Ch.357Chapter 357 – The Me Inside Me Is Telling Me to Go There

The news of Tonel’s death, a nationally certified astrologer, quickly spread throughout the Empire.

“I heard that Master Tonel was killed by bandits on his way home?”

“No wonder the lord suddenly mobilized the guards to eliminate mountain bandits.”

“Is that happening in your territory too? Our lord is doing the same!”

“Bandits never change, whether in the past or present.”

The news of Tonel’s death became known because of the lord who was supposed to receive him.

The lord of the territory where Tonel’s carriage was passing through was a close friend of his.

That’s why he had planned to invite Tonel to his castle for a meal if he had time while passing through his territory.

Tonel had gladly accepted the offer, but on his way to the lord’s castle, he encountered bandits from outside the region.

In this world, it was common for travelers to meet bandits and lose their lives.

Moreover, Tonel was traveling in a carriage without any guards to protect him.

So when the bandits attacked, he was shot in the head with an arrow and became a traveler who would never return.

When Tonel didn’t arrive at the scheduled time, the lord sent his knights and guards to search the route Tonel was supposed to take, and his body was found at the bandits’ hideout.

The bandits only realized later that the person they had killed was Tonel.

At first, they tried to excuse themselves by claiming they thought the person they killed and robbed was an ordinary person, but who would accept such an excuse?

The enraged lord turned the bandits into “pieces of meat that used to be bandits,” and their hideout was burned to ashes.

“I heard that all of Tonel’s belongings, including his research notes, were recovered by the Imperial Intelligence Bureau.”

“Already?”

“Well, everything he owned was purchased with imperial taxes. They say the lord willingly handed over his belongings.”

“That’s fortunate…”

There was a reason I said it was fortunate that his belongings were recovered by the Imperial Intelligence Bureau.

First of all, information about the malignant star has not yet been disclosed to anyone.

It was only about a year ago that the Demon God, who could be considered this world’s main enemy, was defeated.

What if another threat to daily life appeared before those wounds had healed?

People would have to live in fear and terror once again.

Even if we somehow managed to defeat the malignant star, who’s to say that similar enemies wouldn’t appear in the future?

No matter how much I advocate for peace and claim that such enemies won’t appear again, would people listen to me?

I’d be lucky if they didn’t throw tomatoes or eggs at me while telling me to stop spouting nonsense.

Ah, of course, no one would actually do that. Only someone with a death wish would.

“We’ve decided to keep all information related to the malignant star confidential. Since only you, me, and Sister Regina have heard about it, as long as we stay quiet, no information about the malignant star will leak out.”

The fortunate thing is that few people know about the malignant star.

Just me, Sister Regina, and Karen.

Now that Tonel is dead, we three are the only ones who know about the malignant star.

“Sister, is there any magic that can destroy a star?”

“If such a thing existed, wouldn’t the world have been destroyed long ago?”

Even Sister Regina, who knows everything about magic, didn’t seem to know of any magic that could destroy a star.

“Cheonhyeryeong, do you perhaps know?”

I called out to Cheonhyeryeong, just in case.

“Have you called for me, my husband?”

A faint form materialized, and then Cheonhyeryeong appeared before me.

“How far can you push your power now?”

“My power? The only time I’ve ever fought with all my might was against the one called the Demon God. I’m stronger now than I was then, but I don’t know my full potential since I haven’t exerted my full power.”

Even Cheonhyeryeong seemed to have difficulty gauging her maximum power.

“Then could you destroy a star in the sky?”

“A star? You mean those in the sky?”

Cheonhyeryeong pondered my question for a moment.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never thought about destroying a star. Stars are meant to be admired, so I’ve never considered destroying them.”

Oh? So even a being thought to be without blood or tears like the Celestial Horse has some sense of sentiment.

“But hearing your words, I think becoming strong enough to destroy a star would be quite an interesting goal.”

“Huh?”

No, I just asked if it was possible… did she take it as some kind of challenge?

“No, I was just curious…”

“It’s alright. The Celestial Horse always sets goals, achieves them, and then sets new ones to conquer. That’s what brings us joy.”

Cheonhyeryeong looked like a child who had found a new toy.

It seems the pursuit of new heights brings her great pleasure.

“My husband, do not worry. I shall become overwhelmingly powerful and reach a level where I can destroy stars with these two hands!”

No, you don’t have to do that! It’s scary to think you might actually reach such a level!

Cheonhyeryeong disappeared to resume her training, burning with determination to destroy a star.

After she left, I looked at Karen and Sister Regina.

“I think she might actually be able to do it…”

“I think so too. I believe Sister Cheon could really destroy a star.”

It seemed both Sister Regina and Karen thought Cheonhyeryeong could actually destroy a star.

‘And I think the same.’

If she could fight on equal terms with a divine being like the Demon God while in a human body, hasn’t she already transcended humanity?

Honestly, she exists far beyond what could be categorized as human.

With the ability to erase mountains with a single strike, couldn’t she really destroy a star if she became even stronger?

‘The name of the martial art would probably be something like Celestial Horse Star-Destroying Fist.’

The fist of the Celestial Horse that destroys stars. Wouldn’t that fit well with her intuitive martial arts like Celestial Horse Divine Sword or Celestial Horse Divine Fist?

“Sigh…”

But the frustration remained.

Even if we controlled the information, even if we found a glimmer of hope, the future remained uncertain.

Having to pioneer a path no one has traveled before is a continuous source of fear.

‘If I had known it would be like this, I should have accepted that large battleship when they offered it.’

A 2-kilometer spaceship just makes you think “Wow, that’s big!” and wonder if you’re being naive.

But a 22-kilometer spaceship?

It gives the impression of something tremendous, substantial, and capable of delivering a decisive blow.

In fact, the 22-kilometer spaceship they had promised me even had a quantum beam capable of incinerating planets.

I should have just accepted the reward when it was offered!

I shouldn’t have declined thinking it was beyond my capabilities!

‘Ah, my fate.’

Somehow, instead of living on easy mode, I keep making choices that turn it into a self-imposed hard mode.

‘Whatever.’

In the end, I have only one option.

‘To wait.’

Equipping weapons on the spaceship, Cheonhyeryeong reaching a new level—all of these things take time.

In that sense, all I could do was wait.

It’s not like I have any artifacts capable of dealing with planetary-level threats…

‘Wait a minute.’

Artifacts?

Come to think of it, there were remains of a destroyed spaceship in the New Continent.

I heard restoration efforts are still underway in the New Continent, but they haven’t yet reached the ruins used by the demon race.

Maybe there’s something there?

Even if there isn’t, it wouldn’t hurt to check.

“I’ve decided.”

“Decided what?”

“What have you decided?”

“I’m going to the New Continent.”

When I boldly announced my intention to go to the New Continent, both of them looked at me with puzzled expressions.

“Why the New Continent?”

“Is there something there?”

“My instinct tells me there’s something there.”

Despite their confused expressions, Sister Regina and Karen nodded at my words.

“Well, if that’s what you think, it wouldn’t hurt to go.”

“Alright. I’ll manage affairs here while you’re gone.”

“Thank you, both of you.”

I immediately called for Cheonhyeryeong.

I didn’t need to use any special technique; when I call her, she appears from wherever she is.

“You called for me?”

“Let’s go to the New Continent. There’s something I need to find there.”

“Very well. Hold my hand tightly. That way, you won’t fall.”

“Take me to the ruins where we fought the demon race. There’s something I need to check there.”

The ruins where we fought the demon race were a base built by humans from a parallel future.

There must be things there that the demon race hasn’t yet explored.

‘I have no evidence, but my instinct is pointing me there.’

And so, together with Cheonhyeryeong, I once again set foot on the New Continent.