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Chapter 408: Star, Conflicts (8)

‘...What have I done?’ Procyon thought, trembling like an aspen leaf as he looked at the other Star Signs.

The Star Signs were bound by Divine Steel chains as they walked through the Hell Gate, resembling links of sausages as they were transferred to the <Underworld>.

The <Underworld> had been a nuisance to <Horoscope> for a long time. Since the <Society> was well aware of how the <Underworld> was hell-bent on arresting them for breaking the <Treaty>, <Horoscope> had been very careful. However, their efforts had all become meaningless because Procyon had taken the hand of \'Divine Twilight\', who was the biggest obstacle in their plan to become Emperors. In other words, Procyon had sold his colleagues over to such a <Society>...

‘It’ll be the end of us if Sadalmelik’s faction finds out about this!’ Procyon thought, gaping.

Even though Sadalmelik and Chiron were on bad terms, their fight was an internal power struggle, so if news of how the <Underworld> had gotten involved in this fight became known... the other Zodiacs would never sit still. What would happen if Bel-Marduk also intervened? Even Chiron was helpless against Bel-Marduk, which meant he would be unable to just walk away from the situation by abandoning Procyon, leaving only one option left.

‘...We have to strike Sadalmelik’s faction before they find out about this.’

Only by framing Sadalmelik’s faction for everything by exposing their conspiracy could Procyon and the others be able to bury that skeleton.

‘He wants us to fight each other to the death,’ Procyon thought, smiling hollowly after realizing Chang-Sun’s ultimate goal. ‘...I’ve heard about the way Twilight became very sly, but I didn’t think it would be this bad.’

The saddest part was that Procyon could do nothing even if he knew Chang-Sun’s goal.

[The Hell Gate has closed!]

Thump...!

When the criminal transfer came to an end, Clio City returned to its original state, so Procyon could finally heave a sigh. Still, he had a heavy heart.

“I made a Mana Pledge and wiped out Sadalmelik’s faction, so I’ve sufficiently proven that we’re on the same side, yes?” Chang-Sun remarked with a laugh, making Procyon purse his lips in response.

“You were all talkative earlier, but you’re boring now. Take this,” Chang-Sun continued as he tossed something to the dispirited Procyon.

Tap!

After receiving the item and seeing that it was an opaque marble that contained a chaotic mix of energy, Procyon tilted his head in confusion for a moment. His eyes soon widened, however, after he realized that it was [Alioth’s Astromancy Ball].

Procyon gasped, exclaiming, “No way...!”

“That kind of marble was planted everywhere in Eos,” Chang-Sun explained.

“...He was trying to take advantage of the chaos!” Procyon exclaimed, gritting his teeth.

Such marbles were known to be used for making human sacrifices, but such conduct in Arcadia was forbidden even in <Horoscope> because the usage of such human offerings was too obvious.

“...You meant what you said, yes?” Procyon asked cautiously.

“Give it back if you don’t want to believe me,” Chang-Sun said.

“N-No, it’s fine,” Procyon said as he hurriedly hid the [Astromancy Ball] in his back pocket, worrying that Chang-Sun would take it.

However, Chang-Sun watched Procyon with discontentment, saying, “I don’t like it.”

“What...?!” Procyon yelled, feeling a shiver running down his spine. However, he could not finish speaking.

[The Authority ‘Dream-Eating Beast’ has been activated, firing the first claw!]

Slasssh!

Before he could react, a sudden lightning bolt cut through Procyon’s left arm.

Spurttt―!

“Aaaargh!” Procyon screamed in pain.

Although Prycon’s left arm was physically fine, its spiritual form was torn off, falling to the ground. With bloodshot eyes, Procyon looked at Chang-Sun, silently asking the reason behind the sudden change in his behavior when they had made a deal. However, Procyon had no means of fighting back if Chang-Sun had a change of heart and tried to kill him, so he was terrified.

“Your tone was too casual,” Chang-Sun explained concisely.

‘T-That was enough of a reason to cut off my arm?’ Procyon thought that it was unfair as he looked at Chang-Sun.

Tap!

As Chang-Sun watched Procyon with an emotionless gaze, he took a step forward, which sounded very loud in Procyon’s ears.

“You’re noisy.”

“...Hup!” Procyon bit his lower lip so as not to groan in pain.

“I don’t like how you look at me.”

“...!” Procyon quickly looked at the floor.

Tap, tap―!

Badump!

As Chang-Sun’s footsteps got closer, Procyon’s heart pounded harder.

“M-My...!” Procyon stuttered.

Tap, tap, tap!

Badump, badump!

“M-My apologies! Things have been too hectic for me and I’ve accidentally upset you. Please forgive me!” Procyon pleaded as he prostrated on the ground to beg for Chang-Sun’s forgiveness.

Chang-Sun finally came to a halt, and Procyon could sense that Chang-Sun was staring at his back.

Badump, badump, badump―!

Procyon swallowed his saliva several times, his clothes long since having become drenched in sweat.

“You better watch your mouth next time,” Chang-Sun said.

“I-I’ll make sure to remember it!” Procyon replied hurriedly.

“Alright. Get going and say hello to Chiron for me,” Chang-Sun said.

“Sir C-Chiron will be very g-glad to hear it!” Procyon replied.

Perhaps Chiron would even be ‘glad’ enough to kill Procyon...

In any case, the only thought that remained in Procyon’s mind was getting out of this place, so he quickly stood up to bow for the last time before moving to leave.

“Ah, hold on.” Chang-Sun stopped Procyon.

Procyon, who had been rejoicing the fact that he was free, froze up again and stiffly turned his head. He asked, “D-Dd I make any mistake...?”

“Leave the body,” Chang-Sun said.

“By the body, do you mean...” Procyon trailed off.

Chang-Sun simply watched Procyon without answering him.

“Y-Yes, sir!” Procyon exclaimed, wanting to cry.

Procyon had met his apostle after spending hundreds of years to find the right one. Many of the other Star Signs had wanted his apostle, but Procyon had convinced the man by throwing a tantrum. However, Procyon was going to lose that very apostle, but what could he do? Being weak was tantamount to a crime.

Pzzzz―!

[The Celestial ‘Canis Minor’ is returning to the Society <Horoscope>!]

A pillar of light fell from the sky, and Procyon slowly left his apostle’s body.

“Don’t forget to cancel your apostle’s contract,” Chang-Sun reminded Procyon.

“...!”

“Ah, do you have any funds lying around? Traveling in Arcadia without any money is inconvenient in many ways,” Chang-Sun continued.

Chang-Sun was behaving like a neighborhood thug, and yet Procyon had no choice but to nod.

* * *

Procyon offered up his secret fund, which he had prepared long ago, and safely left the building.

“Now we can catch a break,” Chang-Sun said as he caught Procyon’s apostle, who helplessly fell to the ground. However, he sensed a gaze on his back. He tilted his head and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I didn’t know you were a bully,” Ardrin Tigernmas said, looking at Chang-Sun with a dumbstruck gaze. As she had experienced Chang-Sun driving her into a corner, she identified(?) with Procyon for the first time.

“Thanks for the compliment,” Chang-Sun replied casually.

“...You know taking that as a compliment is wrong,” Arin said.

The Twilight Arin had once known was nothing like this, so why had he become so twisted? Arin let out a very long sigh as she witnessed a monster born from troubled times.

“But...” Chang-Sun began.

“...?”

“...I think it’s too soon to compliment me,” Chang-Sun said.

“...Don’t tell me you’re planning something more.”

“Do you have a hotline to Sadalmelik, by any chance?” Chang-Sun asked.

“What are you trying to...?! Wait, you...” Arin trailed off, narrowing her eyes.

After all Chang-Sun had done to attack Sadalmelik and bring Chiron to his side, Chang-Sun was still going to contact Sadalmelik? Arin intended to object, thinking that Chang-Sun was simply trying to provoke her, but belatedly realized his intention.

“If we’re going to start a fight, we have to do it right,” Chang-Sun said with a shrug.

“...!”

“Tell Sadalmelik that Chiron knows about the [Astromancy Ball],” Chang-Sun continued.

“...Can I just say one more thing?” Arin asked with a sour expression, feeling confused as to whether the greatest evil was <Horoscope> or Chang-Sun at this point. When Chang-Sun nodded at her, Arin continued, “I was wrong. You aren’t a bully.”

“Then what am I?” Chang-Sun asked.

“You’re an asshole,” Arin replied.

“Thanks for such a high compliment,” Chang-Sun said with a chuckle.

“It’s not a compliment!” Arin shrieked in the end.

* * *

Clang!

“...What? Say that again.” Sadalmelik dropped her wine glass after hearing a report from Rumb the ‘Lumbricus’, her subordinate. The glass fragments reflected the grim look on her face.

Despite the fact that it was not his fault, Rumb had to bow more deeply as he said, “...They failed.”

“No, tell me what you said before that,” Sadalmelik said.

“We’ve... lost the Channelings of Alioth and the others after they left to punish the Metal Mask and Ardrin Tigernmas, who is suspected to be the mastermind.”

“...!”

“It seems... they’ve been exterminated,” Rumb said, shutting his eyes.

“...”

“I’m sorry... Aaaargh!”

Craaaash!

Clang, clang―!

Sadalmelik threw all the tableware she could get her hands on. She had traveled from Worldline to Worldline to gather these wine glasses and ceramics, but now she shattered them as if they were nothing. That was how uncontrollable her anger was.

She had mobilized a total of twenty-seven Star Signs for this mission, which meant she had sent in most of her faction members. She had gone out of her way to try to find the Metal Mask’s mastermind, whom she presumed to be someone extraordinary, by any means necessary. It had been her belief that nothing would defeat them unless the <Anti-Star> Alliance’s main troops appeared, but all the Star Signs had been killed...! She had lost all her loyal subordinates in the blink of an eye.

“He lost even after drinking an [Energy Surge Potion]? How can that be possible? Are you sure Alioth didn’t betray us and became their spy?” Sadalmelik shrieked.

“We’ve confirmed from the remaining Data that he did drink the potion,” Rumb said.

“Then how is it possible?! The potion runs on <Myths>. The poison in it is supposed to elevate a Celestial’s Divine Class several levels higher! So... So! Arrgghhhhhh!” Sadalmelik screamed several times, pulling out her hair. After a long time, she bit her fingernails as she muttered, “This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening...!”

Her eyes lost focus as she continued, “Do you think they have the Astromancy Ball? What about the traces of human sacrifice? Do you think they know about our Outer Celestial contact...?”

“T-There’s no way for us to know that right now. Ardin Tigernmas occupied Eos just now, so it’s difficult to approach...” Rumb began.

“Stop saying we can’t know or do something and give me a solution. A solution! Have you forgotten that it’ll be the end for both of us if our plan is exposed?” Sadalmelik cried.

Rumb fell silent, because just as Sadalmelik said, his life was at stake in their plan.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation!”

At that moment, one of Sadalmelik’s subordinates hurriedly barged in and gave Rumb a note. When he read the note, Rumb turned pale and exclaimed, “N-No...!”

“What now?!” Sadalmelik snapped.

“W-We received a report that P-Procyon visited Sir C-Chiron in a hurry just now after his trip,” the subordinate replied.

“What? Don’t tell me...” Sadalmelik trailed off.

“...But there is also some intel that Procyon was seen in Eos,” the subordinate continued.

“How dare these lunatics point their swords at me!?” Sadalmelik screamed as she slammed the desk, then sprang to her feet.

Thud!

“I have no other choice,” Sadalmelik murmured.

“What... are you going to do?” Rumb asked tentatively.

“Chiron. We need to sacrifice Chiron and his people,” Sadalmelik said.

“...!” Rumb’s jaw dropped to the floor.

Not paying attention to him, Sadalmelik came to a decision, her eyes shining menacingly.