D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 145

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 145
— Because I love you.
Ha Gyuhyuk’s voice came through the screen with crystalline clarity.
There was not a shred of hesitation in his expression as he spoke, which somehow made me feel even more embarrassed standing there in silence.
“Se-um! Did you hear? He said he loves you!”
Franson beside me was making an even bigger fuss. He slapped my shoulder sharply.
“Yes, I heard. I heard him. But it seems like you’re being awfully rough on the kid.”
I would never attack someone else’s client like this.
If I truly wanted to destroy the world, I would simply kill everyone instantly and be done with it—I wouldn’t even bother engaging them.
I’m not that cruel of a Constellation.
[ You guys really shouldn’t treat my client like that ]
[ That’s not how it should be ]
I had posted the message in the chat room accessible only to Constellations participating in the Competition.
But implementing this wasn’t up to the Divine Officials—it was up to the organizing Constellation.
No matter how much I protested, it was an entity that wouldn’t listen even if I shouted.
“Se-um looks really cold like that. I thought you were the warm type until now.”
“I am a warm Constellation.”
“Right.”
Franson suddenly turned cold and looked back at the screen.
He had decided my words weren’t even worth responding to. I had just been insulted.
If it weren’t for Ha Gyuhyuk desperately overcoming the crisis right before my eyes, I wouldn’t have let it slide.
I was letting it go because I needed to focus on Ha Gyuhyuk right now.
I let out a small snort for no particular reason, then turned my attention back to the screen.
— What if you don’t come to save me?
— I’ll wait for you.
Ha Gyuhyuk was displaying a level of trust that even I found astonishing.
The kind of faith that I would come to rescue him no matter what, and love brimming so fully in his eyes.
“The Sallen Constellation said that men become more beautiful the more they’re soaked in blood. I kind of agree.”
Franson, his expression impassive, stared intently at Ha Gyuhyuk.
That enigmatic look suggested he found both this wondrous human love and its accompanying fragility strange yet admirable.
Though the wounds and pain were virtual, it must still be difficult to endure—yet he had persevered through it countless times.
Blocking Fake Se-um’s attacks, being pushed back, falling.
“Will our boy really be able to become that strong?”
“Isn’t he already incredibly strong at this point? It hasn’t been long since he achieved transcendence, yet he’s holding his ground in the Constellation System’s virtual simulation. Look over there.”
Following where Franson gestured, I could see people who already believed they were dead, now unconscious and being carried out on stretchers.
The Constellations, seeing their precious clients in such terrible condition, had turned ashen and followed after them.
Some among them wore expressions of resentment, unable to accept the results or their clients’ circumstances.
“Everyone’s finishing up faster than expected. Why is Ha Gyuhyuk taking so long?”
Normally, simulations end once the Constellations serving as judges reach a conclusion.
But compared to the other transcendents, Ha Gyuhyuk’s test seems to be taking an excessively long time.
“Maybe he hasn’t reached a conclusion yet.”
“No, he’s already said he loves her and proven everything there is to prove. What more could he possibly need to decide?”
If Ha Gyuhyuk simply wasn’t at that level, then he should just say so and be done with it.
Even if the Constellation System had taken every precaution, Ha Gyuhyuk was still human.
If he remained exposed to the artificial scenario created by the Constellation System for too long, he might eventually lose his mind.
The world inside would become etched in his consciousness as real, and Earth as a dying planet.
Ha Gyuhyuk was even more at risk because he was a Transcendent.
When he returned to Earth and saw its intact state, he would feel the disconnect and instinctively try to restore it to the reality he knew.
‘His Transcendent nature could ultimately manifest as the destruction of Earth.’
And he would believe it was his responsibility to ruin Earth and then repair it.
He would become a madman in the truest sense.
Just as I was about to stand up to stop him directly, the screen changed.
― I understand. If you love her, then there’s nothing to be done. I know what it means to want to love someone.
Fake Se-um nodded slowly as if she had grasped something.
Ha Gyuhyuk, now so covered in blood that his form was barely distinguishable, barely managed to lift his head.
I worried whether his mind was still intact.
Without realizing it, I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms.
“I know I should be going to save him right now, but there’s nothing I can do. My support is blocked, and all I can do is watch….”
If only I could have believed that Se-um was real, it wouldn’t be this agonizing.
He was fighting desperately with all his remaining strength to avoid death.
Because I hadn’t arrived yet, he refused to let go of consciousness.
It wasn’t so much vitality as it was willpower.
“If only he would let go and lose consciousness, it would end faster.”
Even Franson clicked his tongue with regret at this point.
But this was a special reaction visible only because he had grown somewhat fond of Ha Gyuhyuk.
The Constellations around us were cheering with apparent interest.
“Can’t we let him fight a bit longer?”
“If his body gets severed, does it reattach? I’d like to know that too.”
“Loving a Constellation—how presumptuous.”
They all understood that Ha Gyuhyuk’s love didn’t simply mean reverence.
“….”
I didn’t want to hear it.
Even though I myself treat others’ lives and deaths as entertainment, I couldn’t bear to hear them do the same to Ha Gyuhyuk.
But in reality, I could do nothing and simply sat there as if nailed to my seat.
It was a rational judgment.
Don’t get angry in this situation.
― But I wouldn’t dare hope to be loved by her. I want to love, not to be loved….
He seemed to be trying to say he didn’t.
Ha Gyuhyuk couldn’t finish his words and hung his head low.
Even in a moment like this, he couldn’t lie when it came to love.
He was a man who dared to wish for my love. He proclaimed it in the space of the stars.
The Constellations turned their gaze toward me.
“I suppose it’s enchanting enough.”
“So you’re the Se-um Constellation? I’ve never seen you before.”
“Constellation of the Entangled Apocalypse’s Finalizer. Why did you choose Jong-nam back then when we were dividing up the nine schools one by one? You could have taken Shaolin.”
“Well, he does do a good job though.”
I couldn’t tell if they thought it didn’t matter that I could hear them, or if they simply couldn’t control the volume of their voices.
When I shot a glare in that direction, the two Constellations flinched and fell silent.
“Yes, since I seduced that kid, please stop playing with him. He’s mine.”
I had clearly decided that restraint was the better choice, Se-um.
So why couldn’t I hold back after saying it?
But once the words left my lips, I felt no regret.
Because the bell signaling the end of Ha Gyuhyuk’s test rang as if in response to what I’d said.
[ Ha Gyuhyuk. ]
The moment it ended, I sent him a message as though I’d been waiting for exactly this.
Looking into the void as if he’d seen my message, Ha Gyuhyuk barely managed to lift the corners of his mouth before collapsing forward.
He was carried out on a stretcher shortly after.
Franson and I didn’t even glance back before leaping from our seats and rushing toward him.
“What’s his condition!”
“All injuries sustained within the space will be reversed. However, due to prolonged exposure inside, some rest is necessary for mental recovery. We will take additional measures to ensure his consciousness doesn’t collapse.”
The High Priest answered in a flurry the moment he heard the urgency in my voice.
Only after receiving confirmation that Ha Gyuhyuk would wake up unharmed no matter what could they be released.
I wanted to follow, but they descended to the Priest Layer below, cutting me off at the entrance.
“Ugh, I’m anxious. Ugh, I’m worried. Ugh, I’m stressed.”
“Ah, it’s fine. They’re the ones who resurrect dead clients anyway.”
“I’m worried he might go insane, not that he might die.”
“Though you’re worried he might die too…”
Leaving Franson to his grumbling, I finally felt regret.
I should have thought this mad competition through more carefully before jumping in. Instead, my heart got ahead of me, and I made him suffer.
I should have found another way.
Since Tasha hadn’t said anything either, I’d thought we’d have the advantage.
I’d believed Ha Gyuhyuk could do it.
But in the end, all I’d done was push him to his absolute limits.
“Hey, kid.”
Lost in those thoughts, I didn’t even hear someone calling me from behind.
Only after being called four or five times did I turn my head.
It was the Constellation who had bombarded me with questions earlier—one of the judges for this competition.
“Yes.”
“Let’s talk for a moment. I have something to say regarding the awards.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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