quickly.”

“Pardon?”

“The day when the true light spreads throughout the world.”

“Um… are you talking about that dream?”

“Yes~”

Knowing that no one would believe her, she always tried to convey hope under the guise of a dream.

The universe enveloping this world was so horrific and cruel.

And that’s why one must have a strong heart that yearns toward the light.

“Ugh… the Constellations seem really scary.”

“Hehe, do you think so too?”

“Yes… it feels like divine punishment would strike immediately if you don’t listen…”

That wasn’t entirely wrong.

Even now, somewhere, evil gods who treat humans like toys must be abundant.

The maid who was gently brushing Aisella’s hair asked:

“Still, I…”

“Hmm?”

“Either way, I think I prefer now when you’re happy, Princess.”

“My, what sweet words from our Rachel.”

After receiving permission from King Edmund.

In reality, Aisella’s complexion was becoming healthier and brighter with each passing day.

“I’m also the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”

“Really?”

“Of course! Being able to serve the deity I love is more thrilling and ecstatic than I expected.”

-Shudder.

Recalling that moment, her shoulders trembled involuntarily.

“People say the Star’s Blessing is for hero material or whatever, but I have no interest in that at all.”

“Hero…!”

“Are you interested in heroes too?”

“Of course! They’re like heroes who save citizens from evil gods…!”

“Hehe, how cute.”

Aisella felt her heart warming at the maid’s cheerful attitude.

“Still, I like things as they are now. Even if hero qualities were to manifest in me, I would unconditionally stay by my deity’s side.”

«I sense the flow of stars somewhere…»

A strange atmosphere swept through the room, one that mere humans couldn’t detect.

But they lacked the ability to discern that dissonance.

“And I’ve felt it before.”

“Yes…?”

In an instant, Aisella’s consistently bright demeanor became serene.

With a voice that seemed distant, as if looking far beyond the clear sky:

“Among those countless stars, there exists a frightening star that devours other stars.”

“…A frightening star?”

“Yes. If there is a sky, there must be something higher than it.”

-So…

Aisella paused momentarily as she continued speaking.

That day.

It was an unsettling feeling she had accidentally encountered within the enlightenment her deity had given her.

From the embrace that had held her warmly despite any threat.

Aisella had seen one star with a frightening energy.

A star filled with madness, willing to burn itself to harm others.

Aisella had hoped that such malice would not reach her deity.

Of course, the Father God wouldn’t face any crisis, but that’s just how people’s hearts are.

Wanting loved ones to always be in a safe place, always peaceful.

-Swish.

Aisella firmly grasped the church symbol she always carried with her.

An ornament she habitually took out when unable to endure or when stressed.

It belonged to her Constellation, the “Father God.”

“Child of the Star’s Blessing (S)”

A trait that Aisella had considered a curse throughout her life.

But now, she lives in gratitude because it allowed her to meet her deity.

“…Princess?”

“Yes, it’s nothing. Rachel, shall we finish quickly and go to worship?”

“Yes…! Understood.”

Feeling proud of her energetic maid’s response, Aisella prepared to face the day.

#

They say it’s comedy when seen from afar, but tragedy when seen up close.

That perfectly described my current situation.

-CRASH!!

A star is falling.

Engulfed in an unidentifiable light, a meteor wreathed in flames was plummeting toward our heads.

‘What?’

In such an unexpected situation, I felt strangely calm.

Is this shock therapy?

“Ah, a star…”

Still firmly gripping my clothes, the unidentified girl let out some kind of admiration.

‘Child of the Star’s Blessing.’

I wasn’t unaware of what that name meant now.

But the timing was too perfect.

Why now, of all times?

Just when I had finally ventured outside and activated the Sanctuary for the first time.

The reason was in the notification still floating before me.

«Due to the activation of the first object, accumulated luck begins to take effect!»

‘This is considered luck?’

I felt indignant.

If a star falling from a clear sky is luck, would misfortune be instant death?

‘Damn.’

“Kyaaaa!!”

“Meteor, a meteor is falling!!”

People walking on the street fled in terror.

This was certainly an unusual situation; everyone was watching the unfolding events in fear.

‘As if meteors would be common.’

«Incarnation of the Black Sun: Hieek….!»

‘And who are you?’

«Incarnation of the Black Sun: C-crazy star! Run away…!»

It seemed to recognize that thing too, contributing to the panic.

“My Lord…!”

Vera, who was beside me, was also tense and trying to protect me.

“Hmm.”

I couldn’t let some falling rock ruin our outing.

Especially since it was falling right in front of my Sanctuary.

‘I just fixed it, for crying out loud.’

If I left it alone, the area would turn to dust.

I couldn’t just stand by and watch that happen.

“I’ll have to block it. It’s our Sanctuary after all.”

“….!”

Vera looked at me with eyes full of trust.

“Wow…”

The problematic lucky girl was just expressing admiration, for whatever reason.

‘I’ll deal with you later.’

I planned as I deployed an appropriate defensive skill.

«Divine Veil (S)»

The fully enhanced skill created a massive barrier over the area.

Normally, most attacks should bounce off without leaving a scratch.

So, I decided to watch the situation from behind the barrier.

‘I’d like to completely destroy it if I could.’

I didn’t want to advertise my presence and preferred to handle this discreetly.

However.

-Thud.

“….?”

My skill, which should have blocked the meteor to minimize damage, betrayed its role by allowing the external intrusion.

It was a mind-boggling phenomenon that stopped my thoughts the moment I saw it.

«You cannot interfere with scenes caused by an ‘Event’!»

‘An Event?’

Someone who suddenly throws a meteor at my head?

Given that it’s both luck and an event, it’s supposedly not as bad as it looks.

-CRASH!!

‘How is this a good thing?’

I couldn’t possibly view favorably the existence of a massive rock that seemed about to tear the area apart as it fell.

With no choice, I redirected my skill.

«Sacred Light Armor (S)»

“Stay close to me.”

A skill that creates a protective barrier around me and selected individuals.

While I hoped for the best, I decided to prepare for any possible situation.

-WHOOSH!!

As immense divine power rose, a protective barrier that seemed capable of blocking any attack surrounded our bodies.

“Ah, my Lord…!”

Vera, responding to my divine power, stroked her body with an ecstatic expression.

“Wow…!”

I hastily included the girl too, and she simply showed her amazement with an innocent expression.

‘Is this right?’

I protected her thinking she was an ally, but I hope she doesn’t betray my trust.

-SWOOSH!!

By now, the meteor had approached very close.

Following the strong wind pressure, it fell precisely near the Sanctuary I was covering.

What followed was:

-BOOM!!

An explosive sound that felt like it could deafen me.

And a flickering field of vision.

Worried about harm coming to the two around me, I embraced them with both hands and even covered their eyes.

“…Ugh!”

‘Is Vera being affected too?’

Her reaction suggested that the unfolding situation was quite burdensome.

Despite drawing on divine power and preparing, the meteor’s impact seemed quite overwhelming.

Probably due to the influence of another Constellation.

I looked again at the event notification that had appeared earlier.

«The probability of the ‘Child of the Star’s Blessing’ appearing increases dramatically!»

Recalling the unsettling meaning contained within, my head throbbed.

‘Really?’

The power of a Constellation related to stars.

A blessing born to fulfill one person’s wish and desire, falling from the far reaches of the universe.

It seemed that the “flow of stars” that had been troubling me was a build-up for this very situation.

‘What’s happening now?’

I could feel a chaotic star party unfolding around me.

-WHOOSH!

As I waited for the situation to settle, the blurry afterimages began to become clearer.

The thick dust that had risen was pushed away by an invisible force.

-SWOOSH…

A peculiar stone formation, steaming as if freshly extracted, greeted us.

«Sudden Event Occurred!

:【New Star Hero】»

‘Ah.’

«Incarnation of the Black Sun: Run away… we must run away…»

‘Would you please shut up?’

Seeing another event notification that had just appeared, my gaze naturally turned to the girl.

-Child of the Star’s Blessing.

According to the settings, hero qualities originate from the star’s selection.

With slim chance upon slim chance stacked together.

If chosen by the holy sword that fell with the star, a new hero would be born.

Simply put, it’s just super lucky star power.

‘So.’

This kid, this girl next to me clinging tightly, possesses the star’s quality and the talent of a hero.

“Wow…”

But why is she doing this in front of someone else’s home?

Surely there are other secluded, romantic places.

From my memory, heroes were beings who never acknowledged the existence of other Constellations under the same sky.

‘Hate might be the right word.’

And the current location is right in front of a temple, the place they despise the most.

‘Is this flirting?’

I couldn’t predict their behavior pattern at all.

Is she openly asking to be killed?

In the midst of this situation where I couldn’t decide what to do,

I could sense a commotion approaching from afar due to the sudden incident.

“Wh-what’s happening!”

Wearing the official guard uniform of the Regalium Kingdom.

As those who rushed to protect the citizens were confused upon seeing the meteor,

They noticed the girl clinging to my waist.

“L-little girl?”

“Did you do this?”

“No way…”

‘Half right, actually.’

Since it fell looking for the girl, it’s probably half right.

“Hmm? I don’t know.”

But the girl shook her head as if she really didn’t know anything.

Her sky-blue hair swayed appealingly with the movement.

“I minimized the damage though.”

“As expected of my Lord…!”

For a rock the size of three adult men falling, there was no damage except for a crater on the ground.

Fortunately, the buildings were relatively intact.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Thanks to the veil we were wearing, no one except the girl noticed our presence.

It seemed best to just leave and return to the kingdom.

‘Not good.’

Getting involved in anything related to heroes wasn’t a good situation.

“Handsome brother, are you going…?”

When I started to slip away, the sky-haired girl looked at me with a tearful expression.

‘Please don’t follow me.’

“Hmm…? What’s there?”

“Can’t you gentlemen see this?”

“What are you talking about?”

She tried hard to point behind her to reveal our presence, but ordinary people couldn’t possibly detect us.

The girl’s eyes were very, extremely special.

“Hmm, don’t go…”

Realizing that explanations wouldn’t work, she just ran and clung to my waist.

“…Should I kill her?”

“No, don’t kill her.”

Belladis’s aggressive patience was running out.

Regardless, the girl stuck like glue and had no intention of letting go.

«Incarnation of the Black Sun: Let’s just kill her now!»

‘Who? Me?’

«Y-you. You’re the strongest among us.»

‘Then will you take the curse penalty?’

«….»

Harming a human blessed by the stars comes with a corresponding price.

It was due to the machinations of a star-obsessed woman who targeted only Constellations.

Because of that, I couldn’t have my own religion or followers.

But from the receiving end, there was no greater calamity than that Constellation.

One could only hope not to meet her, and if they did, pray to just pass by coincidentally.

“Don’t abandon me…”

‘Please.’

So please, I wish she would let go of my hand.

-Click. Click.

“L-little girl. Come with us for now.”

Finally, the guards approached and began to detach the girl.

“No!!”

The girl wailed, not wanting to let go, while adult men struggled to protect her.

When her hand fortunately detached, we quickly used teleportation magic to leave the scene.

-Nooo!!

I thought I heard the girl’s desperate scream, but if she were to pull out a holy sword from the meteor,

It would be a disaster.

‘Let’s leave for now.’

I decided to return to the warm embrace of the royal family.

#

“Hmm…?”

Lisia, who was eating a skewer, detected an anomaly in the sky.

The sight of a star plummeting through the air.

-Gulp.

Hastily swallowing her food, Lisia decided to head to the scene of the incident.