Return of the Shattered Constellation - Chapter 409
Chapter 409
Chiron stroked his chin as he looked at the [Astromancy Ball] that Procyon had brought. “This… is what Sadalmelik has been planting all over Eos, yes?”
“Th-that’s right.” Procyon bowed, breaking into a cold sweat.
With his fate depending on Chiron’s decision right now, he couldn’t help but agonize. Chiron could either get angry because he didn’t investigate the Metal Mask in more depth even though he worked together with ‘Divine Twilight’ or praise him for bringing Chiron the opportunity to get Sadalmelik’s leash.
The Chiron that Procyon knew was rational and focused on his benefit, not his losses, but the issue at hand was so sensitive that he couldn’t expect Chiron to react as usual.
‘Fuck, fuck, fuckkkkk!’ Procyon cursed, feeling a burning sensation in his left shoulder. He suppressed his anger as he recalled how Chang-Sun humiliated him. The arm should have regrown by now, but for some reason, none of the treatments worked. Having to spend the rest of his life with a disability brought despair and anger that perturbed him too greatly.
Tap.
Tap…
Meanwhile, Chiron was lost in his thoughts, tapping the armrest with his index finger. The longer he remained silent, the more Procyon agonized.
“Sirius, what’s your input on this?” Chiron asked ‘Canis Major’ Sirius, who was standing beside him. Sirius had good intuition and instincts as a hound, so Chiron often listened to his opinion before deciding matters that required such qualities.
Sirius spent some time thinking about it before bowing. “The alliance with Twilight will inevitably become our vulnerability.”
Procyon flinched.
“But I believe it shouldn’t be a problem for as long as we eliminate him before anyone finds out,” Sirius continued.
“So what is it that you want to say?”
“Why don’t we fish in troubled waters?”
“Fish in troubled waters?” Chiron looked at Sirius with interest.
Smiling ferociously, Sirius nodded. “Eos is where the human sacrificial offerings are made, and the one occupying it is…”
Chiron’s gaze grew sharper. “Twilight.”
“That’s right.”
“Hahahaha! Tie Sadalmelik, Twilight, and the Outer Celestial altogether? That’s brilliant. Well, The best time to kill prey is when they’re tired. I won’t have to use up my stamina.” Chiron quietly burst into laughter.
This could be his chance to eliminate the sickeningly annoying Chang-Sun and Sadalmelik. Just imagining the results was enough to make him feel ecstatic.
“Castor is working with that bitch Sadalmelik. Once I take her down, I’ll get Castor on a leash too… Two of the Zodiacs will be under my control,” he murmured.
Considering what he could accomplish in exchange, the alliance would prove to be a very good move.
“We will have to make it public to do it right, though…” Chiron smiled subtly, his eyes on Sirius.
Noticing Chiron’s gaze, Sirius bowed again. “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll be sure to get it done.”
“I feel as if I’m forcing you to do all the work.”
“What do you mean? This miscellaneous task is perfect for me, a hound. You can simply watch until the prey is tired, fire an arrow, and reap the fruits. Before we proceed with this…” Sirius trailed off as he raised his head a little, revealing a grin. “… if anyone asks, we will pretend that all of this is done without your knowledge. Procyon and I are doing all of this out of our loyalty to you, Sir Chiron.”
“You are very reliable.” Chiron stood up, patting Sirius’ shoulder. “Let’s have a toast after all this is done.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Chiron nodded in contentment. Sirius and Procyon remained bowing until he finally exited the room. When they raised their heads, their eyes had become cold.
“You better make sure you finish this without any hitch. Our fates depend on this,” Sirius murmured.
“Don’t worry, brother. I’ll do whatever it takes to get it done.”
“Good. When Sadalmelik and Castor are no longer Zodiacs, no rule can prevent us from taking their empty seats, is there? If we eat Chiron afterward, we’ll reach an even higher realm!”
Procyon nodded with a serious expression. He and his brothers thought that hounds didn’t have to be enslaved forever and believed that their plan would proceed smoothly…
[The Celestials ‘Aquarius’ and ‘Gemini’ have made an announcement in the Society <Horoscope> as Zodiacs!]
… until the sudden turn of events.
“… What?” Sirius frowned.
“I-I’m not sure either. An announcement?”
“You don’t have any intel on this?”
Stunned, Procyon could only shake his head. A shiver went down Sirius’ spine as he read the message. Sadalmelik, who was normally inactive, suddenly took action just as Sirius and the others were about to strike. Considering she was working with Castor, something serious was probably going on.
“Go ahead and find out if you’ve been compro—!” Sirius tried to issue an order to Procyon but the next message made him abruptly stop.
[Announcement: Emergency convention of the Zodiacs and Eighty-Eight Star Signs.]
[Agenda: The power abuse of the Celestial ‘Sagittarius’ and his involvement with an Outer Celestial.]
[The Celestials ‘Aquarius’ and ‘Gemini’ have raised their armies to hold the Celestial ‘Sagittarius’ accountable for making forbidden human sacrifices!]
‘They got us!’ Sirius instinctively realized.
Having noticed that something was up, Sadalmelik and Castor framed everything on Sirius and the others. Their preemptive strike was to stop them from making further excuses! Although Sirius knew that he should stop them, they were already several steps ahead of him.
[<Enki[1]’s Vase, the army of the Celestial ‘Aquarius,’ has invaded the divine ground of the Celestial ‘Sagittarius’ through the southern gate!]
[<Divo Napata>, the army of the Celestial ‘Gemini,’ has invaded the divine ground of the Celestial ‘Sagittarius’ through the northern gate!]
Sadalmelik and Castor mobilized their armies too quickly. Sensing that their internal strife wouldn’t end soon, Sirius clenched his teeth in frustration.
* * *
[Unidentified movements have been detected within the Society <Horoscope>!]
[The Star Signs’ Channelings to the <Saha World> have been mysteriously disrupted.]
…
[The influence of the Society <Horoscope> has weakened!]
[An unidentified deterrent within the Society <Horoscope> has been strengthened!]
…
[The Celestial ‘Ursa Major’ has lost his Dominance over ‘Eos.’][2]
[The Celestial ‘Hydrus’ has lost his Dominance over ‘Eos.’]
[The Celestial ‘Lacerta’ has lost his Dominance over ‘Eos.’]
…
[The Dominance of the Society <Horoscope> over ‘Eos’ has hit rock bottom!]
[The story about the canceled <Extinction> order on the Clio City is quickly spreading among the people of ‘Eos’!]
[The Faith of the followers living in ‘Eos’ has drastically weakened.]
[The amount of the followers’ Faith has drastically decreased.]
…
[The Society <Horoscope> is on the verge of losing their control over ‘Eos’!]
[The Celestial ‘Unknown Ancient Celestial’ has declared ‘Eos’ as her domain!]
[The Society <Horoscope> has failed to stop the Celestial ‘Unknown Ancient Celestial’ for an unknown reason.]
…
[The inhabitants of ‘Eos’ are confused.]
[The inhabitants of ‘Eos’ have begun to recognize the Myths of the Celestial ‘Unknown Ancient Celestial.’]
…
[Congratulations! The Celestial ‘Unknown Ancient Celestial’ has become the Planet Celestial of ‘Eos’!]
Paaaah…!
“I never imagined that this would happen.” Ardrin Tigernmas smiled bitterly as she felt a surge of fulfillment and elation from deep in her soul.
The moment she had been dreaming of had suddenly come true.
[The Myths of the Celestial ‘Unknown Ancient Celestial’ are spreading.]
[The Myths of the Celestial ‘Unknown Ancient Celestial’ that are hidden in the darkness are spreading little by little.]
…
[The presence of the Celestial ‘Unknown Ancient Celestial’ has become more vivid!]
Arin didn’t fight the flow. After all, having a planet as a domain mattered a lot to a Celestial With Eos under her rule, she could start utilizing the Authorities that her inadequate Divine Class previously prevented her from using. They should prove helpful in the upcoming war against <Horoscope>.
‘Yet the man behind all this remains unfazed.’ A bitter smile still on her face, Arin glanced at Chang-Sun.
Although she used to oversee a Worldline, she still considered herself lucky to have a planet now. Unlike her, Chang-Sun was looking so far ahead that she wanted to pick his brain apart and see what was going on inside it. If she actually tried it, though, it would be her head that would be torn to pieces.
‘In any case…’ Feeling her energy circulating inside her, Arin tapped the air. A ripple spread through it as the vines around her arms grew rapidly.
‘… I have to regain my old glory if I am to keep being of some use. Only then can I revitalize this dead Worldline,’ she thought, her eyes filling up with determination.
* * *
Treville de Prezia, the first heir of a great-turned-humble family, forced his eyes open as soon as he regained consciousness.
‘Where am I…?I feel… lethargic…’ Treville thought.
He had never felt tired again since he got to serve a Star Sign in person after working hard for so long. Now, however, he felt as sluggish as wet cotton. He couldn’t even move his arms or circulate his mana, which he used to never run out of.
‘What happened?’
Procyon’s humiliation, Ardrin Tigernmas’ emergence, the twenty-seven Star Signs’ plummet… A series of memories flashed in his mind.
“…!” Treville’s eyes widened.
Although Procyon had control over his body, Treville’s consciousness was synchronized with his. Hence, he could still observe everything that was happening through him. That was also how he learned that fear was devouring Procyon.
Procyon was terrified of a Celestial named ‘Divine Twilight’ and worried that the Celestial would point his spear at him. much to Treville’s shock. It negated all of his existing common knowledge.
Many people in Arcadia remembered ‘Divine Twilight’ as a notorious Celestial who received a lot of criticism.
A foolish deity who died for not knowing his place.
A star who dared defy the heavens, causing him to fall from the sky to serve as an example.
A fiend who was punished for doing nothing but wreak havoc.
A Cataclysm Celestial who brought disaster and death to many.
‘Divine Twilight’ was the typical villain in children’s stories, the most common theme of which was good triumphing over evil. The Star Order classified him as nothing more than a mediocre Celestial.
However, Procyon couldn’t even hold his head up high during his encounter against ‘Divine Twilight.’ On the contrary, he ran away with his tail tucked between his legs.
‘… He abandoned me.’
When Procyon was asked to leave his apostle, he discarded Treville as if he were nothing, showing no pride as a Celestial or a Star Sign. Maybe that was why Treville felt as if helplessness and dejection were suffocating him. Just as he was starting to believe that he could finally save his family from their problems, he had to start empty-handed from the beginning again.
‘… What should I tell Mother?’
Her mother was so happy when she learned that he had become an apostle. Imagining the sad look on her face made him feel as if he was going to go crazy.
“That is what the members of <Horoscope> teach you people about me? A mediocre Celestial… I’m not even surprised anymore.”
Hearing a familiar voice from behind, Treville turned his head. Surprised by the sight, he flinched. Metal Mask, who pushed numerous Star Signs into the Bottomless Void of the <Underworld>… was watching him in discontentment.
1. He’s actually the god of water in Sumerian mythology. In some versions of his myths and legends, he is associated with Aquarius because his depiction is similar to Aquarius. ☜
2. Planet ‘Eos’ will just be ‘Eos’ from here on out. ☜