A Travel Stream Lavished Upon by Constellations

"It seems it's too late to do anything."

Have you ever experienced everything collapsing before your dreams?

I am vividly experiencing that right now.

"Cases like this are common among those active as Hunters. After all, since Gates contain many toxins and the environment itself is dangerous, you can't help but overwork your body, right? There's no greater gamble than a Hunter with low mana entering a Gate...."

The doctor spoke at length, but the conclusion was that I had overworked my body in Gates, and the harmful toxins there accumulated, causing me to fall ill.

It was literally news like a bolt from the blue.

"You mean it's Mana Poisoning, right? And it has spread to the point where nothing can be done."

"That's correct. In your case, patient, it's a slightly unusual case... it's a poisoning with no pain at all. Occasionally, people like this appear. That's why your internal mana levels have risen uncontrollably like this."

Normally, with Mana Poisoning, pain spreads even if it just starts a little.

Usually, you should go to the hospital and manage it with medication in the early stages, but since I'm an unusual case, I couldn't feel the pain, and because of that, they say nothing can be done.

I want to beg them to save me right now, but I know very well that doing so won't cure this disease.

All I can do now is just ask how much longer I can live.

"Actually, there are two ways patients with Mana Poisoning die. Death from shock due to unimaginable pain, or death from shock as the internal mana levels slowly rise higher, causing the brain to burst without pain. It's one of the two, and since you, patient Kim Jinwoo, fall into the latter category... you have about a year left."

Is the blessing heaven bestowed upon me, at least, sending me off without pain?

"...Doctor, there's no hope, is there?"

Even though I know there isn't, I end up asking pathetically.

"With modern medicine, medication or surgery can only slightly extend your lifespan; a complete cure isn't possible. I'm sorry."

I accepted this reality. In fact, perhaps it was an inevitable result. Because I had wandered from Gate to Gate as a C-rank Hunter to pay off debt.

It was the result of chasing only money without looking after my body.

Just like that, holding back tears, I left the hospital.

As a C-rank Hunter, I went around subjugating Gates more tenaciously than anyone else. Didn't a guy with no talent also face the risk of death multiple times?

Thinking this is the final crisis, I actually feel a bit relieved.

...That's what I thought. But once I actually left the hospital, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing like this.

'Damn it.'

I walked to a park some distance from the hospital and sat down. In my left hand and right hand, there was a bottle of soju each.

"The scenery is damn beautiful."

Korea's four seasons are truly beautiful. Nature and sunlight, the weather and scenery are different every single day. It's like living media art.

Today was spring, and cherry blossoms were fluttering as sunlight peeked through the clouds. Like a child playing hide-and-seek, the sunlight would hit once then disappear, and a cool breeze scattered cherry blossoms of various colors—pink, white—onto the pavement.

The street, contrasting with my gloomy reality, was nice to look at.

Of course, soon I won't be able to live and move, and I won't be able to see that scenery either.

'Ugh, thinking about that makes my chest ache again.'

I gulped down the soju.

Bitter.

More bitter than usual. It seems that just because life is bitter doesn't mean alcohol tastes sweet.

It wasn't that I disliked the bitterness. It was more like a bitterness that comforted the bitterness of my life, perhaps. Well, it's probably just the alcohol kicking in that's making me think like this, but anyway.

"Hoo... Just when I thought I could finally achieve my dream."

My family was dirt poor.

I don't have many childhood memories. My parents, who were basic livelihood recipients, ran away leaving only me behind, and I've lived as an orphan since middle school.

Right after becoming an adult, I drifted between this part-time job and that, got scammed and ended up in debt, and even after awakening as a Hunter, I couldn't pay off the snowballing debt and overworked my body.

My dream was just to pay off all the debt and start a small restaurant. At first, I considered continuing to work as a Hunter, but how far could a talentless C-rank Hunter get doing Hunter work?

Just quickly pay off the debt, start a small restaurant, and travel occasionally.

My dream was to live well, as if showing off to the parents who abandoned me.

"Now it looks like I can't even do that. When I first awakened as a Hunter, I thought I'd become happy right away."

"A Hunter, eh? No wonder you look sturdy."

Around the time I had finished a bottle of soju by myself, an old man sat down next to me. This person too was holding Makgeolli,* his hands full.

[N: more traditional and less potent rice wine]

"Mind if I join you?"

I nodded with a face that had given up on everything.

My personality is originally the type that likes talking with people.

Besides, since I'm about to die soon anyway, wouldn't it be okay to vent about my life to the old man just this once?

"Young man, can I ask why you're crying like that?"

"Haha— Sure."

I poured out my life story haphazardly.

Thinking that I would soon disappear from this world, I felt no sense of shame. Just being able to tell my story, which I couldn't tell anyone, was comforting in itself.

It felt good to be able to let everything out, from cursing the parents I had held back on until now, to complaining about how hard things were.

"You've been through a lot."

Each word of comfort from the old man seemed to make my body feel incredibly light.

It felt like my body and mind were becoming relaxed. As my constantly uneasy heart relaxed a little, even trivial stories started pouring out.

"Elder, I didn't have talent as a Hunter, but my perseverance was top-notch. Because I entered Gates three times a week, when even once a week was difficult."

"Indeed, you look just the type."

I chattered on, laughing like a child.

"I'm good at cooking, you see. Like I mentioned earlier, my dream was to be a restaurant owner. So I greeted Hunters with a smile every day, and after subjugations, we'd cook and eat together. Because I did that, I earned pay faster too. Many Hunters started taking me along."

"Even I would have taken you along!"

At this simple encouragement, the corners of my mouth didn't know how to come down as I continued speaking.

"Heh heh, it's like that when you have a goal. Saving money frugally must have been fun too. I've had that kind of experience myself."

"That's right. Saving on food, saving money for clothes... But it was fun. Thinking about the future where I would achieve my goal just made me happy."

Every night before sleeping, picturing myself as a restaurant owner in a bustling area of Seoul was happiness.

Because I was poor, I wanted to live comfortably, and I had the goal of buying a small building to run a restaurant.

That's why, even while hearing I was a talentless Hunter, I forced myself to get close to other Hunters, humoring them, and entered Gates.

Who would have known this would become the fatal mistake that would take my life?

"...Truly a pitiful and remarkable young man."

I didn't say anything.

Inwardly, I was hoping this old man would comfort me a little more.

"...What a shame."

"The fortunate thing, at least, is that I can take a final trip before I die."

Being a restaurant owner is nice, but later, in my old age, I wanted to travel alone, backpacking. Because I thought hiking mountain trails, cooking and eating meals alone, and camping would be quite fun.

"I'm not well-off, and it's not my old age, but... still, I want to achieve my last dream and go happily. I've never once traveled in my life, so for the end, I plan to really enjoy myself happily, without any regrets. Hehe."

This laugh, at least, was genuine.

I quietly watched the still-falling cherry blossoms.

"If it's a year... I'll still be able to see the leaves fall, I suppose. Then I'm satisfied. Being able to go without pain is also a blessing... and I can see all the seasons."

Of course, it's a bit regrettable that I won't be able to see this starting next year.

I can spend a spring with fluttering cherry blossoms and warm sunlight.

I can swim in a valley stream on a hot summer day, walk on streets fully covered in autumn leaves in the fall, and find comfort watching the leaves fall.

Yes, that would be a good life, wouldn't it. I plan to be satisfied even if I only achieve one life goal.

To think I'd develop a lingering attachment to nature, which I usually never gave a second glance. I found it strange.

"Hoo... Thank you, Elder. Talking like this makes me feel really relieved. Accepting reality and thinking positively has made me feel at ease."

"You truly are a remarkable person, hard to find these days. Actually, I'm terminally ill too. Since I've enjoyed everything and experienced success, I have no lingering regrets about dying now."

At those words, I looked at the Elder with surprised eyes.

Oh... To think he listened to my long story while being in the same situation. When I should have been busy listening to the Elder's story instead.

"No need to look so apologetic and sad. I really enjoyed talking with you. And I truly don't have any regrets."

He patted my back.

"I'll give all my luck to you. My power, luck, everything will reside in you."

I didn't know what he meant by giving luck and power, but I just assumed they were polite words and nodded.

"Thank you, haha."

"And make sure to leave a video record of your journey. The thing I regret least in my life is leaving records. You should try leaving a video record of your slow travels too. Turn on the recording and just chatter away by yourself. A word to someone you felt sorry towards, a word to someone you disliked. Things like that, you know?"

"...That sounds like it would be really nice. Thank you."

* * *

[The Constellation, God of Observation, will soon perish after exhausting all his life force.]

The God of Observation. He was the old man Jinwoo had been talking with until just moments ago. Befitting the name God of Observation, he could spectate and travel to other dimensions, lived for several thousand years, and was naturally driven to the verge of death.

So, as a last act, he came to Earth after a long time and met Jinwoo.

'You must live.'

Muttering thus, he returned to his homeland and met his death.

In his final moment, he bestowed his blessing upon Jinwoo, and at that instant.

[You have received the blessing of the Constellation, God of Observation!]

[You have awakened as an Irregular!]

[Irregular ― The Constellations' Streamer.]

Jinwoo became a streamer who broadcasts his journey to the Constellations.

[The broadcast will begin soon!]

[Broadcast notifications will be sent to a small number of Constellations!]

Unaware of anything, a system message stating that the broadcast would soon begin appeared before him.

"No, wait a minute, what is this?!"