Chapter 5
As countless rays of light pierced through the darkness and illuminated the ground, different symbols appeared before each person.
Some people had no symbols at all, while others had several symbols at once.
Of course, as befitting the protagonist, Lyria seemed to have connected with three constellations.
“Wow, Sister, look at this! It’s so beautiful. It looks just like the sun.”
Lyria smiled brightly as she reached out her hand toward one of the symbols.
The bright light entwined with mistletoe.
That was surely the symbol of Baldur, beloved by all things in the world.
The lounging cat, yawning lazily—I wasn’t sure, but it probably had something to do with Egypt?
And the most important symbol of all.
A hearth fire that constantly radiated warmth.
It was the Hearth of the Cosmos, Hestia, who became Lyria’s constellation in the original work.
One glance was enough to see that the beings who had chosen her possessed powerful mythological and divine status, just as expected of a protagonist.
But…
‘Why don’t I have any symbols?’
I mean, even if I’m just a villain doomed to die soon, this is too much, isn’t it?
And the appearance of the comment section made my face darken even more.
—HanGyeom (hanxxx): LMAO look at Wendy’s state, LOL.
—Don’t Get Too Immersed (dlasxxx): Not a single constellation wants to bond with Wendy. Classic.
ㄴLeeRang (clexxx): Minor deities – Uh, we’re going to pass on that one….
—SpicyChickenFan (galmxxx): But wait, didn’t Wendy have a constellation in the original?
ㄴCocaColaIsTasty (ancxxx): Nah, she did, but her compatibility was trash, so it was pretty much useless.
The comments were filled with nothing but insults directed at me.
But now wasn’t the time to get caught up in negative comments.
‘Was it like this in the original?’
No.
Even though Wendy was a minor villain, I remember her having a fairly powerful constellation to match her role….
“Sister, look at this!”
Unaware of my inner turmoil, Lyria’s cheerful voice rang out as she finished choosing her constellation.
“Look! It’s amazing….”
With an excited look on her face, Lyria snapped her fingers, causing the sacred flames to gather at one point and form something so…
“It’s so warm!”
…something so humble and tiny that it was almost laughable—a small, unassuming hearth.
“Fire is precious. It keeps us warm, and we need it to cook. Isn’t that right, Sister?”
Though it looked trivial and tiny enough to be laughable, Lyria’s choice was an excellent one.
The constellation Lyria chose was the Hearth of the Cosmos.
Its true name was Hestia, the Goddess of Hearth and Home, the eldest of Olympus.
Her power, which embraced peace and did not tolerate discord, granted her absolute defense against all forms of violence.
Using this power, Lyria became the strongest tank in the story’s universe.
“Yes, you did well, Lyria.”
I bent my knees and huddled down beside her, warming my hands by the gentle hearth flame as Lyria smiled sweetly.
After patting her lovingly on the head, I sighed at the sounds of excitement around us.
“Woah! I-I feel power surging through me!”
“With this, I can survive!”
“Damn it, if only I had gotten this power a little sooner….”
People cheered and sighed with relief as they tested out the power of their constellations.
Watching them, I felt a sinking feeling grow deeper in my chest.
To suddenly be thrust into this world and not even be chosen by a constellation….
How am I supposed to survive like this?
“Stingy constellations.”
Is it because I’m a character outside the novel? What kind of discrimination is this?
I pressed my throbbing temples and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to calm myself down.
Then, I flinched and stepped back at Lyria’s gaze as she stared at me with wide eyes.
“Sister? Which constellation chose you?”
Did she not notice that there were no symbols above my head?
“Lyria, I….”
I didn’t know how to answer the question brimming with anticipation in Lyria’s eyes, so I hesitated.
Then, a system window suddenly appeared before my eyes.
[No constellation has made contact with you.]
Yeah, I know that, you jerk!
I cursed inwardly and was about to close the window when the message changed.
[You already have a constellation.]
[Your constellation is…]
[‘The Observer Beyond the World.’]
‘What?’
The Observer Beyond the World? That was a constellation I’d never heard of in the original work.
What kind of constellation is this?
And how could it choose me as its avatar even before the constellation selection event began?
“Sister?”
Lyria’s worried voice called out as I stopped speaking and stared into the air.
I gestured to her that I was fine and began to read through the explanation that appeared before me.
“Just a moment, Lyria.”
[Three stigmas have been bestowed upon you by your constellation.]
<The Window of Subspace>
- The Observer Beyond the World is watching you.
You must attract the favor of the observers, and you can view the details of this favor.
Gaining favor from the observers will grant you coins.
<Big Data>
- The Observer analyzes and imitates you or your enemies.
You can acquire your enemy’s abilities by experiencing their attacks firsthand.
(Warning: Naturally, you’ll experience pain and injury as well, but nothing worthwhile comes without pain, right?)
<Magic Cart>
- In the Observer’s World, you will find items that are essential for your survival. Why not try purchasing something?
“……”
Oh, my God.
What are these skills and explanations even supposed to mean?
The barrage of unfamiliar abilities made my head spin.
What the hell is this mysterious constellation that arbitrarily chose me as its avatar?
“…Window of Subspace.”
After pondering for a while, I decided to see for myself what this skill was all about.
A constellation’s stigmata always carry a bit of the constellation’s unique nature.
But….
‘Ding ding!’
—MyangMyungMing (ssaxxx): Who’s this Hearth of the Cosmos?
ㄴ(Spoiler has been hidden in this comment.)
ㄴMangGeulYi (dlasxxx): What’s with the hearth, LOL. It’s so insignificant I thought it was just a minor deity.
The moment I activated the skill, the familiar comment section popped up in front of me.
No way, could it be that my constellation is….
—NamjuPaliGirl (elphixxx): But isn’t the heroine’s sister kinder than expected? Didn’t she originally come off as a straight-up villain?
ㄴLuluLala (rlsdxxxx): Yeah, she was a total buzzkill in the original, but it seems like they changed her character for the remake.
A message popped up as soon as a comment expressing goodwill toward me appeared.
[You have gained favor from two observers.]
[Accumulated Favor: 2]
[The first favor will be tallied in 24 hours.]
The message confirmed it.
My constellation was none other than the readers of this novel.
“Hah.”
Stunned by the unexpected turn of events, I stood frozen, staring blankly at the comment window.
“What is this….”
How on earth could a constellation like this possibly be helpful?
If anything, it feels like more of a nuisance than a benefit….
And what’s this about earning coins from gaining favor? What does that even mean?
The throbbing in my head intensified as I struggled to make sense of it all.
— [It seems like the constellation selection has concluded. Your chosen constellations will now assist you in surviving and rebuilding the world.]
Elistine’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
Just as she said, the diverse lights that had decorated the surroundings were slowly dissipating.
I took a deep breath, forcefully pushing my thoughts aside for the moment.
— [Now, you will begin your first mission in earnest.]
If it’s the first mission, then it’s probably that one.
This is something I’m confident about.
After all, I’m someone who has read the original novel.
— [Your first mission is to ‘Form an Alliance.’ Within the allotted time, you must find allies whom you can trust with your life and form a team of five members.]
This was the same as in the original.
If the story progresses the same way, the characters’ abilities should also be the same.
The key would be to quickly find Lyria’s original allies.
Those guys were definitely powerful enough to match the protagonist.
— [Anyone who fails to form a team within the given time will not survive. Please hurry.]
Elistine’s somber voice echoed as I gripped Lyria’s slightly trembling hand tightly.
I knew the strongest characters in the original story, and standing beside me was the story’s protagonist.
I just had to believe in the facts as they were.
‘Forget about constellations and readers. I’m going to survive, no matter what.’
And I don’t know who’s behind this ridiculous setup, but one day, I’m going to kick them right in the ass!
A few minutes later…
“S-Sister…?”
“Let’s go that way this time.”
Despite being confused by my erratic behavior as I darted through the central hall like a madwoman, Lyria quietly followed, occasionally glancing back over her shoulder.
It’s no wonder she’s confused, considering I’ve turned down every single offer for an alliance—me, not her.
“Hello, we’re…”
“No, thank you.”
“Um, excuse me, just a moment—”
“No, thanks.”
The two people who had been coldly rejected even before getting to the point stared at my back in disbelief.
Although Lyria wasn’t the one declining, her expression darkened with guilt, as if she were responsible for rejecting people.
“Isn’t that the girl who’s been relying on her sister to act all high and mighty?”
“Who does she think she is, turning everyone down? As if she’s anything special.”
I shrugged my shoulders and glanced around to shake off the lingering gazes of the onlookers.
Ugh, seriously, where are they hiding? They should’ve shown up by now!
Just as I was on the verge of snapping, the comment window popped up with impeccable timing.
—Hana (yuixxx): Is Wendy crazy? What’s her problem, turning everyone down?
ㄴBulBe (honxxx): I came over to check out Lyria’s abilities, but it seems like Wendy’s acting like she’s someone important. So annoying;
I shook my head as I watched the readers mock me gleefully from above.
These guys and those guys are all just eager to criticize me.
To think that my constellation is made up of people like them—I’m truly unlucky.
But I can’t entirely disagree with their opinions.
Unlike me, who possesses a completely unknown constellation called the Observer Beyond the World, Lyria’s constellation…
In other words, Hestia, the Hearth of the Cosmos, was far too valuable to recruit as an initial party member.
She can provide protection, recover fatigue, give buffs, and we can even roast marshmallows over her flames….
Not to mention….
“Uh… Sister?”
She’s absolutely adorable!
What kind of cheat character is this?
I anticipated such a situation from the beginning, so I deliberately moved to a secluded area to avoid people’s attention.
But even in that short time, I received three more alliance offers.
“I’ve been watching you. If you don’t have a team yet, why don’t you join us—?”
“No, thanks.”
‘Is this the fourth time now?’
I turned around without hesitation when suddenly—
“Can’t you be reasonable? Huh?”
An unpleasant sensation grabbed my wrist.
“If it’s just the two of you, don’t you think you need someone like me on your team?”
Ugh, yeah, it was about time someone like this showed up.
A typical girl would probably tremble in fear, but who am I?
I’m the girl who even took on a monster head-on!
I turned around, ready to deliver a soccer kick to his face with a rotten smile plastered on mine, only to find myself gaping at the sight before me.
“Ugh!”
“Huh?”
What the… is he already down?
Upon closer inspection, I noticed a wound on his head as if he’d been hit by something.
This sharp, blunt object….
‘A rock…?’
Who the hell threw this?
And to hit the target so precisely from such a distance, despite the dense crowd—this person must be highly skilled….
‘I need to recruit them immediately!’
I frantically looked around, but I couldn’t spot anyone suspicious.
Sadly, I failed to notice the strand of black hair stuck to the rock until the very end.
—
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