Chapter 317: Chapter 317

-This... How do you use it?

-Once upon a time, there was an arrogant and cocky hero among the mortals of the Abyss...

The goddess of sloth kindly explained the story of the Necklace to Tempt Constellations.

The favor of a constellation had always been important to mortals. Therefore, a talented mortal had once come up with something.

‘Why don’t I make a necklace that can seduce constellations?’

Constellations were arrogant and demanding beings, but they could also be extremely generous if they were in a good mood. Thus, if this mortal could just seduce those constellations, he would be able to reign as the king of the Abyss!

-So? Did he succeed?

-It worked to an extent.

-Really? To think that such an item has an effect on constellations…

-Well, it’s not like the item will make a constellation instantly fall in love. It just makes the wearer look a bit better in the eyes of the constellation.

The item just got the constellation to like the wearer a bit more. However, that small bit always mattered. In fact, the hero had succeeded in winning the favor of various constellations by wearing the necklace and acting shrewdly.

-Of course, it was later discovered and destroyed.

-......

-Now that I think about it, Successor, you’re doing something similar to that mortal, aren’t you...?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

-Be quiet.

Choi Yeonseung silenced the goddess of sloth.

In any case, he could see that it was a great treasure, but surely it wouldn’t be useful to him, would it? He needed a treasure that would help him craft artifacts...

-This is probably more suitable for what you’re doing...

-I told you to be quiet.

The goddess of sloth pouted.

Choi Yeonseung sighed and opened the high-grade box.

He had spent all the soul stones he had accumulated thus far on this box. However, now he felt a sense of foreboding. He wished he had bought ten advanced boxes instead of this one…

[Opening the box!]

[Chaos reigns and destiny is decided!]

[The ‘Seed of the Realm’ has been acquired.]

[Seed of the Realm]

Rank: ?

It generates a new area to be governed by a constellation.]

“...?”

-...?

[...?]

What was this item?

***

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ whispers that metallurgy isn’t that difficult.]

-I know.

Choi Yeonseung clicked his tongue after replying. Just as the cat constellation had previously said, the only solution was for Choi Yeonseung to learn how to craft artifacts himself.

How could he open four boxes and not get anything useful?

The Seed of the Realm was truly an unexpected skill. Its function was to expand a constellation’s realm. It was an amazing skill, and the goddess of sloth was also shocked by it.

-It’s not that easy to expand a realm…

A constellation’s realm contained a part of that constellation’s essence. As an example, no matter how many people told the goddess of sloth things like “Hey! Make a realm of diligence and live diligently there!” it would be literally impossible for her to do that because of her nature.

After all, it was extremely unlikely for the goddess of sloth, or any constellation for that matter, to receive an additional realm like Choi Yeonseung…

‘It’s not a bad skill, but it’s useless to me for the time being.’

What Choi Yeonseung currently needed was a combat ability that would allow him to decimate other constellations in combat. Meanwhile, The Seed of the Realm would only prove useful in the long run.

Choi Yeonseung stood in front of the Soul-Infused Smithy. The cat constellation had said that the smithy would prove useful, but he was still worried whether it would actually help him.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says not to be nervous.]

[You are also a constellation, so you will most certainly learn quickly.]

Based on its voice, it seemed like the cat constellation was jumping up and down in excitement.

Hearing this, Choi Yeonseung suddenly remembered the old days.

-Hyung, how about some extra training today?

-Uh, no… I don’t know… I mean, I said I would… but I didn’t confirm it.

-Well, since you already said you would, doesn’t that mean that your heart is inclined toward training?

-It’s just that you have this scary look on your face when you talk about training… It’s actually terrifying.

Was that how everyone acted when they talked about their favorite thing, regardless of whether they were a constellation or a human? Choi Yeonseung felt sorry for the cat constellation.

‘Ouf, the cat constellation is trying really hard to teach me...’

Even if they formed an alliance, it was rare for a constellation to help out a fellow constellation as if it were their own business.

Choi Yeonseung vowed to work hard and do his best to learn.

-Yes. I’ll try my best.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that the most basic thing is to think about what kind of weapon you want to craft.]

‘Umm...’

Hearing the suggestion of the cat constellation, Choi Yeonseung started contemplating. What he currently needed wasn’t a weapon for himself, but an artifact that other hunters could use while raiding the dungeon in the Second Realm.

-Recovery or enhancement potions?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ asks how you plan to make that in a smithy…]

-Yeah, you’re right… Ah, I got it!

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is rejoicing! It asks what it is!]

-I’ll collect ingredients from the Abyss and cook them before going in. Even if it’s not the same as potions, cooking should still work to some extent.

-That’s a good idea.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is angry!]

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is going on a rampage!]

-I’m sorry. After thinking about it... I think I need a weapon with good penetration.

-Penetration?

-Of course, it doesn’t happen that often, but if you come across a monster that’s stronger than you, it can be difficult to inflict damage because its defense is too high.

Monsters with various special abilities were tricky, but monsters that just pushed forward with their physical strength and defense were also a pain in the ass. Those were so tenacious that they could ignore all magic below a certain level. Low-grade hunters had to run away if they came across something like that.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it is a good idea. It also says to start by figuring out the things you don’t need.]

-The things I don’t need?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that it is easy for beginners to make mistakes and that even constellations find it difficult to create a masterpiece that has everything. It also says that choosing the exact things you need and focusing will make you an excellent craftsman.]

‘Sounds about right.’

Choi Yeonseung admired the teachings of the cat constellation.

-So should I pick the design? It doesn’t really matter whether the artifact looks good or not.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says please...]

-No. I’m going to take it out.

The cat constellation was sullen but eventually gave up because it was Choi Yeonseung who was making it.

-In addition, the durability can be low.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says this is good. Lower durability means it will be easier to craft.]

All he needed was a weapon that could pack a punch against a monster stronger than the wielder.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is drawing the shape!]

The cat constellation heard Choi Yeonseung’s words and started drawing the design. It was almost like...

‘...A bamboo spear?’

It was a short green spear without any embellishments. Of course, it wasn’t actually bamboo, but if any Koreans saw it, they would think to themselves, ‘Huh, isn’t this a bamboo spear?’

-Wow, it’s really ugly.

The goddess of sloth complained about the appearance of the spear. In response, the cat constellation lost its temper.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is furious and says that the design is a necessary sacrifice!]

-I understand, I understand. In any case, should I just make it like this?

Choi Yeonseung took the advice of the cat constellation.

The weapon didn’t require a lot of materials. All he needed was green shadow stone, a mineral found in the Abyss.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says the weapon is called the Green Shadow Spear.]

‘...Hunters will definitely call it the bamboo spear.’

Choi Yeonseung thought that no matter the original name, everyone who used it would just call it as they saw fit. However, he didn’t say it out loud so as to not anger the cat constellation!

[The ‘Soul-Infused Smithy’ resonates with your soul.]

[The power of the smithy is amplified!]

The moment Choi Yeonseung entered the smithy, its power, which wasn’t originally great, suddenly increased. The flames within the smithy turned white and various equipment, which Choi Yeonseung didn’t know anything about, suddenly appeared.

‘Ah. Is this why it’s called the Soul-Infused Smithy?’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is satisfied. It says that this is what it takes to craft the work of a constellation.]

-Okay. I’ll give it a try.

-Master! There’s something wrong with the pigs. They’re not eating!

Just then, the orcs rushed up to him and yelled with tears in their eyes. Choi Yeonseung had no choice but to see what this was about.

-Take me there.

-Thank you! Thank you!

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is speechless.]

***

“The plan is simple.”

Clearing the dungeon in the Second Realm wasn’t too difficult. Top hunters like Choi Yeonseung would go in first and find the best path. They would start from the first underground floor and gradually make their way to the third floor…

Of course, finding a path like that wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but if they managed to do it, everyone would have a shortcut.

“The problem is the fights between hunters.”

“Yes, be ready to fight just in case.”

Choi Yeonseung looked at the young hunters of the Mount Hua Sect. Surprisingly, there were currently five B-grade hunters in the Mount Hua Sect. Hunters like Iris and Louis had scored a B- in the last evaluation.

Choi Yeonseung had once thought, ‘Given how talented they are, won’t they reach B-grade someday?’ but he hadn’t expected them to evolve so quickly.

It was clear that the martial arts that Choi Yeonseung had directly taught them and their experience in fighting in the Abyss had led to a kind of synergy which in turn had caused them to evolve unexpectedly fast.

‘I don’t know if there will be any A-grade hunters in the next ten years.’

Then, a household member of the Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons asked with a slightly worried expression, “By the way, Hunter Choi Yeonseung, aren’t they Chinese?”

“Yes, they are.”

“Most of the hunters in the dungeon are Chinese. Isn’t this a bit cruel...?”

“Ah.”

Choi Yeonseung shook his head. The moment the topic of the dungeon had come out, the first ones to express their desire to participate had been the hunters from the Mount Hua Sect.

The hunters in China were the ones who had suppressed the Mount Hua Sect hunters the most after they had been exiled from China.

Choi Yeonseung recalled the conversation.

-I’m the one who brought it up, but I feel a bit sorry for you guys...

-Please let us go and kill them!

-No, there’s no need for killing...

-Then I’ll stab them gently to make sure they don’t die!

-......

When they found out that some clan hunters they knew were participating, the Mount Hua Sect hunters erupted with excitement.

“It can’t be helped.”

“...!”

The other hunter was stunned.

‘There’s nobody more cruel than him…!’

As expected of an A-grade hunter… No matter how much good he did or how kind he seemed on the surface, he had to have a cold, heartless composure that allowed him to make any sacrifice in order to win.

That was also why the Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons had chosen him!

“Shall we go? I’m going to start from the first underground floor and secure a decent area.”

“I’ll go with you and help,” added Illaphael as he stepped forward.

In response to that, all the other hunters rushed to stop him.

“No, Illaphael. We can go instead!”

“I can help even if I don’t have enough skills!”

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung will be more comfortable with us...”

“...Shut up! Didn’t I say I would go?!”

“Gasp!”

Illaphael eventually lost his temper. These human bastards were so oblivious!

His anger caused the hunters to murmur among themselves.

‘I think Illaphael really doesn’t like having to work with Hunter Choi Yeonseung.’

‘Master must’ve ordered it.’

‘Does he have to go that far? I think Master has made a mistake...’

Choi Yeonseung was also watching the whole ordeal, frowning.

‘If you really hate this so much, why bother coming with me? The angel constellation was too harsh to give him such an order.’

“N-noo… It’s a misunderstanding. Listen to me for a moment, human,” pleaded Illaphael as he belatedly noticed Choi Yeonseung’s gaze.

However, it was already too late.

“The angel constellation shouldn’t have ordered you to come with me. In any case, let’s not interfere with each other and do a good job.”

“...”

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ is bewildered and asks Illaphael what he is doing now.]

-...I’m sorry...