Chapter 517: Chapter 517

‘...This is awkward.’

Choi Yeonseung had braced himself for the provocations of the Chinese hunters, but he hadn’t expected them to be his followers.

-It’s not strange if you think about it.

Being a veteran constellation of the Abyss, the goddess of sloth found this situation rather natural. At the moment, the most outstanding martial artist on Earth was Choi Yeonseung. In addition, the entire world knew him as the household of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training.

Therefore, it was natural for hunters to automatically associate martial arts with the Undefeated Incarnation of Training. And since this constellation presided over the realm of martial arts, the stronger a hunter’s faith was in him, the more powerful their martial arts would become.

Since all martial artists were fiercely fighting to gain even the slightest advantage over their competitors, such buffs were invaluable. It was only natural that all the martial artists who had undergone training at the camp would believe in the Undefeated Incarnation of Training.

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung, you are our idol!”

“Please put in a good word for us when you talk to the Undefeated Incarnation of Training!”

The polite attitude of the Chinese hunters wasn’t due to encountering a superior hunter and a powerful businessman. Normally, Chinese hunters never bowed their heads in public. Their higher-ups could find all kinds of faults with them, from why they were contacting a foreign hunter to accumulating too much wealth.

However, things were different this time. They stood before the favored household member of the constellation they worshiped!

Choi Yeonseung was way scarier than a high-ranking hunter they would never meet despite being from the same country. Similarly, he was scarier than a powerful businessman whom they would never meet even if they had a lot of money.

After all, wasn’t Choi Yeonseung the right hand of the god they worshiped and received blessings from? Since he was the kind of person who immediately punished arrogance, these hunters had no choice but to bow down with their heads almost touching the ground.

“Who are these hunters...? Are they from another country?”

“They are the Chinese hunters participating in the international competition.”

“What?? Why??”

“I-I don’t know...”

The reporters, who were following the Korean hunters to cover the international competition, were taken aback by the sudden greeting of the Chinese hunters.

Why were they acting this way?

“Did Hunter Choi Yeonseung save their lives?”

“Maybe one or two, but surely he hasn’t saved all of them?”

“Well, he’s saved so many that I thought it was possible...”

As all eyes were drawn to the hunters and everyone started murmuring among themselves, a Chinese employee rushed in to stop them.

“What are you doing?! Don’t you see how many people are staring at us? Why are you humiliating yourselves like this?”

“What...? You don’t know? He’s the household member of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training. We have to look good in front of him.”

“You know that household members are more frightening than constellations these days.”

Rather than a constellation who had little interest in Earth and didn’t know much about it, a household member who wielded the power of the constellation to their heart’s content was much more terrifying.

No matter how many eyes there were, they had to bow their heads when meeting a household member of a constellation.

“That’s nonsense... Stop and go back! What a disgrace!”

“Absolutely not. Will you take responsibility if we leave and the household member of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training gets angry?”

“If he speaks to the Undefeated Incarnation of Training...”

However, the staff member was stunned to see the hunters, who always followed orders from above unconditionally, unshaken and put pressure on him.

“No... You really can’t do this... You can’t do this...”

Regardless of what the Chinese hunters did, the overseas reporters flocked to the scene excitedly.

This was a scoop!

***

‘I’m conflicted,’ Choi Yeonseung thought to himself.

-This is one of the hardships constellations have to face. You finally know what it is to be a constellation...

‘It’s kinda annoying to hear the goddess of sloth say stuff like that when she’s abandoned everything and lives comfortably in seclusion.’

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ comforts you by saying that she understands your feelings.]

It was only natural for a constellation to lament their followers clashing against each other. No matter who won, there would be a grudge.

‘Of course, I have to win.’

Putting aside his pity, there was too much to lose in this competition, so Choi Yeonseung was firmly determined to win. Besides, wasn’t the constellation more important than their believers?

[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ says that if you are worried about losing, just take them out.]

“?”

-What are you talking about? Ah, constellations really don’t know much about Earth...

The goddess of sloth blatantly criticized the chef constellation for his ridiculous idea. Only constellations that were clueless about Earth would say something like that.

In the Abyssal realms, it didn’t matter what constellations did with their followers, but Earth was a realm with a highly sophisticated political and cultural system. If a constellation took those believers and moved them somewhere else, it could turn into a very complex international problem.

-Come to think of it, I think that’s possible.

-...

The goddess of sloth paused in an embarrassed manner when she heard Choi Yeonseung’s words.

-...Is it okay? Why?

-They’re confused right now. What will they do if I offer them asylum?

Chinese hunters used to bounce around a lot from place to place, which was only natural, given that their government kept them in shackles and offered them nothing.

The United States in particular had always been a tempting option for asylum. Those who defected to the US were treated well and couldn’t be forcefully taken back by the Chinese government, which threatened them.

‘I can just send them all to the United States.’

Even before the invasion, China could do nothing but grit their teeth as their hunters fled to the US. Now, with all the chaos, they would be even more powerless.

-But what if they don’t intend to move to another country?

-I will give them a revelation as a constellation.

-...

The goddess of sloth forced herself not to say, “You should have more awareness as a constellation and not use your powers like that.”

***

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’ asks if you are nervous.]

The Hound of Instinct and Liberation was a bit worried about Han Seha. The competition would soon take place, and she was uncharacteristically quiet.

-Ah. My younger sister was doing well under the Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons, but she moved to the Undefeated Incarnation of Training. I was wondering why I couldn’t do that.

...

The Hound of Instinct and Liberation was stunned by Han Seha’s words.

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’ is begging you not to abandon it!]

-I wouldn’t be abandoning you. We wouldn’t necessarily become strangers. We could keep in touch.

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’ cries that there is little chance of keeping in touch after becoming the household member of another constellation!]

The moment a household member was sent to another constellation, there was almost no chance of getting them back.

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’ says you might be struggling due to Choi Yeonseung, but you can’t fully trust the ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’.]

-Are you doubting the judgment of Hunter Choi Yeonseung?!? Are you crazy?!?

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’ says that’s not it...]

[...]

The hound constellation whined sullenly. But despite her fiery response, Han Seha actually understood what the hound constellation meant.

‘Indeed, just because Choi Yeonseung is his household member doesn’t automatically mean that the Undefeated Incarnation of Training is good to him.’

Some mortals out there signed unfavorable contracts and were exploited by their constellations after they entered their household.

Han Seha thought she should ask him next time they met. She would smash the Undefeated Incarnation of Training if Choi Yeonseung said he wasn’t a good master. And if he said he was good...

‘I’ll ask again.’

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’ is howling!]

“Look at Hunter Han Seha.”

“Such great concentration...!”

Except for Han Seha and Kwon Yeongseung, most of the hunters who were participating in this competition lacked experience. The pressure of being humiliated nationwide if they failed was unbearable. They felt like it would be better to just risk their lives in a raid or a dungeon.

However, seeing Han Seha fully focused with an expressionless face was a bit reassuring.

As expected, A-grade hunters were different!

‘They weren’t always like this...’

Kwon Yeongseung found it unfair that Han Seha’s evaluation was this high among hunters. He didn’t look down on other hunters based on their rating, didn’t care what they did, and his rating went up just by doing his job.

But the hunters who had participated in the last few international competitions had lowered the standards so much that one could be held in high regard just by breathing.

In addition, many people had strange fantasies about A-grade hunters. They looked too much into anything an A-grade hunter did; if the hunter stood still, there had to be something to it!

“Hunter Kwon Yeongseung, please have my back!”

“I’ll do my best to protect you!”

“Thank you...”

Of course, Kwon Yeongseung also had a good reputation, but that didn’t change anything about the warped perception people had of Han Seha.

***

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ predicts your victory.]

-Thanks.

“I used Future Sight and saw victory.”

“Thank you!” Choi Yeonseung replied to Adaquaniel before suddenly pausing.

-Uh, was that a bit too obvious?

-Indeed, Successor. You need to speak to them in the same tone.

Choi Yeonseung confirmed the situation with his constellation eyes.

Excluding Han Seha and Kwon Yeongseung, this was a competition between martial artists, which made Choi Yeonseung absolutely confident.

‘It’s enough to win.’

The Korean hunters were still unsure whether they could win, but Choi Yeonseung could see their strength and deemed it sufficient. The raw strength of the hunters from both sides was evenly matched, so the decisive factor would be their martial arts skills.

Indeed, the A-grade hunters on the other side seemed quite strong, but Han Seha and Kwon Yeongseung could easily shut them down.

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ is satisfied with the training of his household member.]

The angel constellation seemed satisfied with the way Han Sehui was fighting.

Even though they were twins, Han Sehui was the complete opposite of Han Seha. If Han Seha was fire, Han Sehui was ice.

Han Sehui used passive skills that maintained her composure and concentration and synergized with her long-range offensive magic skills. With that in mind, Choi Yeonseung had taught her a martial arts technique to match her style.

Looking at the bottom lane, Han Sehui’s adversary instantly became dizzy and seemed embarrassed.

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ asks if you would like to teach Illaphael as well.]

Illaphael? I don’t think she will like it...

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ says it will be a bit different if Choi Yeonseung teaches her.]

I will ask, but I wouldn’t have high hopes...

Choi Yeonseung thought Illaphael would refuse. Why would a proud angel learn martial arts?

Unless it was a wise angel like Adaquaniel...

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

***

“...What are they doing?? What are they doing now?!” Zheng Zhiyun jumped up as he yelled.

He wasn’t reacting this way because their advantage from the beginning vanished or because the enemy team was pushing them back. It was because the Chinese hunters had lost their ferocity as if they had taken some kind of drug.

Instead of viciously attacking their opponents and chewing their hearts to claim victory... What gave them the courage to act like this?

“Tell them to think about what will happen if they lose! I will revoke all their privileges and put them into a control training camp!”

“Yes!”

Zheng Zhiyun thought that the hunters hadn’t properly grasped his initial warning.

...Yet surprisingly, the demeanor of the Chinese hunters didn’t change one bit. They were calm as if they had something to believe in.

‘How... How?!’