Everyone Is Young Except For Me Chapter 314

At the Star Flow System, Lupeon's barracks...

“Lupeon!”

Aries was stunned as she embraced Lupeon, who had collapsed to the ground. Aries s.h.i.+fted her gaze to Lupeon's chest. The sacred stars scattered from the chest that was pierced by something. It was the blood of the stars.

“Lupeon! Wake up, Lupeon!”

Aries bit her lip and shook Lupeon. Lupeon's eyelids slowly opened at Aries' voice.

“H-Have you woken up...?!”

[Aries...] Lupeon spoke to Aries in a fading voice. However, Lupeon knew that his time was running out.

“Who dares...?!”

Aries was red with anger. She felt her hands trembling. Tears fell and Lupeon slowly raised his hand to wipe her tears away. [I'm sorry, Aries... even though I was aware of the feelings you kept inside, I had to pretend I didn't know. I am the king of the constellations... Cough!]

“I-I know. I know. Don't say anything. Is there anybody out there? Hurry in here!”

Aries tried to block the stars flowing from Lupeon's chest and looked for someone. A short time later, some of the constellations heard her shouts and ran into the barracks, only to be shocked. 

“L-Lupeon!”

“Lupeon!”

“Why are you just standing there! Call a healing constellation right now!”

“Yes!”

The constellations who entered quickly responded and went out again. Only Aries and Lupeon were left inside the barracks. In the silence, Lupeon opened his mouth again, [It is already too... late. You know that as well...]

“Don't say that. I will somehow save you. Who did such a terrible thing?”

Lupeon felt his heart losing the stars and thought he had to tell Aries the ident.i.ty of the true criminal who made him this way. It was very important in case the other G.o.ds became like himself. He wanted to stop that.

[An... tares...]

“Antares? No way, that scorpion guy...?”

Lupeon nodded silently.

“That traitor!”

Aries gritted her teeth while trembling. She never dreamed that the scorpion zodiac would be a traitor.

[He had claws with the power of a G.o.d killer...]

Claws with the power of a G.o.d killer. Aries' mind worked the moment she heard it. It was the power that the great Jupiter gave to Regulus, the former leader of the 12 Zodiacs, to keep the other G.o.ds in check. Yet Antares had that Regulus' claws? She heard that Regulus had become the demon king Lucifer and was currently in the human world.

“Don't tell me, corruption?”

Aries s.h.i.+fted her gaze to Lupeon's chest. The black energy of the wound was encroaching on Lupeon. It was definitely demonic energy. Aries realized that her guess was correct. The scorpion zodiac Antares had become corrupted.

[...Unfortunately, you were the first to see this. I'm sorry.]

“Don't say that!”

It happened as Aries yelled at Lupeon... 

Someone who entered the barracks was startled by Lupeon's condition and hurriedly scattered the energy of flowers on Lupeon. The colorful flowers surrounded Lupeon and started to heal him. She was an elf who recently joined the Star Flow System. She was called the flower maiden and was in charge of healing the constellations.

“His condition is serious. Maybe...”

Her name was Flora.

[Honey, what is going on... huh?!]

It was Aiolos who entered the barracks. He groaned when he saw the fallen Lupeon.

[Aries, what is going on?]

“Lupeon was betrayed by Antares. He is a traitor.]

[What? Antares is a traitor...]

Aiolos looked upset and Flora's expression also wasn't good. Maybe she was using too much strength.

[...I know my body well. I am going to die soon. This is just a temporary life extension.]

Lupeon said so and squeezed out his remaining star power. His current worry was about the confusion of the constellations after he died. It was obvious that the power of all the constellations would be weakened when the king of the stars died. The star elemental 'Stella' appeared next to Lupeon. Lupeon gave Stella all the remaining power of the stars. It also contained his power. Stella fell asleep and Lupeon handed it to Aries.

[Maybe there will be a major attack from the demons soon. They might already be surrounding us. You must lead to the remaining constellations to the human world.]

Lupeon's words seemed like he was pledging the end and Aries' tears fell like chicken p.o.o.p. Lupeon wiped Aries' tears again with powerless hands. Just then—

“A surprise attack!”

“The demons are attacking!”

[...Go. The person Stella chooses will become the next king of the stars. Cough!]

Lupeon coughed as he spoke, but Aries still didn't move. Lupeon glanced at Aiolos next to him. He nodded lightly like he was asking for a favor and Aiolos struck the back of Aries' neck.

Pak!

“Ah...”

Aries fell unconscious and Aiolos lifted her with the wind. Aiolos looked at Lupeon again.

[I don't think I can take care of you. I'm sorry.]

[...It's fine. Please hurry, friend.]

Aiolos gritted his teeth and captured Lupeon's final appearance. Then Flora urged him. “Let's go. If it is too late then everyone here will die.”

[Well done.]

[...Please look after Aries.]

Aiolos nodded and left the barracks with Flora. The outside was already pandemonium. Aiolos shouted to the constellations who were confused by the ambush of the demons, [All constellations, retreat to the human world!]

* * *

At Erebos, the base of the Zeus Guild...

Camille, Inumusiki and Park Muyeol stayed in Erebos of the Zeus Guild and had a busy day. Damian was recruiting soldiers to go with him to the East Continent, while the other members of the Zeus Guild were eager to level up. Michael and Park Muyeol were in perfect harmony and started training.

Inumusiki moved his ears as he watched the training of the two people with interest.

[Hoh. Is this the swordsmans.h.i.+p of a human? Interesting.]

Inumusiki constantly stroked his sword like he had a compet.i.tive feeling. It was an unbearable temptation for Inumusiki who was a Sword Sage. Park Muyeol's wooden sword and Michael's sand sword collided and created dust. A sandstorm broke out between the two of them.

[...He called himself a stick star. He is worthy of his reputation.]

Inumusiki felt his heart thumping quickly as he recognized the power in Park Muyeol's wooden stick. The confrontation between the two people seemed like a beautiful and sublime ritual. However, Inumusiki was more interested in Michael than the man called Park Muyeol. Park Muyeol felt like he was already completed, while Michael was still young and had room for further improvement.

In any case, Inumusiki looked closely at Michael's sword.

It happened at this time...

“Aaack!”

“This guy. What's going on? Wake up!”

Michael struggled forward as he complained of chest pains. Dark demonic energy was flowing around Michael's body. Inumusiki frowned at the sight and called out to Camille who was sleeping in the distance.

[Camille.]

[H-Huh...?!] 

Camille woke up in a startled manner. Then she saw the direction Inumusiki was running in and also came over with a serious face.

[This phenomenon...]

Camille frowned as she examined the demonic energy around Michael.

[This is what happens when a constellation is corrupted. This young man's constellation is Antares. Don't tell me Antares...]

“Kuaaaak!”

Camille couldn't continue her words. It was because Michael felt even more extreme pain. Michael barely endured the pain by gritting his teeth, but the demonic energy in his body wasn't at the level that humans could handle.

'Antares...!'

Michael felt angry as he recalled the message he had seen before he fell down. It was really unbelievable.

[The scorpion star, 'Antares,' has started being corrupted.]

[Dark demonic energy is encroaching on you.]

[Antares has relinquished the position and name of a zodiac.]

'Why are you...?!'

Michael shook as he gritted his teeth and endured the pain.

[It can't be left like this. If left alone, he will be eaten away by the demonic energy and become a demon. We need to disconnect him from the corrupted constellation right now. Is it okay?]

Michael heard Camille's question and nodded slowly after thinking about it. It was better to disconnect than to become Antares' dog.

“Plea...se.”

Michael slowly nodded and another message appeared in front of him.

[The fallen constellation, 'Pharaoh of Desire,' is revealing his true name.]

[The demon king, 'Asmodeus,' is looking at you and laughing.]

Demon King Asmodeus—this was the real name and ident.i.ty that Antares had been hiding.

* * *

At this time, I arrived at a familiar cliff. 

“It has been a long time since I came here.”

[The first apostle, 'Prometheus,' says yes.]

“Father, what is this place?”

Punghee asked with curious eyes and I just smiled and stroked her hair. It was the same cliff that I once used to wipe out the Fire Dragons by using the cobwebs.

“You are still young and don't need to know.”

“Che, haven't I grown? I've grown one span more than I did the last time you saw me!”

Punghee seemed to be asking for praise for her height. She raised his palm and shouted, letting me know how much she had grown. Certainly, Punghee's growth rate was different. She said she had grown by one span of a hand more, but it was actually 0.5 times. It wasn't at the level of a weasel anymore, but I was sorry to call her a tiger. In any case.

“You are a lot bigger. I'm proud of you.” I once again stroked Punghee's head. Punghee laughed. I told her, “Follow me.”

“Yep!”

I flew through the air on Jinny while Punghee easily followed me using the power of the wind. The place where we arrived was a place filled with statues of knights that I saw when I previously climbed the cliff. The first thing that greeted us was the carving of the knights fighting monsters, embossed on the giant iron door. There were familiar statues of knights around us. I walked to the slab I saw last time.

-The Warriors of the Wind are sleeping here. Waiting for the day when the sleeping King of the Wind to wake up and regain himself. We will once again share glory with him.

“......”

I silently looked at the slate. I didn't know it at the time, but I now had Prometheus' memories. This was very important to me and Punghee. It was shortly after my conversation with Joseph. I had decided to stop by here since I came to Windia. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the surroundings.

[The one with the blood of the wind. Additionally, the one who guides the wind. For what purpose did you come to this place?]

I shouted at the voice, “I came to see the Gaeram!”

Another echo was heard and disappeared. Then the closed iron door started to open as another voice was heard.

[Come in. Our Gaeram will test you.]

“Father, do we have to go in here?”

Punghee hid behind me with fear as she stared at the open iron door. I nodded slowly at Punghee. We both walked through the open door. There was a loud sound as the iron door closed behind us. There was a light vibration and the pitch-black darkness rushed in.