I Have Contracted Too Many Constellations

Chapter 2 First Contract

[Contract has been requested.]

With the system window, an enormous light engulfed the room.

A golden light.

A light mixed with blue.

Along with that brilliant light, another window appeared before his eyes.

[Constellation, ‘Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl’ responds to your call.]

[Descends before you in a form of a vision.]

Soon, the light that filled the surroundings took on a shape.

Black hair that fell neatly without being tied or decorated.

A white inner garment with a black outer garment that subtly revealed her figure.

And a long smoking pipe held in her hand.

Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl stared directly at him with those blue eyes.

“Are you the contractor who called me?”

It was a cold impression.

And it was the appearance described in the novel.

She had indeed come here as described in the sacred relic.

‘I didn’t expect her to appear even in a vision.’

The current body of Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl was a magical, illusory form.

Of course, it wasn’t her true form.

If her true form had descended here…

The surroundings would have exploded, causing countless deaths.

I thought she would just send a message, but I didn’t expect her to descend directly.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

But it’s better this way.

He immediately bowed his head to greet her.

This relationship placed him in a completely subordinate position.

It might have been different if he had already contracted with another constellation…

Since he barely managed to find the sacred relic, he had to secure the contract no matter what.

“Don’t bow so low.”

Whoosh—

Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl puffed out smoke from the pipe in her hand.

But it wasn’t the acrid smoke of a cigarette.

It was rather a fragrant smoke.

The smoke was likely from burning herbs and various medicinal ingredients inside.

“Did you call me to make a contract?”

“Yes, Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl.”

“Just call me Mysterious Girl. That name is too long.”

“Then… I’ll call you Mysterious Girl.”

She lifted the Ilcheongeom, the medium through which he had called her.

It suited her so well, as if it had always belonged in her hand.

After looking at Ilcheongeom for a moment, Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl handed the sword to him.

“It’s the item you found, so it’s yours now.”

Her impression and actions were just like in the novel.

A cold, seemingly indifferent impression.

But in reality, she cared for those around her more than most constellations.

And above all, she acknowledged humans who were far below her level.

As a ‘background star’ rather than a ‘constellation,’ she could be better than most mythical constellations.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone with your characteristic. Multiple contracts.”

“It’s the first I’ve heard of it too.”

“Do you know that constellations with strong pride wouldn’t be fond of such a characteristic?”

He knew.

That was his biggest concern while finding the sacred relic.

In a world where a constellation and a contractor could have only one avatar and background star.

This characteristic meant that the sole avatar would be shared with another constellation.

Constellations with strong pride would definitely dislike this characteristic.

It was what worried him the most.

That’s partly why he chose Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl first.

Would it be okay?

“I don’t mind.”

As if reading his thoughts, Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl answered immediately.

Puffing her pipe, she sat on the bed and looked up at him.

As he expected, she wasn’t a constellation who cared about such things.

“I’m too old to be bound by such things.”

“I heard you’re young for a constellation.”

“But still older than you.”

Constellations that care about such things are much older than you.

He wanted to say that but held back.

What if she refused to make the contract and left?

It was almost time for the academy entrance exam tomorrow, so finding another sacred relic would be difficult.

“Will you make a contract with me?”

[Constellation, ‘Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl’ wishes to make a contract with you.]

When her pale hand swept through the air, such a message appeared before him.

Would he make the contract?

The last window asked him that.

And the answer was the same as before.

There was no reason to refuse.

“I will.”

[The contract with Constellation, ‘Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl’ has been established!]

[Congratulations, you have made your first contract with a constellation!]

[Contractable Constellations (1/10)]

A white light permeated his right shoulder.

Lifting his clothes for a moment, he saw a cloud-shaped tattoo on his shoulder.

It was proof that the contract had been established.

There was no immediately noticeable power or energy.

The contract with a constellation itself had no meaning on its own, naturally.

“You are my third avatar, the first in about a thousand years.”

As she said that, Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl stretched her hand into the air, and an item appeared there.

A long pipe like the one she held.

It was a smoking pipe.

Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl handed it to him.

“Take it. It’s my first gift to my avatar.”

“Thank you, Mysterious Girl.”

“Don’t be so formal.”

A smoking pipe as the first gift from Mysterious Girl, is that appropriate?

For a moment, he thought about that, but once he received it, his opinion changed a bit.

Though the power felt was weak, it was still an item.

[Name]: Handmade Smoking Pipe

[Grade]: Fairy Tale

[Effect]

-When herbs or medicinal ingredients are burned here, their effects slightly increase.

-Effective for calming the mind and body.

[Details]

-A smoking pipe handcrafted by Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl, a brand new item never used before.

The grade was Fairy Tale.

It was the lowest of the four grades: Myth, Legend, Epic, and Fairy Tale, but that wasn’t important.

The effect was quite good.

Above all, it was the first gift she had given him.

That alone gave it meaning.

“Then, I shall give you your first trial.”

A trial.

When a constellation gives something to their contractor, a trial is needed.

It was impossible without any cost.

The content of the trial was determined by the quality of the reward.

If constellations arbitrarily bestowed their blessings…

The world would be in unimaginable chaos compared to now.

Sometimes there were cases where the constellation fully bore the cost without a trial.

‘It just hardly ever happens.’

Such scenes barely appeared even in the original novel.

Not many constellations put that much effort into their avatars.

Anyway, he thought she would leave and then give the trial later.

But she was about to give it right now.

“This should do.”

With those words, another window appeared before his eyes.

[Name]: Academy Entrance

[Difficulty]: Fairy Tale

[Content]

-Pass the entrance exam of the academy.

[Reward]

-Skill: Complete Nine Heavens Sword (Epic)

“First, prove yourself.”

The content of the trial was short.

To enter the academy.

It was the original goal and something he had to do no matter what…

But it was a bit daunting as the first trial.

He didn’t have a single skill, and his stats were low.

The chances of him entering the academy were almost nonexistent.

Originally, he planned to get basic skills like the Three Talents Swordsmanship and Footwork before taking the exam.

This threw the first step of his plan into disarray.

“Don’t worry. I’m not that harsh.”

“…?”

Saying that, Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl approached him.

She pressed her finger on his shoulder where her emblem was engraved.

Their bodies touched.

And he saw small sparks rising from her hand.

It was the mark of ‘blessing’ described only in the novel.

[Constellation, ‘Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl’ bestows her blessing upon you.]

[Skill, ‘Incomplete Nine Heavens Sword’ acquired.]

“It’s the first verse of the Nine Heavens Sword. Use it well.”

“The first verse?”

“Yes, the first verse that forms the basis.”

The Nine Heavens Sword was a diminished form of her swordsmanship, the Nine Heavens Divine Sword.

Yet it still received the Epic grade, indicating its extraordinary nature.

It was even part of the trial reward, that swordsmanship.

She gave him just one verse.

While bearing the cost herself.

“Is the cost okay for you?”

“It’s fine. Something like this is trivial.”

White lightning ran up her arm, but she moved naturally as if it didn’t bother her.

Not a hint of change in her complexion.

According to the novel, it should be a pain like tearing flesh.

She moved so easily that he wondered if he misunderstood.

“Thank you very much.”

He bowed his waist 90 degrees to express his gratitude.

Honestly, he wanted to prostrate himself if his heart allowed it.

But his room was a bit small.

“Then, give it your best. You’re the avatar I’ve made in a thousand years.”

That was the last thing she said.

Nine Heavens Mysterious Girl disappeared in a flash of light, just as she had appeared.

In an instant, just like when she arrived.

And after she disappeared, he had one foremost thought.

Constellations are the best.

#

The next day came.

He had stayed up all night.

He had to familiarize himself with the Nine Heavens Sword during the early hours.

The skill imparted knowledge and slightly accustomed his body to it.

It didn’t allow him to use it perfectly from the start.

The presence of proficiency levels was evidence of that.

‘Since it’s an incomplete skill, I need to master it properly.’

He had received just one

verse.

It was his only weapon, so he had to master it as much as possible.

The result was an all-nighter.

He spent the entire time swinging a wooden sword at home.

“…I’m really going to die.”

Though he had a better body than an ordinary person as a contractor,

swinging a sword all night made that irrelevant.

He felt like he was dying. For real.

All the muscles in his body screamed and throbbed. His body wasn’t his own.

[Skill, ‘Incomplete Nine Heavens Sword’ proficiency increased by 1%.]

Still, a 1% proficiency increase in just ten hours was quite an achievement.

It was just that his body hurt.

But he had to move.

The academy entrance exam would start in a few hours.

“I’ll sleep right after the entrance exam…”

After changing into comfortable clothes,

he stuffed some bread he found at home into his mouth and stepped outside.

“Ah, did you sleep well?”

The first to greet him was a blonde woman holding garbage bags in both hands.

Ilustrations in discord~