NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8 - The One Who Faces Demons
Chapter 8: The One Who Faces Demons
If there was an object nearby deeply associated with a holy relic, it was possible to contract its characteristics.
Even if it wasn’t completely mine, being near it was enough, so the spear immediately came to mind.
And there was no reason to refuse this.
‘Accept.’
As soon as I sent the request, the golden light that I had seen before enveloped the surroundings… didn’t.
Even though I accepted it, nothing changed.
I had expected something flashy to happen like before.
But really, nothing happened.
[The Constellation, ‘The One Who Faces Demons’ has postponed the contract with you.]
And the reason soon appeared before my eyes.
It was a temporary postponement, neither acceptance nor refusal.
A truly ambiguous result.
‘What?’
Why was it ambiguously postponed?
As I was thinking about it, another window popped up.
[The Constellation, ‘The One Who Faces Demons’ has requested to send you a pronouncement.]
[Do you accept?]
This time, I had to accept it in reverse.
Should I accept it?
While I was contemplating, I finally looked around.
The interior of the church seemed as if time had stopped.
Not only Sung Harim but also the other people were completely still.
However, outside the window, people were moving normally.
A situation that could be called bizarre.
And I knew what this was.
[Currently, ‘Divine Time’ is activated.]
[You are an exception.]
Divine Time.
In simple terms, it was an act where the constellation exerted influence within the domain that worshipped them.
A small, confined space.
It was a power that could only be used in a place where their presence was fully recognized and revered.
At least, it was a skill that could only be used by constellations at Kamael’s level.
And naturally, it consumed an enormous amount of resources.
But why use it now?
“No, should I just accept it first?”
There must be a reason for using such power.
Thinking that, I allowed Kamael to send me a pronouncement.
[You have permitted the pronouncement.]
As soon as I accepted the pronouncement, a woman’s voice was heard.
「Are you that noble and rare being?」
No, could I say I heard it?
It was a kind of knowledge that came into my head rather than being heard through my ears.
This was the pronouncement of the constellations.
Words from those with an indescribable status.
It was described several times in the original, but hearing it directly felt different.
A voice so clear that it was a bit eerie, yet it gave me chills.
‘She must have controlled her power.’
Normally, an ordinary person would not be able to bear hearing a constellation’s pronouncement.
And the same applied to me.
But now I felt completely at ease.
「You came here to make a contract with me?」
The voice was mature, but the tone was not.
“Yes, I came here to make a contract with you.”
I did not speak the true name.
Uttering the noble and exalted name of a constellation in the human world could greatly offend the constellation.
Well… Calling the true name of
Honestly, thinking back, it was a reckless act driven by impulse.
What should I say first?
Thinking about it briefly, I decided it was best to be straightforward.
“Can you make a contract with me,
「I have the intention to make a contract, but not right now.」
Kamael’s response was as ambiguous as before.
She had the intention to make a contract.
But at least not right now.
Neither agreeing to a contract nor refusing one.
It was a response quite different from what I expected, so I asked again.
“May I ask why?”
If it was something I could resolve immediately, it was better to handle it.
It could help with future contracts with other constellations.
「It’s because of your characteristic. You’re already contracted with one constellation, right?」
“Yes. I’m contracted with Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl.”
[The Constellation, ‘Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl’ is observing the situation.]
「Multiple contracts are unprecedented for constellations.」
That made sense.
Before I gained this characteristic, multiple contracts were unheard of.
As I mentioned before, a multi-contract meant sharing a unique and precious contractor.
It was not a pleasant thing for constellations.
「I don’t care much since I’m not blinded by such greed, but Mikael insists on a trial. He says humans can’t be trusted.」
Mikael, the chief of all angels and the great servant of ‘That One’.
Even Kamael had to obey his command.
Human greed.
Mikael’s suspicion was understandable.
“Alright then, what is the trial?”
「I’ll give it to you right away.」
The moment Kamael spoke, a long window appeared before my eyes.
[Name]: Proof
[Difficulty]: Epic
[Content]
– Eliminate a demonic species existing in the human world.
– The grade doesn’t matter, and the number of the hunting party is up to five.
[Reward]
– Contract with the Constellation,
– Skill: Burning Holy Fire (Epic)
The content of the trial was literally high risk, high return.
The reward was not only a constellation’s contract but also a skill.
But the content of the trial was also extremely difficult.
“Demonic species…?”
In this world, there existed spiritual creatures that surpassed the ordinary beasts.
They were diverse in species, and their grades were strictly divided.
The Hundred-Year Blue Snake I dealt with earlier was also a spiritual creature of the fairy tale grade.
And among such spiritual creatures, those considered particularly powerful were the demonic species.
It meant I had to capture one of them.
‘It’s harder than I thought.’
Although the grade didn’t matter, it was a trial that I wouldn’t have attempted otherwise.
Even among the same fairy tale grade, the demonic species and the monster species were vastly different.
It was impossible to capture one with my current power.
Even with Sung Harim and others, it was the same.
Of course, I had a few candidates in mind.
But they all required specific preparations, making it impossible to attempt immediately.
It would take quite a bit of preparation to catch one.
「I hope you pass this trial. I haven’t had a contractor in a long time.」
“Then help me.”
「That’s impossible. I’m more afraid of being scolded by Mikael…」
[The connection with the Constellation, ‘The One Who Faces Demons’ has been severed.]
[The activation of Divine Time has been lifted.]
With those last words, the connection of the pronouncement was cut off, and the energy that dominated the church’s interior disappeared.
Time started flowing again.
“Do you want to see from here?”
“Huh? Ah… yes, please explain.”
Sung Harim, who had been still, also started moving and guided me again.
I had already achieved my goal, so I wasn’t very interested.
But I quietly listened to her explanation.
I could imagine the face she would make if I just left.
‘…Although I’m interested.’
That wouldn’t be what a friend does.
Thinking that, I walked around the spacious building with Sung Harim.
#
[Academy 1st year Class C, ‘Yoo Jinwoo’ identity confirmed.]
[Welcome to the training ground.]
After touring the circle with Sung Harim, I headed to the training ground in the academy.
A facility available to all academy students.
The quality was top-notch, so many students used it.
‘I should come here every day from now on.’
The Incomplete Nine Heavens Sword was a sword skill where proficiency was important.
And consistency was the best way to increase proficiency.
I planned to come here daily until I reached a certain level.
[The Constellation, ‘Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl’ says she will teach you the lacking parts.]
Still, I didn’t think it would take long.
With the founder of the sword technique as my patron constellation, unless I had no talent, I would improve quickly.
As I settled in a corner of the training ground and raised One Thousand Swords, another voice, now quite familiar, was heard.
“Spar.”
It was the sparring ghost.
No, it was Lee Se-ah.
“Do you want to spar?”
“…Since when were you here?”
“For an hour.”
Lee Se-ah’s body was already soaked with sweat as if she had been training for a long time.
A look that clearly said ‘I trained hard.’
She demanded a sparring session in such a state.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“I am.”
“…Then why spar with me?”
“Sparring, important.”
Saying that, she pointed her sword at me.
A sword with a black blade.
The most notable feature was its enormous size.
A giant sword as large as Lee Se-ah’s body. It was a greatsword.
I wondered how she could hold it.
The surprising thing was that she didn’t show any sign of it being heavy.
‘What is that?’
It was a weapon I hadn’t seen in the original.
But the design was familiar.
The main character used a weapon that was a smaller version of that greatsword.
“Do you want to do it?”
While she already had her sword out, did I have a choice?
Well, it was fine.
I wanted to see what level Lee Se-ah was at.
“Let’s do it. I wanted to spar too.”
With those words, I also drew my sword.