Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 217

217

Loki entered the room.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Ah, yes.”

Sharin was flustered.

She was worried about how to greet the guest who had come to her room.

It would be fine if there was a maid, but she was the only one in the room.

“W-Would you like some tea?”

“Yes.”

“J-Just a moment!”

Sharin hurriedly started to prepare the tea.

Loki sat on a nearby simple chair.

“How is your condition?”

“Haa… haha… I’m fine.”

Sharin smiled awkwardly.

She said she was fine, but in reality, her whole body felt heavy like a water-soaked sponge because of the fever.

It wasn’t an ordinary plague.

After treatment, being infected again didn’t build immunity; instead, it was accompanied by pain that was twice as severe as before.

If this plague was left unchecked, it would soon become a major threat to Asgard.

Sharin glanced at Loki while pouring the tea, wondering if she should voice her thoughts.

“Don’t worry. The cure has been created.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but there is no way to build immunity to the plague or prevent it.”

The only way to prevent it was to kill the being who spread the plague.

But in order to face the Constellation who spread the plague, Gaia, an army was needed.

And that army had to be able to overcome the plague.

“We plan to subjugate the Constellation who spread the plague.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“That’s why we want to receive your help.”

Sharin, who was pouring tea, stopped in surprise and looked at Loki.

“Us…?”

She was so surprised that she didn’t realize the tea was overflowing.

“The trainees who can become Einherjar [Norse mythological warriors] will be implanted with the Worm Pest.”

“…….”

“It’s different from the Worm Pest you know. You won’t become a Wight [undead creature]. Think of it as awakening as a Paladin with divine power.”

Sharin quickly picked up the teapot filled with tea.

“There are no exceptions. If you refuse, you will be assigned to the general army. What will you do?”

“…Then what is the price?”

Great power comes with a price.

Loki looked at Sharin and said,

“There is.”

“What is it?”

“Everything.”

“…….”

“Loyalty to Asgard. A soul contract not to betray me.”

The Einherjar trainees were mostly royalty or nobles from other countries.

Loki didn’t want them to receive power and then betray him.

So he wanted them to give everything.

“…That’s the price?”

“Yes.”

“…Then it’s the same as having no price.”

Sharin shrugged.

“I’ll swear it right here.”

She was a hostage sold from the Cron Empire.

“I, Sharin Cron.”

She had nowhere else to go.

“Until the day my soul is exhausted and disappears.”

Asgard had long been her only sanctuary.

“I pledge to serve this Asgard and the Constellation of the End.”

For the sake of that country and Loki, who had saved her countless times… she would offer that kind of loyalty and faith until her soul disappeared.

“I pledge to serve at this place.”

Sharin put her hand on her chest and knelt towards Loki.

***

“Hey… are you worried?”

Cancun stopped in surprise and turned her head.

Salad next to her looked at her with a worried face.

The capital of Asgard, the temporary clinic.

There, Cancun, Salad, and Shaman were taking care of plague patients.

The holy water that could treat patients was scheduled to be produced in large quantities today.

This would restore stability not only to the capital but also to other regions and rural villages.

But Cancun was more worried than relieved.

“Huh? About what?”

Cancun looked at Salad with a forced smile.

“…Kudan. That bear uncle.”

“Ha, haha! It’s okay. He’s my uncle, right?”

Who could face that monster-like man?

But as time passed, she couldn’t help but become more anxious.

Cancun clasped her hands together tightly.

“Don’t worry too much. It’s Kudan Ragnal. The great warrior who once opposed the Constellation would not be defeated so easily, would he?”

Shaman smiled softly at Cancun and said.

Certainly, Cancun was the only one worried about Kudan right now.

Everyone thought that if it was a monster like Kudan, he would surely survive.

“Um… High Priestess.”

Cancun raised her head.

A Nord warrior cautiously approached her.

“That….”

Looking around, he whispered in her ear.

“We have found out the whereabouts of Kudan.”

“Yes?!”

Cancun’s face brightened.

“I-Is he safe?!”

The Nord warrior’s face hardened at Cancun’s expression.

“…Yes, according to the messenger, he is currently hiding in the Kaprik Territory.”

“Inside the Kaprik Territory?”

Hiding in a territory occupied by the enemy!

It wouldn’t be strange if he was discovered and captured or killed at any moment.

‘Still, he’s my uncle… he’ll somehow endure it.’

Kudan was skilled and wise, at least when it came to the battlefield.

Rather than revealing himself by doing reckless things, he would hide and wait for an opportunity.

Also, the fact that he sent a letter like this meant that there was a gap in the Kaprik Territory.

“He is currently hiding with the cooperation of the territory’s residents.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, but the occupiers are rough, and the territory’s residents are also reporting to survive… If this continues, he may be discovered soon.”

It meant that he might be caught at any moment, and also that the plague might break out and ruin his body at any time.

“I-Is that so?”

Still, it was a relief that he was safe.

“This is his message.”

Cancun received the message.

“It is a request for rescue and information about the enemy forces that Commander Kudan has found out. The enemy forces are the ‘Dshar,’ a small kingdom army from the west. The main force is composed of mercenaries, and it is a country that built its kingdom through plunder and mercenary life, just like our Nord tribe in the past.”

“…….”

“They are said to be violent, causing extreme damage to the territory’s residents, so a way to evacuate the territory’s residents is needed. Also, something strange seems to have taken root in the Kaprik Territory.”

“Something strange?”

“The World Tree.”

Cancun and Salad’s eyes widened.

“That giant tree, which was only considered a legend, is said to be standing in the Kaprik Territory.”

***

Loki received the report.

Kudan Ragnal and the survivors of the Berserkers [Norse warriors who fought in a trance-like fury] were hiding together in the Kaprik Territory.

Also, many territory residents were isolated like hostages.

Above all-.

‘A giant tree….’

A giant tree, hundreds to thousands of meters tall, was said to be in the Kaprik Territory.

It had appeared from the abyss of the night in just one night, and it was spreading light green light in all directions.

‘That must be the source of this plague.’

The Earth Goddess Gaia would be there.

“Cancun.”

That’s why Loki called Cancun.

In front of the throne in Valhalla Palace, Cancun bowed her head to Loki.

“Complete the training of the Einherjar.”

“…….”

“Have the volunteers receive Zaus’s procedure. And finally.”

Loki got up from his seat.

“As their final test, have them ‘hunt angels’.”

After that, they would be immediately投入 to the battlefield.

“I will watch the process myself.”

***

“We will select volunteers.”

Worm Pest.

It was no longer a secret.

There was not enough time to keep the secret strictly.

Therefore, Cancun decided to openly gather the Einherjar trainees in the training ground and show them in front of them.

“We will be selecting Einherjar elite soldiers who will belong to Loki’s direct unit.”

At that, the trainees buzzed.

“R-Really?”

The clergyman Egil was surprised and admired, doubting his ears.

To confirm, he nudged Sharin next to him, but Sharin had already heard it, so she was indifferent.

Cancun raised a bottle.

There was a pure white worm in it.

“What is that?”

“A branch?”

“It’s moving? Isn’t it a caterpillar?”

When the trainees were puzzled, Cancun said.

“It’s the Worm Pest.”

Instantly, everyone’s face hardened.

The fear of the Worm Pest was evident in their eyes, but it was only for a moment.

When Cancun scanned the trainees with indifferent eyes, the trainees who grasped the atmosphere all lined up and calmed down the commotion.

It was not like an Einherjar trainee to be afraid of just the Worm Pest.

They were a unit that wanted to receive Loki’s divine power as Loki’s direct unit.

“This will be the source of the divine power that Loki bestows.”

At that, the trainees had questions.

What does that mean?

“If this Worm Pest is implanted in your heart, you will become beings that transcend humans.”

“……!”

“Powerful strength, fast speed, and ultra-fast regeneration ability.”

Each time they heard that, the trainees sweated coldly.

Doesn’t that mean… they will become monsters like the Black Judges?

“And you will have vast divine power.”

But everyone was surprised by Cancun’s next words.

This was the same for Sharin, who had prepared herself.

‘Divine power?’

Not magic power?

“This is a creation personally created by Pope Zaus of the Azelan Church and other Constellations in collaboration.”

It was not a lie.

Since Loki, Zaus, Helga, and Urgart jointly created it, it could be said to be a weapon created by the Constellations.

“As Paladins [a heroic champion], you will become the Asgard Paladin Order.”

Asgard’s first Paladin Order.

That was the Einherjar.

“Of course, there are no side effects until you use the power. When you use the power, we will periodically provide drugs to eliminate the side effects. Of course, it is also possible to remove this worm through surgery.”

That meant that they could have great power without having to pay a special price, and they could return to being ordinary humans at any time.

“However, as long as this worm is implanted in your heart, give everything to Loki. Your flesh, soul, and every drop of blood all belong to Loki.”

“…….”

“Then, in return, he will give you power.”

Cancun’s words were a sweet temptation.

You can have powerful power. You can become a being with transcendent power.

The price for all of that is only loyalty.

Some of the trainees gently closed their eyes.

After thinking for a while, they open their eyes.

“Those who wish to receive the procedure, come forward.”

Sharin stepped forward.

Egil watched the scene, gritted his teeth, and stepped forward.

One by one, they stepped forward.

“Good. Then.”

Cancun nodded.

“You will now become Einherjar.”

***

Loki moved his steps.

The place he moved to was the forge deep underground in Valhalla.

Clang-!

The ground vibrated with a huge metallic sound.

As Loki went down the stairs, a wide space appeared.

The place was like a huge dungeon, but blacksmiths were densely packed and hammering in a constant rhythm.

It looked as if human-shaped machines were mass-producing weapons.

Loki looked at the scene and turned his head.

“You’ve come.”

The blacksmith god, Kanus, approached Loki.

“It’s been a while, End.”

There was a reason why Kanus called Loki here.

“The weapon you desire.”

It was a weapon containing the power of the Constellation.

“The weapon that Urgart and this Kanus created is complete.”