Chapter 6. Constellation Skills (1)
Constellation Skills.
I had never heard that term before.
“Constellation Skills are exactly what the name suggests—skills possessed by Constellations. They’re similar to the skills Contractors use in the human world.”
As if he had read my thoughts, the Count explained.
“However, unlike a Contractor’s skills, a Constellation’s skills never change. That is because a Constellation is already a completed existence. The moment one becomes a Constellation, their Constellation Skills are permanently fixed.”
“So they can’t gain new skills, and their existing skills can’t grow either?”
“Correct.”
After hearing the Count’s explanation, I immediately opened my status window.
There was an overwhelming amount of information compared to when I had been human, but after searching through it for a while, I finally found the section labeled ‘Skill List.’
“There are three skills.”
“What are they?”
“This thing only shows their names. There aren’t any descriptions…”
“That’s normal for Constellation Skills. I know most skills already, so tell me their names and I’ll explain what they do.”
So it didn’t even display detailed descriptions of the skills.
I had felt this several times already, but being a Constellation was definitely much harder than being human.
How did it make any sense for something like this to have no tutorial at all?
Now I could understand why people like Number 49 existed—people who tried to take advantage of beginner Constellations.
“There are two marked EX-rank and one marked S-rank.”
“What did you say?”
The Count’s voice suddenly changed.
“Two EX-rank skills? Are you serious?”
“Is something wrong?”
“What are the names of the skills?”
I hesitated for a moment.
Revealing detailed information about myself could put me at a disadvantage.
But I was currently in a position where I needed investment from the Count, and he had made revealing my Constellation Skills one of the conditions for investing in me.
Besides, I didn’t even know what my own abilities did.
If I used a skill without knowing anything about it, I might make an irreversible mistake.
To be completely honest, even if there was some risk in revealing them, I still wanted to hear the Count’s explanation.
Because every single one of my skills had a name that made me feel like using it carelessly could cause something terrible.
“EX-rank [Root Influence], EX-rank [Incarnation Descent], and S-rank [Root Insight].”
“……!”
The Count’s eyes widened.
“Why are you reacting like that?”
“What in the world were you when you were human?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You have two EX-rank skills? And even your S-rank skill is related to the Root?”
I hadn’t even heard their detailed effects yet.
But I could already tell that my skills were unusual.
“I’ll explain. First, do you know the concept of ‘Root Awakening’?”
“Of course.”
Root Awakening referred to the phenomenon where a Contractor reached an extremely high level, gained enlightenment, and learned a brand-new skill.
The skill obtained through Root Awakening differed from Contractor to Contractor.
It was said to be determined by the Contractor’s spiritual essence.
And since it could only be obtained after reaching such an advanced level, the resulting skill was known to be overwhelmingly powerful.
Powerful enough that one could throw away every other skill and rely entirely on that single awakened skill.
“Your S-rank skill, [Root Insight], allows you to see what skill someone would obtain through Root Awakening.”
“What?”
“And your EX-rank [Root Influence]… is a skill that forcibly causes Root Awakening.”
The Count paused briefly.
“You can use it on anyone you choose.”
It forcibly caused Root Awakening?
“Then…”
“Exactly. You can use [Root Insight] to see what kind of awakened skill someone would obtain, and then immediately awaken them using [Root Influence].”
I unconsciously swallowed.
This was incredible.
Normally, Root Awakening was only possible after a Contractor had experienced countless hardships and battles and finally reached enlightenment.
By the time someone achieved Root Awakening, they were already an extraordinary Contractor.
Root Awakening allowed them to break past their existing limits and enter an entirely new realm.
But I could cause Root Awakening in anyone I wanted?
‘That’s basically the same as being able to hand an endgame weapon to a Level 1 newbie!’
There were countless skilled veterans who had never managed to achieve Root Awakening.
But with this skill, I could instantly awaken even someone with mediocre ability.
I could even give a complete beginner an awakened skill from the very start.
In other words, I could raise someone’s strength to an absurd level in an instant.
‘If only I could’ve benefited from a skill like this when I was still a human Contractor…’
And with my other skill, [Root Insight], I could even know beforehand what awakened skill a person would receive.
I could discover talented people with great potential and help them grow early.
Or I could search for someone whose awakened skill suited my needs and then awaken them immediately.
The EX-rank [Root Influence] and S-rank [Root Insight] were already powerful individually.
But possessing both of them at the same time created an unbelievable synergy.
‘I became a Constellation with skills this insane… Could these abilities have been given to me because they reflected the desires I had when I was a Contractor?’
There was no way Constellation Skills were assigned completely at random.
Maybe they had something to do with the fact that I had lived as a powerless Contractor.
“What about the last one?”
“[Incarnation Descent], which is EX-rank just like [Root Influence], is…”
The Count paused.
Then he looked at my face and let out a sigh.
“It allows you to send your ‘Incarnation’ down into the human world.”
He continued.
“We Constellations can normally exist only within this Great Spirit Realm. But by using [Incarnation Descent], you can create a physical body in the human world and personally act there.”
For a moment, I was speechless.
So the name Incarnation Descent was literal.
It meant sending down an incarnation—an avatar.
“You must not use this skill carelessly. An incarnation in the human world is ultimately only a分身 of the Constellation’s main body, but if the incarnation takes damage, the main body is affected as well. If things go wrong, you could be placed in serious danger. It would be best not to use it recklessly.”
“Sounds like there have been cases like that before.”
“…There have.”
The Count nodded with a grave expression.
“Think about it. If a Constellation descends to the surface, do you really think humans would simply leave it alone? Not only that, other Constellations may dislike it as well. Your very existence there could become the source of a conflict.”
“……”
“Even so, there’s no doubt that it is an extraordinary skill. Just what kind of existence were you before your death to possess abilities like these?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t anything particularly impressive.”
I had been nothing more than a bottom-feeder who contracted with a D-rank Constellation.
“At this point, I should be the one asking you to let me invest in you.”
The moment I heard those words, goosebumps spread across my entire body.
The Count of Monte Cristo from the novel wasn’t merely a man seeking revenge.
He was an absurd financial genius who had accumulated wealth comparable to the national budget through his extraordinary abilities.
And someone like that had just said,
“I should be the one asking you to let me invest in you.”
That could only mean one thing.
This was huge.
“Like I said earlier, with abilities like these, I doubt you intend to spend your life as a Constellation merely staring through an Observation Device and tossing sponsorship funds at people. Am I wrong?”
“Of course not.”
“Then tell me, Nameless King.”
The Count looked directly at me.
“What path do you intend to walk?”
“I’m going to fulfill the true duty of a Constellation.”
I had already made up my mind, so I answered without hesitation.
“The true duty of a Constellation?”
“Protecting people and guiding them. Isn’t that what Constellations were originally supposed to do?”
As I said that, I grinned.
“I see.”
The Count smiled as well.
“You intend to lead countless powerful individuals and become a great figure who shakes the entire world.”
His smile widened.
“Very interesting. Very interesting indeed!”
I had contracted with a D-rank Constellation and spent my entire life at the bottom.
But now, I had become an S-rank Constellation.
I would gather countless Contractors beneath me.
And I would build a force so powerful that even other Constellations wouldn’t dare look down on me.
“Watching what I do from now on will be more entertaining than any broadcast you could ever watch.”
I had finally become an S-rank Constellation.
In that case—
Shouldn’t I play on a grand scale?
