Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 179

Player Who Became a Constellation – Episode 179

The development of the Worm Fest weapon was spearheaded by Loki, with Urgart and Helga also agreeing to contribute.

Two individuals who had reached Constellation-level power joined the effort.

Furthermore, they received support from shamans and the Imperial Alchemists, an organization directly under the Karma Emperor.

“You’re insane. My friend, even so, messing with a plague is a bit much, don’t you think?” Karma asked.

Karma understood the terrifying potential of the Worm Fest plague.

Dealing with its source was incredibly risky.

It could even be a decision that would lead to the country’s downfall.

“What if you can’t control the plague?”

That was a valid concern.

If things went awry, they would face a catastrophe even more horrific than the previous attack on the capital.

“So, what’s the solution?”

However, to Loki’s question, the Emperor—.

“…If it succeeds, can I use it too?”

—revealed his ambition.

The desire of emperors throughout history: immortality.

This was an opportunity to gain power approaching that ideal, so he couldn’t refuse.

Thanks to that, securing support from the Cron Empire was straightforward.

An unexpected figure also stepped forward during the weapon’s development.

「I will help as well.」

It was Pope Jaus, from the Magic Tower that towered at the center of Valhalla Academy.

Loki, engrossed in his Worm Fest research, stared at Jaus with surprise.

「What’s wrong? Brother.」

“…Isn’t it surprising that a Pope is participating in developing a plague that brings death to the world, rather than trying to eliminate it?”

Pope Jaus had even instigated a rebellion to stop the Worm Fest plague when the Saint King Palis spread it.

He should have been the one who hated the Worm Fest plague the most, yet he was volunteering to research it.

「What you desire is not a plague.」

That was correct.

Loki wasn’t aiming to create a biochemical weapon.

He envisioned something like a semi-permanent enhancer that would maximize the military’s strength and individual abilities.

「I thought it would be effective against the angels. Their forces will surely become stronger.」

Currently, the continent was a powder keg on the verge of exploding.

Although it wasn’t openly known, reports indicated that influential figures across the continent were in contact with and worshiping ‘Constellations’ [powerful, god-like beings].

「We cannot face them with mere human power.」

If hundreds, even thousands, of angels gathered under the fallen Constellations, even Asgard would stand little chance of winning.

Even if Loki intervened, he couldn’t confront that many angels and Constellations simultaneously….

A weapon was needed to amplify individual capabilities.

「So, I will help.」

“…Then I would be grateful.”

「Before that, I want to meet Saint King Palis.」

“Why?”

「He is the only one who knows the Worm Fest manufacturing method…. We must find out through interrogation.」

Thus, Loki’s research progressed faster and more smoothly than anticipated.

Large amounts of research data were obtained from the Kartal Kingdom, the base of the Black Arbiters [a group of demon worshipers].

Based on that data, research was conducted by Loki, Urgart, and Helga, all skilled in magic, with Jaus’s participation and the confession of Saint King Palis, the creator of the Worm Fest, extracted through… interrogation.

Loki gazed at the Worm Fest contained in the vial.

‘It must be made harmless to the human body.’

Loki sought the potent strength unique to Asgard.

Furthermore, it had to be acceptable on the continent.

‘To achieve that, we need to apply divine power, not magic.’

The Worm Fest operated using magic.

But if it were converted to divine power, the continent wouldn’t resist it.

In fact, they might even praise it as a true army of God.

‘The infection effect must be eliminated….’

Above all.

“The Worm Fest must only be able to parasitize through specific procedures, and it must also be removable only through procedures.”

Only then would it become a weapon that could be exclusively controlled.

“But there’s a problem.”

That was the clinical trial.

As he worried, Jaus spoke.

「Aren’t there plenty of materials?」

Loki looked at him, tilting his head in question.

「Angels. Their body structure is almost identical to humans.」

“…….”

「Wouldn’t it be better to experiment on them first, and then experiment on humans? There are plenty of bandits and cultists on the continent, so they will also be helpful.」

…Is this guy really a Pope?

Such a person is revered by the Holy Order….

Jaus chuckled at Loki’s silence.

「From Genesis until now, looking at the countless fallen Constellations and angels, and the 모습 [state] of humans who have fallen, I have no choice but to change like this.」

“…Then let’s do that.”

However, the number of angels captured alive was small.

That meant they needed to capture more angels for bio-experiments.

Then….

“I have to catch them.”

He had to capture more angels.

***

Saint King Palis was captured.

That news spread rapidly across the continent.

‘Could it be… that Saint King… was captured by demon worshipers?’

Countries that had maintained neutrality began to align with Asgard one by one after hearing the news.

In contrast, the forces of the Black Arbiters were fractured.

No, it could be said that they collapsed.

With their powerful leader gone, the cult leaders vied to become the next Saint King.

The result was Asgard’s iron fist.

The surviving Black Arbiters had to find another way to survive.

Ultimately, they journeyed to the desolate land at the edge of the continent, where the ancient ruins of the west lay dormant.

The Black Arbiters appeared in that barren wasteland.

They looked around and found a staircase in the desolate clearing.

A deep dungeon leading underground.

“…Is this the place?”

It was also the place Saint King Palis would have reached if he had safely escaped from the Kartal Kingdom.

This was the place where the ancient gods were sealed.

The Black Arbiters began their descent.

The dungeon was deep and dark.

They held up lanterns.

As expected, they couldn’t see far ahead in the dim light.

“Hoo….”

Their bodies trembled, and they grew nervous.

If what they sought wasn’t down here, their future looked bleak.

Clutching at their last hope, they continued onward.

A steel door appeared.

The Black Arbiters exchanged glances and nodded.

They opened the steel door.

Then, a vast landscape unfolded before them.

Although clearly underground, lush grass grew, and the dungeon’s ceiling displayed a blue sky and a blazing sun.

“What…!”

“My God! How is this possible…!”

A space that seemed like a completely different world from the surface.

It was reminiscent of paradise as described in the Bible.

The Black Arbiters were captivated by the sight.

The eyes of the Black Arbiters gradually widened.

Numerous angels fluttered their white and black wings, freely soaring in the sky.

Each one possessed the power to confront an army.

There seemed to be hundreds of them.

How many humans would they have to sacrifice each day to appease these beings?

Such questions were fleeting as the Black Arbiters shifted their gaze.

A temple.

No, a massive altar that resembled a temple.

To its left and right, humans knelt with their heads bowed.

‘Familiar faces.’

They were the kings of well-known kingdoms on the continent.

They must have received [Divine Artifacts], which could be considered the protection of the Constellations.

“…Pfft.”

A king who noticed the Black Arbiters sneered at them.

“Now that the Saint King is dead, the discarded trash is gathering one by one.”

Dead, what does that mean?! He is clearly alive!!

But they knew in their hearts.

The Holy Kingdom had fallen, and the Saint King had been captured by Asgard.

They were merely defeated soldiers.

The Black Arbiters, their pride wounded anew, gritted their teeth.

Even so, they looked toward the center of the great hall.

An altar raised high with stairs.

The beings seated there were visible.

‘Those whom the Constellation Azelan created by plucking stars, but became corrupted by the dust.’

But beings with the power of nature.

“…We behold the great Supreme Constellations.”

The Constellations.

The Black Arbiters bowed their heads towards them.

The fallen Constellations were gradually revealing themselves.

***

Loki moved, skimming through documents.

[The Constellations have begun to move.]

The Constellations were beginning to reveal their 모습 [presence] throughout the continent.

[Movements have been detected from small kingdoms to even empires on the continent.]

The fallen Constellations began to increase their power by entrusting themselves to the rulers of various countries.

Those chosen by the Constellations all proclaimed themselves the lords who would rule this world, and they initiated wars to prove the greatness of their Constellations.

There was no justification.

They simply invaded because others did not worship the Constellations they served.

Consequently, unprepared countries were easily defeated.

In a way, it was inevitable.

The angels controlled by the Constellations, and the divine artifacts bestowed upon them.

It was natural that their abilities displayed tremendous power.

‘Are they finally stepping forward in earnest?’

Loki sent letters to the countries that started the war, but only silence answered.

Some even expelled the envoys.

‘But the fact that they didn’t harm the envoys….’

It meant that the rulers of each country were still being cautious.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

They were rulers who had succumbed to the Holy Order.

Nothing would change even if they stepped forward.

‘The development of the Worm Fest is making considerable progress.’

Cancun was focusing on fostering Einherjar [elite warriors].

Helga was also busy fostering Valkyries [female figures who choose who lives and dies in battle] in addition to developing the Worm Fest.

‘…I asked Helga for too much.’

She would be short on time with just the Worm Fest research.

‘…Shall I check?’

Loki recalled when he asked Helga.

“Senior, you really ask for ridiculous things.”

He wondered if it was possible.

“Is it impossible?”

He merely expressed regret, but it seemed to have put pressure on Helga.

“…It’s not impossible.”

She seemed to be reluctantly agreeing.

‘Instead, please make some time for me next time.’

Was it because of what she had experienced while on the continent?

She harbored a distrust of humans.

It would be difficult for her to teach others.

But the fact that she said that meant that she felt lonely on one hand, so it meant that humanity was still left.

‘Come to think of it….’

I know that Sella also wanted to become stronger and went under Helga.

Helga readily accepted.

The dark elf’s heart was good for gathering magic power and was also useful for handling the undead.

Loki stepped onto the stone stairs leading underground.

Round and round, he descended the spiral-shaped stairs designed underground.

What Loki saw when he reached the end of the floor….

‘What is this again….’

Is it a cult group?

There was an altar and torches around it.

A student was lying on the altar, and students were kneeling around him, praying.

Helga stood tall, and Sella was seen giving her a dagger next to her.

Helga, who received the dagger, plunged it into the student’s heart.

Thud-!

Blood splattered. The student’s body collapsed and died instantly.

“…What are you doing now? Helga.”

Sella flinched at Loki’s words.

On the other hand, Helga simply looked at Loki with an indifferent face.

“Did you come?”

No, I wish you would give me an answer other than saying, “Did you come?”

When Loki stared at Helga without saying anything, Helga only met his gaze.

Rather, Helga tilted her head as if asking why.

After staring at each other for a long time, it was Helga who turned her gaze away first.

She reached out to the dead student.

Rune letters were engraved from her fingertips.

Accordingly, the body of the dead student began to react.

The hole that had been pierced began to regenerate, and the scattered blood floated back into the air and seeped back into the body.

It was as if time was going backward.

“Heok-!!”

The student inhaled and breathed.

“Ah, ah ah-!”

The students brought a blanket to their revived colleague, draped it over their shoulders, and took them away.

“He’s alive!”

“Another miracle has happened!”

The students muttered and prayed with their hands together.

Loki, who had been silently watching the 모습 [scene], finally opened his mouth.

“What are you doing?”

It was the same question.

But the target was Sella.

Sella only closed her mouth tightly and avoided Loki’s gaze.

In fact, she probably doesn’t know either.

“It’s the same as what you see.”

In the end, it was Helga who spat out the answer.

Loki narrowed his brows.

“I’m fostering Valkyries as Senior said.”

…An even more incomprehensible answer came back.