Chapter 69
by Afuhfuihgs
Chapter 69
From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.
Episode 69: Celestine Incident- Bay No. 2 (3).
Hundreds of horn-like pillars stretched skyward, their shapes warped as if pulled like taffy. Honestly, I doubted my ability to stop them. I was bracing myself for the end.
Swish!
The sound of something tearing through the air made me instinctively touch my neck. Relief washed over me as I found it unharmed.
“Aidel!”
The voice was familiar, pulling me back from the brink of panic.
I lowered my calipers and turned, my eyes settling on a girl with a blonde ponytail.
“Rustila?”
Only then did the full picture click into place.
The silver pillars that had menacingly loomed over us were now bizarrely twisted, cleaved apart on either side of Rustila. She had sliced through them with her sword, her skills as sharp as ever. It was clear why she was destined to become the next Sword Master.
But how did she end up here? Rustila was supposed to be in Bay 2.
“…Are you alright?”
Her question snapped me out of my reverie. I nodded.
“Thanks to you, I’m still here. Thank you.”
“Thank you for being alive…” She offered a small, sincere smile.
Rustila swung her sword, her gaze fixed straight ahead. The pillar she struck split and crumbled to the ground with a thunderous crash.
“From now on, I will protect you,” she declared, her voice echoing through the air.
Clang.
She adjusted her stance, ready for the next move.
“Who are you? Where did you come from?”
Yoodles demanded, his eyes narrowing into slits as a chilling shadow crept between them.
“Unexpected, completely unexpected. I certainly didn’t use any skills. Moreover, interrupting my hunt is utterly displeasing.”
I realized then why Enabet had vanished so suddenly.
Yoodles must possess the
However, this didn’t explain Rustila’s sudden appearance.
Could Instructor Isaac from the second compartment have sent Rustila ahead? No, that didn’t seem like something he would do.
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ testifies using
Silence fell. Was it you?
The unexpected turn of events made me laugh.
It has now been confirmed, Cartesia does not seek my demise.
If that’s the case, surely I can turn this to my advantage?
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ has understood your intention.
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ suggests you temporarily submit to ‘The God of Purity and Persistence’.
It’s close to what I had in mind, yet… it’s also somewhat different.
And really, calling it a ‘suggestion’ when it’s more of a ‘command’ seems a bit misleading.
The ‘God of Purity and Persistence’ has rejected the suggestion.
Naturally, from Vega’s point of view, there was no other option but to refuse.
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ scoffs.
Often, researchers who confine themselves to their studies lack negotiation skills. I sighed, almost without noticing.
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is displeased with your assessment of the situation.
I casually dismissed the message and checked my remaining Prons. Small transactions should suffice for now.
Paid 1000 Prons.
You have temporarily acquired the right to converse with ‘The God of Purity and Persistence.’
As soon as the notification appeared, my consciousness was transported.
Time halted, and I found myself in a vast expanse of pure white.
The brightness was a dead giveaway; I had stumbled into the strategic stronghold of the Celestial beings. More precisely, I was now in Vega’s domain.
“Who are you?”
Turning, I saw a woman at a loom, her head encircled by a faint halo of dust particles shaped like a disk. Recognition dawned on me immediately.
Bowing deeply, “I greet the Weaver Star.”
Silence followed, then she peered at me with suspicion. “Aidel von Reinhardt. Who are you?”
“I am a close friend of Rustila,” I replied.
“No!” Her sharp retort startled me.
“That’s not what I asked!”
I hesitated. “I thought you might be under the control of an Outer God, and I was concerned. Our constellation is tasked with safeguarding the living beings of this universe.”
She stood, leaving her loom behind. “But I see now that I was mistaken. Meeting you here, it’s clear. You were a monster from the start.”
We stood in silence, the tension palpable. Eventually, Vega broke the silence. “The situation is dire, so let’s cut to the chase. What do you want from me?”
“I would like you to form the minimum level of
Thud! A wooden shuttle, shaped like a leaf and used for weaving, struck my head.
“Are you insane? How dare you even suggest a
“I’m sorry.”
“If you’re truly sorry, you’ll never propose such a thing again.” Her anger was palpable.
“But it’s absolutely necessary.”
“If things remain unchanged, both Rustila and I will be killed by that incarnate.”
Thud! A part of the loom, carved like a dragon’s head, flew towards me. Vega’s fury was more intense than I anticipated. Through clenched teeth, she demanded, “What exactly do you plan to do with the
I had been waiting for this opening. “I will teach Rustila the
technique.”
“Body Star, you say?” Vega’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.
She was well aware of the stakes. If Rustila mastered the
technique, her odds of surviving both current and future threats would skyrocket. Her swordsmanship would not just improve; it would transform, and swiftly at that.
“Yes, once she masters the
and defeats the Yoodles, the contract will be nullified immediately.”
“Then you won’t gain anything from it?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Oh, come on, is there anything I can’t gain from that?”
“And what do you want as a reward?”
“What else could it be?”
I shrugged as I responded.
“If I can see a friend’s smiling face, that’s the reward.”
Silence fell between us.
“It’s about time.”
Suddenly, a message flashed before my eyes:
You have been expelled from the realm of the Constellation due to the expiration of the effective period.
As my vision cleared and I returned to reality, the first thing I noticed was the system window.
By speaking on behalf of the ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’, you have successfully formed a
It worked. I had successfully persuaded Vega.
Handling such tasks surely requires someone with experience.
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is noticeably agitated.
“W-What on earth is this?”
Cartesia, who had been misled by my actions, was visibly flustered. A notification chimed, and the status window was updated with new information.
[Contract Relationship]
Party A: ‘God of Purity and Persistence (Alpha Lyr)’
Party B: ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity (Sgr A*)’ – represented by ‘Aidel von Reinhardt’
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ stares at the chain around her neck, bewildered.
Cartesia, who had initially commanded Vega to obey, now found herself in a subordinate position?
I couldn’t blame her for being upset.
“…Hey, kid.”
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ directs their anger towards you.
The ‘God of Purity and Persistence’ steps in to protect you.
Due to the effect of
Sorry, Outer God.
No, I’m not sorry for what I did. If I hadn’t succeeded in the quest, you would have forced me to bear your child.
This was self-defense. There’s nothing here to regret.
“…Ha, right. I didn’t see this coming. This is what makes it interesting.”
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ feels a surge of interest about the turn of events.
Received a sponsorship of 2000 Prons.
A jingling sound resonated in my mind, like chains being toyed with by the Outer God.
It was time to confront the Yoodles.
Stepping forward, I declared, “I’ll help.”
“No, Aidel, stay back. You might get hurt,” Rustila countered.
“I’ll help anyway.”
Despite her attempts to hold me back, I moved closer. Eventually, Rustila’s protests waned. She was always more lenient with her comrades than she was with monsters.
Curious, I asked, “Rustila, do you notice anything different?”
“Different?”
She paused, her head slightly tilting before realization dawned. “Ah, yes. Something has indeed changed.”
Rustila blinked, her gaze settling on me as I posed another question.
“How many multi-sword techniques can you use?”
“Still only two…”
“You can use them immediately, right?”
“That’s the problem; it varies depending on my condition.”
For the Multi-Star Sword Technique to be effective, a minimum of two constellations is required. Rustila possessed only one constellation. However, with the assistance of a free star, she could temporarily harness the power of the Multi-Star Sword Technique.
But relying on a free star was akin to a gamble. Non-patron constellations are capricious, their assistance dependent entirely on their whims.
In essence, to deploy the Multi-Star Sword Technique with complete certainty, one must hold contracts with at least two constellations.
And then, a new development had arisen.
The ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ has chosen to guide ‘Rustila Kersil’ as a sponsor constellation.
With this new sponsor, Rustila met the condition.
“It’s okay. Just try using it for now.”
“O-okay.”
Encouraged by my nod, Rustila prepared herself.
With a thunderous crash, Yoodles launched another silver pillar, even more formidable than the last. Gasping for breath, Rustila struggled to fend it off.
Clutching the caliper in my hand, I muttered, “If only I could plant this into that guy’s skull.”
The Caliper of Wisdom had once impressed Rustila’s parents profoundly, and she was well aware of its capabilities.
She nodded firmly. “I’ll try to close the gap. Cover me when you see an opening.”
With a swift motion, Rustila propelled herself forward. Her silhouette flickered in harmony with the intermittent lights, her suit enhancing her speed to a blur.
“Fast, but…”
Yoodles placed a palm on the ground and crouched, a clear prelude to something.
The Incarnate ‘Yoodles’ prepares to cast
“Already?” I thought, taken aback. Was it acknowledging Rustila as a significant threat?
Yoodles’ excessive caution might just be its undoing.
I hastened to follow Rustila.
“Annoying. Go somewhere else for a moment.”
The Incarnate ‘Yoodles’ uses
The activation time for
Meanwhile, Rustila’s sword strike, aimed at Yoodles, would take approximately 1.1 seconds.
“Hmmph!”
She managed to land a decisive blow in that critical 0.1-second gap.
The effect of
EX-grade conversion
Editor’s Note:
Incarnates (화신체) are powerful manifestations or physical embodiments of cosmic entities, which can include the Outer Gods themselves when they take on a tangible form.
Incarnations (성육신) refer to a more literal concept of incarnation, such as Aidel being Cartesia’s Incarnation or having traits because of her invading his mind.
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