Chapter 93
“Celestine?”
Wendy, looking puzzled as she called her name, made Celestine pause to think for a moment.
If it’s a lump of resentment, then it must be the lingering attachment of a soul that has shed its body but still remains in this world.
The footprints of those already gone— the final traces they left behind.
Yes, if that’s what it is, then maybe…
Maybe her ability to converse with souls could help.
Maybe she could help the others— that’s what she thought.
“If the lump of resentment is really the remnants of a soul, then my skill should work.”
Her constellation, the Guide of Reincarnation, is an existence that touches death.
That’s why she often witnesses spirits at unexpected moments.
Even when seeing a ghost with its neck twisted or missing an eye, it no longer scared her.
Was it because she had grown used to it?
Because her courage had increased?
‘Well, sure, that too, but…’
It was also because she came to understand that, in the end, all they wanted was simply to remain in this world a little longer.
And so, now, when she sees wandering souls, she doesn’t feel fear first— she feels sorrow.
A person who drowned trying to save their beloved dog.
A person who died from suffocation while trying to rescue children in a burning house.
Or someone like Uncle Kal, who threw his body to protect her.
There is no death without a reason in this world, and no farewell that isn’t sad.
In this place where countless stars are born and vanish.
Rather, Celestine considered it a blessing that she was given the ability to remember the stars that had already fallen.
“I want to be helpful too.”
That’s why this task had to be hers.
No— only she could do it.
She refused to be someone who always needed to be protected and helped.
She wanted to walk forward, as a comrade who fulfilled her part as one person among them.
That’s how she wanted to walk together.
“Please trust me with this.”
She smiled softly at Wendy, who watched her quietly.
Then she carefully walked to the edge of the raft and crouched down.
[The constellation, Guide of Reincarnation, senses the weight of the soul.]
The lake water shimmered with waves reflecting the red resentments.
As if digging into those waves, a dreamy, brilliant light began to swirl in her violet eyes.
‘Fragments of souls left in this world.’
Her clear voice echoed widely, reaching the depths of the lakebed.
‘Children who remained, unable to pass beyond the cycle of reincarnation.’
The still surface of the lake gently vibrated.
‘Come. Tell me your stories.’
As Celestine’s fingertips touched the surface of the lake, countless red threads surged toward her hand.
And soon, from the tips of those bundled red threads, countless resentments began to pour out.
‘I couldn’t apologize to my son.’
The resentment of a stern father.
‘I wanted to hold my wife one last time.’
The sorrow of a man who had to leave his beloved behind.
‘How could I die after suffering my whole life? It’s unfair.’
The resentment of someone who collapsed after a lifetime of hard labor.
‘If only I could’ve eaten my fill just once.’
The grief of one who starved to death while scavenging trash.
‘Woof! I want to run through the fields again with my master!’
The memory of a dog who loved its owner deeply.
‘Even though I grew old and withered without blooming, thank you for still calling me beautiful, Grandma.’
Even the resentment of a withered flower that had died.
An endless tide of resentments surged forth all at once.
The edge of life.
And the final emotions that lingered there.
All of them brushed past Celestine’s heart in an instant.
If it were an ordinary person, they might have gone mad from such a violent storm of emotions.
That storm slowly began to take the shape of a massive monster.
It rose from within the lake as if to engulf Celestine’s small body.
And at that moment—
A mysterious purple light began to radiate from Celestine’s body.
“So that’s how it is…”
Soon, she placed her hand gently on the head of the slowly rising monster.
“You can let go of your regrets now.”
A radiant golden light spread out from Celestine’s hand.
The ominous red glow began to fade into a soft pink hue.
And at the end of it, the light was dyed in brilliant gold.
“It’s time to let go and open your eyes to a new beginning.”
Celestine’s constellation—Guide of Reincarnation.
He is the one who leads the souls of the dead into their next life.
Celestine was trying to turn the regrets of a past life into hope for a new one.
“You’ll be better next time. Warmer, more loving, and happier. Of course, you might get to run and play again too.”
[The connection between the constellation Guide of Reincarnation and its avatar Celestine is being strengthened.]
Though it was Celestine’s voice, it sounded as though a great being was speaking through her.
A quiet voice filled with warmth swept across the tranquil lake, as if to embrace the world.
‘You’ve grown up so well already. That’s my son, after all.’
The recollection of a kind father.
‘You named the new cat after my nickname? You’re something else, really.’
The joyful smile of a man looking lovingly at his partner.
‘At least you guys should be happy.’
A laborer fondly watching over his coworkers visiting his grave.
‘That bread… it was really good…’
A homeless man recalling the child who handed him damp bread on a rainy day.
‘Though my leg was injured, I was happy to be held in my master’s arms for a long time.’
The memory of a dog who couldn’t run, but remembered its warm owner.
‘The seasons have passed, and a flower like me has bloomed again.’
Even the memory of a flower, recalling the grandmother who used to sit at the edge of the flowerbed reading a book.
“Let’s go now.”
When the tangled red tendrils had all transformed into radiant golden streams—
Celestine, wearing a soft smile, gently waved her hand.
Fine golden threads rose from the lake one by one.
Each thread carried the longing of a soul.
‘Don’t cry, son.’
‘I love you.’
‘Thank you for visiting.’
‘That bread was the best I ever had!’
‘Next time we meet, let’s run together again for sure.’
‘Grandma, I want to be your daughter in the next life.’
Wishes that were even more sorrowful for being unfulfilled.
Memories, more precious for having been sincere, even if they never came true.
They rose into the sky as heartfelt wishes.
[You have obtained the Stigma: Guide of End and Beginning.]
Like stars filling the heavens.
The remnants of lingering regret, left behind on the lake, scattered like light.
[You have obtained the Crystal of the Bloody Sea.]
Celestine absentmindedly opened and closed her hand, in which a golden sphere had appeared.
‘It’s warm.’
Like freshly baked bread, the resentment felt warm to the touch.
Celestine smiled softly.
Where else in the world could death feel this warm?
Though she knew it wasn’t possible—
She still hoped that their wishes would reach everyone someday.
***
I stared blankly at the golden threads surrounding Celestine.
“What… is this…?”
It seemed I wasn’t the only one surprised.
Even Xenon, who rarely showed emotion, stood there with his mouth slightly open.
I knew Celestine had skills related to death and the deceased.
But I hadn’t realized they were this powerful.
‘Was it a skill I didn’t know she had?’
Or maybe it was because of that earlier message— that her connection with her constellation had been strengthened…
That allowed her to use a much more powerful force than usual?
Sometimes, when the compatibility between a constellation and its avatar is perfect—
They can unleash power several times greater than normal.
Lyria from the original story often performed remarkably even in dire situations due to her strong affinity with Hestia…
‘Celestine must be the same.’
Whatever the case, it was good.
Thanks to Celestine, we safely obtained the materials—
And we could now move on to the next trial.
Just in time, a guide dog had also appeared to lead the way.
‘Woof!’
The dog wagged its tail energetically, urging us on.
I glanced at the impatient pup and turned to Celestine.
“Celestine, thank you. Thanks to you, we resolved everything so quickly.”
“……”
Yes, we were in a hurry.
And acquiring materials wasn’t easy, so we had to work twice as hard as others.
But when someone did something well, you had to praise them right then and there.
Children are always starved for praise, after all.
“Celestine?”
I turned around to give her a big pat for working so hard.
But then—
“S-Sorry… my body feels strange…”
Celestine collapsed gently into my arms as she lost consciousness.
—
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