Ch.3333. Raise Them Well

# “Hot! Hah…!”

In the vast training grounds used by only the two of them.

Normally, this place would be used by the royal knights for training, but the Hero’s schedule took precedence over theirs.

“Focus on controlling your mana.”

Across from the small child Hero who was moving energetically, Herien with her cold expression offered advice about mana control.

-Whoosh!

She swung her wooden sword swiftly, looking for an opening, but it was merely a futile strike from a young child.

-Clack!

Without even blinking, Herien deflected Elion’s attack with ease.

“Aah…!”

The small body, completely overpowered by an adult’s strength, tumbled across the training ground floor.

However, Elion got back up bravely without a single whimper.

The Sword Saintess might have felt pleased by this, but instead her expression hardened with an uncomfortable sense of dissonance.

Those destined to be Heroes tend to have somewhat dulled reactions to external impacts.

Whether they had physically changed to not feel excessive fear, all of them shared similar qualities.

Even Elion before her now—

Despite having her all-out strike blocked, rather than feeling frustration or resentment, she felt nothing and simply wanted to move on to the next step.

‘It must be a curse.’

The price for obtaining abilities beyond one’s qualifications.

Sadly, she had to acknowledge it.

The weight carried by the title of Hero, the wielder of the Holy Sword, was clearly different.

“Huff, huff…!”

After training ended.

Herien approached Elion, who was sprawled on the training ground floor catching her breath.

She held cold water and a towel in her hands.

Elion’s expression brightened considerably after receiving Herien’s care, and the atmosphere between them became more relaxed than during training.

“…Elion.”

Suddenly, Herien casually called out to the Hero lying down.

“Yes…?”

“Do you like the Father God?”

A question she had asked several times already.

She still couldn’t believe that a Hero backed by the Holy Sword and the Star Constellation would serve a different constellation.

Herien still couldn’t quite understand the current situation.

“…”

Hearing this tiresome question again, Elion immediately displayed a bright smile across her face, regardless of how many times she’d been asked.

“…Yes! I really, really like him…!”

It was a moment when a child’s innocence and naivety shone brightly.

Though young, Elion remembered when her existence was in danger.

Even though she had lost most of her memories and her mind had become blank like a clean slate.

Because she knew who had shown her warm compassion in that deep fear—

She had decided to trust him from the depths of her heart.

“I want to grow up quickly and help Constellation oppa!”

“O-oppa…”

Herien felt momentarily dizzy at the incredibly innocent term of address.

Regardless of her feelings, she had been increasingly surprised by the Hero’s development with each passing day.

Could it be due to the influence of the constellation supporting her?

‘That must be it.’

None other than that absolute being.

Simply being affiliated with the church must be having a significant influence.

And herself too…

The Sword Saintess felt divine power that wasn’t her original ability, but rather from an unfamiliar entity.

A vast power that was both comforting yet unfathomably deep.

Herien trembled as she instinctively felt reverence for such an absolute being’s divine power.

If one truly intended to use this power, what would happen?

She could handle dungeons and even face the knights without issue.

And do so single-handedly.

Should she simply be happy about suddenly obtaining such immense power?

She didn’t know how the agreement with her original constellation had been reached.

Most likely, it followed the law of hierarchy.

After all, in this era, no constellation stands higher than the absolute being.

People of this era, including the Sword Saintess, are living alongside mythical beings.

One who not only closed the gates of hell that opened one day, but also conquered the world beyond with his church.

An achievement no other constellation had accomplished.

‘Then why.’

Why had the absolute being once erased his existence before everyone?

And now, why was he showing unprecedented behavior by directly interacting among humans?

There was still much she wanted to know, but Herien was merely human.

#

“Working hard, I see.”

In the distance, a small child and a blue-haired beauty were sparring with crude wooden swords.

Though they appeared delicate, one was destined to be a Hero, and the other was the Sword Saintess.

Their movements were remarkably impressive, living up to their titles.

Dodging the Hero’s sword like a dance, cleanly blocking what needed to be blocked—

All while teaching, pointing out areas for improvement by placing the tip of her wooden sword there as the lesson continued.

I feel bad interrupting their training, but if not now, they’ll soon be busy again.

I walked slowly toward them, naturally letting them notice my presence.

“…! Father God oppa!”

A title with two coexisting meanings.

It made me dizzy to hear it, but I smiled back anyway.

“I greet you, my Lord.”

And beside her, the Sword Saintess bowed respectfully while looking at me with a thoughtful expression.

Today, my purpose was to speak with her.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“Yes!”

‘No, not you.’

I patted the blue hair of the Hero who eagerly clung to me.

“I’ve spoken well with the constellation you originally served.”

“…!”

Child of the Lost Star.

A constellation that demands an unbearable price from Heroes in exchange for superhuman power.

And a chat room spammer villain.

I received two followers from him.

It was a one-sided deal that didn’t consider the individuals’ wishes.

But such unfairness was quintessentially constellation-like behavior.

“You might be confused now, but you’ll adapt quickly.”

“I…”

“Do you have any questions?”

“Did my constellation… abandon me and the Hero?”

“No, that’s not it. You must feel it now too. The constellation’s energy residing within you.”

The traces of the original owner, clearly visible even to my eyes.

I made a deal, not a seizure.

Though it might be somewhat obscured now because my rank is stronger, I didn’t impose the responsibilities that the Child of the Lost Star must bear.

“I know about your circumstances.”

Terminal illness, mental disorders, various side effects, and so on.

Physical issues that manifest not only in the Hero but equally in the Sword Saintess.

“I’ll take responsibility and help you recover from those as much as possible.”

These are things that can be easily overcome with my care.

It’s not for nothing that my church was built on divine power.

“Why are you bestowing such grace upon us…?”

Herien still looked at me as if she couldn’t understand my intentions.

But I decided to borrow a constellation’s perspective, as my real reason might seem rather materialistic and perverse.

“Because you two are necessary to me.”

「Lost Star Constellation: ….」

‘What, so what.’

I didn’t lie.

I never threatened to take them, they were personnel handed to me unilaterally.

‘Isn’t this what you wanted?’

The responsibility for the Holy Sword and Hero in exchange for my “friendship.”

All of these are easy tasks for me, which is why I accepted.

‘Why was I so nervous?’

Looking back now, those past days were quite embarrassing.

But when a meteor suddenly falls from the sky, how could one not be nervous?

From a gaming perspective, nothing was more annoying than them, but in reality, the Hero and Star Child were in very difficult circumstances.

That’s why communication was possible.

“So I hope you’ll get along well with us and live happily. That way, you’ll work well for me.”

At my words, Herien stared at me intently for a long time.

Her expression seemed filled with complex emotions.

“Is there something you don’t like?”

“N-no. It’s just… you’re so different from the other constellations I knew.”

“I’m a bit of an oddball.”

I’m fundamentally different.

In the world I lived in, such a life was unimaginable.

Gathering followers, creating a world for my church.

Both progress and a constellation’s inherent rank stemmed from that central theme.

I got up and walked toward the wall engraved with our church’s emblem.

They’ve already carved that into the building.

I can feel Edmund’s dedication.

“I’ll probably be too busy to show my face much from now on, but please stay here and raise that child well.”

Work.

The outline became clearer only after I gifted Edmund with the divine spirits I summoned.

‘Other allied nations.’

I need to check on the status of the allied nations that had joined hands with my church, which I had forgotten about.

During the time my existence disappeared, those countries must have experienced much confusion.

If they were also attacked by other constellations, the situation would be even more desperate.

‘This is giving me a headache for no reason.’

I should learn about everything step by step, but unnecessary worries troubled me.

“If you just give the order, I will help you, my Lord.”

“No. Raising Elion is helping me.”

There’s no need to dismantle the Hero-exclusive experience set.

I hope she raises her properly enough to be comfortably useful on the front lines.

“…I will obey.”

Herien bowed her head heavily.

“Good. Then I’ll be counting on you.”

I turned around and extended my hand to Herien.

Herien carefully took my hand in response.

A moment of warm human touch.

I truly enjoyed such human contact.

#

「Constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ has recognized your existence.」

「Constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ is very angry with you!」

“What’s this now?”

Just as I was about to wrap up my stay in Regalium, a sudden notification window appeared.

And the moment I confirmed the constellation’s name, I naturally recalled the image of our follower associated with it.

Two thick horns protruding from the head.

A thick tail below the waist.

“Dragonkin” would be the perfect description.

“But why suddenly.”

As I was confused by this sudden display of anger—

I couldn’t help but be startled by the message that followed.

「Constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ roars for you to return his daughter whom you abandoned.」

It seems some new misunderstanding has developed.