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Chapter 1
‘Isn’t a constellation’s descent similar to a Korean shamanic calling?’
Awakeners, if they were unlucky, met crazy constellations.
Sometimes, a constellation would directly intervene in an Awakener’s life like a stalker, virtually forcing them into a contract.
How was that any different from a shamanic calling?
Ah, the difference was that it didn’t pass down through generations. But in the 21st-century era of Gates, the pattern felt pretty darn similar.
If you were lucky, you could contract with a high-ranked constellation and thrive as an Awakener. But if you were unlucky, you’d end up ruined in the blink of an eye—worse than getting scammed on a house lease.
Cases where Awakeners received no help in critical moments were dime a dozen. The sponsored goods they received were often useless weapons and items, and some constellations interfered in every little detail, actually burdening them with debuffs.
So, when I somehow became an F-rank Awakener, I resolved that no matter what happened, I would never form a contract with a constellation.
‘Any constellation coming for an F-rank will be bottom-of-the-barrel anyway.’
However, there was one common thread among those who suffered from constellation contracts: even though they didn’t want it, the constellation invaded their daily lives until they were forced to make a deal.
And unfortunately, the constellation stalking me seemed to be exactly that type.
Tiring—!
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ has sent you a message.] [Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ has sent you a message.] [Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ has sent you a message.] … [You have 99+ unread messages.]
“Crazy bastard!”
Checking my status window unconsciously during my lunch break at work, a sigh broke out of me. Because I had been too lazy to clear them, they had piled up like that over the past week.
It had already been a month. Every time I saw the messages piling up like an obsessed ex’s spam, my conviction grew firmer: I must never give in to a guy like this.
It was a ultimate shame that I couldn’t report him to the police station because he was a constellation.
Tiring—!
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ scoffs and asks if you’re really going to keep ignoring him.]
Even his modifier was awful. My prejudice was that anyone who called themselves a “handsome guy” was never normal.
As if reading my mind, the constellation suddenly lost its temper and sent another trash message.
‘Fine, see how far you can go with this.’
After a week of suffering from auditory hallucinations of notification chimes, I had no choice but to admit it.
‘I was way too reckless for a mere human….’
Eventually, I developed insomnia, nervous exhaustion, and panic symptoms severe enough to seek psychiatric counseling.
First off, I couldn’t sleep at night. Whenever I laid down to sleep…
Tiring—!
Tiring—!
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ asks if you are sleeping.]
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ asks if you are really sleeping.]
Until I got up, the message chime rang at exact 10-second intervals.
Back in college, I had been stalked by a senior. Back then, I could at least block his number, but there was no answer for this.
This cursed chime didn’t even leave me alone at work.
“So, um, the…”
Tiring!
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ sends a direct message.]
“…what was the intention behind that?”
Tiring—!
The main reason I graduated early was because I landed a job quickly.
I had gritted my teeth and endured a year and a half at this company since then. But because of the message chime, I kept missing what my boss and coworkers were saying. My work performance was suffering, and the atmosphere in the office turned icy.
“Umm… Assistant Manager, could you repeat that one more time?”
“Ha. The color of this illustration…”
Tiring!
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ expresses frustration over why you aren’t replying.]
“…who chose it? Rather than that, this…”
Tiring, tiring—!
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ says that if you make a contract, he’ll give you a handsome boy…]
“…would suit it better, so that’s why I’m asking.”
Since I had to get the job done, I asked again calmly.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t catch that properly, could you please say it one more time…?”
“Seriously, Eun-sol. What’s wrong with you lately? Get your act together, will you?”
This bastard of a constellation didn’t inflict direct physical harm on me. Since I was the Awakener he needed to contract with, it seemed he wanted to harass me just enough while keeping my body intact.
Pushing me to a mental cliff. Endangering my livelihood and keeping me from sleeping.
In truth, I was already thoroughly defeated in this war of attrition.
The only reason I was barely holding on was my petty pride.
Even when I posted my concerns on communities for people harmed by constellations, there was no real solution.
– Just accept it… If it’s harassing you that much, it means it’s desperate.
– That’s right. Once you sign the contract, it’ll stop.
‘Accept it? Why? When I don’t even know what it is?’
What if I made a contract and it turned out to be a pervert that didn’t sponsor me properly and only made strange demands? Who would take responsibility for that then?
‘I just want to live a normal life.’
But right then, there was something I had overlooked.
“Uh, Mom. What’s up?”
A call came from my mom, who lived far away.
– Um, Eun-sol. How have you been lately…?
From her very first words, I felt a sense of foreboding.
‘Something’s happened.’
This was a valid hunch stemming from my life’s big data.
“I’m fine, same as usual.”
I didn’t bother asking first. Why? Because this, too, was a response based on the big data of my life—short as it was.
– It’s just that your brother… his new business isn’t going well. He says he’s short on money.
As expected.
My bad hunch proved right, but I tried to act unaffected.
Anyone in a similar situation would understand. This was a cycle of life that was hard to escape. An invisible bondage of blood itself.
That was why I had fled to a university far away to physically escape my family, and why I got a job far from my parents’ house. It had been quite a while since I last saw their faces.
Yet, money knew no distance; they could demand it whenever they wanted.
Still, they say time is life’s teacher.
As I grew older, I had been waiting for the right moment to break free from that family.
Apparantly, that moment was now.
“Again? I’m having a hard time lately because I have a stalker bothering me. So don’t call me. I don’t have any money to give Mom or Oppa anymore.”
– How can you say that… to your own brother who’s struggling, just because you don’t want to give him a little money? Do you think you’re the only one having a hard time? Are you really the child I gave birth to? How can you say such things so easily?
“Exactly. You gave birth to me, Mom. So why don’t you ever treat me with care like you treat Oppa? Why do I always…”
– Eun-sol, Mom… haah… Mom needs surgery. It’s thyroid cancer.
“What?”
In an instant, my heart began to pound violently, shattering my resolve.
At the same time, the moment I recalled the debt under my name, a crushing sense of despair washed over me like a massive tidal wave. That despair rubbed the salt of self-loathing into my wounds.
‘When a family member’s health is at stake, I’m worrying about debt first.’
– Eun-sol, can you send the Awakener support grant this month too? And… can’t you quit your job and become a full-time Hunter now? You said that for high-credit Hunters, regardless of rank, government loans have only a 1.7% interest rate. Things are tough for your dad lately too… and Oppa is struggling. You know that. Everyone’s having a hard time because of the Gates these days. Mom needs surgery, but Oppa’s situation is difficult…
“…Tell Oppa to sell his apartment.”
The one they bought for him when he got a job—even though he quit that company after a year and made a fuss about starting his own business.
Even as I said it, I didn’t think Mom would ever tell my brother to sell his place. Just like it had always been.
– How can you say something like that? Your brother is already going through a hard time, how hurt would he be if he had to sell his home?
As expected, Mom took my brother’s side. Unable to hold back any longer, I talked back.
“I’m struggling too! I’ve been enduring just fine even without receiving a single bit of support!”
– What can we do if your brother can’t handle it like you do?! And what do you mean, Mom and Dad gave you no support? Letting you live at home, feeding you, all of that was…
I felt like my dinner was coming back up.
Leaving the phone aside, I sat at my desk, clutching my head as the bitterness of reality engulfed me.
Even if I sent money for Mom’s surgery, it would still be a problem.
That money would undoubtedly go to my brother, who was struggling with his business. Mom would delay her surgery, saying she could get it later. It was painfully predictable. Everything I had given Mom for her sake so far had ended up going to my brother.
‘And then she’ll demand surgery money from me all over again.’
Was this cycle an inescapable fate?
Right then, as if to refute my thoughts, a small status window popped up.
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ snorts and says that person isn’t sick.]
“…Wa-wait a second, Mom.”
I didn’t trust the constellation that had been harassing me for over a month. Still, that single phrase snapped me back to my senses, and I cut Mom off.
“Mom, what stage did they say the thyroid cancer was?”
– Huh? …They said stage 3.
Immediately, the status window flashed repeatedly.
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ says that person is lying to scam money out of you.]
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ snorts, saying that person doesn’t look sick at all.]
Thump, thump.
My heart began to race violently for a different reason.
Calm down. I don’t trust the stalker constellation, but I don’t trust my family either. I decided not to trust them.
“When… is the surgery?”
– They haven’t set a date yet.
“Call me back when they set a date.”
Without asking any further questions, I hung up the phone.
Almost immediately, Mom started calling back relentlessly. Unable to contain the rage boiling inside my chest, I jumped up like I was having a fit.
Leaving my phone behind, I threw on a pair of slippers and ran out of my studio apartment. I felt so suffocated.
I felt like I’d rather drown in water and die.
So, without thinking, I ran toward the stream near my apartment.
…Tiring! Tiring!
Tiring!
Like Pavlov’s dog, I froze in my tracks at the notification chime not long after I started running.
In that moment, the rage I had been suppressing exploded. Regardless of the time or place, I screamed at the top of my lungs.
“Fuck! You piece of shit! What the hell are you?! What do you want from me?!”
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ crosses his arms and says he won’t make a contract until you ask nicely.]
“If you want to make a contract, hand over the down payment! The etiquette of the Gate Era has truly hit rock bottom. I’m not contracting for free!”
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ tilts his head in confusion at your bold attitude.]
[Constellation, ‘The World’s Best Handsome Guy,’ says fine, and sends a contract gift!]
‘…What?’
I froze on the spot at the completely unexpected message.
In the late-night studio apartment neighborhood, there was only pitch-black darkness, the foul stench of the sewers, faint lights leaking from neighbors’ windows, and the status window floating before me.
Looking at the sponsored gift displayed on the status window, my hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
[Item: ‘Ring of the Radiant Sun’ (S-Rank)]
An S-Rank item.
‘Talk about generous.’
I couldn’t believe it, so I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. An S-Rank? Even A-Rank items cost tens of millions of won on the exchange. But an S-Rank?
Having never even entered a Gate before, this was the very first item I had ever owned.
Maybe it’s real this time, a quiet voice inside me whispered.
‘Maybe this time, I can really escape that filthy house.’
The bastard who had given me mental trauma instantly became my savior.
