Ch.9898. Constellation Punch, Holy Sword Punch

“I’m currently under suspicion from them. It seems we won’t be able to meet separately for a while.

When the time comes, I might be able to inform you about the timing of their plans, but it will be difficult for me to directly deliver information from now on.”

“What the hell is this?”

Ashes have been sprinkled on a perfectly cooked meal.

I stared at the message from his minion with an unpleasant expression.

Even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, the content remained unchanged.

“This guy must be crazy,” Black Sun commented beside me.

How dare he trample on my pure feelings like this? Unforgivable.

But now that Past Remnant bastard has gone into hiding?

This way, I can’t figure out their detailed intentions.

‘The Source of the World isn’t ready either.’

Though I barged in and made demands, she must be making her own efforts too.

“Child of the Lost Star: Absolute One.”

“This is getting complicated.”

“We need to deploy as many church followers as possible to search…”

“Child of the Lost Star: Absolute One.”

“Hah…! This bastard is really driving me crazy at the end.”

“Um, Absolute One. Perhaps it would be safer if we strike first…”

“Child of the Lost Star: ….”

Black Sun and I continued exchanging opinions about the situation at hand.

Though other constellations offered to help, finding constellations that are deliberately hiding is difficult.

Just like with the Lord of Dragons, we unintentionally used Kalisa’s safety as bait to draw out action—

“Child of the Lost Star: Found it.”

“What?”

At the sudden notification, I stared at the chat window, uttering a foolish sound.

“Absolute One…?”

“Look at the chat.”

Confused by my sudden reaction, I showed Black Sun exactly what I was seeing.

Star Child was announcing his achievement with a confident air.

“So suddenly?”

How could he find it so abruptly? By what means?

As I pondered this, I suddenly realized.

Holy Sword.

A pure crystallization of malice, created to harm constellations and cause them damage.

That’s it.

“Child of the Lost Star: Have you forgotten? The holy swords created through me instinctively seek out constellations.”

The holy sword was a constellation-specific radar.

“Damn.”

“Th-this actually works?”

Black Sun and I simultaneously turned our gaze toward the holy sword Star Child had sent.

“Child of the Lost Star: An ordinary holy sword wouldn’t have been able to find constellations that crossed over from the past. However…”

A familiar energy sensed through the holy sword.

The divine power I had created by weaving together the energies of three constellations, including myself.

The energy of ‘Black Abyss’ was surging.

“Shit, a tracking device.”

“Child of the Lost Star: ….”

“No, I mean. How?”

My words came out wrong, but I genuinely don’t understand.

“So. This is the trace left by the Past Remnants?”

“Child of the Lost Star: That’s right.”

“What exactly did you do?”

“Child of the Lost Star: My children’s usual working method begins with me directly designating the locations of constellations. However, I couldn’t do that with the current constellations.”

Star Swarm.

Star Child’s unique ability.

Unlike others who resonate with Dianon’s creatures, Star Child directly shares his life force to create holy swords.

There’s no particular reason for this.

It’s simply designed that way—the game company’s strategy.

Anyway, the holy swords created this way wander throughout the universe to find their masters.

This is the learning process of a holy sword.

Wandering through the universe, observing constellations with malice, and seeking suitable candidates to effectively counter them.

Then crash! Like a meteorite.

‘When I first saw it…’

I thought my heart would drop.

The memory of the holy sword penalty forcibly resurfaced.

And now.

The effectiveness of a holy sword with such characteristics has resurfaced.

“Child of the Lost Star: I obtained some authority.”

“Authority? What kind of authority?”

-Woong woong!

Suddenly, a holy sword appeared in midair.

With abnormal patterns engraved on it, it looked more like a demonic sword than a holy one.

The purple blade emitted an ominous energy.

-Nice to meet you.

“…Star Child?”

As Black Sun muttered suspiciously, the blade trembled slightly in response.

-This time, since it’s impossible even with our children’s power, I came directly.

“You could just use divine manifestation instead of going through all this trouble…”

-I’m more satisfied with this form right now.

“…?”

It’s a preference I can’t understand with my brain.

Preferring to be a chunk of metal rather than having arms and legs properly attached.

Actually, maybe it’s because he hasn’t properly used divine manifestation yet.

-…Your gaze is scary.

“What did I do?”

I played innocent while Star Child trembled slightly in wariness, and decided to talk about the next objective.

“You were saying something about authority earlier. What was that about?”

-For a moment, I decided to borrow the power of Black Abyss. Given the situation, I thought that authority would be necessary.

“So. You came through Black Abyss, and now you want to use my authority?”

-Precisely.

“But I don’t have such a function?”

-If it weren’t for Black Abyss’s divine power, it would have been impossible. It’s only possible because your power and mine are intricately mixed.

“I see.”

I don’t really understand the exact process.

Even at work, I often don’t properly understand conversations between managers and assistant managers, so why would this be any different?

‘I’ll just have to trust him.’

Star Child is who I chose. I decided to embrace him and move forward.

“So, if I grab that sword now, can we find the Past Remnants?”

-It’s possible. However…

“However?”

-I’ll need someone to handle me.

“A hero?”

-That’s right.

Can’t I just grab anyone and put it in their hands?

-The caster will bear a lethal burden. If you’re going to do it, you need to choose someone who truly has the ‘qualification.’

“Who would that be?”

The first ones that come to mind are the Sword Saintess and the hero in the Regalium Kingdom.

But they already have their own holy swords, and as far as I know, one can’t possess multiple holy swords.

-We need someone who can handle Black Abyss’s energy and has a noble character worthy of a holy sword.

“That’s a demanding requirement.”

I think for a moment.

It hasn’t been long since I established the Black Abyss church, and there probably isn’t suitable talent in other constellation forces that have taken root.

Honestly, one person does come to mind…

“Does it have to be human?”

-Human is preferable.

“How about starting to like non-human races from today?”

-….?

“They all have arms and legs, and think the same way, don’t they?”

Someone who can handle Black Abyss’s energy and has a noble character that worships the Father God.

There’s only one such person.

I decided to introduce the holy sword to the taste of the ancient ‘forest race.’

#

The Child of the Lost Star has traditionally only granted humans the qualification to wield ‘holy swords.’

-Humans.

He liked humans.

Their lifespan, clearly shorter compared to his own and other species.

Yet, he was greatly impressed by how they pursued their dreams with passion despite their fleeting lives.

The fateful prayers he bestows through holy swords all originate from there.

“Do… do I have the qualification to use this holy sword…?”

-No.

“Why not? She’s no different from humans. Are you looking down on our Ragnis?”

Star Child was bewildered.

Though she has a human appearance, her long ears are the distinctive symbol of the forest race.

An elf. And an abandoned one at that.

-This follower is not human!

“That’s what I’m asking—why does it have to be human? Can’t you compromise a bit?”

As the elf looked at us with a perplexed expression, Star Child made the blade vibrate and refused.

-My power can only resonate with the human race! You know this well!

“That’s something you do when you have the luxury. Are we in a position to be picky right now? Ragnis is the only one who meets the conditions, so what can we do?”

Concept, tsk tsk.

-Con, concept?

Star Child became dizzy.

He doesn’t think his life so far has been wrong, but he’s lived with certain beliefs.

To let humans defeat evil gods in the world.

That was the mindset with which he bestowed holy swords upon this land.

-This, this…!

“Just close your eyes and try to resonate once?”

Star Child couldn’t smell as a holy sword, but Ragnis’s very existence evoked deep aversion.

“…Black Abyss. Even so, this…”

“No. This is a matter of pride. Ragnis, just trust me and stay still.”

What time is it to be emphasizing such childish concepts?

“If you don’t do it, the world will end, you know?”

-That’s absurd! Su-surely there must be other talented individuals…!

“The talent is right here!”

With those words, I grabbed the holy sword containing Star Child and headed toward Ragnis.

“Touch this.”

“Wh-what?”

“I’m doing this for everyone’s sake. Just accept it and say thank you.”

“Th-thank you.”

Since a constellation said so, Ragnis reluctantly reached out her hand despite feeling uncomfortable.

-Go!

“Kyaak…!”

“This is crazy.”

A slight shockwave spread from the holy sword, repelling Ragnis’s hand.

Now I was starting to get annoyed.

It’s already a busy moment to quickly handle matters, yet here he is, being stubborn.

“Just try not doing it. I’ll find all the holy swords and break them, okay?”

-What.

“I’m not joking. I’m busy right now.”

After I threw a few stern words, Star Child finally quieted down with a sorrowful expression.

“Grab it now.”

“Black Abyss…”

“It’s okay now.”

“Follower ‘Ragnis’ has acquired Black Abyss’s holy sword!”

Mmm.

It was truly a beautiful moment.

A holy sword made from a constellation’s divine manifestation body—I can’t resist this.

This is absolutely not coercion for my own greed.

‘Our church can do whatever it wants.’

-I’ve been defiled…

“Stop saying weird things. Hurry up and find them.”

-…It’s impossible without resonance.

“Damn it.”

Why are there so many complicated procedures?

Anyway, I decided to move on to the next step.

‘Just wait.’

Now that we’ve found a method, all that’s left is to proceed.

The moment of finding the hidden Past Remnants is not far away.