Chapter 89: The Third Memory

“Come to think of it, I haven’t contacted Vega.”

Kwon Oh-Jin recalled that he'd instructed her to stay put until he needed her blessing, but Isabella’s true nature had thwarted his plans.

This is for the better. If Vega had witnessed all that, things would've gotten a lot more complicated. Since I’m here at the Sanctum anyway, I might as well check in on her. She's probably worried sick since I haven't contacted her in days.

He ascended along a path of blue starlight leading to the highest point in the Sanctum, where it split into three directions. One path led to the temple of Vega the Weaver, and the other paths led to the temples of Deneb and Polaris, the other two Celestials of the North Star.

Deneb and Polaris, huh?

Deneb had twelve apostles while Polaris had none—just as Vega once had.

What would happen if I acquired another North Star Stigma?

The Stigmas of the twelve Zodiacs alone have been shown to synergize and produce unimaginable power. If the Stigmas of the North Star were added to the mix...

“I don’t know what would happen at that point.”

The Stigma of Lyra alone set him apart from the other five-star Awakeners. Another Stigma of the North Star could push him into a realm of immeasurable strength and potential.

But the synergy has to be right to make it work.

A Stigma could only be used one at a time—that was the rule. He managed to switch between them in rapid succession before, but if the additional Stigma didn’t synergize with Lyra, the effects would be negligible at best.

Lyra's always the ace, after all. The others will only ever be auxiliary, for whenever I need them. Besides, I can't even freely use other Stigmas in front of Vega, and I still don't know the depths of Lyra's power.

“I’ll try it someday if the opportunity arises.”

If two North Star Stigmas ended up harmonizing with each other, he'd be propelled into an unprecedented realm of strength.

“Well then...”

Setting his thoughts aside, he turned and made his way down the path. When he finally reached the temple, Vega rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.

“My child! Do you have any idea how worried I was when you didn’t contact me?!”

Kwon Oh-Jin felt his ribs creak under the pressure as if he’d been caught in an industrial press.

“Kugh! Ugh!”

Mother, I’m dying! I’m gonna fucking die! I can’t breathe, goddamn it! Why the fuck is she so strong?!

“

Ah

, sorry.” Vega quickly loosened her grip.

“Phew!”

Isabella can't hold a candle to the true might of a Celestial.

Riarc approached with a low growl. “Hey, kid. Did anything happen?”

“Nothing much. I just didn’t run into a situation where I needed to use the blessing,” Kwon Oh-Jin replied.

Well, it wasn’t exactly “nothing,” but I definitely didn’t need to use the blessing.

“Did you rescue the Saintess?” Vega asked.

The Saintess, huh? Should I hide what happened with Isabella?

He didn’t have to think for long.

I’ll reveal it. The more I keep it hidden, the more I’ll be tiptoeing through a minefield later—boxed in, second-guessing every move, and inviting suspicion I don’t need. And more importantly... Vega might have noticed that Isabella wasn't an Awakener of Aries since she didn't have the Black Curtain like I did.

He answered, “I did save her, but... things got a little complicated.”

Concern filled Vega's gaze. “Complicated? What happened?”

“The Saintess isn’t an Awakener of Aries.”

“What do you mean?”

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Kwon Oh-Jin calmly explained the events that had transpired with Isabella.

“She ended up dying early in my past life, so I never got to uncover her true identity. Still, I never imagined she'd be an Executor of the Black Star Society.”

A Regressor knew the future because they had lived through it, not because they were an omniscient being capable of uncovering every hidden truth. Not knowing the Saintess’s true identity wasn’t something that would raise Vega’s suspicion.

“Th-Then isn’t the situation worse than it was in your past life?” she asked.

“Not necessarily.” He shook his head firmly. “Isabella doesn’t know that I’m onto her. If I play my cards right, I can squeeze more intel out of their organization. And if I can eventually bring her over to our side...”

It seemed impossible for now, given that she saw him as nothing more than tempting prey, but if he could someday have her dancing in the palm of his hand...

“She'd be more reliable than an entire army.”

The most dangerous enemy was the one already on the inside. If he could get Isabella on his side, her sharpened blade could tear the Black Star Society apart from within.

“That’s the plan," he asserted. "I’ll make it happen.”

“

Hmmm

. I can’t help but worry.” Vega reached out and gently petted his head. “What if that girl harms you?”

You sure do worry a lot, oh goddess of mine.

“Don’t worry," he replied. "I don’t plan on making any contact with her for now.”

At least not until I'm strong enough to hold my own against her.

“More importantly...” His voice trembled as he spoke. “I’m sorry.”

His shoulders sagged, and he clenched his fist so tightly that his veins bulged. Guilt weighed heavily on his face.

“S-Sorry for what?” Vega asked.

“For acting without fully understanding the situation. I made a mistake because I was too focused on changing the future.”

He deliberately let his vulnerability show. Normally, exposing weakness could damage his credibility as a Regressor, but in this case, it did the opposite. His bond with Vega was already strong—displaying remorse would only deepen that trust.

It’s like seeing a husband, always stoic and unshaken, breaking down in tears after a few drinks.

It was a manipulation tactic that leveraged sympathy to deepen emotional bonds. Its greatest advantage lay in its simplicity; no evidence or logic was needed, only a direct strike to the heart.

“Do not despair, my child. No one knows how hard you’re trying better than I do.”

“Vega...”

“Come here, my child.”

She opened her arms and drew him into another embrace—gentle and comforting this time, offering nothing but warmth.

“You don’t have to shoulder everything alone,” she said with a tender smile as she stroked his head. “You have me by your side, don’t you?

Haha.

There’s no need to rush. From the moment you and I met, the pages of destiny had already begun to change.”

Kwon Oh-Jin hugged her back tightly. Sounding noticeably brighter, he replied, “Thank you. This time, I’ll change it for sure—the horrific future where everything is destroyed by the Heavenly Demon.”

“

Haha

. I have faith that you can do it.”

She patted his back and rested her chin on his shoulder. Neither of them moved, lingering in the quiet embrace for nearly five minutes.

Riarc growled furiously. “

Grrr!

Lady Vega, if you keep pampering that kid, he’ll develop bad habits—”

“Enough.”

A bolt of blue lightning struck Ríarc.

Crackle!

“Kugh! Khaaaa!”

He writhed in pain on the floor.

“Just when I was indulging in some rare quality time with my child..." She shot Riarc an irritated glare. "You really are tactless.”

“M-My apologies...”

“

Hmph

. Forget it.”

She turned her head away, displeased.

Kwon Oh-Jin couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Riarc.

“Anyway, I should get going. Ha-Eun might be worried. Oh, and now that the urgent matters are taken care of, you can manifest as usual again.”

“

Hmm

. While that’s wonderful to hear, I’ll refrain from doing that today,” Vega declared.

“

Huh?

Why?”

“

Haha

, Ha-Eun also deserves time to celebrate your reunion, doesn’t she?”

Ah, that’s what she means.

Her golden eyes sparkled as she added, “However! Never,

ever

forget that you and her are strictly friends, okay?”

Kwon Oh-Jin instinctively nodded, taken aback by her intensity. “O-Okay. Then, I’m heading out now. See you tomorrow, Vega.”

“Be careful on your way back.”

What’s there to be careful about in the Sanctum...?

he wondered.

Soon, he left the Sanctum and made his way home.

Should I grab something to eat?

Since it was nearly dinnertime, he glanced around until his eyes landed on a familiar sight.

“Wow, it’s been a while.”

He chuckled softly as he looked at the burger joint across the street. Burgers held a special place in his heart—with both good and bad memories attached.

It was the first thing I bought after becoming an Awakener, too.

He stepped inside the shop.

Eventually, the worker behind the counter called out, “Two Woppah meals for Oh-Jin!”

With the package in hand, he headed straight home—but the closer he got, the lighter his steps became. It had only been a week since he had last seen Song Ha-Eun, yet he picked up his pace without realizing it.

“

Hehe

, I bet she's tearing up again...”

Suddenly, his vision blurred.

Ring!

[Some of Awakener Lee Shin-Hyuk’s records have been successfully restored.]

What? There’s a third set?

“Shin-Hyuk... let’s go.”

“... Alright.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk, who had been gripping the rooftop railing in regret, turned around and followed Lee Woo-Hyuk down the stairs.

A heavy silence loomed between them, but Lee Woo-Hyuk broke the silence first.

“The Leech Queen’s rampage started two years ago because of that incident, right?”

“Yeah. That’s what Chun Woo-Seong told me.”

“Did he tell you what happened back then?”

Lee Shin-Hyuk shook his head with mixed feelings.

“Not exactly. Before that incident, she was supposedly helping Italians who were suffering under the mafia...”

“And now that same woman is the witch who plunged the entire nation into bloodshed.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk clenched his teeth, gripping his spear tightly.

“I don’t know what happened, but if I could turn back time... I'd kill her no matter what. I'd kill Isabella Colgrande—the Leech Queen.”

The faces of tens of thousands who had died in vain by her hands flickered before his eyes.

“Shin-Hyuk, we need to pick up the pace. The False Star Cult might catch up.”

“Got it.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk activated the Stigma of Pyxis to find an escape route outside the building.

“This way.”

Lee Woo-Hyuk sprinted through the streets like a beast while Lee Shin-Hyuk slightly lagged behind.

He's really improved over the past two years,

Kwon Oh-Jin thought in admiration.

Lee Shin-Hyuk's rate of growth couldn't be compared to his own, yet it seemed that over the past two years, he had reached around seven stars.

“Where is she?”

Lee Shin-Hyuk asked.

“Probably at the coast, guarding the boat.”

“Let’s head that way then.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk set out to find this mysterious “her.” Who could it be? Kwon Oh-Jin focused intently on the memories unfolding before him.

Lee Shin-Hyuk eventually met up with the girl, whom he warmly greeted.

“Hi!”

“Hey, you brat! Why are you so late?”

“Sorry!”

“We need to escape, so get on the boat! Quick!”

Wait, what?

“Alright, we’re departing now!”

the familiar girl shouted.

“Okay!”

What the fuck? What’s going on?

“Haa, Italy is completely done for,"

she said.

"Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Ah, no. I’m fine.”

“Here, drink some water.”

Why, why, why? Just why?

Lee Shin-Hyuk faced the girl and said,

“Thank you, Ha-Eun.”

What the fuck? Why is Ha-Eun with those guys?