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Chapter 388
The amount of money Luna spent in a single day exceeded tens of billions of Sels.
Even so, neither I nor lissa—nor anyone else—said a word.
It was only a tiny fraction of Luna’s wealth, and since it was her money to spend as she pleased, there was no reason to object.
More than anything, I was the one who had tempted Luna into shopping in the first place while she was under stress.
After stuffing all the purchased goods into subspace storage and returning to Cascadia, the ones who greeted were none other than Rebecca and Isna.
The two of them were waiting for atop the R'lyeh.
“Did things go well?”
“There’s a problem.”
“What kind?”
“A Rift of Despair has opened. Grandfather and several bearers of the Star Title entered to investigate it.”
I imdiately understood what she was referring to.
“A Rift of Despair… From the way you ntion the Star Title, I’m guessing this was a top-secret investigation. If you know about it, that ans you’ve encountered it before. I haven’t heard anything about major issues. But judging by your certainty, sothing must have gone wrong?”
“Long ago, the Watchers deployed personnel to prevent Rifts of Despair from ever forming. Once they appear, it’s already too late. But when the Watchers were annihilated, our intelligence network collapsed, and we missed the signs. That’s how this Rift reappeared.”
“So what’s the conclusion?”
“If we leave it alone, Grandfather—and every Star bearer inside—will die. We need your strength.”
“You can’t handle it alone?”
“No.”
The firmness of her answer made the danger clear.
“A Rift of Despair… What’s inside it?”
At Luna’s question, Isna closed her eyes, thought for a mont, then spoke.
“A Gatekeeper.”
“A Gatekeeper?”
“I don’t know the details. Only that it’s a being made of light. But its authority clashes badly with mine.”
Then who killed it?
There was no need to ask.
“Was it ?”
“Yes. It wasn’t easy.”
I closed my eyes and thought.
I had already heard about Closed Worlds directly, and with Yog’s threat steadily growing, losing all the Stars now would complicate everything.
Why was I fighting Yog in the first place?
Because it threatened to destroy the life I had reclaid at trendous cost.
If we lost all the Stars here… the loss would be catastrophic.
“The Sword Saint should still be alive.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Just in case, when I sent the potion, I attached an undead scout. I can only confirm that he’s alive, nothing more. But if he drank the potion, he shouldn’t die easily.”
The evidence was flimsy, but it was all we had.
As I spoke, I tossed so of the enhanced potions from my subspace to her.
“I don’t know where the Rift is. Since you rushed back like this, you do, right?”
She nodded.
“One more thing. I heard only five people can enter. They’re already inside—can we even get in?”
“There’s a way. If we had known the Rift hadn’t fully disappeared, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place.”
“No point regretting what’s already happened.”
“….”
The Isna I knew in the past would have smiled brightly and said, ‘Oh well. Then we just do better from now on.’
But the current Isna clearly hadn’t shed all her burdens yet.
The weight of believing she had to save the world.
Honestly, I might not have done any better in her place.
And the fact that she ca straight to …
Perhaps, in trying to cast off that burden, she had begun relying on .
Watching a friend break down like this didn’t feel good.
For now, we needed to move.
I had planned to spar with the Star bearers to reach the 9th Circle—but at this rate, I’d have to use that Gatekeeper as training instead.
But before that—
“No matter how urgent this is, first we—”
“Before that. Since returning here, have you t them?”
She stared straight at .
“Who?”
“Your subordinate.”
Bang!!
“Lady Isna!!”
The door burst open as ryl Dyne rushed in.
“Senior ryl?!”
“ryl Dyne…”
Before Rebecca and Isna left, ryl had been dead.
But after they departed, ryl was successfully resurrected and had taken refuge in Cascadia.
The reactions of the two—seeing a subordinate, a senior they thought dead, alive—were imdiate.
“Senior!!”
Rebecca leapt up and hugged ryl, who patted her back gently.
“I heard everything. You went through so much while I was gone…”
While Rebecca sobbed, Isna silently stared at ryl.
“Lady Isna.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No. I feel better than ever.”
“…I’m sorry. I failed you.”
“No. Don’t apologize. What happened to was my choice. Garlan’s betrayal was his fault alone. Lady Isna, you did everything you could.”
At ryl’s firm words, Isna looked away.
I quietly stood up.
Luna followed out.
Telling Isna about my conversation with Void Enchanter would need careful consideration.
* * *
Either way, the Stars dying right now was unacceptable.
If rescue was required, then we’d do it.
I also had ties with Isna’s grandfather, Sword Saint Osberg, and hadn’t I planned to et the Stars anyway?
“Leon.”
The one who called as I sorted my thoughts outside was Lispa Elde, holding a small box.
“Lispa Elde.”
“Take it.”
She handed the box.
“What is this?”
“Clothing made from Phoenix Silkworm thread. I made it similar to what you usually wear—nothing flashy.”
So the outfit made from Phoenix Silkworm thread was complete.
“This is a very good item. One you need.”
As she leaned in clingily, Luna grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back.
“Want to die, you thieving pigeon?”
“If you’re unhappy, you should’ve made it yourself.”
“….”
Lispa smirked, satisfied by Luna’s scowl, and explained the item.
Simultaneous overwhelming shock and slash resistance, incredible insulation, assistance with mana and aura circulation—it was practically the ultimate armor.
Yet it was incredibly comfortable, restricting movent in no way.
At her urging, I lightly drew aura and slashed at the fabric.
The aura bounced off.
This would ignore most Expert-level attacks.
“Is Phoenix Silkworm thread really this good?”
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“No. Not by itself.”
Of course. If it were, even the Emperor wouldn’t hand it over so easily.
“I appreciate it, Lispa.”
“No problem. Though… could you give a deep kiss as thanks?”
“No.”
I shut that down imdiately.
She clicked her tongue in disappointnt.
“Too bad. I practiced techniques ant to satisfy you.”
She flicked her tongue playfully and smiled with her eyes.
Honestly…
As she turned to leave, she said,
“If it tears, tell anyti. I’ll fix it.”
She left, seemingly satisfied.
Luna looked at with a complicated expression.
“I can do it too.”
She’d tried to weave clothes for the child before, but her crude results clearly dissatisfied her.
“You can’t learn from Lispa. I’ll hire a tailor soon—go learn properly.”
Luna nodded, still frustrated.
* * *
For several days now, they had been forced to retreat again and again under the assault of monsters.
Far more ti had been consud than planned.
“Pull yourself together!”
Sword Saint Osberg Mielephon grabbed the shoulder of Radiant Star Revolt Calibra, who looked on the verge of losing consciousness, slapping his cheeks to keep him awake—like waking soone freezing to death.
“Ugh… you damn old man. I’m not dead yet.”
“If you can talk, focus on recovery. It’s a miracle you’re still alive with those wounds.”
How had it co to this?
Ironically, the monsters tracking them weren’t that powerful.
Given the strength of those gathered here, it should’ve been manageable.
But when they faced the being at the core of the Rift—
They realized it couldn’t be defeated.
Not a matter of strength alone.
The creature was about four ters tall, humanoid, composed entirely of aurora-like light.
With no facial features, it drew the sword embedded in the ground, reversed its grip, spun it once, and pointed the blade at them.
And then—
Radiant Star Revolt Calibra was the first to be incapacitated.
Despite being considered the most talented among the Stars, he was hit hardest by a curse-like effect.
His power dropped by more than half.
The sa happened to the others, though to varying degrees.
Whatever the Gatekeeper’s authority was, it weakened its enemies—and the effect hadn’t faded.
Now Revolt was barely upper-tier Sword Expert.
The others weren’t much better.
“There has to be a trigger to this power reduction.”
“Is that important right now? Move, you hag.”
A small girl with a massive bow glared at the muscular man, Battle Star Sevinel Harper.
“Call hag one more ti and I’ll pin your mouth shut with an arrow. I’m younger than you old fossils.”
“We’re all aging. rcenaries call people like us ‘washed-up’ these days.”
“Damn them! Have you ever seen such a lively grandma?! I’ll live plenty longer!”
Radiant Star Revolt Calibra.
Sword Saint Osberg Mielephon.
Spear Star Bellion Krevad.
Battle Star Sevinel Harper.
Bow Star Yuhav Redis.
If Leon were here, he’d click his tongue at the party balance—but that didn’t matter.
They were Stars.
Continental guardians, revered beyond nations.
Yet even they were helpless before this Rift’s boss.
They fought under crushing pressure, and lost.
Revolt went berserk, suffered fatal wounds, and his massive weapon was shattered.
Even the toughest among them—Revolt and Sevinel—were overwheld.
“Potion. Here.”
They poured recovery elixirs into him while hiding.
“The potion’s effect is terrifying. Without it, we’d all be dead.”
Cascadia’s enhanced potions restored so strength, but not enough.
A potion doubling strength ant nothing if your base power had been reduced to a third.
“If only we were at full strength…”
“Snap out of it. That thing hasn’t even revealed its full power.”
Yuhav’s cold judgnt silenced them.
“We need to find a way out first.”
“The entrance is sealed. Five-person limit—no reinforcents. And until we understand its power, we’d just die pointlessly.”
Osberg sighed.
Worst-case scenario.
And none of them were mages.
“If only Luteon Abelgard were here…”
“He’s long dead.”
“If only that bastard were here.”
“Who?”
“Who else? The brat you pampered.”
“…Leon of Cascadia.”
“I’ve heard of him. But he’s barely in his twenties.”
“True…”
“And you think he could change this?”
Yuhav couldn’t believe it.
“Recently, a proposal ca up to test him for the Star Title.”
“…That boy?”
“But we’re here now.”
Osberg tightened his grip on his sword.
“Get ready. He’s found us.”
“Already?! Damn it!”
Food gone. Potions nearly gone.
Worst-case remained unchanged.
“And his attacks interfere with healing. Revolt’s wounds aren’t closing—that’s abnormal.”
Revolt grabbed Osberg’s arm.
“I’m done. Only one option remains. That massive unknown door to the west.”
“….”
“I’ll hold it off. You go.”
Osberg clenched his fist.
Such helplessness was rare.
“If you all die too, the continent ends. If that thing escapes, who stops it?”
“Our power dropped in stages. There’s a cooldown. Three first, then two ten minutes later.”
“Withdraw. Use bait. Drain it. Then bring real firepower.”
No certainty—but no alternatives.
Then—
Crash!!
The cave collapsed as the luminous being appeared.
“Go! Now!”
Revolt swallowed every remaining potion.
“Co! Monster! I won’t run again in my life!”
He charged.
And then—
BOOM!!!
A massive tremor shook the entire Rift.
The Gatekeeper suddenly ignored them, sensing sothing far more dangerous.
It turned—and rushed off at full speed.
As if sothing far worse had entered.
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