Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 135

135.

A scream echoes.

Beneath the gray sky, countless homes are engulfed in flames.

People who have lost everything scream and flee.

Those who barricaded their doors and took up farming tools to resist were slaughtered by dozens of soldiers who forced their way in.

“Y-you bastards…! Do you know who we are?! We are of the Holy Order…!”

“Shut up!”

The soldiers draw their swords and behead the monks.

“Save us! Azellan Constellation…! Please, drive away those heretics!”

“You were hiding here? …Praying, were you?”

Even those who secretly hid and prayed are found. And without fail, swords are swung at them.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Stay still!”

Even inside the monastery, their looting doesn’t stop.

Driven by madness, they were loyal to the king’s orders.

Burning houses, killing people, and taking all valuables that could be turned into money.

“You, you are defying the will of the Azellan Constellation! Stop this meaningless slaughter at once…! What the gods taught was mercy and respect for life…!”

“You are the devils!”

The soldiers grab the old monk by the hair and drag him outside.

The monk watched the burning village and the people being brutally massacred by the soldiers.

“This… can’t be…!”

Tears welled up in the monk’s eyes.

In his grief, he grabbed the soldier’s pant leg and pleaded.

“S-stop…! What crime have these people committed to deserve this!”

“This old man… is really persistent.”

The monk looked into the soldier’s eyes.

A gaze hardened by countless killings and plunder.

And for some reason, that gaze felt familiar.

“Why, why are you doing this! What did we do…!”

“Ains, be purified by death, according to the will of God!”

It was the same look as the monks who participated in the Hannes Empire subjugation 50 years ago.

“Ah… Aaaah…!”

Regret washed over him.

He felt like he now understood why they had acted that way back then, and what they were feeling.

“Why… why… why…?”

The monk couldn’t help but ask this question, even though he knew what kind of answer the soldier would give.

In response to that question, the soldier wore a bitter smile, just like the monk had done 50 years ago, and opened his mouth.

“Because… you are heretics.”

Perhaps…. Is this the true judgment of the Azellan Constellation?

The soldier swung his sword.

The territory of the Holy Kingdom burned.

The territories of the Holy Order were being occupied one by one.

Even though the Holy Order resisted, it collapsed far too easily due to the lack of a central figure.

It was a rapid downfall for those who had dominated the continent for centuries.

“…This place is occupied by us!”

“Ha, what nonsense! We came here first…!”

Unlike 50 years ago, when the Holy Order led the charge, there is currently no leader to lead the participating countries.

Naturally, as they eroded the territory of the Holy Kingdom, friction between the participating nations only increased.

They did not want to concede the territory and slaves they would gain from this war, or the opportunity to overthrow the Holy Order that had reigned over them, to anyone.

“Step back! Do you want to be subjugated like the heretics…!”

The general leading the army was beheaded in the middle of his speech.

It was a general from another country who beheaded him.

“Nonsense. You’re the heretics!”

In the end, war broke out between the participating countries.

The war of those who killed each other, moved by profit and desire, showed no end.

Even as life disappeared, the war did not stop.

Once started, the madness didn’t know how to stop and spread explosively.

Eventually, kingdoms emerged that aimed to eliminate other countries, not just the Holy Order.

A hellish landscape unfolded around the territory of the Holy Order.

Asgard simply ‘watched’ it.

“…It seems that the Frantas Kingdom and the Verm Kingdom have declared war on each other. In addition, there are wars in the Kahetan Kingdom and the Miniron Kingdom, and the Pram Kingdom and the Beshar Kingdom….”

Loki, who was resting in the gazebo in front of the greenhouse next to Valhalla Palace, simply listened to Aum’s report.

Aum was sweating as he gave the report.

He never imagined this kind of chaos.

This was the worst war in history, even worse than the continental war of the Hannes Empire 50 years ago.

“…This… seems too much. Shouldn’t we mediate… ?”

Aum cautiously said, watching Loki’s reaction.

“Mediate? Why? Isn’t this a war they wanted?”

“…….”

Loki only questioned Aum’s opinion.

At that time, Sallett, who had harvested fruit from the greenhouse, came out with a basket.

Ifrit was sitting on her shoulder, yawning widely.

As she handed over the harvested fruit, Loki looked at Sallett and said thank you, then picked up a piece of fruit.

“It’s fresh. It’s getting better and better. Very well done.”

Sallett, surprised by Loki’s praise, nodded and muttered softly.

“…Because I tried.”

Aum rubbed his throbbing forehead and said.

“…This is not the time to worry about that. If it’s Loki’s power, there is a way to control them. By using force….”

“Are you saying to massacre them?”

“…No. I mean to control them and focus only on the Holy Order.”

Aum quickly shook his head and shouted.

“The participating countries are losing faith and cannot control themselves. If this continues, they may blame Asgard for this and launch an all-out war….”

“…So, massacre is the answer. We need to show them our power so they don’t rush in without fear. We can overwhelm one or two countries, right?”

Aum was speechless.

“…Just kidding.”

It was when Loki smiled slightly.

“Hoon! Look at this!”

Thump!

The ground vibrated.

Loki, Sallett, and Aum looked up.

A beastman waving cheerfully and a large monster below him could be seen.

Minotaur [a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man].

It was one of the profit items of Astoria Island, and Karen seemed to have succeeded in taming it.

“S-sorry!”

Her brother Thorsen rushed over and repeatedly bowed his head.

Thorsen was exhausted from taking care of his energetic younger sister.

“…We can solve most of the labor with that.”

Its efficiency would be overwhelmingly higher than ordinary cattle and horses.

Sallett tilted her head, not knowing what Loki meant.

Loki glanced at Sallett and said.

“Speaking of which, the Hannes Empire 50 years ago.”

Flinch!

When the story of her hometown came up, Sallett was surprised.

“…The Holy Order and the participating countries slaughtered without mercy, right?”

“…Why are you talking about that?”

It’s never a good story.

Loki smiled.

“Isn’t it really funny? The guys who used to call the Ains heretics and fought together are now making a fuss about killing each other…. Isn’t that a really foolish and pathetic sight? To believe that they are absolutely right.”

“…Could it be revenge for the Hannes Empire… ?”

Aum swallowed hard and looked at the report again.

Most of them were the countries that led the invasion of the Hannes Empire. Those who were blinded by profit and desire.

They were slaughtering like 50 years ago. However, the swords were pointed at each other.

Could it be that you also predicted this?!?

At Aum’s words, Sallett looked at Loki with surprised eyes.

“…R-revenge?”

“…Currently, a great war is taking place on the continent. Each country is invading to strike the Holy Order, and furthermore, they are fighting each other as enemies.”

“…….”

“Of course, there are countries that did not participate, but most of them are the countries that led to the destruction of the Hannes Empire.”

Aum and Sallett looked at Loki.

Loki shrugged his shoulders, maintaining silence at the two people’s gazes.

“…To be honest, I didn’t intend it. My goal was only the Holy Order. I expected them to participate, but who knew they would fight each other? But….”

Loki threw the fruit.

A black beast flowed out of the armor, bit the fruit, and ate it little by little.

“…Now that it’s like this, isn’t it a good thing?”

Loki put his hand on Sallett’s head.

Sallett blankly looked at Loki.

“…….”

“The price of their past sins has only come now. Come to think of it, this is like the judgment of a god who arbitrarily defined faith.”

Aum and Sallett closed their mouths.

“Come to think of it, it may be like the scene of Ragnarok [a series of events leading to the end of the world] in mythology. The end described there is the image of humans killing each other and falling into depravity. Did I cause some of the Ragnarok that Trimm talked about? Haha!”

Loki laughed as if it was fun.

***

Karma Crohn.

He also participated in this war.

He trampled on the territory of the Holy Order with 100,000 slave soldiers, 50,000 elite soldiers, and 1,000 imperial guards.

The territory of the Crohn Empire increased as it eroded the Holy Order faster than any other country.

He achieved the great achievement that the previous emperor could not achieve by occupying the Holy Kingdom.

Thanks to that, his influence also increased.

‘I am trampling on the Holy Order that even my father was wary of! Not with my father’s force, but with my own army!’

He also felt pride.

‘Haha! Surely, faith that didn’t exist is being created. Loki. Are you my god of luck?’

The stigma of being an incompetent emperor who relied on the Constellation of Sin was long gone.

His descendants will also remember him as a glorious emperor.

He believed so.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky and raindrops began to fall one by one.

The faces of the Holy Order soldiers who were fighting the Crohn Empire on the battlefield turned pale.

“…T-Turam?!”

They were flustered and aimed their bows at him.

Turam the Destroyer stepped forward as the vanguard of the Crohn Empire on the battlefield mixed with shouts and screams.

As he swung his spear, dozens of Holy Order paladins were slaughtered.

“Retreat! Retreat!”

Eventually, the Holy Order army retreated.

Karma looked at Turam with satisfaction.

“Thank you for your hard work, Elder Turam. Now, take a rest.”

“You haven’t forgotten that if I’m with you, you’ll let me fight the Constellation of the North, right?”

“I will try to request it as much as possible.”

The reason why Turam follows Karma.

He wanted a raw battle with Loki.

There was never a time that was as enjoyable as that.

If he could fight like that again, he would even sell his soul to the devil.

“I’m counting on you. Huh… ?”

Turam was startled and frowned.

A chilling feeling ran down his spine.

He turned his head and looked into the distance.

“……? What’s wrong?”

As Karma wondered, Turam’s eyes gradually widened.

“…I don’t know much about the world, but according to rumors, the Holy Order is trying to take over the continent using the ‘Worm Feast’ [a plague that creates undead]. Is that right?”

“……? Yes, but… ?”

“I see. Then it seems it wasn’t just a rumor.”

“What are you talking about?”

Karma turned his gaze to where Turam was looking.

The front was not clearly visible due to the misty fog created by the falling rain. The place Turam was looking at was an empty plain.

“Let me ask you one more thing.”

“……?”

“Does the Holy Order… have something like a golem?”

“Golem…? Are you talking about ancient magic weapons? Well. I don’t know if they have it. But even if they have it, it’s just a doll made of dirt. It can’t stop us….”

Karma, who was speaking, was startled and looked at the ground.

The soil, which had been wet from the rain, was gently shaking. And it gradually intensified, and the earth roared.

“E-earthquake?!”

Karma was startled and stuck his sword into the ground to fix it.

“No, it’s not just an earthquake.”

“……?”

“Son of Kashar…! Right now….”

Turam stared straight ahead with cold eyes.

“…Run away.”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Something was running at an incredible speed, shaking the earth.

It had a human form, but gray skin, and wriggling worms could be seen in its mouth, nose, and eyes, bleeding black blood.

Wights [undead creatures].

They were the dead created by the plague of death that drove the continent into fear, the Worm Feast.

Not only that, but there were those who were running between them.

A giant with flames all over his body that did not go out even in the heavy rain was running, spewing out rough breaths of fire.

It was the Wight Corps of Saint Hallows and the Giant Corps of Surt, the giant of flames, with about 500 Worm Feasts and 30 burning giants.

Karma froze the moment he saw them.

After that day, a rumor spread across the continent.

Emperor Karma of the Crohn Empire and the 12 heroes went missing, and an army of 100,000 men disappeared.

And… there was a rumor that the Holy Order had made a contract with the devil.