Little Pink Starfish

The Star explained Aiden’s intentions in a calm tone.

<Though he has gained abilities that stray far from the realm of mortals, he is still human.>

While observing Aiden during CYB, the Star had concluded without a doubt—he was human.

<The only reason he wields power beyond human limitations is because of the authority granted by the ‘Mother Who Burns Eternally.’>

I suddenly recalled the woman I had seen at the concert.

The woman who had appeared briefly at Aiden’s side. Even then, I had my suspicions. She must have been the Mother Who Burns Eternally.

Though the Savior Who Is One and All had forbidden constellations from manifesting in the mortal world, they could still appear for specific purposes.

Or, like the one standing beside me…

They could defy the Savior’s restrictions and manifest anyway.

<The reason the Mother Who Burns Eternally can manifest doesn’t fall under either of those exceptions.>

The Star chuckled dryly.

<She is able to manifest because… her bond with her contractor is that strong.>

In other words, the relationship between a constellation and their contractor is like that of a shaman possessed by a deity.

Since the constellation dwells within the contractor’s body, it’s akin to spiritual possession. The Savior limited both the manifestations and the scope of power constellations could wield because a mere human simply can’t contain the full weight of a constellation.

<Not every hunter who made a contract with a constellation used their power solely to close Gates.>

Some abused their strength for personal gain, became intoxicated by their power, or were unable to control it and went mad.

<Back then, we didn’t have the luxury to worry about such details… but things are different now.>

That made sense.

So then, the reason the Mother Who Burns Eternally could manifest was…

<Simply put, the relationship between her and her contractor is so close that she can fully materialize through him.>

Even among shamans, the strength of their connection varies.

Some might merely feel the presence of the god they’ve received, while others can see their god’s form and even communicate with them.

<The strength of that connection depends entirely on the bond between god and shaman.>

“So you’re saying…”

<They truly trust each other.>

After a moment’s thought, the Star corrected himself with a bitter laugh.

<No… maybe it’s more accurate to say that they’re in love.>

“A human and a constellation? In love?”

That was a relationship I’d never heard of.

Not even during the time when Gates had opened, or when constellations sponsored celebrities, had such a story ever surfaced.

And understandably so. Constellations are beings far beyond the realm of humans, incapable of fully empathizing with common human emotions.

Constellations sponsor and observe mortals. They might even form friendships based on shared goals—but love?

<You’re right.>

The Star nodded.

<At their core, humans and constellations are fundamentally different. Even constellations that were once human, upon reaching the domain of the stars, come to view the world only from above. From the heights of the cosmos, they look down upon all.>

“And yet…”

They love each other?

“This sounds like a divine criminal couple.”

<In any case, that bond is likely the very source of his power. That’s probably also why he was granted the opportunity to become a constellation.>

In other words, Aiden’s current state was like that of a hero from Greek mythology.

In those myths, gods would grant power to humans out of pity, friendship, or even love.

Humans who received a god’s affection often accomplished great deeds worthy of the title hero—but nearly all of them met tragic ends.

<Do you remember what I once told you about heroes?>

I nodded.

The chosen ones—mortals destined to change history, handpicked by constellations.

It was just like the heroes of Greek mythology.

<Your enemy, without question, is a hero.>

One loved by the Mother Who Burns Eternally. One who has transcended human limits…

And is walking the path to becoming a constellation.

Aiden was—

“What kind of fate was he originally meant to have?”

<Let’s start with the concept of fate.>

The Star sighed.

<The threads of fate… are really nothing more than strands of fiber. Life spans are the same. They can split or snap at any time.>

So, to put it plainly…

The Star muttered.

<His fate was altered. Originally, he was meant to live an ordinary life. The odds of him standing where he is now were practically zero. He was destined to die as an unremarkable mortal.>

“You’re saying his fate changed?”

<Correct.>

“Was it because of… Jeong Hangyeol?”

<That’s also true.>

The Star smiled faintly.

<I don’t know much about the mortal named Jeong Hangyeol. I imagine Michael doesn’t either. If even we, the twins, are in the dark, then only Papa might know the full truth.>

“You and Mika don’t know?”

I’d already begun to suspect something was off.

Everyone’s memories of Jeong Hangyeol had been surgically removed. That alone told me his death hadn’t been a normal one.

<Let me ask you something.>

The Star spoke in a low voice.

<Do you think constellations can’t die?>

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

<Exactly what I said. Do you think constellations will forever continue to gaze down at the world of mortals?>

“Well, usually, yeah. Gods are like that, right?”

<Isn’t that boring? Spending eternity just watching mortals go about their lives. I may have fallen into hell, but if I were still up there, I’d probably be dying of boredom.>

“……”

<Only an absolute being can end another absolute being.>

“Well, yeah, that makes sense…”

<Meaning, I can end myself anytime I want.>

My eyes widened as I looked at him.

<I heard this from Michael… but Jeong Hangyeol’s constellation was the “Father Who Was Defiled for Eternity.”>

“Even just the name is revealing.”

It was clearly a mirror of the “Mother Who Burns Eternally.”

The “Father Who Was Defiled for Eternity” must have been Izanagi.

The god who fled, abandoning his decaying wife in the underworld.

<I don’t know much about the mortal Jeong Hangyeol. But I do know a few things about the Father Who Was Defiled for Eternity.>

The Star curled his lips into a smirk.

<He committed suicide.>

“He… killed himself?”

The Star nodded.

<To be precise, his existence was erased. The Father Who Was Defiled for Eternity chose to leave the domain of constellations. In doing so, he gave up immortality and returned all the authority granted by Papa.>

“Why?”

<That, I do not know. Maybe he just grew tired of supporting mortals. But one thing is certain…>

The Father Who Was Defiled for Eternity did not seek an afterlife.

He aimed for complete obliteration of his being—he turned all of his authority upon himself and vanished from this world entirely.

It was a death distinct from that of his partner. Not a slow decay in the underworld, but a clean, total erasure.

<And before he achieved that…>

He erased Jeong Hangyeol too.

Everyone forgot about him. His existence vanished, and his broken soul drifted into the heavens, silently beginning the process of reincarnation.

“A constellation… killed a human?”

<That, I can’t say. I was asleep in hell at the time. Michael probably doesn’t know either. We can’t track every single mortal’s every move. Even Papa likely didn’t see this one coming—both the constellation and contractor vanishing hand in hand.>

It was a development I hadn’t expected.

I had thought Jeong Hangyeol had died under unusual circumstances—and that this had led to the erasure of everyone’s memory of him.

I had also suspected constellations were somehow involved.

But I hadn’t imagined that both the constellation and their contractor had perished together.

More than anything—

“Why would the ‘Father Who Was Defiled for Eternity’ kill Jeong Hangyeol that way?”

That question echoed in my mind.

Did he hate his contractor so much that he wanted to erase even his memory from the world?

That couldn’t be. Constellations don’t typically grow so attached to mortals. If the Mother Who Burns Eternally could love Aiden, then the idea that the Father Who Was Defiled for Eternity wanted to kill Jeong Hangyeol just didn’t sit right.

“…Maybe Jeong Hangyeol wanted it.”

That was the thought that eventually came to me.

To disappear so completely that no one remembered him.

That would be the cleanest form of self-erasure.

<Perhaps.>

The Star agreed, voice calm.

<If that’s what you think… then perhaps you’re right.>

His gaze softened as it turned toward me. The version of me he saw in his eyes must have resembled my former self.

The me who once tried to end my own life.

I didn’t look away from his gaze. The old me would’ve wished for the same death as Jeong Hangyeol.

If it meant I could disappear from everyone’s memory, I would’ve gone without hesitation.

“So Aiden’s goal… is to bring Jeong Hangyeol back?”

<Yes.>

Then it all started to come together.

Aiden likely didn’t intend to become a constellation just to revive Jeong Hangyeol. If becoming a constellation was his only goal, he could’ve chosen a far easier task. Creating even a microorganism would count as an act of creation—but restoring a shattered existence?

That was something else entirely.

Which meant Aiden’s true goal was—

“He wants to become a constellation… so he can bring Jeong Hangyeol back.”

The Star neither confirmed nor denied it.

Instead, in a soft voice, he whispered:

<…The Aiden you’re talking about?>

Isn’t the real Aiden.

That’s what the Star said.

“Well, listening to you, that much seems obvious.”

I gave a dry laugh.

Codess debuted with five members.

Unless even that fact was fabricated…

“Jeong Hangyeol was the real Aiden, wasn’t he?”

Once again, the Star neither confirmed nor denied.