Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 229

229. The Player Who Became a Constellation

“Asgard has the power to drive away the great disasters that have befallen the continent!”

A rumor spreading across the continent.

“With a wave of his hand, the sea calmed!”

It meant that the disasters plaguing the continent were disappearing by his hand.

“As he walked, the split lands of the Underworld rejoined-.”

The rumor gradually spread throughout the continent.

“As he flew through the sky, scattering light, the darkness of the abyss vanished, and ordinary night took its place!”

Everything was returning to its place.

“He is the constellation who will prevent the end!”

Such rumors spread across the continent.

Then, Pope Jaus, in place of the Constellation of the End, declared to the kings of each nation.

“I will eliminate the disasters that have befallen you. Wise and great kings, hunt down the corrupted constellations and follow the will of the Creator, Azelan-!”

Following the corrupted constellations meant periodically sacrificing people to them in an environment filled with disasters caused by their deaths.

Conversely, siding with Asgard meant not only eliminating the great disasters but also eradicating the deeply rooted cults and angels in their lands.

It was an attractive proposition not only for the kings who had maintained neutrality but also for kingdoms forcibly subjugated to the corrupted constellations.

The neutral countries and the forcibly subjugated kingdoms.

It was the moment their hesitation vanished.

***

Constellations gathered in the Tower of Elysion.

One of them looked at Therios and sneered.

「Hmph!」

The blatant and mocking laughter echoed in the quiet conference room.

In response, several constellations began to chuckle softly.

「Asgard is isolated? The end can be pressured by humans? Sun God, what happened? The humans are all sticking together and clinging to the youngest?」

「Pfft!」

「Hahaha!」

Laughter echoed.

Therios stood frozen, his eyes bloodshot at the constellations’ ridicule.

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, the angels sitting on the platform swallowed hard.

Therios inhaled and exhaled.

He closed his eyes, maintaining his composure.

「…Now, we must form an alliance and strengthen our bonds.」

The constellations stared at Therios with surprised expressions.

Some of the mocking constellations twitched their eye muscles.

They thought he would be provoked, but he was surprisingly patient.

One of the constellations spoke.

「Haven’t we already formed an alliance? Not to attack each other until the end dies.」

「That’s right. That’s right. We’re already doing that, aren’t we? What’s the problem?」

One of the constellations shrugged.

The other constellations nodded in agreement.

Therios pondered how to deal with these foolish constellations.

‘That’s not an alliance, it’s a non-aggression pact, you idiots.’

But if he said that, they would run wild.

‘I’m foolish too. Arrogance has dominated reason.’

He had killed the angel who came to report because they interrupted him and made him a laughingstock.

His old bad habits had resurfaced.

To survive this war, there was one thing he had to abandon.

‘Arrogance.’

Yes! Wasn’t it because of that arrogance that he was defeated by Jaus and sealed away to sleep?

But now was different. He had to remember the past and move forward.

‘Abandon arrogance.’

And he had to solidify the alliance between the constellations.

‘With a firm bond, we must drive out that constellation.’

Just like when they killed the Azelan constellation.

Like then, everyone had to join forces and stab the Constellation of the End in the back.

Then, they could once again enjoy the game of conquering this world as before.

That’s all they had to do….

「…The Sun God, who was most loved by Father, is in this state?」

These guys were fixated on belittling him out of their surging inferiority complex.

They were probably annoyed that he was the host of this meeting and that they had to follow him willingly.

They felt inferior to Therios, who seemed to have a little more authority.

‘…….’

Therios sighed.

Constellations.

In human terms, they were like children.

Impulsive and impatient.

They bluffed, showed off, and didn’t hesitate to do reckless things.

Of course.

Except for their siblings, everything in this world was their toy.

Even after thousands or tens of thousands of years, their personalities had not changed and would not change.

That’s why Azelan had a hard time taking care of them.

‘…I’m realizing the greatness of Father anew.’

How did the Azelan constellation appease and coax these crazy guys to create the world?

‘But knowing they were like this, he must have prepared for betrayal.’

Therios took a deep breath.

Therios pointed to an angel.

「You, find out what this guy found out again. I’ll give you 10 minutes.」

Therios pointed to the angel he had killed.

「Yes, yes! I understand!」

One of the angels flew up and hurriedly descended the tower.

Soon after, the angel returned and handed over a report.

「Re, reporting.」

Therios scanned the report and closed his mouth.

The constellations pretended not to be interested but stared at Therios.

「We have more reason to unite.」

Even at Therios’s words, the constellations seemed uninterested.

But that was just on the surface; they were all ears.

They knew it too.

The end was dangerous.

At some point, the fear of death had crept into them.

「He made weapons out of the bodies of our dead brothers and sisters.」

「What?」

「What are you talking about?」

Everyone showed interest.

Therios showed the report.

「He can kill constellations and use their powers.」

The constellations’ faces hardened.

Therios wore a bitter expression.

「Indeed… Father is great.」

He tore up the report.

「It seems Azelan has definitely created a being to replace us.」

The constellations’ faces were filled with obvious fear.

「Are you still going to underestimate him? Siblings.」

No constellation objected to that.

***

There was no great difficulty for Loki to return to Asgard.

The sea had calmed, and the darkness of the night had disappeared.

As the Asgardian fleet arrived, enthusiastic cheers erupted.

They had won again!

The Constellation of the End had killed the corrupted constellation!

Cheers echoed.

Loki, standing on the deck of the warship, said to Cancun.

“I will go separately.”

“Yes?”

“I am tired. I want to go to the capital quietly.”

“Ah, I understand. I will prepare a horse.”

Cancun nodded.

Loki rode his horse along the paved road.

Leaving the harbor, heading to the capital.

The capital was in a festive mood.

Petals were falling from all directions.

People cheered.

Small stages set up on the streets hosted performances such as circuses and plays.

Bards played in the square.

“…….”

Loki looked up at the sky.

He could see people scattering petals from the walls surrounding the capital.

“Not long ago, a plague spread through pollen.”

They seemed to have forgotten that fact.

Whether they were simple-minded or just enjoying each day cheerfully….

Loki smiled as he watched the Norsemen enjoying the festival.

Meanwhile, something caught his eye.

A loud noise erupted high in the sky, and the sound of wind expanding and bursting could be heard.

Bang-!

The Asgardians startled and looked up at the sky.

Bang!

Bang!

They flinched.

The death of the Constellation of Wind had created an unstable atmosphere, causing frequent gusts of wind.

Since the phenomenon appeared high in the sky, it did not cause much damage to those on the ground, but birds or flying monsters would no longer be able to fly freely in the sky.

Loki lowered his gaze, looking at the harvest in the market street.

However, the fruits and grains seemed lifeless and withered.

“…The harvest hasn’t been good lately.”

“No, it suddenly became like this, you know?”

“Did you hear? An unknown plague is spreading on the continent.”

“The Ner region has a bad harvest. They say the crops suddenly withered…!”

‘I need to resolve this quickly.’

The deaths of these constellations seemed quite dangerous.

He had to make the artifacts as soon as possible.

‘That much our influence will rise as well.’

Numerous carriages passed along the paved road, escorted by armed knights leading warhorses.

‘Are those envoys from other countries?’

It was very effective.

The artifacts containing the constellations’ powers.

They were effectively increasing their influence by eliminating the disasters plaguing the continent.

When Jaus first learned of this fact, he was quite surprised, as he had not expected it.

‘To be able to eliminate natural disasters on the continent with just a single use of power.’

This was a very powerful weapon.

He knew why neutral countries were siding with the corrupted constellations.

If great disasters overlapped each time the constellations died, it would be difficult for them to survive.

So, most of them chose to sacrifice a small number of people to save a large number.

But now, there was no need to do that.

‘Neutrality is all they need to maintain.’

Loki proposed to other countries.

He publicly announced that he would eliminate disasters if they ‘did not participate in the war.’

When Jaus announced this through his influence over the entire continent, the news spread rapidly.

Since they would eliminate disasters just by maintaining neutrality, there would be no better condition for the kingdoms.

However, he promised special rewards to countries that formed an alliance and participated in the war together.

He would spare no support in eradicating cults and angels that invaded their territory, and each time they occupied the territories of the corrupted constellations’ apostles, he would hand over the land or a portion of the spoils.

Two choices were given to the kingdoms devastated by the continent’s disasters, cults, angels, and other calamities.

To collapse as they were, or to join Asgard in the war and seize the opportunity for revival.

‘…Besides, it would be a good game too.’

He could travel to other countries under the pretext of restoring the continent.

Since others lacked the ability, he would have to go himself.

It was a good opportunity to travel around the area.

‘I’m looking forward to where I’ll go next.’

With such anticipation, Loki whistled and headed to Urgart’s sanctuary.

It was to turn the constellations he had hunted this time into items.

The Constellation of Wind, Mekrius.

The Constellation of Earth, Gaian.

Their powers would exert considerable strength.

But what came back to Loki was Urgart’s head shake.

「Impossible.」

“…Why?”

Loki looked up at Urgart with dissatisfaction.

Urgart burst into laughter and waved his hand.

「The body of the Constellation of Wind can be used. But….」

Urgart pointed to the Constellation of Earth, Gaian.

「That’s just a shell.」

“…A shell?”

「Perhaps, didn’t she have something else with her?」

“Something else…? Ah!”

Loki took out the World Tree sapling from his inventory.

“Are you talking about this?”

「Oh! A unique energy. I see. Her main body is that.」

“This?”

「But it’s ambiguous to make it into an artifact. It’s too small and pathetic.」

Loki blinked and looked at the World Tree sapling.

「Why don’t you try growing it instead?」

“What?”

「That.」

Urgart pointed to the World Tree sapling.

“I don’t know how to grow plants.”

If he didn’t dry it out, it would be a great success.

「Then entrust it to someone else.」

At those words, a person came to Loki’s mind.

“Ah!”

An expert on plants.

The one who contributed to building orchards and farming in this northern Asgard.

“Salad.”

The dark elf Salad.

She would be able to grow this sapling.