I had no place I could call home. If I did, it would be the pillowcase spread out in the sun every day, filled with the fresh scent of sunshine, or the top bunk bed at the orphanage. When I was young, the orphanage director used to clean my ears with a cotton swab while I laid my head on my pillow. That was my homeland, a place I could never return. Like a broken light flickering its white breath, an alarm sounded in my head. [Your Hunter Class is S.] [Due to the increased penalty, you get to select the order in which to activate your Skill.] If the bedspread with a checkered pattern of lime green and yellow on the second-floor bed represented Kim Gong-Ja’s homeland, then this place was also a kind of homeland for the Death King. It was my origin in the darkness. [1. Do you want to acquire your killer’s Skill first?] [2. Do you want to watch your killer’s trauma recreation first?] If I could afford to joke around a bit, maybe I could say that this was the Death King’s essence. I was a man with history: Kim Gong-Ja, the King of Death. —Alright. Enough with denying reality. I do have a lot to say, but choose option one first. If we start with the trauma, we’re in for a whole lot of trouble. —Yeah, I know you’re so embarrassed that you wanna stay dead, but pick option one first. You said that the trauma penalty was shitty even when you reached Class B. Now your Hunter Class is S, so you’re fucked! Come on, pick. Option one. [You have selected Option 1.] [It has been determined that your death met the requirement for the Skill's activation.] [Duplicating the Skill of the Constellation ■■■■ ■■ ■■■ at random.] A golden firefly flew around. [Creating a Skill Card] [Choose a Skill Card.] That was it. I clutched my head and waited for more cards to form. Three seconds. Six seconds... No matter how long I waited, only a single firefly danced in the dark void. That meant... There was only one Skill. The Constellation that had toyed with me had only one skill. “I don’t even have cards to choose from anyway. I just have to pick this one, no matter what. Hmm? Now that I think about it, it’s not just the options that have increased—my appearance has changed a bit, too.” I spread my hands in the darkness, then clenched them. I could actually feel them. It wasn’t like I was moving imaginary hands or swimming in a dream. I seemed to have an actual body. —Oh, you’re right. I could only hear your voice or see a faint, ghostly figure of yours before, but you do have a body now. Though it’s still dark here. The Guardian stroked his chin. “Do you think it’s because my Hunter Class went up?” —I don’t know. Although I’m a super genius, I can’t know your Skill better than you do. Let’s see... The Guardian went behind the golden card and read the description. Endless Universe (1/3). Effect: The world can be instantaneously manipulated, changing according to the Skill caster’s imagination. If the caster wants to swim in the sea, a sea will appear. The world will change its origin to have had that sea from the beginning. This is a power that was not originally allowed. Under the contract ■■■■ ■■ ■■■ made with the Tower, they can use it with some limitations. The restrictions for this Skill are as follows: ※ If the caster lacks imagination, the world will not change. To create a sea, they must be able to imagine it. The difference between vague and specific mental images is significant. ※ The caster cannot alter the world alone. This Skill can only be used with the help of another person. Endless Universe is only effective when you try to manifest your imagination together with a companion. Choose your companion carefully. ※ The Skill isn’t permanent and can only be used three times. Each time it is used, the number of remaining uses decreases. Once the third attempt of the Endless Universe is finished, the Skill will be destroyed. ※ A penalty is imposed each time the Skill is used. ※The number of Endless Universe’s remaining uses is one. My jaw was on the floor. At first, I was speechless at the Skill’s overwhelming power, but then... “There are so many restrictions! One, two, three... Four restrictions? Seriously? The Skill Class of Regressor’s Clockwork is also EX, but it has only one restriction. I’ve never seen a Skill with more than two restrictions. What the...” —Hmph. I was wondering how the Constellation could be this powerful even with their high level, but I see now. They maximized their own innate ability by applying a bunch of penalties. My instincts were right after all. Well, when are my instincts ever wrong? The Constellation is a pervert playing with perverts. A master pervert. Unlike me, the Guardian seemed to have understood what was going on. —The Constellation’s name. Even though you were brainwashed into worshiping them as a god, they were still your Constellation for a few days. Every time they used their power, you would have heard their name mentioned in the messages. Do you remember the name? Despite thinking hard about it, all I could do was frown. “No, I don’t remember. Maybe this is also affected by the Endless Universe’s influence. The Constellation wished to keep their name hidden, so our memories are affected.” —That’s possible. There are other possibilities, though. Like their name getting taken away. The Guardian flicked the golden card, which bounced off his finger and floated in the air. —I’m talking about the penalty. The Constellation isn’t using their power here right now, and we’re free. But we still can’t read their name in the Skill Card. It just says ■■■■ ■■ ■■■. There would be a reason for that. “Are you saying their name is completely erased?” —I’m pretty sure. According to what’s written here, Endless Universe is a Skill that can only be used three times. And the Constellation has already used it twice. Kim Zombie, you are probably the third and final companion they chose for Endless Universe. The Guardian crossed his arms and tilted his head. Hearing those words, a voice from my memory resurfaced. It was what the Constellation had told me when they asked me to become their follower: “You’re the one I’ve been waiting for thousands of years.” “You’ll be my third follower.” “All I ask is that you believe in me, Mr. Gong-Ja.” The Constellation had clearly said that I was their third follower. As I gathered clues from my memories, the Guardian snapped his fingers. —This mysterious Constellation has already used Endless Universe twice and received two penalties. One of the penalties is likely losing their name forever. “Losing one’s name... Is that such a big penalty?” I asked. —Why do you think the Constellation Murderer was that strong? And why did you go through all that shit to help him regain his name?” I tapped my chin. The Guardian scratched his cheek. —Names are important because they’re coordinates. Without a name, there is no subject, and then there is no direction either. If that’s true for humans, then it’s an unimaginable penalty for a Constellation. It’s nearly impossible for a Constellation to gather Faith when people don’t know who they are. Losing your name is like giving up your Faith. Becoming a powerful Constellation like Mahos or Babbit becomes impossible. I narrowed my eyes. “Hmm. Then what do you think was the other penalty?” —Something that had to do with a name. Something that would have made up their existence. The Guardian’s gaze grew sharp. —I think it’s probably their appearance. It was the physical form and the totality of oneself that revealed one to the world. —Do you remember anything like that? Yes, I did. In some village, probably created by Endless Universe, I had tried to buy a set of clothes for the Constellation. At that time, the shopkeeper had looked out the window in confusion. “Hello. I’m looking for some clothes.” I pointed out the window. In the middle of the street, the small boy stood, staring in our direction. “I’d like to buy clothes that would suit the boy. Something comfortable. Do you have anything?” “Over there. The boy dressed in rags.” “Hm? I’m sorry, but I don’t see anyone. I don’t understand what you’re—” Yes, the shopkeeper had not seen the Constellation at first. Even if he had, he couldn’t recognize them clearly. I couldn’t either. “Hmm, perhaps it’s a little big. That’s strange. I thought it would fit perfectly...” I had ended up buying a robe that was too big for them. Even though I had clearly recognized the Constellation as a boy, for some reason, I had unconsciously bought them clothes that were too big. It wasn’t just their physique. Their voice, gender, and way of speaking were all different from what I remembered. It was really confusing. Everything about the Constellation was shrouded in fog. “The Constellation lost their name and appearance. Those are their penalties, and they chose me as their third follower, the Endless Universe’s last companion...” —That would mean there’s one more penalty left, and it’s much worse than losing their name and appearance. “Yes, probably. I... think their very existence will be erased.” The Constellation’s life, including their own memories and also of those who remembered them, would all disappear without a trace. That was probably the penalty—annihilating their existence. It was the only penalty I could think of that was worse than losing one’s name or appearance. —Indeed. That Constellation wanted to use the Endless Universe on you without caring whether they disappear or not, even at the cost of their penalty. I do want to ask why, but I guess I’ll find out soon enough.” “Yes.” I reached for the card. “We’re probably going to find out from the trauma anyway.” I grabbed the only golden light shining in the dark space. [You have chosen a Skill Card.] As I squeezed the light, it melted away. Then, it turned into golden fireflies and flowed toward my chest. For a moment, my heart was bathed in gold, and then... [Initiating your Skill penalty.] [Your Hunter Class is S.] Somewhere, a clock was ticking. [The penalty's intensity level is ultra high.] [The penalty's theme is Human Realm.] The rightful source is noᴠelfire.net The hour, minute, and second hands spun fiercely, transcending my perception of time. They left only afterimages as they spun. [Recreating your killer’s trauma.] Suddenly, I felt a chill in my heart. Even when I became a Class B Hunter, the Guardian couldn’t go into the Constellation Murderer’s trauma with me. Well, he could, but he couldn’t be himself. He had been overlaid with my memories and Kim Yul’s, becoming someone else. When I was a Class A Hunter, I had died because of the Jester. While preparing for war against the Magic Tower, I had drunk her poison and died repeatedly. There was nothing significant about her trauma. She enjoyed her life and wasn’t on the level of Kim Yul or Estelle. Not everyone in the universe was as unhappy as those two had been, after all. Ultimately, the intensity of trauma was determined by one’s level and the lives of those around them. I wonder how it will be this time? This is that Constellation’s trauma. I might lose myself... Somewhere, the clock stopped ticking. I bit my lip. But I will overcome it. The moment I made up my mind... [Unable to locate your killer’s title.] [Unable to locate your killer’s real name.] [Unable to locate your killer’s appearance.] [Trauma recreation failed.] [Replacing the required data for the trauma recreation.] [Recreating your killer’s trauma.] That sounded ominous. I blacked out.