Little Pink Starfish

“I don’t know how it was back when Hunters actually existed…”

Jeong Noeul withdrew her hand as she spoke.

“…But basically, magic activates based on imagination.”

I had been blown away quite spectacularly.

A massive beam of light, like a pillar from a temple, had struck down right next to me. All I could do was barely twist my waist to avoid a direct hit. Such a solid, needlessly grand attack. My breath escaped through my teeth like a dying gasp.

In any case, I didn’t die.

The skin grazed by the light quickly regenerated. I stood back up as if nothing had happened. Looking down at my tattered clothes full of holes, I sighed and glanced at Jeong Noeul.

“Try attacking me while thinking of manifesting your imagination.”

“Easier said than done!”

I scratched my neck irritably.

Still, she wasn’t wrong. I closed my eyes and focused.

An attack… what kind of attack could I think of?

After a brief moment, fire came to mind.

“…That was way too easy.”

I stared blankly at the flame floating before me. A ball of fire the size of a fist hovered in front of me.

“Eunyul hyung, your imagination’s kinda basic.”

Jeong Noeul said with a pout. I had nothing to say. I had basically created a cliché fireball.

“What are you waiting for? Try throwing it at me!”

“Alright, alright!”

Whoosh!

I thrust my hand forward, imagining the fireball shooting toward her. The fireball flew in her direction. Of course—

“For a first try, not bad.”

With a flash of Abrilah’s Crown, Jeong Noeul sliced the fireball in half with her hand.

I sighed as the scattered flames dissipated.

Having previously participated in spirit ascension rituals as a civilian, I had underestimated this. Jeong Noeul was quite adept at controlling her powers and knew how to apply them in various ways.

Well, she did inherit Abrilah’s power after all…

“Now, try blocking my attack.”

As she spoke, she raised her index finger.

A fireball began forming at the tip of her finger. She really was mocking my lack of imagination. Turns out she had quite the mischievous side.

“Let me know when you’re ready.”

“R-Ready.”

I crossed my arms over my chest as I spoke. Of course, I wasn’t planning to block with my arms; the physical motion was just to help me visualize the magic.

“Alright, here I come.”

Rumble…!

A booming sound far louder than my earlier attempt echoed in my ears. I desperately squeezed my mind to think of a way to block it. Fire… needs water… so…

Srrrch—!

Based on my imagination, the magic materialized. A transparent curtain of water enveloped me. I supported it with a framework like the bones of the water barrier.

Splat!

The fireball was stopped by my water shield.

“Water beats fire… Kind of a textbook idea, but.”

Jeong Noeul smiled with a shrug.

“Still, not bad for a first try.”

“…Gee, thanks.”

I spat, trying to rinse away the ashy taste in my mouth.

“Now for the advanced version!”

The moment Jeong Noeul shouted—

A deafening roar sounded from above.

Thud, thud, thud.

Like a giant hammering the sky.

The clouds gathered together into a mass above.

“I’m going to get a bit serious.”

The clustered clouds solidified into blades, aiming straight at me.

“Hey, isn’t this a bit much…?”

I stared blankly at the massive blades looming overhead.

“Don’t worry, Eunyul hyung.”

Jeong Noeul smiled.

“You’re practically the incarnation of the Star Hated by All right now. A god can’t be killed by creatures like me. That’s obvious, right?”

I knew that.

Creatures cannot kill star gods. In mythological records of star gods, none were killed by creatures. Star gods either died by the hands of other divine beings or disappeared by their own will. Anything else was mere fictional interpretation.

Jeong Noeul surely understood that too. The cycle of life and death may be a rule governing the world, but precisely because of that, the star gods who created such rules could not die.

Still—!

I gritted my teeth.

Even now, I couldn’t feel pain. My body regenerated instantly. I was practically a monster. But even so—

…This feels disgusting!

The fact that my body wouldn’t die like this was deeply unsettling.

Immortality may have been humanity’s long-standing dream, but I never found it appealing. To have such ambition, one would need an excessive sense of self-importance, and I was never that proud of myself.

“Alright, get ready…”

Jeong Noeul raised her right hand high.

The blades flashed, ready to rain down on me.

“…Here we go!”

Crash—!

I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately imagining a way to block them.

How should I block it? Maybe a giant shield? What shape? What strength? As these thoughts raced through my mind—

…Too late.

I laughed bitterly. The blades were already right in front of me. Well, whatever. Guess I’ll just regenerate again. Such a foolish thought surfaced.

But—

Ssshhh…

When I opened my eyes, Madojin was standing between me and the attack.

“You give up too easily, Eunyul.”

The shield unfolding behind Madojin blocked the blades created by Jeong Noeul.

“Situations worse than this may arise while facing Aiden. You’ll need to protect yourself.”

Madojin spoke coldly.

“If something like the Enoch incident happens again…”

“…I know.”

Since I was unconscious at the time, I didn’t remember much, but back when Enoch rampaged, I could’ve died.

It wasn’t my own effort that saved me. Jeong Noeul, Kkomuri, and Geahrzimen had desperately protected my body. Without the artifacts, I would’ve been too late.

If the Star Hated by All wasn’t able to descend physically, and if Mika couldn’t help either, if Jeong Noeul couldn’t step in like before, and if even Madojin couldn’t come to my aid…

Countless variables lined up in my mind like a word chain.

That’s likely why the Star Hated by All transferred some power to me.

“Thanks for the advice, Dojin.”

I said to him.

“Dojin hyung, that was cheating!”

Jeong Noeul shouted from afar, pouting.

Madojin sighed and turned to face her. The blades disintegrated into dust.

“You seemed a bit too excited.”

He addressed Jeong Noeul.

“Shall we call it a night? It’s already 3 AM. While Eunyul and I don’t feel fatigue, you’re still human. Tomorrow’s schedule will be tough otherwise.”

“Well, that’s true…”

Jeong Noeul scratched her head.

She walked over to me.

“Alright, let’s stop here for today.”

She reached out her hand. I grabbed it and stood up. I was covered in dust; I’d definitely need to wash up once we got back.

“From today on, you’ll be sparring with me every night, Eunyul hyung.”

She dusted me off as she spoke.

“Don’t take it too hard. I don’t know how strong Aiden really is, but… we have to prepare for the possibility that we might not be able to help.”

She was probably recalling the Enoch incident even more intensely than Madojin.

After all, she was the one who bought time while getting beaten until the Star Hated by All could descend.

“I’ll join too.”

Madojin spoke, crossing his arms.

“…Ugh.”

Jeong Noeul frowned.

“Dojin hyung, you don’t like my training methods. You’re too overprotective. Eunyul hyung doesn’t have much time left.”

“I’m not being overprotective. I simply want to proceed properly. Firing off attacks without context is no help. It’s like throwing lion cubs off cliffs.”

“Hey… that’s kind of a cool method though, isn’t it?”

“It’s not cool at all.”

He sighed.

The two of them turned away from each other.

“Uh… well…”

I laughed awkwardly.

“Anyway, it’s true that we don’t have much time.”

I looked at Jeong Noeul.

“So I don’t mind intense training as long as it’s efficient. At least I managed to conjure a fireball today…”

Saying “fireball” felt kind of embarrassing.

I swept my hair back.

“But I do agree with Dojin joining us. Two heads are better than one, right?”

“Did you hear that, Noeul?”

Madojin turned to Jeong Noeul.

“Surprising, Dojin hyung.”

Jeong Noeul replied with a sulky tone.

“You’re quoting sayings about lion cubs and teamwork now.”

“Oh, right.”

I laughed.

He’d been pretty clueless before, but it seemed Mika’s strict teachings had bulked up his knowledge.

“See? Impressive, isn’t he?”

Jeong Noeul smiled.

“…I still have a long way to go. I got scolded by my mentor just yesterday.”

Madojin murmured with a sigh. Still, it was reassuring that the two seemed to get along without any real bad blood.

“I just hope you can resolve this safely, Eunyul.”

“Me too, Dojin hyung. You weren’t there, but… I went through hell protecting Eunyul hyung from Enoch.”

“I appreciate it.”

He lowered his gaze.

“…And I’m sorry.”

“Anyway!”

I clapped my hands.

“Unless something comes up, let’s train together every night from now on. We’ll meet again once everyone’s asleep.”

“Agreed!”

Jeong Noeul cheered enthusiastically.

“…Very well.”

Madojin smiled faintly.

It felt like we had formed a secret club within the group.

…Well, I guess it is a secret.

Han Iro and Min Heejae probably had no idea what was going on.

But then, a troubling thought crossed my mind.

They don’t know… right?