Chapter 193

193th Episode

Dark Star Necromancer Hassan

“Seeing my true form and yet not losing consciousness, I see your courage has grown considerably.”

I instinctively realized that this massive woman crafted from swirling crows was Luna’s mother, Nox.

Nox, the Goddess of Night and Superstition. The colossal entity said to rule over the deepest depths of Hell now stood before me in all its glory.

Though I had spoken to Nox before through Luna, this felt different. Could this be her true form?

The sheer majesty of her presence caused my body to stiffen in awe. Such a massive being, so large in every sense. My back was drenched in cold sweat from the tension as I finally managed to ask a question.

“With Luna here, is it alright for you to appear like this? There’s a chance Luna could wake up, you know…”

Her deep purple gaze brushed past me, looking down at Luna.

“The child. Luna will not awaken for a while. This is a curse, you see. A curse that activates once Luna accumulates a certain amount of Karma.”

“A curse…?”

Despite the shock, I felt there must be some weight to her words.

“Are you saying Luna won’t wake up for some time?”

“Yes, this is the curse placed by me and the ruler of darkness, Erebore. From now on, Luna will sleep for a long time.”

I already knew there was a curse on Luna. The curses of Nox and Erebore. However, I had no idea what these curses entailed, and despite all my attempts, nothing had worked, so I left it alone.

It appears to be a curse triggered when a certain level of Karma, or perhaps a specific level, is reached.

Luna reached level 20, right? It was then that her sleep increased.

It was this curse. Hearing that she would now sleep for a long time made me uneasy.

Then, Luna’s mother, Nox, the Goddess of Night, murmured something, seemingly regretful.

“But it seems the day has come sooner than expected. We thought it would take more time. Looks like the limit has arrived earlier than anticipated.”

She passed by me silently and knelt beside Luna’s head. She then gently stroked Luna’s head with her large hand.

“It should have taken at least fifty more years. Time for her to live an ordinary life and experience simple happiness. But—”

As she stroked Luna’s head, Nox sounded genuinely regretful. From her large eyes, round and hard droplets fell, rolling across the yard’s garden.

They were onyx stones.

Nox was grieving.

“Could you explain what this is all about? Why was such a curse necessary?”

“Luna was born for the empty throne. My husband, Erebore, and I conceived an heir to replace the fleeing king. But… Luna was too small and frail.”

The empty throne. The fleeing king.

It was a story I had once heard from the Minotaur, intriguing but a forbidden topic for conversation between mortals.

As I tried to understand the gist of what Nox was saying, she continued.

“We decided to hide Luna. When Luna eventually grew up, it was inevitable that they would find out. Hence, we had to prevent her from growing by placing a curse on her.”

“Find out…?”

Her explanation was vague, but from what I could interpret, it seemed someone was after Luna.

“Who would cause harm to Luna?”

“The children of Hell. The heirs of Chaos who seek the throne. Young one, if you continue with Luna, you will meet them soon enough. And you’ll fight them.”

Nox paused in her story, looking up at the night sky.

“They are as sharp as polished spearheads. The chosen warriors of Chaos lurk amidst this night sky and the shadows, their eyes glowing as black stars.”

Even though Nox is one of the most powerful gods I know, residing in the deepest part of Tartarus, where neither screams nor groans can reach, her mention of strong enemies made sense as it seemed she was hiding Luna for protection.

At that moment, I shuddered at the thought of dark-star assailants lurking somewhere in the night sky.

“The current Luna cannot withstand them. That’s why we conceal her, stopping her growth and sending her into a deep sleep. Do you understand now?”

“Somewhat.”

“Then, when will she awaken?”

After caressing her daughter Luna’s face, Nox softly closed her eyes as if saying goodbye. Luna was sleeping like she was dead: motionless, silent, her breathing steady.

I asked again.

“When will she wake up?”

“I do not know. Perhaps it will be after ten years, or maybe one hundred years hence.”

Her words made the world spin before my eyes. Even if a week or a month seemed long, hearing about ‘hundreds of years’ made me feel like our sense of time was worlds apart.

“Long isn’t it? By the time Luna awakens, everything she remembers will have changed. But for immortals like us, it is merely the blink of an eye. When Luna awakens, she will continue living as if nothing had happened.”

But…

After a hundred years, will I still be here when Luna wakes up? Of course not. I, an ordinary human, can’t live that long. A human’s lifespan ends at about eighty if they live a long life. Can I lead the same life as Luna who lives an immortal’s time?

It was something I had vaguely anticipated, though I never predicted Luna would fall asleep like this. I was aware that our time was different.

Luna is the daughter of a goddess. Could she, like the elves or nymphs, live a long, long life?

Perhaps even if I lived happily with Luna, I would eventually pass away, leaving Luna alone on this earth, right? That’s something I had also considered.

And it seems I was right to some extent.

“To be entangled with immortals is just like this, little one. That’s why gods do not lightly share affection with mortals who fade, knowing their union will inevitably end in farewell.”

I couldn’t respond, feeling but a massive wall I could never overcome.

“But, there is still a way.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, if you truly love Luna, there is a way.”

“What’s the way? What do I need to do?”

“Luna’s tragedy stems from the empty throne, the fight over the throne left by the fleeing king. Thus, the solution lies in filling that throne.”

“The Karma you have shared with me has run out. I shall return for now. Remember what I have told you. And before I leave, I wish to bestow upon you a small favor.”

Nox stood before me.

Standing before a towering woman like her makes one feel quite awestruck yet also a bit intimidated. It’s been a while since anyone, let alone a woman, looked down at me. It made me feel oddly nostalgic, reminiscent of my childhood years with my own mother.

She eventually bowed her head and kissed my forehead.

Kissing the forehead of my girlfriend’s mother left me quite embarrassed. In Earth, it is said that Westerners often kiss on the lips for family greetings. Is that what this is about?

The family of Luna is open-minded, indeed.

And what exactly is this blessing you’ve given me? As I was about to ask, words appeared before my eyes.

“From the Primordial Night comes this blessing.”

“Blessing: ‘Night Mantle’ transformed into ‘Night Armor’.”

“Blessing ‘Night Armor’: Armament imbued with the power of Primordial Night – Nox. Increases the wearer’s defense once a day. The weaker the light, the stronger the armor’s power.”

Night Armor.

It was an enhancement of the blessing that started as the Night Mantle and evolved into armor. The ability is said to increase defense, though I couldn’t quite grasp the feeling yet.

“What exactly is the power of this?”

“It was once bestowed upon my sacred warriors. Night Armor. It envelops the body in darkness, greatly hindering recognition. Try saying my name.”

Say her name? With a slight discomfort, I murmured.

“Nox-sama.”

“Consumes karma value of 10.”

“Current Karma Value + 180.”

As the words appeared before me, a sound followed, like something sticky wrapping around.

The sensation was akin to being entangled by thick mud or black ink-like shadows. These shadows covered my ankles, knees, thighs, and more—it was as if they were alive, resembling a strange organism.

These black masses began covering and darkening my body as if painting me entirely.

“What is this? What is happening?”

I started panicking as the shadows began enveloping every part—my abdomen, chest, arms, neck, face, everything—until I screamed. The sensation was suffocating with black fluid covering my mouth and nose.

Embrace the darkness,” she consoled me. “There’s no need to fear.”

Her words calmed me, and despite the strange shadows engulfing my entire body, they didn’t significantly hinder my movement or my ability to breathe.

“For a single activation, it has covered your entire body. Although the influence of the Yin was strong due to the recent celestial events, the compatibility seems favorable.”

As Nox inspected my appearance, a sense of satisfaction crept into her voice. I, too, looked down at my arms and legs to examine the effect.

The armor, literal to its name, was truly bizarre—sharp and pointy, somewhat akin to a villainous figure from a tokusatsu show.

What does my face look like?

As I pondered this and gently touched my face with my palm, Nox wavered her hands in the air. In an instant, a small mirror appeared there.

Looking into this handheld mirror, I saw that my face now gleamed with red eyes and was covered in heavy shadows.

“This is…”

This truly looks like something out of a villain’s design. If I were to encounter such a creature in a dungeon, I would have screamed and thrown my weapon in panic before fleeing.

Yet, realizing this is now my appearance, I found it somewhat powerful and awe-inspiring.

Most importantly, the ability to conceal identity without any hassle from robes or masks is truly an unparalleled advantage.

In the wake of Nox’s departure, only the feathers of crows remained scattered across the yard. It was as if a summer typhoon had passed through, leaving my mind in disarray.

Though seemingly oblivious, Luna lay beside me, sleeping deeply, with no telling of when she would wake—perhaps a sleep from which she would never rouse.

My heart was heavy with sorrow at the thought of never hearing Luna’s cheerful voice again, and tears began welling up in my eyes.

Though I learned from Nox the way to awaken Luna, whether it will occur a few years in the future or if it will succeed remains uncertain.

A specific flower known as ‘Mente’ grows beside the Throne of Hell. Boil it to make Luna wake. That’s what she told me; to boil the plant growing beside the Throne of Hell and feed it to Luna to awaken her.

However, the Throne of Hell isn’t open to just anyone—it will require much resolve from me.

In simpler terms, it is as good as saying I should d*e.

Could I actually do it? Honestly, I’m doubtful.

Nevertheless, as I looked at Luna who lay asleep, seemingly unaware of the situation, I feel a glimmer of courage rising within.

If I were to back off now, Nox would take Luna and hide her away in a place where no one could find her. That was something I simply couldn’t allow.

But will Luna truly never awaken?

Hence, after moving Luna upstairs, I experimented by lifting her eyelids, pressing her cheeks, and calling out loudly to her.

“Hey, Luna! Wake up!”

Even amidst such loud noise directly into her ears, Luna remained completely unresponsive, deeply submerged in sleep.

Next, I flipped her onto her stomach and applied pressure to the points on her neck and occipital region with my fingers: Fengji and Tianzhu points.

These points are often massaged by teachers to awaken students who nod off, as they enhance cerebral bl**d flow and increase mental alertness, making them highly effective for waking purposes.

“Guuuk, Guuuk.”

“Ummuh…”

Though Luna began murmuring, there was no sign of her waking up.

I then moved my hands to her earlobes, which felt soft, cool, and delicate.

According to my father, the human ear is essentially a miniature form of the entire human body where the head section corresponds to earlobes when it comes to points to awaken from sleep.

With this in mind, I began firmly pinching Luna’s earlobes with my thumb and forefinger.

“Gghh-”

Luna let out a sound of anguish, a type of cry one might reasonably expect from pain but couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t wake up despite this.

“Come on…”

I then decided to place my thumbs on her temples next.

Though a fatal point and a weakness, temples are also essential in massage therapy.

I pressed her temples with my thumbs as firmly as I could, “Grgh!”

This was too much even for Luna, and she let out a loud scream this time.

“Why Hassan?!! I was sleeping so well!!”

“Thugh!”

“Urghh!”

The blow hit me right after I was caught off guard as Luna swung a punch into my gut with her raised fists. The punch was so strong it made me let out an odd cry like a squashed toad.

“Uhmm…”

“My head! I thought my head would explode!!”

Luna massaged her temples and furrowed her eyebrows while looking at me with irritation.

“Are you awake, Luna?”

“Yeah!! How could I not wake up if you pressed like that!!”

Despite her obvious anger, my joy at seeing Luna awake was overwhelming.

At this moment, words appeared before my eyes.

Ding!

“The curse ‘Nox’s Curse’ has been removed from Luna Noxdopty.”

“Karma Value +50”

“Current Karma Value: + 240”

Ding!

“The curse ‘Erebore’s Curse’ has been lifted from Luna Noxdopty.”

“Karma Value +50”

“Current Karma Value: + 290”

Amazing…

The curses I tried pressing here and there to remove had been converted into Karma values, and surprisingly, they increased more than usual.

What happened?

Could it be that pressing the awakening points in sequence was the cause?

I remember hearing from my father that there’s an order to follow for acupressure, similar to eating a French dinner course.

I hadn’t given it much thought back then, but now with what I’ve witnessed, it seems pressing the awakening points in sequence can work effectively.

Could other curses and conditions be lifted in the same way by pressing points in the right order? I’m learning something new.

Anyway, it’s a huge relief that Luna, who I thought would sleep forever, has now awakened.

Thankfully, there won’t be any need for a trip to Hell to fetch some Mente flowers.

Still, I asked Luna just to make sure, “Do you recall everything that happened?”

“I remember seeing stars… when did I fall asleep?”

Fortunately, Luna seemed to remember everything up until just before she fell asleep.

“Is anywhere on your body feeling unwell?”

“Not really, but Hassan, you’re really worrying too much. Let’s go to the clinic tomorrow then!”

Luna’s words of assurance finally gave me peace of mind.

Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was truly acceptable.

I had made bold promises to Nox-sama about some battle or conflict. Would that promise come to fruition now?

Moreover, Luna fell asleep to freeze her growth so as not to be found by the children of Hell. Now that she’s awake, her growth will continue, raising the possibility that enemies could attack her soon.

Pluto, the Lord of the Underworld, who abandoned the throne, his now fallen followers turned into cultists, and the disputes surrounding the empty throne.

Potential threats from the heirs of chaos.

Although I didn’t realize it earlier due to the chaos, these are significant and numerous topics that now occupy my mind.

While I wanted to learn more about this, I wasn’t sure who to ask. That’s when I remembered I had turned Antiope, one of the Temple Knights, into a necromancer not long ago.

A land worker knows better than snakes do about snake trails.

Perhaps someone from the Temple Knights, whose main job is hunting cultists, would know more about cultists.

I decided I’d visit Antiope when I have time after tomorrow’s training with Hippolyte and ask if she knows anything.

“Hassan… there’s something on my mind…”

Luna drew her face close, sniffing at me. What’s troubling her? Could she have noticed Nox-sama’s visit?

I was curious how Luna would react to the smell of her mother Nox-sama.

I tensed up slightly expecting something significant, but then—

“…A strange sense of Karma. So oddly familiar too… but it’s a woman’s Karma. What is it? Hassan, did you meet a woman while I was asleep?”

“No.”

“… Lies! That smell of a dangerous, dangerous woman is so apparent!”

Luna eventually rubbed her forearm across my forehead, the same area where Nox-sama’s kiss still felt warm.

“I don’t care who she is, but stay away from that woman! She’s truly dangerous!”

Luna sternly announced that I should avoid Nox-sama, her mother. And with that, I was left utterly stunned.

[Author’s Notes]

Illustrations are finally complete! Two familiar characters from the story beautifully combined with three techniques into one amazing scene!

Big thanks to our talented illustrator star741 for the hard work of depicting both characters and the background, and also to the readers who contributed their coupons!

The next main character in the illustrations will be the Nymph of Ditch Water…

And the one after that…

And the one after that…

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