Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 94

The Player Who Became a Constellation – Chapter 94

“I heard a training facility is being built?”

“From what I hear, it’s to train mages!”

“Goodness… Are mages going to appear in this northern land?”

A glass building.

Inside, an orchard is being cultivated.

Sunlight streams through the glass, and magic stones attached to the ceiling emit stored heat, warming the surroundings.

Salad was tending to the fruit trees while listening to the farmers’ chatter.

She turned her head to look at them.

“They say the Shaman himself will be in charge of the training,” one farmer said.

“Wow, do you think my son could enroll there?”

The air was filled with idle chatter.

Salad liked the sound of it.

It was a comforting sound that helped her forget her terrible past.

“Salad, it’s such a relief to have you here!”

Salad startled and turned her head.

The farmers were looking at her with gratitude.

For a long time, the orchard hadn’t been doing well.

But since Salad’s arrival, the situation had completely changed.

At Salad’s request, Ruran had developed magic stones through alchemy, and when the Shaman infused them with mana, it became possible to cultivate fruits on a large scale, even in this frozen land.

It wasn’t enough to feed everyone in Asgard, but simply being able to eat freshly harvested fruit significantly improved their quality of life.

Salad tilted her head, looking at the farmers who were gazing at her with such appreciation.

“W-What is it?”

She still stuttered often, feeling self-conscious around them.

“Thanks to you, we’ve seen hope. The hope that we can cultivate even in this land…!”

The farmers, a mix of Nordics and Ronians, sincerely thanked Salad.

The Nordics were grateful for being able to see green leaves in this frozen and barren land.

The Ronians were genuinely happy to be able to farm again, something they thought they’d lost forever.

All of this was thanks to Salad’s help.

“…I didn’t really… help… much…”

Salad mumbled, avoiding their gaze.

But she felt a warmth spread through her at their praise, and a faint smile touched her lips.

‘…It’s all thanks to following him.’

Loki.

He had given her a home and a reason to live again.

She was feeling joyful as she filled a basket with fruit, ready to carry it inside, when she overheard a hushed conversation.

“…A delegation has arrived from Ronia. They say King Ash sent them.”

A small whisper, laced with anger, likely from refugees who had been forcibly expelled from their territory by King Ash, or those who had fled due to his excessive taxes.

“Why, why did that damn king send a delegation? Are they perhaps trying to force us back?”

There were cases where countries would demand the return of their citizens who had fled to other nations.

They were anxious that they might have to return to that ruined country once again.

Salad thought of Ash.

She had heard that Ronia had become even more oppressive and unstable after that “good-for-nothing” human became king than it had been during the civil war.

“It’s war.”

Salad’s ears perked up.

War…?

“From what I hear… they’ve declared war on Asgard.”

“Declared war?”

“Yes, demanding that we become a vassal state and serve King Ash.”

“That crazy king… Instead of trying to stabilize his own country, he only thinks about war!?”

“And the condition they set… is to hand over the slaves of Asgard. I guess… that means us.”

Refugees who fled their homeland were often treated no better than slaves.

If they were forced to return, only harsh treatment awaited them.

“And also… to hand over Prince Eron.”

“Prince Eron?”

“It seems that royal family member is hiding in this northern land.”

“…Are they the cause of this? No, they should keep their family feuds within their own palace! Why are they causing trouble here!?”

“Lastly, they’re demanding the ‘Dark Elf’.”

Salad’s eyes widened, and she froze, her grip tightening on the fruit basket.

“D-Dark Elf?”

“Yes! It seems the Holy Order wants her. So King Ash….”

Holy… Order?

‘Is it them again? Could it be… is this war because of me…?’

Salad’s face turned pale.

She dropped the harvested fruit and ran out of the greenhouse.

She heard the farmers calling after her, but she ignored them.

‘Is it because of me?’

She ran through the streets of Asgard.

The streets were usually filled with laughter and the sounds of daily life.

In Asgard, different races lived harmoniously with humans, receiving equal treatment.

And now, their peace was about to be shattered because of her.

‘Why…!’

Why…?!?

She just wanted to live peacefully…!

‘…I had forgotten.’

The Holy Order.

Because of them, her safety, as well as the safety of those around her, was constantly threatened.

‘I shouldn’t have forgotten!’

Salad gritted her teeth.

She felt as though she was being punished for forgetting her homeland’s desire for revenge.

‘Ash… He asked for me.’

She vaguely knew that he desired her.

Then-.

‘I’ll use you.’

If she could seduce and manipulate that good-for-nothing king, Ronia might not invade Asgard.

Conversely, she might be able to drive a wedge between Ronia and the Holy Order.

She possessed the divine power of [Charm]!

To make this plan work, Loki would have to hand her over to Ronia, ensuring there was no conflict between Ronia and the Holy Order.

Salad entered Valhalla Palace. Panting, she approached a nearby skeleton guard.

“Where is… Loki…?”

The skeleton used gestures to communicate.

[Palace Garden]

“Th-Thank you!”

Salad hurriedly ran to the garden.

As she reached the garden gate, a huge explosion rocked the area.

콰쾅-! (Sound of a massive explosion)

“……!”

Could it be that the war had already begun!?

As Salad’s heart pounded and anxiety threatened to overwhelm her, she saw two familiar figures.

“Your skills have improved, Cancun! A little more practice, and you’ll be on par with me!”

“A little? It seems like we’re evenly matched now, Uncle.”

It was Cancun, wielding the Holy Sword Brutgang, and Kudan, wielding the Thunder Hammer Mjolnir.

Each time the two clashed their weapons, the garden was devastated with explosions and tremors.

“…….”

Salad had a blank expression.

What in the world were those two doing inside the palace?

As that question filled her mind, someone spoke to her.

“What’s wrong?”

Salad turned her head at the clear, amused voice.

A figure wearing a crow mask, Loki, was calmly drinking tea in the garden’s gazebo.

Only then did Salad remember why she had come here.

But why? The initial anxiety had strangely dissipated.

She approached Loki and asked.

“Um… Is it okay to just leave that as it is?”

At Salad’s words, Loki glanced at the chaotic garden.

At this rate, wouldn’t the palace collapse? It was in such a terrible state that such thoughts naturally arose.

“It’s fine.”

Loki waved his hand dismissively.

The broken floor tiles and uprooted trees in the garden floated into the air.

As if time had reversed, the broken pieces returned to their original positions and were seamlessly restored.

“M-Magic?”

“This place is restored to its original state whenever it’s damaged. It’s impossible to completely destroy it without my explicit permission.”

Unless Loki adjusted the palace’s settings, it was virtually impossible for Valhalla Palace to collapse.

‘Another mysterious power….’

“What brings you here?”

“…Ah! I heard that a delegation came from Ronia.”

“And?”

“King Ash demanded me….”

“So?”

“Pardon?”

Salad closed her mouth, momentarily speechless.

So?!?

This was a reaction Salad hadn’t anticipated.

“King Ash wants me.”

“I suppose so. It seems that guy has a crush on you.”

…Was he saying it so openly?

Salad couldn’t bring herself to voice her surprise.

Instead, she uttered different words.

“Maybe the Holy Order requested it.”

“The Holy Order? Hmm, that’s unexpected.”

“I’m….”

Salad hesitated.

She knew very well how her homeland was viewed on the continent.

“I’m the princess of the Hannes Empire.”

“Oh! Really? That’s unexpected.”

“Pardon?”

Loki calmly drank his tea and looked ahead.

Cancun and Kudan’s sparring match had finally ended. In the end, it seemed Cancun had lost, his body pinned to the ground by Kudan’s Mjolnir.

“Oh dear… With this, Cancun is at 135 losses and 0 wins.”

Salad was flustered.

“I, I’m the princess of the Hannes Empire!”

Loki turned his head to look at Salad.

“I heard you.”

“…….”

“Whether you’re an empire’s princess or whatever, what does it matter?”

“…….”

‘Oh? I-It doesn’t matter?’

“Hoon~, play with me!”

At that moment, something flew towards Loki, and with a swift movement, Loki twisted his waist to avoid it and snatched it out of the air.

A cat-like woman was dangling from Loki’s grasp as if she were clinging to him.

“Do you know what this is?”

Loki pointed to Karen, who was caught in his hand.

Salad looked at Karen.

She was a beastkin woman who was often seen in the palace these days.

She had often seen her challenging the Berserker warriors to duels.

“Is that… a canine?”

“I’m a feline!”

Loki shook Karen gently.

“This one is also a princess.”

“Pardon?”

“This one is also a princess of a country, so it’s not strange that you’re an empire’s princess.”

‘No, that’s not what I meant… But a princess?’

Salad looked at Karen with renewed interest.

“That one… ?”

“Don’t call me ‘that one’!”

Karen shouted, puffing out her chest.

“But does it change anything that you’re a princess?”

“Because of me, the war…!”

“Rather than because of you….”

Loki thought of Eron and Helga.

Judging from Ash and the Holy Order’s attitude, the war would have started sooner or later, regardless of Salad’s presence.

“It was an irreversible matter from the start.”

“…….”

“I don’t know if you’re a princess or whatever. Since it’s a war that’s going to happen anyway, it’s better to start it sooner.”

“The people will fall into chaos.”

She knew firsthand how terrible war was.

Now that the war had begun, Asgard would be plunged into great turmoil.

“That’s a normal reaction, though.”

Loki said something meaningful.

As Salad, who was feeling increasingly uneasy, was about to speak again, Loki gently pressed down on her head.

“I know what you’re worried about.”

“…They’ll be harmed because of me.”

“It’s not because of you.”

This was something the Holy Order had initiated.

‘I tried to avoid war with those guys as much as possible, but…’

Judging by their actions, they were nothing more than a band of ruthless thugs.

‘There’s no way those guys will listen to reason.’

Even if it wasn’t Salad, the war would have started eventually, even if Helga’s existence had been revealed.

It wasn’t a bad idea to gain some experience in war beforehand.

“We don’t own you. We have no intention of telling you what to do against your will. You are free to leave this place if you wish. But if you want to stay here…”

Loki tapped Salad’s crown.

“I will protect you.”

-A descendant of the devil!

-A demon!

-A heretic! Kill her!

-This slave will sell for a high price!

A world where her homeland had been destroyed and there were only enemies.

And then, someone had uniquely saved her and promised to protect her.

The man in front of her was the only being who had ever said he would protect her.

Those words were so reassuring that the doubts and anxieties she had been harboring were swept away like bubbles.

“Th-Thank you.”

“But you’re right.”

“Pardon?”

“Chaos will come to this country.”

Salad said in a flustered voice.

“Is there anything I can do to help so that the people don’t tremble with fear!?”

“Be afraid?”

Loki opened his mouth slightly, as if he was considering something.

“I think it’ll be the opposite.”

“Pardon?”

***

A notice was posted throughout the city of Asgard and the surrounding rural villages.

Nordics and refugees who had come to seek asylum approached to read the notice.

“What is it? Are they holding a monster hunting competition or something?”

“Oh! That’s good. The monsters that used to roam the frozen lands have become scarce these days.”

The refugees could only laugh awkwardly, unsure whether the Nordic’s words were a joke or serious.

They looked at the notice, and as they read the contents, they all froze.

“War… is it?”

“What are you talking about? War?”

“At this time… ?”

The Nordics who saw the notice began to sweat and tremble.

War…? At this time, with winter fast approaching…?

The Ronians expressed sympathy to the Nordics.

They knew the anxiety and fear that war brought all too well.

That’s why they had fled their homes and sought asylum here.

But even this peaceful place was now facing war, so how worried must the Nordics be, in their own home country, when even the refugees were trembling in fear?

They must be terrified that their country was about to be caught up in a major war.

The refugees tried to comfort them, but they were startled the moment they saw the Nordics’ faces.

‘They’re… smiling?’

It wasn’t just one or two people.

The Nordics who had read the notice were smiling, staring at it with bloodshot eyes.

“…Da.”

“……?”

Someone muttered softly, and the refugees strained to listen.

Then, as if it were a signal, cheers erupted throughout Asgard.

“It’s war-!”

“It’s hunting-!”

“It’s a fight-!”

The refugees covered their ears and stepped back in fear.

Filled with excitement, anticipation, and a touch of madness, the Nordics shouted until the veins in their necks bulged.

“Those who become our enemies…!”

“Shall all be hunted down!”

“May glory be to Constellation Loki and this Asgard-!”

They were currently citizens who made up a country and belonged to that country… but in fact, they were humans who thrived on plunder and hunting, and who enjoyed proving their existence through fighting.

For them, waging war against the nation of Ronia, rather than simply plundering villages or territories, was an incredibly exciting prospect.

They were the Nordic people. The strongest warriors of mankind.