Chapter 31 – Galaxy Guild

Zing.

He absentmindedly opened the subspace, which had become a general Awakening Skill, and stored all his equipment except for the Heaven-Slaying Demon Sword.

Then, he suddenly remembered that he had previously used Law Revision to change the subspace into a creature-exclusive one.

‘Huh?’

But the legendary equipment was stored in the creature-exclusive subspace without any resistance.

‘Is legendary equipment treated as a living creature? A living weapon?’

Since it wasn’t an immediately important question, he set the thought aside in a corner of his mind. After sending Lycan into the subspace as well, he looked at his party members.

“Do any of you want something specific from the byproducts?”

“I need the Shadow Spider’s spinning appendage. If I make equipment with it, I think I’ll be able to use the Black Shadow Manipulation Art more diversely.”

“The Stone Golem’s Magic Core Fragment. I plan to make a golem with it, use it as a summoned creature, and raise my Command Skill proficiency.”

Jin Yuseong and Park Seongcheol each stated what they wanted.

However, while everyone was talking about different things with their mouths, their gazes were all fixed on the Chaos Stone Golem’s Fusion Core.

Well, it was understandable. The byproduct of the only Five-Star Monster.

Whether made into equipment or sold at auction, it was material worth well over tens of millions of won, so Lee Hanseong couldn’t rashly say he would take it.

Instead, it was Jin Yuseong who broached the topic.

“But, did you just promote a Spirit using a byproduct? Is there a way to promote Spirits other than historical alteration?”

“I’m curious about that too.”

Since it was still connected to colonization, it seemed the other party members had also noticed that he had promoted Hyoo Guild to Three-Star.

Since they were all in the position of serving the same Constellation anyway, there was no reason to hide it, so he nodded.

“That’s right. However, it’s only a half-step promotion. For now, it’s a state where I need to complete the proper promotion through historical alteration later.”

“Ah-ha.”

“Then, can our Spirits also be promoted, even if it’s just a half-step?”

“There aren’t any materials for that right now, but if materials are obtained and conditions are met…”

“Judging by the materials, it seems to be the byproduct of a monster one rank higher than the Spirit’s current Star Rank. Are there separate conditions as well?”

Regarding the conditions for Spirit promotion, Lee Hanseong had only been able to guess before, but now it was different. Through the knowledge flowing from the Constellation, which had regained its Grade through two historical alterations, he now clearly and properly understood.

“First, the Synchronization Rate with the Spirit must reach the deep layer.”

“……?”

For the party members, whose maximum Synchronization Rate was 50% even after reaching 4-Star through consecutive transcendence, deep synchronization exceeding 90% was a distant prospect.

“And only devotees of the Constellation should be able to achieve promotion in this way.”

The principle of Spirit promotion, learned through the Constellation’s knowledge, was Record Fusion.

It involved adding the Starlight Record contained in the byproduct to the Spirit’s record to derive new possibilities.

This also aligned with the principle of historical alteration.

“Thanks to the Constellation’s Stigma itself being related to promotion, we, as devotees, can achieve even a half-step promotion.”

Originally, a Spirit’s record was almost like a completely closed conclusion. Adding a variable to extend it into a new conclusion.

That was the principle of historical alteration.

Upon hearing the conditions, Jin Yuseong made an expression that said it was still fortunate.

“Well, at least the second condition is already met. The deep synchronization is the problem, though.”

“Hmm, you guys don’t necessarily need to find byproducts like I did for a half-step promotion. You can also promote through joint historical alteration, like Seongcheol’s Chungmugong did.”

In fact, historical alteration itself was entirely possible even for Spirits that hadn’t completed a half-step promotion.

However, in that case, the alteration difficulty would increase significantly.

For example, suppose he attempted to alter the history of the 1-Star Spirit ‘Duren Spirit’ before conquering the dungeon.

When possessing Duren’s record, all he would have been able to use were <Slash>, <Immovable Heart>, and his own <Overmind> and <Skill Engraving: Set>.

With just that, the likelihood of failing to change history would have been high.

He probably would have just wasted Feats attempting the historical alteration.

But now, after rising to 2-Star and being able to use 《Transcendence》 without Life Consumption, the story was different.

“With my First Awakening Skill, Transcendence, historical alteration shouldn’t be difficult even without byproducts.”

Now that he knew that if he used Transcendence in reality and entered historical alteration, both the Spirit and himself would maintain the Transcendent state within the record.

The necessity of obtaining a byproduct to serve as the promotion medium had greatly diminished.

Even without gaining one skill from the medium, if he entered with his Grade raised by one step, his Vocation Awakening Skill would have changed into a general Awakening Skill.

“Oh. Is that so?”

“Still, it’s true that having a byproduct makes it a bit easier. So, speaking of which… can I use the Fusion Core?”

“According to what you said, a 5-Star byproduct is used when a 4-Star Spirit promotes. Do you have a 4-Star Spirit too?”

While they might have expected that Lee Hanseong, who had only contracted 1-Star Spirits, had raised the Grades of his Spirits through promotion, they seemed surprised that he might have already created a 4-Star Spirit. A surprised expression came back.

“I had the chance when promoting Chungmugong this time. So, the answer?”

Pointing at the Fusion Core and asking for an answer again, the party members exchanged glances among themselves and then nodded as if they had reached an agreement.

“Anyway, if it’s a 5-Star byproduct, we don’t have any Spirits that can use it, so you take it.”

“Right, even if we made equipment with it or sold it for money, the increase in combat power would be lower than a Spirit promoting, so go ahead.”

“Thanks, guys.”

Having received the party’s permission, Lee Hanseong happily grasped the Fusion Core.

Vroom.

And the following resonance.

Pheidippides’ star absorbed the starlight of the Fusion Core.

[Conditions met. 4-Star Spirit ‘Pheidippides’ is promoted to 5-Star.]

[New Unique Skills <Two Hearts: Dual Core>, <???> are added.]

[Vocation Awakening Skill 《Eight Gates Evasion》 changes into a general Awakening Skill.]

[The Sun Constellation and other stars noisily bless the Spirit’s promotion.]

Since it was a living creature, not an inanimate object like a golem, the skills changed slightly, but it was actually better.

‘Two Hearts…’

Since it was shared with Lee Hanseong through synchronization, he could immediately understand the skill’s effect.

The Life Stacks, which had been two, increased to three.

‘It was a skill that adds one extra life.’

But the joy was short-lived.

Throb!

Suddenly, his chest felt tight.

The area where his heart was.

‘What is this? Did the Mutual Destruction Curse Kim Jinho cast still remain?’

No, that wasn’t it.

This wasn’t a physical problem but an issue with his inner mental landscape.

He closed his eyes for a moment and entered his inner self. He could feel the constellations of the twelve Spirits, which had become vessels containing the Constellation, creaking.

‘The balance among the Spirits is being distorted.’

If this continued, maintaining the Constellation Descent state permanently would be impossible.

Even if he forced it, his body would suffer like just now.

Still, he didn’t want to give up Constellation Descent, which allowed a deep connection with the Constellation.

‘The problem is that the balance among the twelve Spirits has been broken while Mirinae’s Grade has recovered to some extent.’

In fact, the balance had already been problematic from the moment Pheidippides alone reached 4-Star while the other Spirits were all 1~2-Star.

At least, when Hyoo Guild became 3-Star this time, stability was regained.

But with Pheidippides becoming 5-Star, the balance was broken again.

‘To restore balance, there must be no gaps in the Star Ranks among the Spirits.’

The fact that one Spirit’s Star Rank was high itself wasn’t the problem.

When the lowest Spirit was 1-Star and the highest was 5-Star, balance was achieved when there was at least one Spirit for each Star Rank from 1-Star to 5-Star.

‘I need to create a 4-Star Spirit.’

Currently, Lee Hanseong’s Spirits consisted of 5-Star Pheidippides, 3-Star Hyoo Guild, 2-Star Henrietta, and the rest at 1-Star.

The solution was clear.

By raising the Grades of the Spirits through Transcendence, complete Hyoo Guild’s 4-Star promotion, and simultaneously carry out a joint historical alteration to also complete Henrietta’s 3-Star promotion.

Then, promote as many of the remaining 1-Stars to 2-Star as possible, and the empty Star Ranks would disappear.

‘I should postpone completing Pheidippides’ promotion.’

If he entered historical alteration in the Transcendent state, he would complete it up to 6-Star, which would create a gap at the 5-Star rank again.

Having finished thinking that far, he opened his eyes again. Mirinae was looking at him with worried eyes.

-Are you alright? It seems bearing this body has become a burden.

“I can still manage. I should be fine for at least a week.”

Mirinae tried to say something more, but since she directly felt Lee Hanseong’s reluctance to release Constellation Descent, she only moved her lips slightly before stopping.

-Very well. For now, I shall trust and wait. However, if my steward truly becomes endangered, I myself shall release the descent.

“That won’t happen.”

* * *

A short while later, after gathering the remaining byproduct cards, we took the exit portal located behind the treasure chest and left the dungeon.

Outside, it was already dawn.

Since we had entered the dungeon in the morning, the conquest had taken nearly a full day.

“It finally feels like it’s over.”

“But don’t let your guard down yet. Other contractors besides Kang Min might be targeting us.”

Jin Yuseong cautioned Park Seongcheol, who was stretching and about to let his guard down.

“If they want to come out, let them. We have a 7-Star Chungmugong, what’s there to worry about?”

“Becoming a 7-Star Contractor has really made you bold.”

“Being 7-Star warrants that.”

“Oh my, those without a 7-Star Spirit must be miserable.”

Park Seongcheol and Jin Yuseong were playfully bickering, but Lee Hanseong felt a deep, simmering emotion in the depths of Jin Yuseong’s heart.

Jin Yuseong already had a strong competitive spirit toward Park Seongcheol, and the problem was that with Chungmugong becoming 7-Star this time, the superiority had clearly shifted.

At least, now that he knew about Spirit promotion, he knew there was a way to catch up, so it was only to this extent.

If that weren’t the case, that emotion might have already exploded.

Still, since it seemed dangerous if Park Seongcheol kept stimulating him like this, Lee Hanseong deliberately changed the topic.

“By the way, you guys are now 2-Star Awakeners too. What are your plans for new Spirit Contracts?”

“Since Chungmugong became 7-Star, I have 11 Empty Stars left. I plan to wait until I become 3-Star.”

“I only have 10 too. I’ll probably contract when I become 3-Star?”

Park Seongcheol, a 6-Star Vessel, and Yu Sehee, a 5-Star Vessel, hadn’t yet gathered the standard 12 Empty Stars for a second Spirit Contract, so they postponed it.

However, Jin Yuseong, a 7-Star Vessel, was different.

“Hehe. I now have 14 Empty Stars, so even if I leave two for the Empty Stars that will fill when the Mountain Hermit promotes, 12 will remain. So, I plan to contract a new Spirit this time.”

On the topic revealing the difference in talent, Jin Yuseong wore a smug expression.

Then, looking at Lee Hanseong, he asked.

“Hanseong, what about you?”

“I’m not planning to contract a new one.”

Currently, Lee Hanseong’s Vessel, having risen to 2-Star, held 36 stars, but only 17 of them were Empty Stars.

Of course, since it was more than 12, it was a sufficient number to contract a new Spirit.

But that was the story when there was no Spirit promotion.

He couldn’t fill the Empty Stars when he didn’t know when he might obtain byproducts for his Spirits to promote.

No, in fact, he had no intention of contracting new Spirits from the start.

He planned to promote all the initial 1-Star Spirits to 12-Star.

“So, only I’m contracting one?”

“Still, let’s go to the Association together. As Seongcheol mentioned inside, we need to apply for a guild too.”

“You’re going to create a guild right away?”

When the topic of the guild came up, Park Seongcheol asked.

“Why, does it seem too rushed? The Constellation said it wasn’t bad either, so I think doing it right away would be good.”

“No, I’m not opposing it. I just thought you might do it later since you didn’t give a definite answer earlier.”

“As you said, to gather devotees of the Constellation who are also guild members, we probably need to start preparing now.”

Then, Jin Yuseong interjected.

“If we create a guild, who will be the Guild Master?”

“Obviously, the strongest one, me, should take it, right?”

Regarding who would be Guild Master, Park Seongcheol stepped forward confidently.

“That’s something we’ll have to see. If I contract with a 7-Star Spirit this time, I’ll be stronger.”

“Talk after you contract first, Yuseong.”

Since Jin Yuseong also had an unscratched lottery ticket, he didn’t give up the Guild Master position.

Yu Sehee didn’t seem particularly interested in the Guild Master position, but watching the two engage in a battle of nerves, she sighed and spoke up.

“Originally, since it’s a guild serving a Constellation, shouldn’t the Guild Master be the person closest to the Constellation? Considering potential too, I think it would be better to just leave it to Hanseong.”

“Hmm…”

“That… is true.”

Since Lee Hanseong was the core of the party, there was no objection to the suggestion of appointing him as Guild Master.

“If everyone thinks so, then I’ll take the Guild Master position. What should we name the guild?”

“Usually, guild names are related to the Constellation Name… but we don’t know our Constellation Name. And we can’t name it No Name, meaning nameless.”

Actually, since Lee Hanseong knew the Constellation’s True Name was Mirinae, he had one name in mind.

Since Mirinae means the Milky Way, Galaxy.

“How about Galaxy Guild?”

“Where did Galaxy suddenly come from?”

Since he couldn’t reveal the Constellation’s True Name, he added a separate reason.

“Spirits are likened to stars, and Constellations are constellations. It’s a name wishing that the stars serving our Constellation would become as numerous as a galaxy…?”

“Oh. The meaning is nice too.”

“Sounds good.”

“Then let’s go with that.”

* * *

And the next day.

Lee Hanseong’s party, well-rested and gathered at the Association, applied to create Galaxy Guild.

Simultaneously, Jin Yuseong’s second Spirit Contract began.

Fwoosh!

As Jin Yuseong placed his hand on the giant crystal mediating the contract with a Spirit, the Stellar Body, a new star was settling within his inner self.