Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chang-Sun smiled faintly. Realizing her mistake, Tiamat looked away and cleared her throat, but it was not enough to hide her slightly reddened nose bridge.

“Okay. If you want my forgiveness that badly, I forgive you.” Tiamat glanced at Chang-Sun before continuing, “But how do you know about Baal? Even I haven’t seen him for a long time. Is he still alive?”

“Both Baal and Metatron are alive and well.”

“Even Metatron is alive?” Tiamat narrowed her eyes.

She was the one who had driven <Maleakhe> and <L’Infernal> to the brink of collapse, so the return of Baal and Metatron would be a big problem for her. The two could be as tough as—no, trickier opponents to deal with than the Nine Heavens.

However, Chang-Sun shook his head to reassure her, saying, “It won’t happen. They didn’t seem to plan on coming back.”

“Good… Anyway, can you really get me Baal’s afternoon tea party dessert set?”

“Yes, it was really good.”

Tiamat nodded in contentment. In fact, she had a good reason for polymorphing into a young girl, which was that it was inelegant to look for sweets when she looked like an adult.

Tiamat’s gaze became sharp as she replied, “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“You’re very confident. What are you going to do if you fail?” Tiamat asked with her arms crossed, holding her chin high.

“It’s better than staying here, isn’t it?”

“You’re right.” Tiamat smiled bitterly.

Just as Chang-Sun said, the only ending for Tiamat was destruction if she stayed in this place, since Loki and Durga could not hold her down forever. The fact that Tiamat was maintaining her personality within Ubbo-Sathla’s remnant alone was incredible.

However, there was one concern, which was the possibility of Chang-Sun stabbing her in the back despite what he had said. Tiamat was powerless right now, so she would be helpless if Chang-Sun tried to perform Celestial Cannibalism. If that happened, someone who was more than a Celestial King would be born. Perhaps that person could aim to become an Emperor. Thus, the true meaning behind Chang-Sun’s question was…

―Will you trust me?

And Tiamat answered, “I always trust you.”

Chang-Sun nodded and handed her something he pulled out from the [King’s Treasury]. After receiving it, Tiamat smiled bitterly to see that it was the Nereid Stone. When the Mother Terra Celestial had been sealed beyond <Nihil>, some of her emotions had been left behind and materialized into this quartz. In other words, Chang-Sun was telling her to petrify herself.

Ooong, ooong―!

As Tiamat stroked the Nereid Stone’s surface, the stone shook faintly in response, feeling happy to meet a part of its original self.

“I’ll save you without fail.”

“I’m not worried about that. It’s just…” Tiamat looked up at Chang-Sun with eyes that became gentle again. “...I’ve been working hard for my entire life, and received a break that I didn’t expect. I’m just happy. That’s all.”

“Enjoy your break as much as you can.”

“Alright. I’ll trust you to handle the rest.” Tiamat nodded with a smile that revealed her canines.

Paaah!

Craaaack―!

A pool of light soon covered not only Tiamat, but also her entire subconscious realm.

* * *

Pabilsag gnawed on a fingernail with her front teeth, unable to hold back her anxiety. Ever since Chang-Sun entered Tiamat’s subconscious realm, no news had come forth, so Pabilsag was worried that both Chang-Sun and Tiamat were hurt.

Jörmungandr did not try to console Pabilsag because she was in no condition to accept those words.

Just then, however,…

“…They’re coming out.” Pabilsag quickly walked toward the magic circle, but soon stopped.

As soon as Chang-Sun emerged from the magic circle…

Craaaack―!

…Tiamat was petrified, as if she had looked into the legendary Medusa’s eyes.

“M… om?” Pabilsag murmured blankly. Wondering what had happened, she hurriedly turned to look at Chang-Sun.

“It was Lady Tiamat’s choice. She said that only a bad ruler would cause their people trouble.”

“…Is there a way… to save her?”

“I’m going to start searching from now on,” Chang-Sun answered.

“Give me more than that.”

“Tiamat’s origin is the Mother Terra Celestial, yes?”

Pabilsag nodded.

“I’m going to open it,” Chang-Sun said.

“What?”

“You’re going to open the Mother Terra Celestial’s seal? That’s dangerous!” Jörmungandr yelled quickly, coming forward.

Chang-Sun nodded. “Yes, it is. No one could pose more of a threat to all Worldlines than her.”

* * *

Worldline #801 was not the only place with <Myths> about the Mother Terra Celestial, who was feared everywhere from the Original Worldline to all the other Worldlines. It was because of the way she had tried to kill any of her children who wished to become independent from her, despite being the mother of all creation. The occasional cases across the universe of being afflicted with [Gaia's Curse] only made that fear worse.

However, nothing was known about where the Mother Terra Celestial was sealed. It was even unclear whether she existed as multiple beings who were in each Worldline, or was a singular being like the Emperors, which meant Chang-Sun was not supposed to know anything about that.

“You need a way to undo [Gaia's Curse]? Antares is captured, so you won’t really need… Ah, is it because of the Emperor's Seat?”

As expected, Bel-Marduk had understood the situation very well, and had given Chang-Sun a heads-up about the location before they had parted ways. It was the last place Chang-Sun had expected; the Mother Terra Celestial was not just in <Nihil>. If Chang-Sun was right…!

『Think carefully about this, Twilight.』

Just then, Chang-Sun heard Qi Gong’s voice in his head. No, it was not just Qi Gong.

[All members of <Valhalla> ask you, their leader and brother!]

『We’ve waited long enough for you to take care of your personal business, but not anymore.』

[<Valhalla> waits for you to make the right decision.]

After sensing that Chang-Sun was going to go search for the Mother Terra Celestial’s remains, the children of the Emperor's Seat tried to stop him. The only reason they had been staying with Chang-Sun was to save the Emperor's Seat, but they had kept getting involved in Chang-Sun’s personal business, which they were uninterested in.

Nevertheless, <Valhalla> had been helping Chang-Sun without opposition because their Worldline could not be sustained if he died. However, it looked as if Chang-Sun was about to get sidetracked even after everything was sorted out, so if they were right, they were planning to part ways with him.

『Don’t worry. If I’ve guessed correctly, recovering the Mother Terra Celestial’s remains is actually the way to bring back our father,』 Chang-Sun answered.

『…What is that supposed to mean?』

『The Mother Terra Celestial’s poison disintegrates <Myths>, yes? Then it can be used in the opposite way, can’t it?』

『…!』

『Fortunately, we have Antares, who used [Gaia's Curse], and Bel-Marduk’s knowledge.』

Those two Star Signs were the ones who had used [Gaia's Curse] most actively.

『Besides, don’t forget who I Celestial-Cannibalized,』 Chang-Sun added.

Neither Qi Gong nor anyone else in <Valhalla> could raise an objection. Chang-Sun had absorbed Ubbo-Sathla, the Mother Terra Celestial’s other half, thus gaining a deep understanding of [Gaia's Curse]. In other words, Chang-Sun knew how to apply [Gaia’s Curse] for a different purpose.

『Then…!』 Qi Gong said, sounding excited for the first time.

[<Valhalla> is delighted!]

When everyone in <Valhalla> looked at him, Chang-Sun nodded and said, 『It’s your turn now.』

[All members of <Valhalla> shed tears.]

Chang-Sun tapped a spot in the air, creating a ripple that expanded into a large portal.

[You have opened a portal to the <Underworld> as the Ksitigarbha King!]

The winds of the <Underworld> blew against Chang-Sun from beyond the portal. Slicking back his hair, Chang-Sun turned to look at Pabilsag and Jörmungandr.

“Yes, the Mother Terra Celestial is dangerous, maybe a lot more dangerous than Ubbo-Sathla.” Chang-Sun slowly smiled before continuing, “But don’t worry. I always succeed, don’t I?”

“…!”

“…!”

No promise could be more reassuring than that. Just as he said, Chang-Sun was someone who had always accomplished the impossible.

“I’ll finish it quickly and come back. I also have to take down Odin too,” Chang-Sun added.

Pabilsag slowly approached, and tightly held Chang-Sun’s hands in both of hers. “Please… save Mom. She’s very dear to me.”

“Lady Tiamat is dear to me too.” Chang-Sun nodded.

It was the last thing he said before he walked into the portal.

Paaaah!

* * *

[You have entered the <Underworld>!]

‘I need to check on Father before I go find the Mother Terra Celestial’s remains,’ Chang-Sun thought.

He had to see the exact condition of the Emperor’s Seat to know if there was anything else he needed. The <Underworld> had also told him that they were going to research an artificial divine engine, so it would be good to check on the research progress too. Above all, Chang-Sun wanted to find out more about what Thanatos had meant when he said the Emperor’s Seat did not have much time left.

When Chang-Sun arrived at the familiar ferry slip of the River Styx, Yool, the top-rank <Underworld> reaper, was waiting to welcome him.

“It’s good to see you.” Yool smiled.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, the King of the Underworld is waiting for you.”

The way to Thanatos’ palace was similar to the first time Chang-Sun had ended up in the <Underworld>, but there was one specific difference.

[Crossing the ‘Scorning Hell’.]

[The Celestial ‘First Purgatory King’ quietly looks at you.]

[Crossing the ‘Burning Hell’.]

[The Celestial ‘Second Purgatory King’ chuckles to see you visiting the <Underworld> again.]

…

[Crossing the ‘Pitch-Black hell’.]

[The Celestial ‘Tenth Purgatory King’ nods fervently.]

“Are all the positions of the Ten Purgatory Kings filled?” Chang-Sun asked in surprise, turning to look at Yool. As far as he knew, the Purgatory Kings had been replaced, but many of the seats had previously been vacant.

“Yes, we finished the appointment recently because we had to take care of the commotion raised by Sun Wukong’s group.”

“I know Songjae and three other Purgatory Kings. Who are the rest?”

“Who do you think?” Yool chuckled.

Chang-Sun reluctantly answered, “…All the Ten Elders have become the Purgatory Kings.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is it okay to do that? I know they were cooperative toward the <Underworld>, but all of them used to be prisoners.”

They had become <Fallen Stars> for a good reason, so it was actually preposterous to make criminals into judges.

However, Yool did not seem to worry one bit, answering, “I believe they’ll behave themselves unless they want to work labor sentences again.”

“…You’re right.” Chang-Sun laughed quietly, recalling how persistent Thanatos was.

Meanwhile, they had already arrived at Thanatos’ palace.

[You have safely passed all of the Ten Hells in the land of the dead.]