Otherworld Constellation Gallery Chapter 43

Otherworld Constellation Gallery 

Chapter 43

The next day.

Everyone who came to see us off looked unfamiliarly solid. 

Well, that’s because they were wearing gleaming metal armor. 

The armor was sturdy like medieval knights and practical like battlefield combat uniforms. The helmets were open-faced kettle hats.

“Wow, everyone looks so sturdy.”

The orphanage director looked down at the armor he was wearing. His expression was gentle as always, but his eyes had grown deeper than before.

“Really… I don’t know how to repay this vast and profound kindness.” 

“This kindness.”

It’s not just a gift but an investment.

“Ah, by the way, do you have a car?” 

“Are you referring to an automobile?”

The orphanage director asked.

“Come to think of it, while trying to save me, your car… Please wait a moment. Let me get the car keys…” 

“Ah, no, I can’t ask for your car.” 

“No. I should give it to you. You’re our life-saving benefactor.” 

“Hey now, I didn’t ask for it. But… if it makes you feel better…”

At that moment, Tulip cuts in from the side.

“Then why did you ask?” 

“Tsk. I just asked, that’s all.”

Meanwhile, the orphanage director went inside. And soon returned with car keys in hand.

“Please accept at least this.”

He placed the car key in my hand and spoke gently.

“We won’t need to use the car for a while, so please don’t feel any burden or worry.” 

“Ah, please don’t do this. It’s really fine.” 

“What use would I have for it in this world? Since we won’t need to leave the safe place you’ve made for us, it’s right to give it to someone who needs it.”

There was sincerity in his voice.

“…Moreover, after receiving such kindness.”

Looking at the children’s armor as he spoke, what could I possibly say in rebuttal?

“The armor looks pretty nice.” 

“We have our own too. I’ll show you later.”

At Kang Ha-rin’s words, I flinched. 

She meant she had made and prepared armor for us as well. 

Even though I didn’t ask, Kang Ha-rin doesn’t miss such things.

‘How thoughtful.’

Anyway, it’s time to say goodbye. As I was about to give my farewell greetings, the orphanage director and Do-han spoke simultaneously.

“You can stay longer if you’d like.” 

“It’s not like you’re in a hurry, right?”

At those words, even the children look at me. The look in their eyes shows they understand this is a farewell.

I carefully chose my response. The reason I’m leaving is that staying in one place won’t solve our problems.

But telling the truth would only increase their anxiety.

So I give a vague answer.

“It’s best to go when the path is open, you know.” 

“I see.”

Even this place could be breached someday. If you don’t grow, you can’t survive. I’ve roughly told Do-han about this, so I just hope the children grow well.

“Ha Do-han.” 

“Yes, brother!” 

“Do well.” 

“Yes sir!”

This much is enough. 

I’ve already invested, no, conceded the Massacrer achievement for their growth, so I’ve done what I can.

With the car key in hand, I took one last look at the children. Small hands waving.

Eyes beneath helmets, smiling at me.

‘Those kids….’

Become stronger than you are now. 

And then hold it back.

The end of your world.

***

The air in Gwangju was stuffy. 

Dusty wind brushed past my ears, and desolate sunshine poured through the forest of collapsed buildings.

“Wow, it’s quiet here too.”

I closed the car door with a thud and looked around. That’s when a crumpled sign caught my eye.

[No Access – Monster Appearance Danger Zone]

I casually kicked it with my foot. The metal plate with peeling paint collapsed with a CLANK.

‘So monsters do appear here….’

It’s strangely empty. No groups of monsters, not even corpses. Too clean. That makes it more unsettling.

“Let’s go deeper into the center.”

[Title: But First Hunter is really creepy as hell] How does he keep picking exactly the early zones? Shouldn’t we be reasonably suspicious about this?

ㄴ Hey, there were people who found hidden pieces without movement penalties and achieved seemingly impossible achievements, this is nothing.

ㄴ There are people who don’t search everywhere but somehow find just the hidden treasures, and only legendary ones at that.

ㄴ For real lol, there were occasionally those kinds of annoying people even though they weren’t regressing. 

ㄴ At that level it’s admin favoritism, damn it.

ㄴ Maybe he received a revelation from a sucker like PingPo? 

ㄴ PinkuPojjak) I never sent any revelation~ 

ㄴ I was talking about someone like you… not you… 

ㄴ You jumped out so fast because you felt called out lol.

The early zones are really narrow. Not entire regions, but just the size of small neighborhoods or roads.

So I understand their suspicion. Well, I can’t hesitate because I’m conscious of their views and end up dying. As long as I don’t write anything, there’s no disadvantage even if I’m caught.

‘If monsters clearly guard such narrow zones, we should go a bit deeper to meet them.’

I was thinking this while walking when it happened.

WHOOSH!

Something tore through the air and flew toward me.

CLANG!

A sharp metal friction sound came from my left shoulder. 

It was a rusty, crude iron spear. 

I glanced down at my shoulder, but there wasn’t even a scratch.

‘A throwing spear?’

Looking in the direction the spear came from, I saw a figure crouched on top of a store sign. 

Dingy green skin, cracked lips with yellow teeth. 

Even at a glance, it was a goblin about the size of an elementary school student.

But what it held in its hand was an iron throwing spear nearly 1m long. 

The sight of it twirling the spear with one hand while giggling was grotesque beyond words.

[Title: Launcher Goblin Kawaii] Isn’t its giggling cute? I wish First Hunter would merge with it instead of killing it Honestly doesn’t everyone agree?

ㄴ This is a joke, right? 

ㄴ I hope it’s a joke. 

ㄴ Blocked and ignored.

ㄴ Gsb) I’m serious though? It’s better than furries.

ㄴ That’s nonsense. 

ㄴ Furries are definitely better.

ㄴ Furries are angels, are you crazy;;

Now there’s no explanation about what kind of creature this is. Well, looking at it, it seems like a spear-throwing one.

The goblin raised its arm again. 

The forearm muscles slightly bulged, and it threw another spear.

SWOOSH!

The flying speed was faster than expected. 

I stood still and just slightly twisted my head to avoid it. 

Despite missing, the goblin grinned widely.

“Laugh it up creep.”

I slowly raised my right hand. Dark red mist spread over my palm. 

Manyō’s Tomb appeared.

“I can throw things too.”

I pulled back my arm and threw.

SWOOSH-

Slicing through the air, Manyō’s Tomb pierced the right chest of the goblin.

“KUHAK…!”

The smile disappeared from the goblin’s face. It coughed up blood, gasped for a while, then seemed to lose consciousness and collapsed. 

Faster than that, a strand of black smoke returned to my hand.

DING!

[Launcher Goblin (Medium Grade) Elimination Reward: 100 Gold]

Wait, 100 gold? So it’s at least equivalent to the archer?

“Tulip, is there possibly poison on that spear?”

 “Yes. The effect is the same as the archer’s, but the mechanism is different.” 

“Well, you don’t need to explain that much.”

As I said that, I sensed something in the distance. When things move in groups, they tend to be quite noisy.

“Right, if it’s goblins, I expected this.”

I quietly inhaled and hooked Manyō’s Tomb on my fingertips again.

“Tulip, this looks more tiring than the archers, so let’s use some strength for once.” 

“Ju-han sir! What should I do?”

“You just stay still. I’ll do everything.”

Smiling, I prepared for what was next.

They would be coming soon.

However, as the sound became clearer, I realized. These aren’t goblins.

VROOOOOM─

The presence suddenly changed to a sharp exhaust sound, and at the edge of my vision, a group of bikes appeared. Five motorcycles with red mufflers.

“Whose permission did you get to hunt monsters?” 

“Don’t you know this is Big Brother Dae-ju’s territory?” 

“If you surrender everything you have now, we might spare your life.”

Who are these bastards? And what’s this about Big Brother Dae-ju’s territory… It means someone has already claimed this place. 

They’re not just putting on airs by saying it’s their territory; they’re clearly serious about requiring permission to hunt monsters.

‘This area has likely already risen in rank.’

If goblins initially appeared and then the rank rose to creatures similar to archers, it makes sense. 

According to them, someone has taken control of this area and claimed it as their hunting ground.

Moreover, their attitude is absurdly confident. They’re acting like this even though they presumably know I killed monsters. If so, the problem is one person.

‘This Dae-ju or whatever they’re talking about.’

They must mean they have reliable backing. 

Additionally, the fact that they’ve established an organization like a biker gang is concerning.

‘They might be stronger awakened ones than I thought.’

I’ve finished assessing whether they’re good people or bad people. Surrender everything we have, and they’ll spare our lives? 

What use is weighing someone else’s life from the first conversation?

The moment those words came out, the conclusion was set.

‘They’re very bad people.’

I slowly looked at them. 

One who seemed over thirty, one with arms densely covered in tattoos, one with a youthful face who looked like the youngest, and so on.

Each holding weapons and tensing their shoulders. 

They look just like drama club kids forcibly acting out unfamiliar roles for the first time—it’s laughable.

“Let me make a counter-offer.” 

“What?” 

“I’ll spare just one person—whoever kneels first.”

Their expressions distort. Regardless.

“Ah, before you kneel, let me add one thing. I’d prefer if the one who kneels could guide me to your leader.” 

“What?” 

“Never mind. Should we all just go kill that bastard Dae-ju together?” 

“This crazy bastard.” 

“Bad guys should be uprooted before they build power, right?”

I slightly raised Manyō’s Tomb. 

“Don’t understand what I’m saying? Should I make it clearer?”

[LMAO let’s go kill Dae-ju already][184]

[Yo is the new admin just letting this happen??][66]

[Dae-ju’s a joke lmao. Gonna die ‘cause of his dumbass crew][97]

[He’s not gonna get far, bro. Triple Beam incoming][72]

[You must accept the consequences of letting them loose, right?][51]