Chapter 436: Chapter 436

“Are you sure it’s really okay?”

“Yes! We’ll be fine!”

Choi Yeonseung couldn’t help being worried, so he had asked the hunters again and again if they could handle themselves without him. After a while, he was finally convinced and set out.

The hunters from the Golden Blood Fish and Six-Eyed Turtle clans whispered as they looked at Choi Yeonseung’s back as he moved away.

“Are we that bad?”

“Eh, it’s better that he asks and takes care of us. Have you ever seen any other A-grade hunters being concerned about lower-ranked hunters like this?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung is a first-generation hunter, so we probably look like a bunch of kids to him.”

“Ah, right. He is quite old, isn’t he?”

“Don’t say unnecessary things. Everyone, move! Hunter Choi Yeonseung has entrusted this battlefield to us. We must take care of the remaining monsters!”

“Yes!”

The hunters moved to their positions. The battlefield was still in a state of chaos, with monsters swarming from every direction. But even so, the hunters didn’t water.

Having one reliable hunter was bound to change the atmosphere during a battle. Choi Yeonseung was moving to another area, but all the hunters here believed in him.

If something bad happened, he would somehow take care of it!

“By the way, did he really kill all of those monsters by himself?”

“Where have you been? Didn’t you see it?”

“I was fighting at the eastern post, so of course I didn’t see it. It wasn’t even wide-area magic. I can’t believe he did all of that with martial arts...”

“Be sure to look at it later. It was outstanding.”

The hunters who arrived late were impressed by the scenery and got curious about what had happened.

Given how the number of hunters who used martial arts had increased, most hunters were now aware of what kind of skill martial arts were, and that was precisely why they were astonished.

How had Choi Yeonseung managed to slaughter so many monsters by himself just with martial arts?

***

“I should’ve killed more. I’m rusty.”

-Not at all...?

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ compliments that it was a great fight.]

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ compliments you for not doing unnecessary things.]

Several constellations disagreed with Choi Yeonseung’s assertion that he hadn’t done enough. However, it was natural for Choi Yeonseung to not be completely satisfied.

During the time he wandered through the Abyss, he could use his constellation powers to his heart’s content. Even before he had become a constellation, he could fight whoever came at him without paying any attention to his surroundings.

However, he couldn’t fight like that on Earth. He had to fight in a way so that the other hunters who were fighting alongside him were harmed as little as possible. Thus, it was inevitable that he had to hold back a bit.

Of course, his performance had still been outstanding to everyone at the scene, but...

“It was a really good fight,” Illaphael said carefully while looking at Choi Yeonseung.

Even in the eyes of the capricious and arrogant angel, Choi Yeonseung’s combat efficiency wasn’t lacking. After all, he had forced the Beast of Swords and Spears to cancel the summoning of his household members. Then, he had cut down the high-level beast warriors left and right.

Thanks to that, the human hunters had been able to unleash fierce attacks from behind. And as they did so, Choi Yeonseung made sure to knock down the beast warriors that were rushing out to crush the hunters...

“You’re just lying because you feel like you owe me. Hey, there’s no need for this!”

“N-no!” blurted Illaphael, feeling that this wasn’t fair. Of course, she was picky about praise and didn’t like humans, but this compliment was sincere.

“It’s an honest compliment!”

“Yeah sure, an honest compliment... Did the Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons make you do it? Angel constellation, I appreciate your consideration, but you don’t need to give him such an order.”

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ denies it.]

The angel constellation was taken aback by the sudden accusation. What kind of nonsense was this human household member saying?

Choi Yeonseung was one of the most outstanding humans out there, but he was claiming that the angel constellation had made his household member lie to him?

“Yes. Let’s put it that way.”

The angel constellation was one of the most combative good god constellations out there, so he was generally unshaken by provocations or tense situations.

However, he was getting irritated for the first time in ages because of Choi Yeonseung. This human household member...!

“He really didn’t make me do it!” Illaphael exclaimed.

“She really thinks you fought well,” added Illeya in her usual slow and awkward way of speaking. Even for her, who wasn’t very talkative, it was obvious that Illaphael wasn’t lying.

Of course, Choi Yeonseung had risen to the status of a constellation as a human being, so naturally he was obstinate at times.

“There’s no need to use such flattery when working under me. I don’t think the Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place wants that either.”

“...”

“...”

Illaphael looked at Choi Yeonseung with an astonished expression, and Illeya shook her head in disbelief.

“Let’s leave it alone.”

“Is it because I’m an angel that he doesn’t believe me? Is there such a thing?”

“Of course, there are some things about angels that might make others suspicious of them, but I don’t think that’s the only reason...?”

Hearing that, Illaphael glared at the arrogant human, but Illeya didn’t pay attention to her.

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ says not to create friction with the ‘Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place’ for unnecessary reasons.]

-...I understand.

Illaphael sighed slightly.

Pushing aside the human household member of the observer constellation, Illaphael felt that her relationship with Choi Yeonseung was going nowhere. If she had known it would get like this, she would’ve been a bit more polite when they met during the siege of Paris.

Illaphael herself wasn’t aware of it, but it was unprecedented for an angel like her to think that way. She could benefit a lot from taking this opportunity to learn humility. That was what the Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons thought.

Illaphael’s arrogance had always held her back, and it would be great for the angel constellation if Illaphael could adjust her attitude.

“Hey, human,” Illaphael spoke to Illeya again.

“Huh? What do you want?”

“What’s the best way to reconcile with a human being? It’s money, right?”

Illeya frowned. “I don’t know about anything else, but I know that you’re looking down on humans.”

“I’m not looking down on them! What...?”

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ sighs.]

***

“Hunter Jeong Wonuk, you’re a hero of our country!”

“I always knew that you were the hero that would save South Korea!”

‘Can’t I just say that they colluded with the evil god constellations and cut them?’

Jeong Wonuk, an A-grade hunter and leader of the Golden Blood Fish clan, was getting a headache. In this situation, he had to focus on dealing with monsters, but some uninvited visitors were getting in the way.

These people were members of the National Assembly. At the moment, the people from the National Assembly that had a moral code or at least functioning neurons were concentrating on what they could do from their respective positions.

Civilians were being evacuated, and hunters from the military worked with the troops to provide support, but the invasion had happened so suddenly that there still were some shortcomings.

It would’ve been nice if the politicians who came here had managed to persuade the clans that didn’t want to step forward, evacuated the citizens, or asked the companies to cooperate...

...But if they were sensible enough to do that, they wouldn’t have come here in the first place.

“Assemblyman Heo, Assemblyman Kim, and Assemblyman Lee. If I remember correctly, didn’t you all deny the invasion?”

“I just took a skeptical position when I wasn’t sure. If politicians believed everything hunters said, society would constantly be in a state of confusion!”

“He’s right! Assemblyman Heo stayed focused so that there wouldn’t be more chaos!”

Jeong Wonuk had been slightly sarcastic with his question, but these politicians hadn’t picked up on it. Politicians who had survived for as long as these guys in the field were always quick to defend themselves against any critique or accusation.

‘I’m an idiot for even saying it.’ Jeong Wonuk clicked his tongue.

In any case, it wasn’t the time nor the place to argue with these politicians about right and wrong. It was better to move forward together.

Jeong Wonuk still had a lot to take care of, so he couldn’t waste his time with these guys.

“Assemblyman, monsters are coming out again. I have to jump into action again. I’m sorry, but...”

“Yes! Do as you please. We’ll be cheering for you.”

“...?”

Jeong Wonuk felt something was off. These politicians were letting him go surprisingly easy.

‘Isn’t there something wrong?’

At first, Jeong Wonuk had thought that these were just a bunch of ignorant politicians and that they had come to the site to pretend they were volunteers and take photos.

Photos of monsters in the middle of a fight would make for good publicity. On that note, the battlefield in the south would make for the best pictures, given that the fighting over there was the fiercest, but even politicians would have a hard time entering there.

Besides, weren’t the monsters increasing in numbers?

That had to be the reason they had turned their cars around and come to the western battlefield...

‘It can’t be!’

Jeong Wonuk’s initial assumption was only half right. Even though he was the leader of a hunter clan, Jeong Wonuk had also been involved in politics, so he finally realized what was going on.

‘These guys...!’

Before the invasion, the politicians in front of him had made a lot of noise and said things like “There’s no such thing as an invasion! Don’t be deceived!”

But now that the invasion was in full effect, these politicians were more flustered than anyone else. It wouldn’t be enough to go to the scene and take a few photos.

At the very least, they would have to somehow get an A-grade hunter that was fighting off the monsters to defend them and make a public statement like “There has been a misunderstanding. The truth is different.”

‘They’re using me!’

Jeong Wonuk was dumbfounded. No wonder these guys started filming as soon as they arrived and gave him awkward compliments.

It was clear they were trying to give people the impression that they were on Jeong Wonuk’s side. Later, they would try to charm Jeong Wonuk with eloquent words and hide behind him.

Jeong Wonuk was getting goosebumps as he realized that these politicians had managed to come up with such a sly plan in such a short period of time. If he hadn’t been more careful, he would’ve fallen for it.

“...Why did you come to me?” asked Jeong Wonuk in a cold tone.

“Because you’re the most reliable hunter out there, Hunter Jeong Wonuk.”

‘Ah, they couldn’t have done this with any other A-grade hunter.’

Jeong Wonuk realized from the politician’s audacious answer why they were trying to specifically trick him out of all the hunters out there.

Han Seha and Kwon Yeongseung were close to Choi Yeonseung. If these politicians had tried talking to them in this situation, both A-grade hunters would’ve probably kicked them out instead of cooperating with them.

‘Son of a bitch. Do I look that easy to them?’

Jeong Wonuk had treated these politicians well, considering their relationship, but now they were trying to do this... He was furious.

Moreover, it was ridiculous that the politicians still didn’t grasp the situation. Choi Yeonseung was the sole reason there was a defensive line west of Seoul to begin with. He had mobilized hunters and set artifacts in various places to create a thick line of defense.

If Jeong Wonuk sided against Choi Yeonseung when this invasion was over, almost all the hunters who had participated would take Choi Yeonseung’s side and oppose Jeong Wonuk.

On that note, all the hunters that were currently fighting could feel Choi Yeonseung’s presence clearly, from the potions they drank to the artifacts from Dragon Industry that they used in combat.

“Assemblyman, have you seen Hunter Choi Yeonseung fight on the way here?”

“Why bring up that hunter?”

The politicians were visibly displeased to hear about him. Apparently, they had been in such a hurry that they hadn’t even seen Choi Yeonseung fighting.

“Well, when you see him, you’ll give up on what you’re planning.”

Jeong Wonuk was a close-range swordsman, but Choi Yeonseung’s combat ability was on a different level. When he fought, he seemed ruthless yet elegant, bold but meticulous.

Jeong Wonuk had been speechless when he had seen Choi Yeonseung courageously jumping into the large army of beast warriors and killing their leaders.

If an A-grade hunter like Jeong Wonuk was astonished by that sight, it was obvious how the lower-ranking hunters and the general public would react to Choi Yeonseung.

When the inevitable question of who had contributed the most in stopping this invasion, Choi Yeonseung would be the first one mentioned.

“Clan Leader Jeong, I think you’re misunderstanding something. Think again. We have no selfish intentions. May the heavens punish us if there’s the smallest bit of selfishness in our hearts!”

[The forces of the constellation are summoned!]

Demons emerged from behind the politicians as soon as one of them finished their speech. The situation was so absurd and overwhelming that Jeong Wonuk was somewhat convinced.

‘It’s divine punishment!’

“Clan leader! Shouldn’t we save the assemblymen?!”

“It’s too late!”

“Clan Leader Jeong! Clan Leader Jeong!! Y-you cowardly bastard!”