Chapter 109: Goddess Of Dimensions.
The external instructor season had ended.
About a week had passed since then.
Let me start with the rewards I got from my match with Tony.
[Hidden Quest - Earn Tony's Recognition!]
[Description: Gain recognition from Tony, the retired hero adventurer.]
[Reward: 1,000 Points.]
Between the original quest and this hidden quest, I earned 3,000 points.
That meant I now had 4,500 points in my possession.
*This is quite comfortable.*
Until now, I'd felt somewhat lacking with so few points.
But now that they've been replenished, I feel more secure.
*So this is why people carry around wallets full of money.*
Anyway, that's about it for the rewards.
As for what I'm doing now...
"Cain. It's been a while since we've been alone together, hasn't it?"
I'm sitting at a cafe having tea with the Constellation, just the two of us.
"Yeah, it has. But is it okay for you to descend in the Capital City? Other Constellations might see you."
"Well, I was thinking, why should I care what they think? Besides, it's not like my Descent causes any harm to those around me."
That's not true. I feel like she's causing me plenty of harm.
Actually, I had planned to rest during my free period today, but I was practically dragged out by her.
Isn't that already causing significant harm?
No, I should think positively.
I had been considering asking her to go somewhere with me anyway.
Thinking about it that way, this is probably better.
Otherwise, she might lose her senses and kidnap me, potentially causing my demise.
Like that neck kiss from before.
*That must never happen again.*
I shook my head as scenes of the game's bad ending involuntarily came to mind.
Then I took a sip of my drink with ice cubes floating in it.
*Delicious.*
As I was enjoying my drink, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
"Hey, by the way."
"Hmm?"
The Constellation tilted her head at my serious tone.
I almost lost myself admiring her beauty for a moment, but I shook my head and spoke.
"I've been wondering about something. The Goddess of Dimensions? Is that right?"
"Oh, yeah. What about her?"
Is she bothered because I brought up another woman?
She was looking at me with narrowed eyes.
I quickly spoke before the atmosphere could turn sour.
"What does she do?"
"Hmm..."
I've actually been curious about this for a while.
In the game, nothing was revealed about this Constellation except her name.
There wasn't even any background information in the settings.
That's why I can't help but be curious.
As a veteran player, this is information I don't know.
*She probably knows about it.*
I looked at her with curiosity.
"I don't know the details either."
She said something unexpected.
What? She doesn't know?
Aren't they both Constellations?
How can she not know the details?
*Is she just saying she doesn't know because she's jealous and doesn't want to tell me?*
When I gave her a suspicious look, she defended herself with a slightly indignant expression.
"She hardly ever participates in Constellation Meetings, and though I do meet her occasionally, it's like once every few hundred years. If you only met someone once every few hundred years, would you know them well?"
"Ah..."
That makes sense.
If it's hard to really know friends you see every year or two, how could you know someone you meet once every few centuries?
To be honest, I wouldn't remember either.
Well, being a transcendent being, she probably at least remembers the face.
While I was accepting this explanation, she clapped her hands as if remembering something.
"Oh! But I do remember one thing."
"What is it?"
"I... I definitely told her something about her fate."
"Fate?"
The Constellation nodded at my question.
Then she dropped information shocking enough to astonish anyone who heard it.
"Yes. That she was destined to die someday."
***
The Goddess of Dimensions.
Among the five transcendent beings, she's the one about whom almost nothing is known.
The only ability that's been revealed is her power to manipulate dimensions and time.
"Hmm. Based on the traces, it should be around here."
The most secretive of the Constellations traverses different dimensions and timelines.
Right now, she's tracking a certain trail.
And that trail is none other than...
*An otherworlder with a soul identical to someone from our world.*
The Constellation's face grew somewhat serious as she pondered.
*No matter how I think about it, it doesn't make sense.*
While mortal souls might be similar, it's impossible for them to be completely identical.
From their origin to the world they live in, everything is different.
They might have lived similar lives.
But that's just similarity.
Having identical origins is simply impossible.
To use a simple analogy, even twins might be very similar.
But having identical mole placements or personalities is absurd.
If nothing else, personality changes based on life experiences.
The only way to make souls identical would be...
*For a transcendent being to be prepared to perish or to give power enough to lower their status...*
But that doesn't make sense.
Just to be sure, she had observed the other four Constellations from afar.
*There were no such traces.*
Even the Archdemon, who was on par with transcendent beings, was fine.
Therefore, none of the transcendent beings, including herself, had sacrificed themselves.
*Then who could it be?*
Just as she was pondering this, the otherworlder's trail suddenly vanished.
At the same time...
"...This is."
The Constellation briefly gazed at the dimension before her.
A round planet with about 70% covered in oceans.
Comparatively less land.
Seeing this, the Goddess of Dimensions immediately recognized the planet.
"Earth."
Yes.
She had now arrived at Earth.
She stared blankly at Earth for a while before making a decision.
"Let's go see what's happening."
As she said this, by some coincidence, a memory surfaced.
The memory of another goddess telling her that she was destined to die.
Not long after, she widened her eyes due to a certain presence.
***
After hearing the Constellation's words, I asked her with a sincere voice.
"Did you really see such a fate?"
"Of course not, hehe."
"Huh?"
She gave a mischievous smile and rested her chin on her hand.
"No, it's just that during meetings, everyone including me participates, but she never does. It was kind of annoying. So I just lied to scare her."
"Wow..."
That's truly wicked.
If someone else had said such a thing, I'd have dismissed it as nonsense and maybe even smacked them.
*But when she says it, it's impossible not to be concerned.*
After all, she is the Goddess Who Sees Fate.
I gave her a somewhat disapproving look.
"Well, it was a lo~ng time ago. She seemed a bit concerned at the time, but she's probably forgotten by now. Even I, who made the joke, had forgotten about it."
The Constellation gazed into the distance as she spoke, almost apologetically.
"...That's what perpetrators usually say."
"No, really, it was ages ago. She must know it was a joke by now. Surely she's not still worried about that?"
"I guess so."
When the Constellation says it was a very long time ago, it must have been an unimaginably distant past.
It would be stranger if she still remembered it.
It's not my business anyway.
*In the end, I didn't get any information.*
I asked because I was curious about what kind of person she was, but all I learned was that even the Constellations don't know much about her.
Apart from that, I didn't get any useful information.
*But it doesn't matter.*
It's not like I can't complete the original story without information about the Goddess of Dimensions.
As I was thinking this...
"Your order is ready."
The cafe owner brought out a large cup, enough for two people.
Seeing it, I...
"Huh?"
I couldn't help but tilt my head.
The straw in front of me was heart-shaped and connected as two.
"Is this what we ordered?"
"Yes, it is."
The Constellation nodded without a moment's hesitation.
Judging by her sparkling eyes, it was definitely what she ordered.
*Damn. I never thought I'd be using a couple straw in my life.*
It was so cringeworthy that I felt like I might throw up.
I wanted to ask if we could just use separate straws, but...
*Wow, look at those eyes.*
She was staring at me with expectant eyes, clearly eager to use the couple straw.
It was obvious that refusing would lead to something unpleasant.
*She must have really envied Couple Magic.*
To meet her expectations, I reluctantly put my lips to the straw.
Was she satisfied with my compliance?
*Smooch!*
She also sipped from the other straw with reddened ears.
With the happiest expression in the world.
Afterward, I continued to keep her company until the end of her Descent.
***
In a certain underground space.
Andrew was sitting in a chair, deep in thought.
The reason was Ward's failed infiltration.
*...Should we lay low for a while?*
Lately, they'd been experiencing a series of failures.
Although there hadn't been any significant losses except for Elza's death, it was still annoying.
Who wouldn't be irritated when their plans go awry?
On top of that, someone had been anonymously using their organization's name.
*Tsk. I need to think positively.*
While Ward's infiltration had failed, unexpectedly, two ducal families had been destroyed.
Though the failed infiltration was regrettable, considering the fall of two ducal families...
*It's a significant gain.*
However, someone was using his name and organization.
It wouldn't hurt to be cautious.
"Jade. Inform the Branch Managers to suspend activities for a while."
"Yes, understood."
Jade knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
Then Andrew spoke.
"The same goes for all of you. Understood?"
""""Yes.""""
The Cult's Executives—Robert, John, Jade, and Simon—all knelt on one knee and nodded.
***
Within the Cult, there are Junior Executives under the Executives.
They are typically called Branch Managers.
Unlike regular members, Branch Managers possess small amounts of Demonic Energy, but they're weaker than Executives.
They also can't perform Demonic Possession.
Because of this, they harbor strong jealousy toward the Executives.
Not only that, but they're also quite greedy.
Among these Branch Managers, Dunwain was known for being the greediest.
After hearing Andrew's orders, he fell into deep thought.
*Hmm. What should I do?*
Currently, he was conducting an experiment in secret, without the knowledge of Andrew and the other Executives.
It was none other than Demonic Possession.
He had been secretly preparing the rune that only Executives could use.
But now, an unexpected order had come in.
Normally, one would safely stop at this point.
However...
*It's too precious to give up now.*
People's vision narrows when blinded by greed.
That's exactly Dunwain's current state.
In the end, blinded by greed, he...
"Prepare as quickly as possible."
"...Yes."
...committed an act he should have avoided.
While Dunwain's subordinates wondered if this was the right thing to do, they nodded in agreement, fearing they might be killed if they refused his orders.
And so, on this day.
Due to the fall of two ducal families, events proceeded differently from the original story.
As a side note, Cain would later realize.
That the warning sent by the system during winter break was referring to this situation.