Truth

I looked at Noora silently.

'I'll probably have to leave this village soon.'

There was nothing more I could do and nothing to gain.

I realized that if I continued helping Jacob with swordsmanship he'd eventually hit a wall, one I wouldn't be able to help with.

After all, I've also hit a wall.

I needed to become stronger. 

'I also need to remake my sword Aura. I could probably make an imitation right now but that wouldn't be a good idea.'

After all if I tried to make an imitation I could accidently lower my potential.

'The more experience you have the better your aura will be.'

That wasn't a law but it was generally followed advice.

'But getting aura too late would be pointless.'

But before I left the village I wanted to show Noora a truth I've hidden from her.

I looked at my avatars silently.

[Kazumi Quintius(lv ?*)] ([Sira Katsumi(Lv 61)])

[* Due to special circumstances this avatar's level cannot be measured currently]

[It is highly recommended to use the Broken watch(EX)!]

'It's just straight up telling me to use the watch.'

[Activating: Broken watch(EX)]

I nodded to myself and sighed internally.

*Step.*

At that moment Noora was walking towards a house and we briefly locked eyes.

"Ah, eh I-."

Noora tried to say something but kept stuttering.

I too didn't really know what to say.

"Noora, I have a few secrets I would like to share with you. But, I'm not sure how to tell you them so let's gather our thoughts and talk at midnight. Or tomorrow morning if you prefer that. Just the two of us."

Noora stood still for a while contemplating.

"Alright, at midnight."

I smiled melancholically and left the village.

"I'll be back before midnight."

I waved goodbye and went around the village for a while just trying to get my mind of things.

'There's a mine here.'

I heard that there used to be a mine near the village a few years ago but it was abandoned due to frequent accidents.

After circling around the village twice I decided to check it out.

'It's old but doesn't look too abandoned.'

Although that description may be a little generous.

There were old rails there and in front of the entrance was a sign warning passerby's.

[Activating skill: Mana sensing(A-)]

There was some mana radiating from the mine but it wasn't noteworthy.

'I heard that the people that have tried to enter the mine act strange after leaving.'

But that didn't apply to me, a former SSS rank awakener.

I entered the mine thinking how I should introduce myself.

'Maybe I should bow as a part of my introduction? Should I say my name?'

Such thoughts plagued me while I was walking in the ruined mine.

"The air here is horrible but I don't feel like coughing. Is it due to my title's effect?"

I hadn't noticed before but saviour of corruption(EX+) was really convenient for times like these.

'I wonder if it can deflect poison mist?'

[Activating skill: mana sensing(A-)]

I was getting closer to the source of the mana.

'Hmm, I should probably return the sword as well.'

I continued walking until I found a roadblock.

'Rocks, quite a few actually.'

When I looked closer I saw that the mine was broken as well.

'Although the mana seems strongest here.'

If I could go past the rocks I felt like I would find something.

'Hmm, this could also be a trap.'

The only real information I got about the mine is that it's abandoned due to an accident, not what kind.

'What were the ground monsters again?'

I suddenly got a flashback of being flung into the air.

'Ground worm.....'

Another flashback happened and I stopped moving.

"Hah."

My expression worsened and I decided not to worry about the aftermath.

'If there are any worms here I will exterminate them.....'

Slimy, wet, cramped and awfully wet. A place worse than nothingness. All ground worms should die. 

'If only I wasn't C rank at the time. I would've killed it one thousand times over. No, would burning it with aura be better?'

I sighed and stretched very calmly~.

*Crackcrackcrackcrack.*

'That felt nice.'

I was momentarily distracted but quickly went back on track.

"You'll die today."

[Activating skill: Physical enhancement(C)]

A way to increase the power of punches without much effort is to release the mana as you hit your target.

[Developing skill...]

*Boom!*

'Wait, this could be dangerous.'

I only realized too late that I was being impulsive.

*Crumble!*

The rocks fell and a way was opened.

*Rumble!*

And as expected the cave started to collapse.

'I don't have much time.'

I quickly ran deeper into the cave trying to find the source of the mana.

I had some memories from using the God's footwork(SSS+) skill, so I tried to emulate it's movements.

[Activating skill: Mana breathing(C-)]

[Accumulating mana...]

I quickly used the mana on my legs while accumulating it.

Movement that was solely focused on getting from point A to point B.

That's the essence of god's footwork(SSS+).

'Where is it?!'

I looked around quickly both with my mana, and with my eyes.

A requirement of moving quickly is to understand yourself.

'Not here?! Where the he- where is it!?'

The mine looked old but not ruined. I saw a few minecarts.

If you properly understand your limits then you can either work around them or surpass them.

"There!"

I noticed a necklace hanging from a minecart, and took it as quickly as I could, not even checking what effects it had.

[Obtained: Necklace of intimidation filled with fear(B+)]

I quickly started running back avoiding the fallen rocks.

*Crash!*

My vision was briefly blocked by something, so I ducked.

'What?!'

*Crumble..*

The "something" quickly dug under the ground and tried to escape.

'There it is.....'

*Rumble!*

Even though the mine was shaking and falling apart I didn't mind it.

"You won't get away that easily."

[Activating skill: Mana sensing(A-)]

[Activating skill: Physical enhancement(C)]

Here's a question. How do you think earth worms hunt?

If you said via vibrations or sensing mana you're correct!

Using that as a base, couldn't I become something that attracts them if I could use mana and vibrations?

[Activating skill: Mana breathing(C-)]

[Accumulating mana..]

[Releasing mana...]

*Thump!*

I small shockwave was released and now the exit was filled with rocks.

Not that I noticed. I had something more important to deal with.

"You guys might be young but your still monsters."

*Crumble!*

Five, five overgrown worms attacked me.

Two from the side, one behind and in front of me and one under me.

'Awfully coordinated you jerks.'

"You guys are dead!"

I took a step back while equipping my sword.

[Equipping: Threaded sword(A+)]

I turned my head and swung my sword at the worm behind me.

'Slash.'

[You have killed an awakened worm(D+)]

Now the worm that was under me blocked the path of the one in front of me.

*Crash!*

The worms crashed into each other and quickly tried to retreat.

"As if."

'Arc.'

I swung the sword using my entire body killing two worms.

*Crumble!*

The rest successfully retreated.

[You have killed 2 awakened worms(D+)]

[You have gained experience!]

'Da- f-...'

"Urgh."

I felt annoyed but stopped myself from swearing internally. 

I felt like I would lose too much if I talked recklessly. I needed to be more observant of the people around me, if I took a wrong step I could lose everything.

Especially after temporarily becoming apathetic towards everything.

'Nothing mattered, I barely even had a reason to live. That was terrifying.'

I looked around the ruined mine silently.

*Rumble!*

It seemed this mine was going to collapse any second now.

'I should quickly get out.'

I quickly went to where the entrance was. 

'Just great, now should I just blow this up?'

I briefly thought about gathering all my mana to blast through, but quickly stopped.

'The rocks could hit someone.'

This mine was a danger zone, but due to it collapsing people could come check it out. I've already caused enough damage.

I briefly thought of a way to break the rocks without injuring anyone but sighed.

"I can't do that. I'm too weak right now."

I examined the rocks quickly but then hesitated.

'Why am I bothering with this?'

I may have lived in the same village but I didn't really talk to others in the village. 

So why did I bother with this?

As I contemplated a rock fell on my head.

"Ouch."

Even with pain resistance it still hurt. It also hurt when I was betrayed. So why did I want to save them?

'I wanted to live happily without needing to fight. I don't want others to feel pain....'

I sighed and sheathed my sword.

'Draw.'

I quickly enveloped my sword in mana and cut upwards.

*Swish!*

'One more.'

Then I spun around as I cut diagonally.

*Swish!*

*Crumble!*

[Developing skill...]

The rocks were destroyed and fell apart.

Then I jumped out of the mine.

"Ah! So- o- is c- o-!"

I heard someone yell something but couldn't tell what they were saying.

[Unequipping: Threaded sword(A+)]

Someone came up to me and said something. Their body language was chaotic and they seemed panicked.

"Mumble..."

I said something I couldn't comprehend.

Then I lost consciousness.

[Activating item: broken watch(EX)!]

I opened my eyes slowly.

'I must've fainted.'

I got up and walked outside. There was no time to waste.

As if in a trance I walked towards where my heart was leading me.

'Here, it should be here.'

I walked past a guard that noticed me a little too late.

He tried to stop me but I sped up to avoid him.

I arrived at the entrance of a ruined forest.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

There I saw a girl with silver hair, wolf like ears and yellow eyes standing there staring at the moon.

"Yeah. But I don't mind."

She seemed different. Very different, as if she'd seen everything. Like she had been enlightened.

"Do you think you're ready?"

I asked just in case.

Noora looked at me silently and nodded.

"Alright, first of all. I'm...."

I stopped mid sentence. Why? What was so difficult?

Noora looked at me looking a little sad for some reason.

She turned away slowly.

'Hiding, we're both hiding. Aren't we?'

I didn't want to reveal who I was, and she didn't want to have me leave. Now she was hiding her emotions.

*Sigh.*

I sighed lightly and looked at the moon.

'A full moon.'

The moon reflected the trees, grass and us. Showing everything clearly.

"First, I'm sorry for lying to you."

I looked towards Noora.

"My name is Kazumi Quintius. Qu-."

I was about to comment on my name but stopped.

"I'm from a planet called Earth. It was a place without magic at first. Then monsters came along with powerful abilities. We humans tried to defeat them but in the end only twelve people survived, including myself."

I said what I needed to say and continued.

"I've become a being known as a constellation. And I've come to this world with an avatar. This is a body I obtained coincidently while coming to this world."

I clicked on an invisible screen and briefly lost consciousness.

[You have switched avatars!]

When I opened my eyes I saw a wide eyed Noora beside me.

"This is what I look like. I will introduce myself again. My name is Kazumi Quintius, I think I'm about 32 years old mentally and 29 years old physically. Although age doesn't matter much for constellations."

I got on my knees and waited for her response. I was mentally preparing myself.

"Let me ask you a question."

I nodded silently.

"Why.... did you hide your identity?"

"My circumstances didn't allow for my proper identity. I didn't mean to hide it."

Noora nodded silently and asked more questions.

"How much do you know about this world?"

I quickly interpreted the question and answered.

"In the eyes of a constellation, this is practically just a playground where you can experience being stronger than anyone."

I felt a small wave of wind pass me.

"Why did you save me?"

Noora looked straight at me while tears formed on her face.

".... Because you looked like someone who needed saving."

I didn't avoid eye contact and answered.

"How.... do I.... become a constellation?"

She asked.

There was no set answer and I wasn't sure how either. But I decided to answer anyway.

"You reach the peak. And you go past it. That's how you become a constellation."

I still remembered the message I got when I became a constellation. 

[You have achieved something at the level of a universe!]

[You have transcended humanity!]

[You have become a constellation!]

"You surpass the world. That's how you join me."

I may sound like a cruel and impossible goal, but it was the only way I knew.

That was the truth.