It was a white space.
And the moment Jioh recognized it as a “space,” the background changed like paint spreading.
The place flipped into a small, European-style study that smelled of old books.
The book titles were all written in unreadable characters.
Outside the half-open window lay fields.
Papers lifted by the gentle breeze fluttered down at Jioh’s feet.
Jioh picked one up.
‘What do you call this again……? A formula?’
【I see. So this is the scenery at your depths? No—perhaps it’s mixed a bit with mine.】
A voice rang from the entire space.
No figure could be seen. Bewildered, Jioh looked around.
Then came a laugh.
Something brushed Jioh’s cheek, like a fond caress.
【I missed you.】
【My ■■■■.】
【Ah, now you’re “Gyeon Jioh.” Gyeon Jioh.】
“……Who are you? And where even is this? Don’t tell me you’re a kidnapper?”
【Still fearless, I see. I wish I were a kidnapper, but this is the world of the unconscious. I forgot the fact that your stature is infinitely paltry and weak compared to mine.】
【Even inscribing the Seongheon was such a burden to you that I forced it a bit. So strictly speaking, you should think of this as your unconscious inside me.】
“What are you even talking about?”
【Hmm. Is it because you’re young? Your instincts aren’t fully grown yet. Haven’t the forerunners already blabbed here and there? About the white world, and encounters with beings of high grade.】
A high-grade—
Constellation (星位).
One chosen by them,
……an Avatar.
They lit up in Jioh’s head like lights turning on.
Jioh cried out in surprise.
“Star?”
The Star laughed.
【Know at least this: the process those guys in the TV you watched so diligently went through was not this peaceful.】
【What a merciful Constellation I am. While you’re still uncontracted, hm? Worried my kitten might get hurt, I even took on the causal burden you should have borne……】
‘Awakening. Awakener…… wait, Dad!’
“Dad. Where’s my dad? My dad’s a Hunter and he went out somewhere dangerous! I can’t stay here. I want to go to him. Let me out!”
【……】
The Constellation answered in a somehow curt voice.
【And do what, exactly, if you go out? You little thing. Is there anything you can do alone?】
“What business is it of yours, Mister Star!”
【Ah, Mister?】
Bang bang bang!
“Let me out! Hey! Open the door! Save Gyeon Jioh!”
【Choose your words carefully. I may like a little kidnapping play, but I’ve no intention of becoming an actual heinous kidnapper.】
“Dear Mom and Dad. I’m fine, so don’t give in to threats, and put the hundred million the kidnapper demanded toward my siblings’ tuition……”
【You little brat. Put down that quill!】
With ill-mannered hands, Jioh flung the quill and the inkwell.
They were annoyingly uncomfortable to use anyway. She flopped onto her back and glared up at the air.
“What do you want! You filthy jerk.”
【What on earth does your mother show her daughter? Wait a moment…… Temptation of a Man, Wanted, Secret—what’s with all these titles? A little squirt like you should be watching Pororo.】
“Are you kidding me? I graduated from Pororo when I was four.”
As if she were a prodigy who’d finished the Thousand-Character Classic, Jioh lifted her nose.
Then she glared with open contempt.
“So you even do sti—”
【Not sticker, stalker.】
The Constellation muttered in a tone that somehow sounded tired.
【I hadn’t planned to talk like this, but you won’t even give me a moment to set the mood.】
“What are you, really! What are you going to do with me!”
【I plan to give you the world.】
“……Huh?”
Fwoooosh.
Little Jioh’s bob fluttered.
A wind blew from behind her.
She had definitely been lying on the floor, but that floor vanished.
Before she knew it, Gyeon Jioh was floating in midair. And when she blinked again……
The Milky Way.
She was in the very middle of it.
Hundreds of millions of stars were repeating birth and extinction.
‘Wow……’
Born in purity, living fiercely, then dying in futility.
This sequence repeated ceaselessly around her.
A wondrous, overwhelming sight beyond what human eyes could dare comprehend.
As she stared, spellbound, a voice reached Jioh’s ear.
【Wealth (富) and Power (權力).
Victory (勝利) and Glory (榮光).
Omniscience (全知) and Omnipotence (全能).】
【You shall not fail, and you shall not fall.】
【The triumphs of mortals are not eternal, but yours alone shall be.】
【If you wish, the world at your feet at any time.】
【If you desire, even death shall not dare swallow you.】
It no longer echoed through the entire space.
【Only—this is possible when you and I are bound.】
He drew close, whispering secretly and gently, like a devoted lover.
【Belong to me. Be bound to me again.】
【Let’s make a Covenant, Gyeon Jioh.】
【One word is enough. Then the world—and I—are yours.】
Jioh almost answered right then.
She really, almost did.
But just before the words I will forced their way out of her throat—
What caught the little girl who was about to yield to the star’s temptation……
—was her father, Gyeon Taeseong.
It was his back, which she had been looking at just hours ago.
Before she knew it, the space had returned to the original white.
Her feet came down on a floor without a floor. Jioh looked up at the empty air.
There was nothing there, but she could feel the gaze for certain.
“……”
Nine-year-old Gyeon Jioh hesitated.
The Transcendent answered generously.
【Not bad. You are human, and if I must classify you, you’re middle-of-the-road—but closer to the good.】
“……You can hear my thoughts?”
【When I read you, why would your thoughts be an exception?】
What made her a little sad was how strangely gentle this Star was.
Maybe that was why. Jioh grumbled for no reason, like a child pouting.
“Are you dumb? How is it not bad that I want power but don’t want to be a Hunter?”
Power comes with responsibility.
Jioh remembered the eyes that had shoved at her dad’s back.
Gazes violent and savage enough to leave trauma.
She did covet the power to protect family, and the people she loved, but…..
She didn’t want to be pushed to step up for them just because she had power.
More precisely,
she was afraid.
【Hmm.】
The Constellation, gazing down blankly, let out a snort.
【As the one begging for a contract, I’d like to coax and coddle you gently. But I can’t help feeling it’s a shame you’re worrying about something so pointless.】
It was truly the tone of someone handling a child. Naturally, Jioh bristled.
“What—the—I’m being serious right now!”
【You don’t have to.】
“Huh……?”
【Only move when you feel like it.】
【That’s fine.】
【Right. Think of it like the play you’re in this time—the role of the king.】
A bystander king who did nothing but overflowed with power.
【Pushed from behind? What cow-chewing-grass nonsense.】
【Who would dare bark at a throne raised by power? That world should be grateful just for your presence.】
The Constellation spoke with extreme indifference. It would have fit if he’d been scratching his belly as he said it.
Little Jioh, unusually, was flustered.
“No, it’s just……”
【Honestly, that’s why you chose the king’s role too, isn’t it.】
“W-well, yes, but.”
【Lazy, violent, capricious, selfish.】
【What can we do when your innate nature is shaped exactly like a tyrant’s? Awakening won’t swap out your nature.】
‘This guy really runs his mouth……’
【I told you I’m not “Mister.”】
Subtly petty, too.
A little annoyed, Jioh argued back.
“Hey, how old are you supposed to be? I’m nine.”
【……Anyway. You can play and loaf around every day or do whatever, that’s fine, but do go to the Tower from time to time.】
“The Tower?”
【The Babel Tower. The constraints are fewer there.】
A wind with no direction brushed the bridge of her nose.
It felt like a fingertip tickle. Jioh shook her head to shake it off.
The Constellation gave a low laugh.
【Regrettably and unfortunately, it’ll take quite some time before we can converse directly like this.】
【Once we complete the Covenant, you and I will only be able to communicate by way of “Babel.”】
“Why?”
His voice held multiple overtones, but to Jioh it sounded singularly clear just now.
【Because our grades are different.】
‘Loneliness.’
As if that had been an illusion, his tone changed again.
【It’s that you’re so insignificant. No matter how I split and smother my grade, I still can’t even look at you properly—what can I do?】
【Still, if you go to the Tower, Babel will play a buffering role, so you hurry and grow, grow…..】
“But.”
【Mm.】
“I didn’t say I’d make a contract.”