The Black Witch wasn’t joking about converting.
“Are you really going to believe in me as your god?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“You serious?”
“Dead serious. Just make the contract already.”
The Black Witch gestured at me with an annoyed look. That was all we needed to seal the deal.
[You have gained a follower!]
[The Black Witch is now your follower.]
[You can now grant blessings and authorities to the Black Witch.]
That was all. There were no other steps. Was that how this whole thing worked? Just like that?
The Goldcoin-Biting Cat stared at us in disbelief. “Wooof. There’s no way… She signed the contract to be your follower even though you didn’t give her a Skill Card. That’s absurd. You two are weird.”
I scratched the back of my head. “Is that so?”
“Yes. Most of all, a strong bond between a Constellation and their follower is needed. They have to trust each other so much that they won’t betray each other.”
It seemed we were a special case after all, but to me, this felt normal. It wasn’t just the Black Witch; the Paladin and the Countess also hadn’t hesitated to become my followers.
The calico cat shook their head in disbelief. “This isn’t normal, woof. What kind of life have you been living so far?”
When all preparations were done, the attack team gathered in the large yard of the lodging. There were twelve members in total. Kim Yul, Estelle, Uburka, Sylvia, and the Four Demon Kings were from my clan. Among my friends, the Black Witch, the Inquisitor, the Viper, and the Paladin joined. Including me, we were now thirteen, which was enough to take on all of the Constellation Murderer’s killing puppets.
Sylvia shook her head, surveying the team. “You can probably end most worlds with this team.”
Honestly, Sylvia, the Four Demon Kings, and the Paladin lacked the power to face the Constellation Murderer, but they could still buy us time. While they held the line, I would swiftly eliminate the killing puppets.
“The Constellation Murderer is capable of wiping out most worlds, so this team is necessary. If only he hadn’t cheated and tried to defeat me by outnumbering me, I would have fought him one-on-one.”
“Um, Patriarch. If what Miss Estelle told me is true, you also defeated her by outnumbering her in her Demon King years…” Sylvia commented sourly.
“Very well. Is everyone ready? Hey, Head Steward Sylvia, everyone else is ready for battle. Why are you dilly-dallying? Hurry up and get ready.”
“Fuck. I should really submit my resignation letter someday,” Sylvia grumbled as she stepped back.
I looked down at the snake coiled around my wrist. “Hishimit Kritz.”
“Kieeeee.”
“Show us the coordinates to the Constellation Murderer’s holy ground.”
Snakey nodded before crawling off my wrist. Feeling their slimy body wrapping around my hand, I walked toward Kim Yul and took his hand.
[You have temporarily transferred ownership of the Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye.]
Kim Yul narrowed his eyebrows, perhaps because he found the sensation of snake scales foreign. “Hmm. It feels odd. My lungs feel tight. Is this how it feels to have a Constellation on myself?”
“Ah, yes. It’s like a thin paper on your shoulders.”
“Yes… Have you always been carrying this weight?” Kim Yul asked.
“It feels quite comfortable once you get used to it.”
Kim Yul stared at me but said no more. Only Snakey, coiled around his wrist, made low hisses.
[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye has activated their power.]
[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye is searching for the Constellation Murderer’s holy ground.]
[Searching.]
I pressed my lips together. Could Snakey really find the Constellation Murderer’s holy ground? Though they had confidently said that it was possible, was that really the case? Time passed, just long enough for a drop of candle wax to melt and slide down.
[Search complete.]
[The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye has located the Constellation Murderer’s holy ground.]
Alright.
I exhaled the breath I held, but it was too soon to relax. We only found the location of the fortress. Breaching it was another thing altogether
“Don’t worry, Gong-Ja,” Kim Yul said. “The enemy isn’t aware of our ambush. This plan will succeed.”
“Yes, but the Constellation Murderer is a real hunter who gets ready for all possible scenarios. Even if he doesn’t expect this, he will still have a plan ready for when his holy ground is attacked.”
“Maybe, but there’s no way he prepared for the possibility of another version of himself invading.”
Kim Yul pulled a hair tie from his pocket. It wasn’t the yellow band those mean bullies had given him as a mocking gift, but the one I had given him when I took him as my vassal.
“The Constellation Murderer will surely hesitate for a moment. That brief hesitation is all we need. If you need a second, I’ll buy it for you.” He tied his hair. Tens of thousands of strands gathered into a single braid as he made up his mind. “Teleport me.”
Whoosh!
Bright, white light enveloped Kim Yul. The moment he vanished in the light, I began counting in my mind, my lips moving slightly.
One second.
Kim Yul would have reached the Constellation Murderer’s holy ground by now.
Two seconds.
The Constellation Murderer would have noticed the intruder and went on the offensive. If he had been an ordinary Constellation or Hunter, he would have been shocked to see that his holy ground, which had never allowed outsiders before, had been breached. However, the Constellation Murderer wasn’t the type to react that way and just acted per his built-in manuals.
Three seconds.
Still, the intruder was someone he had no manual for—himself. The Constellation Murderer would have paused to check whether the intruder was truly himself.
Four seconds.
Therefore, Kim Yul could keep the promise he made to me.
[Your apostle calls for you wholeheartedly.]