Return of the Shattered Constellation

It was around that time when Chang-Sun emerged from the mind palace.

“…I feel as if I saw something I shouldn’t have seen. I’m sorry,” Durga said after watching what Chang-Sun had gone through.

In some ways, she had seen his biggest vulnerability. On top of that, he had once looked so cold that it seemed nothing would be able to change that, but he was shedding tears openly now. Watching Chang-Sun’s reaction made Durga emotional too.

Wiping away his tears with his index finger, Chang-Sun shook his head. “No, I’m actually grateful to you. Thank you for helping me remember a memory I forgot.”

Chang-Sun meant what he said. He could not even imagine how much more time he would have wasted to remember Peter if he had not grabbed the [Shu Lou Sword], but one memory suddenly flashed through his mind.

‘Nemea… is searching for something desperately,’ Chang-Sun thought, remembering what Bel-Marduk had told him before.

“Nemea seems to be Lee Chang-Sun too,” Chang-Sun said.

“That’s right. He was wandering alone as a <Star> without being affiliated with any groups, so I offered to help him with his work and brought him along.”

“He’s in a desperate search,” Bel-Marduk answered.

“For what?”

“His son.”

“...Son? I guess the Lee Chang-Suns are going to have children in the future. Wait, why is he searching for his son in a different Worldline instead of his own?” Chang-Sun frowned in confusion.

“I haven’t asked him about the details. Anyway, he wouldn’t have joined my <Society> if I hadn’t offered my help.”

Chang-Sun thought that Peter could be the son Nemea was looking for, but from what he knew, Nemea and the other <Horoscope> remnants were all scattered now. Some of them had joined Odin’s side, and others had run off to the Imaginary Plane.

‘I should look into it.’

Chang-Sun stopped his contemplation when Durga began to speak again. She said, “Thank you for saying that. In any case, I’m relieved to know that your dream is genuine. I’ll feel more comfortable making the proposal now.”

This was why Durga had been beating around the bush, and why she had made Chang-Sun grab the [Shu Lou Sword].

“Proposal?”

“Become a Celestial King,” Durga said concisely.

Chang-Sun stopped thinking about Peter and Nemea completely, murmuring, “What are you talking about…?”

“Haha, let’s not do this, since I know you understood what I said. I mean exactly that. Become a Celestial King on Tiamat’s behalf. You already have people of your own, so it won’t be difficult with my support. Pabilsag of <Nammu> is on your side too.”

“I can’t do that,” Chang-Sun answered firmly, shaking his head.

He could tell why Durga was making the offer. She wanted Chang-Sun to subdue Loki, seize power in the United Army, and subjugate <Niflheim> for good. It would keep the traitors in check, making them unable to continue their scheme anymore. Perhaps it would be enough to drive out the traitors.

However, Chang-Sun rejected the idea without giving it a second thought. He wished for peace, not a crown. In fact, Chang-Sun’s life would become far from peaceful if he wore a crown. Above all, he would have to drag down Tiamat to become a Celestial King; Durga was basically asking him to give up on Tiamat.

“It’s the seat that everyone desperately wants to have, and yet…you say no. Hahaha.” Durga laughed, resting her chin on her fist. “You already have all the qualifications to become a Celestial King, no? You have the Divine Class of a Celestial King, have a lot of people on your side, and have enough Faith.”

Little by little, the name ‘Divine Twilight’ was becoming known not just in the <Heaven> of Worldline #801, but also other Worldlines. Chang-Sun had killed Ubbo-Sathla and absorbed her power. In addition, he could utilize the powers of <Supreme Light> and <Dull Darkness> at the same time.

In other words, Durga was pointing out that Chang-Sun was perfectly qualified and subtly offered him the seat of Celestial King again. However, Chang-Sun’s decision remained the same. He said, “If you’re going to keep doing this, I’m going to call Kali and Baek Gyeo-Ul back…!”

“This is also what Tiamat wanted.”

Chang-Sun’s eyes widened. “…What are you talking about?”

“Tiamat made a request in private before.”

“If something happens to me, please have that child inherit my seat,” Tiamat said.

“She’s gone through hell to build up a throne, so she can’t let some random idiot take it… That’s what she said,” Durga murmured.

Chang-Sun bit his lower lip, thinking it was highly likely for Tiamat to have said that. Perhaps… Tiamat had believed that it would be difficult to surmount her condition. She could have thought that she would be unable to reach her original level even if she did recover…

“Ah, she also asked me to tell you… Don’t even think about rejecting the throne, since you already said no to becoming her husband. And I agree with her. Besides, it’s a new generation where we’re free from the danger of <Extinction>. Tiamat and I have already lived long enough… It’s time to let the younger generation take charge. Everything is bound to rot if things stay stagnant.”

Chang-Sun pressed his lips together, unable to say anything.

“Of course, I wasn’t able to approve you as Tiamat’s heir despite her last words, but I can now be certain through the [Shu Lou Sword]. You… Yes, you’ll become a good Celestial King, and I’ll be able to trust you with my daughter and student.” Durga smiled faintly. “If you’re going to make a decision, do it quickly, since I don’t have much time left.”

Chang-Sun quietly looked at Durga. Her fingers were crumbling little by little, which meant she was already plummeting. In the end, Chang-Sun did not contemplate the matter for too long, and he came to a decision. His gaze sharpened.

“I…”

***

“…What are you talking about?” Loki’s beautiful eyes turned cold.

His children had told him that they needed to speak to him, so despite the ongoing urgency, he had made time for them after leaving Chang-Sun and Durga to talk in private… And Loki received the last proposal he could possibly have expected.

“Now is the chance, Father—no, Mother.”

Loki, the <Niflheim> King, was known to have had only three children with Angrboda, his queen. Fenrir, Jormungandr, and Hel were also called the Three Demonic Creatures of <Niflheim> and had earned brilliant accomplishments, making names for themselves in <Heaven>. As such, it was not odd for Loki’s family tree to be known as such.

However, Loki had two more children, although they were not well-known. In the past, Loki and Odin had once been sworn brothers, and Loki had married Sigyn, the <Asgard> goddess, as a sign of his and Odin’s friendship. In that marriage, Loki and Sigyn had two children named Vali and Narvi.

Nevertheless, Vali and Narvi had been put in a tricky position when Loki and Odin turned against each other. On top of that, <Asgard> had fallen with Odin’s death, and Sigyn had been incarcerated under the charge of espionage, which meant Vali and Narvi were treated like criminals.

Some people had not hesitated to reveal their suspicions and scrutinized Vali and Narvi, so the two children had to lay low for a very long time. The Three Demonic Creatures were their half-siblings, but the two had been forced to just watch them making names for themselves from far away. That was why Vali and Narvi had always weighed on a corner of Loki’s heart, but now they had come out into the world after a very long time.

And yet… The first thing they did was to make a very preposterous claim.

“Tiamat lost her respect after going insane long ago, and Durga won’t be able to hold out for very long,” Vali strongly asserted again with his fists clenched. “The only one that stands in our way is ‘Divine Twilight’. If we eliminate him when he’s busy treating Durga, everything will naturally become yours, Father. You’re… going to become the new Bestla, just like you wanted very badly.”

Thump!

At that moment, Loki’s heart sank. Although his first instinct was to tell his children not to say such nonsense, he could not, because that was how much Bestla meant to him.

The king of all Giants. The first Celestial King of Worldline #801. Loki’s… long-time master.

In fact, Loki had first met Odin when he was under Bestla’s command. At the time, Odin was Bestla’s student, and Loki was her strategist. When Odin and Loki coincidentally ran into each other, they had gotten along very well, becoming sworn brothers. Even though they had gone down separate paths after Bestla’s death due to a difference of opinion, they had once been sincerely close.

That was how significant a part Bestla had played in Loki’s life. However, Vali was telling him to become the next Bestla, saying that it was what Loki wanted very badly. Vali was not wrong. If Loki eliminated Chang-Sun and took the command of <Jotunheim> and <Muspelheim>, he would be able to unify the <Societies> of Giants, which was an accomplishment that no one had managed after Bestla.

That was not all. Loki would become unchallengeable, so he could take over the United Army with ease and become a Celestial King. Of course, since Tiamat could bring doom and the Allied Army was in opposition to the United Army, Loki would have to take care of them… but he would likely be able to take care of it as a Celestial King. Above all, Odin, the leader of the Allied Army, was Loki’s long-time enemy.

“Father! Give us your word. We’ll take care of everything.” Vali urged Loki to end his pondering and come to a decision.

The soldiers standing behind Vali stood resolutely with gleaming eyes. Judging from their full armor, they were prepared to barge into the room where Durga and Chang-Sun were as soon as Loki gave the word.

“…You two are the ones who left Durga in that state,” Loki murmured.

At that moment, Vali flinched in surprise, but he soon answered, “Yes, that’s right. What’s wrong with that?”

“You…!”

“It’s for the greater good. As your son, I’m trying to make your biggest dream come true, Father. It’s impossible to read what’s going on in the head of ‘Divine Twilight’, and he always brings destruction. But you’re the legitimate heir of Bestla, so you’re a more fitting person to become the next Celestial King.”

“Don’t say that you’re doing it for me when you’re just trying to fulfill your greed.”

“Yes, you’re right. If I contribute the most to making you a Celestial King… I’ll naturally acquire power… I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”

Loki quietly closed his eyes. Everything was his fault. These two children had been a source of regret, so he had been spoiling them and not disciplining them. However, no one could have expected that just spoiling children would turn them into monsters like Vali and Narvi.

“Father!” Vali shouted, making Loki open his eyes again.

Regardless of everything, Loki was still concerned about his two foolish children. However, just as he was about to say something….

“Don’t tell us to stop. It’s too late.”

“…What?” Loki asked.

Vali’s mouth curled up into a half-smirk as he said, “We began the work to bring you power long ago.”