[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 3: If There Is No Constetion, Make One (2)
Resonance Ritual.
A hidden phenomenon triggered when one takes an artifact to thend where the corresponding constetion''s origin lies.
''Even if it''s broken, it''s still an artifact.''
The resounding voice flowed out from the pocket watch.
It was a gamble, but it paid off handsomely.
〔Small human. The pocket watch is my artifact.〕
"I know. That''s why I summoned you."
〔You daremit such sacrilege, knowing that?!〕
"Would I have done it if I didn''t want to talk to you?"
Yoojin knew the ways of constetions well.
Immortal beings who live for eternity, receiving the worship of mortals.
Even a fallen constetion like Kronos was a mass of pride, unwilling to sit at the same table with humans.
"I had to give you a shock like this to make youe out."
〔What if the artifact had been destroyed?!〕
"Well, it''s already broken."
〔...?〕
A strange light flickered on the pocket watch.
〔It''s true.〕
"You, of all beings, should know what it means for the watch to be broken."
〔Small human. Did you truly turn back time?〕
"As you can see."
Yoojin shrugged lightly.
"Honestly, I''m grateful to you. If it weren''t for this artifact, I would have died a meaningless death."
The miracle of regression.
Thanks to the providence contained within Kronos'' artifact, Yoojin gained a second chance.
"So I''ll give you a chance too."
〔A chance?〕
"Be my patron deity."
〔Small human. Did you just say that for real?〕
"I''m always serious."
A moment of silence.
How much time had passed?
With a tremor greater than when he was angry, Kronos burst intoughter.
〔Khahahaha!!! That''s quite a joke, little human.〕
"What''s so funny?"
〔To sponsor one who deviates from the natural order? What could be more amusing than that?〕
Well, he expected that.
Constetions were all stiff-necked, as if they had a cast on their pride.
Even though Kronos had fallen, he was still a former King of Gods.
He was a constetion on par with Zeus or Odin, so Yoojin had anticipated the rejection.
"Alright."
〔You give up quite easily.〕
"I''m quite strong even without a constetion. Can''t you tell by the fact that I activated the watch?"
〔Indeed. You achieved the 9th Star Rank with the pure strength and wisdom of a mortal, without a patron deity.〕
"Well, something like that."
Yoojin put the broken pocket watch in his pocket.
〔Wait. Where do you think you''re going?〕
"The conversation is over. My offer to be your champion was rejected, so I''m going back."
〔Small human. Leave my artifact behind.〕
"Why?"
〔You need the artifact tomunicate with other humans, don''t you?!〕
One corner of Yoojin''s lips curled up.
"Do you have something entrusted to me?"
〔Look here. That watch originally belongs to me!〕
"Thene and take it yourself. Why should I return it?"
Yoojin turned away from the ruins of Knossos Pce without hesitation.
Brrr—!
The watch trembled even more violently.
〔Small human. Don''t do this.〕
"You''re not even my patron deity."
〔If you take the artifact, the only connection between me and the world, how am I supposed tomunicate with mortals?!〕
"That''s not my concern."
〔How truly malicious!〕
Well then.
Wouldn''t it be a bit awkward for a ruthless father who swallowed his own children to avoid his destined downfall to say such a thing?
''This is the only artifact left in thisnd.''
To blurt out his weakness without even being asked.
This made bargaining much easier.
''If I push him too hard, he might bounce back, so should I offer him a carrot now?''
Yoojin turned around again and looked towards Knossos Pce.
"Don''t you want revenge?"
〔Are you asking me that?〕
"Don''t answer a question with a question."
〔...I am one who has had everything stolen by a usurper. Now, revenge or something like that...〕
Even if you say that in a trembling voice, it''s not very convincing, is it?
Yoojin provoked Kronos a little more.
"I expected more from the King of Gods, but this is all you''ve got?"
〔What?!〕
"I came here believing that you, at the very least, hadn''t let go of your desire for revenge."
The ruthless father who devoured even his own children after hearing the prophecy of the Titans'' downfall.
There was no way that Kronos''s desire to reim what was lost and his thirst for revenge had disappeared from his heart.
〔Tell me what you want.〕
"I''ll say it again. If you make me your champion, I will help you get your revenge."
〔Foolish. Even if I help you, how do you intend to bring down the majesty of Olympus?〕
You said you weren''t interested in revenge.
How dishonest.
"Because Zeus is among my enemies."
〔Are you serious?〕
"Yes."
It was the Romanov n who directly harmed Yoojin.
However.
The Romanov n, based in Russia, was able to project their power to Korea, a country in East Asia, because of the tacit consent of the seven great ns.
''I have to consider all seven great ns as enemies.''
The Karamanlis n, rulers of Eastern Europe and one of the seven great ns.
Many members of the n had constetions belonging to Olympus as their patron deities.
And ''Aden Karamanlis,'' who reigned as the head of the n, was a powerful figure recognized as the Incarnation of Zeus.
"If we bring down the Karamanlis n, the influence of the Olympian constetions on Earth will also decline."
〔That seems rather insignificant for someone talking about my revenge.〕
"Suit yourself then."
〔Hmm. Didn''t youe to me because you can''t achieve your revenge without my help?〕
"There are plenty of other fallen constetions like you who have lost their light."
Yoojin''s bluff greatly agitated Kronos''s heart, and the watch in his pocket trembled in response to the change in his emotions.
〔Fine. Let''s assume, as you say, that I be your sponsor.〕
Assume, he says.
He''s halfway convinced but can''t even speakfortably because of his pride.
Suppressing augh, Yoojin calmly waited for Kronos''s next words.
〔Originally, bestowing the blessings of a constetion requires a certain degree ofpatibility between your abilities and my nature.〕
"That''s right."
〔However, I have no origin or nature rted to defying the natural order. Is it possible for me to offer my sponsorship?〕
Just as Dmitri learned magic from Odin.
Each constetion sponsors Hunters who align well with their origin or nature.
It''s not possible to simply take someone as a champion just because they are strong.
''That''s why I was rejected.''
Even constetions like Hades or Osiris, who govern death, were notpatible with Yoojin.
That''s why...
"I came to you. The god who governed harvest and time."
The Grim Reaper.
The embodiment of death, cloaked in dark clothes, reaping lives with a long scythe.
A being thates to mind when one thinks of the "God of Death" in Europe.
"The image of the Grim Reaper ultimately stems from harvest."
〔What does that have to do with me?〕
"Time and harvest. Weaving these two elements together leads to the concept of defying death."
Whates to everyone equally is time and death.
The domains that Kronos once symbolized.
〔You''re suggesting I reverse the nature I used to govern.〕
"I like how quickly you understand."
The realm of defying natural order, governed by no one.
By shing and inverting the two concepts that Kronos ruled, he could regain his lost starlight.
"Isn''t the theory perfect?"
〔So you came to me with this in mind.〕
"You don''t have to do it if you don''t want to."
A chance to raise a fallen star back to the heavens appeared before him.
There was no way he would give up.
Even if the domain he governed was the concept of ''defying natural order,'' despised by all constetions.
''This is an offer you can''t refuse, right?''
Yoojin slowly waited for Kronos''s answer, who remained silent.
Around the time the sun, which had been high in the sky, began to set over the horizon...
〔I will be your patron deity.〕
Kronos epted Yoojin''s proposal.
＊ ＊ ＊
[The Harvester has be your patron deity.]
[The constetion is not registered in the Pantheon. No blessings will be granted.]
Even though Kronos became Yoojin''s patron deity, nothing changed.
The core of a blessing was 〔divine power〕.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
There was nothing to gain from Kronos, who had been stripped of all his power, authority, and divine power.
〔To mention it like that... Isn''t that too cruel?!〕
"It''s a fact that my constetion is ipetent."
〔What a shameless fellow.〕
"Enough. From now on, ept the energy I use."
Yoojin poured his Spirit Power into the [Damaged Kronos'' Pocket Watch].
〔Oh ho. So this is the concept of the power that defies natural order.〕
"Don''t just admire it. Do your job."
His total Spirit Power was 10.
Unless he leveled up, with this level of consumption, Yoojin''s Spirit Power would bepletely depleted within a minute.
〔Don''t rush me. A king must have dignity.〕
Following Yoojin''s inspiration, Kronos shed 〔time〕 and 〔harvest〕 while epting the Spirit Power as a new ''rank.''
Rumble—!
A change came from within the fallen constetion.
The concept of reversal, a nature that no one had ever governed, settled upon Kronos.
And the fallen constetion found new light.
[There has been a change in the patron deity''s divine name.]
[The Harvester → The Heaven-Defying Giant]
[A new star has risen in the Pantheon.]
〔Khahaha!!! Finally, the long, long night is over, and I have returned!〕
"You can''t even give a single blessing, yet you boast so much."
Yoojin wasn''t greatly disappointed.
This was all ording to n.
''Even if he returned as a constetion, he doesn''t have a single believer.''
Constetion
Great beings whose existence is recorded among the stars by gaining the worship of people through legendary or mythical feats.
Each constetion governs various attributes ording to their feats.
From nature, like the sun and sea, to physical attributes like strength and agility, or even abstract emotions like love and anger.
''Kronos hasn''t umted a single anecdote rted to the concept of defying natural order.''
No worship from humans.
No karma, myths, or stories rted to that concept.
He barely met the conditions by applying the story of the ''Grim Reaper'' passed down from the Middle Ages.
''I, his only follower, have no choice but to create the karma and legends for him.''
As he regained the level he had before his regression, the karma rted to that concept would quickly be filled.
The stronger Kronos became as a constetion...
The 〔blessing〕 bestowed upon Yoojin would also be stronger.
〔Contractor. Don''t worry too much.〕
"Why contractor?"
〔You are my only believer and the mortal who made a contract with me, so isn''t that the right way to address you?〕
Kronos coughed loudly.
〔It seems I have a way to help you.〕
"Can you give me a blessing?"
〔No. As I just said, you are my only believer. So you can receive a revtion.〕
A bright light seeped from his pocket.
It wasn''t hard to realize that the source of the bright light was the [Damaged Kronos'' Pocket Watch].
〔I hereby appoint you as my representative, my Saint.〕
A Saint, he says?
The moment Kronos''s deration pierced his mind...
An intense surge of power, unlike anything he had felt in his previous life, flowed down from the top of his head.
"Ugh, ugh..."
〔ept it. It is the essence of the power born from my governance of a new concept.〕
[Your patron deity appoints you as a Saint.]
[Unique trait - Midnight Sun added.]
[ss changed from Necromancer → Saint of Midnight Sun.]
Yoojin felt the overflowing power spread throughout his body and lost consciousness.
＊ ＊ ＊
When he opened his eyes, countless stars were reflected in his retinas.
〔The body of a mortal is truly fragile. To think it would struggle to receive even that small amount of power.〕
"Who told you to do that without warning?"
A Saint?
He knew that term well.
The highest-ranking ss in the Priest category.
For some reason, his foolish and prideful constetion had squeezed out what little power he had to appoint Yoojin as a Priest.
"A Necromancer as a Priest. That makes no sense."
Yoojin gritted his teeth and opened his status window to check what had been added.
◎ ss - Saint of Midnight Sun
? You are the Saint chosen by the Heaven-Defying Giant. The efficiency of holy spells that borrow the power of the Heaven-Defying Giant is increased by 30%.
? You do not receive ss penalties when using Necromancer ss skills.
◎ Added Trait
? Midnight Sun
Allows you to reverse Holy Power / Spirit Power ording to your will.
You can learn all equipment and skills of the Priest and Magic categories.
◎ Skill
? Life Drain
Category: Holy Spell
Steals the target''s life force with holy power imbued with the attribute of death. The stolen life force can be absorbed and used to strengthen the body or umted to heal other targets.
"Huh?"
Midnight Sun.
Even Yoojin, who had stood at the pinnacle of all Hunters in his previous life, had never heard of such a unique trait.
The ability to convert Holy Power and Mana...
Wait a minute.
''This means I can use both Necromancer and Priest skills, right?''
Crazy!
He almost screamed if he hadn''t reflexively covered his mouth with his right hand.
Holy spells that could only be used by possessing Holy Power.
On the other hand, Necromancer spells were based on Spirit Power.
''This is an unbelievable trait.''
When casting holy spells, use Holy Power.
When using Necromancer abilities, use the Midnight Sun ability to convert his stats.
He never expected to receive a unique trait that would allow him to utilize his abilities to their fullest potential.
〔Do you like it, my representative?〕
"You didn''t appoint me as a Saint without a n?"
〔Khahaha! I may have fallen, but I was once the King of Gods!〕
"I''ll let it slide for now since you gave me something so amazing."
The [Saint of Midnight Sun] ss was the same.
The effect ofpletely nullifying penalties.
Of course, just because there were no penalties didn''t mean it was easy to learn [Necromancer] skills, which were magic-based, as a typical Priest ss...
''But there''s a way for that.''
The corner of his lips kept curling up at the unexpected opportunity.
''Alright. Then let''s check out the holy spells.''
Then, when he read the description of [Life Drain]...
"Is this really a holy spell?"
A holy spell that steals the life force of others. This was practically a curse.
Just looking at the skill description, it reminded him of dark magic like [Vampiric Touch].
The difference was that it could umte life force and use it like healing.
And the fact that it could increase stats.
''I''ll have to use this myself to understand.''
Just obtaining the unique trait Midnight Sun meant starting from a much better position than before his regression.
Yoojin didn''t pay much attention to the unknown holy spell.
''Well, the holy spell is a bonus anyway.''
With the unprecedented trait [Midnight Sun], he became able to handle Priest abilities as well.
However.
His essence was a Necromancer.
''The bonus is nice, but I shouldn''t forget my essence.''
Now that the preparations wereplete...
It was time to get stronger.
Themon way for Hunters to be stronger was to hunt monsters.
''At this time... That ce would be good.''
His next destination was Myeongdong.
The [Ancient Garden], a Gate that held a secret that would be revealed in the distant future.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]