Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 42

Chapter 42

“Did you sleep well… though you look very tired?”

Alex, who had brewed morning tea, looked at Sallett, who was wearing a hood, with a puzzled expression.

There were dark circles under her eyes, and her eyes were bloodshot.

It was because she hadn’t been able to sleep while staying in Loki’s room since dawn.

On the other hand, Loki, who was leisurely drinking tea, didn’t look tired at all. Even now, he was showing interest in the herbal encyclopedia and reading it.

Alex felt a strange sensation at the sight.

“I’m sorry, but you seem very interested in herbs… are you perhaps a healer or herbalist?”

Alex was curious about Loki.

He recognized at a glance that Loki was a Nord [a person from the Nordic region].

They wore the skins of the game they hunted, including wolves and bears, but this was the first time he had seen a crow mask.

Alex was captivated by the thought that he might be a healer because the crow mask resembled the bird-beak masks used by healers and herbalists these days.

Loki closed the book and looked at Alex.

To be honest, the reason he was interested in herbs was because he was curious about what kind of effects he could create if he used herbs to create potions using his combination skill.

“I’m just getting a little interested.”

“Ah, I see.”

At Loki’s words, Alex shook his head with a disappointed expression.

“That’s too bad. If you were an herbalist, I could have talked to you about the plague that’s been happening these days.”

“…You mean the Worm Fest.”

At Loki’s words, Alex sat across from him and nodded. He clasped his hands together and looked at Loki with a serious expression.

“Yes, I’m interested in it these days.”

‘Actually, it’s been a long time.’

Alex didn’t say the last of his thoughts.

At Alex’s words, Loki was the one who became interested this time.

He was curious about the unusual ‘disease’.

“Are you, a monk, interested in such a disease?”

Alex looked surprised.

“Isn’t that obvious? We worship and follow the constellation Azellan, and we eliminate things that are harmful to people. We mediate fights and eliminate evil. That includes plagues. That’s why monks study and research a lot about healing. That’s why monks are also healers.”

‘Is that how it is in this world?’

Just like in the old Middle Ages, in this continent, clerics like monks seemed to be working as healers.

Alex was also one of them.

“And these days, I’m researching the Worm Fest.”

“Research?”

At Loki’s words, Alex flinched as if something was bothering him, then smiled bitterly.

‘I’m getting a conversation partner, so I’m saying things I shouldn’t say. Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s common for monks to research the Worm Fest.’

But troublesome things might happen. So Alex came up with an excuse and blurted it out.

“Yes, that is… the plague might spread to a small village near the monastery. I’m looking for a solution to cure them.”

At Alex’s words, Loki crossed his arms and tapped his arm with his fingers.

“I heard there’s also something called holy water?”

Loki remembered the holy water given to him by a magician named Paul, whom he had met a while ago.

“Ordinary holy water is not enough. Only the holy water made by the archbishops in the capital of the Holy Order is effective, so we have to find another way.”

“…I see.”

Loki frowned at the mention of the Holy Order.

He had heard that most of the monks on the continent were believers belonging to the Holy Order.

If so, the monk in front of him belonged to the Azellan Church.

‘If he belongs to the Holy Order, he might know what I want.’

Loki looked at Alex.

He observed his face as if examining him and opened his mouth.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“…Do you know about the Angel of Death?”

“…….”

Alex had a surprised look, as if he knew.

At that reaction, Loki’s hand tightened.

The Holy Order was chasing the ‘Angel of Death’.

He would know about the Angel of Death.

Depending on Alex’s reaction, Loki would choose.

At worst, he would have to eliminate him. And he would have to erase all traces as well.

Including a man named Yuan, who ran a general store he had met just a while ago, and even the nearby ‘village’.

If what the guards in the frozen land said was true, it was better to clean up the mess neatly. If he left traces, he might become a target of the Holy Order.

‘It’s cruel, but I have no choice.’

Loki had lived in the frozen land for three years without conflict. He hadn’t threatened or harmed anyone, and he had been living quietly, so his personality was gradually becoming gentle and returning to his old self.

But even so, the essence of the avatar within him was the demon god Loki, who enjoyed ‘destruction’ and ‘play’.

Destroying a small village was nothing.

Alex paused for a moment before opening his mouth.

“The Angel of Death…”

“…….”

“…Is she still around?”

At the unexpected question, Loki felt deflated.

“I see. She still… existed. I don’t know much because I’ve been almost cut off from the outside world these days, but the Angel of Death is still around… Well, I guess it’s understandable to be curious. There was a rumor that the Angel of Death caused plagues. Oh, of course, there was also a story that she drove away plagues, which is the opposite.”

“…Do you know about her?”

About her…?

Alex shook his head.

“I don’t know much either. What I heard was about 50 years ago, when Harness fell [likely a city or region].”

Sallett was startled at the mention of Harness.

She couldn’t help but be sensitive to stories about her hometown. But no one cared about her.

“I don’t know much except that the Angel of Death appeared at that time… But the Angel of Death is probably just a rumor caused by the plague that spread at the time. So many healers and herbalists searched for the Angel of Death in search of a glimmer of hope… but I haven’t heard any testimonies of seeing her yet.”

Loki’s hand gradually loosened.

According to Alex, he hadn’t heard or seen her since 50 years ago. Moreover, he seemed to think that Loki was looking for the Angel of Death because of a simple curiosity about the plague called Worm Fest.

“I see.”

“If you’re looking for the Angel of Death, it’ll be a waste of time. It’s said that she had the appearance of a beautiful woman back then… but in fact, it’s just an illusion. The Angel of Death probably refers to the Worm Fest, and the fact that she heals is likely a rumor created by someone with hopeful results.”

At Alex’s words, Loki put his hand inside the mask and pressed his temples.

‘It’s a waste of time.’

He thought the monk would know something… but it doesn’t seem like it. Then there’s no more business here.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

At those words, Alex’s heart sank.

“…Already?”

His voice was filled with emptiness.

He had finally found someone to talk to…!

“You’re leaving like this! Please stay a little longer. At least for a day, no, two days, no, even three days… How about a week or a month?”

“It keeps increasing?”

“…I’m sorry. I’m often like this because I live alone in such a remote place.”

Alex sighed.

He was living alone and lonely in the monastery.

Sometimes he almost forgot how to speak because he hadn’t spoken for a long time, and sometimes he almost had a mental breakdown.

He was barely surviving thanks to Yuan, who visited him once every two weeks.

“Then, at least have a meal….”

“…I’m sorry. I’m too busy.”

Rather, Loki wanted to get out of the monastery as soon as possible with that one word.

Alex must have thought it wouldn’t work, so he impulsively grabbed his hand.

“You, you said you were interested in the Worm Fest! I’ll show you what I’ve researched right now….”

Alex stopped talking.

He had lost his mind in the grip of terrible loneliness.

“…What you’ve researched?”

When Loki showed a sign of interest, Alex’s eyes wavered.

‘…Is it okay? Should I show him?’

He was saying no in his mind, but the words coming out of his mouth were completely different.

“Yes, I’ll show you. What I’ve researched…!”

Alex, who had uttered the words, closed his eyes as if he was miserable.

There’s no turning back now. So….

‘…It’s okay. I just have to show him the research data. If he doesn’t go in there, he won’t see ‘it’.’

Alex, who had convinced himself, nodded weakly.

“Follow me. I’ll show you the research situation….”

***

The place Alex led him to was a small log cabin in the cemetery behind the monastery.

The crude but handmade house had medicinal herb containers, herbs, numerous books, a work table, and red plants displayed in glass barriers.

“…Are you sure you don’t want to use it?”

Alex offered Loki a bird-beak mask.

The Worm Fest was not contaminated through the air, but it was in case something happened.

When Loki expressed his intention to refuse, Alex looked at Sallett.

“…Miss, would you like to use it?”

Sallett stared at the bird-beak mask that Alex held out and froze on the spot.

It was because it resembled the face of the ghost she had seen last night.

Only then did she realize that she had misunderstood, and her face turned red as if her pride had been hurt. Then, she shook her head from side to side as if she didn’t like it.

“Is that so? There’s spare holy water and there’s nothing dangerous… but it’s still a bit unsettling.”

Loki ignored those words and looked around.

No matter how he looked at it, there were only medicinal herbs and plants displayed in glass tubes.

However, the strange thing about the plants was that they were stiffly stretched towards the sky as if they were fixed, even though there was no soil in the pot at all.

What does this have to do with the Worm Fest?

Loki carefully examined the plants.

The roots of the trees were poured out over the pot and rolled up in a spiral shape, extending sharply like awls.

It was similar to the appearance of a flower bud before it bloomed.

As Loki observed the red plant, Alex walked up next to him with a bitter expression.

Alex pricked his index finger with an awl.

The skin tore and a small drop of blood flowed out. He dropped it on the glass barrier.

The moment….

Ting!

“…….”

The plant’s flower bud-like thing blooms. But rather than blooming, it stretches out at a tremendous speed like a spear and screams as it tries to break the glass barrier.

It shook its body as if to eat the blood and shook the glass, but the glass was firmly fixed and blocked it.

As Loki stared at it with surprised eyes, Alex wiped the blood droplets that had fallen on the glass with a cloth. Only then did the plant return to its original state.

Loki was surprised by the plant’s movement, which was too fast to be called a plant.

“This is…?”

“It’s the Worm Fest.”

“……?”

“That’s exactly what this plant is.”

Loki froze at Alex’s words.