Return of the Shattered Constellation - Chapter 540: Celestial King, the Father and Son Reunion (3)

‘Peter…’ Cha Ye-Eun repeated the name as she watched Chang-Sun and Yog-Sothoth.

Although Chang-Sun had explained everything to her, she was still dazed by the thought of her and Chang-Sun’s child. Naturally, she had imagined her future child before.

When she was Ithaca, she and Chang-Sun had genuinely loved each other as much as any lovers could, but they had never been allowed to become a married couple because their situation at the time held them back. It was true that Ithaca had been Chang-Sun’s Guardian, and he had been her apostle, but she had not cared about that at all.

The fact that she could die at any moment had always weighed down on a corner of her heart, stopping her from becoming someone more meaningful to Chang-Sun. That was why, although Ithaca had often imagined a future together with Chang-Sun, she had kept those thoughts to herself.

Were Ithaca and Chang-Sun smiling together in the futures she had imagined? Since it had been too long, she barely remembered them anymore, but she had a strong feeling that it was indeed the case. In the future, Chang-Sun no longer needed to use his spear, and Ithaca no longer had to hide behind him anymore. They were just… holding onto each other, and there was a baby between them. She wondered what her and Chang-Sun’s baby would look like.

There was a story that Chang-Sun had told her some time ago. While his father had well-defined facial features, his mother’s were soft; Chang-Sun took after his mother. Thus, Ithaca had wanted their baby to resemble her mother-in-law, but she also wanted her baby to have her eyes. Chang-Sun’s eyes looked a little bit sharp, so it would be better to have her eyes to give a good first impression. The baby would look great with either her or Chang-Sun’s noses and mouths…

Thinking of one thing after another had left an image in Ithaca’s mind. A child… A child… Yes, she had wished all her dreams would come true and she would have Chang-Sun’s child, but it turned out that Ye-Eun already had a child who had sacrificed himself for them.

Ye-Eun was unsure if the image she had in mind was similar to how Peter would actually look. Perhaps he looked different from what she had imagined. He could have her facial features and Chang-Sun’s eyes. Still, that did not matter, as he was still their child, and he was bound to be very pretty and adorable. Since he was a man, he would no doubt be handsome too. Ye-Eun hoped that her son would not end up being a bad boy who charmed women like his father.

She wished to meet him as soon as possible, to help Peter enjoy the warmth that he had no doubt been unable to enjoy until now.

Since both Chang-Sun and Ye-Eun were Korean, Peter could have a Korean name, which she was very curious about.

“Peter… What is his real name?” Ye-Eun asked before they entered a wormhole.

However, Chang-Sun smiled bitterly and shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? Are you kidding me right now?”

“…I wouldn’t joke about something like that. The name ‘Peter’ is really the only thing I know about him. I think he had to use an alias because he was deprived of his name first when his existence began to fade away,” Chang-Sun added.

That had broken Ye-Eun’s heart even more. It was preposterous. Their son had needed to use an alias because he lost the name others called him by, as if being forgotten by his parents was not enough. It was something that should never have happened.

On the other hand, Ye-Eun hated the choice her son had made, even though she had never met him yet. Out of all the names he could have chosen, her son had taken the name ‘Peter’ She did not know what the name signified in different Worldlines, but she knew very well what it meant in Worldline #801.

Peter the First Apostle had once been a fisherman, but he had saved the poor and weak from political persecution. He had always sacrificed himself for people, and ultimately died a martyr after leading a life filled with hardships. Perhaps Ye-Eun’s Peter had been comparing his destiny to Peter the First Apostle’s own. Indeed, Peter had used a key as his symbol, just like Peter the First Apostle.

That was why Ye-Eun sincerely wanted to retrieve Peter’s lost name. Holding her hands against her chest, she prayed. ‘Sun, please…’

***

After Yog-Sothoth asked him what he was willing to sacrifice, Chang-Sun burst into laughter without realizing it.

Why. Are. You. Laughing.

Yog-Sothoth narrowed his eyes skeptically, unable to understand Chang-Sun’s reaction, as Chang-Sun had sounded as if he was willing to do anything to get Peter back. Yog-Sothoth wondered if Chang-Sun had changed his mind because he was not ready to give up what he had. If so, Yog-Sothoth had to reevaluate Chang-Sun as unworthy to be a Demiurge. However…

“Are you suggesting we make a deal?” Chang-Sun asked.

That. Is. Right.

Yog-Sothoth felt that he could not have high hopes for Chang-Sun; he only became more certain over time that Chang-Sun did not want to give up what he had gained so far.

There was nothing strange about it. Whether one was mortal or immortal, greed changed a person’s mind in the end. No matter how great a dream one had, it would always seem very distant and far-fetched from the reality one was in right now.

Depending. On. What. You. Offer. You. Get. Something. Different.

Yog-Sothoth narrowed his eyes even more.

But.

Little by little, the energy he exuded began to fill with disappointment and annoyance.

You. Act. Like. You. Have. Nothing. To. Give. Me.

“Ah, do I look that way? Well, it’s not like that.” Chang-Sun chuckled dryly for a moment. With a serious expression, he continued, “But I get it now. Yog-Sothoth, you’ve never had a child, have you?”

What. You. Talking about. I. On. My. Father. Behalf.

“It’s true that you rule over Nyx on behalf of <Dull Darkness>, but it doesn’t mean that you treat the people of Nyx like your children.”

Yog-Sothoth was speechless.

“Ubbo-Sathla, Hsan, Mephistopheles… If you truly considered them your children, I don’t think they would have ended up lost and wandering like they are now.” Chang-Sun narrowed his eyes. “Parents look after their children as they try to find their way in the world, rather than neglecting them like you do.”

Yog-Sothoth stayed silent without exuding any energy.

“That’s why your question was misguided to begin with.”

Yog-Sothoth’s eyes widened slightly.

“What would I give up in return? Do you seriously think a father would be picky in a matter that involves his child?”

The emotion in Yog-Sothoth’s energy changed to shock.

“I’ll give you my Divine Essence. Will that suffice as a price?” Chang-Sun asked.

Yog-Sothoth could tell that Chang-Sun meant what he said. No, Chang-Sun was willing to give up even more if Yog-Sothoth wanted more. In fact, Chang-Sun was ready to give his life if necessary.

Are. You. Sure. About. It.

It was not necessary because Yog-Sothoth could clearly feel Chang-Sun’s sincerity, but he still wanted to find out what was going on in Chang-Sun’s mind. He could not comprehend Chang-Sun’s decision at all, leaving him in disbelief.

‘Universal Dawn’. The seat of <Dawn> was not something that could be acquired with ease. Chang-Sun could only have earned that position by repeating the Rollback loop numerous times, surmounting his <Fate>, and rising above the <Punishment> engraved on his soul. Remaining as <Dawn> would guarantee him glory and a rank comparable to that of an Emperor.

After some time, Chang-Sun would escape his Worldline’s restrictions and gain the ability to freely travel between the Great and Outer Universes, obtaining the absolute freedom that all Celestials wanted. However, Chang-Sun was telling Yog-Sothoth without any hesitation that he would give up being <Dawn>. Yog-Sothoth had spent his entire life watching countless people from his seat, and yet he had no way of understanding what Chang-Sun thought.

At that moment, Ye-Eun stood beside Chang-Sun and grabbed his hand again, saying, “I… I’ll also give you mine if necessary, although it won’t be as great as my Original’s… The Divine Class that belongs to the sister of <Dull Darkness> and <Deus Ex Machina> would raise the price we’re offering by a lot, yes?”

Yog-Sothoth grunted, because Ye-Eun was not someone with whom he could be at ease; after all, she was the sister of <Dull Darkness>, his father. In fact, the fact that Peter was Ye-Eun’s son had played a big role in Yog-Sothoth making Peter his apostle.

I. Lost. It. Only. Makes. Me. Bad. Guy.

Yog-Sothoth grumbled, smiling bitterly.

Paah!

Just then, a sphere appeared in front of Chang-Sun and Ye-Eun. Inside the sphere was a young man who was hugging his legs and burying his head between his knees.

‘Peter…!’ Chang-Sun clenched his fists after realizing who the young man was.

It was Chang-Sun’s first time meeting him in person, but he could be certain that the young man in the sphere was the one he had been desperately looking for. It was the same for Ye-Eun. It was said that parents and children could recognize each other even from far away, but Ye-Eun realized that it was true because she instinctively felt drawn to the man despite it being their first encounter.

I. Just. Wanted. Know. How. You. Two. Feel.

Whoosh―!

The sphere containing Peter slowly descended toward Chang-Sun and Ye-Eun.

I. Now. Know. Your. Determination. Is. Genuine.

Chang-Sun and Ye-Eun reached out to the sphere, which gradually became smaller as it drew closer. Inside the sphere, Peter grew younger. The young man became an adolescent, then went from an adolescent to a boy, and then from a boy to a baby.

‘He’s what I imagined him to be,’ Ye-Eun thought.

Peter had Chang-Sun’s soft facial features and Ye-Eun’s eyes. It was miraculous how both her and Chang-Sun’s features could be seen on Peter’s small face. After Peter became a baby, the sphere landed in front of Chang-Sun and Ye-Eun.

Peter, who was deep asleep, looked very adorable. Chang-Sun and Ye-Eun really wanted to take him into their arms, but they were unsure how. Peter’s hands were so small that they were worried they could end up hurting him. Just then, however…

So. Put. In. Good. Words. For. Me. To. Father.

Chang-Sun and Ye-Eun unwittingly stumbled backward. Unable to believe their ears, they looked up.

Please.

Even Yog-Sothoth seemed to be a little worried about enduring the consequences of what he had started.