D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 156

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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 156
“I’ve heard that people from Earth are good at studying.”
“That’s outright racial discrimination. By that logic, all of Franson’s race must be skilled in healing magic.”
“We actually are, though.”
Time flows differently inside Tasha’s mind compared to the outside world.
Even if we spent a month here, less than ten seconds would pass outside. Which meant we could research for decades without consequence.
As a result, we’d now been trapped in this place for a full week.
“People from Earth suffered through hair loss and rhinitis for hundreds of years before finally solving them with skills.”
“Really? That sounds rough.”
Franson, who’d grown haggard over the past few days, responded to my words in a hollow voice.
I wasn’t even sure if he’d properly heard me.
Then again, this Constellation had a habit of offering empty affirmations regardless—”well done,” “I see,” “how about that”—whether he had anything to say or not.
I desperately wanted to discuss something other than Dungeons. I subtly changed the subject.
“Franson, could you help us with something? Surely you’re capable?”
“Help with what? Treating hair loss and rhinitis?”
“Yes, that and maybe things like menstrual cramps and such…”
“Sure, that sounds more interesting.”
Franson shared my sentiment—a flicker of life briefly crossed his vacant expression.
At this point, we’d find building a tower out of matchsticks entertaining if it wasn’t Dungeon study.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
We crouched low and began crawling across the floor like we were stalking prey.
We tried to distance ourselves from the bookshelves, seeking open space…
But we’d barely made it a short distance when several tentacles whipped out from behind the shelves and grabbed both Franson and me.
We dangled helplessly like laundry hanging from a clothesline as we were dragged back.
“No slacking off.”
“Help me.”
“A Constellation won’t die from reading.”
“My eyes are going to fall out.”
“Franson’s a doctor anyway, so he’s fine.”
Tasha dismissed our pleas for mercy without hesitation and thrust books back into our hands.
Being shackled would be less torturous than this.
I felt like we’d each read a thousand books by now.
“Tasha, I think I could recite every Hunter world that Constellations have ever visited at this point…”
“Go ahead and try.”
“That was just a figure of speech.”
Se-um eliminated.
“But wait—would studying these Dungeons actually help? We’d be better off going out there and observing that ground spider or whatever it is.”
“Don’t even think about sneaking out.”
“You’re sharp.”
Franson de Germain eliminated.
We sat side by side again with gloomy expressions and began reading.
Tasha personally translated books in countless languages into Korean and Franson’s world language.
While we read a thousand books, Tasha reviewed tens of billions.
Sometimes I can’t even remember what I ate yesterday.
Every time Tasha opened a book, she immediately recalled details—that this one was picked up four hundred years ago from somewhere, that one was discovered on a cliff face when she was alive.
How primitive must Franson and I appear before someone like that.
Though perhaps it was only me feeling this way, given that Franson was a genius who created a cure that saved the world.
Trapped as we were, we devoured another hundred books.
Just as I grew weary of tracking time, Tasha finally uttered words of salvation.
“That said, after gathering various information, I’ll admit that simply reading books continuously won’t help.”
“I think so too. Tasha, our minds truly align. Is it because you’re my Constellation?”
“Natalia is wise as well. Simply remaining here won’t improve the situation.”
The thought that missing this opportunity would leave me a star preserved in this library made our voices urgent.
Simultaneously, Tasha, who had been flipping through eight books at once, regarded us with a somewhat pitying expression.
“Reading at that pace won’t accomplish anything.”
“But we’ve read nearly twenty-five hundred books combined.”
“Exactly. So when will you find it at that rate?”
That was it.
Arguing about knowledge with this Constellation was itself an unnecessary waste.
“Have you found some method, Tasha?”
I ventured the question, harboring a glimmer of hope.
Tasha glided toward me, and the books behind her began returning themselves to the shelves.
“It’s difficult to call it a method, but I have discovered several possibilities.”
“What kind?”
Of course it was Tasha.
I had faith she would find something.
My Constellation, seeing my eager face, spoke calmly.
“The truth is, it will be difficult for your client to become a Constellation through this. You mentioned last time it would be better to clear quickly and accumulate karma afterward, so I based this on that.”
“Ah, so this won’t work either….”
Brief disappointment flickered past, but I quickly composed my expression.
I would simply have to work harder afterward.
“Still, I’ve found a path that maximizes efficiency while maintaining the highest possible success rate. Look here.”
A parchment-like paper unfolded in midair.
Without even the pretense of writing, countless characters appeared and disappeared repeatedly upon it.
“To avoid casualties when arbitrarily opening a Gate, you must use your exclusive karma directly.”
“Exclusive karma?”
“Right, your exclusive karma allows direct intervention in the Dungeon. Even if the corpse disappears, it buys time so the Gate doesn’t open for a set period.”
“Wow…. Will the karma I have now be enough?”
“With what you received from the last client competition and direct intervention, you should have a little left over.”
“How little?”
“Slightly more than zero.”
Hopeless.
Truth be told, I hadn’t dismissed the idea of intervening in the Dungeon using my exclusive Karma.
But there were considerable risks to weigh.
Exclusive Karma first required my true form, and using it consumed vast resources.
Moreover, there was concern that interfering with the Gate might create ripple effects within the Dungeon’s interior.
Tasha opened her mouth calmly, perhaps noticing the gravity settling across my features.
“I’ve prepared contingencies so any problematic situations in the Dungeon can be managed. You don’t need to worry.”
“Problematic situations?”
“Things like the Dungeon deteriorating or the internal environment shifting entirely.”
“But even for Natalia, calculating all those variables would be difficult, wouldn’t it? You don’t have perfect knowledge of every Other World situation either.”
Franson opened his mouth with a puzzled expression.
A Dungeon is what connects Earth and the Other World. Its variables move according to the Other World’s logic.
Events could occur on Servers beyond Sungdo’s surveillance, or in places Tasha hasn’t verified.
Among those in Sungdo, Tasha possessed the most knowledge, yet even she didn’t know everything.
“Right. If I intervene, won’t things just get worse because of the flow of stars or whatever?”
“Possibly? The probability that it resembles a Dungeon I’ve learned is higher, but exceptions always occur.”
Even a 0.000000001% margin of error couldn’t be overlooked—that was Tasha’s acknowledgment.
But hearing Tasha’s composed voice, I sensed she’d already devised countermeasures to match.
“This is something only you can attempt—not me or Franson. Attempt, rather than accomplish.”
“I can do what neither of you can? Am I really that extraordinary?”
I couldn’t accept this at all.
Objectively, it didn’t seem right.
“What people on Earth call affection.”
“Huh? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The conversation kept drifting off course.
Meanwhile, Franson wore an expression of sudden understanding. Of all things.
Everyone but me grasped this situation.
Tasha continued with a smile.
“When human strength isn’t enough, you borrow the power of the stars.”
“That’s why I’m asking Tasha and Franson for help right now.”
In that instant, the Library’s appearance transformed.
We stood among countless stars scattered throughout the Universe.
I was them, and they were the omniscient beings observing the world from that Sungdo.
All the stars recorded in the Akashic Records were reflected.
“More stars. Those capable of easily saving even a single star that has devoted its will from catastrophe.”
Only then could I understand what Tasha was saying.
“You’re telling me to open a Competition using my remaining Karma.”
“Correct.”
“But I don’t have much karma left.”
“That’s exactly why, Se-um.”
Franson regarded me with exasperation, yet a smile played across his face.
His expression was gentle, almost tender.
“That’s exactly why only you can do this. You have stars willing to lend you their strength simply because you ask them to.”

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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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