Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 38

38. Player as a Constellation

Episode 38

Serut turned to look around the forest, but the man in the crow mask was nowhere to be seen.

“He’s gone?!”

Where did he go? Did I lose him?!

She fidgeted, feeling bewildered.

Watching her, Ifrit sighed deeply.

—Don’t worry. I know the direction he went.

At Ifrit’s words, Serut breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, she was filled with doubt.

“Him? Why do you call him ‘him’?”

It was Ifrit who was embarrassed by Serut’s words. He was muttering, ‘Why is that?’ and pondering.

—…I don’t know either. But I instinctively fear him.

“…Who fears whom?”

—…I fear him.

“…….”

It was an incomprehensible statement. From what she had heard, spirits were said not to fear even the legendary dragons. And yet, this spirit feared a mere human?

“…Are you afraid of humans?”

At her reaction, Ifrit opened his mouth as if wanting to make an excuse.

—Don’t misunderstand. He is not just any human.

“…So, he’s not human after all?”

She had vaguely sensed it too.

—Yes, he is something alien. However, I don’t know what that something is. It’s just a feeling. You saw it too, didn’t you? His… true form.

“…….”

Serut nodded, recalling what had happened in the underground secret passage some time ago.

At that time, he was clearly not human, but a ‘demon’.

He was the one who had annihilated those terrible wights [undead creatures] with overwhelming force in an instant.

‘…He wasn’t an ordinary being after all.’

“…….”

Feeling burdened by Serut’s obvious gaze, Ifrit changed the subject.

—Are you going to keep chasing him? If so, I’ll tell you the direction. If you follow him now, it won’t be too late.

“…Thank you.”

—Don’t get the wrong idea. I’ll be in trouble if you die. I’m just keeping my contract with your father, Kalib.

Ifrit spoke coldly, but Serut knew that he wasn’t being sincere. He always took care of her.

Like another father.

***

Loki sat in his spot, silently closing his eyes.

The sun had set, and the night sky, with its dark clouds gone, was shining beautifully with three bright moons as if nothing had happened.

The softly echoing sounds of insects, the smell of grass wet with rain, and the quiet atmosphere were very pleasing to Loki.

Opening his closed eyes, he looked at the trees.

Trees full of green, stretching high into the sky.

Although the humidity had risen due to the rain, causing a hazy fog, it reflected the moonlight in the darkness, creating a mysterious atmosphere and beauty.

Loki felt a strange sensation as he watched the dreamlike scenery that would be nearly impossible in his world.

While the frozen earth was endlessly white, the continent was a land that created colorful lights.

The Celtic Mountains alone were entirely red with red trees, and here in the forest, even the trunks of the trees were all green.

Crack-!

At the sound of a breaking branch, Loki, who was sitting on a mossy rock, tilted his head slightly.

A girl who had accidentally stepped on a branch made eye contact with Loki and hid behind a tree in surprise.

“…How long are you going to keep following me?”

“…….”

There is no response.

I don’t know how many times this has happened.

I’ve tried talking to her several times, but she keeps ignoring me.

However, she doesn’t go anywhere else and keeps following Loki.

I don’t know what the girl’s purpose is or why she is so obsessed with him.

‘I don’t think she has any ill intentions.’

Could it be that she wanted revenge for hitting him on the crown of his head during their first meeting?… It was an absurd thought, but it didn’t seem like that either.

‘Then why is she following me so much? Simple curiosity?’

Most of those who saw Loki’s true form were afraid of him and kept their distance.

But this girl seems to be more curious.

‘But is that child okay?’

Loki walked without resting or eating.

So, the girl who is following him is also continuing to follow him without properly eating or sleeping.

Her firm will not to miss him was commendable, but no matter how he thought about it, it was a reckless act.

The girl was enduring a march that would have knocked down an ordinary person several times.

‘But that will also have its limits.’

Loki had no choice but to take a break. If he continued like this, the girl would collapse, and if that happened, it was obvious that monsters or wild animals would eat her. If that girl died because of him, he would inevitably feel uneasy.

Serut was relieved to see Loki taking a break.

She didn’t want to show it, but her body was already screaming in its limits.

Serut looked down at her feet.

She was an elf, called the fairy of the forest, but after walking barefoot continuously, she was covered in wounds.

There was no feeling, let alone throbbing and stinging sensations, as if the sensation in her feet was completely paralyzed.

Serut knew very well that it was dangerous to leave it like this.

“…I need to treat them.”

Hmm?!

Serut was startled by the voice coming from above her head and raised her head.

The crow-masked Loki was already looking down at her.

Serut reflexively took a step back and tried to run away, but her feet got tangled and she fell.

“……!”

‘…How?! I didn’t hear any sound!’

She is an elf who is sensitive to sound.

Even though she could detect the sound of stepping on grass in the forest, she was so surprised that she didn’t notice anything, that her head turned completely white and she was staring blankly at Loki.

Loki ignored Serut’s reaction and reached out to grab the soles of her feet and check their condition.

“Ugh….”

“They’re festering.”

They were slender feet that seemed like they would break even if he gave them a little strength. Loki was impressed that she had managed to walk through the forest with these feet.

Due to the forced march of several days and the rain just now, yellow pus was already coming out of her feet.

“…Never mind.”

Serut struggled and pulled her feet away, then got up from her seat.

Loki said at the girl’s cold attitude.

“Let’s stay here for a few hours. Take a rest.”

“…….”

At Loki’s words, Serut stepped back with her mouth tightly shut.

It was like a wild animal keeping its distance in警戒 [Keikai: Japanese word for vigilance or caution].

Loki didn’t care anymore and went back to his spot.

He glanced at Serut, but she was just staring at Loki and didn’t think about resting.

Loki silently took out the camping gear from his inventory.

He moved exaggeratedly to set up a tent, gathered firewood, and lit a fire with flint.

It was essentially an unnecessary action, but he deliberately moved his body so that Serut could feel at ease.

Only then, reassured by Loki’s movements, did she begin to move.

She finds, selects, and collects nearby grass leaves. Then, she puts them in her mouth and chews them, spits them out, squeezes out the pus from the soles of her feet, and covers them with the chewed grass leaves.

“…It hurts.”

It is a treatment method that elves have used since ancient times.

It is effective, but it seems that it is painful, and tears are welling up in her eyes, but she is forcibly holding back.

Serut, who fixed the medicinal herbs on the wound with a string, climbed up the tree with agile movements.

She picked the fruit on the tree, took a seat, took a bite, and sat there as if observing Loki.

‘…She’s a unique one.’

Still, it would be more enjoyable to have a companion than traveling alone.

Loki rested while watching the bonfire.

***

Before he knew it, the sun rose and Serut woke up.

She felt like she had slept well for the first time in a long time, and her body felt light and refreshed. Her legs were also feeling a little better, and her senses were returning.

“……?”

She brushed her hair back with a hazy feeling and blinked as she looked at the object next to her.

A leather outfit with a red background and black colors. It is a simple travel outfit with a hood to cover the head.

However, it seems to be made of luxurious material, smooth and with an excellent design. Next to it were black boots, considering the condition of Serut’s feet.

“This is… ?”

She was on the tree, tilting her head at the suddenly appearing travel clothes and shoes, when Ifrit, who had been summoned next to her, stood with his arms crossed.

-He left it behind.

“…That human?”

Serut turned her head and looked down.

The crow-masked man sitting on the weeds was taking out a book and reading it, spending time.

Even though he could leave at any time if he wanted to, he was keeping her in mind, and he was guarding the spot even after several hours had passed.

Serut couldn’t help but wonder as she looked at Loki like that.

Why is he taking care of her so much? Even though he could shake her off at any time if he wanted to….

As if knowing Serut’s thoughts, Ifrit shook his head.

-How long are you going to keep doing that?

“What?

-I mean following him.

Serut turned her head and avoided Ifrit’s gaze.

“…I don’t know either.”

-What’s the reason? Simple curiosity? Or are you trying to use him?

Serut blinked as she looked at Ifrit.

Come to think of it, why is she chasing after that mysterious man? What’s the reason?

Even if she asked herself, the answer didn’t come out.

Is it curiosity as Ifrit said?

Maybe so. It may be because she is curious about his appearance, which is far from human.

Or is it use?

This is not it. She didn’t think she could use him. The reason she became a slave herself in the first place was to prepare to become a toy for humans and deeply infiltrate their ranks.

And it was to confuse humanity by bewitching a certain king or nobleman with [Charm] and raising an army.

Serut had used the divine object [Charm] on the crow man in front of her, but she knew that it didn’t work.

The other way is for her to seduce him directly, but….

“…He doesn’t seem to be interested in women either.”

Even if she seduced him as a woman, it didn’t seem like he would accept it.

That thought became firm when she saw that he was rather considerate of her defenseless self.

In that regard, Ifrit raised the corners of his mouth and sneered.

-Is that really so? Maybe you’re not his type.

“…Are you saying I’m not attractive?”

When Serut raised her eyebrows, Ifrit shook his head.

-Well?

Serut didn’t like his words. But she frowned at the thought that maybe that was the case.

She felt strangely bad.

“…I don’t care. I don’t care about that human’s taste.”

“…….”

Loki smacked his lips and closed the book [Continental Map by Country] that he had brought from the frozen land.

It was to find the next village or city to go to, but he couldn’t concentrate because of the sound coming from above.

‘…She must be quite bored.’

Serut threw away the rags that slaves wore and changed into the clothes that Loki had brought.

It’s neat and soft.

Even the chilly cold of the night was made warm and cozy.

It was so comfortable that she felt like she was unknowingly stretching out.

In addition, if she wore the hood, she could cover her long ears.

The boots were also sturdy and tough, and so light that she didn’t even know she was wearing them.

“…Wow.”

Serut, who unknowingly let out an exclamation, looked at the clothes.

‘What material is it made of?’

-That outfit is amazing.

Unlike Serut, Ifrit was impressed in a different sense.

“…Do you know about this outfit?”

Ifrit shook his head.

-No, I don’t know. However… it feels similar to the skin of the extinct Dragon race of the past. It has strong durability that even ordinary weapons or magic cannot scratch. Amazing. To lend something like this so carelessly.

Serut, who was seeing Ifrit praise her so excessively for the first time, couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Ah, he’s moving.”

After some time, Loki got up from his seat, packed his things, and started moving.

As he walked, she followed.

Reason?

She doesn’t know such things. So, she would just chase him until she knew.