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Hassan, the Necromancer of the Black Star
193 ? Black Star Necromancer Hassan #4
“You didn’t lose your mind even after seeing the appearance of the real woman. You’ve grown quite courageous.”
I had a gut feeling that this giant woman, made up of tangled crows, was Luna’s mother, Nox.
Nox, goddess of night and superstition.
The great being that rules over the deepest part of hell has now appeared before me.
I used to have conversations with Luna through her body, but this time, it felt different. Maybe this was her true self.
I felt like my whole body froze when I saw that huge majesty. There is such a huge being. It is really big in many ways. So I opened my mouth and asked while feeling cold sweat running down my back from nervousness.
“Luna is here, is it okay for her to appear like this…? Luna might wake up…?”
Then her deep, dark purple eyes pass by me and look down at Luna.
『The child. Luna will not wake up for a while. This is a curse. A curse that activates when Luna has a certain amount of karma.』
“A curse…?”
But even if the embarrassment were aside, there seemed to be something quite serious in what she was saying.
“Are you saying Luna won’t wake up for a while?”
『Yes, that is the curse imposed by the main character and the ruler of darkness, Erebor. Now Luna will sleep a long sleep.』
I also knew that Luna’s body was cursed.
The Curse of Nox and the Curse of Erebor.
But I had no way of knowing what these two curses meant, and no matter how much I pressed on them, they wouldn’t go away, so I just left them alone.
It seems to have been a curse that was activated when a certain karma, or level, was achieved.
I think Luna is level 20 now.
Certainly Luna has gotten more sleepy as she reaches level 20.
I didn’t know that was such a curse.
I guess I’m going to have a long sleep from now on.
At that moment, Luna’s mother, Nox, the goddess of the night, mutters as if she feels very sorry.
『But the due date was earlier than expected. It should have taken a little longer. It seems the limit has come early. It came much sooner than expected.』
Ss …
The giant Nox walked past me without making a sound and knelt at Luna’s bedside. He even stroked Luna’s head with his large palm.
『Originally, it would have taken 50 more years. I would have had time to live a normal mortal life and enjoy normal happiness… . 』
Nox muttered as if he was really sorry, stroking Luna’s head. Soon, round, hard things fell from her large eyes and rolled around the garden in the yard.
It was onyx.
Knox is sad.
“Can you explain to me what the hell is going on? Why was such a curse necessary?”
“Luna was born for the empty throne. The main woman and her husband Erebor gave birth to a successor to replace the runaway king. But Luna was too small. Small and fragile.”
Empty throne.
The runaway king.
It was a story I had heard from the little monster before. It was a story I was very curious about, but it was a social story that I could not ask anyone.
So when I try to understand what Knox is trying to say, she opens her big mouth and adds a few more words.
『We decided to hide Luna. But when Luna grew up, they would definitely find out. So, we had to put a curse on Luna to prevent her from growing up.』
“Are you caught?”
They caught them. The explanation was poor and insufficient, but if I were to interpret it in my own way, it seemed like someone was after Luna.
“Who is trying to hack Luna?”
『The sons and daughters of hell. The heirs of chaos who seek the throne. If you continue with Luna, you will meet them soon. And you will fight them.』
Swish.
Knox stopped talking and looked up at the night sky.
『They are strong as the tip of a sharpened spear. The great warriors chosen by chaos are hiding in the dark shadows and the night sky, their eyes glaring like black stars.』
“… .”
As far as I know, Nox is a powerful god.
Her abode is the deepest abyss in Tartarus, the hell so deep that not even screams or cries can be heard.
She who has established herself there is a being so great that even Jupiter, the ruler of the world, recognizes her authority.
How could she possibly hide Luna while assuming strong enemies?
I felt a chill down my spine as I thought that somewhere in the night sky there might be attackers shining like black stars, just as Knox had said.
『As for Luna now, she can’t handle them. So she hides them so they don’t find out. Even if it means stopping their growth and putting them into a deep sleep. Do you understand now?』
“… The outline is complete. So, when will it happen?”
Ssuk.
Knox stroked his daughter Luna’s face as if closing her eyes. At that moment, Luna was sleeping as if she were dead.
Not moving, not whining, just breathing evenly.
I asked again.
“So, when will it happen again…?”
“I don’t know. Maybe ten years later. Maybe a hundred years later.”
That answer made me feel like my eyes were going dark. I thought a week or a month was a long time. A hundred years? It seems like our concept of time itself is different.
『It was a long time. When Luna opened her eyes, everything she remembered had changed. But for immortal beings like us, it was just a moment of “ah-“. When Luna opened her eyes, she would live as if nothing had happened.』
“that is….”
Lunalani wakes up from her sleep a hundred years later.
Can I be next to him?
No, it was clear that I couldn’t do that. I have to live a long life, and 80 years will be the end. Is it because I’m an ordinary human that I can’t live the same amount of time as Luna?
Actually, I had vaguely expected it. I didn’t expect Luna to fall asleep like this. But I did know that Luna and I had different times.
Luna is the daughter of the goddess.
I am human.
Could it be that Luna also lives a really long life like elves or nymphs?
I’ve thought that even if I were to continue living a happy life with Luna, I might die first and Luna would be left alone on this earth.
But it seems like it was somewhat true.
『That is what it means to be in a relationship with the immortals, child. That is why the gods do not discuss fading and careless love. They know full well that it will inevitably end in separation.』
“… .”
I couldn’t answer with any words. I just felt a huge wall. A wall so big I couldn’t get over it.
『But that doesn’t mean there’s no way.』
“Is that true?”
“Yes, if you really care about Luna, there is a way.”
“What is the method? What do I have to do?”
『Luna’s tragedy is caused by an empty throne. It is a fight over the position of the runaway king. If that’s the case, then all that needs to be done is to fill the position.』
* * *
『The karma I received from you has all run out. I will go back now. Remember what I said. Oh, before that, I would like to give you a little protection.』
Knox stood before me.
It’s a very mysterious and eerie feeling to be looked down upon by a woman who is larger than me.
How many times have I been looked down upon by a woman? It brings back memories of my mother when I was young, and I feel a sense of nostalgia.
Swish.
side-.
Finally, she lowered her head and kissed my forehead.
Getting a kiss on the forehead from your girlfriend’s mother.
To be honest, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. I heard that even on Earth, Westerners greet each other with a kiss. Is that so?
Luna’s family is open-minded.
So, what kind of protection did you give me? – Just as I was about to ask that, words appeared before my eyes.
“Grace is granted from the night of the beginning.”
『Grace of the Night Cloak』 will be transformed into 『Night Armor』.
『Armor of the Night of Grace』: Armor imbued with the power of the night of the beginning – Nox. Once a day, it greatly increases the user’s defense. The less light there is, the more powerful it becomes.
Armor of the night.
The grace received from Nox was strengthened from the night’s veil to the cloak, and then to the armor.
The ability is said to increase defense as its name suggests, but I honestly have no idea what it feels like.
“Can I ask what kind of power this is?”
『This is the weapon that was given to the holy warriors of the main goddess. The armor of the night. It can greatly hinder perception by covering the body with darkness. Recite the main goddess’ name.』
He asked me to call his name. So I muttered, feeling a bit awkward.
“Mr. Nox-.”
『Consumes 10 task points.』
『Current task value + 180』
Then, at the same time, letters appeared before my eyes.
Cheodeok, cheodeok-.
I felt something like sticky mud crawling under my feet, covering my calves, knees, thighs, and other areas.
It was a shadow like black ink. It was literally somewhere between a black liquid and a shadow. In a way, it looked like a living thing.
Those black things began to wrap around my body and darken my body as if they were painting it.
“What is this, what is this-!”
I was so shocked by the shadows that began to cover my stomach, chest, arms, neck, and face. I ended up screaming. Black liquids covering my neck, face, and nose.
I was struggling because it felt like my nose and mouth were blocked and I couldn’t breathe.
“Embrace the darkness. You don’t have to be afraid.”
I was able to come to my senses thanks to the reassuring voice.
In fact, even though my entire body was covered in strange shadows, I had no major problems moving or breathing.
『With one activation, the whole body is healed. Although the negative influence is strong due to the influence of the lower body that occurred a while ago, the compatibility is quite good.』
As Nox spoke with satisfaction while looking at my appearance, I looked down at my arms and legs to check their condition.
As the name suggests, it feels like you’re wearing a strange armor. However, it’s sharp and pointy, so it feels like a villainous executive from a special effects movie.
What does the face look like?
So while I was patting my face with my palm, Knox waved his hand in the air, and a small mirror appeared in the empty air.
I looked at my face through the hand mirror. Then, all I could see was a dark shadow with red eyes flashing.
“this….”
He really does look like a fucking villain.
If I had encountered this guy in a dungeon, I would have screamed, thrown down my weapon, and run away.
But I like it because it looks strong and powerful, thinking that it’s me.
Above all, the ability to hide one’s identity.
It was perfect because I might not have to bother with robes or masks or anything like that.
* * *
The yard where Knox had passed was left with only the noisy sound of crow feathers. I was out of my mind as if a summer typhoon had passed by.
Fresh root, fresh root.
But Luna, whether she knew my feelings or not, was lying next to me, deep asleep. A deep sleep that I didn’t know when I would wake up.
A deep sleep from which one may never wake up.
I was sad.
I was so sad that I might not hear Luna’s cheerful voice again, and I almost cried.
I had heard from Nox how to wake Luna from her sleep, but I didn’t know how many years would pass before that would happen, or if it would happen at all.
The throne of Hell, beside which grows a special Menthe flower. Feed it to her, Zigles. Then Luna will wake up.
Nox told me how to wake Luna from her slumber: boil a special herb that grew next to the throne in Hell and feed it to her.
However, the throne of hell is not open to just anyone. It will require a lot of preparation.
It was like telling me to die.
I wonder if I can do something like that… .
To be honest, I wasn’t confident, but looking at Luna sleeping like she didn’t know anything, I felt a little bit of courage rise up.
If I gave up the challenge, Nox said he would take Luna back from her sleep and hide her in a place where no one could find her.
I couldn’t stand it any longer.
But does it really mean that Luna will never wake up?
So I moved Luna up two floors and tried lifting her eyelids and pressing on her cheeks.
“Luna, wake up!”
I didn’t forget to shout loudly in her ear. Luna didn’t even move, probably because she was in a really deep sleep.
I made Luna lie face down and pressed the back of her neck and head with my fingers.
Press and hold the Pungji and Cheonju points with care.
This is a place where teachers often press and massage sleepy students to wake them up. Pressing this place stimulates blood flow to the brain and clears the mind, making it very effective in waking up.
Kwuk, kwuk-.
“Umm… .”
But Luna just whined and showed no signs of getting up.
While I was at it, I moved the hand that was pressing down on the back of Luna’s neck and touched Luna’s earlobe. A soft, cold, and round earlobe.
According to my father, the human ear is like a miniature version of the entire human body. The point that is pressed to wake up is the head area. And the part of the ear that is responsible for the head area is the earlobe.
So I grabbed Luna’s earlobe and pulled on it, pressing it hard with my thumb and index finger.
“Ugh-.”
Then, a groan of pain escaped Luna’s mouth. If it had been a normal person, it wouldn’t have been strange for them to get up and get angry right away, but they really didn’t get up.
“How dare you-.”
I felt a little awkward, so this time I put my thumbs on both of Luna’s temples.
The temples are a vital point and a weak point, but they are also a fairly important point for massage, such as relieving headaches.
So, let’s press those two areas with our thumbs.
“That’s it-!!”
This time, even Luna couldn’t hold it in anymore and let out a loud scream.
“…Hassan!! I was sleeping well, why are you doing this!!”
Phew-.
“Ugh-.”
Luna, who must have really hurt, got up from her seat, clenched her fist, and hit me hard in the stomach. I was caught off guard and got hit in the stomach, so I could not help but let out a strange scream like a toad that had been stepped on.
“Ugh… .”
“Ugh, my head hurts. I thought my head was going to burst-!!”
Luna frowns, touching her temple.
“Luna, are you awake?”
“Yeah!! If you press it like that, of course it will happen!!”
Luna screamed like she was really angry, but I was so happy that she woke up.
Then, didn’t letters start to appear before my eyes?
Deering-.
“Luna Noxdotty’s Status: Nox’s Curse”
『Task value + 50』
『Current task value: +240』
Deering-.
“Luna Noxdotti’s Status: The Curse of Erebor”
『Task value + 50』
『Current task value: +290』
What the heck is Sval?
The curses that I had pressed here and there but could not be resolved until now were converted into task values. In fact, the task values increased by a considerable amount compared to usual.
what?
Could it be that the cause was that I pressed the points in sequence as if building a combo, which is said to be good for waking up?
I think I once heard my father say that just as there is an order to the food at a French dinner, there is an order to acupressure.
I thought it was just nonsense, so I never really learned it.
But looking at it this way, it seems like pressing the acupoints in order to wake you up is really effective.
I just found out that maybe the curses and conditions that couldn’t be done until now can be lifted by pressing this and that in sequence.
Anyway, it was a very happy thing that Luna, who I thought would never wake up, woke up.
Subal, I’m glad I don’t have to go all the way to hell or something to pick Mente flowers.
Still, just in case, I asked Luna.
“Luna, do you remember everything that happened?”
If it’s like the aftereffects of a curse where you lose several days’ worth of memories, then it’s a big deal.
“I remember looking at the stars. When did I fall asleep?”
Fortunately, Luna seemed to remember everything that happened up until just before she fell asleep.
“Are you feeling unwell or anything?”
“I don’t think so? But Hassan, you really are worried. Let’s go to the treatment center together tomorrow!”
I was finally able to feel reassured by Luna’s words, which seemed to say that it was really okay.
I felt relieved.
On the one hand, I wonder if it’s okay to feel relieved.
I made a big promise to Lord Knox that I would stop war, fighting, or whatever. So what happened to that promise?
Also, the reason Luna fell into a deep sleep was to freeze her growth so as not to be caught by the Children of the Abyss.
Now that Luna has woken up, she will continue to grow and there may be enemies who try to attack her.
Pluto, who abandoned the throne of the underworld and ran away.
Pluto believers who have degenerated into cultists.
And the struggles over the empty throne.
The Heirs of Chaos are a potential threat.
I didn’t realize it until just now because I was out of my mind, but I think a lot of important keywords have entered my head.
I wanted to know more about this, but I was at a loss as to who to ask. Then I remembered the incident with Antiope, whom I had recently corrupted into a crusader.
The ways of the serpent are known better to the landmen than to the serpents themselves.
Then wouldn’t the work of the cultists be well known to some of the Knights Templar who hunt the cultists?
Since I had training with Hippolyte tomorrow anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to go see Antiope while I had time and ask her if she knew anything.
“Hassan… . More than that, there’s something I’m worried about… .”
Luna sniffed and brought her face closer to me as if smelling the scent on my body. Something bothered her. Did she know that Nox had come?
I wondered how Luna would react to Nox’s scent.
So at that moment when I was feeling a little nervous.
“… It’s a strange feeling of karma. It really feels strangely familiar. But it’s a woman’s karma. What is it? Hassan, did you meet a woman while you were sleeping?”
“no.”
“… Lies! It smells like a female. It’s the smell of a dangerous, dangerous female-!!”
Luna soon rubbed my forehead with her forearm. That was where the mark of Nox’s kiss still remained warm.
“I don’t know who she is, but don’t meet that woman again!! She’s a really dangerous woman-!!”
Luna declared to me that I should not meet her mother, Nox. I became dizzy.
[Work Review]
The illustration is complete…!! A combination of three techniques, with two existing characters placed on one sheet…!!
I give glory to illustrator star741 who worked hard to draw both characters and the background, and to the readers who gave me coupons…!!!
The main character of the following illustration is a nymph of the ditch…
And then the next one…
And then the next one-.
