Chapter 522: Chapter 522

-Have mercy! Please, I’m begging you!

‘I think the realm is doomed.’

Even though he pleaded in a solemn tone, Kalasnegen’s words were actually pointless.

...I understand. I have a connection with the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing, so my household member... I will let him go.

Choi Yeonseung did his best to maintain a straight expression. He couldn’t just say, “Are you really making such a fuss because of something like that?’ He had to respect the pride of the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing.

Nevertheless, Choi Yeonseung felt a bit ashamed that he had to personally go and restore the management of a liquor factory in the current situation. The Snake of Alcohol and Dancing was one of the few partners he had cooperated with, but...

-Ha-have strength...

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ is cheering you on.]

[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ is perplexed about why a constellation should personally take action like this.]

[He asks if this is how you grew.]

-Yes, this is how I grew.

Choi Yeonseung replied curtly to the chef constellation before heading to the realm of the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing. For some reason, he felt a penitent look aimed at his back, but he ignored it.

***

Upon his arrival, Choi Yeonseung wasn’t too worried. There was only one reason the liquor factory was on the verge of collapsing.

Naturally, various ingredients were required for alcohol production. In addition, the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing wanted to make all the kinds of alcohol on Earth, which meant that a large diversity of raw materials was needed, such as rice, wheat, barley, grapes and other fruits, and so on...

Moreover, being a constellation, the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing wouldn’t be satisfied with using ordinary ingredients; she wanted the best of the best for her alcohol.

However, the current situation wasn’t exactly optimal for importing raw materials. Hundreds of container ships were stuck in ports, everyone frozen in fear. What could they do?

In addition, if the economic crisis in China spread, the wallet of the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing would inevitably become thinner.

‘Dictators from various countries say that their high-ranking officials like the liquor made by the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing...’

But in this situation, no one would go around asking for liquor. If they were this tactless, they would die before rising in their party.

-So how do you intend to solve the problem of the constellation?

-With money.

Choi Yeonseung’s solution was straightforward. After all, didn’t he save money specifically for situations like this? Even though importing raw materials at the moment was tough, Choi Yeonseung could still acquire as much as he wanted.

It wasn’t even a difficult problem...

“...”

Choi Yeonseung was speechless as he arrived at the factory site.

There was a huge snake sprawled on the ground.

No way...?

“Uhh...?”

“...I’m sorry.”

Kalasnegen kept shaking his head like he was ashamed.

Choi Yeonseung couldn’t believe that the constellation was just lying around in such a pitiful, defenseless state. What was this?

-Well, there are times when a constellation just wants to take it easy and lay down for a bit, you know...

-Save it.

Choi Yeonseung wouldn’t hear the goddess of sloth’s excuses.

The Snake of Alcohol and Dancing approached him.

“Snake of Alcohol and Dancing, I was called here...” Choi Yeonseung said reticently.

Instead of an answer, there was only terrible wailing that could seemingly touch one’s existence.

Only a constellation could cry like that.

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ wails at the terrible results!]

The Snake of Alcohol and Dancing was so shaken up that she couldn’t even speak.

Once again, Choi Yeonseung tried to speak to her. “I’ve been called...”

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ wails even louder at the terrible results!]

“Master, the household member of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training has arrived. He will soon solve the problems in your realm, so please stop crying!”

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ wails even more loudly at the terrible results!]

It was surreal, but the factory grounds were actually being flooded by the tears of the snake constellation. Kalasnegen hurriedly evacuated to high ground with Choi Yeonseung.

“It looks like she’s having a bit of a mood swing.”

“Well... Normally, she doesn’t do this. Really. Please believe me.”

“You don’t need to emphasize that.”

Fearing that Choi Yeonseung might have some strange misunderstanding, Kalasnegen gave him a very detailed explanation.

“My master always takes great pride in her work, but all the liquor she has produced recently turned out to be terrible. She drank all of it while lamenting the unsatisfactory results, and she got even more drunk...”

The goddess of sloth listened with admiration. She could relate with many aspects of the life of the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing.

The constellation reigned, while the subordinates under them worked hard—perhaps that was the true law of the Abyss.

“I figured I would just tell her that I would supply her with some quality ingredients. Have you told her?”

“As you’ve just seen, she’s in no condition to listen... Uhm...”

Kalasnegen looked at his master nervously. The household member of another constellation was here, but she was just crying in her drunken stupor...!

‘I’ll have to persuade her.’

Choi Yeonseung thought of a way to make the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing stop crying. He thought he could just give her some decent ingredients as a gift, but he couldn’t reason with her if she didn’t snap out of it.

“Can you mobilize the other household members?”

“Huh? I can mobilize them...”

Kalasnegen stared at Choi Yeonseung in a puzzled manner.

“Bring them here. I’ll give you the ingredients so you can make some good liquor and serve it to your master.”

“...!”

***

Kalasnegen looked puzzled as he prepared the liquor with the rest of the household members.

‘Will this really work...?’

Whenever the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing got to such a low point, it took a lot of time for her to recover. The empathy and support of the household members didn’t make a difference whatsoever...

Of course, a well-made drink could make the difference.

However, the household members of the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing were the best brewers in the Abyss, and they had failed to cheer her up despite several attempts. As such, they weren’t convinced that Choi Yeonseung would have better luck.

He was a guest from afar, so they complied with his request, but...

“Good job.”

“There’s no brewer on Earth that can match me or any of these household members,” Kalasnegen said with a proud expression.

Choi Yeonseung was saddened by this.

‘For some reason, I want to do something to help every time I see a household member working hard under a constellation.’

-Uhm... I think that’s probably...

The goddess of sloth tried to say something.

Meanwhile, Kalasnegen and his household members started to brew and ferment the rice and yeast that Choi Yeonseung had brought with him.

The household members didn’t just wait. They also maximized the potency of the alcohol with various powers.

“There seems to be something different...?”

“Doesn’t it feel different?”

The household members murmured to each other. At first, they didn’t think much of it, but the result was quite unusual.

Just like a master blacksmith, who, after forging swords all his life, felt that he was about to craft the best masterpiece of his life, the household members of the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing were gazing with anticipation at the concoction.

“Focus, everyone!”

“Yes!”

“...Uh, aren’t you just brewing some alcohol?”

Choi Yeonseung was a bit embarrassed. He had wandered around the Abyss and observed the crafts of various races... But this brewing process that Kalasnegen and the other household members were engaged in had a profound and mysterious aura to it.

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

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ is also shocked!]

[...]

[...]

The watching constellations were also surprised.

Something...

Something was happening.

***

“Master! Please look at this!” one of the household members cried out as they carried huge white bottles of liquor.

Normally, the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing would’ve kept crying without looking at them. But this time, she stopped crying and turned her head. She could feel the waves of existence coming from the white bottles.

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ looks at it curiously.]

“Master, Master, this is by no means a powerless drink! Thanks to your teachings, we managed to brew a masterpiece! Of course, Hunter Choi Yeonseung lent us a hand, but we managed it thanks to the knowledge and powers you have bestowed upon us, Master...!”

The Snake of Alcohol and Dancing was moved by Kalasnegen’s passionate presentation. But upon laying eyes on Choi Yeonseung, she started crying again.

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ laments that she is such a pitiful constellation that the household member of another constellation had to come and devote himself to help her!]

‘She’s crazy.’

Drunkenness affected humans and constellations quite similarly. Choi Yeonseung thought about helping the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing sober up by throwing a punch, but he decided against it after thinking about the favor he had received from her.

“Snake of Alcohol and Dancing, you seem to be mistaken about something.”

Even though the giant snake kept crying, Choi Yeonseung felt that she was actually listening, unlike before.

“All the household members here belong to you, Snake of Alcohol and Dancing. They only managed to craft this magnificent masterpiece thanks to you, their master.”

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ listens a bit more attentively.]

[The drunkenness is disappearing a little bit.]

“Yes, isn’t it thanks to the great knowledge you bestowed on them? I keep in touch with the household members of other constellations in the Abyss. Do you know what they say?”

-?

The goddess of sloth tilted her head.

What was this?

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ also tilts her head.]

[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ is bewildered since the ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ is a constellation without many friends.]

The crying of the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing subsided quite a bit. She was clearly intrigued.

“‘The household members of the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing must be very happy!’ They would say such things all the time!”

-...No... Trickery!

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ is also flustered.]

The watching constellations were speechless... Choi Yeonseung shamelessly put words in the mouths of the household members of other constellations.

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ stops crying completely and is listening.]

[She asks which constellations said that.]

“The Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons, the Warrior With a Hammer, the Arrogant Light Elf, and many others. The Chef of Endless Gluttony also spoke highly of you, Snake of Alcohol and Dancing.”

[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ is puzzled and wondering when he did that!]

The chef constellation was bewildered, but the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing seemed fully uplifted by the benevolence of the other constellations and their household members. Neither she nor her household members doubted Choi Yeonseung. He was such an upright mortal that they would never suspect him of lying.

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ wakes up.]

[She emerges from the absurdity of her ruined liquor.]

[She escapes from the idea that she is the most worthless constellation.]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

‘...How can she have so many negative thoughts just because she’s drunk?’

I owe you a lot, mortal.

It was the first time that Choi Yeonseung heard the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing speak in a normal voice. Even when she wasn’t completely wasted like before, Choi Yeonseung naturally assumed that being drunk was her default condition...

“I just came and did what I could to help.”

“Master, seeing that you have come to your senses, I, Kalasnegen, declare that I accept death!”

I’m so sorry for everything...

The Snake of Alcohol and Dancing apologized sincerely.

Choi Yeonseung felt like he was watching the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead and Adaquaniel.

From now on, I will try to get less drunk when I drink...

“That alone fills me with excitement, Master.”

The Snake of Alcohol and Dancing looked away. She was amazed to see the white bottles that the household members had made. Even though fate and luck had helped them make it, it was true that they had created a masterpiece she had never seen before.

She hadn’t known that Choi Yeonseung had such a talent.

If you don’t mind, I was wondering if there is any way I could have a household member from the Undefeated Incarnation of Training.

[The ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’ says to not even dream about it.]

...?

The Snake of Alcohol and Dancing was taken aback because the other party’s answer seemed to have some specific emotions mixed in it.

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ apologizes if she offended you.]

[The ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’ says to forget it, so get to the point.]