Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 210

Ner Territory was land located on the continent below Asgard Island, and it was the first continental territory that Asgard acquired.

It was also land prepared for the Norsemen who wanted to farm on vast, expansive fields rather than frozen soil.

Located at the gateway connecting Ronia on the continent and Asgard Island, the village, which started as small rural rice paddies, had developed into a large city.

The adjacent coastline also provided geographical advantages for trade with Astoria Island and numerous other countries.

However, because it had developed into an open city, a disadvantage was the lack of natural barriers to defend the city center.

However, thanks to the soldiers dispatched from Asgard stationed there, the territory residents could live their lives without much worry.

However, as news of the disappearance of the Constellation of the North spread, cults began to run rampant in Ronia.

As the number of cults increased, bandit gangs also began to swarm, and naturally, the security of Ner Territory, located near the border, became unstable as well.

Was it because of that?

“Oh! Are you travelers?”

Lumberjack Ron was worried about the safety of passing travelers.

Carrying chopped firewood on his back, he spoke to the travelers in a carriage passing along the paved road.

The unique appearance of the young man and woman with black and white hair… Were they immigrants?

In these turbulent times on the continent, Asgard, which could be called the eye of the storm, was ironically relatively peaceful.

Looking at the carriage window, various demi-humans were riding.

A small dark elf girl.

With elf hunting becoming extreme on the continent these days, it wasn’t strange that they were seeking a way to survive in the north.

A beastkin girl.

‘Well, I know that quite a few beastkins are flowing in as well.’

Likewise, the cause must be slave hunting.

‘How unfortunate.’

They all seemed to have fled the greed of humans on the continent.

They must have become friends during their travels and were traveling together.

‘Well, it’s better to travel in groups than alone.’

When Ron spoke, the carriage stopped.

Then, he smiled and advised the travelers.

“Traveling is good… but if you’re going to Ner Territory, it’s better to hire mercenaries or adventurers, even if it costs a bit more.”

“Is that so?”

Ron looked at the young man who answered.

He had similar features to the King of the Norse in Asgard, but these days, there were many people with black and white hair.

It was because they admired the King of the Norse and imitated him.

It was a trend among the younger generation these days.

‘It’s a culture I can’t understand in my era.’

These days, even specialized hair-related professions have emerged, and they earn more money than most merchants….

‘But I’ve never heard of speaking informally being a trend?’

Lumberjack Ron wore a bitter expression.

Speaking informally from the first meeting.

Anyway, I can’t understand young people these days.

“Ahem… safety is the top priority when traveling. Especially since your companions are demi-humans….”

“I’ll think about it.”

Ron nodded for a moment, then he felt a strange gaze.

He turned his head and looked into the forest.

The forest, where sunlight did not reach due to the trees, was surrounded by deep darkness.

‘Just now… what was that?’

A presence and a gaze were felt.

It might be the bandit gang that has been rumored to attack travelers these days.

Ron reached for the axe he had at his waist.

At that moment, a rabbit came out of the forest and then went back into the bushes.

‘It was a rabbit?’

Ron relaxed.

It seemed he had become too sensitive because all sorts of rumors were spreading in Asgard these days.

“Thanks for the advice.”

Then, at the man’s words, Ron looked at the man.

‘Hmm… I feel uneasy sending them off like this?’

Ron turned his head and looked at the sky.

Night was approaching.

Ron smacked his lips.

‘…Normally, I would just give advice and end it….’

“Stay at my house tonight. It doesn’t look like you’ll be able to reach Ner Territory by evening.”

Well, this must be fate.

They are travelers visiting Asgard.

If something bad happens to them after I’ve already spoken to them, I’ll have restless dreams.

More than anything….

“Can I borrow your carriage instead?”

I can go home comfortably.

There was also such greed.

At Ron’s words, the man, Loki, nodded.

***

The evening glow was setting.

The surroundings began to be swallowed by darkness.

The carriage rattled as it entered a small village.

Rice paddies with crops taller than people were spread out.

“The vicinity of Ner Territory is developing a lot these days. It’s not just reclaiming land, but also building places for the purpose of cities. It’s all thanks to the Constellation of the North, Loki.”

The carriage headed towards a hut.

In front of it, a woman was waving her hand, and in her arms, she held a child.

The woman appeared to be the lumberjack’s wife, but she looked like a continental person, not a Norseman.

“The King of Ronia gave this land to Asgard in gratitude for ending the civil war.”

The carriage arrived at the hut.

“A stable life. I never dreamed I would have land and live by farming.”

The woman looked surprised as she saw Loki and his group.

“Oh my, guests?”

“Yes, Jen. Show these people to their meals and bedrooms.”

The woman called Jen nodded and guided Loki’s group.

A large amount of bonfires were lit at regular intervals in the village.

Loki looked at the village through the window.

The entire village was lit up by bonfires.

“They use quite a lot of firewood.”

“Yes. Bandit gangs often attack, taking advantage of the darkness. At that time, even if you want to help your neighbors, you can’t because of the darkness, so we light fires every night like this.”

“Bandit gangs attack?”

How do those guys see through the darkness and attack the village?

“They have their own ways. They leave something that smells in the village and use trained dogs to find the location, or they secretly leave ropes or threads in the village and follow them at night.”

“……”

Pope Zaus was right.

Humans adapted and evolved to survive, rather than despairing. Or, should I say they were using their brains?

“Fortunately, Asgard is developing a magical tool that illuminates the darkness. If we have that, we can regain light even at night.”

“Oh, is that so?”

This was a story Loki hadn’t heard either.

That means Urgart, Zaus, or the Shaman must have stepped in.

Inside the hut, there were thread-like things connected, which seemed to be made to estimate the location at night.

The lumberjack gave Loki the children’s room.

“If you need anything, please tell me. I will prepare as much as possible.”

“Is it okay?”

“Yes?”

Loki looked at the lumberjack.

The lumberjack tilted his head.

“To accept strangers so carelessly.”

“…Well, there haven’t been any accidents so far. We should help others if we can.”

“Still, if you unconditionally show kindness to others, you may suffer great harm. Be careful since you have a family.”

“…Thank you. I’ll be careful.”

The lumberjack smiled contentedly as he looked at Loki.

They were the Norse, who were called plunderers.

How often have they been worried about by strangers like this?

I’ve helped so many people so far, but it must be within five fingers [less than a handful].

‘This is why I help others.’

It’s self-satisfying, but this heartwarming feeling was new every time.

More than anything, if the image of the Norse is improved even a little by my actions, I will continue to show kindness.

The lumberjack grabbed the thread and headed to his room.

He opened the door and fumbled his way into bed.

“Did you give the travelers a room?”

His wife asked, holding the child.

“Yes.”

“Um… Ron. It’s good to help others, but… it’s still dangerous to unconditionally show kindness.”

Ron looked at his wife with a bitter expression.

She was a Ronian who had suffered unspeakable hardships during the war and barely escaped to the north as a refugee.

Ron, who was working as a guard at the frozen barrier, took care of her after she defected, and love blossomed.

And when the Ronia War ended and the northern land was attributed to Asgard, Ron quit being a guard and started farming, which had been his long-time dream.

Of course, he did more logging work because farming didn’t go well….

“Still, I have to help. What is our tribe’s image? Even someone like me has to help others like this so that the image of the Norse can be improved. That way, my son will receive better looks [a better reputation], right?”

“…Still, bringing strangers into a house is….”

“…Okay. Jen. I’m sorry. I wasn’t careful enough.”

No accidents have happened so far, but it couldn’t be said that all the guests visiting Asgard had good intentions.

“So… how about we open an inn instead?”

“Yes?”

“I’ll work harder and build another hut. Let’s build just one first and gradually increase it. I’ll have to borrow the money I need, but I can pay it back little by little. How about it?”

Talking to travelers and sharing stories about the world was also the romantic life Ron had in mind.

At those words, Jen smiled and nodded.

***

The night deepened, and the couple fell asleep.

Loki couldn’t sleep.

‘I wonder if Hans is doing well?’

The Asgard subjugation force. Constellation Canus and Demon King Kalib. They were leading the legion of wraiths to Asgard.

Loki recalled Hans’ request.

‘Experimental escape?’

It seemed that the manager was careless in the process of disposing of the subjects who were dying from clinical trials.

The experimental angels escaped, and they seemed to have hidden near Ner Territory.

Loki took over what Hans was originally going to solve when he returned.

He leaned against the wall and fell into thought.

A night where darkness swallows everything.

There was a need for a way to solve this darkness.

‘Light that eliminates darkness.’

Such a tool would have to be created.

Asgard was also devising it, so if Loki gave them Mercury’s head, they might come up with a solution somehow.

It was when he was thinking that.

Loki raised his head.

He sensed a strange presence heading towards the village.

Tsu-tsu-tsutsu-!

Something was sprinting in the forest.

Fast. A strong divine power was felt.

Also, there was a group following the one at the forefront.

They were also filled with magic or divine power.

It was quite a distance from this house.

‘They are not ordinary people.’

Loki felt that the presence of the one at the forefront was familiar.

‘This presence is….’

They came out of the forest and ran towards the nearest house.

Bang-!

An explosion. And a scream was heard.

‘Angel.’

They attacked this small rural village.