Ch.7272. Drop

The Guild Leader’s plan was accepted.

I felt a strong aversion to the idea of throwing people into portals, but we had no time to spare.

We needed to gather Sources as quickly as possible to defeat the Demon Lord.

And.

‘What the Guild Leader suggested is actually the better option.’

It was far better than advancing while killing dozens or hundreds of knights.

After that chaotic discussion.

“Well then, we should start training right away.”

The Guild Leader said this while examining my body with a serious expression.

“…What am I training?”

“The power bestowed upon you by the Constellation. Since you can’t even manifest your ability yet, you need to practice before entering the Labyrinth.”

I had heard about this during our recent conversation.

The Guild Leader was so strong because of the power of the Constellation.

‘Can it be used freely like mana?’

As various questions filled my mind, a blue radiance began to leak from the Guild Leader’s body.

It wasn’t the common light that appears when manipulating mana.

This was a special realm that felt brilliant.

“What do you think?”

The blue radiance was already overwhelming the entire place.

“…Even if you show me the light, I don’t really understand what kind of ability it is. What exactly does the Constellation power do?”

Even a campfire can produce light.

“You really are the serious type. Can’t you look at it from a more emotional perspective?”

The Guild Leader sighed briefly before continuing.

“It’s hard to explain exactly what power the Constellation provides. Starting with physical enhancement, it can cause explosions like when I saved you, and I can even fly.”

“You can fly?”

“Yes. Only for a short while, but would you like to see?”

I nodded enthusiastically.

Despite experiencing all sorts of fantastical things over the past few years, I had never felt the sensation of flying.

…Unless falling from hundreds of meters high counts as flying, but that’s different.

That wasn’t the important part.

“I’d like to see it.”

“Really? In my opinion, the light show is more impressive, but I guess we have different interests.”

The Guild Leader closed her eyes, took a few breaths, and then…

-Whoosh.

She slowly began to rise.

The levitation reached a few centimeters and then…

“…?”

Stopped in place.

I thought she would keep rising with acceleration, but she stopped at a height not even a hand span high.

“Ngh, nngh-!”

Her expression was crumpling in real time, as if even maintaining that height was too much for her.

She struggled with all her might for about ten seconds and then…

-Thud.

Landed lightly.

“Haah… How was that? I flew for a while, right…?”

She showed a proud expression.

Does she not realize how it looked?

“Yes, I’m impressed.”

I couldn’t bring myself to tell her what I really thought.

“Everyone’s always amazed when I show them. I usually use it in short bursts during combat, but it seems pretty good like this too.”

“…”

Hearing this, the princess turned her head away with her shoulders trembling.

“…Phew.”

A sigh that seemed to barely contain laughter.

Seeing how Deneb and Shiro looked confused, it seemed the princess was the only one who had seen the levitation before.

“Vena, it’s impressive every time I see it. If only I could… use the power of the Constellation, it would be truly wonderful.”

The princess spoke while suppressing her laughter.

“Too bad for you, princess. Adel is the only one who can learn these techniques from me.”

“Yes, I’m truly envious.”

The princess seemed to have a mischievous streak in her.

***

From that day on, I did nothing but train every day.

The training was simple.

Feel the energy of the Constellation, control the energy within my body, and then release it outward.

I’d been repeating this for a week now.

‘The energy of the Constellation?’

I couldn’t feel it at all.

What is that supposed to be, Guild Leader?

“…Hmm. This is tricky.”

The Guild Leader showed a complicated expression, seemingly troubled.

“The energy is definitely manifesting, but you can’t feel it. Perhaps our approach is wrong?”

I turned my head away from her gaze.

This place was somewhere in the forest of the Elven Sanctuary.

No matter which direction I looked, all I could see were grass and trees.

The only trace of human presence was the wooden house we had built.

‘It does look like the kind of scenery where one might have an epiphany.’

Unfortunately, this world wasn’t a cultivation novel setting.

There was no such thing as enlightenment.

“No, enlightenment is important.”

As if reading my thoughts, the Guild Leader placed her hand on my shoulder and spoke.

“…It’s not as easy as you make it sound. Enlightenment, inspiration—what are those things exactly?”

Inspiration. Enlightenment.

These were what she had emphasized over the past week.

But I couldn’t understand what she meant at all.

“Let me explain it more simply. The power of the Constellation ultimately depends on purpose and will. Enlightenment is materializing what you truly desire,”

“Your explanation isn’t really clicking with me.”

She had a cool older sister vibe but was somewhat four-dimensional in her thinking.

“But, do I really have the power of the Constellation?”

With the continued lack of progress, I was starting to have doubts.

Maybe this was all just their misunderstanding?

“No, that’s impossible.”

The Guild Leader responded with a firm attitude.

“I can constantly see your energy. It’s not as overwhelming as it could be… but considering you’re not even aware of it, this is still an amazing level. You definitely have talent.”

“…Even with talent, is a week not enough?”

Hearing her words, I wondered if I had underestimated this power.

She must have invested years to reach her current level.

Was it too arrogant of me to try to master this power in such a short time—

“—No, I mastered how to use it as soon as it manifested. I wasn’t this strong from the beginning, though.”

“…”

“But that’s not what’s important. According to Kyle and the princess, your power appeared to be similar to my level. The power of the Constellation that manifested without you even knowing reached the level I achieved after years of dedicated training. That’s incredible talent.”

She casually struck me down and then praised my talent.

What a cruel person.

“Thank you for the compliment. But… I really don’t understand right now.”

I said with a somewhat dejected tone.

The Demon Lord could attack at any moment—the prediction of a few months was just a guess.

I needed to get stronger as quickly as possible.

“…”

As strange emotions began to dominate my thoughts…

“Ah, you’re back.”

The Guild Leader greeted someone while looking toward the forest.

“No one followed you, right?”

“No, Guild Leader.”

“Right. No one.”

Kyle. And beside him, a woman with wine-colored hair.

I had glossed over it during our first meeting, but there was one more person on our side.

“Oh, you’re here too.”

A fierce-looking magician with a cigarette between her shark-like teeth approached us.

Seirai, a member of the Polaris 9th floor raid team.

“Perfect timing. I brought something for you this time.”

She began taking various items out of her spatial backpack.

“Here’s all the equipment you need. And what you personally requested…”

She displayed purple equipment on the ground and then searched her backpack again.

“…Found it! Here’s the silver shield. I don’t know what you plan to use it for, but since you asked for it, I brought the one in the best condition.”

“Thank you, Ms. Seirai.”

“I told you to call me Rei. Loosen up, will you?”

“I’m more comfortable this way.”

I exchanged pleasantries while gathering the equipment.

I requested the silver shield for Source farming. But the most crucial items were different.

Armor made from an alloy of adamantium and mythril.

A full set would be worth enough to buy a small mansion.

I picked up the helmet first, but…

-Clang.

I dropped it on the ground.

“Adel, what’s wrong?”

Kyle, the Guild Leader, and Seirai, who had been having a serious conversation, approached me.

“It’s nothing, my hand just trembled suddenly.”

“…Are you feeling unwell? Maybe we should call it a day and let you rest.”

“Guild Leader, that’s not it…”

After a moment of silence, I finally managed to speak.

“The armor is just… too expensive.”

I might be the one to save this world, but can I really wear such expensive equipment?

***

Another day passed.

“Hmm.”

Lying on the bed, I admired the armor on the stand.

A color that seemed like a mixture of purple and deep blue.

Made from an alloy of adamantium and mythril, worth hundreds of millions of Ars in total.

At first, I could barely touch it, like the magic sword, but after looking at it constantly since yesterday, I seemed to be getting used to it.

‘Just a few Sources and this would be truly endgame gear.’

As I was thinking this and about to get up…

“Adel, are you awake?”

I heard Shiro’s voice from beyond the door.

“Ms. Shiro. I was just about to get up.”

As I opened the door to greet her…

There was an ice wall in front of me.

“…?”

“Adel, what do you think?”

-Crack!

The ice cracked, creating a round hole.

Through the hole, Shiro’s face was clearly visible.

“You’ve grown tremendously in a week. You used to struggle just maintaining ice formations.”

“Yes. And I can do this too.”

Shiro placed her palm on the wall with an excited expression.

-Swoosh!

In an instant, half of the ice wall disappeared.

“I can also make only the parts I want disappear. I’ve grown a lot, right?”

“Not only your mana sensitivity but your control has improved on a completely different level.”

“Yes. And you’ll grow just like me. You’ll continue to grow. So…”

She firmly grasped my hand.

“P-please don’t die.”

“…”

While I was enjoying this happy moment with Shiro…

“Everyone get up! Something’s wrong with the sky!”

Seirai, who had been looking at the sky from the kitchen, shouted frantically.

“The sky is red…!”

“What? What do you mean?”

Her reaction seemed excessive, so I looked where she was pointing.

I thought she might have been drinking, but…

“…What is that?”

The sky really was turning red.

To be more precise, the sky was still blue, but it seemed dotted with red spots all over.

And.

‘Something is falling from the sky.’

Small objects from the red spots…

…No.

Something was different.

Those weren’t simple objects.

“Monsters are falling from the sky.”

Monsters were crawling out of thousands of red spots dotting the sky.