I’m not a Regressor

mmandment’s Restriction?”

Deneb hummed and continued like it was a delightful subject.

“Celestials that receive the Commandment’s Restriction lose some of their 'divinity'.
Even more so if that celestial merely has one apostle, giving them few methods to protect their 'divinity'.”

The edges of his lips crept up.

Ohjin frowned.

He also knew well what 'divinity' meant amongst celestials.

'Celestials aren't all the same rank.'

The three celestials possessing the most divinity were the North Stars.

Beneath the North Stars were the 12 Zodiacs, and under them existed even lower-rank celestials.

Even the sanctuary's location was decided according to the celestial's 'divinity'.

Celestials that owned a sanctuary below had that little divinity, and those who owned a sanctuary up high possessed more.

'The way celestials can increase their divinity is by…'

Granting a stigma to a human capable of handling it and growing their power and influence.

As an analogy, it was similar to an orchard.

They selected humans and planted 'seeds' called stigmas in a land appropriate for growing trees.

That seed would grow up to be a tree, and the celestial's divinity would grow accordingly.

There was only one tree in Vega’s orchard.

It was growing at an astonishing rate, but it couldn't help but miserably fall behind celestials that had much higher numbers.

“Isn't the North Stars, 12 Zodiacs, or whatever, nothing but a rank that was decided before the Awakeners appeared?”

Deneb laughed joyfully and continued.

“Since times have changed, I think it's about time for the outdated rankings to change as well.”

[…What is it that you wish to say?]

“Vega, why don't you step down from the 'North Stars' now? Haha! The 13 Zodiacs! It sounds perfect!”

Deneb clapped his hands and laughed while Vega coldly stared at him.

'What nonsense is that?'

Ohjin’s expression distorted on its own.

Demoting Vega from the North Stars and putting her with the 12 Zodiacs?

[Don’t speak nonsense.
I still have the divinity to maintain my rank as a North Star.]

“Is that so? To my understanding, you're walking on thin ice.”

Deneb smiled slyly.

* * *

Reaper Scans

Translator – Maccas

Proofreader – ilafy

* * *

“Then let's do this, Vega.
How about a bet with me?”

[A bet?]

“Yeah.
If you win the bet, I'll give you some of my divinity and prevent you from demoting a rank.”

[…]

Vega narrowed her eyes with her mouth shut tight.

[What kind of bet?]

“There's only one kind of bet amongst celestials, isn't there?”

He cackled out and slowly moved his gaze to Ohjin.

“I'm saying that our apostles should have a go at each other.”

[Impossible.]

Vega shook her head like the offer wasn't even worth considering.

It was true that Ohjin was growing at an astonishing speed, but he was still far from being able to face Deneb's twelve apostles.

“Hey, I naturally have no intentions of matching him up with Allen.
I'm saying he should face my younger apostles.”

Though he called them 'younger', they were still Deneb's twelve apostles.

Even the apostle with the lowest rank amongst Deneb's apostles was like Ohjin, a 7-Star Awakener.

“Or are you perhaps afraid? Afraid that the only apostle of the great Star of the Weaver Girl will get miserably broken by my children.”

[Shut your mouth!]

“Wait, Vega.”

Ohjin stopped Vega, who was on the verge of releasing her energy, and stepped forward.

“Could you explain that bet to me in detail?”

[M-My child!]

“Hmm.
You're a bit interesting, unlike your scaredy-cat goddess.”

Deneb smirked and continued.

“Well, the rules are simple.
You win if you beat three of my children in a one versus one.”

Three people in a one-versus-one?

[How petty, Deneb!]

“I'm not being petty.
Vega, isn't the reason you weren't able to make many apostles because you couldn't find humans that could handle it?”

Deneb shrugged with a cunning look.

“An apostle's skill is important, but as numbers are an equally important factor that makes up 'divinity', I can't allow it to end with a single one-versus-one.
Truth be told, only having to beat three apostles is already me cutting you a lot of slack.”

He wasn't wrong.

You couldn't say that the enemy was petty for having ten times the number of soldiers in a war.

'Giving a part of his divinity to Vega if we win the bet, huh…?'

Ohjin’s gaze headed to Vega.

She’d said that she still had enough to maintain her rank as a North Star, but based on the fact that she couldn't refute Deneb properly, it appeared certain that there wasn't much leeway.

In the first place, the reason her divinity decreased was because she’d used her power in the fight with Cheon Doyoon.

'It's partially my responsibility.'

In that case, returning Vega’s diminished divinity was also his role.

'And…'

Ohjin’s eyes narrowed.

He looked at the gems that Deneb wore all around his body.

They weren’t luxury goods that had no worth besides being shiny like diamonds and sapphires… 

Every single one of them was a starstone of the highest quality.

'There's probably no being in existence that possesses as many expensive star relics and starstones as Deneb.'

A whopping three of his twelve apostles were members of the Seven Stars.

The start and end of Deneb's wealth were probably immeasurable.

'If so…'

The edge of Ohjin's lips tilted up.

“Then let's do it this way: you will give the promised divinity if I defeat 'three' of your apostles.”

“Hehe! This is what I'm talking about!!”

Deneb clapped his hands out of joy.

[Didn’t I say that it's impossible?!]

“It's alright, Vega.”

Ohjin stared at Deneb while Vega tried to hold him back, her expression pale.

“However, I would like to request for the duels to take place a month from now.”

“Hmm.
Do you believe something will change in a mere month?”

Deneb mocked him and nodded his head.

“Alright.
I can grant you that much.”

“Thank you.”

“But should you really accept the bet without knowing what you'll have to do when you lose? Who knows what I'll request?” Deneb asked with a humorous expression.

“Ah, there's no need to inform us.”

“…Why?”

Ohjin looked at the celestial of Cygnus and smirked.

 

“Because I'll win.”

 

“…”

Deneb's jolly expression gradually distorted.

____