Chapter 40: Five Guardian Stars (1)

This is truly incomprehensible.

‘Why is the Faction Scenario popping up here?’

The Central Continent of is divided into three massive factions.

The Vald Magic Empire, the Revolutionary Army, and the Beast Tribe Five.

Of course, there are smaller factions that serve as buffers between them, but broadly speaking, they all belong under one of these three major powers.

‘Or they might just act completely independently like Death Island in the Far East Sea.’

In other words, this game is fundamentally a three-way struggle.

And the so-called “Faction Scenario” is the system that forces the player to take part in this three-way battle.

‘Directly joining the command of one of the three powers, leading massive troops, and waging war.’

And ultimately, ensuring that one faction gains hegemony over the continent.

That is the primary content and goal of the “Faction Scenario” special quest system.

But now.

It suddenly appeared right in front of me.

“…And the most troublesome Succession Scenario popped up too?”

No wonder I was stunned.

The Empire’s faction scenario should naturally trigger within the Empire’s territory.

‘At least in the Empire’s allied nations.’

But this is the underground ruins of Aurax, the Revolutionary Army’s stronghold.

An ancient kingdom’s tomb completely unrelated to the Empire.

‘Why on earth?’

At that confusing moment, I felt a chill graze the back of my neck.

“W-wait!”

I hastily fired questions at the Saint of Light and Darkness, who wore an inscrutable smile.

“Saint of Light and Darkness, you said earlier that the reason I came to this world was because of ‘Fate’ or something… right?”

“I didn’t say anything like that.”

Useless joke at a time like this.

My mouth went dry.

“Could it be…!?”

“…?”

“That fate means Gilloshian has to become Emperor?”

Surely it couldn’t be that.

“So I was summoned into this body because I know this world well? No way. It’s not some pathetic, nonsense setup like that, right?”

If that were the case, I had zero intention of cooperating with that madman’s fate!

On the contrary, I would smash whoever summoned me with all my strength.

Even if they were powerful Transcendents, the same applied.

No one has the right to meddle with someone else’s life without permission.

…

The Saint of Light and Darkness was silent for a moment.

Then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! You are quite the skeptic. How cheeky of you.”

But surprisingly, there was warmth in his voice.

As if he liked that I doubted so much, the Saint smiled gently.

“This is already the third time I say this, but I do not know what your fate is. Nor do I know where that path leads.”

“Let me be clear: your dimensional transfer has nothing to do with us, the Guardian Stars.”

Come to think of it, that was true.

From the start, the Saint said he did not know my fate.

He only said that those with such fate would return to this world!

Yes, he definitely said that.

Ahem.

Feeling awkward, I scratched my cheek.

Out of irritation, I had wasted a glare on the wrong target.

‘But fate is fate, and scenarios are scenarios.’

I crossed my arms and asked again.

“Then why ask me about the Emperor’s throne? Why do I have to aim for the crown?”

The Saint hesitated a moment, then answered.

“That is a favor I ask of you, who do not yet know your own fate.”

“A favor?”

What kind of favor is made with absolute intimidation?

“Did they call this a favor in ancient times? Nowadays, it would be called a threat or coercion.”

“Of course, this is sudden. I will explain slowly.”

“Fine then.”

As I nodded, darkness bloomed from the Transcendent’s fingertips.

Like a black ink flower, a new scene was superimposed.

…Ah, this is it.

I smirked at the unfamiliar scenery wrapping around me.

‘A cinematic video from the game.’

Exactly that.

This is a story from a very distant past.

The ‘Platinum Age’—when all the world was rich and peaceful.

In that era, there was said to be a single massive nation on this Central Continent.

A name I also knew.

‘Everlast.’

A country whose entire population could wield the power of the demigods.

Traces of it still scatter across the continent, and even these Tomb Ruins of the Ancient Kingdom are one of its remnants.

As you can see, it was a powerful nation capable of ruling the whole continent.

So here’s a new question.

‘Why did such a mighty nation collapse?’

The footage I was watching was the answer to that question.

Everlast fractured.

The demigod power that all its people once enjoyed gradually vanished.

So the people of Everlast had to find a new power to protect themselves.

Magic, swordsmanship, archery, spirits, necromancy…

Each honed their specialties and gained new strength.

But it could never be the same as before.

Because inevitably, differences existed in the powers they cultivated.

And that was the root of conflict.

‘With disparities in power, new statuses and classes emerged.’

Those statuses and classes became hereditary and deepened the conflicts.

As a result, Everlast plunged into civil war and fragmented into dozens of factions following their own revered powers.

“We were those who protected Everlast from long ago, so naturally we struggled to prevent its division. But in the end, we failed. We truly gave it our all.”

Suddenly, the Saint of Light and Darkness spoke with bitterness in his voice.

I nodded in agreement.

‘For the Guardian Stars who watched over Everlast for so long, it must have felt like watching their child die.’

The Transcendent gazed at the burning palace and the fallen king within the footage.

“On the day the last emperor of Everlast died, we swore an oath. To rebuild the lost kingdom…”

And then.

“To unite this fragmented continent once more. We pledged never to rest until that was achieved.”

…What foolishness.

You never should ask family to guarantee something.

Well, the result was obvious.

“But that ultimately failed. The forces we raised were defeated one by one, and we lost most of our power to the new deities appearing on the continent, sealed away here.”

He smiled bitterly.

“I owe Tershan a great apology.”

I knew about the last emperor of Everlast too.

If you went through the dungeon behind the massive cathedral entrance, not the small door, you’d find the King’s Memorial Tablet.

‘You could also meet the old emperor’s Soul NPC there.’

But his name was Tershan?

I felt a bit strange because I knew the Empire’s royal family traditionally ends names with ‘Shan’.

But that was all I knew.

“Everlast fragmented into dozens of city-states and eventually faded into oblivion. But just because the nation disappeared doesn’t mean the people did too.”

“…?”

“They scattered across the continent. Crossing deserts, crossing seas. They pioneered forests and developed mines. They survived.”

“…!”

This was something I had never heard before.

The story after Everlast’s fall was not part of the original official story.

“They survived by wielding their own weapons and cultivating their own lands. And they continued to leave descendants, passing on their legacy.”

They continued passing on their lineage?

“Could that mean…?”

“Yes. All humans on this continent are descendants of Everlast. Even you.”

“…Huh.”

I closed my mouth tightly.

This was naturally bewildering.

Especially for me, who knew the original story inside and out.

‘But thinking about it, it makes sense.’

Though it vanished into history’s shadows, such a powerful nation surely left descendants.

Especially since it was a vast nation ruling the entire continent…

‘Yeah, that could be true. There might be immigrants like the Baekseon clan from other continents, but native populations likely thrived more easily.’

As I nodded, the Saint continued.

“Especially the Imperial Scions of your Vald Empire.”

“Hm?”

Something even more surprising.

“You are all blood descendants of the Everlast emperor.”

“…What?”

“The owner of this tomb is a distant ancestor of your royal family.”

“…!”

I momentarily went blank, then realized the full context and gaped.

“So that’s why it’s Tershan? Really?”

“Of course.”

“Say it’s not true.”

“Don’t you want to believe it?”

“No, that means I’m digging up my ancestor’s grave right now.”

“That’s basically the case. Now that I look, you do resemble Tershan somewhat? The nose is a bit similar.”

…What the hell.

I stood speechless, dumbfounded, while the Saint of Light and Darkness smiled wryly.

“There’s no need to fret. The emperor’s remains aren’t actually buried here, only his memorial tablet.”

“Well, still.”

“And this is from five thousand years ago. Even the greatest souls would have melted away through dimensional rifts by now.”

With that, he clapped his hands once.

The darkness that had been showing me ancient history dispersed.

Swish.

Gathering the darkness in his palm, the Saint strode toward me.

“Now, do you understand what I am trying to say?”

I was a little embarrassed.

“What story? I don’t get it.”

He sighed deeply as he met my eyes.

“You’re rather slow-witted, aren’t you? Tershan wasn’t like that.”

What on earth was he talking about?

As I wore a genuinely clueless expression, the Saint began explaining.

“Our fate as Guardian Stars is bound to the past. We swore to protect the nation, but ultimately failed and were helplessly trapped here.”

He paused briefly, then continued.

“For that reason, we intend to recreate Everlast through you.”

…

The rebuilding of Everlast.

The Guardian Stars sought to fulfill their ancient oath in this way.

“And to unite the continent once more. Just like in the distant past.”

Unification of the continent…

Sounds like something out of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

While I was lost in thought, the Saint’s explanation went on.

“To do that, one power must first dominate the entire continent with overwhelming force. After all, unification means binding everything into one.”

That was my role, and the role of the new Empire.

The current Vald Empire could not unify the continent.

Because the present Emperor had no intention of doing so.

‘Emperor Vareshan is a thorough magic supremacist, so he refuses to accept those who cannot wield magic as Empire citizens.’

Thus, this “Scenario: Empire and Continent’s Ruler” had to fall on the player.

“For that reason, you must accomplish the unification of the continent. With our will and blessing, you will surely achieve this great feat.”

The Saint spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“…Right, that’s what you’re saying.”

Now I understood what he meant.

It would be ridiculous to pretend otherwise after hearing all this.

The Guardian Stars desperately hoped that you—noble descendant of the old emperor with the eyes of an outsider—would…

“Fail.”

Even as he said that, the Saint spoke as if declaring a solemn decree.

“We will be your backing. So ascend to the Empire’s throne. Unify this continent, rebuild Everlast, and restore its former glory.”

In a dignified, chilling voice.

“…And free us.”

It felt like a fate I could not refuse.

But.

‘No.’

There was something else I couldn’t accept.

Tilting my head, I retorted to the Saint.

“…Why me?”

I had absolutely no intention of going along with this.

“Why keep telling someone who just came here to level up this kind of stuff?”

I decisively deleted the scenario message that was still blinking.

[Faction Scenario ‘Empire and Continent’s Ruler’ has been declined.]