Chapter 243: Baptism Of The Stars (5)

Kwon Oh-Jin stepped outside the spring filled with beautiful starlight instead of water and turned around. He quickly got dressed first since he had been completely naked. Once clothed, he looked back at the Milky Way Spring.

I absorbed so much, but you can’t even tell.

Even after absorbing the mana in the spring physically and spiritually, the Milky Way Spring still sparkled radiantly like the first time he saw it. Just how much mana did that spring contain?

Even for Kwon Oh-Jin, who possessed the Black Heaven, handling the spring’s mana felt overwhelming.

If the Black Heaven undergoes all its enlightenment, will I be able to drain that spring completely dry? Though, doing that would definitely expose the fact that I possess the Black Heaven.

He shook his head with a bitter smile. Maybe it was because this was the first time he couldn’t fully absorb something with the Black Heaven. A strange sense of competitiveness burned within him.

Pushing aside those pointless thoughts, he ran his hand through his damp hair.

Polaris slowly raised their head and looked at the sky.

“It’s... time now.” Polaris gradually began to fade and dissolved into the Milky Way Spring. “May your path ahead be filled with brilliant starlight.”

Those words softly lingered in the air before Polaris disappeared completely.

All the Celestials now focused on Kwon Oh-Jin. They had just witnessed him reveal that he was the Heaven-Defying Star, now named Alkaid. The Celestials looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

Vega broke the awkward silence first.

“You all look quite confused.” She glanced around at them before continuing. “For now, I’d like everyone to keep what happened here a secret.”

“Didn’t you say we were going to reveal his identity or whatever?” Deneb said with his arms crossed.

“There’s no real benefit in revealing it,” Vega replied.

“Well... that’s true, I guess.”

Even if Kwon Oh-Jin revealed the fact that he was the Heaven-Defying Star, it would only attract unwanted attention from the Black Star Society.

“Well, I’m leaving since the baptism is over.” Deneb abruptly turned around and headed toward the rift leading out.

Maybe he was still shaken by the revelation that Kwon Oh-Jin was the Heaven-Defying Star. The boy’s retreating back gave off a hint of complicated emotion.

Spica trotted over and poked Kwon Oh-Jin on the shoulder. “Hey, hey, can I ask you something?”

He gave her a small nod while drying his wet hair.

“Do you know what will happen to me and my children in the future?”

“Stop that.” Vega frowned and tugged Spica back by the shoulder.

Spica kicked her legs in protest. “

Aw

, come on! I’m curious!”

Even Regulus, Aldebaran, and Aries all lingered behind and curiously stared at Kwon Oh-Jin.

“

Ahem

.”

“

Hmm...

I’m curious as well.”

It seemed even the Celestials grew curious about what would happen to them in the future.

To those eagerly shining eyes, Kwon Oh-Jin could only say one thing.

“You all got devoured by the Heavenly Demon.”

He didn’t know for sure whether they actually did or not, but imagining their fate wasn’t that difficult if the first timeline played out as Polaris prophesied.

“

Ah...

I-I see.”

“

Hmm

. Even if our children get devoured, will I lose to some lousy darkness?”

The Celestials all scrunched up their faces in distaste.

Despite being told that the Heavenly Demon would devour them, their reactions were underwhelming. Then again, Kwon Oh-Jin would probably react the same if someone told him that he would die in the future.

“But this time, it’ll be different.” Kwon Oh-Jin looked around at the Celestials. “I’ll make sure things don’t end up like the first timeline.”

Aries approached him with a deep smile. “Oh my, I thought you were just a cute puppy. You’re a dependable wolf, aren’t you?”

Drawing in close, she gently wrapped her arms around his. A soft sensation pressed against his arm. At that moment, he briefly thought of two mountains made of soft wool rising in the middle of a vast meadow.

Vega forcefully pulled Aries away and stepped between them.

“

Ahem!

Aren’t you tired yet?” she asked Kwon Oh-Jin.

“I’m not really that—”

“Being baptized is exhausting, both physically and mentally.”

Dragging him by the arm, Vega led Kwon Oh-Jin toward the rift. He dryly chuckled as she pulled him along.

After quickly walking for a while, Vega glanced back to make sure none of the Celestials followed them.

Then, she looked at Kwon Oh-Jin with the utmost seriousness. “Spica is one thing, but never ever get involved with the Celestials of Aries.”

“I don’t really plan on getting involved... but why?”

Was there some kind of shady rumor about her?

No way... Could she secretly be colluding with the Black Star Celestials behind the scenes?

It wasn’t impossible. Even though Celestials were transcendent beings, they weren’t much different from humans emotionally. They fought, excluded each other, reconciled, and even fell in love. The Sanctum, with hundreds of transcendent beings, was practically a smaller version of human society.

If that were the case, it wouldn’t be surprising if some traitors existed among Celestials. Kwon Oh-Jin looked at Vega anxiously.

She shouted urgently in a fluster, “I-It’s big, isn’t it!”

Big? What is?

“A-Anyway! From now on, talking to Aries is strictly forbidden!” Vega placed both hands on her hips and put on a stern expression.

“Your wish is my command, Lady Vega.” Kwon Oh-Jin chuckled and turned around. “Well then, I’ll be heading off now.”

“Get back safely.”

After a brief farewell with Vega, he stepped out of the Sanctum. The familiar gray streets spread out before him.

“I heard the Thunder Wolf is getting baptized today.”

“I wonder what name he’ll get...”

“Maybe something like Sirius?”

“That’s not even part of the Big Dipper, you idiot.”

It seemed word had spread that Kwon Oh-Jin would be receiving the baptism of the stars today. Crowds of spectators and reporters had gathered like clouds around the Sanctum.

Black Curtain.

He used the Black Curtain to mask his presence and slipped past the gathered crowd. To maintain his image as a hero, it would’ve helped to give a quick interview. However, he had something far more important to do right now.

Using his wire shooter, he quickly returned home and opened the front door. Perhaps Song Ha-Eun had gone somewhere. The living room was empty.

“

Phew...

”

Kwon Oh-Jin sat in the middle of the living room, took a deep breath, and slowly closed his eyes.

It said the inheritance was delayed because the mana needed to stabilize.

In that case, the inheritance of memories would begin as normal if he could calm the raging mana.

Kwon Oh-Jin steadied his breathing and observed his mana. He could feel the Stigma’s mana surging like a flooding river, wildly coursing through his mana circuits. Guiding the excess mana into the Black Heaven, he calmed the power within.

Roughly two hours passed like that.

Ring!

[According to the Black Heaven’s enlightenment progress, Lee Shin-Hyuk’s memories will be inherited.]

Along with the long-awaited message, Kwon Oh-Jin’s vision blurred. He could see Lee Shin-Hyuk panting heavily.

“Haa, haa!”

Violent tremors shook the ground, and rocks rained down like a storm.

Rumble.

This is...

Kwon Oh-Jin recognized the location.

The dragon’s resting place.

This hidden dungeon in Baekdu Mountain was the very place Cheon Do-Yoon had gone to retrieve the Dragon’s Heart.

“D-Damn it!”

Inside the collapsing cave, Lee Shin-Hyuk stood at a fork in the tunnel and swore with a distressed look.

“Mr. Shin-Hyuk! There’s no time! We have to save the guild master!”

Kim Seon-Young, the Valhalla Guild’s vice guild master, urged him.

“B-But if we do that... Ha-Eun will...!”

“It’s already too late for Miss Ha-Eun! The False Star Cult executors are already in the cavern!”

“But...”

Lee Shin-Hyuk’s eyes trembled.

“We have to get to the outer passage now! The guild master is holding off both the Owl and the Seahorse factions alone right now!”

The usually calm and rational Kim Seon-Young screamed hysterically like a child throwing a tantrum.

“But... but...”

Lee Shin-Hyuk looked with trembling eyes toward the path leading to the cavern.

If he ran to SongHa-Eun now, maybe he could save her. Just maybe, he could protect her.

“Mr. Shin-Hyuk!”

Kim Seon-Young urgently called out again.

Lee Shin-Hyuk stood frozen at the fork in the path, unable to move his shaking legs.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Slap!

A sharp pain flashed across his cheek.

“What are you hesitating for?!”

Kim Seon-Young glared at him with blazing eyes.

“He’s your brother! The only family you have left!”

Grabbing Lee Shin-Hyuk by the collar, she screamed out in despair.

“Do you have any idea how much Mr. Woo-Hyuk sacrificed... How much he gave up to protect you?! And now you’re going to betray him?!”

A look of contempt flashed across Kim Seon-Young’s eyes.

“It’s because of Miss Ha-Eun, isn’t it? Do you even realize? No matter how desperately you chase after her your entire life, she will never fall for you.”

Her sharp words pierced Lee Shin-Hyuk’s chest like a blade. He bit his lip hard, unable to say a single word in response.

She was right. He had confessed to Song Ha-Eun more times than he could count, but not once had she given him a chance. Even when he gave her the Draconic Eye, which he had borrowed money from Lee Woo-Hyuk to obtain. Even when he threw himself into battle against the False Star Cult to save her. Even when he finally gathered the courage to confess his feelings.

Every single time, her eyes were fixed only on her long-lost brother.

Why... why can’t it be me?

Lee Shin-Hyuk clenched his fists tightly and ground his teeth.

Grit.

The thought of her brother, whose name he didn’t even know, flashed through his mind.

That bastard abandoned her and joined the False Star Cult!

Song Ha-Eun’s younger brother had left her side and became a cult member. He had turned into one of their dogs to treat his own crippled body and even attacked the Guardian Stars. Sure, he was just a low-level grunt with no rank within the cult. Still, the fact that he had joined a terrorist organization that threatened the world didn’t change.

Even now, Song Ha-Eun was only in danger because she had broken formation and headed to the cavern alone to find her brother.

I...

The forked path spread before Lee Shin-Hyunk. To the left led to Song Ha-Eun, and the right led to Lee Woo-Hyuk.

I...!

Lee Shin-Hyuk tightly shut his eyes and stepped toward the right.

“I’m sorry...”

Lee Shin-Hyuk sprinted through the collapsing cave. He recalled the first time he had met her. Her reddish-brown hair danced like flames as she fought monsters without her Stigma and no eyes.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry...”

He had sworn to protect her, and he had promised himself to stay by her side.

“I’m sorry, Ha-Eun.”

Leaving Song Ha-Eun behind in the cavern, Lee Shin-Hyuk ran toward where Lee Woo-Hyuk was while whispering a sorrowful apology.