---
Even at 4 a.m., Tenshiyama wasn't empty.
That's the thing about sacred places—someone's always drawn to them, even in the dead of night. Whether it's a lone climber pushing towards dawn, a spiritual elder lost in prayer, or an influencer chasing the perfect foggy shot, the mountain's heartbeat never stops. And this shrine, the temple of the Heavenly Demon, was its crown.
Too public.
Too sacred.
Too watched.
That's why I came prepared. Again, I opened my Botel—water this time. After climbing the never-ending staircase, my breath labored, but time was slipping away. I had to finish the ritual before anyone could interrupt.
From my pack, I pulled out the scroll I'd secured from the Hermetica Guild. It had cost me nearly everything—money, a favor with someone I'd rather not face again—but here I was. Nothing ever goes as planned in this damn world.
But it was worth it.
The scroll shimmered in my palm, runes that seemed to breathe with a life of their own. Geometric patterns shifted, drawing my gaze deeper. I unraveled it with a slow exhale.
Whispers became murmurs, then chants.
[Activating: Illusion Seal – Veil of Forgotten Moonlight.]
[Effect: Anyone approaching this area will subconsciously avoid it. Those who look directly will perceive only an empty shrine. No audio, visual, or magical traces remain. Duration: 1 hour.]
The scroll disintegrated into glowing ash, rising like ethereal smoke before vanishing. A wave of silence washed over the shrine, muffling the world outside. The mountain itself seemed to pause its breathing.
Perfect.
No one would see this.
No one would remember, even if they passed by.
Now, I could begin the ritual. Alone.
With Tsukuyomi.
The shrine itself was small—nothing grand. Just a few beams of wood, a cracked bell that seemed forgotten. It wasn't holy, just… present. An afterthought in an unfinished story.
Perfect for begging a god for power.
I knelt before the altar, unfolding the black ceremonial cloth. Slightly frayed at the edges, probably cursed, but it felt right. Bought from a vendor who swore it had "moon affinity."
Then the offerings.
A slice of dried lotus root soaked in nightshade. A moon-shaped obsidian talisman, carved from regret—or maybe just obsidian. And a note I'd written on dream parchment, its ink still faintly pulsing in the moonlight. My wish was simple:
"Give me what I need, not what I want."
Tsukuyomi wasn't a god you bargained with. He wasn't interested in your desires.
He's a constellation. A god who only cares about his amusement.
And right now, I was about to dance for his attention.
I rose from the altar, stepping back. The air shifted, heavy with the promise of what was to come.
[Constellation The Fallen Prince of the Lunar Throne is watching you.]
I knew.
[Constellation The Fallen Prince of the Lunar Throne accepts your offering.]
"The sacrificial dance of the moonlight."
I took a deep breath. The name sounded ridiculous, but it was part of the ritual.
Then, I began.
My movements flowed slowly, like water shaped by moonlight. They weren't quick, but deliberate—a study of grace, as though the air itself was pulling against me. A dance not of beauty but of purpose.
With each movement, the weight of the world pressed harder on my shoulders. Yet my body remained poised, as if a greater force guided me. The moonlight bent around me, mingling with the ritual's pull.
By the time I reached the final pose—arms extended, knees bent, gaze locked with the moon—I was trembling. My body was exhausted, every inch protesting the strain. But I held myself.
And I hadn't even used mana. No magic, no power. Just my body, my will.
Then, the final moment.
I drew the dagger. Lunar silver, its cold gleam sharper than any weapon I'd ever known.
My left eye. That was the price.
I hesitated—not from fear, but from what this meant. A sacrifice to Tsukuyomi wasn't just pain. It was devotion. A way of saying: I give this part of myself, so please give me what I need the most.
I injected a syringe near my left eye, ensuring survival. It would buy me time—time to heal—but my left eye would be gone forever.
Quick. Clean. Painful.
Blood spilled onto the altar, sizzling as it touched the cloth. The moon flared brighter for a heartbeat, blinding me.
I offered the eye, blood still dripping, my vision blurring, senses screaming.
[Constellation The Fallen Prince of the Lunar Throne has accepted your sacrifice.]
[You have obtained: Eye of Tsukuyomi (Constellation-grade artifact).]
A ringing silence filled the air.
[Constellation The Fallen Prince of the Lunar Throne will watch over you.]
"Leave me alone, you psycho."
Then, it was still again.
The shrine settled into slumber. The altar dimmed. The pain throbbed in my skull, but something new was there—silver, faint, glowing where my left eye once was.
I smiled through the blood.
Ritual complete.
Fuck it. I'll never do this again.
---
I took out the healing magic scroll, tore it open, and slowly, the pain dulled. Not dramatically, but enough to feel some relief. Funny how something so simple could offer such comfort.
I packed up, clearing the area half-heartedly. No point in lingering. I headed straight to my dormitory at the Royal Military Academy, feeling the weight of the world press down. No different from any other day.
A shower wasn't for relaxation or enjoyment—it was for clearing my mind. Once the water hit my skin, I let go of the day's thoughts. Clean, at least for the moment.
Then I decided to inspect the artifact.
---
[[[ Artifact Status Window ]]]
Name: Eye of Tsukuyomi
Grade: ★★★★★ (Constellation - Divine)
Type: Ocular Relic
Owner: Lucifer ■■■■■ ???
[Stage Progression]
Stage 1: Moonlit Glimpse (UNLOCKED)
Status: Passive
→ Grants instinctual perception of a target's next move or emotional intent.
Stage 2: ■■■■■■■■■■■ (LOCKED)
Stage 3: ■■■■■■■■■■■ (LOCKED)
Stage 4: ■■■■■■■■■■■ (LOCKED)
---
Oh, this was something. The Eye of Tsukuyomi. Not exactly the power I expected from gods, but there it was. Never saw anything like it in that novel No Happy Ending in the 999th Regression. This was the real deal. A cheat item, if you asked me.
The first stage unlocked, giving me a vague ability to read someone's next move or emotional intent. Seemed useful in a pinch, but that was it. No more, no less.
The other stages were locked. Surprise, surprise. What did I even expect?
For now? Forget it. I wasn't going to lose sleep over it. There was always tomorrow, after all.
---