Chapter 45

Anyone could see it was a monster.

Perfect, leaving no room for doubt or disagreement.

"......Aren't you human now?"

"You're a difficult one."

Gulp!

He swallowed the core again.

Then, bones and flesh covered his entire body, and feathers sprouted.

In an instant, I had become the king of the carrion crows, and Dramut flinched.

"How, how can a human take on the form of a monster?"

"One of the abilities I possess, caw."

"There exists an ability to become both human and monster...!"

It wasn't just a simple disguise; I had become a monster in every sense.

Even a dragon using polymorph couldn't become a perfect human.

Similarly, no matter how great a wizard, they couldn't become a perfect monster.

They could only mimic it.

At first glance, one might be fooled, but if you knew, you couldn't help but notice the subtle differences.

But, there was no way to distinguish. There wasn't a single trace of difference.

The man before me had broken the laws of the world.

"Dramut, caw. Spill everything you know, caw."

"......Don't give orders while cawing."

Being human was better.

Seeing a carrion crow caw and give orders was more humiliating than a human speaking in human form, even if it was less fortunate.

*

Dramut spilled everything he knew.

The reason the Star Guardians gathered in Kramdel.

It was indeed because of the 33rd star.

However, the changes in Kramdel had existed for a year, and the Star Guardians only came here now for a different reason.

"The star here is completely different from the 32 stars that existed on the original continent."

"Isn't the star made from the goddess's body? How can there be a completely different star?"

It was a natural question.

Initially, the stars were just a different name for the dead goddess's body.

If that was the case, wouldn't anything not part of the goddess's body be unable to become a star?

"The goddess who became the 32 stars is the goddess Lea. But she had a twin sister, Pina."

"It sounds like a setting I've seen before."

"Setting?"

"No. Keep talking."

I wasn't particularly interested in the setting related to the beginning of Pangea.

I had skimmed over it, but it seemed familiar.

Dramut tilted his head and spoke again.

"......Goddess Lea created the land, and Goddess Pina created the sky. However, in the war against the 'Destruction' at the beginning, Lea died. But before dying, Goddess Lea divided her body into 32 parts and scattered them across the continent."

Those 32 parts became the 32 stars.

Essential for humans to transcend.

Players and gamers competed for those 32 stars.

Even if you had the qualifications, you couldn't transcend if you couldn't find a star or if there were no stars left.

But if someone who had a star and transcended died, the star would fall back to the continent.

That's why 'Transcender Hunting' was not uncommon. Without overwhelming power like Wilhelm's, mediocre transcenders often became prey for major forces.

'That's why the higher the rank, the more important the power base was.'

One of the reasons gamers formed alliances was to protect the stars.

I, who played alone, often clashed with such alliances.

In fact, some of my transcended characters were killed by them.

Dramut continued.

"Before the entire continent was devoured by the Abyss, Pina raised the remaining land. The land that wasn't devoured was disconnected, but it could be connected by 'Warp.' All thanks to Goddess Pina."

The reason the continents were disconnected.

The setting where you had to use a warp to move between cities.

In fact, the continents now don't exist on the ground.

They all float in the sky.

The Abyss occupies the original ground.

And below that, the 'Demon World' exists.

If it weren't for the twin goddess Pina, all the continents would have been destroyed by the Destruction.

"Summing up, did the grateful goddess Pina die?"

"......I don't know. That's why the Star Guardians gathered urgently."

"But why are you still hesitating here?"

"A powerful 'Mystery' barrier surrounds the star."

The White King also mentioned it.

A Unique-grade Mystery was spread.

He couldn't check the inside.

"Can you just remove that Mystery?"

"I don't know how to remove it, but even if you could, you must be cautious. The presence of a Mystery means something is near the star."

A Mystery is proof.

A rock on the road can't have a Mystery.

It's given only to living things that try to prove their existence.

If a Unique-grade Mystery is spread, it means a powerful being is inside.

I stroked my chin.

"If someone can spread such a Mystery near the star, it could be a Star Guardian."

"......The possibility is low."

I understood roughly.

The Star Guardians were hesitant because of the Unique-grade Mystery blocking the star.

No one knew what being was inside.

'I don't know anything.'

In that case, I'm no different.

But I definitely had an advantage over the Star Guardians.

"Dramut. I can destroy that 'Mystery.'"

"Haha! A Mystery is like a truth. How can you destroy it?"

Dramut laughed, as if telling me to stop joking.

It was clear disregard.

"Moreover, it's a Unique-grade Mystery. The White King, the owner of Kramdel, and the strongest Star Guardian gave up. You?"

"Haven't you heard that I removed the Mystery of the Imugi at the Temple of Mysteries?"

"It was quite a commotion. ......Wait. That was you?"

Dramut's eyes widened suddenly.

Even if the Star Guardians were uninterested in Kramdel's affairs, they couldn't have missed the story of the Temple of Mysteries, which was quite noisy.

"How a single carrion crow made the Imugi kneel and went to meet the White King with the Four Seasons..."

"It was me."

"......"

Dramut was speechless.

Come to think of it, the main character of the commotion was a carrion crow.

I had heard the story of destroying the Imugi's Legendary-grade Mystery.

But the Star Guardians dismissed it as a joke.

They thought it was impossible.

But the person involved was right in front of him.

Randolph, the owner of the star he was protecting.

He pretended to be a carrion crow, entered the Temple of Mysteries, and turned Kramdel upside down.

Moreover, he was interested in the 33rd star.

"......Can you really remove it?"

"Of course."

A straightforward answer.

Dramut's head started to spin.

He was always a strange one, but thinking about it, he was chosen by the goddess without any trials when he first got the star.

If an unqualified person touched a star, their body would burn, but Randolph just touched it and became the owner.

If Randolph could really remove that barrier, it would be a major event.

'My status will also rise.'

Naturally, his status, which was low among the Star Guardians, would rise sharply.

He would lead and complete what even the strongest Star Guardian couldn't.

The risk was if he failed.

"Approaching the barrier will be noticed by the Star Guardians. Sneaking in is impossible."

"So?"

"It must be done in front of all the Star Guardians. But......if you fail, you must be prepared to die."

The Star Guardians are sincere about everything related to the goddess and the stars.

They wouldn't let an unapproved person approach the star.

Even if they allowed it, they would take your life as collateral if you failed.

"It's no big deal."

Shrugging, I said, and Dramut replied more seriously.

"All I can do is bring you to the barrier. I can't protect your life."

"That's enough."

Indeed, coming to Dramut was the right choice.

If I had gone on my own, I might have been killed by the swarming Star Guardians.

Seeing that the White King had been there, it seemed impossible to approach the star secretly.

"Fine. Wait."

Dramut left the room.

He went to persuade the other Star Guardians.

'I need to prepare thoroughly.'

I need to do everything I can to prepare for any situation.

'The thrones of the Four Seasons. The rewards they offered directly.'

The reward list I got for clearing Main Quest 5.

I hadn't chosen a reward yet.

'The thrones that were most friendly to me. I should focus on them.'

The probability that they offered useful rewards was high.

The rewards, earned with an overwhelming 500 points, were treasures that could shake heaven and earth, but they would be useless if I couldn't use them.

Choosing without thinking could lead to a trap.

《The Hourglass of the Clockwork Throne》

《The Ring of the Adventure Throne》

《The Four-Leaf Clover of the Fortune Throne》

《The Spear of the Battle Throne》

《The Armor of the Lunar Throne》

《The Invention of the Alchemy Throne》

《The Hair of the Nameless Throne》

《The Weapon Polish of the Blacksmith Throne》

......

After displaying the reward list, I carefully chose one from the list offered by the thrones.

*

In the underground hot spring.

A vast 'barrier' was spread in the underground tunnel where the hot spring water flowed.

"Can that carrion crow really remove the 'Mystery'?"

"If it's a lie, Dramut, you will also be held responsible."

About ten Star Guardians had gathered.

They all looked at one figure with displeasure.

The king of the carrion crows.

Everyone was focused on whether the king of the carrion crows standing in front of the barrier could really remove the 'Unique-grade' Mystery.

But it wasn't just the Star Guardians here.

"......The White King and the Four Seasons."

"Why are you here?"

The Star Guardians looked at them with even more displeasure.

It was natural since both the White King and the Four Seasons were present.

The White King shrugged.

"Isn't it right to step on my own land?"

"I let you off once, but I said it would be war if you approached the 'star' again, didn't I?"

The strongest Star Guardian, the 'Giant of Evil', raised his head.

One of the few remaining giants, and the giants were the strongest race that claimed to protect the goddess.

"I just want to watch. If even that bothers you, there will be bloodshed."

But the White King didn't back down.

He was genuinely curious.

Whether that carrion crow could really destroy the 'Unique-grade' Mystery.

'I didn't expect him to try to handle it before the announcement of the Four Seasons.'

His action was at an incredible level.

I was also very curious about how he persuaded the Star Guardians.

But what I was most interested in was the destruction of the Mystery.

Unique-grade.

The White King and the other Star Guardians couldn't enter because of that Mystery.

"Hmm."

......And in front of their gaze, I couldn't help but frown.

What was in front of me was indeed a Mystery.

The problem was the message the Mystery showed me.

【The First Wall (Unique-grade Mystery)】

【9.96% until the collapse of Pangea】

【0.04% until the start of the first 'Dimensional Rift'】

【The 'First Wall' will disappear when the collapse reaches 10%.】

【When the 'First Wall' disappears, the 'First Dimensional Rift' connecting to Earth will be created.】

【'Main Quest ??? : Eliminate the King of the Dimensional Rift' will soon begin.】

At the same time, something inside the barrier met my eyes.

It was a star.

The King of the Dimensional Rift, holding a blackened star in his hand!

And countless nightmares lurking inside the barrier, led by the King of the Dimensional Rift.

Main Quest ???

Can't the others see this?

Even if the explanation of the Mystery is understandable, the number of nightmares inside the barrier is more than the number of monsters gathered in Kramdel.

Moreover, the 'King of the Dimensional Rift' holding the black star is clearly present.

'It seems only I can see it.'

If they could see it, they wouldn't be so calm watching me.

Maybe because I'm a player, the content and the monsters inside the Mystery are visible only to me.

The First Wall.

'This is the first dimensional rift.'

When the collapse rate reaches 10%, the First Wall will disappear, the dimensional rift will open, and it will lead to Earth.

This is the 'rift' that has been emphasized since I was summoned to Pangea.

The beginning of the full-scale invasion and corruption.

'Why is it in the underground of Kramdel?'

Why are so many nightmares in Kramdel?

The tears of the goddess that made the hot spring water flow are undoubtedly from the star.

The tears that flowed from the blackened star soaked the hot spring water and revived Kramdel.

And.

'It called me.'

The star was calling me.

When I first met Isaac and entered the hot spring water.

<The 'Blind Goddess's Hand' has begun to search for you.>

The Blind Goddess's Hand exploded the hot spring water to find me.

It's a strange thing.

I don't remember being particularly close to the goddess.

Wilhelm, who transcended to 5-star and had five stars, was called the 'Knight of the Goddess' because he had five stars, but there was no direct connection.

Since becoming a player, I've felt the goddess strangely obsessed with me.

Or is this star related to me?

What's certain is that when I remove the Mystery, countless nightmares will burst out.

'......Anyway, only 0.04% remains.'

Even if I don't do it, it will happen anyway.

I don't know the criteria for the collapse rate to rise, so there's no way to stop it.

At this rate, it will reach 10% within a week at the latest.

Then.

'Maybe it's a good thing.'

I changed my mind.

Waiting for the dimensional rift to open at an unknown time is worse than opening it at the right time and strategizing.

No, it's definitely better.