Chapter 315: Chapter 315

Was that the case?

Choi Yeonseung looked back on his actions.

‘Isn’t this weird?’

He didn’t think his actions had been particularly noble...

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ says you helped the people in the United Kingdom, and when monsters appeared in the United States, the first thing you did was to help the civilians. Even in the Abyss, you didn’t act greedily and helped the dwarves.]

‘...!’

Choi Yeonseung was surprised. He felt a strange sense of righteousness as he listened to the angel constellation.

‘What? Am I being deceived?’

-Well… The standard is a bit...

Many hunters on Earth were wicked individuals, so it was natural for Choi Yeonseung to feel that he was an upright person.

‘It’s strange. Even if I do bad things, I’m still seen as righteous because of how other people act.’

-No. If we’re talking about good and bad, you are definitely good, Successor.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ agrees.]

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ agrees.]

‘Is that so?’

Choi Yeonseung was even more puzzled when the other constellations, who had been watching this whole time, agreed.

Was it really like that? He didn’t think he lived a particularly righteous life…

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ says he doesn’t regret handing over the kingdom of Earth to the Undefeated Incarnation of Training. He says that he can deduce the constellation’s character just by looking at his household member.]

“Thank you.” Choi Yeonseung expressed his gratitude for the praise of the angel constellation. There was no reason to refuse such praise. If anything, he thought he needed some constellations with whom he could get along with…

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ says that on the other hand, he isn’t so sure about the ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead.’]

“...Well, maybe.”

Naturally, like most constellations, the goddess of balance didn’t know much about Earth. She wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about the United Kingdom, and that was the same for the angels below her.

-Hunter Choi Yeonseung… What are stocks?

-Uh... It would take a long time to explain...

-Indeed, but uh… It seems like a lot of people have lost money because of stocks. Shouldn’t it be banned?

-It wouldn’t be good to ban them…

-Hunter Choi Yeonseung, I’m curious about what this is...

-Hunter Choi Yeonseung, Hunter Choi Yeonseung…

As such, the goddess of balance basically neglected the United Kingdom and only cared about gaining faith.

Of course, Choi Yeonseung hadn’t done anything particularly remarkable other than bringing the orcs and the nightmare demons with him.

All he had done was to gather the British nobles and hunters who believed in the collector constellation and send them out to farms. However, compared to the goddess of balance, who had done pretty much nothing, Choi Yeonseung’s deeds seemed great.

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ says that your ability to quickly strengthen the weak mortals is great. He asks that you use it on his household members as well.]

“...What nonsense...”

Choi Yeonseung listened carefully and was taken aback by the request of the angel constellation. The two of them weren’t particularly close. Of course, Choi Yeonseung had talked to him a few times and had contact with his angel subordinates, but saying that they were close would be a stretch.

He was a bit worried because Han Sehui had signed a contract with the angel constellation, but he couldn’t do this just because of her.

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ promises to offer whatever you want in exchange for your power.]

“...Really?”

Choi Yeonseung suddenly straightened his posture. He was now more receptive to the offer.

-...Successor...

‘Well, this can’t be helped. This is the pitiful nature of humans,’ Choi Yeonseung answered firmly. Even after becoming a constellation, there were some things he couldn’t change about himself. One of those traits was being more cordial to customers who offered a lot of money!

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons declares firmly that he doesn’t intend to trivialize an ability like yours.]

[He says that if the ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’ allows it, he will even take you into his household.]

-Save some face for yourself, please.

“I see.”

Choi Yeonseung complied with the request of the goddess of sloth. He listened with a stern look on his face without changing his posture.

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ promises to help the ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’ if you fight against the evil god constellations.]

[He says that your commitment to justice is worth it.]

“...”

-Keep your posture! Keep your posture!

Choi Yeonseung had to concentrate to maintain his posture after hearing the words of the angel constellation.

***

“Who’s the angel you’re waiting for here?” asked Demon No. 139.

“Illaphael, one of the angel constellation’s household members,” Choi Yeonseung replied warmly. That angel had been with him during the siege of Paris. He was definitely skilled, but he was as arrogant and difficult as the rest of the angels.

“He hates my guts,” continued Choi Yeonseung.

“What? What’s wrong with him?” No. 139 was indignant.

Demons could be surprisingly polite when they had to. On the other hand, angels had no need to change their attitude or deceive others. Therefore, they didn’t feel the need to get rid of their stubbornness or change their personality.

“I’ve heard that you’ve helped him though?”

“I did, but what can you do…? Aren’t all angels like this? That’s how their nature is, so I won’t criticize him for it.”

Choi Yeonseung had crossed paths with many crazy beings in the Abyss, so he didn’t care much about Illaphael’s behavior.

No. 139 admired his broad-mindedness.

“You’re so generous. Even though you’re equals, you haven’t protested about his behavior.”

“It doesn’t really matter.”

Choi Yeonseung didn’t care what the other person said as long as they didn’t interfere with his goals. As long as he cooperated, Illaphael could swear and make a fuss as much as he wanted…

“...”

As a matter of fact, Illaphael was actually behind them and was just about to speak when he heard the conversation about him.

...This time, he really was just going to say hello…

Illaphael would’ve expressed a bit of gratitude for the last time had the conversation been more positive… However, Choi Yeonseung and the demon said some unpleasant things about him, making the atmosphere awkward…

‘That damn devil!’

Illaphael inwardly cursed at No. 139. As expected of a demon, he wasn’t helpful at all. He had just made the conversation terribly awkward.

“Ah! There’s an angel over there... Is that Illaphael?”

“That’s right.”

“That bastard! As long as I, the household member of the Demon of Contract and Order, is here, I won’t forgive you if you disrespect Hunter Choi Yeonseung!”

“That wasn’t my intention!” Illaphael exclaimed in a voice full of indignation. He didn’t really intend to do that. However, things were becoming more and more twisted because of No. 139.

“Don’t lie to me! I’ve known for a long time that you angels disregard humans. You spat in his face even though he was gracious with you. How shameless!”

“I said that’s not the case...”

As the three of them were talking, other household members of the angel constellation appeared. They were human hunters.

“Ah! Illaphael...

“Please stop! Don’t lash out at Hunter Choi Yeonseung!”

“Illaphael, just don’t look at him! Focus on us and bear with it! Hunter Choi Yeonseung is the household member of another constellation!”

The hunters surged in and blocked Illaphael’s path. Everyone knew him to be arrogant and harsh.

These hunters were aware that Illaphael hadn’t treated them harshly just because they were in the same household as him. They were convinced of this and tried to prevent the angel from lashing out at Choi Yeonseung!

...But thanks to this, the atmosphere was even more awkward!

The hunters acted as if they had confirmed Illaphael’s intention to say something rude.

A hunter hurriedly said, “I will apologize instead, Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”

“It’s fine.”

“Thank you!”

“...I haven’t even said anything...” Illaphael murmured.

“What did you say?”

“...Forget it. Everyone, just shut up and go away.”

Illaphael was furious and pushed the hunters away.

Seeing him do this, the hunters nodded as if their suspicions had just been confirmed.

“As expected...”

“He usually belittles humans, but he seems to be even angrier because Hunter Choi Yeonseung belongs to another constellation.”

“We’ll have to intervene on behalf of Hunter Choi Yeonseung! We shouldn’t let the two of them come anywhere near each other. Hunter Choi Yeonseung, I apologize once again!”

“It’s okay. Let’s get down to business.”

“Right. We’re currently preparing to target the Second Realm that has been occupied by Endless Linked Explosions. The rules in this area are very strict, so I think we need to be even more prepared.”

“...Wait, what do you mean by rules? Have you already checked them?”

“Yes, we have. Hasn’t the Undefeated Incarnation of Training checked them? He should’ve informed you about that.”

“...”

Choi Yeonseung was silent.

Normally, the constellation was supposed to gather and provide information like that. However, Choi Yeonseung was the constellation in this case, so if he didn’t do anything, there was nobody else to give him information.

There was a lot of work to do in regards to the Second Realm, and when he had heard that the Chinese planned to conquer the realm, he had thought, ‘Well, when they fail, they’ll release that information on their own, right?’

“Of course, many Chinese hunters have prepared to attack the realm, and since we serve the Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons, we can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“That’s right. In addition, the Chinese hunters are likely to fail a bunch of times and unreasonably keep forcing the raid. They’d end up with many casualties, and we can’t just let that happen.”

Perhaps it was because they served the angel constellation, but these hunters spoke in a very righteous manner. It seemed like their master’s personality had influenced them.

This whole conversation pricked Choi Yeonseung’s pride. “...I haven’t heard anything about it yet.”

“Ah, is that so? Well, I’m sure there’s a reason why your constellation hasn’t told you anything yet!”

The hunters consoled Choi Yeonseung. They were certain there was a reason behind that!

***

[’Endless Linked Explosions’ says he placed a holy relic deep underground.]

[He declares that if you want it, try to take as much as you want!]

The realm the explosion constellation had recently prepared had the shape of an upside-down pyramid.

The hunters who entered the first floor were flustered.

What was that?

‘Is this really the best he could come up with?’

‘Doesn’t this seem too… ordinary?’

If anything, this realm looked way easier to deal with than the First Realm. Besides, the hunters hadn’t expected the explosion constellation to just blatantly reveal the location of the holy relic.

They didn’t understand what was going on.

Of course, this didn’t mean there were no obstacles.

The hunters split up, each of them taking a different position.

It was bewildering, but everyone could be selected as a starter in their team.

After they found and killed a monster, they would find the entrance to go down another floor.

“Is this really it?” asked Choi Yeonseung curiously. They hadn’t been attacked by any evil monsters, nor had they come across any dangerous traps…

The hunters had scattered at the start, but this just seemed too easy.

“It’s not just this. The constellation promised that if anyone was on the brink of death, he would save them using the power of his domain.”

“...???”

Choi Yeonseung was baffled by that. Saving those who tried to conquer his realm? If the explosion constellation did that, hunters would just keep flocking to his realm, trying to overtake it.

What was the explosion constellation planning?

“My master was puzzled at first, but... He soon figured out the reason. Do you know what you need to do to get your hands on the underground holy relic?”

“Let’s see... I don’t know. Isn’t it enough to defeat the monsters and break through to get it?”

“In order to get your hands on the holy relic, you need to have one hundred souls there.”

“...Huh?”

“In other words, you need one hundred hunters to get there.”

“That’s a bit tricky, but with enough time, it will eventually...” Choi Yeonseung stopped mid-sentence as he realized what the plan of the explosion constellation was all about.

‘Ah. I see.’

It would take quite a bit of time for a hundred hunters to gather in the deepest parts of the realm. In addition to that, would hunters from different countries even try to cooperate in that situation? Rather, it was more likely that they would fight among each other to increase the number of hunters from their own country or clan.

‘Huh, this guy is pretty clever, isn’t he?’

Choi Yeonseung was stunned as he realized the true intentions of the explosion constellation. In short, he had created a territory in which hunters would inevitably end up fighting each other.

At this point, Choi Yeonseung had no choice but to admire his ingenuity.

“Wait. Aren’t the Chinese hunters trying to conquer the realm as we speak? If they manage to do it together...”

“No.”

“?”

“I’ve heard that they’re already fighting among themselves.”

“...What? Why?”