Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 73

73. The Player Who Became a Constellation

Chapter 73

“What did you just say?”

The nobles turned to look at Marquis Halloom on the platform.

The soldiers were agitated. Until recently, they had been soldiers of the Roden Territory. Now, they were being ordered to advance on the castle? It didn’t make sense.

As the atmosphere grew chaotic, Marquis Halloom raised his hand. He appointed his knights as centurions to command the soldiers and arranged his private soldiers throughout the ranks.

In a rebellion, even the slightest misstep was unacceptable, so he assigned roles for ‘pressure’ and ‘incitement’. At his signal, Halloom’s knights shouted to their respective units.

“Everyone, listen up!”

“These are the words of Marquis Halloom!”

“Anyone who leaves the formation will be executed immediately!”

The soldiers couldn’t even think of leaving the formation at the knights’ words. Some of their comrades beside them were listening to Marquis Halloom, which further discouraged any dissent. The other soldiers didn’t know that some among them were loyal to Marquis Halloom.

“How long do you think this tiresome war will last?” Marquis Halloom pointed at the soldiers. “Until you all die? Until you are all caught as traitors?”

Marquis Halloom spread his hands. “Are you willing to die such a meaningless death? What will happen to your families when you die? Your wives and daughters will be sold as slaves, and your sons will be sold to mines or become slave gladiators! Are you okay with facing such an end!?”

“……!”

“I will put an end to this war! The main culprit who started this war! The one who made the current King, Elron Ronia, sick, and caused a civil war by clashing with his own flesh and blood, Prince Eron…! I will subjugate Ash Ronia!”

The soldiers’ faces turned pale. Even if they realized that the situation was strange, they couldn’t leave the formation. The centurions were glaring, and the presence of Halloom’s loyalists made it even more difficult. They knew that even the slightest suspicious movement would mean death.

“You all know it well. That Prince Ash is a heretic…!” This was a reference to the rumor that he summoned a demon, drove the king mad, and brought a ‘plague’ to the kingdom.

He used that rumor. “That rumor is true! In fact, the central nobles and thousands of soldiers he led were annihilated by the Worm Pest [a magical plague]! Yet Prince Ash survived! What does this mean?”

Marquis Halloom shouted at the soldiers. “He is a monster! A monster that devours everything! Our spears are aimed at a ‘monster,’ not ‘royalty’! In the name of the Azellan Church [the dominant religious institution], execute the heretic! I, Halloom, will revive Ronia as one unified nation!”

Marquis Halloom clenched his fist. “If anyone captures Prince Ash alive, I will bestow upon them a knighthood and a reward of funds to live a life of leisure!”

Marquis Halloom shouted at the top of his lungs. “Follow me, everyone! Capture the prince! Subjugate the monster-!”

As if waiting for Marquis Halloom’s cry, someone shouted, “Long live Marquis Halloom-!”

“Subjugate the monster-!” The knights on Marquis Halloom’s side shouted.

“We will follow Marquis Halloom!” Hundreds of soldiers that Marquis Halloom had secretly hidden shouted.

The atmosphere spread, and other soldiers who were watching also shouted words supporting Marquis Halloom. “L, Long live Marquis Halloom-!”

“J, Judgment to Ash Ronia…!”

“Execute the monster!”

“Let’s end this war for our families!”

The shouts of 3,000 soldiers echoed in the Roden Territory in front of the castle. Marquis Halloom tasted a sense of superiority as he listened to those shouts.

“Ah-!”

*In fact, what Marquis Halloom said was a ‘lie’.*

*In fact, it was I who summoned the demon!* Marquis Halloom recalled the time when he faced the ‘King of the North’ [a powerful demon].

‘He’ whispered.

*-Capture the First Prince, Ash Ronia.*

At first, he thought it was crazy, until he experienced his true form and miracles.

*-I will give you a chance.*

A skull of a goat. Armor with the heads of wolves and snakes.

*-If you sacrifice your life.*

The demon-.

*-I will grant your wish while you are alive.*

Appeared before his eyes. When he sprinkled red blood, the marquis’s crushed face, as well as his incurable disease, were healed. It was a miracle.

*-What is your wish? Marquis.*

It was a contract with the devil. Marquis Halloom, as if possessed by the demon’s dignified appearance, said, “Make me a king! I want to rule and dominate this world…!”

*-Yes, I will grant your wish.*

‘He gave me strength!’ His body is light! When he drank that red blood, strength surged throughout his body!

“Marquis Halloom… what are you trying to do!?” The nobles looked at Marquis Halloom as if they couldn’t believe it. Even the nobles who unconditionally followed him had no choice but to resist this time.

Marquis Halloom looked down at them and said, “Now, you also choose. Whether to follow me or die following that damn prince.”

“……!”

Now, who is the rebel?

Marquis Halloom burst into laughter mixed with joy.

***

“Capture Prince Ash!”

Marquis Halloom began to attack the castle with overwhelming military force. There were soldiers on Ash’s side who tried to block it, but they were insufficient. The Roden Territory’s forces were focused on defending the outside rather than protecting the inside, so it was disadvantageous to Ash’s side.

The nobles were also divided into two factions, either turning to Halloom’s side or facing death supporting Prince Ash. Naturally, the Roden Territory fell into chaos. Far from gathering the scattered soldiers, the soldiers who were in a state of panic because their allies had become enemies were busy running away.

‘If I can seize the Roden Territory, I will have close to ten thousand soldiers. And Prince Ash’s head as well.’ Even if he captured Prince Ash and declared surrender, Western Ronia would only spare Marquis Halloom’s life and strip him of his title.

If that happened, Marquis Halloom’s future, which he had cultivated for so long, would disappear. But what if he sacrificed not only Prince Ash but also the Roden Territory and the absorbed soldiers as they are?

At least he would be able to maintain his earldom.

‘The world will point fingers at me as a traitor, but I have already made a soul contract with the devil! Afterwards, my achievements will be recorded in history books!’ In fact, this absurd rebellion is succeeding!

He has gained a courage he has never experienced before, and things are going smoothly. This is clearly thanks to the demon’s blessing!

“Waaaaaaa-!”

The castle’s forces were quickly suppressed. The rebellion was on the verge of success. The doors of the main hall were roughly opened. There was only one old knight and a young knight there, and Prince Ash was nowhere to be seen.

“…….”

Marquis Halloom frowned and looked around, then said to Alber, “Where did Ash go? Did he escape through a secret passage?”

“He is the Prince! You rotten traitor.”

“Betrayal…? Ha! You don’t know anything! This body is going to be a great king! How can I be a betrayal? This is the first step in a great journey!” Marquis Halloom shouted loudly enough to make his chubby chin vibrate.

“…Crazy.”

Crazy. That’s all he could think. Marquis Halloom’s appearance seemed to be firmly possessed by something.

“Crazy? How dare you call the king crazy. I will ask for that sin….” Marquis Halloom made a gesture of slitting his throat with his finger. “I will execute you.”

As soon as those words were finished, the soldiers rushed at them.

***

In the heavy rain, flames rose in the Roden Territory. The black clouds, further swollen by the black smoke, spread out as if to cover the world. In the midst of it, there was a procession leaving the Roden Territory.

“Haha! It’s burning splendidly!” The Berserker warriors admired as if watching fireworks.

“I know. I was wondering what was going on when they suddenly said they were returning to Asgard [the Berserkers’ homeland]… was it because of this?”

“But what happened? That pig started a rebellion on his own.”

“Who knows.” The Berserker warriors shook their heads. Kudan admired and approached Aum, whispering quietly, “Amazing. Is this the constellation’s work?”

“It seems so.” Aum, feeling curious, approached Loki and said, “Constellation, how did you entice him?”

Loki opened a book and turned his gaze to Aum. “Are you talking about Marquis Halloom?”

“Yes.”

“Just a word was enough.”

“……?”

“I told him he had the face of a king.”

It must be a joke?

Loki recalled Marquis Halloom.

*-What is your wish? Marquis.*

Marquis Halloom had said, “Make me a king!”

Before that, Loki had said, *-If you sacrifice your life, I will grant your wish.*

According to the contract, it was a meaningless conversation because it meant that Marquis Halloom had to die first to fulfill his wish. Marquis Halloom was played by Loki’s potion and simple wordplay.

‘All conditions have been met.’

Loki gave him several orders: Capture Ash and surrender to Western Ronia. The Ronia Kingdom will be unified, and Marquis Halloom, who is credited with ending this war, will be spared his life. And he, as Loki’s puppet, will serve as a bridge between Ronia and the Holy Order.

‘It was a fun toy.’

Due to Marquis Halloom’s rebellion, Eastern Ronia faced destruction.

***

Weeeeeee….

That place was a forest about 3 days away from the Roden Territory. Prince Ash, with hollow eyes, leaned against a tree. Was it because of his dead eyes? A fly, thinking he was a corpse, flew to his mouth and went into his mouth.

Ash mumbled, chewing on the foreign substance in his mouth. “Wa, water….”

Paul approached him and poured his water into Prince Ash’s mouth. “He, here is the last of the water.”

“Hun, hungry….”

“…There’s nothing to eat.”

‘…We’re out of food and water. And Lapilta, Alber….’ Paul looked at his colleagues, Lapilta and Alber, who were lying nearby. It had been a week since Marquis Halloom’s rebellion in the Roden Territory. The two miraculously survived and returned.

They remained as bait and fought, bought time, and barely escaped to join Prince Ash. However, the price was terrible. Due to the deep wound in Alber’s chest, it was unknown how many days he would last if he was not treated. Lapilta’s left arm was cut off to the shoulder, and the cut area was rotting. Both of them are not even conscious.

‘…I have to get out of this forest somehow-.’

At that time, he heard a rustling sound. When Paul turned his gaze towards the sound, he saw Prince Ash taking herbs out of his bag and eating them.

“……!”

Ah, no!

Paul hurriedly pushed Ash away. “No! Those are herbs to use for Lapilta and Alber-!”

“I’m hungry! Those guys are as good as dead! Give it to me-!” In extreme hunger, Ash pushed Paul away and began to eat the herbs.

“Ah, no-! Please don’t eat it! Please…! Without that, Alber and Lapilta won’t survive today!”

Ash ignored Paul’s words and chewed and swallowed all the herbs. And soon after, Ash’s movements stopped. His gaze turned to the forest. A faint light can be seen.

“…Sa, someone! Food… water…!” Ash ran towards the light.

Paul couldn’t stop him.

“Ah, no-!”

Light in this kind of forest?

If it’s an adventurer, it’s fortunate, but in this deep place, there was a high possibility that it was a pursuer or a monster with intelligence. You shouldn’t act rashly-!

Ash ignored Paul’s cry, and he was able to reach the campsite with the bonfire. And there-.

“…Does anyone know who that guy is?”

There were paladins wearing armor engraved with the [木] [Tree] character. The Black Inquisitors of the Holy Order who hunt heretics.

At the captain’s question, the paladins shook their heads.

“No one knows?”

The captain of the Black Inquisitors, Yuma, looked at his subordinates with a pathetic face. He took out one parchment after another from his chest. Among them was a portrait of an old man marked with a red (X). The name [Alex Monk] was written there.

On another parchment, a portrait of a dark elf girl. A portrait of a woman with black and white hair. Lastly, a portrait of Ash is drawn. It was a wanted poster for the heretics to be hunted.

“Ash Ronia. The First Prince of Ronia.”

Yuma got up from his seat. “He is the heretic we will hunt.”