Chapter 5: To Mentor a Constellation
“... So, this is ‘the Great Obsidian Road’?”
“Indeed, Lord Hardy. Quite the sight, is it not?”
Stretching out for miles was a long black ‘road’, holding a resource that only the Agnician Holy Empire can monopolize: Starlight Diamonds—a unique precious resource often touted as the hardest mineral in the world.
These diamonds were not only harder than regular diamonds but also lacked the brittleness that normal diamonds had. And that wasn’t all there was to these gems.
For reasons that even the most renowned arcane scholars and famed theologians of the Empire cannot explain, these gems contain fragments of divine power believed to belong to the continent’s most revered deity, Esphera, the Ringed Star Mother.
“It’s no wonder that the Empire possesses so much wealth. There are probably enough of these gems to keep the Empire afloat for hundreds of generations. Yet…”
Hardy Boyel von Augustine, heir to the Augustine duchy, examined the scene with extra scrutiny, his eyes sweeping across the famed Starlight Diamond mine.
Despite the hundreds of miners and mages toiling in the mine, progress was slim in removing these gems from their place on the road.
“... It is no wonder that, despite the long road of gems before us, the mine’s yearly yields often only amount to a small bag’s worth.”
The process of mining Starlight Diamonds was long and arduous. A targeted mining spot would need to be worn down by the magic of elemental mages and struck by enchanted pickaxes wielded by retired knights-turned-miners for several months.
Despite these united efforts, even then, little could be removed from their spot on the road.
And by the time these gems were removed, these beautiful diamonds would have lost much of their strength and divine power.
“Yes. The mining process is slow. Perhaps if we had the technology, we could increase the mine’s yield of Starlight Diamonds. If we contact the dwarves…”
“Stay your tongue, Baron Richter. The dwarves will surely demand a portion of the mine’s yields in exchange for their help. We cannot let even a single gem outside the Empire’s borders.”
The Starlight Diamonds were a vital resource for the Empire’s military elite, used to enchant the military’s finest weapons and armor with the creator deity’s divine energy. Without exaggeration, if these resources fell into the hands of their enemies, humanity could be pushed to the brink.
“Our relationship with the dwarves is still an ambiguous one. It is far, far too early to say that they could be trusted with a resource as important as Starlight Diamonds.”
“... I suppose it is as you say, Lord Hardy. Forgive me for being presumptuous.”
“There is nothing to forgive, Baron. Differing perspectives are imperative in rulerships. Kingdoms die when only one voice can speak. After all, there must be somebody to reprimand a king when they begin to act foolishly.”
Hardy Boyel von Augustine turned his back on the Great Obsidian Road.
He gazed upon the setting ringed sun on the horizon, his brilliant mind crammed full with thoughts as he pondered the future of the Agnician Empire.
“Perhaps we must find other methods to combat the elven threat.”
“If only we could burn their forests down…”
“You know that it cannot be that easy. Many have already tried. But their forests are protected by other fae folk. Not only that, but the area around the World Tree is protected by consecrated ground.”
The young noble heir then turned his head in a different direction. Though there was nothing but cloudless skies and small hills there, he knew that in the distance, far, far away, there stood a tree. A tree that reached up to the heavens themselves. The home of the elves.
“... Just how does one kill a goddess?”
For a night, we lived the survivalist lifestyle, avoiding danger, hunting game with Egg’s stick and my spear, and sleeping on tree branches.
Our dinner that night was cooked rabbit, or at least, I think it was.
These rabbit-like things ran rather than jumped, with long, thin legs and leaner bodies.
It was my first time eating meat from a hunt. I was excited to cook it up.
Swish.
[[Ignition! Chu~]]
I was originally going to teach Egg how to start a fire by rubbing sticks together, a skill I learned during my Boy Scout days, which only lasted two days before I got tired of it all and left.
But before I could even find the dry sticks I needed, Esphera had already gathered them into a pile and lit them up with her divine powers.
Of course, as per my teachings, she did it with style…
No, where did she learn how to give a spinning flying kiss?
It was a magical kiss that even sent a flaming burning heart from her lips to the pile to light it up.
As cool as the special effects may have looked, the overall image of the scene nosedived the moment you noticed the backpack that was still on her head, which was hard to miss.
“Oooh! Ball Mother! Ring Lady!”
Egg couldn’t help but dance around, excited, at the sight of fire.
His faith in Esphera must’ve leveled up a hundredfold after what happened earlier this afternoon.
He’d look at Esphera with sparkling eyes occasionally and would get all jumpy every time she did her signature spin and pose-striking.
The Holy Spirit really must’ve made quite the impression on him. This’ll surely help grow faith in the Ringed Star Mother, just as planned. But…
Isn’t this still a bit much?
If I looked in the distance, I could still see remnants of that black ‘road’ Esphera had made, extending well past view. The black soil sparkled strangely, with some parts sprouting out transparent blackish crystallized earth.
I tried prying those crystals out of the scorched dirt, but they wouldn’t budge no matter how hard I tried. Whatever they were, they were impossible to take as they were.
“Egg, you’re done skinning the rabbits, right? Did you drain the blood?”
“Blood, drain, what?”
“Ah. Fuck, I forgot.”
I forgot I was dealing with a primitive. Egg looked so brave back there, being so quick to offer his life, that it impressed me and completely changed my view of him, but he was still a primitive in the end.
Ugh… The meat’s going to taste like shit…
“Forget what I said. Hand me the rabbits.”
“Rabbit, here. Fuck, what?”
“Pretend I didn’t say anything.”
Does he typically eat these things raw? Did he even wash the meat with the river water?... No, do you even wash game? I have no clue.
Whatever the case, we decided to roast the rabbit meat. I was in charge of roasting two pieces of rabbit meat and coached Esphera through roasting the last one.
Ultimately, I think we did a decent job cooking these things up. Well, as decently as we could manage.
This really tastes like shit…
The flesh was crazy firm, especially the leg meat, which was hard to tear apart with my teeth.
The taste of blood was especially strong. Enough to almost make me gag on the spot. I don’t think I can eat any more of this…
How are the other two doing?
[[So this is what meat tastes like… What an interesting sensation and flavor.]]
“Delicious! Delicious! This, cooked meat? Delicious!”
… Hm. Truly, the sensibilities of a modern man must be superior to those of a primitive… No, who am I fucking kidding? I’m just really not made for this life.
I wonder if I’ll get something better to munch on in this world besides instant noodle packets…
[Lord Yvell.]
Hm?
When I turned to look at my side, Esphera was already sitting beside me. Evidently, there was some meat juice around the opening of the backpack that was still on her head.
Yes, she did, in fact, shove the rabbit-meat-on-a-stick in there and somehow managed to eat it all.
[Egg fell asleep.]
Oh. So he did.
Went right to snoozing after enjoying the best meal of his life. He truly is a primitive.
[I… would like to talk about today.]
[Seeing as you’re speaking to me through telepathy, I suppose you want to talk about your performance as a ‘Holy Spirit’ earlier today?]
[Yes! Truly, nothing evades your perception, Lord Yvell.]
I don’t know about that.
Looking back to today, I realize that I really hadn’t prepared myself for the shit I threw myself into.
Bullshitting my way through life has always been a thing of mine, and I’ve always managed to escape trouble thanks to my lying skills, but… things are different now.
I’m in a completely different world, far from civilization, and one wrong step could earn me the wrath of this cute-looking constellation beside me.
To be honest, I’m really scared right now.
But the show must go on, am I right? Haha…
If I want to survive, I have to keep up the act.
You can’t take back lies once they’re said, after all.
[... You did excellently, Esphera. You made quite the amazing scene back there.]
[I am glad to hear it!]
[But…]
[Mhm?]
But… just because they’re lies doesn’t mean they all have to be false.
I am her mentor.
I’m no constellation, but I can still teach her all the same.
After she transformed the very terrain with a beam of fire, I’ve come to realize that she’ll need someone to keep her from falling astray.
To prevent her from using her powers carelessly…
(You. It was you who mauled my child to death earlier today, was it not?)
So she doesn’t become an evil god…
(Poor child… I shall make sure that he is avenged. Your death will not be a painless one.)
That scene of her making that beast disappear in a flash is still stuck in the back of my mind.
I don’t know how much my NEET colony-sim gamer ass can do to help, but…
I will teach her the right way to build a world. So she doesn’t become a tyrannical constellation.
Gently, I wrapped my hands around hers and lifted her hand, turning her palm upwards. My sudden touch caused Esphera to flinch.
Her hands were warm and soft.
[Esphera.]
[Y-Yes, Lord Yvell?!?]
[Fire.]
[W-What?]
[Produce a small flame.]
[Oh! O-Okay!]
At my command, Esphera produced a small flame that floated above her palm. Then, I gathered a couple of sticks that happened to be lying around. I laid them out into a pattern, like a tree branching outward.
[You were too hasty today.]
[A-Ah…]
[You did produce great results. Surely, the stories Egg will share with his fellow tribals will help spread and reinforce faith in the Ringed Star Mother. Surely. However…]
[You were acting on emotion, weren’t you?]
Esphera turned her head away in shame.
Or at least, that’s what I think she was doing, but once again, the bag was still getting in the way.
Then, she nodded, her telepathic voice growing faint.
[Yes… I am ashamed to admit it, but I let my emotions get the better of me. I simply could not help myself. When I relived that man’s past…]
[Enough, Esphera.]
[Yes! I-I’m sorry…]
[You don’t need to apologize.]
I pointed at the sticks on the ground.
Understanding my intentions, she lit the tip of a stick at the end of the pattern.
The small fire gradually began to consume its bark.
[You wield your power far too easily, Esphera.]
[I… I know.]
[You were quick to change your followers into humans at a whim, and grant them language from pity, and today you even involved yourself in the affairs of mortals to avenge a fallen follower.]
[...]
The fire began to consume the stick whole. The flame followed a path, one that branched into two.
[I understand your love for your followers, Esphera. You were born as the loving Ringed Star Mother, believed to be a protector of your children against the beasts that harm them. This may very well be a part of your nature as a constellation conceptualized from these thoughts. However, you must understand that your actions can have unintended consequences for the future.]
The fire followed both paths, beginning to devour the skin of the two sticks.
[What would you have done if, instead of awe, Egg had been struck with fear? Fear that his most revered deity had sent a creature of destruction at her behest? That the Holy Spirit was such an unholy being?]
The fire then followed two more paths from each branch. More sticks were lit aflame.
[Your legacy as a constellation has yet to be immortalized. The smallest misstep could reshape the gentle and protective Ringed Star Mother into a goddess of destruction. Evil. Tyrannical. Your faithful could grow to fear you and detest you.]
[T-That cannot—!]
[It can, Esphera. It very well can.]
Esphera’s body froze in place.
As the words penetrated her mind deeper and deeper, she lowered her head.
[You were lucky that was not what transpired here today. I may have taught you about catching opportunities too early. That must have been my mistake.]
[No! No, Lord Yvell! The fault is all mine!]
[Shush. Your telepathic voice is vibrating in my head.]
[I-I’m sorry…]
The flames finally burned all the sticks on the ground black, and bits of charred bark flaked off the carbonized wood.
Esphera lowered her head once more.
Even through the backpack on her head, I could tell she was growing gloomier and gloomier.
[Esphera.]
[... Yes, Lord Yvell?]
[You learned well today.]
[... Huh?]
My gaze drifted to the night sky above. Tonight was a cloudless night. In a sky untouched by pollution, plenty of stars lit up the night, making for a wonderful sight. It made me reminisce… my childhood.
[When I was a ki— No, I mean, when I was but a young constellation, I used to be quite stubborn, you know? I wouldn’t learn, no matter the many times I made the same mistake. Over and over again. Because I didn’t want to be wrong.]
I was a dumbass kid who hated listening to my mother. She always nagged a lot incessantly, enough to send my dad into a drinking spree. She was always unpleasant to be around, so I always turned my head away. Maybe that’s why when she finally passed, I felt so much regret.
[... But you quickly admitted to your mistake. You understood what you did wrong. I am certain you will become an excellent constellation one day. One that will elicit the envy of other constellations across dimensions.]
Because I’ll make sure you’ll turn out that way. I’ll help you build your utopia.
[Lord Yvell…]
[That is enough for now. You are still emulating the human body, are you not? If that is the case, you will need sleep. As do I. Let us end the night here.]
[Y-Yes! Let’s sleep! Hehe…]
Using my arms as a pillow, I lie on my side and close my eyes, drifting off to sleep.
“L-Lord Yvell… Wise, strict, and gentle… What a wonderful mentor you are. I was right to request your help…”
At the dead of night, a lone woman was wide awake, sitting with a backpack in her hand, muttering to herself.
“Wonderful… How truly wonderful you are…”
Her half-open eyes gazed affectionately at a figure fast asleep on the ground, while her face flushed red as she wore an unnaturally wide smile.
"My teacher... Hehe~"
It took a whole day to get out of the forest, and a few more hours to cross the plains to reach the village, following the river.
Finally, it was time to start colony building.
