Chapter 364: Chapter 364

However, the explosion constellation didn’t disappear right away. Rather, he was slowly fading away as he continued to murmur. Constellations generally didn’t die instantly; it took a certain amount of time for one to completely disappear.

Among the evil god constellations, the ones to be especially wary of are the quiet ones. The quiet ones are actually stronger. Of course, you know that... Ugh.

‘Why hasn’t he died yet?’

Choi Yeonseung was a bit taken aback. The explosion constellation’s power of existence was clearly evaporating gradually, but it took a lot of time because he was a constellation.

“Why are you making such a fuss?”

Don’t you know? Constellations who already have great power aren’t easy to deal with. A constellation as young as me has to shake up the board.

The words of the explosion constellation were persuasive. After all, hadn’t Choi Yeonseung felt that as well?

In the world of the Abyss, it was hard to make a name for yourself after only ten thousand years. When it came to constellations, people usually first thought of the constellations who had taken over the countries of Earth, but as it could be seen with the Master of Slowness and Silence, strength and fame weren’t necessarily proportional.

Among the top twenty constellations on Earth, some of them weren’t known by the public, but that didn’t mean that their power could be underestimated.

Do you know why I attacked the Demon of Contract and Order?

“Because you were jealous and felt inferior to him?”

...Because he has been allied with other constellations for a long time.

“Ah.”

Choi Yeonseung knew there was a secret alliance between some constellations and that it was unlike the one he himself had with other constellations.

That secret alliance had been formed before the Abyss gate was created on Earth!

It was safe to assume that that secret alliance had opened the gate on Earth. Those constellations had created a path to the Abyss, a vast realm of swirling chaos, and connected it to Earth. Therefore, the constellations of that alliance had to be quite strong.

At one point, the goddess of sloth had actually suspected that the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead was a member of that alliance...

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ is shocked that you had such doubts!]

-N-no... I was just considering all possibilities!

The goddess of sloth quickly made an excuse, but in her defense, it was true that the goddess of balance seemed strange from the outside. After all, it was unusual for a constellation of the Abyss to harbor such perverted desires for a mortal.

-The other constellations thought similarly!

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is pretending that it wasn’t a part of it.]

-......

Regardless of strength, the Demon of Contract and Order has connected Earth to the Abyss with his power. I couldn’t let him go, said the explosion constellation proudly.

“So do you know who those allies are?”

Why should I tell you?

“Fair enough.”

Beware of the constellations who have realms connected to Earth.

“...”

Choi Yeonseung was a bit flustered, but he didn’t stop the explosion constellation because he was curious about what he was about to say.

“Wait... If so, is the Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood also a part of the alliance?”

No. He is just a stupid clown.

“...Ah, is that so?”

There were pushovers even among the evil god constellations. Some of them were oblivious as to what was going on and made contracts by which they only offered their strength.

Listen carefully. I saw a realm beyond the realm of the Demon of Contract and Order. So... Beware of gluttony.

“!”

After revealing the constellation that belonged to the secret alliance, the voice of the explosion constellation faded.

Undefeated Incarnation of Training... Tear apart the old constellations of the Abyss. Kill those arrogant bastards with your despicable means!

With these words, the explosion constellation disappeared, and Choi Yeonseung suddenly felt an enormous amount of power of existence welling up within him.

[As your power of existence increases, your dignity has gone up one level.]

[The constellations are afraid of you.]

[The ‘Seed of the Realm’ is vibrating.]

[’Despicable’ is engraved on the seed.]

‘?’

-?

‘No...’

Choi Yeonseung was truly baffled. He wasn’t surprised that his power of existence and rank had risen, but to gain the realm of despicability... It made no sense...

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says despicability is a powerful realm in the Abyss and it isn’t a bad thing.]

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ comforts you not to worry too much about this realm.]

[The power ‘Explosion that Tears Through Space’ has been acquired.]

[New people are coming to your kingdom!]

[...]

[...]

***

“So Yeonseung’s daughter came from the future, taught you martial arts, and ordered you to serve Yeonseung well?”

The Monkey King nodded.

Hwang Gyeongryong looked at the Monkey King from his ice prison like it was absurd.

‘Isn’t this guy crazy?’

Hwang Gyeongryong was surprised that a monster that had terrorized China in the past had suddenly come and offered to work here, but Choi Yeonseung’s message was also absurd.

“Don’t talk nonsense, monster! I don’t acknowledge you.”

-■■■...

The Monkey King’s shoulders drooped and he had a despondent look on his face. It was even more absurd for this monster that smashed mountains and buildings with a single swing of his arm to look depressed like this.

“Aren’t you being too harsh? He’s a household member sent by Master,” Odaigon said while looking at the Monkey King’s slumped posture.

Since Choi Yeonseung was staying on Earth most of the time to deal with Earth’s affairs, it was up to his subordinates to manage his kingdom in the Abyss.

The Abyss kingdom was running well because there were many talents such as Goblin King Odaigon, S-grade hunter Hwang Gyeongryong, even though he was trapped in ice, and the rock golem, Pagoda Bearing God.

...In fact, Choi Yeonseung’s kingdom was so simplistic that there wasn’t much to manage... The orcs only ate, farmed, and slept—rinse and repeat. As for the demons, they were all busy flying to different realms in the Abyss and collecting contracts.

The quarrels, struggles, betrayals, and conspiracies between subordinates that were common in other kingdoms were nowhere to be found here.

If the realms of other constellations were equivalent to large cities, Choi Yeonseung’s realm was peaceful enough to be considered a rural village in the Abyss.

“Bah! I don’t trust monsters.”

“Of course, it would be hard to believe a monster who’s lost his sense of reason, but this guy seems to be in his right mind...”

Despite Odaigon’s words, Hwang Gyeongryong’s stubbornness persisted.

The next day, the Monkey King came up to Hwang Gyeongryong with a generous tray of dishes, consisting of fluffy rice, boiled soybean paste soup, grilled fish, kimchi, and seasoned seaweed.

-■■. ■■.

“...Eat?”

Nod nod.

“Didn’t I tell you? I don’t trust monsters!”

The Monkey King sat down in front of the ice regardless. He stood there persistently, so Hwang Gyeongryong eventually conceded.

“Fine! I’ll eat it. Put it in the ice.”

The Monkey King excitedly pushed the table into the ice. Since he was frozen, Hwang Gyeongryong didn’t need to eat, but he nevertheless picked up a spoon and tried the food.

“...!”

Hwang Gyeongryong had known that the orcs had become great farmers thanks to Choi Yeonseung’s power, but... He hadn’t thought they were this good!

[‘Monkey King’s Rice’ has restored your body!]

[...]

[...]

“Did you make it yourself?”

Nod nod.

“...Eh, it’s edible.”

The Monkey King clapped his hands with a very happy expression. Hwang Gyeongryong wiped his nose and looked away.

After this interaction, the two of them became quite close. Hwang Gyeongryong was forced to admit that this Monkey King had a good and sincere heart, unlike other monsters.

“Okay, I will teach you magic,” said Hwang Gyeongryong, finally being more open-minded with the monster. He had nothing to do anyway, since he was trapped in ice, so teaching the Monkey King magic would at least pass the time.

Besides the magic he usually relied on, Hwang Gyeongryong knew quite a lot of spells. If there was an advantage that human hunters had over the magicians of the Abyss, it was the ability to share information!

It was easy for hunters like Hwang Gyeongryong in particular to gather information about magic because of how much power and money they had.

“I will share with you the essence of magic that humanity has developed!”

Shake shake.

“...Uh, didn’t you understand me? The essence of magic that humanity has developed...”

Shake shake shake shake.

The Monkey King shook his head. Then he suddenly raised his fist and moved as though he was using martial arts.

“...You like martial arts better?”

Nod nod.

“Hey! Martial arts is a garbage skill!” Hwang Gyeongryong cried out, tears welling in his eyes. Even back in the first generation, magic had been far superior to martial arts.

“Magic is better!”

Shake shake.

However, the Monkey King was stubborn and held his ground. In the end, Hwang Gyeongryong couldn’t teach him magic.

“What are you doing?” asked Odaigon, confused.

“This bastard is ignoring me while I’m trying to teach him magic!” shouted Hwang Gyeongryong.

“Well, human magic has always been a bit...” Odaigon trailed off, his expression that of arrogance. Compared to the magic of goblins, human magic was mediocre and undignified.

“Let me teach you,” offered Odaigon.

Shake shake.

“...You freaking...!”

“Don’t bother. Apparently he likes martial arts,” said Hwang Gyeongryong.

Odaigon was about to curse, but he held off upon hearing ‘martial arts.’

“Ah, if he wants to learn martial arts instead, I understand...”

“But martial arts is a trash skill...”

“How dare you!!”

“What are you on about? I’m close enough to Choi Yeonseung to be able to say that!” Hwang Gyeongryong exclaimed.

[New people are coming to your kingdom!]

“...!”

“W-what?”

The kingdom shook and expanded, and the terrain of the Abyss started to change. There was only one explanation for this sudden change: two constellations had fought and the victor had been decided!

It was clear that the kingdom of one constellation was being transferred to the kingdom of the other constellation!

[’Never-ending Explosion Industrial Complex’ has entered the kingdom.]

“!”

A kingdom of factories emitting smoke appeared before them. Mortals from the Abyss worked in those factories; they seemed tired and distressed.

“They must be the servants of the explosion constellation!” exclaimed Odaigon, quickly realizing what this was about.

The explosion constellation treated his kingdoms like some kinds of factories. Those factories produced explosions for him to use and sell!

“Isn’t that messed up?”

Hwang Gyeongryong pointed to the factory with a puzzled expression. It was essentially a prison that enforced eternal labor upon its prisoners; the day never ended, and neither did the work.

It was terrible just thinking about it. Tormenting mortals like that was despicable even for evil god constellations.

Odaigon nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, it’s too much. Goblins don’t work more than two hours a day. Making them work like this... It’s truly a barbaric system.”

“...”

Hwang Gyeongryong suddenly started sweating. Was... Was that so? Was it too much for people to work more than two hours?!

“Hey, but aren’t eight hours reasonable?”

“What nonsense... Are you talking about the evil god constellations?”

Odaigon hit Hwang Gyeongryong in disbelief. He hadn’t expected him to do such an inhumane thing.

Hwang Gyeongryong shouted, “In any case, go and help them!”

“Don’t worry. I’m going now.”

Odaigon grabbed his staff and went to the factories.

“Listen up, mortals! Your master has now changed!”

“!”

“I-Is that true?!”

“Yes!” Odaigon shouted vigorously. He felt proud as he looked at the mortals’ looks of gratitude and adoration.

This was the generosity of the incarnation of training!

“Hooray! I don’t have to work any longer! Yes! It’s ridiculous to have to pay like this for just killing a hundred commoners!”

“That’s what I’m saying! Do you think it’s easy to meet a king like me? I can’t believe they said I was a tyrant! Isn’t it extremely generous that I allowed those peasants to keep one tenth of their income?”

“In any case, we’re free!”

“...”

The conversation of the mortals brought Odaigon to his senses.

These mortals were actually scum... It turned out that those who had committed serious crimes in the Abyss had been sent to this factory.

“...What freedom? Sinners like you deserve even the horrific punishment of working four hours a day!”

Hwang Gyeongryong was dumbfounded as he listened to Odaigon from behind.

“What are you saying? Increase it!”

“Then... six hours a day?”

“There are twenty-four hours in a day! Just have them work the same hours they’ve been working until now!”

Odaigon looked at Hwang Gyeongryong with a mixture of dismay and horror. The latter felt he was being judged unfairly.