Ch.3737. It’s Mine, Isn’t It

Something had happened to Kalisa.

Once that thought crossed my mind, I couldn’t help feeling irritated.

“Why are these bastards so desperate to mess with someone else’s follower?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Well… because the followers you have are the best talents.」

“…Hmm.”

Now that I heard it, that made sense.

But being annoyed was still being annoyed.

Why try to get their dirty hands on what’s mine?

“I step away for a moment, and they all pounce like dogs.”

Ah, of course, I was referring to the Lord of Dragons and that constellation whose identity hasn’t been revealed yet.

“I wasn’t talking about you, so don’t worry.”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: O-okay…」

「Child of the Lost Star: Are you feeling reassured by the Absolute One’s words? Interesting.」

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Just shut up.」

I’ll let Black Sun off since he only attempted it.

We’ve also become forced friends now.

-Graaaah!!!

The “Lord of Dragons,” who had been quietly observing the situation, started thrashing again.

The elder dragon was causing a commotion in a way that harmed himself, despite being thoroughly restrained.

“You still have energy to spare?”

As expected of someone with such a temper, his spirit remained unbroken.

-Whoosh!!

I immediately drew out my divine power and shaped it into a massive hammer.

「Constellation, I use ‘Divine Hammer (B)’ on the ‘Lord of Dragons’!」

-Clang!

The enormous hammer slammed down onto the hard scales.

True to his title as the boss of dragons, he maintained his pristine appearance without a scratch.

But the impact clearly left him disoriented.

-Grrrr…! I’ll kill you!!

“No, please calm down.”

I’m already overwhelmed, and he’s making it harder to sort things out.

‘Let me reorganize my thoughts.’

The reason the Lord of Dragons was causing trouble was because of our ‘Kalisa.’

And now Kalisa had most likely fallen into a constellation’s trap.

Based on the circumstances, like with Lisia and Belladis, she had left to find me after I disappeared.

‘I’m right here.’

I silently pleaded for her to return since I was right here, but Kalisa had already gone far away.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Is… that follower so important?」

“What?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: A severed connection with a constellation isn’t a good sign. It means another constellation might have intervened.」

“Hmm.”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: She might have already ‘fallen.’」

A fallen follower loses their ability to sense constellations and becomes insane.

It meant she might never return to my side.

That was an unusually sharp analysis from him.

When I looked at the chat with interest, Black Sun continued to share his thoughts.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: No matter how devoted your cult’s followers are, they can’t resist a constellation alone.」

That’s right.

From what I know about constellations, they tend to destroy talents they can’t possess, showing their cruel nature.

“But she’s different.”

-Don’t speak carelessly about Kalisa!

The Lord of Dragons expressed his anger in a booming voice.

“Oh, that sounds nice.”

I turned my attention back to him.

“Why are you so serious about this?”

-….

“Did I forcibly take your family, or coerce someone who didn’t want to join?”

-Hiss….!!

As we conversed, memories of our past interactions resurfaced.

Back when I was a clueless constellation, that’s how the episode with the Lord of Dragons began.

Each individual dragon was destructively powerful with a terrible personality, making game progression quite difficult.

But ultimately, time was on the player’s side.

I completed all the quests issued by the Lord of Dragons and solved their problems as a bonus.

Kalisa was a new follower allocated by the game developers as a result.

-Do you know what that child means to me!

“What… your daughter?”

The first relationship that came to mind was a familiar family connection.

Actually, there was a setting that Kalisa was a life form directly created by the Lord of Dragons.

He wanted to create an exceptional dragon to succeed him, if I recall correctly.

-…Daughter! Yes! Kalisa is like my daughter!

“But.”

-What?

“So what? She’s mine now.”

I deliberately spoke bluntly to irritate the Lord of Dragons.

-If it weren’t for you, Kalisa would never have had to wander…!!

“Heh.”

Should I just kill him?

Even if I smashed his head right now, his main body would be fine.

That’s the nature of constellations like myself.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …Is he always like this?」

Even Black Sun, who had been watching, was quite confused.

“Look here.”

Unable to stand it anymore, I tapped the restrained dragon’s snout.

“Even at this moment, we don’t know where Kalisa is or what she’s doing.”

-….!!

“Before arguing about whose follower she is, shouldn’t we first find out if she’s safe?”

This is the problem with constellations.

They always prioritize their own uncomfortable feelings.

“Are you saying you’re fine with your daughter dying?”

I looked at the now quieter Lord of Dragons, waiting for his massive jaws to open.

#

According to the information the Lord of Dragons grudgingly shared—

Kalisa’s communication was cut off not long after my disappearance.

Her last destination was an unnamed dungeon.

The fact that she went alone without her direct forces made me uneasy.

‘Dungeons ultimately belong to constellations.’

They’re devices to test humans and determine if they’re worthy of becoming followers.

But the lack of a name raised more questions.

‘They really planned this thoroughly.’

「Child of the Lost Star: They’ve erased even the slightest trace.」

It strongly feels like they deliberately removed the dungeon’s name to prevent any possible tracking.

“Heh heh heh.”

Who could it really be?

I’m confident I’ll treat them nicely when I catch them.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Eek…」

Anyway, the culprit was neither me nor that dragon.

It was a third constellation.

Our follower Kalisa had likely fallen for some constellation’s manipulation and was now wandering somewhere in a dungeon.

“Hmm.”

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t see a solution from here.

-What are you going to do now!

The Lord of Dragons, having revealed everything he knew, demanded I present a solution.

-Kalisa’s star has lost its light, and I can’t send her divine messages anymore.

That massive head stared at me.

Though his expression showed extreme displeasure, that was just how he naturally looked.

Looking closely, I could see traces of sadness between his eyes.

-There’s no way to find Kalisa…

After staying quiet for a while, I asked casually.

“Was she that precious to you?”

-How can you even ask that…!!

“More than those dragons of yours who just died?”

-…My children’s lives cycle anyway.

This too was the flow of stars.

Similar to the spawn concept of game monsters—

Roughly speaking, when one entity dies, another is newly born—a familiar setting.

-But Kalisa is different.

Kalisa was a dragon he personally created, like his own child.

If she died, her life force would lose its value.

That was why the Lord of Dragons was particularly obsessed with her existence.

‘And I took her away.’

It felt good to have taken something most precious from a constellation.

Constellations are best when tormented.

“Kalisa is important to me too.”

-Don’t make me laugh!

“Who are you to judge my love for my follower?”

My love is equal for all.

That’s the mindset with which I’ve grown my cult.

Therefore, I couldn’t give up on my beloved Kalisa.

「Child of the Lost Star: There’s no way.」

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: No matter how I think about it…」

“I know.”

…

….

“Sigh.”

After continuous deliberation, I finally had to make a decision.

-…..?

The Lord of Dragons looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Honestly, there was a way.

A very straightforward method, typical of a constellation, without considering the consequences.

“I tried to hold back, but this time I can’t.”

I opened my mouth again to share what I had been thinking.

#

The most beautiful and powerful dragon.

‘Kalisa.’

She was the most favored dragon by their constellation in the dragon sanctuary, and also bore the greatest responsibility.

That’s why she was sick of her life.

Despite having wings, she couldn’t fly, having most of her freedom taken away.

‘Please, release me now.’

Two beings vied for one follower.

It was time for her to settle in another constellation’s embrace.

Shedding her hard scales and wings that could cover the sky.

Kalisa’s body grew delicate, fair skin.

Of course, she couldn’t become human without any procedure; she needed permission from her original constellation.

「Polymorph」

From her powerful form to that of a devout and beautiful follower.

Such a miracle could be achieved with just one permission and command.

Now she had completely become a member of the Father God’s cult.

#

“Release it.”

-…What?

“I said release it. Polymorph.”

Ah… it’s time to return to your mighty dragon form, Kalisa.

I decided to give an unnamed dungeon a massive gift.