Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 111

111

“I wanted to join the war, too….”

Cancun grumbled, seemingly disappointed. Still, she looked at the unfamiliar platform and the small number of people in front of it.

From late teens to early twenties.

Men and women of various ages were sitting in a ‘classroom.’

An educational facility created under Loki’s supervision.

It was Valhalla Academy.

However, there were only about seven people there at most.

Too few people for the space.

‘…Well, there aren’t many Norsemen.’

Since they only selected talented individuals for nurturing, it was inevitable that there would be few people.

‘Besides, there are no professors? Teachers? Or anyone called that.’

The lack of educators in the North also played a part.

There were many strong individuals, but they were clumsy at teaching others.

Cancun, too….

-’Try teaching others.’

…She was doing it because Loki told her to, but it wasn’t easy.

She, who had been treated like a tin can [someone easily manipulated or used], was now told to teach others?

It was the first time she had been so bewildered since she first met Loki.

‘I still don’t get it!’

Cancun was anxious because she didn’t know how to teach swordsmanship.

However, the dwarf Ruran seemed used to this kind of thing, and Sella had experience running a greenhouse here and teaching farmers, so she seemed to be adapting without difficulty.

“…Let’s consult Sella.”

And play together!

Thinking that, Cancun hummed and searched the academy, but Sella was nowhere to be seen.

“…Where is she?”

It was then that Cancun sighed.

Ruran passed by in front of her.

“Mr. Ruran!”

“Oh! Isn’t that the Priestess?”

Cancun approached Ruran with quick steps.

“Haven’t you seen Sella? I was going to talk to her….”

Ruran looked at Cancun, avoided her gaze as if troubled, and scratched his cheek.

“…Are you talking about Sella?”

Cancun tilted her head.

Sella cursing the dwarves while drunk, or Ruran cursing the elves while drunk.

Even just looking at that, the relationship between the races wasn’t very good.

However, Ruran seemed to cherish her for some reason.

“Yes. I haven’t seen her for the past few days.”

“…She.”

Ruran hesitated, looked at Cancun, and said.

“She headed to Ronia.”

***

Time passed.

One day, two days, a week, a month….

Numerous people left their hometowns and remained confined to one area.

The capital, Lost.

It was like a prison.

Public sentiment towards the current king was ominous, and anxiety about the city still being besieged was spreading throughout the city.

Because all the people had weapons, public order was unstable, riots occurred frequently, and various crimes took place.

But those were just minor conflicts.

The biggest problem was the shortage of ‘food’ and ‘water.’

They had gathered too many troops, and they had used up a huge amount of supplies for the conquest, so food and water had run out long ago.

If things continued like this, it wouldn’t end with just riots.

They might starve to death and self-destruct.

So Ash made a choice.

He sent an envoy to Asgard in the North, offering to surrender and serve as a tributary state [a state that pays tribute to a more powerful one].

He would turn the Holy Order into an enemy, but he could at least save his life!

And Ash was able to hear an answer from the envoy.

“They said they were tired of this long war and wanted to end it!”

“Ohhh!”

“Did they really say that?”

“Yes, they sent gifts as a sign of peace!”

The nobles had hope as they looked at the envoy showing a positive reaction.

The envoy pointed to the boxes they had brought.

“Quickly! Open them quickly! Show them the gifts they sent!”

The soldiers tore open the wooden boxes.

Gold and silver treasures.

Ornaments made of brilliant gold and silver.

Numerous coins.

Gems piled up.

It sparkled and captivated the eyes of Ash and the nobles.

“Amazing….”

“Could this be…! Something crafted by dwarves…!”

“Is that true?”

The nobles were horrified and looked at the lined-up boxes.

That alone was far more than Ronia’s operating expenses for five years.

“…Is this a country so wealthy that they can simply send this as a gift?”

The nobles realized that the image of the barbarian country they had imagined was completely different.

It was a country that had developed not only military power but also culture and economy.

“Oh, where…let me see too!”

Ash, who was very suspicious, got up from the throne and reached out to the gold and silver treasures.

Gold. Gems. Money!

Splendidly shining gifts!

“Ha…haha! Hahaha!”

Ash laughed and looked at the nobles.

The nobles also smiled and started laughing.

The end of this tiresome war was approaching!

Ash looked at the envoy once again to confirm.

“Really, really did they say, ‘We will end the war’?”

“That’s right!”

The envoy told him again for confirmation, and Ash smiled deeply.

He was alive!

If he made peace, his position would be somewhat guaranteed.

Eron was a concern, but Ash himself had a relationship with Loki.

Thinking of old times, he might acknowledge some of his position!

If he had this much wealth, even if he was exiled from this country, he could start again as a count or marquis in another country.

Ash put his hand into the box. His fingertips didn’t reach the bottom of the box, it was so deep.

There were enormous treasures.

“Ughaaaaaaaaa!”

At that moment, one of the servants who was examining the jewels screamed in surprise.

Ash looked at the noble who had fallen on his butt with a puzzled face.

The noble crawled awkwardly and pointed to the box with his finger.

“W-What is that!”

“What are you talking about?”

The nobles gathered. And as soon as they checked inside the box, they screamed and stepped back.

“Why, why are you doing that?”

Ash smiled awkwardly, feeling uneasy.

“Y-Your Majesty! L-Look at that.”

At the noble’s words, Ash closed his mouth and hesitated.

An uneasy premonition made him reluctant to check the box the noble was pointing at.

“W-What’s wrong? I-Isn’t it just a simple box…?”

At that moment, Ash looked at his hand, feeling a cold and moist sensation.

‘…Blood?’

Thick blood was on his hand.

On the hand that had dug deep into the box a little while ago.

One of the nobles approached the gift box.

It was Halloom.

Halloom looked inside the box.

He stroked his chin as if interested, then mercilessly knocked over the box.

Gold and silver treasures poured out, and at the same time, the ‘heads’ that had been hidden deep inside poured out.

The heads of dead Ronians rolled around in the sacred audience hall.

They were the corpses Loki had collected from the frozen lake.

Among them, a conspicuous head.

It was the head of Emperor Kashar.

His face was screaming as if reenacting his miserable death.

A piece of paper was in his mouth, and his eyes were wide open.

“Hiiik…!”

Ash fell on his butt and stepped back.

Light flowed from the paper.

The translucent figure of a demon appeared.

“……!”

A demon wearing a goat’s skull and jet-black armor.

At his appearance, Ash felt like his heart was stopping.

‘What…is that? A demon? Is it a demon!’

Ash had never seen Loki’s true form.

To him, the being in front of him felt like the grim reaper who would take him to hell.

On the other hand, Halloom’s eyes sparkled and his hands clenched.

Although indirectly, he was facing his master like this…!!

『It’s been a while.』

“……!”

Loki, who had taken an intangible form, looked around and narrowed his eyes.

『Looks like you received the gift well? It’s seed money to go to the afterlife. Well, I’ll take it back after killing you.』

The nobles were intimidated by the magic they had never seen before and Loki’s dignified appearance, and they were sweating profusely.

『This is an example. You could say it’s the result that will happen to you in the future.』

When Loki pointed to the heads rolling on the floor, Ash and his servants closed their mouths.

Loki looked at Ash’s servants.

『You guys better keep this in mind too. Anyone who resists will be beheaded, and those who surrender will be released without retaliation. However….』

Loki looked down at Ash.

『Remember that your end is predetermined.』

“……!”

Ash hurriedly got up.

He said, as if embarrassed.

“W-Wait a minute…! Why…? Earlier, you told the envoy that you would end this tiresome war…!”

『Yes, it’s the end. As the death of the King of Ronia.』

“……!”

『We only want one thing.』

Loki pointed to Ash’s head.

『Your head.』

“…….”

Loki looked around at the surrounding servants and spread out his hands.

His figure grew larger and spread out as if to fill the entire hall.

『Choose-! Will you abandon the king and surrender, or will you die with the king-!』

The servants all looked at Ash.

Their faces were full of fear.

Seeing that, the nobles looked at each other and clenched their fists.

‘…Are we supposed to share our end with that kind of king?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous! My historic family cannot be destroyed by that kind of rogue king…!’

Their eyes were no longer those of servants serving their lord.

It was the cold gaze of humans trying to survive.

There was no more loyalty to them.

Even if there was, it was Ash who had thrown it away.

‘The way for us to live….’

‘A way for the family to last without dying….’

The nobles swallowed hard.

One of those nobles approached Ash and grabbed his shoulder.

Ash paused.

Perhaps one of the nobles had come to comfort him?

With that hope, Ash raised his head.

“Hiiik!”

A skeleton.

A lich [an undead creature, often a powerful sorcerer] with only bones was looking down at Ash, wearing a black robe.

At that, Ash leaned his back against the balcony railing and shook his head from side to side.

He looked at the being looking down at him without even realizing that fluids were flowing from his eyes and nose.

The skeleton’s jaw opened. And as it closed, words flowed out.

“…Your Majesty?”

“……?”

Ash blinked, and the skeletal grim reaper in front of him disappeared, and a strange noble was standing there.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, n-nothing… it’s nothing.”

Ash rubbed his eyes.

He thought he was hallucinating due to mental pain.

“What are you going to do?”

At the noble’s words, Ash couldn’t say anything.

The noble smiled leisurely, matching the eye level of the slumped Ash.

“Choose. Will you surrender to the enemy and save everyone, or will you face the end with everyone?”

“I-Isn’t it obvious! I will resist the enemy as king until the end! And I will win…!”

The noble looked at the army across the balcony.

“Are you saying you can beat them?”

“Y-Yes! Or we can run away! If we use the army as bait, I can escape! Then we can rise again with the help of the Holy Order…!”

The noble smiled. And he brought his face close to Ash’s ear and whispered.

“Are you going to betray your servants again to save your own life?”

The noble’s eyes narrowed.

“…Just like you killed me.”

“……!”

At the voice of Paul, the servant he had killed, Ash felt a chill down his spine.

He quickly pushed the noble away.

“H-How dare you say such a thing to me…! Who the hell are you…?!”

“…Who are you talking to? Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty what…?”

Ash blinked.

The nobles were looking at him. But the noble who had whispered a while ago was nowhere to be seen.

Ash grabbed his forehead.

“Am I…going crazy? Ha, haha…hahaha….”

“…Your Majesty, please take a rest for now.”

The nobles supported Ash and took him away.

“…….”

The noble who was left alone on the balcony watched the scene.

He opened his mouth.

“…A truly foolish and foolish king. Are you trying to repeat the same mistakes as before? This is the last time. Your end will be decided by me, not anyone else. If you do not betray your servants, I will give you peace, but if not….”

His eyes burned red.

“I will make you immortal as you wish.”

Paul, who had become a lich, was watching Ash’s disappearing back.