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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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[I got a new diary since my old one disappeared. Where the hell did it go? This is why I hate drinking. I must have done something, but I don’t remember a thing.
If only Pauli hadn’t dragged me to that damn celebration. That musclehead…all brawn and no brain. I just hope my diary isn’t one of those logs burning in the fireplace.]
[It’s been a year since I was assigned to this research facility. All I do is observe the stars, record their movements, and report environmental changes to my superiors. I’m supposed to be the third-highest-ranking person here, right?
Why does this feel like the same grunt work I did as an apprentice? The ignorant fools envy me for my desk job, but I’d gladly trade it for a chance to go outside and actually live.]
[The Administrator’s been getting more hysterical lately. As if the decreasing influence of the stars on the surface is something new. I got so fed up with her nagging that I snapped, and she actually hit me. I couldn’t bring myself to hit a woman barely reaching my shoulders, so I surrendered. It wasn’t because I was afraid of losing a fight. Absolutely not.]
[As I observe and research, I’m becoming increasingly aware of the changes in society.
Three hundred years since the stars’ power began to wane on the surface. Like a slowly sinking ship, the atmosphere is becoming increasingly bleak.
Every 10% decrease in the Martial Star’s influence leads to a surge in illnesses. Every time the Eternal Flow withdraws its grace, the average lifespan decreases.
My grandfather used to tell me stories of floating cities powered by the Magic Jewel’s mana, but I’ve only ever seen them in crystal ball recordings.
Scholars are scrambling to find a solution, but to no avail. Those who suggested seeking alternative paths, independent of the stars, were branded heretics and exiled.
Ironically, the starlight itself, the source of this chaos, is growing stronger.
The stars haven’t lost their power. They’ve simply become more selective in bestowing their grace.]
[Some say it’s divine punishment for humanity’s greed, for exploiting the stars’ power for so long without offering anything in return.
Others theorize it’s a period of rest, for the stars to replenish their energy.
And then there are those who claim there’s a thief stealing the stars’ power, and we must destroy them.
The third one is pure conspiracy theory, in my opinion, but surprisingly, it has some followers. The atmosphere is unsettling.]
[It’s been a while since I last wrote in this diary. I’ve been swamped with the aftermath and investigation of the recent incident.
The stars’ blessings on the surface are still fading. But individuals who receive a concentrated dose of starlight are starting to appear.
There have always been those with a natural affinity for certain stars, or those who could more easily channel their power. But these new individuals are different.
Some display superhuman strength, rivaling that of mana-enhanced humans, without any mana reinforcement. Others have seen their mana capacity triple.
The Academy calls this phenomenon the ‘Blessing of the Stars,’ and they’ve identified the following characteristics of these ‘Blessed’:
1. The Blessing of the Stars can be innate or acquired later in life, through some unknown criteria.
2. Blessed individuals are extremely rare. Five years after the first documented case, there are still fewer than ten.
3. The abilities gained through the Blessing are believed to be an enhanced or evolved form of the existing stellar powers. Further research is needed to determine the specific abilities associated with each star.
4. Blessed individuals cannot utilize the power of other stars besides the one they are blessed by. It is also impossible to receive blessings from multiple stars simultaneously.
Perhaps the stars weren’t abandoning humanity after all? If they are returning, maybe this dark age will end.]
[Damn it, we’re doomed.
At first, people rejoiced at the prospect of new powers. But when they realized it was a privilege reserved for a select few, they turned hostile.
Those who turned to mana research after feeling betrayed by the stars are the better ones.
Then there are those who demand we shut down all star-powered facilities and beg the Star Gods for forgiveness.
The war hawks insist we must destroy the demons before humanity weakens further, lest we all become slaves.
And now we have lunatics who claim the Blessed are stealing the stars’ grace, demanding we kill them or subject them to experiments to extract their power.
If it weren’t for the fact that many of the Blessed are established figures with considerable influence and power – the so-called ‘heroes’ – these children would have been subjected to horrific atrocities.
Fear and uncertainty are driving everyone mad.]
[Wars are breaking out everywhere. Those who believe the Blessed must be eliminated are clashing with those who rally around powerful Blessed individuals, dreaming of new kingdoms. Those who have abandoned the stars for mana are fighting those who cling to their faith. Those who strive to maintain order are fighting those who seek to profit from the chaos.
Regardless of who wins, the Kingdom of Asteros will soon fall.
I wonder how much longer this research facility will last.]
[Feeling suffocated, I, for the first time, invited Pauli for a drink.
He was surprised, but he couldn’t resist a drinking party.
But why did he invite everyone else? The Administrator, usually so composed, was crying her eyes out. The staff were fighting each other. Shouting, vomiting…chaos.
I must have lost my mind. Alcohol is poison.]
[It’s been a while since we received any support from the higher-ups, but now we’ve lost contact completely.
Congratulations on your emancipation. It’s a novel feeling to be freed from labor, now that I’m too old for it.
The problem is finding a new job. Hmm.
Every decent organization is caught up in this war.
If a desk jockey like me walks into one of those places, they’ll probably skip the interview and hand me a shield, making me a meat shield.
A fast-tracked promotion, if I’ve ever seen one. Talk about nepotism.]
[I wasn’t the only one worried about finding a new job, so many of the staff decided to stay.
The problem is, these workaholics, suddenly freed from their routines, started creating new work for themselves.
They’ve each claimed a floor as their territory, modifying it to their liking. One tried to boost food production by pumping mana into crops, creating monsters. Another started mass-producing golems for defense. And then there’s the idiot who built a maze and got lost, sending a distress signal.
I’m never setting foot on any of those other floors.]
[We were attacked, so I’ve drastically altered the surrounding environment to improve concealment.
One casualty. Pauli Grukaia.
That idiot. Why did he have to show off? Damn it, damn it, damn it.
Happy now, you hero? Dying to protect those brats and giving them trauma.
Damn you, you bastard.
I drank all the liquor he’d been hiding, his ‘treasure.’
It tasted like crap. What? I don’t appreciate fine alcohol? Come back to life and complain!]
[I risked my life to check on the Administrator, since she’d been MIA.
Turns out, she’s dead.
And I have no idea how.
Illness? Injury? Something psychological?
The last floor she was in charge of was desolate, devoid of any signs of life.
The only thing that hinted at her hobby was a half-finished replica of the night sky.
Didn’t she get enough of that in her job?]
[I’ve been spending more time on the last floor lately.
I started working on her unfinished project as a sort of memorial, and others started joining me.
They brought stuff from their own floors and hid it here. Because just having stars wasn’t enough, apparently.
There are seven spots, but only a handful of us left. So, those bastards decided I should fill the remaining three.
Since Pauli and the Administrator are gone, I’m the one in charge now, apparently. Do you think ‘in charge’ means ‘errand boy’ in their vocabulary?]
[I used the emergency funds I extorted from the others to fill one spot. Back when the Magic Jewel’s power was strong, anyone could store items in Cubes using artificial mana stones. But now, you need natural mana crystals or high-purity mana to open them, making them useless. So, I used those Cubes to fill another spot.
That still left one empty spot.
I was wondering what to put there when I saw this diary.
Yeah, this will do.]
[Will anyone ever read this?
I wonder what they’ll think.
Hey, friend, how’s it going wherever you are? Is it any better?
If you haven’t visited the other floors yet, I’d advise against it.
If you have, well, consider it fate.
You can take the stuff here, but please don’t destroy this place.
We worked hard to build it, with limited resources.
It’s the least you can do for your seniors, right?
From Zarak Tarius, mid-level administrator of the Asteros Kingdom National Observatory, Illusory Premonition branch.]
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[T/L: o7 Zarak]
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Thanks cutie!
Press F to pay respects for Zarak.
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