Chapter 8
“The Protagonist’s Younger Sibling is Reborn as a Constellation
Night was the time when everyone slept, but dungeon generation didn’t follow a schedule.
For this reason, the Dungeon Wavelength Management Team under the Hunter Association monitored constantly day and night to ensure civilian safety.
A man let out a surprised breath while staring at a monitor.
“Huh?”
“‘Huh?’ over nothing is forbidden.”
“No, Team Leader. The wavelength in this zone is acting strange.”
At his words, the person called the Team Leader approached his computer.
On the monitor, a red indicator showed the most dangerous level.
Because it was a residential area, they hurried to dispatch a team to minimize casualties—but the color changed.
It shifted down two levels to yellow, then back to red.
“Why is this happening? Is it broken?”
The Team Leader muttered in confusion.
Meanwhile, in the very location where the wavelength color was fluctuating, an unknown alert appeared before the eyes of the residents.
Calling dungeon ‘ㅂH^!ㄴ’s ㅈ&§ℴ(?)’.
ERROR! ERROE!
Failed to call due to the absence of A!õ#ʅ.
Calling dungeon ‘㉧rㄱl@ㅜ& 보ㄱΞㅈr□(?)’.
It was a system window visible to anyone.
The fact that an ordinary person could see the system window meant only one thing: a dungeon was about to spawn in this space.
However, since it was a time when everyone was asleep, the alert disappeared without being noticed.
A dungeon has been detected near contractor Kim Igyul. Would you like to assist him?
A dungeon has been detected near contractor Kim Igyul. Would you like to assist him?
I couldn’t hide my disbelief.
“How long has it been since we parted, and you’re already going into another dungeon?”
Since he’s my contractor, I had to help. I pressed the accept button, and light flashed in the pocket dimension.
You have entered dungeon ‘㉧rㄱl@ㅜ& 보ㄱΞㅈr□(S)’.
I said I’d help, not that I’d come myself.
The system sent me to the dungeon where Kim Igyul was.
As soon as I entered, I was greeted by the dungeon entry alert and a damp room.
“Ugh, it’s humid!”
Had someone turned on a humidifier? I felt difficulty breathing as I looked around.
Books were scattered all over the floor, as if a bookshelf had toppled.
“Is anyone here?”
I cautiously approached the pile of books and saw a basket on top. Inside, there was a soft-looking blanket along with red-orange fur and white feathers.
As I moved closer, something wriggled.
It wasn’t Kim Igyul. A small fox was sleeping in the basket, curled up adorably.
“A fox…?”
There was no way a household would raise a fox. And since this was a dungeon, the fox might be a monster. I stepped back cautiously.
Looking around again, a purple mist of unknown origin swirled around the books.
Then I heard rustling.
It was coming from the basket where the fox had been sleeping.
Looking for a hiding spot, I ducked into a built-in wardrobe and peeked through the crack to observe the fox.
The fox woke, stretched leisurely, yawned with its mouth wide open, and looked around.
Immediately, it noticed me hiding in the wardrobe. Its eyes gleamed as it approached.
⌈Woof! Woof!⌋
A fierce—or rather, cute—cry sounded right in front of me.
⌈Baby! Are you there?!⌋
A lively voice shattered the silence.
Ah. I must have picked the wrong hiding spot.
The fox hopped and scratched the wardrobe with its claws. I quietly held my breath to avoid being noticed.
When the door didn’t open despite its efforts, the fox tilted its head and muttered in a drawn-out voice.
⌈This is definitely a baby’s energy. Baby, aren’t you in there?⌋
I covered my mouth and held my breath. The puzzled fox barked and opened its mouth again.
⌈Ah! Got it, the baby can’t come out now! I’ll help you.⌋
Bang!
Before I could even react, the fox’s tail grew huge and smashed the wardrobe door.
The door, unable to withstand the external force, shattered.
Debris brushed past me, but that wasn’t important right now.
Dust swirled, making me cough, so I waved my hands in front of my face.
The fox, having discovered me, smiled innocently.
⌈Baby!⌋
It was the same pure smile that hadn’t seemed responsible for breaking the wardrobe door moments ago.
When our eyes met, the fox called me ‘Baby’ and leapt into my arms. I reflexively hugged it.
It growled softly, its tail brushing against me and tickling my arms.
Could I really hug a monster like this? I wondered.
When I relaxed my arms, the fox looked up at me with a pout.
Ah, I lost to cuteness.
As I petted the fox’s back, its sparkling eyes brightened as if it was pleased.
⌈The baby shouldn’t be here yet, right? I heard Selas isn’t here yet!⌋
“Sel… what? What’s that?”
I couldn’t understand a word of the stream of chatter.
⌈The baby’s home among the stars! I heard the baby should only be in &◆!⌋
Parts of the fox’s babbling sounded distorted, like static.
It reminded me of the broken text in <If You Read Only This, You Too Can Become a Constellation!>.
Judging from context, it must have something to do with the stars it mentioned earlier.
I stopped petting and said to the fox,
“Hmm, fox. First, I’m not a baby, and I’m not a star.”
The fox tilted its head, sniffed me, then sniffed around.
Was it smelling something strange? I sniffed my clothes, but there was no scent.
After sniffing and nodding to itself, the fox flicked its tail confidently.
⌈The baby is indeed a baby? Ah, you still don’t know!⌋
The fox laughed softly and continued.
⌈The baby is still becoming a star, so it might not know yet!⌋
I almost accepted that explanation.
It seemed this fox used cuteness as leverage to say ridiculous things boldly.
“Humans can’t become stars.”
⌈Hmm, that’s true, but the baby is an exception.⌋
“Who said that?”
⌈The Goddess!⌋
The fox proudly lifted its nose like a parent boasting about their child.
Humans becoming stars was surprising enough, but monsters, stars, and goddesses? That was even more bewildering.
‘Goddess vs. Monster’ is usually an adversarial relationship.
A monster addressing an enemy respectfully? This was highly unusual.
“You’re not a monster, are you?”
⌈Even as a baby, that was harsh.⌋
Its tail drooped. The fox didn’t hide its displeasure.
⌈I’m not a bad star.⌋
Tears welled up in its eyes as it buried its head in my arms and shook violently.
“Alright. You’re not a bad star! So don’t cry.”
I adjusted my posture and held it properly. To stop its crying, I changed the subject.
“Then what exactly are you?”
⌈I’m a little fox.⌋
The fox muttered sulkily, lowering its head. Feeling a pang of guilt, I quickly changed the topic and continued gently petting it. Ah, so soft.
“Are you a star?”
⌈Yes! I’m the elder star, and the baby is my younger star.⌋
Honestly, I didn’t understand fully, but I let it slide. Denying it would probably make it cry again.
The fox quickly perked up, lifting its head excitedly.
To summarize the fox’s words: the fox is a star, and so am I.
But I’m a Constellation, and usually, Constellations are stars…
So that meant the fox was also a Constellation.
However, a window that appeared right after locking eyes with the fox still bothered me.
Young Ruler, Little Fox (S)
Core: Unknown.
It had appeared right after meeting the fox’s silver-gray eyes. It still hovered around the fox.
This was why I initially thought the fox was a monster.
How had a Constellation ended up as a dungeon boss?
“Fox, you appear as a monster to me.”
⌈Huh? That can’t be.⌋
Tilting its head, the fox sounded thoughtful.
I gave it time to organize its thoughts, all the while playing with its tail. Absolutely because it was cute.
After thinking, the fox handed me its tail.
⌈Come to think of it… how did you get in here, baby?⌋
“The system sent me.”
⌈This is my &◆, so no one can enter without permission from the baby’s &◆.⌋
