Chapter – 04
Anyway, Love is the Problem
The massive dimensional rift, on the verge of exploding from gate overload.
A magical wave emanated from the rift, affecting both body and mind, making it difficult to even approach. Amidst this, A-rank or higher magical beasts were pouring out like a swarm of angry bees.
Not even the experts could predict what would happen if that rift burst.
It was a catastrophe on a scale that could, at minimum, destroy a nation. An absolute crisis where we had to fight desperately, risking our lives.
Because it was such a major event, the story of those who stopped this crisis was also very well-known.
However, there was no ‘Sacrificed Savior’ in that story.
As I didn’t hide my suspicion, the Constellation noisily voiced its displeasure. The gist was roughly this:
“That giant red thing is trapped inside? You want me to save him? Why? According to the future you showed me, he’s a ticking time bomb, so why should I save him? Did you maybe show me the wrong future?”
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ lets out a sigh.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ says that if affinity is insufficient, this conversation requires alcohol and suggests having a drink.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ has sent a sponsorship.
Gift: Premium Starlit Grape Wine (S) ×1
This is my first time drinking during the day.
I took the gift out of my inventory. The liquid sloshed inside a crude bottle.
“There’s no way to open the cork. I don’t have an opener at home. I’ll drink later, so you have a drink first and let’s talk.”
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ gulps down the nectar.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ lets out a sigh.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ lets out a sigh.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ lets out a sigh.
.
.
.
“What the, why are you sighing so much?”
Well, considering the SSS-grade oracle, they probably can’t help but sigh too.
But I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the Constellation’s next lament.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ sheds tears and confesses that they love the ‘Sacrificed and Forgotten Red Savior’ sealed within the 12th Core Rift.
‘As I thought, I got stuck with the wrong Constellation.’
I swept my hand down my face, swallowing a sigh and a curse.
According to it, this damn Constellation hadn’t known about the ‘Sacrificed and Forgotten Red Savior’—before he became the ‘Red Demon God’—for very long.
Inside the 12th Core Rift seal, which it happened to glance into.
There, it saw the ‘Sacrificed and Forgotten Red Savior’ struggling desperately to get out, fell in love at first sight, and felt heart-wrenching pity and love…
‘How pathetic.’
Anyway, whether human or Constellation, this damn love is the problem.
I lay down on the bed, eyes tightly shut, holding the wine bottle. I was desperately suppressing the urge to break the bottle and gulp down the wine.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ confesses that it wants to get him out somehow.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ says that after receiving the oracle, it was tormented by the hopeless reality and played the lyre for a while.
Ah… I see.
After making the contract, even with my eyes closed, the Constellation’s messages automatically entered and lodged themselves in my mind.
Tear-stained status windows followed one after another in a tedious stream.
The Constellation urgently said that according to the oracle it received, the day the ‘Sacrificed and Forgotten Red Savior’ is eventually freed is the day he is born as a Demon God.
At that moment, all gods and humans will try to destroy the poor being.
It lamented at length that its cold-blooded ?????? would unconditionally try to kill that being, that it was probably the only divine being who felt favorably towards him, and the status window of lamentation continued on like a long-winded worry post on a dawn internet community.
I let most of the content go in one ear and out the other. It was just amazing that I could feel the other party sobbing even through the status window.
“Why did you fall in love at first sight?”
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ trails off, saying it just felt destiny…
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ the sound of a lyre being played sorrowfully echoes.
Buff activated!
The lyre sound spreads, carried by the wind, up to a 1km radius.
Buff effect applies if staying within a 1km radius from the point where the music first started.
Magic power increased by 7% for 5 minutes……
Stop being so ridiculous!
Since only curses came to mind, I just kept my mouth shut.
I didn’t say anything, but the other party was going crazy on its own.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ begins to feel a bond with Contractor ‘Kim Eun-sol’.
The Constellation bestows the title ‘A woman who seems cold on the outside but is warm-hearted and a good listener’ upon Contractor ‘Kim Eun-sol’.
Affinity with Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ acquired (+15.3%)
Partial communication restrictions lifted due to reaching a certain level of affinity!
As expected. When it comes to other people’s relationship counseling, the best method is to keep your mouth shut as much as possible and just listen appropriately.
‘I wonder if I should be happy that my affinity went up as a result.’
With a generous heart, I asked another question I was curious about.
“Oh, most sorrowful Constellation of this moment. You said all gods and humans would try to destroy that being, right? That seems a bit different from the ending of the SSS-grade oracle I saw? Wasn’t it an ending where just me and that red thing are left alone?”
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ applauds, saying you’ve hit the nail on the head.
It says that from that point on, it’s a part where affinity heavily influences the conversation, so I must raise my affinity to hear more, and urges me to move it quickly.
“You said one of the reasons you chose me was because I’m a ‘mortal who can bear the causality,’ right? Is it related to that?”
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ says ?????????????????.
Warning: Insufficient affinity. Interpretation impossible.
A sigh escaped me automatically.
Considering the atrocities that guy committed, if I don’t accept this quest, it will definitely keep showing me hellish apocalypse endings non-stop.
It’s a relief that my affinity is still too low to know the details of the oracle, but if I keep watching even this low-resolution version, I’ll go crazy from the stress.
Why did it have to be me? Was there really no other suitable candidate?
This is a common thought among victims of Constellation contracts.
Why me?
‘Is this the route to becoming Victim No. 1?’
A comment I saw on an internet community came to mind. Is this more than just being bitten by a tiger?
‘More than that, at this point, a certain conspiracy theory comes to mind.’
Somehow, it seems like there’s something fishy going on inside the Yongseon Guild.
And like a festering wound bursting open, that fishy business seems likely to be exposed to the whole world. Carrying the second world destruction crisis with it.
Would it be okay… to report this to the national authorities?
‘Wouldn’t I be the one getting arrested?’
No, would they even believe me?
Yongseon Guild. From the beginning, it was a private guild that gathered a large number of skilled Hunters.
With incredible ability, resourcefulness, and teamwork, it grew to the level of a massive corporation in an instant after its establishment.
All its members are A to S-rank Hunters recognized worldwide, and among the nine S-rank Hunters in Korea, the Korean rank 1 and world rank 1 is in that very guild.
There are many S-rank Hunters worldwide, and even the US and China have over 20 S-rank Hunters each, but among them, Korean S-rank Hunters occupy more than half of the world’s top 10 rankings.
The fact that the 1st place is also Korean says it all. As expected from the nation of cost-effectiveness.
A guild that includes even one S-rank Hunter, who is treated as a ‘walking major corporation’… What would happen if someone like me showed up, babbling about having seen the future, saying, “You guys are hiding something, right? And that something will bring about the world’s destruction, what is it!”
‘If I just get ignored, I’m lucky. A lawsuit is guaranteed.’
I broke out in a cold sweat.
Except for some gossip-loving media and streamers, nobody wanted to get on the Yongseon Guild’s nerves. Even high-ranking figures in politics couldn’t treat Yongseon lightly.
Now the world is divided into before and after the Gates appeared. Power has been re-established based on Awakened ranks and abilities.
What if the Yongseon Guild was really, acting righteous on the surface but doing all sorts of dirty deeds behind the scenes?
Kidnapping and beheading me one day would be nothing to them.
Bzzzz—
My phone started vibrating, unable to wait any longer.
‘In this situation, a quick resolution is best.’
I needed to clear my head right away.
I immediately texted my boss asking if he was available for a call. As soon as I got a yes, I called him right away and notified him of my resignation. When he asked for a reason, I gave a vague explanation.
I said family matters had come up.
Suddenly thinking of the past left a bitter taste.
My mom had once come to my company.
‘Just before entering the breakroom, I coincidentally found out that the fight between me and my mom at the company entrance had reached the ears of pretty much everyone in the company.’
Thinking about it again, resentment surged up, and I gripped the wine bottle tightly.
Why did my mom come all the way to my company?
Prior to that, I had exchanged double curses and punches with my brother who asked to borrow money.
I knew my family would come to my studio apartment, so I stayed at a friend’s place for a week without showing my face at my own place, which is why she came to my company.
My boss seemed to remember that incident. When I mentioned family matters, only basic conversation was exchanged and the call ended quickly.
‘Anyway, this guy doesn’t even know what my marketing team does.’
He definitely wouldn’t give me my severance pay properly. I knew from rumors. Whatever. Fine. I’ll go without that pittance they give while making a big show of it.
And then, it’s really over.
I threw my phone into the corner of the room. And this time, I finally fired a magic bullet at that phone.
Bang—!
A strange sense of catharsis washed over me. It was a phone I’d used for 4 years with a cracked screen, reduced to a rag, so I had no hesitation. When would I ever get to break a phone like this? Feels so refreshing.
‘What do I do now.’
Pshhhh—, I stared blankly at the phone smoking, then looked around.
It was a complete mess. I took a deep breath, opened the window to air out the smell of smoke, then washed up cleanly, came out, and found clothes that smelled less of smoke to wear.
I slapped my cheeks once with both hands— Smack!
After hesitating for a moment, unsure where to direct my words, I stuck my face against the window, pointed at the sun, and spoke so the ‘Sun’s’ Prophet could hear me clearly.
“This quest… it’s not a scam, right? You’re really giving wealth and health, right? I don’t care much about fame. I just want to live quietly as an ordinary, wealthy mortal No. 1.”
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ swears on everything it holds dear that it is not a scam.
“If I find out I’ve been tricked into an unfair contract, I’ll kill myself faster than anyone, without a moment’s delay, become a star, and then go after you first to get my revenge!”
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ grumbles, asking why I’m so distrustful.
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ says that according to the latest SSS-grade oracle, Contractor ‘Kim Eun-sol’ cannot even die.
“Then I’ll find a Constellation that *can* kill me and offer it everything I have to kill me!”
The Constellation ‘Prophet of the Sun’ tries to soothe me, asking why I’m such an extreme mortal and telling me to calm down.
People below were whispering, startled, seeing me alone shouting at the sky.
Whatever.
‘First… since I can only use money when I’m in my right mind, I’ll start with what I can do with money.’
