Return of the Shattered Constellation

“Hyung-nim! Are you okay?” Baek Gyeo-Ul urgently approached Chang-Sun when he heard the explosion sound.

Chang-Sun quickly reached out with the palm of his hand facing Gyeo-Ul’s direction, meaning he shouldn’t come any closer. There was no telling how the unlocked scroll would harm Gyeo-Ul. Realizing Chang-Sun’s intentions, Gyeo-Ul came to a halt as his eyes lost focus a little. Chang-Sun silently nodded to reassure him.

Gyeo-Ul looked at Chang-Sun with worried eyes, but he soon stepped backward and tightly grabbed his spear in preparation, watching to see if Chang-Sun sustained any damage. However, Chang-Sun couldn’t even look in Gyeo-Ul’s direction, as he was already busy checking the unlocked scroll.

[Fourth Cryptical Book of Hsan]

The fourth piece of the seven cryptical books.

The knowledge from ancient times that even the Celestials had forgotten was recorded in these books. This piece held the power of the disappeared <Forgotten Star>, so one had to be careful not to be possessed while handling it.

There were other secrets and abilities, but it seemed it needed to be connected with the other pieces in order to see them.

· Type: Scroll. Star Object.

· Effect: Recorded knowledge. Unable to inspect other details.

As far as he knew, the White Tiger Clan had obtained three of the [Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan]. However, this scroll said otherwise, meaning even the Highoff Clan hadn’t been aware of the truth.

‘…No, Executive Director Oh must have secretly found the fourth cryptical book and kept it to himself.’ Chang-Sun concluded, feeling like he was finally piecing together the unsolved puzzle.

He had been wondering how Executive Director Oh had stolen one of the scrolls when they were treated as confidential, and would have been under tight security. It seemed Executive Director Oh hadn’t even touched the three scrolls in the first place, and had just hidden the newly found knowledge.

‘Was this why he could make a Gildal?’ Chang-Sun wondered.

Unlike how the White Tiger Clan manufactured the Ghost Soldiers, Lab Director Yang Sang-Won had somehow known the advanced form of the Ghost Soldiers, the ‘Gildal’. When he remembered how Executive Director Oh and Lab Director Sang-Won had joined forces, Chang-Sun finally understood how Sang-Won had acquired the knowledge.

‘But…how in the world did he interpret this?’ Chang-Sun thought as he squinted down at the scroll. Black symbols squirmed across the page frantically, as if they were going to jump off the scroll at any second.

Even Chang-Sun, who had mastered runes, had never even seen these symbols, so he was amazed that the White Tiger Clan had somehow analyzed them.

‘Judging from how they can create the Hohwan Mama, the recorded knowledge must be extraordinary,’ Chang-Sun thought.

Interpreting the symbols would require a substantial amount of time, but the problem was that even Chang-Sun wasn’t sure exactly how long. With other scrolls, there would have been more samples that he could use to quicken the interpretation process. With this cryptical book, however, Chang-Sun only had one.

‘Heoju won’t readily teach me.’ Chang-Sun assumed.

He would have to take time and slowly interpret it. Fortunately, through experiencing the Hohwan Mama several times, Chang-Sun had much experience dealing with the products of the cryptical books, the Ghost Soldiers and the Gildal.

‘Still, I can’t leave such an ominous item out in the open.’ Chang-Sun thought when he saw the Hohwan Mama from within the scroll tainting the air.

Considering sealing it with [Peter’s Key] if necessary, Chang-Sun began to close the scroll.

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ is interested in your belonging.]

‘What?’ Chang-Sun wondered.

It was a message from Mephistopheles, who hadn’t sent a message in a while. Despite his interest in Chang-Sun, he never really cared about what Chang-Sun did. Yet, he was interested enough in the [Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan], to finally send a message making Chang-Sun open his eyes wide in shock. This was the first time Chang-Sun had seen Mephistopheles acting like this.

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ still awaits your answer.]

‘Answer…? Ah!’ Chang-Sun didn’t understand what Mephistopheles meant at first, realizing a bit later with a light chuckle.

In the Tutorial Dungeon, he had rejected Mephistopheles’ ‘offer’, to become his apostle in exchange for the magic Chang-Sun had gathered with the fake brand. Since Chang-Sun thought the offer wasn't even worth paying attention to, he had been ignoring Mephistopheles. However, it seemed Mephistopheles had been waiting for an answer continuously since that day.

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ shows his intention to substitute the reward with this if you aren’t going to give him an answer.]

‘What’s he doing?’ Chang-Sun tensed up as he read the message, since even he couldn’t predict the eccentric Mephistopheles’ next move.

Paaah!

At that moment, a brilliant ray of light shone from the scroll.

[As a bonus reward, you are now able to interpret the letters on the scroll!]

‘What?’ Chang-Sun opened his eyes wide upon receiving the unexpected bonus reward. ‘The scroll contains <Forgotten Star> related knowledge, but Mephistopheles was able to interpret the text this easily…?’

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ screams loudly, saying it does not make any sense!]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ has false hope.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ wants to check the scroll’s content through your eyes.]

Now, Chang-Sun could really ‘read’ and understand the symbols dancing around the page.

<…My children that were bewitched by starlight and gathered in this place. My children that want to be reborn with my power. My children that wish to follow me. Listen, I am your guide that is both far away and close…>

Although the letters still appeared illegible, Chang-Sun could understand the content from top to bottom. The scroll looked like a deity’s message to their followers, but when he read between the lines to try to find the hidden meaning, he could tell the scroll contained all kinds of knowledge.

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ says he can’t read the scroll, angrily slamming the ground.]

While the inquisitive Jörmungandr clicked his tongue in disappointment…

‘It’s impossible to fully interpret because I don’t have the previous three scrolls… but I can make a rough guess.’ Chang-Sun thought as he quickly took in the scroll’s knowledge, deciphering and analyzing it based on his basic knowledge of the Hohwan Mama.

~

[The hidden requirement ‘Interpreting Letters’ has been fulfilled.]

[The hidden requirement ‘Searching Information’ has been fulfilled.]

…

[Successfully deciphering all the knowledge!]

[A Hidden Piece has been located! A new Quest to obtain it has been created!]

[The Hidden Path in the Starlight]

Type: Hidden.

Explanation: While on your adventure, you successfully unraveled part of the secret of the ‘Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan’, providing you with the most advanced knowledge about Hohwan Mama. You have also proven that you have a strong, sturdy mind and body that won’t be easily infected by Hohwan Mama.

However, the secret of the ‘Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan’ is much bigger and deeper than you expected. Divulge the secret, and you will have the power, knowledge, and starlight of the ‘Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan’, because you will be entitled to own everything.

Requirement: The ‘Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan’ Decipherer.

If you fail: Mind contamination.

If you succeed: The starlight of the <Forgotten Star>.

‘A Hidden Piece?’ Chang-Sun wondered.

[Accept the Hidden Quest? Y/N]

Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes when he saw the message before him. ‘This was the Sword Sky Tiger’s power.’

He noticed that completing this Hidden Quest was required to acquire a bigger power than the Ghost Soldiers or the Gildal: the <Starlight> of the <Forgotten Star> that the [Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan] held. Although the Sword Sky Tiger Munseong was in the same environment as the other Ghost Soldiers, his power was somehow far superior to theirs, and Chang-Sun had been wondering why. This Hidden Quest answered Chang-Sun’s question. Munseong had somehow reached the origin of the starlight, which was incomparably better than the Ghost Soldiers and the Gildal’s starlight, and acquired it.

‘Executive Director Oh has just been scratching the surface.’ Chang-Sun thought with certainty.

Executive Director Oh had found the fourth cryptical book, but failed to become a true owner. Otherwise, he would have done more than just make the Gildal.

‘Or he just left the scroll lying around on the altar.’ Chang-Sun shrugged.

Of course, he would have been very satisfied with himself for making very good use of the scroll.

‘No, he might be anxious now because the scroll disappeared suddenly.’ Chang-Sun thought.

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ opens his eyes wide to see what choice you will make.]

‘He let me take the scroll because he believed Executive Director Oh wouldn’t be able to get much use out of it.’ Chang-Sun assumed, thinking Heoju had uncharacteristically planned ahead in detail.

Judging from how he was looking forward to the secret of the [Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan], Chang-Sun could be certain that there was definitely something to the books. Although he was given a choice whether or not to accept the quest, his mind had already been made up since the start.

“Gyeo-Ul.” Chang-Sun called out, breaking the silence.

“Yes, hyung-nim.” Gyeo-Ul replied, tensing up.

“From now on, never interfere no matter what happens. And don’t let other people enter, either.” Chang-Sun instructed.

“What are you going to do…?” Gyeo-Ul asked.

“You can do that for me, right?” Chang-Sun said, ignoring Gyeo-Ul’s question.

Gyeo-Ul’s face hardened, and he nodded with a heavy heart. “Yes, I can.”

Right now, Chang-Sun needed to know if Gyeo-Ul could follow his orders, not understand the situation, so Gyeo-Ul didn’t waste time pondering. ‘Hyung-nim is a mysterious man, with secrets that I can’t even begin to fathom… This must be one of them.’

No Player had even been able to think about curing Gyeo-Ul’s half-spirit curse, but Chang-Sun had done it perfectly. Gyeo-Ul already considered Chang-Sun to be on a different tier from other human beings, so he wasn’t planning on asking questions. If necessary, Chang-Sun would explain. Gyeo-Ul figured there was a reason Chang-Sun believed he didn’t need to explain, and that now was not the time to doubt his plan.

‘That’s what a real ‘shadow’ should do.’ Gyeo-Ul believed.

Chang-Sun had told Gyeo-Ul to become his shadow, so he decided to be the perfect shadow. Noticing Gyeo-Ul’s determination, Chang-Sun faintly smiled and turned to look at the scroll again. The message offering the Hidden Quest was still floating above it.

‘I’m going to do it, but I can’t tell what I am supposed to do from this explanation.’ Chang-Sun thought, tilting his head.

He was able to tell that he had to take some kind of test, but he wasn’t sure what the test was about, which frustrated him a little. Still, he had made up his mind already, so he pressed ‘Y’.

Woosh!

A black ray of light soared up from the scroll, blocking Chang-Sun’s view.

[You have accepted the Hidden Quest!]

[You have been invited to the Instance Dungeon to complete the quest.]

[The Hohwan Mama is raging again!]

[The Tiger Roar opens its mouth!]

[The Tiger Chaos has been activated!]

…

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ bestows upon you a belated gift, praying that you stay healthy!]

[The Authority ‘Unyielding Spirit’ and the Authority ‘Composed Spirit’ have been combined.]

[An authority has been created.]

……

Along with multiple messages…

[You have entered the Instance Dungeon ‘Changgwi Cave’.]

…Chang-Sun was greeted by a new world.