Odin.
The reason for bringing up the chief deity of Norse mythology was just one—because of his connection to Angrboda. In any case, as far as I knew, in the original The Apocalypse Chronicles of Another World, there was no character whose Constellation was Odin. That was precisely why lying like this was actually the safer route.
But it seemed the other Constellations didn’t see it that way, as they erupted in an uproar.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: He’s completely lost his mind!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Why not just say my dad is your Constellation?!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Why not say the Sun God Ra is your Constellation!]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Is this what people call forcing a bad move? ㅇㅁㅇ;;;;]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: I get that you’re mentally pressured, but isn’t this just too far? ㅇㅅㅇ;;;]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Honestly, you would’ve been better off naming Hermes!]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Do you have a habit… of spewing nonsense… when nervous? Or is it a tic?]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Just this once, I agree with Mr. Concept-Crazy Anubis~ \ \ \ೕ( ･ㅂ･)و / / /]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Concept-crazy?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Hurry up and admit you messed up!]
God, shut up already.
I lowered the hand that almost instinctively went up to cover my ears and reached naturally for my teacup. As I stole glances at the never-ending flood of messages beside Park Gil-seon, who sat across from me, she remarked, clearly baffled.
“Odin?”
“Yes.”
“You trying to fool me because I’m old?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what’s your reason for spouting something so absurd?”
“I do have evidence.”
I responded confidently and called out to Lee Myung-won.
“Mr. Lee Myung-won, could you come over here for a moment?”
Though he looked utterly incredulous, Lee Myung-won obediently stepped closer. I slowly activated the skill.
[You are using a skill. Skill: Hand of Sunlight]
[Hand of Sunlight is activated. The Constellation’s blessing is granted.]
As the back of my hand glowed gold and a sigil appeared, Lee Myung-won’s face lit up in renewed surprise. Park Gil-seon calmly observed the shifting mood like one watching a tide roll in.
“That’s the skill you used in front of me before. My skill.”
“Yes. I believe it’s a skill you obtained through your contract with your Constellation.”
Then I fired an arrow at the office wall. Thunk—the arrow embedded itself in the white wall like it was piercing tofu. Lee Myung-won nodded.
“That’s right. Not a single detail is off.”
“This isn’t just any skill. It’s possible because my Constellation, Odin, is the god of magic. That’s why I can use skills granted by other Constellations. Otherwise, how would something like this make sense? Don’t you agree?”
I said it casually, meeting Park Gil-seon’s gaze. The old woman, eyes golden like sunlight, simply stared back without a word.
“And why do you think Angrboda targeted me? It’s because of my Constellation. Angrboda had her three children taken by Odin. She’s out for revenge—on me as well.”
The public opinion in the chat shifted instantly.
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Whose son talks this damn well?]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Are you sure Ga-hyeon isn’t actually my Contractor? That was one hell of a lie. Apollo, what did you even teach him?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Why the hell are you blaming me first?!]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Well, if it were Apollo, it wouldn’t be something like this but rather….]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: (Filtered. Reason: Excessive sexual content)]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: (Filtered. Reason: Excessive sexual content)]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: (Filtered. Reason: Excessive sexual content)]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: …would’ve been something like that, right? ㅇㅂㅇ!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Sweet Zeus, what did I just hear?]
“Really?”
“Well, I guess it does make sense, kind of….”
Seeing Lee Myung-won’s uncertain expression, I gave a small nod. Park Gil-seon, her gaze calm, asked plainly.
“Then the ability to communicate with other Constellations—is that also thanks to your Constellation?”
“You could say that, yes.”
At this point, I couldn’t admit I didn’t have a Constellation. It would make no sense to claim I could talk to them without having one myself. That would be like claiming to be a master chef who didn’t even know how to hold a knife.
“Then let me ask one final question.”
Park Gil-seon leaned slowly back into her chair, her expression softening.
“What’s your relationship with Baek Tae-beom?”
I had been about to casually sip my tea, but nearly spat it out instead. A fit of coughing overtook me, and Lee Myung-won hurriedly handed me a tissue.
“Cough, cough… S-sorry, what?”
“What’s your relationship with Baek Tae-beom? Lovers? Fiancés? Half-brothers?”
[The Constellation ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun’ cheers!]
“…None of those. Why would you even think that…?”
“He’s not the kind to easily listen to others. I figured if I left him alone, something terrible was bound to happen, so I tried everything to bring him in. But ever since you showed up, he’s become uncharacteristically obedient.”
Park Gil-seon spoke slowly, her eyes fixed on mine. Her eyes, gently creased with age and smiling softly, carried a certain tenderness—worry, even—that I could clearly read.
“That’s why I thought maybe the two of you had made some sort of promise about the future. You know as well as I do, none of us here holds those kinds of prejudices, so you’re free to speak openly.”
“…I sincerely appreciate your words, but no, it’s none of those. Tae-beom and I are just close, like brothers. We’re not related by blood either.”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SAY LOVERS!]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Escape Destruction: Shut UP!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: HOW CAN YOU MISS THE PERFECT SETUP?! HOW?! WHY?!]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: These brothers really never change when it comes to shipping drama ┗┐ヽ(′Д、`*)ﾉ┌┛]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Pathetic.]
Seriously, shut the hell up.
I thought of Baek Tae-beom for a moment and shook my head. Me in a romantic relationship with him? Out of the question. Even if we weren’t in a protector–protectee relationship, what we had was more like a bond, a connection born of shared experiences. Calling that romantic felt… off.
Besides, Baek Tae-beom was a man, and so was I. It’s not like I have any biases about that sort of thing, but still—two men dating…?
Even if Baek Tae-beom was ridiculously good-looking.
‘Tae-beom really is handsome, though.’
He was probably popular not just with women, but with other men too. That thought alone made my stomach churn with a strange sensation.
‘What the hell is this?’
Was I imagining things? As I blinked blankly, Park Gil-seon gave a slow nod.
“Got it. Thanks for answering. I’ll be in touch after sending over the documents.”
“Understood.”
“Then, Mr. Choi Ga-hyeon, this way please.”
After wrapping up my conversation with Park Gil-seon, I returned home via a movement skill her secretary cast for me. Baek Tae-beom, who had gotten home earlier, greeted me warmly—excessively so.
“I missed you.”
“We weren’t even apart that long.”
“It felt long. At least two hours.”
He said this with a beaming smile, his eyes curving like crescent moons.
“I made dinner. Let’s eat.”
“What are we having?”
“Grilled some fish.”
Baek Tae-beom spoke softly, rubbing his head against my shoulder. I instinctively responded by ruffling his hair, indulging him like it was second nature. That’s when I suddenly noticed how strange the situation felt.
When had this all become so natural?
Something about it gave me a weird feeling.
I came to a halt without meaning to. Tae-beom, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned around.
“Hyung?”
His expression was the same as always—pure, kind, impossibly gentle.
Would he show that face to other people too?
An indefinable emotion quietly scratched at the back of my mind.
“Tae-beom, I want to ask you something.”
“A question?”
“It might sound weird, but just answer honestly.”
“Okay?”
I was going to ask “Do you like men?”, but the words wouldn’t leave my lips. It was like my mouth had been glued shut. I furrowed my brows, trying to pry my lips apart, but they wouldn’t budge.
“Hyung?”
Baek Tae-beom’s voice was filled with concern as he met my gaze. Something about him in that moment reminded me of a big, gentle cat, and I found myself thinking how cute he was… right as I blurted out something ridiculous.
“Do you like girls?”
“Huh?”
He looked at me like I was speaking a different language, then burst out laughing in disbelief.
“What are you saying? Are there people who don’t like girls? You like girls too, don’t you, Hyung?”
“……”
“Hyung?”
And that’s when I realized what had been bothering me.
Baek Tae-beom didn’t have the slightest awareness of what his own behavior meant. Not even one percent. He’d been rubbing up to me, holding my hand, touching me—just because he liked being near me. Just because it felt nice.
Like a loyal pet showing affection for its owner.
And that fact was messing with me way more than it should have.
“Hyung? Did I do something wrong? Hyung? Ga-hyeon hyung?”
“Let’s… let’s just stay apart for a bit.”
“Hyung! Wait, just—hold on!”
What the hell was I thinking, letting my imagination run wild over someone who wasn’t even thinking about it?
The thought made my ears burn with embarrassment. I couldn’t bring myself to face him.
