CH 37

I’m not someone with an eidetic memory. However, whether it was because I had become a constellation or whether there were other factors, my memory of the novel’s plot was strangely clear.

The first thing to know was the information Kang Si-hoo is hiding.

[You have entered a dungeon that has just opened.]

[Dungeon <Tomb of the Awakened>]

[A crowd of fanatics has gathered to await the day of their resurrection while curled up in the mansion. Survive those who crave eternal life.

Estimated Grade: A

Reward: ???

A special item is hidden.]

[You have entered channel #990O3. Current number of spectators: 3]

[In addition, ‘One Who Guides the Dead’ has entered the channel. Current number of spectators: 4]

As expected, Kang Si-hoo also had a constellation.

But there was something to watch out for. It was highly likely that even his constellation was not chosen, according to the flow of the original novel. Because originally, Kang Si-hoo was supposed to sign a contract with a constellation in this dungeon.

The constellation that originally signed with Kang Si-hoo was Hypnos, who was called the ‘Ruler of Sleep’ and ‘God of Sleep.’ He was an old man with a laid back personality and showed favor towards Kang Si-hoo, and as he grew up, he was a god, who gradually became dignified, and would appear to me if he had signed with Kang Si-hoo.

But as soon as I thought about it,

[‘Unknown User’ has left channel #990O3. Current number of spectators: 3]

That constellation had left. He didn’t even send a single message, so it popped up as ‘Unknown User’. While I was unable to say anything due to being speechless, a white fog cleared up before my eyes, revealing the inside of the dungeon.

It was the inside of a magnificent mansion. Violet torches hung from the walls of the hallway, and colorful chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. The front door we entered was lined with a bright red carpet, and inside was a grand staircase. At the same time, there were several corridors.

I don’t know how many centuries ago it was built, but it felt like the interior of a fairly old and huge mansion. A mansion large enough to have dozens of doors.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: What was that just now?

[CH.#990O3/One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall]: What was what?

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: They disappeared before I could even identify who they were.

Apollo clicked his tongue briefly.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: It isn’t strange that some people are disgusted with the interaction between constellations.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall]: Are you disgusted?

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: We are gods, but also not gods at the same time. A person who thinks that his/her superiority to human beings is only made from the imagination of humans and must depend on them.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: Do you understand what I mean? We exist because you, human beings, believe in the existence of god. Just as no one can call a god, who isn’t remembered, we live like parasites, clinging onto humans.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: Even a constellation is insignificant. They’re still just a constellation.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: That’s why we want fun. To fill the empty void we have. But there are some unique ones among us. Those who really regard themselves as a real ‘God’.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall]: It’s even more difficult to say that Apollo does not belong to the group of such things.

It was an account that did not come out well in the original novel. It was said that the constellations contracted with humans simply because they pursued ‘fun’ to an extreme level.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: Who do you think I am?

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: If I was a perfect ‘God’, I wouldn’t have to worry about the destruction of this world.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: I could even have the power to give a prophecy by now.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall]: So what do you mean by being disgusted?

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: Believing that you are a God. Like a real god.

Apollo seemed to laugh as if to help himself.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: Even to themselves, they are isolated. Trying not to go crazy is what eventually eats them up.

“Wow, this is no joke. It feels like an old mansion, or something like that.”

Kim Ki-won made a fuss as he stood attached to my forearm. I remained silent and looked up at Baek Tae-beom. He was looking around with attentive eyes. I focused my attention on the doors that seemed like they were going to open at any moment.

Lee Myung-won spoke.

“There are many routes. I think we should split up and check them all out. Let’s divide ourselves into different groups.”

“Ah, that is too.”

I raised my hand. Jeon Pil-su, who was next to me, was startled by my sudden action and took a step back.

“Me and Kang Cheol-su-ssi will go.”

“Yes?”

“Hyung, then I’ll be….”

“No. Wait a minute.”

Kim Ki-won said as if he was full of energy.

“Wouldn’t the balance be strange? You can’t put an S-class hunter and an ungradable hunter in the same group.”

“You’ve been bothering me for a while.”

Baek Tae-beom looked down at Kim Ki-won with a cold expression. Kim Ki-won’s cheeks flinched and shook.

“If you cause enough racket for a day, I’ll kill you….”

“Okay.”

“Hyung?”

Baek Tae-beom looked at me with a puzzled look. I spoke bluntly, trying to ignore his puppy-like appearance.

“Then let me, Kim Ki-won, and Kang Cheol-su go together.”

“What are you talking about?”

As if he couldn’t believe it, Baek Tae-beom stepped towards me. The look he had as he came closer and looked down at me was like he was being betrayed by the owner he trusted. But I had no choice but to turn a blind eye to it. Originally, I was going to be with Baek Tae-beom, but since things turned out like this, I had to find out who Kang Si-hoo was.

Even more so the identity of his constellation.

“Hyung, I… You said you’d stay by my side.”

“I can’t help it, Beom-ah.”

“You can’t help it? Are you saying this because you don’t know how dangerous A-grade dungeons are now, Hyung?”

[Your contractor is afraid.]

I’m sorry, but I know it well. The fact that I’m doing something stupid right now.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: Are you crazy? Are you going to go off by yourself?

[CH.#990O3/One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall]: That guy is too suspicious.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall]: If you think I’m going to fall down, you know that you have to help me out of loyalty, right? Yes?

[CH.#990O3/One who leads the dead]: Only in this case. Loyalty. You are really shameless. Unfortunately. It’s so like you.

[CH.#990O3/One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall]: Be quiet.

I gently stroked Baek Tae-beom’s hair. His locks gently slipped out between my fingers. And he looked straight at me with disbelief. Then, as if what was happening was true before them, the man exhaled slowly right away.

“Just now, Hunter Baek Tae-beom….”

“Like treating a child, oh my….”

Jeon Pil-soo and Kim Ki-won whispered as they lightly averted their eyes away from us.

“I’ll call you if I need your help. You heard me, right?”

“…….”

“Promise me, unn?”

“Promise. For real this time.”

Baek Tae-beom licked his lips. Then, he caught my pinky finger and let it go. Those around us were even more shocked by the action. Even Kang Si-hoo was hiding behind the two hunters glanced over, and Lee Myung-won’s expression wasn’t very good either.

‘Is Baek Tae-beom’s reputation this bad?’

I suppose it was bad just from seeing the comments on the articles I checked occasionally. The reaction of the people around us was like seeing a tamer, who tamed an untamable beast.

‘He has a really good heart.’

For no reason, I stroked Baek Tae-beom’s hair once more, and then glanced at Kim Ki-won and Kang Si-hoo.

“Let’s go. We’ll go right.”

“Then, we’ll go to the left. We’ll see you here again in two hours.”

“Be careful, Hyung.”

I pulled the hem of Kang Si-hoo’s clothes, who kept trying to hide behind Kim Ki-won. Then the man tried to fall with a strange sound and caught the sleeve of Kim Ki-won.

I don’t know what was beyond the mask, but on the outside, I felt perplexed. I looked up at him and said.

“Why do you keep hiding behind Kim Ki-won?”

“B, b-but….”

Kim Ki-won spoke on behalf of Kang Si-hoo, who couldn’t speak properly.

“This guy is a little less extroverted. Choi Ga-hyun-ssi, as an ungradable hunter, can you please understand?”

“It’s not like that, what are you going to do if a monster suddenly pops out of nowhere?”

No, it’s not about you, this mansion was a dungeon where monsters unexpectedly appeared. This was because those humanoid monsters, the so-called ‘fanatics’, always pop out suddenly and scare hunters.

Kim Ki-won stroked his chin nervously at my words. Then, he pushed Kang Si-hoo away, who was trying to stick to him.

“You, don’t stay next to me.”

“Ah, ha, but….”

“You can stay by me, Kang… Cheol-su-ssi.”

I said, while raising my staff.

“I’ll protect you.”

Of course, Kang Si-hoo was much stronger than me.

Kang Si-hoo looked down at me quietly, and then slowly took a step closer. He gently leaned towards me.

“T-then… I’ll be by your side, Ga-hyun-ssi.”

[The constellation, ‘One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun’ squints his eyes.]

[CH.#990O3/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun]: Look at this guy?