Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 75

Player as a Constellation – Episode 75

“I, I know where that woman is!”

The paladin stopped, hearing Ash’s words.

Ash felt a wave of relief.

He was selling out the benefactor who had saved him, and the woman he was infatuated with, all for the sake of survival.

“Oh, that’s… interesting. You know the person we’ve been desperately searching for these past 50 years? I won’t let you off easy if you’re spouting nonsense.”

“Th-then, stop the torture now…”

“But we can always find out more by continuing to torture you.”

“……!”

“What a truly foolish prince.”

The paladin chuckled, approaching Ash with the torch.

“Shall we sear that pretty face of yours this time?”

Ash’s face twisted in despair at the intense heat radiating from the torch.

“Lonia! I’ll give you my country, the Kingdom of Lonia!”

Ash shouted, covering his head with his arms.

“I swear allegiance to you! I’ll do anything… Please… Please, save me!”

Ash sobbed and begged.

The paladin burst out laughing at the pathetic sight.

“…Everyone says that. ‘Give me everything, just don’t make it painful.’”

The paladin’s laughter abruptly ceased as a new voice cut through the air.

Yuma, the leader of the Black Inquisitors, who had been idly poking at the campfire with a branch, spoke in a dry tone.

“But those types usually can’t be trusted. Do you know why?”

Yuma turned his gaze towards Ash.

“Because they have nothing left. Those caught by us have already lost everything. So, what does he even have to give Lonia?”

Ash’s eyes darted around, filled with fear.

“L-literally! J-just put me on the throne! Then I’ll give you everything in Lonia!”

Yuma frowned, clearly unimpressed.

It was truly a ridiculous proposition.

He glanced at his subordinate.

“Hey, he’s too far gone. How could you break him to the point where he’s saying such crazy things?”

“I’m sorry. But doesn’t he seem more like a heretic this way?”

They had to act like madmen to appear as demon worshippers.

This was why they tortured cultists to the brink of insanity.

“I’m not kidding!”

Ash was desperate.

“There are still nobles in Lonia who support me! They can rise again with their power. Moreover, if the Holy Order helps from the East, we can overcome this crisis! Wh-when this war is over, I’ll give the Kingdom of Lonia to the Holy Order, just as it is!”

A dog would laugh at such a blatant lie.

Was that the reason?

The paladins erupted in laughter at Ash’s words.

“That’s an interesting story.”

But there was one person who wasn’t laughing.

“A prince who sells his country.”

The paladins stopped laughing at Yuma’s cold statement.

“But you already follow our teachings without having to do that, because we supported West Lonia. Isn’t that right, Prince? So why should we help you now?”

Ash racked his brains, desperately searching for an answer. If he didn’t provide a good reason, he would be subjected to more torture.

“Do you think it will stay that way in the future!?”

“……”

“There’s Marquis Fam Haelo in Lonia!”

The very man who had ensnared Ash and manipulated events to make him the primary heir to the throne.

“He’s just using the Holy Order! And once this war is over, they’ll try to sever their subordinate relationship with the Holy Order!”

“That’s not a threat to us anyway.”

“Yes, it won’t be a direct threat! Because the Holy Order will be strong! But it’s clear that they’ll try to escape your influence whenever they get the chance.”

“……”

Did that stupid prince’s brain start working faster after being tortured?

To be sure, he had noticed it during this war.

West Lonia had shown signs of wanting to break free from their control.

“But I’m different! I’ll do whatever you tell me to do! I’ll just sit on the throne. If you tell me to offer the people as slaves, I will. If you ask for territory, I’ll give it to you! All decisions should be made by you, the Holy Order!”

Ash slammed his head against the floor.

Thump-!

The sickening sound of his forehead cracking echoed through the air.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Ash, and in that brief moment, Paul secretly moved his hand.

He grabbed a sharp branch lying on the ground and concealed it in his arms.

“…Where did this crazy heretic get this nonsense-.”

As one of the paladins moved to approach Ash, Yuma interjected.

“We don’t believe the words of heretics.”

“……?”

“However, it’s a different story if they are believers who serve us.”

The paladins exchanged surprised glances at Yuma’s words.

“We want worship, not loyalty.”

“Are you serious?”

“One month.”

Yuma ignored his subordinate’s question.

“During that time, I’ll be watching your actions towards Constellation Azellan and our Order.”

Yuma rose from his seat and approached Ash, looking down at him as he spoke.

“If the Constellation answers your prayers, we’ll grant your wish.”

***

The audience chamber of Asgard.

Loki was silently listening to the reports.

“This is a petition from Elder Lapla. The food supply isn’t running smoothly, so there’s a discussion about that…”

“Elder Gelto is said to be holding a coming-of-age ceremony for the children in his territory. But there’s a shortage of grapes and meat to soak in alcohol…”

Everyone chattered noisily.

For Loki, with his highly developed sense of hearing, it was simply dizzying.

‘I need to clear my head.’

Loki glanced at the entrance to the audience chamber.

‘Should I run away?’

But even for a moment, he could see Aum, Hans, and Shaman diligently helping with the work right next to him.

‘…They’re also suffering, so I can’t run away like last time.’

It was then that Loki sighed deeply.

“Lord Loki.”

Shaman called out to him.

“A messenger has arrived from the East Island.”

“……?”

East Island?

“It’s Astoria Island, a new continent discovered 50 years ago.”

“There was also a new continent?”

“Yes, in fact, it’s just a large island to be called a continent.”

A Nord tribe had ventured there decades ago and established a country.

“…Nord’s country? Oh! Are there any other forces like us?”

“It’s a force too insignificant to be called a country. There are dozens of factions on Astoria claiming to be countries.”

And the country that sent the messenger only has about 30 Nord people. And it’s said to have 10,000 indigenous people.

“The name of the kingdom is Nordrian. It seems they were invaded by a neighboring country three months ago, so they requested reinforcements from us…”

A kingdom made up of Nord people was founded far from their homeland, in the northern, frozen lands, so they wanted to ask for help on this occasion.

“Did they know about our existence?”

Rumors were rampant even on the continent. How could they send a letter from such a long distance?

“I guess they sent it with half a belief.”

“What are the benefits of getting involved?”

“If the sea route is secured, we can bring in various luxury goods such as fur, meat, horses, and various fruits through trade agreements.”

“It seems that you aren’t sure.”

“Yes, in the first place, they don’t have ships to trade with. Even if they did… the sea route around the island is so treacherous that the supply would be very low. The distance is also far…”

How much would they receive even if they received supplies from a small kingdom that was no different from a small territory on the outskirts?

‘But in this Asgard, food problems are brought up every time, and there’s also a shortage of horses.’

For three years, contact with the continent was kept to a minimum for undisturbed development by other countries.

In the end, all that was done through trade was limited exchanges with nearby villages or territories.

As a last resort, they were hunting or taming monsters to domesticate them, and solving food problems through fishing.

‘I made a greenhouse, but it’s still in the experimental stage….’

Just like dreams and ideals are different, crops aren’t easily cultivated by building greenhouse houses.

Above all, there’s no electricity in this world.

He had to deal with it with magic, but the Nord people don’t have magicians, and even if Loki gives them a skill book, it will take a considerable amount of time.

‘Nordrian Kingdom….’

“Okay, so where are those who came from there now?”

“…Everyone is dead except one.”

“Dead?”

“It seems they were attacked by monsters. The sea monsters around the island are unusually ferocious…”

Shaman recalled a ship that had washed up on the coast of the frozen land not long ago.

It was a wooden warship.

There were seven Nord people on board, six of whom were dead and rotting.

One was unconscious, as if he had done his best to set foot on the frozen land.

In his hand was a dispatch request document, which showed how desperate Nordrian was.

“We’re protecting him now. I couldn’t bring him to Lord Loki because he was unconscious until a few days ago.”

“I see.”

The ship was full of luxury goods that seemed to be the price for supporting the reinforcements, mainly dead horses, fur, and exotic fruits.

These were also the items most needed in Asgard right now.

“Do we have a ship to use?”

“Are you interested?”

“So-so.”

“There are several warships that were created when Asgard was first established as a country.”

There was a ship, so a navigator was needed.

“Anyone with navigation experience?”

“It’s difficult to find such talent, so Ruran is currently teaching.”

Loki pondered.

“What should I do….”

“…Is it a request for reinforcements?”

Just then, Aum Linia showed interest.

“Are you going to respond to the request?”

“Now that exchanges between continents are also necessary, we must prepare.”

It was a good opportunity to gain experience through maritime trade while receiving horses from Nordrian.

“Then… How about Lord Loki going?”

“Me?”

It was unexpected. If it was Aum, he thought he would cling to his pants until this task was completed.

“I think it would be good for Lord Loki to check whether Astoria Island is a suitable place for trade. Also…”

Aum recalled Loki’s power.

Once he learns something, he gains the blessing of ‘skill,’ and the book he writes directly is born as a ‘skill book’ by receiving miracles.

This meant that specific occupational groups could be trained in a short period of time.

Of course, even if you know the technology, how to use it is a separate matter.

“We also need a navigator who can navigate right now.”

So, the moment Loki uses the ‘skill book’…

“I see.”

This meant that the long time required for nurturing talent could be overwhelmingly compressed.

The sea… Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen the sea in this world.

“I can go, but then the skill book won’t be produced, so I think it would be better for Lord Loki to go. By the way, the meat produced there is said to be quite delicious, so check whether the food supply is sufficient…”

Loki licked his lips.

Island food…?

It was quite tempting.

Loki was curious about the food from another world.

***

In the end, the dispatch to Astoria was decided.

It had been a week since the Asgardian warship first set sail.

“Damn it, th-that’s him!”

The man who requested support from Asgard, Thorsen, the prince of the Nordrian kingdom, shouted in terror.

“The guy who sank our ship!”

A huge wave rose in the middle of the sea, and a pillar of water soared into the sky.

The huge warship shook violently.

Loki, who was on the deck, raised his head and looked up at the sea monster that emerged from the depths.

Hundreds of sticky tentacles and two large, unblinking eyeballs. A monstrous maw filled with thousands of teeth.

A being known as the ruler of the sea.

The Kraken.

The monster stood directly in Loki’s path.