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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Obtaining the Star
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Old King, Dramat.
He was the mountain guardian who protected the star, a colossal giant god with a massive frame. The origin of Dramat was that he was a spirit that grew in size and gained wisdom due to the star's spirit energy.
His name—his true name—was also inherited from the star.
Naturally, no one except the star should know it.
Only the one who possesses the star and becomes its master could know his true name.
Wilhelm. Only I, the strongest character, knew it.
"My, my true name—where did you hear it? From Wilhelm?"
Dramat shook his head once and rose from his seat, asking in bewilderment.
"You fool. Have you forgotten even the contract's contents?"
But mentioning the true name was bound by the contract.
It meant it was impossible to divulge it to others.
Of course, I wasn't bound by that contract now, so I could spout it freely.
'Damn. It's real.'
Dramat's scales rattled.
The mountain guardian could distinguish truth from lies.
If it were a lie, he could just break the contract outright, rampage, and devour the human.
But it was the truth. Not a shred of falsehood.
Even the part about the master having returned.
'A human I've never seen knows my true name and even the contract details. He even mentioned Wilhelm's name.'
The unspoken rule of the contract: the moment any related content is mentioned to others, the subject dies, and the contract is broken.
Moreover, Wilhelm was a 5-star transcendent. There was no reason for such a dignified being, whose every word and gesture carried weight, to break a contract and reveal secrets to someone.
If it had been broken that way, Dramat wouldn't be unaware.
'But Wilhelm is dead. The star fell.'
However, even if the contract's subject dies, the contract is typically broken.
Wilhelm was dead. All five stars had fallen. It meant he met a perfect death, and all bindings tied to him were released.
Naturally, there was no contract established between Dramat and this human now. Knowing the true name was just a mild surprise.
"Guide me. The star will prove it."
What made this frail human—who could be swallowed whole without a trace—so bold?
And what? The star will prove it?
"You, obtain the star? You'll burn just approaching it."
Dramat sneered.
Insufficient. This human fell far short of the criteria to consume the star.
Dramat was the star's protector. He could instinctively sense the level suitable for the star. But this human not only failed to meet the criteria but lacked even the basics.
He didn't know why the human wasn't affected by his divine domain. Probably relying on some special equipment or tool.
"Or did you mistake the female human beside you for the challenger?"
The female human next to him was somewhat better. Still insufficient, of course. The one to consume the star had to be equal to or surpass Dramat himself.
She'd burn before even approaching the star.
The star was endlessly merciful to those who met the criteria but showed no mercy whatsoever to those who didn't.
"I'll challenge it."
Challenge? That weakling?
"Kuhahaha!"
Dramat twisted his body, laughing uproariously. He couldn't hold back the laughter.
After rolling around laughing for a while, Dramat finally regained his composure.
How many hundreds of years had it been since he laughed like this?
'It'd be better for him to burn in the star than for me to deal with him.'
Good timing. This suspicious guy who knew his true name and even Wilhelm's—it creeped him out, but the star would handle it.
No matter how much special equipment or tools he had, they were useless before the star. The star only saw the subject's inherent abilities.
"Fine. Follow me, newbie."
Swoosh.
Dramat readily began guiding the way to the star.
*
The star.
It was the 'foundation of the boundary' needed to surpass one's species limits and achieve cognitive transcendence.
More precisely... it was a corpse.
We called the shattered body of the dead twin goddess Lea 'stars.'
There were 32 stars on the Pangeniar continent.
Their locations were as follows:
Ten fingers, two from the back of the hands to the shoulders, one torso, one head, two eyeballs, one nose, one lower jaw including the mouth, two ears, one neck, one lower body, ten toes.
Thirty-two parts of Goddess Lea's body.
Possess that star and pass the trial, and one could finally transcend.
Naturally, the transcendence granted subtly differed by part.
And the part of Goddess Lea's body in this place, the 'Mountain Where the Nameless Star is Buried'...
"Th-that... is the star?"
Isabella freaked out. Her eyes nearly bulged as she stared in shock at the 'star' on the altar.
It was understandable.
She had heard stories of the star but was seeing one for the first time herself.
No, when talk of Star Awakeners and stars came up, there was no mention anywhere that it was a corpse.
"That... skull...?"
A skull with the lower jaw severed.
"Greet it. It's Goddess Lea's face."
"Ah."
Wobble.
Isabella's knees buckled. Partly from shock, but anomalies always occurred before a star.
"Don't come closer than this. It's dangerous."
Dramat was just watching from afar, probably anticipating how I'd die.
I stopped Isabella and walked forward.
From here on, it was fifty-fifty.
This hidden celestial island in the sanctuary allowed acquiring skills and classes in all areas.
The mountain and star here should be no different.
Previously, having a class already, I'd simply obtained the star and transcended.
"..."
Text appeared.
It felt like voices were speaking.
But there was a lot of noise. Not proper communication.
However, I knew who was sending me this message.
The dead twin goddess Lea. She who became a star scattered across the continent.
"Void."
With one more step, a clearer voice rang out.
With each step, more voices added.
"Dexterity, All Master, Weapon Master, Giant's Magic Resistance, Druid's Nature Affinity, Iron-Blooded Lord's Heart, Beast Lord, Heavenly, Golden Grace, Mutation, Glutton, Great Sage."
My thirteen hidden traits.
The goddess read them.
And then.
"One who opposed 'Ruin.'"
I slowly lifted the goddess's skull—the star—with both hands.
Whoosh!
Instantly, a brilliant wave of light poured from the star into my body.
[Acquired the 'Star Successor' class.]
[Mana is converted to 'Star Power.']
[Main skill 'Star Claw (1Lv)' and auxiliary skill 'Star Blessing (1Lv)' added.]
[Star possession effect (All stats +5) added.]
[Successors wield greater power based on the type and number of stars possessed. Star possession effects persist even upon transcendence.]
...
Endless streams of text.
Vast quantities that couldn't be taken in at a glance.
['Main Quest 2: Acquire Class' completed.]
[Settling contents.]
[One of a kind! A result that sends shivers through all.]
[Total score: 230 points. Main Quest updated to 'Hall of Fame.']
[Beginner's Luck! The 'Lucky Constellation' smiles even brighter. Rewards upgraded.]
[The 'Constellation of Adventure' applauds your recklessness. Rewards upgraded.]
[Some Constellations of the Citizen War begin paying attention to your steps.]
Constellations of the Citizen War?
I was stunned that they were already noticing me.
Dignified folks like them never paid attention to mere beginners just starting out.
Even when playing as Wilhelm, they only began showing interest after I'd eaten three stars.
'Thanks to Star Successor?'
It was a class even I'd never seen before.
Of course, more attention from the Citizen War's Constellations wasn't bad.
They upgraded the rewards.
I focused even more on the upcoming reward details.
[Acquired 'Fragment of the Broken Golden Rule.']
[Rolled a die two stages higher. Choose two from the ten rewards below.]
['Michella's Armor'], ['Michella's Helmet'], ['Amulet of Protection'], ['Anvil of the Challenger'], ['Gills of the Sea'], ['Flag of the Red Knight'], ['Red Steed'], ['Palam's Armor'], ['Fairy Queen's Tear'], ['Shadow Cloak']
After reading all the reward-related text, I couldn't help but mutter one thing.
"... This is insane."