Ch.5454. Well Done

I can attack?

The Absolute One?

The emotionally resonant echo of that word “attack” drew great enthusiasm from the Constellations.

“F-finally. Can we drive that monster out of ‘our’ world?”

“Can we dream of that paradise again…?”

Some Constellations were overcome with deep emotion.

They couldn’t help but react to the possibility of returning to those long-lost times when freedom and hope were alive for everyone.

—

“Title: Hey You Bastards

-Stop Bullying Constellations

Did you ever flip an entire country because you didn’t like some Constellations?

Did you open the gates of hell to hold a big event because you were bored?

Or did you bring in foreign media for a suicide attack because you couldn’t control your anger?

(Image of an angry frog with bloodshot eyes)

Why are you so terrible at being decent human beings!!!

└…Huh?

└For real;; That’s why I only bully them a little

└How much is that?

└I deliberately forced a main body manifestation and kept it in a glass bottle, so I’m basically a fairy, right?

└Constellation taxidermy OMG

└Definitely an angel.

└I agree”

“Title: So Why

-Why does this game specifically gather such terrible Constellations? At this point, aren’t the developers just perverts?

└Info: Constellations are naturally self-centered

└Fact: Constellations having the mindset of powerful brats is a long-standing tradition;”

“Title: Isn’t Our Constellation Cute? ㅠㅠㅠ

(Image of a grotesque manifestation making threats)

-No way no no no

└This is why people bully them

└LOLOL It really looks fucking awful

└Apologize to dicks, you bastard

└It seriously looks like chewed-up gum someone spat out

└Chewed gum;;

└Hey hey hey watch your language”

“Title: Constellations Having a Bad Image is Their Own Fault

-It’s like the developers deliberately created a world that would collapse within three days without us

This power balance destruction is unprecedented

Constellations expect us to criticize when told to and die when ordered to

No matter how god-like they are, anyone who’s thought from a human perspective even once will understand what I’m saying.

└So what exactly are you saying?

└Hmm, raid noobs don’t understand such things

└Oh shit;

└Raid comment;

└If you don’t understand, just laugh”

—

One Constellation cried out in frustration:

“I want to return to those glorious days!”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

A Constellation who realized the situation was taking a strange turn tried to stop the momentum.

But once moved to emotion, the Constellations had no intention of stopping.

“Let’s kill the Absolute One!”

“Even if we can’t, we must permanently banish him from this world!”

“We must reclaim our authority!!”

Ugly, vile desires began to emerge one after another.

The scene was instantly consumed by madness.

The gathering of Constellations, who had come together to form an alliance away from the Absolute One’s gaze, had somehow transformed into a union of heroes launching a holy war to save the world from a common enemy(?).

They didn’t even consider the atrocities they themselves had committed.

“If we succeed in pressuring him, I’ll kill all his believers right in front of the Absolute One!”

“I want to see him trembling in fear.”

“Or we could openly commit blasphemy and persuade all his followers to join our orders instead.”

“Are you a genius?”

For a Constellation, the most insulting thing is having their faith desecrated.

Followers leaving means they’ve lost faith in their Constellation’s reliability.

“So! What exactly is this method to wound him!”

The Black Sun’s use of believers to harm the Absolute One’s manifestation was a famous achievement among Constellations.

That the Absolute One—the mighty Absolute One—could be harmed.

The sight of him suffering in a lowly human body, disgracefully bleeding and expressing pain, had become a major stress reliever for Constellations who knew only how to hide and snicker.

Some Constellations even preserved that moment as the greatest scene in their mental images.

“We can’t reveal that just yet.”

The Incarnation of the Black Sun, who had gained everyone’s support, stated firmly.

“What.”

“You’re changing your story now!”

“Aren’t you ashamed of your name as a Constellation!”

‘These crazy bastards.’

The Incarnation of the Black Sun concealed his throbbing irritation and carried out his mission with dignity.

“Who abandoned me first?”

“That’s because you got caught by him unilaterally!”

“Yes, I understand completely. I made mistakes, and you all abandoned me. That’s why I’m personally telling you this. Let’s approach this as a mutually cooperative deal.”

“What are you trying to say!”

“We need believers imbued with each of your divine powers.”

The Black Sun’s claim was this:

They needed elite believers with divine power capable of landing a blow on the Absolute One.

“T-that’s.”

“Impossible. If believers of that caliber leave, the entire order will be shaken.”

Whether administrative work would be paralyzed or subordinates would fall into confusion, it would certainly cause chaos in some form.

“Well then. Just forget it.”

But the opponent was the Black Sun.

He was a Constellation just like them, greedy as they were, and understood the inner workings of Constellations better than anyone.

“W-what.”

“You don’t want to cooperate. Then it’s just unfortunate. I’ll go somewhere the Absolute One won’t notice me for the rest of my life. You all can stay here trembling in fear forever.”

“How dare you mock us!”

They wanted to reclaim their authority but didn’t want to take risks.

It was truly childish behavior.

Perhaps because they had the power to control countless lives with a single gesture, their temperament was incredibly reckless.

‘Sulking again.’

They were remarkably good at getting offended.

“I’ve said all I needed to say. If there’s nothing else to discuss, I’m leaving. Speak quickly. I’m in a hurry.”

“…..”

The Constellations fell silent once more.

The Black Sun watched their movements calmly, like a solemn gambler who had just placed a decisive bet.

#

“Hey.”

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: ….”

“Hey, hey, hey.”

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: …”

“Child of the Lost Star: It seems he’s concentrating on something.”

“No, from what I can see, he’s definitely sulking.”

How strange.

First he pretends to be working hard, and now he’s showing signs of being upset.

‘Have I been too casual with him?’

Still, considering we were once desperate to kill each other, I think we’ve really developed into true friends.

“Child of the Lost Star: In that sense, I’d like to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Child of the Lost Star: Is what you call a ‘friendship’ truly the same meaning that applies among humans?”

“Hmm.”

That’s quite a profound question.

I’ve always disliked serious matters, so I’ve been casually labeling all relationships as ‘friendships’—

But that doesn’t mean I’ve ever truly wanted to make literal friends with these damned beings.

I’ve mostly wanted to erase them because they’re annoying.

It’s just that they’re too valuable to kill, yet too precious to let go—

So I forced this close relationship to suck the marrow out of them, and that’s how I defined our connection.

“It’s complicated?”

I hate complicated things.

When I hesitated to answer, the Star Child said nothing more.

‘Well then…’

We were in the familiar white room as always, watching how the dungeon was operating.

#

“Damn it!”

“Is this the right way?!”

Multiple adventurers were wandering through the dungeon’s maze-like interior.

A party wearing equipment dirtied with monster blood and dust, sweating profusely as they pressed forward.

Anticipating that further progress would be difficult, the party leader had no choice but to keep urging their guide.

“Sigh… How many times do I have to explain? Everything is half based on luck.”

“Is that what you should be saying? We specially recruited you as a thief class…!”

“…Huff.”

The skinny man receiving the party leader’s reproachful gaze sighed quietly, trying to compose himself.

This was the fifth time already.

Despite hours of careful advancement, they either reached dead ends or places they’d already been.

Either outcome was the worst possible result for his party.

“The Father God is waiting for us!”

“This is our best chance to join his order. Damn it…!”

Somehow, the name “Father God” had naturally begun to circulate in Dungeon City.

Why?

Despite using the alias “Black Abyss” and even creating new divine power—

The efforts of believers to spread his influence had once again worked perfectly.

Again.

The Father God’s Dungeon City had become nothing less than a new utopia for those with nowhere else to go.

‘If we perform well here, we can enter his order!’

The order of a Constellation, said to be the most powerful in the world.

Who would refuse such a glorious position?

“We, we did it!”

After endlessly wandering the dungeon in search of their dreams, the party finally succeeded in finding the passage to the next stage.

-Whoosh.

“…Huh?”

But just as they were about to shout with joy, black flames rose from beneath their feet.

The entire party made foolish sounds.

“What?”

-WHOOSH!

The flames surged upward.

The black fire that engulfed the party members at someone’s command sent their souls back to where they started before they could even feel pain.

“…”

Ragnis, having resolved another case today, emerged from a corner.

She wore a mask on her face just in case and had wrapped herself in multiple layers of concealment skills.

Her elven life, familiar with magical and elemental powers, had proven helpful here.

“You’re doing well.”

And the Constellation “Ron,” looking down at Ragnis, nodded with satisfaction.

“Child of the Lost Star: Indeed, she is a coveted talent.”

“Right? I have an eye for these things.”

More accurately, it was the system’s intense pull, but Ron had a talent for claiming beneficial results as his own.

However, while he was pleased, the fundamental problem remained unsolved—

“…Should I just completely overhaul this place?”

He considered using large-scale divine skills to drive out the people from Dungeon City.

At this rate, there seemed to be no solution.

Look at the adventurers with half-crazed eyes, their souls sold to clearing stages.

Even Constellations who were lurking around looking for something sweet would back away at such a sight.

‘I asked for advertising, not threats.’

Ron waited anxiously for the situation to develop.

Desperately praying for even the slightest trace of a Constellation to appear.

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: I’m back.”

“Oh.”

Ron brightened at the familiar presence.

Turning to look at the friend window, he saw the Incarnation of the Black Sun announcing his return in a nonchalant tone.

“Where have you been—”

However, Ron hesitated momentarily, sensing something off about that presence.

“…Huh?”

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: Stop talking and just do your work. That’s what I did.”

The Incarnation of the Black Sun conveyed his message triumphantly.

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: I brought the Constellations.”

“How?”

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: ….That’s a secret.”

He could never reveal that he had once moved to harm the Absolute One in alliance with them.

It was a fact that needed to be buried to the depths of hell.

In truth, if Ron wanted to know, he couldn’t hide it, but the Black Sun was focused on the immediate situation.

“Hey, you.”

Ron blankly stared at the name in the friend window.

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: If we fail now, all our efforts will be wasted, so I thought that would be a shame…”

“You really.”

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: There were good reasons why I couldn’t respond to your messages, so please be understanding…”

“You did fucking great.”

Ron acknowledged the Black Sun’s achievements with uncharacteristic praise.

“Incarnation of the Black Sun: …Huh?”

However, the Black Sun felt an unfamiliar discomfort at that single word of praise, something even he couldn’t identify.

Regardless, Ron sensed the presence of commendable beings approaching from the distance.

Various repulsive divine powers.

Powers that could overturn entire nations if gathered in one place, several people, no, several entities.

The investment he thought was failing began to rebound wildly due to unexpected achievements.

“Are they here?”

Ron pressed himself forward, ready to spring into action.

‘Fuck it, absolutely go.’

Ron’s gaze turned toward them.

The select few elite believers carrying the divine power of their respective Constellations.