Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 63

The meeting was over.

The nobles left, and even Ash vacated his seat. Marquis Halloom, left alone, smiled as he looked around the room.

It was already night. The only light visible through the window was moonlight, and the only thing illuminating the room was the candlelight in front of Marquis Halloom.

After confirming that no one was around, Marquis Halloom finally contorted his face in anger.

“That bastard! That trashy prince! All those troops…!”

He wanted to wring his neck. But the prince was a prince, and furthermore, a central figure in eastern Lonia.

His personality was utter garbage, but his status still had value.

In fact, he was first in line for the throne, and his support was overwhelmingly superior to that of his younger brother, Eron.

If something were to happen to the current King Elron Lonia, Prince Ash would automatically ascend to the throne.

That was why Marquis Halloom had attached himself to Ash, but… now it had become a complete blunder.

“Still, Prince Ash brought in some decent guys. I haven’t been able to hire the Nordics lately…”

Marquis Halloom knew very well how strong the Nordics were.

If they were at the forefront, he could quickly seize victory.

“But, to win them over…”

Marquis Halloom was stroking his beard when the command room window slid open, and a black mass entered.

Masks and black leather clothing, even the skin visible between the masks, were all covered in black. At their waists were hand axes, daggers, small crossbows, hooks, and ropes.

These were optimized individuals equipped to hide in the darkness.

They were the Dark Guild, the best assassins and information brokers on the continent.

“Have you come?”

Marquis Halloom interlocked his fingers and glanced at them.

The assassins of the Dark Guild bowed their heads to him.

“The request…”

“There’s something I need you to do.”

Marquis Halloom looked at the flickering candlelight in front of him.

“Eliminate the leader of the Nordics who entered.”

Marquis Halloom had no intention of ‘hiring’ the Nordics. He was just thinking of using them as ‘slave soldiers.’

As shields and swords at the forefront.

If he eliminated the leader and crushed them with force, they would have no choice but to follow.

That’s what Marquis Halloom thought.

“…Is there anything else?”

Marquis Halloom pondered for a moment before continuing.

“Come to think of it… do you know anything about a country called Asgard?”

“…Nothing is known.”

“I heard it’s in the frozen lands.”

“We sent people to the frozen lands because the whereabouts of the Nordics on the continent have been unclear for some time… but none of them have returned.”

“Are they dead?”

“Either that or they were captured. But there will be no information leaks. They are instructed to commit suicide if they are caught or exposed.”

“Can you gather information?”

“It’s difficult at the moment. If we were discovered, their vigilance would become stricter.”

“Hmm… I see.”

“It will take more time to find out.”

“That’s a shame. Anyway, I’m counting on you. Do you need any reinforcements?”

“We don’t need them. No matter how strong they are, they will be vulnerable to surprise attacks if they are drunk and asleep.”

“What if you can’t secure the leader…?”

“…Then we will kill them all.”

They leave no loose ends. That was the way of the Dark Guild.

Above all, even if they were Nordics specialized in combat, they would be in optimal condition for assassination if they were drunk and asleep.

They would be able to stab them in the heart before they even sensed anything and subdue them silently.

“Okay. I’m counting on you.”

The assassins bowed their heads and quietly went out through the window.

Marquis Halloom shook his head at the sight.

“They could have gone out through the door… Anyway, if things go wrong…”

The Marquis looked at the candlelight again.

“I’ll have to eliminate them all. So there are no loose ends.”

Marquis Halloom blew out the candle.

***

Dark night. The soldiers guarding the castle gate yawned in weariness.

Overwhelmed by fatigue and hunger, they leaned against their spears, dozing off.

‘When will this tiresome war end? I’m hungry… When will I get better…? Some guys died of colds… I hope I don’t become one of them.’

The soldier was gripped by anxiety.

He wanted to rest, but even that was not allowed.

His body was languid and heavy. His whole body tingled as if pricked by needles, yet his muscles were stiff as if knotted. Moreover, it was difficult to breathe as if something was stuck in his nose and throat.

Even his mind was hazy, making it difficult to stand.

The soldier looked ahead with blurred vision.

“…What…is it?”

A group was approaching.

A procession.

Were they refugees?

No, they were not refugees.

Because their attire was very unfamiliar for refugees.

Strange costumes with black and white divided on the left and right.

They were holding torches, and they had swords at their waists, and their faces were covered with veils and masks.

The soldier was startled by the unidentified group and came to his senses.

He quickly reached out to ring the bell, but was stopped by his comrade.

“What…?”

“…Just a moment.”

The soldier stared at the approaching procession.

All in the same attire.

Moreover, a woman in a black and white dress and veil in the center of them was quite noticeable.

“Could it be…?”

“What are you doing? You have to let them know! They’re strange!”

“…It’s the Black and White Order.”

“Black…what?”

“The Black and White Order! The procession led by the Angel of Death!”

The soldier was startled and stared at the procession.

They also knew about the Angel of Death. One of the hot topics in the taverns these days.

A goddess who brings plagues.

The ‘Black and White Order’ chasing after her was said to be a religious group that acted collectively.

But the soldier had only heard rumors, so he wasn’t sure.

But to think they actually existed!

“Then we have to let them know! It’s the Goddess of Plague!”

“…Are you stupid? That’s just a rumor! There are many other rumors!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Rumors that she drives away plagues, heals the injured, and saves those who have sinned!”

“…….”

“Open the gate.”

“Are you crazy? Do you know who they are…?”

As the soldiers bickered, the procession arrived at the castle gate.

The soldiers stared at the procession.

There were more than a dozen soldiers on the walls and at the gate, but none of them rang the bell or tried to alert anyone.

They were just looking at each other.

The procession was creating a strange atmosphere.

No one knew that it was the skill ‘Charm’ being used unconsciously by the other party.

As the procession remained still without any threat, the soldiers swallowed hard.

“W, who are you! What reason do you have for coming here!”

A soldier who was barely holding on due to illness mustered his courage and cautiously approached and asked.

One of the Black and White Order’s followers in the procession opened her mouth coldly.

“We want to enter. Open the gate.”

It was a woman’s voice, but it was very calm.

“Who says so!”

“The Goddess is very tired. If you don’t open it…”

As her hand went to the sword at her waist, the soldiers tensed and raised their weapons.

At that moment, a woman with a black and white dress, neat black and white hair, and a veil covering her face came forward.

She came to the front of the procession and reached out to the soldier.

“Wh, what…?!”

As the soldier hesitated and stepped back, white light flowed out and was absorbed into his body.

“……?!”

The languid and heavy body became lighter, and the blurred mind became clearer.

A warm warmth was felt in the body that had felt cold, and the complexion became brighter.

“What…is this?!”

Even expensive medicine hadn’t cured him. It wasn’t prescribed by a quack, but bought with half of his fortune on the recommendation of a trusted acquaintance, yet it had little effect.

The woman had cured such a body so easily.

‘Is this magic…?’

But… even if it’s magic, is it this effective?

The soldier was very interested in ways to cure the disease because it was a matter of life and death. He had learned from acquaintances and travelers that magic had the power to heal wounds, but he knew that there was no magic to cure diseases.

No, there was, but he had never heard or seen it being able to be cured in such a short time.

Even the monks of the Holy Order only treated diseases with medicine to prevent their stamina from weakening!

This is like….

“A miracle…?”

At the soldier’s murmur, the woman tilted her head and opened her mouth.

“May I go inside? I want to treat other patients.”

The soldier trembled and knelt down.

Tears streamed down his face as he folded his hands and prayed to her.

“A, Angel…! Th, thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“……!”

The soldiers stared at the kneeling soldier with wide eyes.

In the continent, calling others gods or angels except for those of the Azelan Church is considered blasphemy.

If it becomes known, they will be treated as heretics and judged by the Inquisitors [members of a religious institution tasked with suppressing heresy].

“…What should we do?”

“…You saw it earlier. That guy was dying like he was going to die today or tomorrow, but he got better like a lie, right?”

“Is it a miracle?”

The soldiers whispered and showed their vigilance.

It was something that happened before their eyes, but they couldn’t believe them just by that.

The woman looked at them and opened her mouth once more.

“Will you open it?”

“…….”

***

“I can’t eat anymore. Ugh…!”

Kudan clutched his stomach in pain, feeling like it was turning inside out.

Even though his body was like a hero in a fairy tale, he was weak to alcohol, and his face was pale.

“…I can still, eat more… Ugh…”

The Berserker warriors reached for their glasses, then collapsed, slamming their heads on the table.

The once boisterous banquet hall was now quiet.

Here and there in the banquet hall were vomit and a foul smell of alcohol. And nearly half-naked, over 100 men were lying around haphazardly.

Loki picked up Salrut, whose eyes were spinning while his head was slammed on the table, and handed him to Aum.

Aum accepted Salrut with a subtle expression at the careless action of grabbing the cat by the scruff of the neck.

“Put this child to bed in a room.”

“I will.”

Aum nodded and took Salrut away.

The place Aum headed to was a single room.

Marquis Halloom had paid attention to it, and the room was quite spacious and the bed was also luxurious.

Next to the fancy bed with frills was a candle with a strange scent rising from it.

The fragrant scent was like a luxurious perfume.

Aum looked around the room with a subtle and soft atmosphere and clicked his tongue.

‘Things have become difficult. I have to find a justification somehow…, or I have to create it by force.’

Aum laid Salrut on the bed and covered him with a blanket.

Salrut groaned and writhed in pain, as if he was having a hard time.

‘Can’t Dark Elves drink alcohol? By the way, I never thought I would make a connection with a Dark Elf. What on earth has Loki been doing while wandering around?’

Many questions arose, but there was no need to question the path chosen by the master.

He only follows the Constellation.

Aum examined the room and, after judging that there was no threat, slowly closed the door and left.

At that time, two pairs of eyes opened under the bed where Salrut was lying.

In the dark room.

Salrut groaned and opened her eyes at the terribly sweet scent.

“Ugh… what is this smell!”

Salrut frowned and sniffed.

As an elf with a developed sense of smell, it was a terrible scent that made his head hurt. Just as she was about to block her mouth because she might vomit the contents she had eaten again due to the rising nausea.

When she opened her eyes in a daze, someone grabbed her neck and pressed her against the bed.

“……?!”

Two masked strangers looked down at Salrut and exchanged glances.

“…Not the leader.”

“What should we do?”

“The purpose is to eliminate the leader… but we must eliminate him just in case.”

“I see. But… this guy is an elf, right?”

The two strangers looked down at Salrut.

“Did the Marquis tell us to spare him?”

“Maybe we can use him as a commodity.”

“But the order we received is….”

“Assassination.”

The two assassins looked down at Salrut and drew their daggers.

A sharp blade flashed in the darkness.

“Now that you’ve seen us.”

“We can’t let you live.”

Salrut’s eyes widened and struggled, but her arms and legs were restrained by them.

“……!!”

“Die without pain.”

They raised their daggers with murderous eyes… and struck down at Salrut.