[Proofreader – Prøks]
Chapter 3 – Observer I
1
The cafe where I often et Old Scho… No, let correct that.
The cafe where I often et Old Scho’s ‘corpse’ is adorned with small fish tanks scattered around. It’s probably the barista’s taste.
Although there aren’t any particularly rare species, the fish tails exude a calming charm just by looking at them.
Perhaps ti slows down a bit when it gets caught in those fins.
Or maybe it’s just because fish have that dumb, thoughtless look like idiots do.
As I sip on Old Scho’s cafe au lait and watch the blue tropical fish dancing ballet in the water, there’s one person that always cos to mind.
The Saintess.
Today, let’s talk about that person.
2
When the Gate incident erupted worldwide, Korea surprisingly held its ground.
It wasn’t thanks to the governnt.
Initially, half of Seoul was razed to the ground, including the National Assembly Building in Yeouido. The number of evaporated buildings exceeded a hundred.
Whether this was unfortunate or fortunate varies from person to person, but at least the initial political leadership in Korea suffered temporary paralysis.
Yet, the awakening individuals in Korea managed to navigate through the crisis sohow, all because translucent ‘ssages’ floated before their eyes like holograms.
[The Saintess of Salvation is interested in your heroic deeds.]
For example, in my case, if I were to take the lead in subduing the Busan Station Gate, such a ssage would appear.
I wasn’t the only one experiencing this phenonon.
“Huh? What’s this?”
“…The Lord of the Scarlet Cloak? It’s showing interest in ?”
Awakening individuals showcasing their presence across the nation. Without fail, ‘ssages’ ca to them.
The entity behind these ssages varied for each awakened individual. However, the fact that soone was paying attention to their actions remained constant.
“It’s the Constellation!”
And soone nad this phenonon the ‘Constellation.’
It seed quite familiar to Awakeneds who enjoyed web novels.
On the other hand, people who were far from web novels, like myself, as an awakened individual, could only be puzzled. Eventually, I approached people who exuded an air of “I know what this is! I’ve seen it!” and asked them directly.
“Excuse , sir. I’m sorry for the intrusion, but what is the ‘Constellation’?”
“Oh, you don’t know what the Constellation is!”
The awakened individual who received my question excitedly explained.
“It’s when transcendent beings watch us Awakeneds, show interest, and even sponsor us! You know internet broadcasts, right? It’s similar to that! We’re the broadcasters, and the Constellations are the viewers who donate!”
“Huh.”
“The Constellations are incredibly powerful. There are terrifying beings like Cthulhu, and there are also divine beings who are friendly to us humans… Anyway, it’s a good thing! Always try to impress the Constellations. Oh, which Constellation should I choose? Is the option ‘Nobody chosen’ the trend?”
After that, the awakened individual continued to ramble on about sothing for a while.
I, too, initially just nodded along, thinking, ‘I see.’
It was a situation where monsters road through Gates. Even if there were transcendental beings watching the human world and munching on popcorn, it wasn’t particularly surprising.
[The Conqueror of the Alps admires your exploits!]
[The Lord of the Scarlet Cloak comnds your strategy!]
As the rounds went on, I beca accustod to the existence of the Constellations.
They seed to follow my actions consistently, praising or boosting my courage whenever I displayed unique behavior.
[The Saintess of Salvation praises your accomplishnts.]
I was especially proud of the fact that the one who was supporting was the ‘Saintess of Salvation.’
This Constellation was famous for cherishing Awakeneds with a good disposition, so it was clear that it favored the most.
Perhaps without the Constellations, my life as an awakened individual would have felt sowhat dull?
While the true identity of the Constellations remained a mystery, I, and most Awakeneds, harbored favorable feelings towards them.
“…This is strange.”
Old Scho had a different perspective.
“What? What’s strange?”
“I recently contacted so friends abroad. Most of them perished, but so survived. And their words… In their countries, they say they haven’t seen anything like that.”
“Like what?”
“Hmm. The ssages from the Constellations, the ssages! My German friends have never seen or heard of such things.”
Old Scho wrinkled his brow, as if he sensed sothing odd.
“Just to be sure, I asked a few friends from other countries, and they said they’ve never experienced these ssages either.”
“…”
“So, if this phenonon is unique to Korea in the world… Isn’t it too strange? Why would the Constellations only operate in Korea? They’re supposed to be transcendent beings. What reason could they have for favoring Korea?”
“Um… Maybe they like K-pop?”
“That’s nonsense. Doctor.”
At that mont,
[The Saintess of Salvation is listening to your conversation and is disappointed.]
[The Conqueror of the Alps asks you to stop doubting.]
[The Lord of the Scarlet Cloak mocks your shallow insight.]
As if they had been waiting, the ssages appeared.
At this point, both Old Scho and I had beco figures of interest to the Constellations. It was natural. Old Scho was undoubtedly the strongest swordsman, and I… Well, I was an irreplaceable resource, to say the least.
I glanced sideways.
Old Scho seed to be narrowing his eyes as if he saw sothing in front of him.
“You too, Old?”
“Yeah. Seems like they’re keeping a close eye on everyone.”
Old Scho muttered, swatting at the air as if shooing away a pesky fly.
“Anyway, it’s not just a coincidence. Before I learned Korean, they never sent any ssages. But once I started using Korean a bit, they started sending ssages like ghosts.”
“…”
“You’re right. Without indulging too much in K-pop, there’s no explanation. Doctor. Don’t trust those so-called Constellations too much.”
Unfortunately, Old Scho couldn’t uncover the secret of the Constellations.
Since the 26th Run, the Inspiration had gone on a long vacation with the lady, leaving no ti to investigate the secret.
But I was different.
As an Infinite Regressionist, ti was my only asset, but that wasn’t an exaggeration.
‘Why do the Constellations only appear in Korea?’
I stroked my chin.
In the countless regressions, this riddle was intriguing enough to invest at least one round.
First, Old Scho was right.
Not only for Awakeneds operating abroad but also for those operating dostically who hadn’t learned Korean, they never received any ‘ssages.’
“Thanks to that, you could say that Korea’s quality of Awakeneds, or consciousness, is quite intact.”
In other countries, Awakeneds caused terrorism, massacred civilians, and various cris occurred almost daily.
However, in Korea, the cri rate among Awakeneds was low.
Why did this phenonon occur?
In my opinion, there were two possible answers.
First, the Constellations might truly be addicted to K-pop and pay attention only to Korean Awakeneds.
And second…
‘What if the Constellations only know how to speak Korean…?’
If this were true, it would have enormous repercussions.
Think about it. Even the stubborn Old Scho mastered a foreign language in just a few runs.
But could beings called Constellations really only know Korean?
What kind of transcendental beings were they?
‘So, the Constellations aren’t transcendental beings.’
I hypothesized.
“But if they’re not transcendental beings, it would be difficult for them to monitor all Awakeneds in Korea and send ssages individually. Clearly, there must be so hidden secret.”
From the 35th run onwards, I delved into the investigation of the Constellations.
I finally decided to understand what kind of beings the friends who admired and were astonished by my actions were.
‘The first step is to attract the attention of the Constellations.’
Attracting their attention was simple. The Constellations showed interest in exceptional Awakeneds.
Starting from the 35th run, I exerted all my abilities, even pushing myself a bit. I cleared the gate at Busan Station in less than 20 minutes.
In the first round, I died without closing the gate.
It took a week to conquer it in the third round.
I finished off that gate in less than 20 minutes. Moreover, except for one person among the 399 humans summoned at Busan Station’s main hall, no one lost their life.
I also fard only silver droplets from the souvenir shop in the main hall, so there was no ti wasted.
Literally, it was a speedrun.
It was a record that would astonish the Constellations.
[The Saintess of Salvation is astonished by your achievents!]
[The Lord of the Scarlet Cloak feels pride in your power.]
[The Conqueror of the Alps is paying attention to your actions.]
[The Steward of the Red Mantle is wary of your skills.]
Suddenly, as if they had been waiting, the Constellations took the bait.
Constellations numbering 4, 7, even 11, constantly displayed ssages.
I ignored the ssages for the ti being.
It wasn’t until I reached an empty parking lot outside Busan Station that I spoke up.
“Constellations, I am aware that you are Koreans.”
Thud.
Just before that, ssages had been flying at incessantly, like Hogwarts acceptance letters, but now they had all stopped at once.
As the ssages that had covered my vision disappeared, the sky turned blue. I looked up into the air.
“I also know that you’re not transcendental beings. I could publicize this fact to the Awakeneds… but I’m more curious about your identity. Please tell what kind of beings you are.”
-……
There was no response.
To be honest, I was quite tense at that mont.
Although it was a very slim possibility, perhaps, just maybe, the Constellations were indeed transcendental beings who ate kimchi wrapped in seaweed with every al, listened to K-pop during tea ti, and watched K-pop TV in the evenings?
If so, and if they were sending this mysterious nationalist affection only to Awakeneds who spoke Korean?
‘They might get angry and attack all at once after hearing my audacious proposal’
I prepared for battle.
While my awakened ability wasn’t combat-oriented, spending ti with Old Scho, who was the greatest swordsman of all ti, had enhanced my combat skills.
I was preparing for the possibility of dying here and now, only to move on to the next episode.
When suddenly…
[The Saintess of Salvation invites you.]
Thankfully, there was no scenario where the Constellations appeared to punish impudent mortals.
Instead, dozens of Constellations remained silent, and only one Constellation conveyed their intention to .
Coincidentally, it was the ‘Saintess of Salvation,’ who had shown interest in for the first ti.
I cautiously asked, “An invitation? What kind of invitation is this?”
After a mont, the ssage returned.
[The Saintess of Salvation invites you to Han River’s Jamsu Bridge.]
Seoul.
A hell of an invitation, where Old Scho lost his wife and countless golden badges were buried.
‘Ah.’
…It dawned on , then and there, that the Constellation had never once used a dialect.
In the heart of Gangnam, a Gate had erupted, leaving the surrounding area in shambles, a story that had been ntioned several tis already.
However, surprisingly, the areas untouched by the Gate’s reach remained relatively unscathed. Jamsu Bridge still preserved its pre-catastrophe appearance.
The place where the ‘Saintess of Salvation’ had promised to et was right near Jamsu Bridge, at a sky-blue convenience store.
It was an oddly humble location for a Constellation’s invitation.
There was a woman sitting under the convenience store parasol, her hair tied back.
Her appearance was ordinary.
The only peculiar thing was the color of her hair, which was a watery hue, but it wasn’t uncommon for Awakeneds’ hair colors to change as they beca aware of their abilities.
She didn’t seem to radiate a presence beyond humans.
“Hello. Are you the Saintess of Salvation?”
“….”
She looked at , her gaze sweeping over my entire body in an instant.
Her pupils resembled those of a fish, more as if lost in thought than focused on anything.
“The Gate at Busan Station?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…Surely you didn’t arrive here from Busan in less than a day.”
With about half of Seoul cut off, most of the transportation networks into the capital were rendered useless. Roads, railways, everything was destroyed.
On the flip side, it ant that there were still so ans of transportation available, albeit limited.
Old Scho had wanted to get to Seoul before his wife disappeared, so there had been countless studies on ‘how to get from Busan to Seoul as quickly as possible.’
…Even though it was impossible to arrive in less than a minute, the useless research ended up being sowhat beneficial. Well, thanks to that, I could et the ‘Saintess of Salvation’ quickly.
“I go by the code na Undertaker. Nice to et you.”
“Oh, I see… But Undertaker?”
“It’s a nickna with reasons. You can just call Doctor if you’d like.”
After exchanging handshakes with her, I sat across from her.
Far away, Seoul’s skyscrapers, also known as the Towers of Sauron, lood like shadows.
“Rather, I’d like to ask about this first.”
“….”
“Are you the Saintess of Salvation, or are you her representative? What is a Constellation? Are you truly transcendental beings?”
The other person fell silent. For a mont, various thoughts seed to pass through her gaze.
After a while, she licked her lips and clenched her fist.
Then, she let out a soft sigh.
“…Yes. I am the Saintess of Salvation.”
As expected.
Just as I was about to nod in understanding, she looked straight at .
“And, aren’t you a regressor?”
[Proofreader – Gun]
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