Chapter 26
Kkiieeeek!
[The Constellation โDo You Believe in Fate?โ uses a โSleep Talismanโ.]
[Due to the effect of the โSleep Talismanโ, everyone with the talisman attached falls into a deep sleep.]
โSo things really blew up in such a short time. I thought no one cared about me, but were you all just pretending not to care this whole time?โ
[The Constellation โYama, Judge of the Afterlifeโ keeps his words to a minimum, saying, โIโm only worried that if the owner dies, the hot spring gates will close,โ as he puts a pipe in his mouth.]
[The Constellation โRuler of the Hot Springโ likes this window.]
[The Constellation โDo You Believe in Fate?โ likes this window.]
[The Constellation โImmortal Murdererโ likes this window.]
โAh, yesโฆ I suppose so.โ
I listened to their words with one ear and let them pass out the other.
โFan!โ
[The brand of the Constellation โRuler of the Hot Springโ manifests.]
When I summoned the Constellationโs fan, the matching earrings appeared along with it, and just like before, my hair turned silver.
As expected, silver hair still feels awkward.
Itโs like Iโve turned into a nine-tailed fox or something.
Just as I was thinking that everything would be over once I took care of Una, I heard a pitiful crying sound from somewhere.
โUwaaaah! Uwaaaah!โ
Despite having summoned the fan to quell the disturbance, Una was covering her face with both hands and crying miserably as she looked at the fallen Park Siwoo.
No wayโฆ sheโs not crying because of Park Siwoo, right?
When she was beating him senseless, where was this attitude?
Watching Una crouched down and crying, my heart couldnโt help but soften.
To be honest, the fact that Una was this angry was partly my fault too.
โIs there any way to return Una to how she was originally? As you all saw, she was originally just an old, ordinary sauna tub.โ
[The Constellation โImmortal Murdererโ asks, โIsnโt it annoying? Canโt you just send her off?โ]
โThat would be easier for me too, but after seeing her cry so miserably because of Park Siwoo, if I erase her with my own hands, I feel like sheโll show up in my dreams.โ
[The Constellation โDo You Believe in Fate?โ says, โItโs not that thereโs absolutely no way.โ]
โAs expected of Fate. You know something, donโt you?โ
[The Constellation โDo You Believe in Fate?โ shrugs and tips me off, saying, โThe Sea Spiritโs Fan has a skill that returns all living beings to their original state.โ]
As far as I knew, the level 1 skill didnโt have that effect. That meant it must be among the skills that hadnโt been unlocked yet.
โDo you know what level that skill is?โ
[The Constellation โDo You Believe in Fate?โ says, โLevel 2.โ]
Level 2, huhโฆ that might be doable?
I immediately opened the intimacy quest window.
[Get Close with the Constellation! (1)]
[Hold hands with the Constellation โRuler of the Hot Springโ for 10 seconds (0/10 seconds)]
[Reward upon success: Intimacy 100]
So all I had to do was hold hands for 10 seconds to get 100 intimacy.
[Intimacy required to unlock Level 2 skill: 0/300]
Judging by the vibe, the intimacy quests to unlock the Level 2 skill would probably all be around this level.
Weโd already gone as far as artificial respirationโour lips had even touchedโso this shouldnโt be hard at all.
But inside the dungeon, the master key doesnโt workโฆ For anything to happen, the Sea Spirit would need to be here.
As I was agonizing over it, the set effect of the Constellationโs fan and earrings suddenly flashed through my mind.
โRight! They said that if thereโs a brand, you can summon the Constellation, didnโt they?โ
[The Constellation โRuler of the Hot Springโ looks flustered, asking, โWhy are you suddenly talking about summoning?โ]
[The Constellation โRuler of the Hot Springโ warns, โI donโt know what youโre planning, but if youโre thinking of summoning me right now, stop.โ]
โWhy should I stop?โ
โSummon Haeryeong!โ
Fueled by defiance, I shouted the incantation to summon Haeryeong.
โAh!โ
The moment Haeryeong appeared amid a pale mist, we both screamed at each other.
[The Constellation โDo You Believe in Fate?โ clutches his stomach and rolls on the floor, laughing himself to death.]
So this was the โfun spectacleโ you were talking aboutโฆ?
As if heโd been in the middle of a hot spring bath, Haeryeong was wearing only a thin robe. Heโd been summoned just like that. Not knowing what was going on, he met my eyes and hurriedly covered himself.
Because he was wet, the firm lines of his body beneath the fabric were faintly visible.
โWhy are you showing up half-naked like that?โ
Seeing a man soaked with water was a first for me, and it felt oddly memorable.
โI told you to stop me if you were going to summon me!โ
I didnโt know you meant it like thisโฆ
โAnyway, I get itโฆ but since youโre here, canโt you just turn Una back to normal before you go?โ
If Haeryeong could do it, thereโd be no need to go through the trouble of raising intimacy.
โA Constellation can lend power to their contractor, but they cannot directly harm beings that originate from dungeons or towers.โ
Come to think of it, I remembered Sharenian saying something similar before.
So in the end, there are no free lunches.
โFine. Then how about putting some proper clothes on now?โ
โDonโt look me up and down so blatantly!โ
I just meant he should get dressed, but he misunderstood.
โJust so you donโt get any ridiculous ideas, Iโve never had any other thoughts whatsoever, so wake up from your delusions.โ
Sounds like youโre the one having those thoughts.
โIโm not interested, okay?โ
โUwaaaah! Uwaโgwe, gweeekโฆ!โ
While I was distracted bickering with Haeryeong, the strange change in Unaโs crying snapped me back to my senses.
[โAbandoned and Marked Sauna Tub, Una (SS)โ falls into despair from guilt over having harmed her owner.]
Behind the notification text, a black skull shape enveloped Una and instantly seeped into her body.
โKkiieek! Kkiieeeek!โ
Unaโs eyes were quickly dyed black as she let out a grotesque laugh.
[Evil spirits take root in the despair of โAbandoned and Marked Sauna Tub, Una (SS)โ, causing corruption.]
[โCorrupted Sauna Tub, Una (SS)โ becomes violent.]
The corrupted Una began advancing toward me, swinging her gloved hands threateningly.
โDamn it! Because you were dawdling thanks to you, Una got corrupted!โ
In the meantime, Haeryeongโnow wearing a robe properlyโlooked at me with an expression that said he was too dumbfounded to speak.
โLetโs not even get into that. So why did you call me?โ
โOh, I almost forgot!โ
At this point, there was no choice but to unlock the Level 2 skill. First, I had to quickly complete the quest.
โYour hand!โ
โWhat?โ
โHurry! Your hand!โ
Panting, I ran up and held out my hand. Haeryeong handed his over to me, and I grabbed it firmly.
โWhatโฆ what are you suddenly doing?โ
I thought heโd get angry right away, but surprisingly, Haeryeong seemed flustered by the situation and stammered.
โI just need to stay like this for 10 seconds, right?โ
Regardless, my mind was completely focused on the quest.
[Get Close with the Constellation! (1)]
[Hold hands with the Constellation โRuler of the Hot Springโ for 10 seconds (9/10 seconds)]
The last second!
[You have completed the Level 2 skill unlock intimacy quest โGet Close with the Constellation! (1)โ. You have gained 100 intimacy. Would you like to proceed to the next quest?]
Accept!
If I hesitated, I felt like Una would catch me any second, so I accepted the quest without a second thought.
[Get Close with the Constellation! (2)]
[Interlock fingers with the Constellation โRuler of the Hot Springโ (0/1)]
[Reward upon success: Intimacy 100]
Oh come onโnow interlocking fingers?
What kind of quest is so obsessed with skinship?
But I didnโt have time to argue about it. I immediately turned to Haeryeong and shouted,
โYour hand again!โ
โWho are you training like a lapdog right now?โ
Haeryeongโs eyebrows twisted as he looked at me.
โCanโt you see the boss chasing us from behind? If this keeps up, Iโm dead! Hurry, your hand!โ
Even while grumbling, Haeryeong held out his hand. I naturally interlocked my fingers with his.
This time, I was sure a curse would fly at me, but contrary to expectations, Haeryeong was quiet.
It seemed heโd already gotten used to holding hands.
Well, considering he possessed a sacred artifact imbued with the power of a dragon thousands of years old, he must have lived through countless ages. Holding hands probably meant nothing to him.
He hadnโt made a fuss about blowing air into someoneโs mouth either.
If anything, reacting so dramatically would be stranger.
[You have completed the Level 2 skill unlock intimacy quest โGet Close with the Constellation! (2)โ. You have gained 100 intimacy. Would you like to proceed to the final quest?]
Accept! This is the last one!
[Get Close with the Constellation! (3)]
[Make the Constellation โRuler of the Hot Springโ feel their heart skip a beat (0/1)]
[Reward upon success: Intimacy 100]
They said it was an intimacy quest!
So why is there a heart-fluttering condition here?
The moment I saw the contents of the final quest, a thought flashed through my mind.
There was no way I could clear this.
There was no way a greenhorn like me could easily make the heart of that prickly old manโrough as sandpaper and experienced for his ageโskip a beat.
Just as I was about to give upโ
[You have completed the Level 2 skill unlock intimacy quest โGet Close with the Constellation! (3)โ. You have gained 100 intimacy.]
[Level 2 skill โPrimordial Wind (SS)โ has been unlocked.]
Cleared? Really?
I didnโt even do anything!
Turning my head in shock, I saw Haeryeong, his face flushed red like a tomato that looked like it would burst if touched.
A single candle burns brightly, illuminating pitch-black darkness.
Within the flame rising from the wick, Haeryeongโs reddened face and Suonโs bewildered gaze were reflected.
โI thought it would be an interesting spectacle.โ
The playful smile that had lingered at the corner of the golden-haired manโs lips dried up like drought-stricken land.
โDisgusting.โ
Beneath threads of golden hair, eyes holding mysterious blue and red hues twisted as he snuffed out the candle.
