Chapter 12

I Am Not a Regressor Chapter 12

The Celestial Temple (1)

A week after officially joining the Association.

During this time, I had been tirelessly entering and exiting the gate to reach the third rank, but ultimately, the number of lines on the constellation of Lyra did not increase.

‘Well, it’s unrealistic to become a third-rank in just a week.’

It was as expected, so I wasn’t particularly disappointed.

“Phew.”

A breath filled with tension escaped my lips.

I took out my smartphone and checked the date.

November 13th.

The day I was supposed to meet Vega.

‘The Celestial Temple.’

The temple of the stars.

The world where the constellations reside.

I had heard a lot about it, but this was my first time going there.

“Damn, I’m nervous.”

I thought I had prepared thoroughly, but the thought of meeting Vega in person made my stomach churn.

‘Pull yourself together.’

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

If I made a mistake here, all my plans would be in vain.

“Let’s go.”

Snap!

I lightly slapped my cheeks and took a step forward.

-Hum hum.

Hongdae, Seoul.

The street, once brimming with the passion of youth, was now boiling with a different kind of fervor.

“Vina, Vina!!!”

“Oh, great constellation!!!”

“Grant the power of the stars to this lowly worm!”

As soon as I arrived at the station after about an hour, the fervent prayers, almost like madness, echoed loudly.

‘I’ve seen this on the news before.’

In front of the gate leading to the Celestial Temple, people gathered, desperately trying to win the favor of the constellations to become Awakened.

“…If I saw such a sight, I’d probably lose all desire to be chosen.”

Worn-out clothes and a layer of grime.

The stench from not bathing for days was unbearable.

In a world where the value of life is a cruel joke, the lives of those without power, wealth, or authority are endlessly miserable.

‘It’s unfortunate, but…’

That’s all there is to it.

There’s no obligation or will to care about others’ lives.

-Woosh!

I passed by the people gathered in front of the gate and approached the gate leading to the Celestial Temple.

A massive gate, over 30 meters tall.

The blue cracks burning with a light emitted an overwhelming presence.

‘There are said to be hundreds of these gates worldwide.’

They are disgustingly large.

“Let’s go then.”

I moved forward without hesitation toward the blue cracks.

There was no one to guard the entrance or check identities.

‘There’s no need to guard it.’

It’s like having a rabbit guard the entrance to a tiger’s den.

With hundreds of constellations gathered in one temple, which mad Awakened would dare to cause trouble?

‘Moreover, it’s said that the constraints of the law are much less strict inside the Celestial Temple.’

If someone were to cause a disturbance, it would truly be a disaster.

-Woosh!

I crossed the blue cracks.

With a sensation of my body floating, I found myself in front of the universe.

The vast darkness filled with countless twinkling stars.

The Milky Way, stretching like a long river dividing the universe.

A river of starlight.

‘This is the Celestial Temple.’

Ahn was so captivated by the overwhelming beauty that he didn’t even realize his mouth was hanging open as he looked around.

Following the silver path, he slowly moved forward.

As he ascended the long, silver path, several forks appeared.

At the end of each fork, the shapes of various temples could be seen.

‘It feels like looking at a tree made of the Milky Way.’

The temples looked like fruits hanging from the branches of a giant tree.

“…But how do I find Vega here?”

There were dozens of visible temples, and I had to find Vega among them.

Frowning, I stopped, and an Awakened passing by approached me.

“Is this your first time at the Celestial Temple?”

It was a young man in his late 20s with a kind face.

“Ah, yes. I’m here to meet a constellation, but I don’t know where to go.”

“Haha. I was also lost when I first came. Come this way. I’ll show you where the map is.”

So there is a map.

Of course.

Without a map, there would be no way to find your way.

“Here it is.”

Following his guidance, I arrived at a large map that looked like a tourist guide.

‘There are so many constellations.’

I saw many constellations I had never seen before.

‘Let’s see. Where is Vega…’

I searched the map for the constellation of Lyra.

There were hundreds of constellations drawn, but finding Lyra was not difficult.

‘At the highest point of the Celestial Temple.’

It was located at the top, like the tip of a tree.

‘Vega must be a truly great constellation.’

The only other constellations at the same height were Polaris and Deneb.

“Did you find it?”

“Yes. I have to go up quite a bit.”

“…If you have to go up quite a bit.”

The young man’s eyes widened.

“Wow, are you one of the 12 Apostles of the Zodiac?!”

He looked at me with eyes full of admiration.

I turned my head slightly to confirm and saw that the constellations of the 12 Zodiac signs were located just below Lyra.

I smiled lightly and nodded.

“Just lucky.”

“Wow… You’re really one of the 12 Apostles of the Zodiac.”

His voice was filled with envy.

“12 Apostles of the Zodiac?”

“Where?”

The young man’s voice caught the attention of other Awakened nearby, who started whispering.

“Ugh… I’m so envious.”

“If I only had the constellations of the 12 Zodiac signs….”

Envious and jealous gazes focused on Ahn.

Especially around the map, where many of the Awakened were new to the Celestial Temple, the gazes were particularly numerous.

Ahn calmly observed the gazes focused on him and then turned around.

“Then I’ll be on my way. Thank you for the guidance.”

“Ah, here’s my business card! If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me!”

As he turned to leave, the kind-faced young man suddenly offered a business card.

It was clear he wanted to establish a connection with one of the 12 Apostles of the Zodiac.

Ahn took the card and nodded.

‘Indeed, the name of a constellation is important.’

Without having to do anything, they automatically approached and bowed, making it as easy as it could be.

“Haha. I’ll contact you later.”

“Yes!”

The young man responded with a salute, like a newly transferred private.

At this point, it was hard to tell who was helping whom.

“Alright, then.”

Let’s go meet our goddess.

Ahn slowly ascended the path made of silver light.

“Sigh.”

“I wonder when I’ll get to go up that path.”

“Wake up, man. How can we go the way of the 12 Zodiac signs?”

The whispers of the Awakened could be faintly heard.

‘The constellations of the 12 Zodiac signs.’

Ahn smiled and continued walking.

Passing by the 12 Zodiac signs.

To the temple of Vega.

* * *

[You’ve come.]

Entering the silver temple at the top of the Celestial Temple, a beautiful voice echoed in his mind.

An empty temple, devoid of religious symbols, elaborate murals, or patterns.

Inside— a goddess with radiant silver hair floated.

“I’ve missed you, Vega!”

Approaching her with a bright smile,

“Ah.”

He shuddered, stopping in his tracks.

“…I’m sorry.”

He bowed his head with a pained expression.

Biting his lip and clenching his fists.

[…It seems your heart is still not at peace.]

Vega approached him slowly, a bitter smile on her face.

Seeing the regressor, who was suffering from the discrepancy between the memories of the future and the reality, made her heart heavy.

[I am not the woman you remember.]

“…No.”

Ahn shook his head with a calm smile.

“The Vega in my memory— was always as beautiful as you are now.”

[Hmm. You’re saying flattering things again.]

Vega turned her head, coughing lightly.

[Even if you flatter me, I can’t do anything for you.]

Her golden eyes, like precious gems, trembled slightly.

‘At least the start was good.’

Despite feeling like the calories from the morning energy bar were rising to his throat, it seemed to be working.

[By the way.]

She quickly changed the subject, placing her hand over Ahn’s left chest.

[To have reached the second rank in just a week… Truly, you are a star that defies the heavens.]

Ahn shrugged and replied calmly.

“It’s something I’ve done before.”

[Hehe. Now that I think about it, it’s true.]

Vega nodded with a satisfied smile.

[So, I want to hear in detail about the future you know. To help you, I need to know what will happen in the future, don’t I?]

“…”

Shit.

Finally, the moment has come.

Swallowing hard, he slowly began the story he had prepared.

“Not long from now… a being called the Demon of Heaven will appear.”

[The Demon of Heaven?]

“Yes.”

This was a title he had loosely come up with based on Vega’s statement that “the one who possesses the Black Heaven will destroy the world.”

The Demon of Heaven, a demon possessing the Black Heaven.

It was a simple title, but the simpler and easier to understand, the more effective the lie.

‘They probably wouldn’t call him the Demon of Heaven.’

The Demon of Heaven?

It’s not like it’s a B-grade martial arts novel; they wouldn’t use such a title.

[So, this Demon of Heaven possesses the Black Heaven?]

“Yes. However….”

He took a deep breath.

“The Demon of Heaven has been thoroughly hiding his identity, so his face, name, and even whether he is human or not are unknown.”

[Even you, as a regressor, don’t know?]

“Yes. I tried to find out until the moment of regression, but I failed.”

[Hmm?]

Vega tilted her head, puzzled.

[If you used the ‘Oath of the Stars’ to regress to the past, it means you must have killed the owner of the Black Heaven… and you didn’t even confirm his face after he died?]

“What?”

What the hell is the ‘Oath of the Stars’?