Meanwhile, that was around the time.
Just before the Star God of Sagittarius descended.
“What on earth is this….”
Gote couldn’t help but gape at the sight of the Sagittarius sanctuary.
Before his eyes, a commercial building that should have been five stories had transformed into a 63-story tower.
Moreover, where had the aging outer walls, the air conditioner units, and the dusty windows gone?
With its gleaming glass exterior, and above all, what was that bizarrely tasteless snake’s head carved on the rooftop?
‘Wh-what happened to our main hall in the year I was away…’
Gote was frozen, but I Jae-won, who had followed him, smiled as if wondering what the big deal was.
“Obviously, this must be your master’s handiwork. It’s nice, now we have an elevator. No more hauling water jugs for the dispenser up the stairs.”
But Gote screamed.
That wasn’t the issue!
No matter how you looked at it, this wasn’t a Sagittarius sanctuary anymore; it was practically an Ophiuchus sanctuary!
“If the Star God sees this, all hell will break loose!”
“Well, that’s probably true. He is a proud one.”
“It’s not just that! If the others see this…”
Before he could finish, screams erupted.
“Crazy, what is this!”
“This is our building?!”
Gote flinched at those voices. And sure enough, when he turned around, there were about twenty followers.
At that sight, Gote turned pale.
“What! Why are you guys who are supposed to be in Africa here?!”
But his scream was short-lived, as dozens of followers’ eyes flashed and they kicked Gote repeatedly.
“What? Why are we here?!”
“If you’d settled here with our master, you should have reported it immediately, and this is how our SS-rank acts?!”
“This was our chance to serve the master!!!”
“Even that Kali is writing her resume at a café nearby! Why didn’t you report?!”
“Ugh! No! You Sagittarius followers! No! The master isn’t as wonderful as you think…!”
Gote desperately tried to defend Sagittarius, but all the followers gaped at the dazzling building transformed by Yi Geon’s skill.
“Wow, is this really our old tacky building?”
“They say it’s Master Yi Geon’s work.”
“Really? I want to change my constellation!”
[Ophiuchus faith rises significantly]
[Ophiuchus faith rises significantly]
[Sagittarius faith slightly dips]
Thus, Gote despaired as if he was a step too late.
On the other hand, I Jae-won smiled.
Despite everything, it was evident that Yi Geon had put tremendous effort into the building.
Of course, Yi Geon had said, ‘Because I live here.’ But for that, it was overly meticulous, even in areas Yi Geon never visited, right down to the sections Sagittarius would use.
So I Jae-won thought it was only natural that onlookers gathered, but what they were really watching were the Sagittarius followers.
The building was already too famous.
“What, are they models? Celebrities?”
“Is there a shoot?”
Thanks to the onlookers, Aries followers who recognized the Sagittarius followers also whispered.
“Wow, I’d heard even professional models got rejected by the Sagittarius Star God, but seeing them in person is amazing.”
“Just by combat ability alone, they say they’re all comparable to constellation leaders. Each one is famous.”
“Th-that may be so, but they’re still last place. Bums.”
Followers of the Wealth constellation passed by, pouting, but that didn’t seem to matter to the Sagittarius followers.
“Gote, when do we get to be under Master Yi Geon’s command?”
“They say Master Yi Geon took down Cancer this time. Other constellations are in an uproar over it. Asking if it’s even possible.”
“Ah, I wonder what the Ophiuchus Star God is like!”
At the followers’ gaze, Gote’s veins bulged as he yelled, “How can you call yourselves Sagittarius followers and say that!”
“Wake up! What ‘under his command’! The Lady Saint and the Star God will never permit it! And Ophiuchus’s subordinate is already Virgo!”
At that, the Sagittarius followers erupted in anger.
“What?! We never heard that!”
“That’s right! If the damned 2nd-ranked noble constellation is his subordinate, the world would’ve turned upside down!”
“Let’s fight! Overthrow them! Our loyalty is higher!”
And at this scene, the Cheon siblings, now saints, smiled but were also plunged into worry.
In fact, now that they were in charge of the constellation’s operation, they too had been seriously pondering the matter of subordinates.
Why?
‘Because Ophiuchus is still small in scale, so its mana reserve is small.’
That was the reason Yi Geon had collapsed this time.
In particular, the power of [Destruction] consumed mana terrifyingly.
Well, it was natural given its power to even kill Star Gods, but the fact that their uncle could handle such power was truly remarkable.
And to use that power comfortably, they needed to grow the constellation’s scale.
‘Constellations holding grudges might attack to claim Cancer’s Star God core.’
In that sense, having Sagittarius, the ultimate long-range fighters, as a subordinate would be all-purpose.
That wasn’t all.
‘Sagittarius has the largest mana reserve and the fastest mana recovery among the constellations.’
Perhaps due to the nature of a sun god that radiates powerful energy on its own, Sagittarius had certain advantages in mana capacity.
If other constellations ran out of mana after using the same skill four times, Sagittarius could do it about ten times.
And if things went well.
‘If it’s Uncle, he might be able to uncover the secret of that mana characteristic.’
Anyway, having them as a subordinate would be all-purpose, but they knew it was impossible.
‘How much would the Star Gods abhor being someone’s subordinate.’
Virgo must have been a stroke of luck. Honestly, even an alliance wouldn’t be easy.
But while thinking that, the Cheon siblings were actually puzzled.
It was because of the expression Yi Geon had when they saw him while coming out to buy groceries.
What on earth had he seen?
Suddenly, Yi Geon had muttered a curse.
‘These damn swindler Star Gods.’
Why had Yi Geon suddenly said such a thing?
And that was the moment.
Flash!
Everyone was startled by the red light bursting from the entire building.
“What is that light!”
The Sagittarius followers were especially bewildered.
They couldn’t possibly not know what that light was.
“It’s the descent of the Star God!”
And it was no ordinary descent.
It was a murderous intent, as if gods were about to devour each other.
* * *
And in the inner room of the Sagittarius sanctuary, where the red light flashed.
[You wretched, ill-bred calamity god.]
The master of Leo had appeared.
Both appearance and voice were Hugo’s.
The only difference was that his eye color had changed from green to gold.
But the atmosphere shifted drastically with the mere appearance of a god.
If Hugo normally had the expression of an ascetic, the master of Leo exuded arrogance and narcissism.
He was every bit a Star God.
And the forcibly summoned master of Leo raised the corner of his mouth as if infuriated.
[Did you really have to summon me like this. Calamity God.]
The Star God radiated murderous intent, demanding how he dared to sever the bond with his saint.
But that was only for a moment, as the master of Leo was taken aback.
Swish!
As soon as the Star God descended, Yi Geon brought his scythe to his neck.
“Master Yi Geon!”
The startled Cheon Ji-u nearly fainted, but Yi Geon sat him down, saying he was fine.
“First time talking face-to-face, isn’t it? You petty thing.”
[Petty?]
“Yes. The petty one who only thought of running away when the boss monster with the crab shell appeared, instead of trying to help.”
At those words, the master of Leo flinched slightly.
But only for a moment.
The master of Leo sneered elegantly.
[I have no obligation to help the Calamity God. To begin with, what were you thinking, destroying one of the 12 Star Gods? No, it’s more surprising that you’re still alive after using that calamitous power.]
But as if telling him to stop the nonsense, Yi Geon released his mana.
“Forget it. Break the contract.”
[What?]
“Break your saint contract, and hand over Taeksu. You swindlers.”
At that, Cheon Ji-u was shocked, and the master of Leo also seemed flustered.
But Yi Geon’s eyes gleamed.
He had no choice but to react that way.
It was after his followers had transported Cancer’s Star God body to the Hawaii sanctuary.
When they had brought him here, to the 1st sanctuary.
A notification had appeared when he opened his eyes.
[Constellation energy rose due to subordinates’ contributions]
[Experience increased]
[Subordinate joined, increasing total mana gauge by 10%]
[Godly treasures can be made using Cancer’s body]
[The masters fear the Serpent Bearer]
[Gods impressed by Ophiuchus’s grace have sought audience]
[A new mission has been given]
[Mission: Craft two treasures to protect the dignity of the constellation. By obtaining high-purity power (subordinate gods), evolution and upgrades of subordinates are also possible.]
Heirlooms and high-purity power, huh.
Well, he did need arms to give to the saints anyway.
It was interesting, but that wasn’t the important part.
[Finalize the contract with the saints]
[Check the price to be received from the saint]
[Upon completing this contract, the saints will be able to use all skills]
“!”
At the new notification, Yi Geon’s eyes widened.
‘The price?’
Well, up to that point, it was fine.
Originally, followers offered tributes and experience to the Star God in exchange for power, but saints were the Star God’s direct contractors.
Unlike mere followers who had to seek permission each time to use power, saints could freely wield the god’s power.
Maybe it was because they paid a special price.
Of course, that didn’t mean he intended to exploit his own nephews and nieces.
‘The price is likely just being a servant or something.’
Just a reaffirmation of that.
So he’d planned to finalize that contract roughly.
But…
[Saint direct contract price]
[In exchange for lending power, the saint must offer the soul of their most precious person after death]
[If refused, the Star God may take the saint’s soul]
Yi Geon had doubted his own eyes.
What kind of bullshit was this?
But soon, he had laughed disgustedly at the saint contract system.
And now.
“The saints get their souls eaten by you, right?”
At Yi Geon’s question, the master of Leo seemed taken aback.
But regardless, Yi Geon looked at the master of Leo as if about to kill him.
“And that contract term. The saints don’t know about it at all, do they?”
There was no way they knew.
After all, if Hugo knew about that contract, there was no way he’d agree to remain a saint.
‘When he’s someone who cherishes his wife and kids so much.’
And those Star God bastards certainly wouldn’t kindly inform humans of that.
He also thought he knew why they demanded the saint’s soul in return.
[Are you sure you won’t accept the price?]
[The constellation cannot be inherited]
[Immortality may not be possible]
It was clearly a method to sustain the god’s power or life.
Jizel must have eaten his saint’s soul and taken the body.
Well, as for himself, he had ignored it completely and terminated the contract.
In the end, as Yi Geon seemed ready to unleash the power of death, the master of Leo frowned.
[Deceive? It’s not that. My saint might have known everything and volunteered to offer his own sou—]
But the master of Leo couldn’t finish his sentence.
“I know it’s a lie. And even if it’s true, I won’t allow it.”
The fangs gleamed as if about to slice through the god’s soul.
“How dare you try to gobble up my friend’s soul without permission.”
His friend just had to live happily with his family and then pass on.
Who dared interfere with that, like a crazy person?
Along with that, the black power of Ophiuchus began to seep out.
Just as he had with Cancer, he seemed poised to swallow Sagittarius whole.
“So break the contract. Or become my subordinate.”
[……!]
The master of Leo seemed flustered.
So that was his goal from the start!
That was why he kept trying to summon me.
After taking Virgo as a subordinate, he would feel more than anyone how much his power had grown.
Thus, the master of Leo hurriedly spoke, both to clear up the misunderstanding.
[Don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of taking my saint’s soul.]
At that, Yi Geon’s eyes grew even more ferocious.
“Then that’s even worse. That means you’re planning to take Taeksu’s family as the price.”
[No. In my case, I already received payment in advance.]
“What?”
[If you don’t believe me, you can verify with your skill.]
When the master of Leo opened his hand, something appeared in his palm.
It was a small jar, but it was a soul.
[Sam Ortiz, Emily Ortiz]
It was the soul of Hugo’s parents.
And indeed, Hugo’s parents were said to have died from a monster attack, and at that time, they were saved by the Lord of the Scorching Lion Seat.
[I kept it to purify the contamination from the monster.]
Besides, what Hugo loved most at that time would have been his parents, so it conveniently met the conditions, and I was just keeping it as a formality.
[So it doesn’t matter if you take it.]
“Why?”
[I never intended to use it anyway. I don’t have a hobby of eating humans like a monster.]
The Lord of the Scorching Lion Seat coolly handed over the soul.
Then Igeon’s eyes turned a little gentler.
The Lord of the Scorching Lion Seat inwardly felt relieved.
[If you need a subordinate, let’s just make it an alliance.]
“Why?”
[No matter what, a Sacred God is the highest god. A subordinate means submission, obeying you, which would make me lose face before my followers. So I request an alliance instead. After all, an alliance has a similar effect to a subordinate.]
In fact, the notification also indicated it was correct.
So Igeon thought it wasn’t bad.
He wasn’t originally on bad terms with the Lord of the Scorching Lion Seat anyway.
Of course, it was surprising that the prideful Lord of the Scorching Lion Seat proposed an alliance first.
And the Lord of the Scorching Lion Seat also tapped the Sky’s Judgment aimed at his throat.
[In return, I’ll also tell you how to regenerate and upgrade this weapon. After all, to turn a god’s flesh into a weapon, you need special materials different from before.]
At that point, Igeon coolly nodded.
Partly because the Lord was wearing his friend’s face, his anger had subsided more easily.
Besides, if this guy tried anything weird, he could use the Wish Ticket anyway.
“Fine, good. As long as you cooperate in screwing over the Sacred Gods who cursed me, I don’t care if it’s a subordinate or an alliance.”
At those words, the Lord of the Scorching Lion Seat flinched.
Then he subtly turned his head away and said.
[Hmm... the god who cast that curse might have had their own reasons, don’t you think?]
Igeon glared sharply.
“Are you kidding?”
Perhaps because it was coming from his friend’s Sacred God, he felt a strange sense of betrayal.
“Reasons or not, I almost died in the tower because of those curses...”
[No, but something like charm reduction doesn’t even affect your life.]
Igeon stopped.
“Charm reduction?”
And he looked at the Lord of the Scorching Lion Seat.
“How do you know about that?”
The Lord of the Scorching Lion Seat was sweating beads.
And a brief silence flowed.
As if unable to bear the silence, the Sacred God said.
[Disaster God, from now on we’re allies, so let’s not harm each other...]
Igeon’s eyes turned fierce.
“Is it you?”
[No.]
“Is it you??”
[No, no. What do you mean?]
Sparks flew from Igeon’s eyes.
So it was this bastard??
(To be continued in the next episode)