The other constellations that were listening were dumbfounded, but Choi Yeonseung was being serious.
If the wandering merchant constellation was paying for protection, why not pay Choi Yeonseung? It would also be beneficial for the merchant, given that Choi Yeonseung wouldnât try to deceive him.
-...It sounds ridiculous, but itâs definitely not a bad idea.
The goddess of sloth agreed with Choi Yeonseungâs plan. A constellation was trying to take advantage of the wandering merchant constellation by threatening him, and there was no reason Choi Yeonseung couldnât do the same.
After all, the Abyss was all about strength.
[The âWandering Merchant Who Sells Destinyâ is taken aback by the unexpected proposal.]
[He thanks you for the offer, but he already made a promise to the other constellation, and he canât break it.]
Donât worry about that, Wandering Merchant. Thereâs nothing wrong with choosing a better offer. Besides, if itâs really a problem, I will persuade the other constellation.
[The âWandering Merchant Who Sells Destinyâ is worried.]
[He earnestly asks you to do so.]
Choi Yeonseung smiled.
Seeing his reaction, the goddess of sloth thought to herself, âYou didnât even smile like this when the goddess of balance expressed her affection...â
***
Very few people on Earth knew the name of the Marauder Wielding a Scythe.
Among the original constellations, some were relatively unknown despite being quite powerful. However, the marauder constellation wasnât famous because he was actually rather weak.
Weak evil god constellations were limited as to what they could do in the Abyssâwandering around to steal faith, harassing mortals when other constellations couldnât see, searching through ruins for treasures, and so on.
Those who had proudly made a name for themselves on Earth and competed for a higher rank and for overall supremacy were like lions and tigers, whereas the weaker evil god constellations were like hyenas.
Indeed, the Marauder Wielding a Scythe was no more than a hyena in the Abyss. He had participated in the invasion instigated by the Expert of Twisted Hallucinations, but in the end, he hadnât gotten anything in return.
He had to do many chores, but he ended up on the sidelines without receiving any faith. It was only natural that he was dissatisfied.
Quickly! Answer quickly! Do you have any idea how kind Iâm being right now?!
Thus, the marauder constellation threatened the wandering merchant constellation. The merchant wasnât very good at fighting, which made him easy prey. Besides, he wasnât very close to other constellations and had countless treasures in his possession.
When he made the proposal, the marauder constellation was initially worried that the wandering merchant would decline and fight with all his might to defend himself, but he merely lowered his head in submission and promised to pay the protection fee.
The marauder constellation was overcome with excitement and joy.
[The âWandering Merchant Who Sells Destinyâ says to wait.]
Iâm doing you a favor now! How amazing is it that a constellation as great as me will swear to protect you in exchange for soul stones?
[The âUndefeated Incarnation of Trainingâ asks you to explain.]
The marauder constellation was stunned by the sudden appearance of a guest.
The Undefeated Incarnation of Trainingâthe most commonly heard name in the Abyss those days. Although he had only a few household members, they were all outstanding, the best of the best. One of them was a human from Earth, and he was so capable that many household members of other constellations were amazed with him.
Moreover, as his name suggested, he was an aggressive constellation who would never back down from a fight. His power of existence was much greater than that of the marauder constellation, and he was overall superior in terms of combat.
Thus, the marauder constellation wouldnât stand a chance in a fight against the Undefeated Incarnation of Training. He felt like his heart was frozen, and he muttered, Wh-what... do you mean?
[The âUndefeated Incarnation of Trainingâ says literally. He asks you to explain how great you are.]
'Dammit!'
The marauder constellation had thought that the wandering merchant constellation had no connections with other constellations, but apparently, he had been mistaken.
He knew one of the most menacing constellations out there!
I-I think there is a misunderstanding. I was just trying to make a deal. The wandering merchant constellation needs strength. I was just trying to get a little bit in return for helping. Thereâs nothing wrong with that, is there?
[The âWandering Merchant Who Sells Destinyâ says he never said that he needed strength. It was the âMarauder Wielding a Scytheâ who pushed this deal on him...]
What nonsense! Canât you be quiet? the marauder constellations cried out urgently. He couldnât have a pushover like the wandering merchant slandering him. In any case, I was just trying to make a deal. You know I didnât do anything wrong!
The marauder constellation defended himself fiercely. If he backed down just because the wandering merchant said something against him, he would lose all his credibility.
He had to act confidently as if he had nothing to lose.
[The âUndefeated Incarnation of Trainingâ nods in understanding.]
âAlright, Iâm in the clear!â
Indeed, the firm words of the marauder constellation made it difficult for the incarnation of training to find fault with him, so he backed down.
[The âUndefeated Incarnation of Trainingâ asks if itâs okay that the wandering merchant constellation wants to come under his protection.]
.....
âWhat a marauder!â
It obviously wasnât okay; the marauder constellation found it utterly absurd. How could this constellation blatantly try to steal the prey that he had laid eyes on first? The incarnation of training was already thriving on Earth, so why...?!
This was wicked even for the standards of the marauder constellation, but what could he do? He swallowed his anger and reluctantly said, I guess it canât be helped... Do as you please.
[The âUndefeated Incarnation of Trainingâ says thank you.]
The marauder constellation gritted his teeth.
âLetâs wait and see!â
[The âUndefeated Incarnation of Trainingâ says he has one more thing to say.]
What is it? blurted the marauder constellation.
[The âUndefeated Incarnation of Trainingâ says it would be better for the âMarauder Wielding a Scytheâ to also come under his protection.]
???
It took a few seconds for the marauder constellation to register, and he was appalled when he did. So now... The incarnation of training was trying to do with the marauder constellation what the marauder constellation had done with the wandering merchant...?
âDoes this guy have no shame? Only lowly constellations would do something like this. I canât believe a high-ranking constellation is attempting such a cheap trick!â
I-I donât need protection! I can fend for myself!
[The âUndefeated Incarnation of Trainingâ wonders if thatâs really the case.]
[He says itâs better to be safe than sorry.]
It was an outright threat, and the Marauder Wielding a Scythe was dumbfounded. He had just wanted to scam a weak constellation a bit, so he couldnât believe that he ended up like this.
âI canât back down. A constellation like the Undefeated Incarnation of Training must have a vast kingdom thatâs very high maintenance. He canât possibly put a lot of effort into intimidating a constellation like me, not when he has so much to take care of. I just need to hold my ground. Worst case, Iâll just run and stall for time!â
It was a pitiful plan, but that was what weaker constellations had to do in order to survive.
How funny! Iâm perfectly capable of defending myself! How dare you try to intimidate me? If you want to catch me, go ahead and try. I have no kingdom and no household. By the time your subordinates arrive, Iâll be gone! the marauder constellation shouted fiercely.
Saying such things was rather humiliating, but the marauder constellation was cleverly trying to convince the incarnation of training that he wasnât worth the effort.
[The âWandering Merchant Who Sells Destinyâ is saddened by your poverty.]
âYou damn pushover...!â The marauder constellation gritted his teeth.
However, something was strange. There was no answer from the Undefeated Incarnation of Training. Why was he silent?
Are you so angry that you donât want to answer?
??
The marauder constellation, who at that moment was in an empty, unclaimed area of the Abyss, was puzzled by the sudden appearance of a meteor in the distance.
What was going on?
Can something like that happen in the Abyss?
...
A few moments later, the marauderâs jaw dropped to the ground. The meteor was growing bigger and bigger, and he realized that it was heading his way.
I came to catch you, Marauder Wielding a Scythe! Come on, give it a try!
Y-y-you lunatic!!! n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The marauder constellation was appalled.
The incarnation of training hadnât sent his household members to capture or threaten him some more. Instead, he rushed over himself after their conversation was over...?
How could this constellation leave his kingdom unattended? Given his status and reputation, a few areas from his kingdom would collapse the second he took his eyes off them!
Ge-get lost!
The Marauder Wielding a Scythe tried to strike first. The scythe he was holding glowed as he infused his power of existence into it. He then activated his ability.
Choi Yeonseung noticed that and became cautious. No matter how weak the opponent was, he couldnât let his guard down.
A constellationâs power was like a trump card. If he let his guard down even for a moment, an attack could make it through a gap in his defense and inflict a fatal wound.
[The power of the âMarauder Wielding a Scytheâ is activated.]
[The scythe increases the yield of souls!]
â?â
Choi Yeonseung couldnât believe his eyes. What was the point of increasing the yield of souls when fighting a constellation one-on-one?
You worthless scythe! Why donât you listen to me at times like this?!! the marauder constellation bellowed at his scythe.
-...
-...
Choi Yeonseung and the goddess of sloth were speechless. This guy couldnât even control his own power...
âHeâs so pitiful that it almost feels like itâs a trap.â
-If it truly is a trap, this constellation should be a conspirator or an actor, not a marauder.
Bang!!!
A deafening noise followed after Choi Yeonseung used Origin of the Celestial Fist. The white light instantly blew away the scythe of the marauder constellation.
Agh!!
The Marauder Wielding a Scythe couldnât believe it. He knew that he was fighting a superior constellation, but he hadnât expected the gap between their powers to be so big.
The power of existence was essentially the fuel for a constellationâs offensive abilities. However, given his natural instincts and extensive combat experience, the marauder constellation had been confident that he could hold his own against a stronger constellation.
However, it turned out that he was no match for the Undefeated Incarnation of Training. His scythe had been completely shattered, and his opponent was easily dodging and countering his desperate punches.
Bam bam bam bam bam!
The Undefeated Incarnation of Training didnât use any complex magic or techniques. Just like any constellation that specialized in martial arts, he only attacked with his fists and feet, each strike empowered by his power of existence.
These fierce attacks struck the very soul of his opponent, and the power of existence penetrated him to inflict internal damage.
No longer able to withstand the pain, the marauder constellation cried, I lost! I lost! Please spare me!
In a matter of seconds, the marauder constellation had been beaten up to the point where he couldnât even move. He fell to the ground, and when he eventually opened his eyes, he saw the Undefeated Incarnation of Training looming over him with a majestic aura.
He looked like a warrior made of light and fire.
âHuh, this is quite handy.â
Choi Yeonseung was satisfied.
He had managed to do this thanks to his increased power of existence, which he had used to create a clone to leave it on Earth. Then, he had run into the Abyss to personally deal with this marauder.
He had even used his internal energy to completely cover himself in white flames so that nobody would suspect that Choi Yeonseung and the incarnation of training were one and the same.
-Even if you hadnât done this, nobody wouldâve suspected anything...
The goddess of sloth felt like it was necessary to say that.
If others noticed that the Undefeated Incarnation of Training looked similar to Choi Yeonseung, they would simply think that the constellation cared so much for his household member that he had changed his appearance to look alike, not that the constellation was pretending to be a mortal.
âDo other constellations use their power of existence in such unique ways?â
-Wha...? Making a clone isnât unique... Itâs a basic thing...! I know you donât like magic, but you should learn a bit about it!
The goddess of sloth was dumbfounded. This was one of the most basic skills that constellations used!