The constellation contract is a balance game.
Living as I am now vs. growing stronger at the cost of becoming a clown.
Of course, based on the common sense of Stellar of Dungeon, the answer was obviously the latter.
On this dangerous continent, surviving without a constellation contract wasn’t an option but nearly a necessity.
Even if it meant becoming someone’s plaything, the power borrowed from a deity could make one stronger.
But then…
「This time, I want to become my father’s constellation.」
A constellation expressing boundless affection toward me was proposing a contract.
Unlike most constellations who treated humans like toys, Damian considered me his father…
He’ll definitely spoil me.
With items, skills—constant support without end.
It was a situation where I should shout “Deal!” without hesitation.
After deciding, I gave my answer to Damian, who was looking at me with hopeful eyes.
“I’ll decline.”
「I expected as much… Wait, what?」
Damian’s eyes widened in disbelief, clearly expecting me to accept.
Right. If I weren’t transmigrated into this game and was still outside the monitor, I would have taken the offer without question.
But Stellar of Dungeon was no longer a game for me—it was reality.
「Is it… is it because you feel uncomfortable forming a master-servant relationship with me? B-but that’s just a formality!」
“……”
「Even if we make a contract, it won’t change the fact that I’m your child! I swear on my soul and divinity—if you accept me as your constellation, I will grant any wish you desire-.」
“I’d lose my freedom.”
I knew Damian was sincere, but I had no choice.
“If I make a constellation contract, my private life would be completely exposed to you, 24/7.”
「Ah, that…」
While the contractor couldn’t observe the constellation, the constellation could monitor the contractor.
In other words, someone could be watching me every moment—whether I was sleeping, sitting on the toilet, or doing other things. Like a constant CCTV.
That’s a one-way ticket to insanity.
「I-I could take your privacy into consideration and be… reasonable?」
“Reasonable in what way? Regardless, I’m not like others.”
People willing to give up their privacy for mysterious powers, strength, or fame.
As a 21st-century modern person, I had no intention of walking that path.
Of course, that was only the official reason.
There are hidden quests that can only be activated without a constellation contract.
Trials reserved for those who advance solely with human strength, unassisted by divine power.
The rewards were extraordinary, fitting for such trials.
They were on my checklist of must-obtain items.
Moreover, entering a contract restricts the skills to those tied to the specific constellation. That’s the biggest drawback.
This meant abandoning all my blood mage skills.
The penalty would outweigh the benefits, even though the blood mage’s skill set was unmatched among all classes.
Not to mention, I already had access to Damian’s skills through the system.
The more I analyzed it, the less reason there was to enter a contract with Damian.
Sure, the supply of decent items or potions might improve… but still.
「Father…」
“I appreciate the thought, but my answer won’t change.”
「…….」
When I shook my head and rejected him, Damian’s expression turned as dejected as a drenched puppy.
Maybe I’d been too blunt, considering it was a proposal made with my best interest in mind.
Feeling a little guilty, I tried to change the subject to lighten the mood.
“By the way, I’d like to see the others.”
「The others…?」
“I mean your companions—Ray, Sylvia, and the rest.”
「…….」
“Damian?”
At the mention of his companions, Demian’s expression darkened even further.
As if recalling an unpleasant memory.
「I feel the same, Father. Not a single day has passed since that day when I’ve forgotten their faces.」
“…What?”
What’s wrong with you?
Why do you sound like something happened to them?
Weren’t the others like Demian, having ascended as constellations?
Damian’s fists trembled on the round table, as though I’d triggered some trauma.
「If only we hadn’t defeated the Demon King and caused the dimension to collapse… their souls wouldn’t have been scattered across the continent.」
“…Ah, I see.”
…Shit, really?
I didn’t know.
In the game, defeating the Demon King immediately faded to black, followed by credits rolling.
That’s how Suoden’s story ended—without any proper epilogue.
It’s like The Lord of the Rings ending as soon as the ring melts in Mount Doom.
Thanks to this comically abrupt ending, I had no idea what happened after the Demon kings death.
What fate had befallen Damian and his companions in the story.
But now I think I understand.
Their souls had scattered due to the dimension’s collapse. It wasn’t a happy ending, clearly.
「Sometimes, the fact that I alone was guided to the Celestial Temple and ascended as a constellation feels like a cruel curse.」
“…Damian.”
「I’d love to descend to the continent myself and gather their souls, but…」
His sorrowful purple eyes glanced around at the empty chairs at the round table.
「For a constellation to directly interfere in the mortal world violates the Celestial Temple’s rules. All I can do is trust and wait.」
“……”
So that’s how it was.
The six chairs weren’t for his companions who’d also become constellations.
They were left empty, waiting for their souls to return.
In the heavy silence, I let out a faint sigh.
Getting sentimental wasn’t really my style, but I couldn’t help feeling pity for Demian.
Call it overattachment to a fictional character if you want, but Demian was my main character—my favorite.
So, it felt right to offer him some words of comfort.
“You said their souls are scattered across the continent. I’ll send them all back to the Celestial Temple.”
「What?」
“If I find them, that is.”
Even as I said it, I questioned my own confidence.
But as they say, love is blind.
Damian’s teary eyes filled with emotion at my outrageous promise.
「Father… I always end up receiving your help.」
“Well…”
「Yet I still have nothing to offer you. You even refused to form a constellation contract with me…」
“It’s not like you have nothing.”
Damian, who had been disheartened, looked up at me.
I’d never make a constellation contract with him.
But giving up his support entirely? Absolutely not.
Even the smallest opportunity must be seized and turned into a stepping stone for growth.
Otherwise, the future in this cursed game world would be anything but smooth.
“Your blood.”
I pointed at Demian.
“I want you to share a little of your divine blood with me.”
「…What?」
If I’d been reborn as a blood mage, I had to take full advantage of it.
I already knew through the skill that drinking the blood of constellations granted rare powers.
If even a minor deity provided a broken passive like “Resistance Power,” then what about Demian?
「May I ask… why you want my blood?」
“I grow stronger by absorbing the blood of others.”
「…Like a vampire, then?」
“Something like that. Except vampires serve the Demon King, while I don’t. Damian, this is the only way you can help me.”
「…….」
A moment of silence passed.
Offering one’s blood wasn’t easy, no matter the relationship.
But Damian Abel was sharper than I’d thought.
「Understood.」
When Damian nodded decisively, I felt relief and was about to thank him—
Swoosh!
Until he suddenly stood, drew his sword, and extended his left arm with a resolute expression.
「For the peace of the continent and my father, my blood is yours!」
“…A little is enough. I don’t need a chunk of your arm like vampires.”
「Ah.」
“Sit down.”
Damian obediently took a seat.
The amount of blood is important, but it’s not as if I need to absorb enough to sever an arm for it.
「W-Will this much suffice?」
Trying to ease the awkward tension, Damian quickly nicked his fingertip with the edge of the sword, producing a small drop of blood.
Closing my eyes, I activated .
The droplet of blood perched on Damian’s finger floated upward, and a fine mist of blood seeped into my body.
At that moment—
[You have absorbed special blood energy!] [This is the blood of someone with a prior soul bond with you!] [Memories stored within the blood are being retrieved!]
A system message containing startling information appeared.
Reading the memories stored within holy blood? I didn’t know had such a function.
This works in my favor.
If I can directly read memories, there’s no need to ask Damian about the reasons behind the absence of the Kanreon Order or why the Six Heroes were suddenly redefined as an expedition from 500 years ago.
There’s also no need to reveal my cards to Damian, who treats me as some kind of omnipotent savior.
[Failure. Your rank is significantly lower than the owner of the holy blood. Memory retrieval is not possible.]
Damn.
I thought things might go smoothly for once, but of course, they wouldn’t.
To read Damian’s memories, I need to become a much higher-ranking being than I am now.
Meanwhile, Damian was looking at me with a worried expression.
「Are you alright? Could there be any side effects…?」
“Damian, will I be able to visit you again in the Great Temple?”
「Huh? Oh, of course! I, Damian, will always be ready to welcome Father with open doors! But why do you ask…?」
“Nothing. I just wanted to hear that answer.”
Yeah, as long as this isn’t our final meeting, there’s no need to rush.
I’ll focus on raising my rank and return to the Great Temple later to read Damian’s memories.
For now, there’s a more pressing matter than memories.
I felt the flow of blood energy that had been infusing into me suddenly come to a halt and turned my attention to the new system messages that appeared.
[Warning: Absorbing more of the high-ranking celestial’s ‘holy blood’ will place an immense burden on your soul and body!]
[If you endure, you will gain an Authority, but failure will result in soul destruction and death.]
[Do you wish to proceed with Blood Qi Absorption?]
Now they’re introducing penalties?
When I absorbed the holy blood of the guy I faced at the cathedral yesterday, there was no warning message.
His blood must’ve been so low-grade that it wasn’t even worth the risk.
But Damian is different. He’s the owner of a title like Constellation of the Great Sword, after all.
It comes down to a choice.
Do I stay put? Or do I push forward?
There’s nothing to hesitate about.
[Proceed with Blood Qi Absorption!]
Warnings about burdens or soul destruction are meaningless.
I’m rational to the extreme right now.
Saaaak—
A crimson stream flowed from the blood mist and began to envelop me.
As a formidable power forced its way into my body—
Thud!
“…!”
A wave of excruciating pain struck me.
It felt as if every bone in my body and every strand of muscle was being torn apart.
Beyond the crimson-tinted vision that blurred like a red filter, system messages appeared.
[…You have absorbed Authority… endure… overcome…]
The text was faint, with some letters unclear due to my lack of focus.
But even amidst the haze, I could clearly make out one word attached to ‘Authority.’
They’re… granting me that…?
If the reward for enduring this agony is that Authority, then I have no choice.
I’ll endure it, no matter what.
「Father!」
Damian cried out in alarm and rushed toward me, but I waved him off.
“Don’t… come….”
「But…!」
“Just… watch….”
What kind of lunatic blood mage is this that I’ve inherited their persona?
Even as my body is wracked with unbearable pain, I tell him to watch while smirking.
「…!」
Damian’s eyes widened before he nodded firlmy.
The pain only grew more intense over time, not less.
I could feel it instinctively.
I was breaking apart.
It was as if the ‘me’ that existed was being dismantled, piece by piece, like an old tree being torn apart and rebuilt into a new form.
Endure.
If I crumble under such a minor trial, I’m not worthy of handling the Demon Emperor or anything else.
I will survive. I will grow stronger to survive.
I don’t know how long this ordeal will last, but I’ll see it through to the end.
“D-Damn it…”
The forest near the city of Roadale.
Adventurer Hans could feel it in his bones—this forest would be his grave.
Krrrr…
A gray-skinned giant clad in wolf skin, a <Night Troll>, loomed over him, gripping a bloodied and gore-stained club.
Hans’s companions had already been slaughtered by that club, their heads smashed.
Now it was Hans’s turn.
Damn it. I shouldn’t have come here…!
Despite hearing the rumors that gathering all the humans killed by Night Trolls could build a hill, he had been blinded by the bounty and courted death.
His legs wouldn’t budge, frozen in fear. The smell of urine rising from his pants went unnoticed.
Graaah!!
With an earth-shaking roar, the troll raised its club high.
Hans let out a short, bitter sigh, resigning himself to his fate.
Kwachik!
Suddenly, a crimson spear pierced through the troll’s thick arm from the side.
Gaaaah!
The troll shrieked in pain and turned toward the source of the attack.
Swish!
A figure burst from the shadows of the bushes like a beam of light, wrapping their arms and legs around the troll’s neck in a flash.
As the moonlight broke through the clouds, the figure’s identity was revealed.
“A…”
A lean man in ragged clothes, looking too young to be a man but too old to be a boy.
His physique seemed frail—he didn’t look like he could even take on Hans.
And yet—
Grrrk…!
My God.
What insane strength.
With twig-thin arms and legs, the man pinned the troll in place, immobilizing it.
Hans stood there, dumbfounded, his jaw fully open.
Crack!
In an instant, the man’s hands, now engulfed in crimson energy, twisted the troll’s neck more than halfway.
Boom!
As the giant creature’s massive body fell, the man landed lightly from its corpse.
Hans stared at him as if he were a ghost.
He killed it so easily? A Night Troll? And by snapping its neck with his bare hands?
Hans, who knew better than anyone how strong the troll was, was too shocked to utter a proper thank-you.
“Thanks, Damian.”
The man, Ruth Fried, muttered casually, casting a satisfied glance at his status window.
=====
<Player Information>
Name: Ruth Freid
Level: 7
Class: Blood Mage
Rank: 29/100 (2-Star)
- <Growth Authority> effect is active.
- Status attributes are unified under ‘Rank.’
- ‘Rank’ increases all status performance threefold and enhances growth by threefold.
=====
