Chapter 5
A Constellation contract is a balance game.
Live like you are now vs become stronger at the cost of turning into a clown.
Of course, by the common sense of 《Soden》, the answer was always the latter, no question.
In this dangerously precarious continent, a “Constellation contract” wasn’t really a choice—it was practically mandatory for survival.
Even if it meant becoming someone’s plaything, you could still borrow the power of a god and become stronger.
And yet…
「This time, I wish to become your Constellation, Father.」
A Constellation who showed me boundless goodwill was offering me a contract.
Unlike most Constellations who treated humans like toys, if it was Demian—who treated me as his father…
‘He’d probably shower me with everything.’
Items, skills, whatever.
The sponsorship would never run dry.
This was a situation where I had to shout “CALL” without hesitation.
After making my decision, I gave my answer to Demian, who was looking at me with an expression full of anticipation.
“I decline.”
「I knew you would say that… Huh?」
He had clearly been certain I would accept; Demian’s eyes widened in shock.
Yes. If I were still outside the monitor and not possessed inside the game, I would have accepted without a second thought.
But to me now, 《Soden》 was no longer a game—it was reality.
「W-Why…? I-Is it because you feel repulsed by the idea of entering a master–servant relationship with me? B-But that relationship is only nominal!」
“…….”
「Even if we form a Constellation contract, the fact that I am your child will never change! I swear on my soul and my divinity—if you accept me as your Constellation, then anything you desire—」
“Freedom would be gone.”
I knew Demian was sincere, but this was non-negotiable.
“If I form a Constellation contract, my private life would be exposed to you 24 hours a day…”
「Ah, that part…」
The contractor cannot observe the Constellation, but the Constellation can observe the contractor.
That meant there would be an existence somewhere watching my every single move, every action.
While I sleep. While I sit on the toilet. Every single moment.
…Like a CCTV that never turns off.
I’d go insane.
「C-Couldn’t I just… exercise discretion and respect your privacy as needed?」
“I don’t know what ‘discretion’ you think you can exercise, but I’m different from the others.”
Those who gave up even their privacy in exchange for mysterious authorities, power, fame.
As someone from 21st-century Earth, I had no intention of walking the same path as them.
Of course.
That was just the nominal reason.
‘There are several hidden quests that can only be activated when you don’t have a Constellation contract.’
Special trials granted only to those who advance solely with human strength, without relying on a god.
Because they were special trials, the rewards were naturally exceptional.
And those were items that absolutely had to be on my checklist someday.
‘Moreover, once you form a contract, you can only use skills related to that Constellation’s category. Honestly, that’s the most fatal part.’
It would mean abandoning all the Blood Mage skills entirely.
Sure, the penalties ate up all the advantages, but in terms of pure skill performance, the Blood Mage class was unrivaled among all job classes.
No—and above all, thanks to the system, I could already use Demian’s skills anyway.
The more I thought about it, the less merit there seemed to be in contracting with Demian.
Sure, steady supply of usable items or potions would be convenient… but, hmm. Maybe.
「Father…」
“I’m grateful that you’re offering this for my sake. But my answer won’t change.”
「…….」
When I shook my head in refusal, Demian’s expression turned as forlorn as a rain-soaked puppy.
Hmm. Maybe I was too firm? He made the offer thinking of me, after all.
Feeling a little guilty, I tried to change the mood by bringing up another topic.
“More than that… I’d like to see the others too.”
「The others…?」
“Ray, Sylvia, and the rest of your comrades.”
「…….」
“Demian?”
The moment I mentioned his comrades, an even darker shadow fell over his expression.
As if he were recalling something painful.
「I feel the same way, Father. Not a single day has passed since that day when I haven’t thought of my comrades’ faces.」
“…Huh?”
What’s with that tone?
The way he said it almost made it sound like something had happened to them.
Weren’t the other characters also Constellations like Demian?
As if I had accidentally touched a trauma, Demian’s fist resting on the round table began to tremble faintly.
「If only the dimension hadn’t collapsed right after we defeated the Demon King… their souls wouldn’t have been scattered across the continent like this!」
“…Ah, yeah.”
…Fuck, really?
I had no idea.
In the original game, the moment you defeated the Demon King, the screen would fade to black and the staff roll would start playing.
That was it. 《Soden》’s story ended without a single proper epilogue.
Like if <The Lord of the Rings> cut straight to the credits the instant the Ring melted in the lava.
Thanks to this legendary premature ending that would make even the horniest rabbit weep, I had no way of knowing what happened to Demian and his comrades after the main story.
What kind of fate they ultimately met within the narrative.
‘But now I think I get it.’
He said the souls of the other comrades had all been scattered by the aftermath of the dimensional collapse—so clearly this wasn’t a happy ending.
「And yet I alone was guided to the sanctuary and ascended as a Constellation. Sometimes that fact feels like the cruelest curse imaginable.」
“…Demian.”
「I wish I could descend to the continent myself and search for my comrades’ souls…」
His violet eyes, thick with sorrow, swept across the empty chairs around the round table.
「But a Constellation personally intervening in the mortal world violates the laws of the sanctuary. The only thing I can do for them is wait and believe they will one day return.」
“…….”
So that’s how it was.
The reason there were six chairs wasn’t because the other characters had also become Constellations.
‘He left them empty because he believes their souls will eventually come back someday.’
These seats had been reserved for the comrades he was waiting for.
In the heavy silence, I let out a thin sigh.
Getting sentimental isn’t really my thing, but honestly… I felt sorry for Demian.
Call me overly immersed in a fictional character all you want—I can’t help it. Demian was my main and my favorite.
So at the very least, offering a word of comfort here would probably ease my own conscience too.
“You said their souls are scattered across the continent? I’ll send them all back to the sanctuary.”
「Pardon?」
“If I find them, that is.”
Even I felt ridiculous saying it out loud.
But they say when you’ve got stars in your eyes, you stop seeing clearly, right?
Demian seemed deeply moved by my absurd statement; his eyes began to glisten.
「I… I keep receiving help from you, Father.」
“Well…”
「And in comparison, I still have nothing to offer you. You even refused the Constellation contract with me…」
“You think you have nothing?”
Demian, who had been slumping dejectedly, lifted his head to look at me.
I would never form a Constellation contract with him—not now, not ever.
But did that mean I should just give up on receiving any help from Demian altogether?
Hell no.
Even if it was the slimmest thread of opportunity, if I didn’t somehow grab it and turn it into fuel to get stronger,
My future in this dogshit game wasn’t going to be smooth sailing.
“Blood.”
I extended a finger and pointed it at Demian.
“I’d like you to share just a little of your star blood with me, Demian.”
「……Suddenly?」
Since I’d possessed into a Blood Mage, I might as well make full use of the class’s exclusive privileges.
I’d already confirmed yesterday that absorbing the blood of Constellations with <Blood Absorption> could grant rare authorities.
Even a minor god had given me the broken passive skill called the ‘Authority of Resistance’—so what about Demian?
「May I ask… the reason you desire my star blood?」
“I grow stronger by absorbing other people’s blood.”
「……Like a vampire.」
“Pretty much. Except vampires are evil aligned with the Demon King—I’m not. Demian, this is the only way you can help me right now.”
「…….」
A brief silence followed.
Offering one’s blood. No matter the relationship, it was only natural to feel some reluctance.
But Demian Abel was exactly the kind of upright guy I remembered him to be.
「Understood.」
The moment Demian gave a firm nod, I inwardly sighed in relief and was about to express my gratitude—
Saaaang—!
—right up until the instant he suddenly shot to his feet and drew his sword.
He extended his left arm straight out and hardened his gaze. My own expression stiffened as well.
「For the peace of the continent and for you, Father—my blood is yours to take, as much as you need!」
“…Just a little is enough. Not like the vampires who take chunks out of people.”
「“Ah”」
“Sit down.”
Demian obediently returned to his seat.
The amount of blood matters, but there’s no need to greedily suck so much that he has to cut off an entire arm.
「Th-Then… is this enough?」
As if trying to smooth over the awkward atmosphere, Demian quickly nicked the tip of his finger with the edge of his sword, drawing a single drop of blood.
I closed my eyes and activated <Blood Absorption>.
The droplet of blood on Demian’s finger floated upward, turning into a faint mist of crimson that seeped into my body.
At that moment—
[You have absorbed a special type of blood ki!]
[This is the blood of a subject with whom a soul bond once existed!]
[Recalling memories stored within the blood!]
A system message containing eye-opening content appeared.
So <Blood Absorption> had a function that could read memories stored in star blood?
‘Well, this works out nicely.’
If I could read the memories directly, there was no need to ask Demian anything.
The reason the Kanreon Order was absent and the six heroes had been retconned into members of the expedition force from 500 years ago.
I wouldn’t have to reveal my hand to Demian, who was treating me like some omniscient savior—
[Failure. Your current rank is significantly lower than the owner of the star blood. Memory recall is impossible.]
Fuck.
Just when things seemed like they might go smoothly for once… of course not.
To read Demian’s memories, I would need to become an existence of far higher rank than I was now.
Meanwhile, Demian was looking at me with worried eyes.
「Are you all right? Is there some kind of side effect…?」
“Demian. Will I be able to visit the sanctuary again to see you in the future?”
「Pardon? Ah—of course! I, Demian, will always keep the doors open and be ready to welcome you, Father! But why do you ask…?」
“Nothing. I just wanted to hear that answer.”
Right. If this wasn’t our last meeting, there was no need to rush.
I could calmly raise my rank, then return to the sanctuary and read Demian’s memories later.
And right now, there was one issue far more urgent than memories.
I felt the flow of blood ki seeping into my body suddenly stall, and looked at the newly appeared system message.
[Warning. Absorbing any more ‘star blood’ from a high-ranking Constellation will place an enormous burden on your soul and body!]
[If you endure the burden, you will acquire an authority. If you fail to endure, your soul will be destroyed and you will die.]
[Will you proceed with Blood Absorption?]
A penalty warning now?
When I absorbed that unknown minor god’s star blood back in the Star Hall yesterday, there had been no warning message.
Probably because it was low-grade blood from some nobody—there wasn’t even any real risk involved.
But the owner of the star blood I was about to absorb now was Demian. His very title was already <Great Constellation of the Sword>.
‘So in the end, it’s a binary choice…’
Settle for safety, or push forward.
‘No need to even think about it.’
[Proceeding with Blood Absorption!]
Warnings about burden, soul destruction, whatever—they weren’t going to scare me.
I was extremely rational right now.
Saaaak—.
A stream of red energy flowed out from the blood and enveloped me.
An overwhelming power forced its way into my body, making every hair stand on end—
Thump!
“…!”
An unimaginable wave of pain crashed over me.
It felt like every bone in my body, every single muscle fiber, was being torn apart.
Through vision tinted red as if seen through a blood filter, another system message appeared.
[…Absorbing… authority… endure…]
The letters were blurry; I couldn’t make out some of them clearly because my focus was fading.
But even so, I could clearly read one word.
The single word that came before “authority.”
‘They’re… giving… that…?’
If that was the reward for enduring this hellish pain, then there was no choice.
I had to grit my teeth and bear it.
「Father!」
Demian cried out in alarm and rushed toward me, but I waved him off.
“Don’t… come… closer…”
「But—!」
“Just… watch…”
What kind of crazy bastard designed the Blood Mage class to have this kind of personality overlaid on me?
Even when the pain was so bad I could barely hold myself upright, I was still smirking and telling him to watch.
「……!」
Demian’s eyes widened for a moment before he gave a resolute nod.
The pain only grew worse with every passing second—it never lessened.
My instincts were screaming it.
Right now, I was breaking apart.
It felt as though the old tree that was “me” was being dismantled piece by piece, then reassembled into a new form.
‘Endure.’
If I crumbled even in the face of a trial this small, I never had the capacity to face the Demon King or anything else in the first place.
‘I will survive.’
‘I will grow stronger in order to survive.’
I had no idea how long this ordeal of endurance would last,
But I would see it through to the end no matter what.
***
“F-Fuck…”
In the forest region near the city of <Roadale>.
Adventurer Hans instinctively knew this forest was about to become his grave.
—Grrrrr…
A gray-skinned giant wearing the hide of a wolf—<Night Troll>.
The monster known as the “Tyrant of the Verdant,” clutching a club caked with blood and flesh, was looking down at Hans.
His comrades already lay sprawled with their skulls crushed by that very club.
Hans was the last one left.
‘Shit. I never should’ve come here…!’
Even though he’d heard the rumors loud and clear—that you could build a mound out of humans killed by Night Trolls—he’d still chased after the bounty like a fool and rushed to his own death.
He wanted to run, but his legs had frozen solid. The overwhelming terror was so intense he hadn’t even noticed the sharp stench of urine rising from his pants.
—GRAAAAAH!!
With an earth-shaking roar, the Night Troll raised its club high.
Hans let out a short, resigned sigh and accepted his death.
Crack—!
Until, suddenly, a crimson spear flew in from the side and pierced straight through the troll’s thick forearm.
—Grrraaah!
As the creature screamed in pain and turned toward the direction the spear had come from—
Whoosh!
A single figure burst from the shadows of the underbrush like a streak of light, wrapping both arms and legs around the troll’s thick neck in the blink of an eye.
At that moment, moonlight slipped through the clouds and illuminated the figure’s identity.
“Ah…”
It was a slender young man—boy or youth, it was hard to tell—dressed in shabby cloth robes.
At a glance, his build looked so frail that even Hans could probably overpower him.
And yet.
—G-Graaahk…!
‘H-Holy shit.’
What kind of monstrous strength was that?
With arms and legs as thin as branches, the man had completely immobilized the troll by gripping its neck; the beast thrashed helplessly.
While Hans stood gaping in stunned silence,
Crack—!
In an instant, both of the man’s hands—now enveloped in a red aura—twisted the Night Troll’s neck more than half a turn.
Thud—!
The monster’s massive body collapsed.
The man lightly stepped down from the troll’s corpse. Hans stared at him as if he were looking at a ghost.
‘H-He took it down that easily? A Night Troll? Bare-handed, by snapping its neck?’
Hans knew better than anyone just how strong a Night Troll was—he’d nearly died to it moments ago.
He was so shocked he couldn’t even manage a proper word of thanks.
“Thank you, Demian.”
Ruth Fried muttered those indifferent words of gratitude, then looked at his status window with a satisfied gaze.
<Player Information>
Name: Ruth Fried
Level: 7
Class: Blood Mage
Rank: 29/100 (2 Stars)
• The effect of <Authority of Growth> is currently applied.
• All stat categories have been unified into “Rank (æ ¼).”
• “Rank” multiplies all stat performance by 3× compared to before, and growth rate is also increased by 3×.