"A Tier Nine Duty Wielder needs half an hour. How long would a Tier Ten need?" Night Star stood outside the barrier, her smile enigmatic.
"Tier Ten?" Golden burst into laughter. "What, you think you can summon a Tier Ten Duty Wielder? Haha! Every Tier Ten in the world is a top-tier figure, known by name even in the capital!"
"If you could really bring a Tier Ten, would you be wasting time talking to me? I'd kneel and kowtow to you on the spot!"
"Is that so…" Night Star's lips curved into a faint smile. She gripped her dagger and swung it casually. The blade grazed the invisible barrier, producing a harsh, grating screech.
Under Golden's horrified gaze, cracks appeared out of nowhere, spreading like a spiderweb. In the next second, the barrier shattered completely.
Crash!
Night Star had broken not just the barrier but Golden's confidence.
"Impossible!" he roared. "I know every Tier Ten Duty Wielder in the world! Who are you?! Minerva? Jessie? Damn it! You're disguised! Have you no dignity as a Tier Ten?!"
"I'm just Night Star, no one else," she replied nonchalantly, twirling her dagger. The strike had drained most of her mana, but to Golden, she was still as insignificant as a mouse.
Thud!
Golden dropped to his knees.
He kowtowed, sobbing, "Sir! I've brought you to Aina! You promised! If I hand her over, you'll spare my life! I don't want a reward—just let me live!"
"Hm, I did say something like that, didn't I?" Night Star said, tapping her chin as if recalling. "And you did lead me here. Aina's inside, right?"
"Yes, yes, that's right!" Golden answered frantically. "Aina's in there! I swear she's unharmed! Duke Campbell needed her, so I didn't touch a hair on her head—she's just unconscious!"
Night Star knew this was the one thing Golden wasn't lying about.
Not only because she already knew the game's plot, but because Golden had no more cards to play. He dared not hide anything now.
Which meant—he was no longer useful.
"What to do…" Night Star mused, hesitating for a second before breaking into a cheerful grin. "Too bad I'm a woman who doesn't keep her word."
Golden's eyes widened, terror gripping him as his body shook. Summoning a burst of courage, he started to look up to beg, but a dizzying sensation overwhelmed him.
Why… am I… seeing… my own… body?
In that moment, Golden cursed his mind for working so quickly. His head had already parted from his body. The despair of being utterly powerless, waiting for death, consumed him. Terror erupted in his mind.
"I don't want to die! Save me! Mother! Ah…"
Golden's mouth gaped, his eyes bulging, dying without peace. Perhaps he'd gone mad before the end.
Night Star gazed calmly at the headless corpse as it collapsed, stepping over it without a change in expression.
Maybe she'd seen too many cutscenes. Even with a living person dying before her, she remained unfazed.
There was also a more important reason.
Golden was an utter beast.
Stepping past his body, she continued forward. The stench of blood grew overwhelming, invading her senses. She wrinkled her nose. Only one door remained ahead.
She approached and pushed it open.
A living hell.
Red, brown, black—liquids, solids, gels, fluids, half-coagulated masses…
Even having seen it multiple times in the game, Night Star couldn't suppress a wave of nausea. Even Lucille, far away, gagged in sympathy. Without hesitation, she entered the room, found the unconscious Aina, and dragged her out.
She didn't linger on the gruesome scene. Time was running out. Night Star carried Aina and retraced her steps without pause.
She brought Aina to a safe location, ensuring she could breathe fresh air.
Soon, Aina's complexion returned to normal, her pale skin regaining its luster. Her pointed, elongated ears began to twitch rapidly—a sign an elf was about to wake.
Yes, Aina was an elf.
Night Star's mood brightened. Rescuing this astrologer meant establishing a connection with the Stargazers' Guild. Without her, even Night Star would struggle to locate that elusive organization, as their hideouts were nearly impossible for outsiders to find.
"Mmm…" The elf stirred, murmuring dreamily. After a moment, she opened her eyes, gazing around in confusion. "Where… am I? I remember… what was I doing…?"
"You're awake," Night Star said, looking down at her. "If not for me, you'd be Duke Campbell's private trophy by now. That was your original fate."
"Fate…" Aina muttered, dazed, before snapping awake. She pulled out a stack of cards from somewhere, arranging them in a row on the ground. With movements too quick for Night Star to follow, she shuffled them and drew one.
Then, she froze, staring at it.
"What is it?" Night Star asked, peering over curiously.
Aina showed her the card: "Phoenix."
"Phoenix Rebirth. Not bad," Night Star commented lightly. "Worth saving you for."
"But… how?" Aina said, bewildered. "In legend, the phoenix brings fire and light. But in our divinations, darkness will consume the world, and light… will cease to exist."
"That conflicts with the phoenix. If a phoenix exists, light cannot vanish. If darkness prevails, a phoenix cannot exist."
Aina shook her head, her face full of confusion.
"Why not?" Night Star replied carelessly. "Didn't your teacher tell you? Divination isn't infallible. Cling to it, and you'll lose your way."
"That's… what the Guild Leader said," Aina said, looking up. "What's your connection to her?"
"Nothing," Night Star said, shaking her head. "But soon, there will be. Young astrologer, open the passage. It's time I met the Stargazers' Guild."
"I believe your Guild Leader has been waiting for me."