Chapter 28 : Sweet Dreams on Bed

“I really didn’t want to go this far.

But to think the contractor I chose got eliminated in the first round by some rookie who hasn’t even made a constellation contract… it’s honestly a blow to my pride.

So, here’s the thing—hey, you.”

“Huh? M-Me?”

“Yeah, you.

How about stepping off the stage now?

I respect that you pushed my contractor this far, but let’s be real—most of the powers you used were one-time tricks.

You can’t fool my eyes.

You’ll just get knocked out in the next round anyway, so give up your spot.”

“N-No way. I admit I was lucky, and yeah, I used a few tricks—but I still won, didn’t I?”

“So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh? Maybe I was too polite. Tremble. In. Fear. And. Run!”

Before the Witch of the Underworld even finished her sentence, my body was already sprinting off the stage, completely forgetting the muscle aches.

And like a rat trying to hide in a hole, I started clawing at the turf of the arena floor with my bare hands.

I couldn’t believe what I was doing—it was absolutely humiliating.

It was a combo of Speech Magic and a Fear Curse.

Before I could even react, the prey instinct took control of my body.

What saved me, at least, was that the moment fear took over, the constellation’s consciousness automatically activated, so I didn’t completely lose my sanity.

In fact, it wasn’t unheard of for constellations to intervene directly in martial tournaments.

Sometimes rival constellations would possess their contractors and have them fight proxy battles—that kind of thing happened now and then.

But for a constellation to interfere in a match that was essentially already lost and flip the outcome?

Even I had never seen something like that before, and I was less angry than utterly dumbfounded.

And it seemed I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

Some of the instructors acting as referees came onto the stage and addressed the Witch of the Underworld.

“Witch of the Underworld, your contractor had already lost consciousness, which means the outcome was practically decided.

A constellation directly interfering at that point is a violation of tournament rules.

We’re sorry, but we’ll have to rule this match as a loss for student Belimond…”

“Hmm? I don’t really care about those petty rules made by humans. You’re all dying to borrow the power of the constellations, but only bring up rules like this when it suits you? I don’t get it. Can’t you just let it go this once?”

“You’re the one who needs to let it go, Witch of the Underworld!”

BOOOOOM!

Even instructors couldn’t strictly enforce rules against a Constellation, so they bowed their heads in submission.

And finally—perhaps because they couldn’t bear to watch any longer—the final boss made his entrance.

From the VIP seat of the colosseum, Principal Lyn Dragos soared down onto the stage with his dragon wings fully spread.

As if a meteor had crashed into the arena, a crater formed upon his landing.

Standing there, nostrils flaring with embers in real-time, Principal Dragos spoke.

“This match is ruled as a loss by decision for Belimond. No objections will be accepted.”

“Oh my, Principal Dragos, you’re so inflexible.

Honestly, you saw it from up there too, didn’t you?

You know this fight’s outcome was just a ridiculous blend of dumb luck and rigid rules.

What, are you going to disqualify someone for stepping out of bounds even when fighting demons?

When the demon army invades, are you going to limit us to summoning only three units?”

“Then why don’t you summon your famed Ten Million Undead Army, Witch of the Underworld. I’ll manifest in my true form and personally test how effective your overwhelming numbers really are.”

“Oh my, you’re really talking wild just because you’re not a Constellation.

If I summoned that Ten Million Undead Army, I’d go bankrupt on Karma! Ugh, whatever.

I’m done.

I’m so over this.

Why am I being treated like this just because I picked the wrong contractor?

I’m terminating my contract with Belimond—just hurry up and process it.”

“Even though that guy fought such a pitiful battle that it was almost an eyesore, it still doesn’t meet the qualifications for breaching a constellation contract.

He even offered his own life force as tribute, so you’ll have to pay a cancellation penalty, Witch of the Underworld.

Is that alright with you?”

“Fine, fine, just handle the penalty or whatever. I don’t want to stay here for another second.”

Principal Dragos silently raised both hands, and a massive magic circle inscribed with metaphysical patterns appeared in the air.

As the magic circle passed through the Witch of the Underworld like a hula hoop, two golden coins rang and flipped into the air—and she vanished without a trace.

It looked like a magic show, but in reality, Principal Dragos had reverse-engineered a multi-layered 9th-circle spell bound to constellation contracts.

The fact that he could do such a ridiculous thing without even chanting was precisely why even Constellations showed him respect.

He wasn’t someone who couldn’t be a Constellation—he was the only NPC who simply chose not to be one.

Once the situation was settled, Principal Dragos picked up the two golden coins.

He placed one into Belimond’s mouth, then approached me with the other in hand.

My body was still digging into the ground like mad.

Not only were my Blood Nails destroyed, but even my natural fingernails had been completely shredded—both of my hands were covered in blood.

“You’re not a mole, so what are you doing digging so hard? If you’re trying to dig your own grave, look elsewhere. There’s no soil for you to lie in at this academy.”

“Run away, run away, run away…”

“Kim Sunghoon, snap out of it! Where’s the spirit of the guy who used to talk back to me without backing down even once?

Belimond Deathdoor has been ruled defeated.

That means, by default, you’ve earned the right to advance to the next round.

So I’ll ask: do you have the will to challenge the second prelim?”

“Run away, run away, run away…”

“Sigh… this one’s hopeless in another sense.”

“Just consider this compensation from the Witch of the Underworld and take it.

This is a Karma Coin.

It might look like an ordinary gold coin on the outside, but it’s actually an artifact condensed with massive Karma.

There are Constellations out there who would accept you as their contractor just for offering this coin in sacrifice.

So for the next Pantheon Initiation Ceremony, try to find yourself a backer.

After what happened today, you should know just how brutal it is to be a Pantheon Academy student without a Constellation.”

“Of course, if things don’t work out, there’s always Plan B: drop out.

With this Karma Coin, there are plenty of merchant guilds who’d pay a fortune.

You could return to your home planet and live like a nouveau riche.

Or stay at the academy—it’s your life, your choice.”

“Hey, instructor—get this kid to the infirmary, now!”

At a glance, it might’ve seemed like Principal Dragos was coldly pressuring a student, but deep down, I could see his warmth and concern.

Principal Dragos… I’d love to drop out, but I’ve got some debt with Byakuya, so that’s not happening.

First, I’ll pay off my debt with this Karma Coin.

Then with whatever’s left… I’ll buy myself a new bed.

That was the thought running through my head as I watched my body being carried out of the colosseum on a stretcher.

***

“Miss Lillian, to be honest, I fell for you the moment I first saw you. Please marry me.”

“Oh my, Sunghoon, the truth is, I liked you too. Let’s get married right away.”

What started as a random confession—just testing the waters, thinking I had no chance—somehow worked.

I successfully ended up in a relationship with Lillian Angelray, the infirmary teacher.

There were many obstacles: teacher and student, angel and human… but the wedding went off without a hitch.

Time passed like a flowing stream, and when we reached our 50th wedding anniversary, I began to feel a strange sense of discomfort.

Wait… why did time pass so quickly?

Did we even go on a honeymoon?

Lillian is an angel, so I could understand her not aging—but why hadn’t I aged?

Well, I suppose as long as we’re happy, it doesn’t matter?

What happened to Iris?

She’s smart, so I’m sure she found her little brother without me.

As those questions kept spiraling in my head, Byakuya suddenly appeared before me and said:

“You looked so happy that I was going to just let you be… but it seems like you’re heading into dangerous territory, so I had to come. Are you aware this whole space-time is part of a Dream Technique?”

“This is all a Dream Technique? No wonder… I couldn’t believe Miss Lillian would actually marry someone like me—it had to be an illusion.”

The moment Byakuya mentioned the word “Dream Technique,” information related to the Constellation’s Pantheon game surged into my mind like a wave.

At the same time, the surrounding space shattered like glass, and I found myself lying on the infirmary bed.

My ten fingers were all wrapped in thick bandages, making me look ridiculous, and the sharp smell of disinfectant jolted me back to reality.

“Oh my, honey, you’re awake? I told you to call someone instead of trying to fix the window by yourself—look at the state you’re in!”

“Huh? What are you saying, Miss Lillian? Honey? And these fingers didn’t get injured fixing a window—I hurt them digging into the ground with my bare hands.”

“Oh my, the Dream Technique’s already been broken? Sunghoon, I thought you had almost no magic resistance, but your mental strength is impressive.

I guess that explains why you insisted on going back to the colosseum even after being cursed by the Witch of the Underworld herself.

You know I didn’t cast the Dream Technique with any ill intent, right?

It was all for your sake.”