D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 179

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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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Side Story 2-1
― Constellations grow through conflict too
“Se-um, Constellations live for such a long time, don’t they?”
“I suppose that’s true enough.”
It was an abrupt question.
But since Ha Gyuhyuk had a habit of broaching subjects without preamble, I found it hardly surprising.
I answered casually, and he—who had been combing through my hair—leaned his head over my shoulder with a subtle movement.
“Do you fight often, then?”
“Well, I’m not sure about the frequency, but if we fight too much, mutual contact bans get imposed.”
“And you make up afterward?”
“If both parties have the will to reconcile? Did you happen to get into a fight with another Divine Official without my knowing?”
He’s always been so docile toward me that I often forget.
That he doesn’t bother hiding his claws when dealing with others.
When Divine Officials fight among themselves, it becomes difficult for me to mediate.
Perhaps I should just close my eyes, have him write an apology, and assign him menial work in Sungdo for about ten years.
“Corporate life is like that—you make mistakes and get scolded, you know. You’re my dedicated Divine Official, but I can’t mediate every squabble between the staff….”
“No, it’s not that. The Constellations spend so much time together, but it seems like very few of them are as close as you three are.”
“Ah, is that what this is about?”
When he says three, he must mean me, Tasha, and Franson.
“Most Constellations either stay in their chambers or, if they venture out, never in groups of two or more.”
“I see… So that’s the norm, and the three of you are the exception.”
“Other Constellations ask me about it too—how the three of us became so close. If anything, we’re the abnormal ones, and the others are standard.”
It’s true; this is the right time to ponder such questions.
It’s one of the first mysteries newcomers to Sungdo encounter.
Why do so many Constellations exist yet never associate with one another?
“Well, for one, our ages and worlds of origin differ vastly. Even if we came from the same world, we might have arrived at different times, and often when we became Constellations simultaneously, we were on opposing sides.”
These cases are instances where memories from before becoming a Constellation had a significant influence.
Naturally, right after becoming a Constellation, adaptation takes priority over befriending other Constellations.
“Most miss the window of opportunity that way. Even if they don’t, each Constellation has their own Server with clients, so our schedules differ.”
Since there are far more Servers than Constellations, unless you deliberately enter the same Server, it’s nearly impossible to cross paths even once in a thousand years.
In such circumstances, finding a companion to talk with and spend time with is no simple task.
“Still, there seem to be quite a few extroverted Constellations….”
“There are. The extroverted ones gather separately to socialize. But they have no reason to meet me.”
Sungdo arranges its floors to suit each Constellation’s temperament as much as possible.
The sociable Constellations who wander about freely are likely stationed on floors where I’d rarely encounter them.
“Proportionally, extroverted Constellations are incredibly rare anyway.”
“Why is that…?”
“To become a Constellation, you fundamentally need to save the world, and amid all that, it’s difficult to have enough peace of mind to meet people, socialize, make friends, and treat them kindly.”
You have to face calamities, save people, solve difficult problems, and achieve Achievements—all while being sociable?
Usually, clients with such excessively sound minds choose to die naturally rather than become Constellations.
In truth, Sungdo is like a graveyard for those clinging to regrets.
“Oh….”
“Why are you looking at me like you’re seeing me in a new light?”
“It seems like Se-um isn’t particularly extroverted either.”
“I’m the type who prefers not to get entangled with people or Constellations if I can help it.”
I don’t stop incoming clients, and I don’t hold onto departing Constellations—that’s just how I am.
The number of people I’ve truly held onto could be counted on one hand.
“But how did you become close with Tasha and Franson?”
“After I became a Constellation, Tasha looked after me a lot, and Franson was already close with Tasha anyway.”
If you think about it, it’s more like one plus one.
Though I only think it and never say it aloud to Franson’s face, since he’d probably be deeply hurt and leave.
‘How naive Se-um was back then. It’s a shame there’s none of that now.’
‘Wait, how old is Franson anyway that he’s suddenly reminiscing about my past?’
‘How old am I again…?’
‘Never mind.’
My friend who remains naive and helpless no matter how many years pass.
I was recalling the faces of friends who were either excessively rational or excessively emotional when his words continued.
“Then the two of them…. Hmm, is this something Se-um wouldn’t know?”
“How did Tasha and Franson become close? Oh, I asked about that when I was very young too. By Constellation standards, I must have been under thirty.”
The moment I thought such personal matters were fair game to ask about, I blurted it out.
Seeing Ha Gyuhyuk’s face fill with curiosity, I let a small smile play at my lips.
“Curious?”
“Yes…. I’d like to know if I could.”
“Well, it’s not a bad story or anything—just listen like you’re hearing an old tale. To be honest, I thought it was a lie at first.”
“To that extent?”
Seeing him look satisfied as my hair shimmered, I pulled him close and made him lie down naturally.
With his head resting on my thigh as a pillow, I watched his frozen expression and continued calmly.
“You’ll think it’s a lie too when you hear it.”
“Uh, well, but Se-um, this position….”
“You like it.”
“That may be true, but….”
* * *
It was the distant past by Ha Gyuhyuk’s standards.
I had been dead for less than thirty years, a time when I was full of curiosity about everything.
Those were busy days spent chasing after this and that to adapt to Sungdo, where individual play was emphasized to excess.
I asked Tasha questions a hundred times a day and dragged Franson around, peeking into every corner of Sungdo.
“I have a question. Franson.”
“Huh…. Me? I probably won’t be able to answer whatever you’re curious about…. Let me hear it first anyway.”
Franson looked at me with a serious expression.
It seemed odd to him that I had come to him with a question when Tasha was the one in charge of answering, and I was a walking repository of knowledge he could have consulted instead.
“Why are you so certain without even hearing what I have to say?”
“If Tasha doesn’t know it, how could I? Unless you’re asking about something like what age our brother died….”
“I’m not so consumed with curiosity that I’d wonder about such things.”
“Exactly. That’s why I don’t understand. If it’s not that, then why are you asking me in the first place?”
This Constellation had such excellent self-awareness that it tended to embarrass the Constellation listening to him.
I worried wrinkles might form between his slightly furrowed brows.
“How did you meet Tasha?”
“Oh…. Why bring that up all of a sudden? And wouldn’t it be better to hear that story from Tasha rather than me?”
I had actually already asked Tasha about it.
‘Tasha, how did you end up becoming friends with Franson?’
‘We both started by dying.’
The story began from such a distant point that I grew tired and switched to asking someone else.
Tasha was good for advice, but listening to her stories wasn’t particularly enjoyable.
When I simply wanted pleasure—whether as a listener or storyteller—Franson was the right choice.
Franson grumbled after hearing my recollection.
“Tasha’s too dry. You won’t find a shred of emotion even if you search with fresh eyes. I’m hearing this secondhand and it’s so disheartening. Starting from when they died—what kind of beginning is that?”
“Exactly. So now I have no choice but to hear it from you, Franson.”
“But why are you so curious about this anyway?”
Franson was looking at me with an expression of deep suspicion.
“Let me think…. It’s been so long that I need to dig through my memories a bit.”
“I’ve heard that two people with different temperaments often get along well. Was that the case with you two?”
“Hmm, I don’t think that was it.”
Franson shook his head with a grimace, as if the mere thought made him recoil.
“Our relationship was actually terrible at first, I think.”
“You mean it was extremely bad?”
My expression turned skeptical, as if I were looking at the world’s greatest con artist, and a wounded look flashed across Franson’s face.
“I’m serious. Do you really think we got along?”
“Well, I suppose not….”
And so their dark history, buried for a thousand years, was laid bare before me.

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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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