Ch.355Chapter 355 – The Crisis Is Not Over Yet

The first day marking the beginning of summer vacation at Glesius Academy.

“The end of the world?”

I heard something completely absurd from my sister Regina.

The end of the world? Hadn’t we averted the crisis of world destruction by defeating the Demon God?

According to the original story of Erasto Chronicle, defeating the Demon God should have eliminated the threat of world destruction.

Wait, could a new episode have been added without my knowledge?

But that’s impossible since this world isn’t actually inside a game.

“Yes. The astrologer Tonel specifically asked me to give you this research notebook. He said it’s the only way to prevent the world’s destruction.”

I know who the astrologer Tonel is.

He was the face of the gacha system and a person resented by countless users.

If I recall the in-game setting correctly, recruiting heroines involved Tonel reading the celestial patterns and fixing the fate that would allow you to meet the heroine?

Well, despite the grandiose setting, he was essentially an NPC in charge of the “heroine gacha” system.

That’s why I’ve heard of this person called astrologer Tonel.

“Astrologer Tonel… isn’t he a rather well-known astrologer?”

“He’s more than just well-known—he’s extraordinary. Nine out of ten people who set up shop on the street claiming to be astrologers are frauds, but Tonel has his own observatory and is proficient in astronomy, allowing him to truly read the movements of stars. He’s a genuine astrologer.”

“So he’s a real astrologer then.”

“That’s right. He’s a true astrologer who can predict what will happen in the world by reading the movements of stars in the sky.”

So his introduction as an astrologer in the game wasn’t a lie.

If Regina acknowledges him as a genuine astrologer, his skills must be well-verified.

But now another question arises…

“Tonel said that I need to look at this research notebook to prevent the world’s destruction, right?”

“Yes.”

If an astrologer whose abilities are recognized even by Regina says so, then a crisis that could end the world will come regardless of whether I read this notebook or not.

In that case, there’s no reason for me to hesitate.

I opened Tonel’s research notebook that Regina handed me and began to read its contents slowly.

[A shining star appeared. I witnessed the birth of a brilliant star, as if blessing the birth of a hero. But soon after, the star was devoured by a malevolent celestial body that followed. What is the identity of this malevolent star? What does its appearance signify?]

Hmm, is this really a research notebook? To me, it just looks like someone’s musings while stargazing.

But since I’ve started, I might as well continue reading.

[A malevolent star. It appeared. A malevolent star gazing down at me like a red eye. Its identity is Arcturus. The malevolent star appeared before me and named itself Arcturus. It described itself as ‘I am burning hatred, the twilight of doom that dyes the world red, and the despair of all living beings.’ Furthermore, it said, ‘Make me known to the world. Soon, I shall come to this world. Then all creation shall know the name of fear.’ Based on this, its purpose is world destruction.]

After that, there was extremely abstruse text.

No matter how much I read it, I couldn’t understand it—a seemingly meaningless sequence of characters that looked like some kind of code.

I showed Tonel’s research notebook to Regina, but her reaction was the same.

“Magic and astrology are different disciplines, so I don’t really understand it.”

“Then what should we do?”

The best option would be to meet Tonel directly and hear his explanation, but that wouldn’t be easy.

I don’t know where he lives, and even if I found out, showing up unannounced would be rude.

While I was pondering this, Karen approached.

“Is something wrong? You look troubled.”

“Ah, Karen.”

I explained to Karen what had happened.

After listening to my story, Karen nodded.

“Hmm, that’s true. It would be problematic to visit him without notice. Tonel is known for his eccentric personality—he doesn’t even take disciples.”

“Right?”

“But if such a reclusive person sent his research notebook through the professor, wouldn’t he still be staying nearby?”

“…!”

At Karen’s words, I stared at her blankly, as if struck by a hammer.

A person so meticulous that he won’t even take disciples entrusted his research notebook to someone else to deliver?

That would be impossible unless he came personally to make the request.

“We need to contact the mayor of Archenium to find out where Tonel is staying.”

“I’ll handle that. The mayor of Archenium was one of my disciples.”

Regina immediately contacted the mayor of Archenium to request an investigation, and about an hour later, we received information about Tonel’s lodgings.

“Tonel is staying at an inn located in the city center.”

“Let’s move right away.”

This notebook contains information that could prevent the world’s destruction, but I can’t decipher it.

That leaves only one option.

“I need to hear Tonel’s interpretation of this research notebook.”

I needed to meet him in person to get his explanation.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

Tonel, who had given his research notebook to Professor Trion, was resting at an inn in the city center.

Both he and the horse that had carried him here were exhausted, as he had traveled without rest, sacrificing sleep to get here.

“Hmm, I wonder if Professor Trion delivered the research notebook properly.”

Tonel’s concern was whether Professor Trion had delivered his notebook to Pathos.

Since it had been only a few hours since he had delivered the research notebook, he couldn’t go check personally.

It was also impossible to send someone to confirm whether it had been received.

All that remained was to wait for Pathos to come find him.

‘I hope he comes as quickly as possible…’

Tonel had much more information that he couldn’t include in his research notebook due to lack of space.

He would only feel at ease after passing all that information to Pathos as well.

“Sir? Are you in there?”

“What is it?”

Tonel, who had been sitting in a chair, approached the door when an attendant knocked and called for him.

“Ah, you are here. His Grace Duke Aurelion is looking for you.”

“Tell him I’ll be right down!”

Upon hearing that the person he had been waiting for had arrived, Tonel quickly dressed properly and went downstairs.

As he descended the stairs, he found Pathos waiting for him, accompanied by Karen and Regina.

“Astrologer Tonel?”

“Yes, I am Tonel, Imperial Certified Astrologer.”

When Pathos recognized him immediately, Tonel bowed in greeting.

Although he held the position of a state-certified astrologer, he was not of high enough status to be familiar with a duke who had married an imperial princess.

“Since you’ve come all this way to find me, it must be about the contents of my research notebook, correct?”

“That’s right. I understand the basic content, but the text that follows is difficult for me to comprehend.”

Pathos returned the research notebook to Tonel.

Judging by its undamaged condition, it seemed it had been handled with care.

“That’s to be expected. An astrologer’s knowledge only shines when combined with astronomical knowledge. It’s a difficult field for those who aren’t interested or knowledgeable.”

Tonel said this while skimming through his research notebook to refresh his memory.

“First of all, that star identified itself as Arcturus. It said it would soon come to this world, but I’m not sure what form it will take.”

Even to Tonel, Arcturus was an incomprehensible entity.

Had it not been for the knowledge forcibly implanted in him, he wouldn’t have been able to understand even 1% of this being.

“Arcturus is an entity that emerged from a place called the ‘Twisted Singularity,’ and it endlessly craves destruction. It disguises itself as a red shining star, but its true form is something much smaller.”

As he spoke, Tonel drew something on paper, which resembled not so much a planet as a kind of comet or asteroid.

“According to the knowledge he forcibly implanted in me, this is his true form.”

“It’s more like a small star. One that doesn’t burn on its own.”

“Correct. However, the biggest problem is how to eliminate it.”

Tonel’s words were true.

No matter how powerful one might be, how could anyone destroy a star?

And even if one could destroy a star, how would they reach it?

That’s why Tonel had shown this to Pathos, though he didn’t expect there to be a solution.

“I think there might be a way.”

And as soon as Pathos heard the interpretation of Arcturus’s identity, he thought of someone.

‘If an enemy appears that you cannot defeat with your power, call upon us. We’ll drop everything and come to your aid.’

The knight in golden armor and his two friends.