Chapter 155

Chapter 155
## Chapter 155: Revelations from Transcendence

“Where is Isabella’s current location?”

“She has departed for the Dersian estate.”

“The Dersians? Both of them went?”

“That is correct.”

Isaac’s confirmation sent a throbbing ache through my temples.

If Isabella had truly ventured there, was there any hope of her coming back alive?

She was already being consumed by the ghosts of her past.

Even with the conviction that they had cast her aside, why would she choose to return to the Dersian family of all places?

Isaac spoke again, breaking the silence.

“She mentioned there was something she had to take back.”

“To reclaim?”

“The specifics are unknown to me. However… she left with a look of profound agony on her face.”

It was only natural that it would be agonizing.

Returning to the very doorstep of those who threw her away, walking alongside the woman who had stolen her place.

And yet, what object or right could be so vital that she felt compelled to reclaim it at any cost? I couldn’t even begin to speculate.

Furthermore, hadn’t she only just re-established her status as the Desert Queen?

This implied that whatever she sought was even more significant than her crown.

“And what about your own path, Isaac? Now that you’ve regained your memories just as Isabella did, remaining by my side cannot be a simple matter.”

“The terms of our contract are still in effect, are they not?”

“Is that the only reason? Weren’t you viewing me with suspicion earlier?”

“…Lord Randolph, you are the savior who pulled me back into the light of the world and wiped away the stain of my past crimes. Not once have I truly doubted you. It is just… I believe there are other factors at play.”

“You are aware of the truth now; you know I employed two individuals suffering from the ‘divine illness,’ and despite the fact that I am not a Star Awakener, you still don’t suspect my motives?”

It was vital to settle this once and for all.

Allowing ambiguity to linger would only permit those seeds of doubt to grow into a catastrophic explosion later on.

Isaac paused, hesitating before he finally found his voice.

“The Star Awakener explained that while Lord Randolph does not hold the formal title of a Star Awakener, you are something far more significant—a ‘Star Guide.'”

“A ‘Star Guide,’ is it?”

“I ask for your forgiveness. Earlier, I allowed my temper to cloud my judgment…”

“It is of no consequence.”

My confidence in him hadn’t been destroyed.

If anything, the bond had been reinforced.

Isaac’s fury had stemmed from the belief that I had orchestrated the encounter between Isabella and the lady of the Dersian house.

Isabella was a woman who kept her heart under lock and key, so if Isaac described her as looking “profoundly agonized,” it meant her very soul was being shredded.

Having been a witness to that pain, his anger was entirely justified.

Isaac went on.

“Furthermore… Isabella claimed she recognized the face of the person who had been pulling her strings. But the vision I experienced was different.”

Different?

Transcendence did more than just unlock basic recollections.

Isabella had glimpsed my true appearance from Earth.

And as for Isaac…

“…I heard a name. Park Hyun-myeong… those three syllables.”

*Thump!*

In that instant, it felt as though my heart had dropped into a bottomless void.

—

‘…The process of Transcending gradually leaks the gamer’s data bit by bit.’

Isaac had discovered that the name of his puppet master was ‘Park Hyun-myeong.’

Between that and Isabella seeing my Earthly face, the veil over my true identity was slowly being lifted.

For the moment, the connection was restricted to my origins on Earth, but it was only a matter of time before they realized that Randolph of Pangeniar and Park Hyun-myeong were one and the same.

They might have already begun to connect the dots.

‘The Empire had possession of my character as well.’

The figure within the Reaper Church hidden behind the silver fox mask.

I had verified with my own eyes that a character likely belonging to ‘Brain God Descent’ was active within the Empire.

If these parties began to pool their knowledge, the path to the ultimate truth would be short and direct.

‘The Reaper Church is hunting down those with the divine illness. They are forcing them to transcend specifically to track down the gamer.’

I slowly rubbed my chin in thought.

That appeared to be the motive behind the Reaper Church’s recruitment of those with the ‘divine illness’—pushing them toward transcendence to pinpoint the gamer’s avatar in Pangeniar, likely to eliminate or punish it.

Regardless of their plans, my objective remained singular.

‘…I must attain enough power to dominate any outcome.’

I had to become stronger than Wilhelm.

Merely reaching Wilhelm’s height wouldn’t allow me to reach the true conclusion of this story.

To survive and thrive in this wretched world, I had to surpass Wilhelm.

No, I had to do more than surpass him—I had to completely overwhelm him.

With that resolve, I accessed the ‘Golden Rule Shop.’

《The ‘Golden Rule Shop’ has received an update.》

《User ‘Randolph’ is currently in possession of 3,160h of Golden Rule fragments.》

3,160 hours!

The number of fragments had expanded to an absurd degree.

I had held thousands in the past, but exceeding the 3,000-hour mark was unprecedented.

Even the total defeat of Sovereign Solbaren hadn’t produced a haul of this magnitude.

Yet, a single entity had made this windfall a reality.

《’The Most Radiant Hero’s Constellation’ has officially subscribed to your journey.》

《The official subscription fee for ‘Randolph’ is set at ‘Golden Rule Fragment (700h)’ per 100 days.》

《Transaction finalized.》

《’The Most Radiant Hero’s Constellation’ initiates your first subscription period.》

《’The Most Radiant Hero’s Constellation’ proposes a ‘Story Monopoly’ agreement.》

《Upon acceptance, the narrative of ‘Randolph’ shall be exclusive to ‘The Most Radiant Hero’s Constellation,’ with supplemental sponsorship to follow.》

《This agreement cannot be nullified by ‘Sublime Winter.’》

This was a category of contract I had never encountered.

‘The Most Radiant Hero’s Constellation.’

The entity had reached out personally.

But it was peculiar.

This constellation had previously been known as the ‘Radiant Hero’s Constellation,’ an entity that had supposedly faded from existence, leaving behind a peerless treasure to light the way.

It was thought he had exhausted his entire essence and vanished.

Yet here he was, rebranded as ‘The Most Radiant Hero’s Constellation,’ observing my progress and offering exclusive deals with intense fascination.

‘I am still not entirely certain if this is the same entity as before.’

The contract hadn’t been finalized yet.

Of course, the proposed terms were staggeringly profitable.

It would be irrational to decline such an offer.

However, without being certain of the constellation’s identity, I couldn’t simply rush into a binding agreement.

Nevertheless, he had provided this massive sum of Golden Rule fragments without any hesitation.

All under the simple guise of a ‘subscription fee.’

‘A subscription. A mechanism that allows him to watch without draining his very existence?’

700 hours of fragments every 100 days.

That broke down to 7 hours every single day.

This was a wealth that no other constellation would ever dream of parting with so casually.

It was a significant upgrade from his previous state.

‘There is no reason to reject a gift given freely.’

A soft laugh escaped me.

Whether the entity was suspicious or not, there was no harm in accepting a subscription that carried no immediate obligations.

‘Time to browse.’

Regardless of the circumstances, spending fragments was always a thrill.

With a balance this high, there was almost nothing beyond my reach.

—

**Truth Seeker, Dimensional Insight**

**Star of the Beheaded.**

The moment he claimed it and achieved transcendence, Isaac saw everything.

He witnessed memories spanning from the distant past to the present moment.

He saw another entity inhabiting his physical form, moving his limbs as if they were their own.

Like a wooden puppet or a marionette, this intruder committed unspeakable acts without a shred of hesitation—and Isaac was forced to watch every raw, unfiltered moment.

‘I was so certain those crimes were my own.’

Isaac had been missing several years of his life.

He had simply woken up one day and was told by the world what he had supposedly done.

He had dismissed the stories as lies at first, but when the accusations came from every direction, he eventually succumbed to the belief that they were true.

He had been attacked in the streets, pelted with the hatred of strangers who looked at him like a mortal enemy…

Ultimately, Isaac had accepted the guilt, fleeing across the lands until he found sanctuary in Kramdel.

‘To realize that none of it was actually me.’

His initial reaction was a sense of profound ‘relief.’

If these weren’t his choices—if he truly had been a victim of manipulation—then there was a chance for redemption.

But that relief was quickly swallowed by a burning rage.

*—Park Hyun-myeong. Park Hyun-myeong… Park Hyun-myeong…*

The name of the one who controlled him played on a loop in his mind.

Park Hyun-myeong. Isaac etched those three words into his very soul.

He would never let them fade.

‘I will personally tear your throat out.’

For the sake of vengeance.

Later, through the words of the Star Awakener, he learned more.

He heard of players labeled as sinners—beings from another realm who possessed the people of this world and shattered the natural order.

Isaac, as one of those plagued by the ‘divine illness,’ had inherited the memories of such a player.

*—The entity from the other world who used you is still present in Pangeniar. He is occupying another body, continuing the same cycle of cruelty you endured.*

The monster who used me is currently puppeteering another human being?

The thought was utterly repulsive.

And if this ‘manipulator’ was indeed controlling someone else, he would possess intimate knowledge of Isaac’s missing years.

He would know details that were impossible for anyone else to uncover.

‘The one who tracked me to Kramdel… the one who knew exactly who I was.’

There was only one man who knew Isaac’s location, his true identity, and his dark history—secrets Isaac had shared with no one.

If that man was the ‘manipulator,’ every piece of the puzzle locked into place.

‘…Lord Randolph.’

Randolph himself.

The man who had found him and kept him in his service for a year knew everything.

He claimed to be a Star Awakener, and as he promised, the way forward always cleared whenever he walked.

It was as if he possessed knowledge of the future; every path he chose led to an answer.

From the impossible legends born in Kramdel’s Tower of Mystery to the endless stream of miracles that followed.

Why would he hire someone like Isaac? Randolph was a man who stood alone against the entire world, a feat that defied logic.

*—Randolph? There is no record of such an individual in the Star Awakener archives.*

Later, the Star Awakener had produced the ‘Star Awakener Registry,’ proving that Randolph’s claims were a fabrication.

Randolph was not a Star Awakener.

He had been lying since the day they met.

And yet.

*—However, if this ‘Randolph’ you describe is the ‘Star Guide,’ then he stands on a plane far above us ‘Star Awakeners.’ He is the one who directs all the ‘stars’ themselves.*

Not a Star Awakener, but the Star Guide.

‘Did he use the other title simply because ‘Star Guide’ would have sounded too unbelievable?’

It was a possibility.

If he had introduced himself as the ‘Star Guide’ during their first encounter, Isaac would have dismissed him as a madman.

*—’The Star Guide’ has the ability to read the memories of every ‘star.’ It is possible your own history was intertwined with one of them.*

Could that truly be the explanation?

Furthermore, how could a man like Randolph be the ‘manipulator’ or the ‘sinner’?

Randolph wasn’t a sinner. It was impossible.

His dedication to Pangeniar was far too sincere.

So, Isaac made his choice to believe.

Though Randolph’s powers were terrifying and his deeds were beyond comprehension, the ‘mercy’ he had shown Isaac couldn’t have been a ruse.

‘Lord Randolph was the one who saved me from Kramdel.’

His life back then had been a dead end.

Existing in the shadows among monsters.

The moment his human nature was discovered, he would have faced a violent end at the bottom of a ravine.

Every day was a living nightmare.

Randolph hadn’t just rescued him—he had cleared his name and erased his ‘crimes,’ giving him the chance to live as a man again.

Without Randolph, he would still be rotting in the filth of Kramdel.

‘Lord Randolph is a benefactor to whom I owe a debt I can never repay.’

That was the truth. Therefore, Randolph could not be the one who manipulated him.

He could never be a ‘sinner.’

The true target of his hatred was out there somewhere, living a lie.

‘I will find you, you wretched puppet master.’

Isaac squeezed his fist until his knuckles turned white.

—

《You have 3,160h of Golden Rule fragments available for use.》

《You may trade for a single item from the following inventory using a ‘Complete Golden Rule.’》

《The Hall of Fame 1st place bonus ensures 10 available items.》

《Displaying the updated inventory.》

……

《Alchemist’s Special ‘Giant’s Potion’ – 200h (Available: 1)》

《Corrupted Believer’s Talisman – 500h (Available: 1)》

《Brainwashing Sorcerer’s Worm Net – 300h (Available: 1)》

《White King’s Fang – 1,000h (Available: 1)》

《Dragon God’s Worn Wish Bead – 1,500h (Available: 1)》

《Eldritch’s Cursed Black Grimoire – 600h (Available: 1)》

《’Giant’s Radiance’ Mystery – 500h (Available: 1)》

《Corrupted Crystal – 500h (Available: 3)》

《Glory’s Radiant Stone – 500h (Available: 2)》

《Mad Claw Mark’s Core – 100h (Available: 2)》

A total of ten choices.

I gave a short nod as I scanned the list.

Items belonging to the Master, the Black Paladin, and the Brainwashing Sorcerer were all present.

‘The Giant’s Potion. That has to be the substance that caused the Master’s transformation.’

Even for me, this was a new discovery.

Most likely, it was the Master’s ultimate hidden card.

The Corrupted Believer’s Talisman didn’t look like it would benefit me.

Since I possessed no religious devotion, it would likely be a useless trinket in my hands.

‘The Worm Net. Designed for capturing brainwashing parasites?’

Unless I planned on switching to a class that commanded insects, it held little appeal.

‘The White King’s Fang is still there.’

It remained a fixture in the shop’s update.

I was still torn on whether to purchase it.

Looking at the scars on the Great Earth Dragon, it was clear the beast had been taken down by a colossal blade.

The power used was sword aura—perhaps even reaching the level of a sword beam.

Lactusha was the only swordmaster who came to mind with the capability to push the beast to that limit.

‘Only the White King has the power to keep the Black King in check.’

With the Four Kings and the Great Earth Dragon eliminated.

I could very well be the next target among the Five Pillars.

I wasn’t yet in a position to face the Black King in a direct confrontation.

To withstand his forces, the White King would need to be reinforced.

But even so, I couldn’t just hand over such power without a price, could I?

“Hmm.”

The items further down the list were all practical in their own right.

After careful consideration, I finalized my selections.

《Acquired Alchemist’s Special ‘Giant’s Potion’ for 200h.》

《Acquired ‘Dragon God’s Worn Wish Bead’ for 1,500h.》

《Acquired 2 ‘Mad Claw Mark’s Cores’ for 200h.》

《Acquired Eldritch’s Cursed Black Grimoire for 600h.》

《Current Balance: 660h Golden Rule fragments.》

This would suffice for the time being.

Four distinct items were now in my possession.

I could have used a Complete Golden Rule to secure two additional items, but there was nothing in the current stock that justified such a high cost.