Chapter 550: Chapter 550

“I didn’t know,” Choi Yeonseung apologized. Naturally, he had assumed that Illeya herself was a constellation, just like him.

But then, after giving it some thought, he realized that the chances of a constellation coming to Earth personally and pretending to be a human, like him, were really low. Doing that meant abandoning all their realms and kingdoms, which was too risky.

A constellation could split the power of existence and create a clone, but daring to take that risk...

‘Actually, I guess that’s what it was.’

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

-Successor, I think you should stop talking...

You’re saying that now?

Illeya’s expression distorted.

Judging from her reaction, it seemed that being ordered around by someone else had been difficult for her.

“Well, you were so good that I had to entrust some things to you... I apologize once again.”

I don’t need an apology, boss. Instead, I think you should pay me for the work I’ve done for you.

Choi Yeonseung focused on circulating internal energy throughout his body.

He hadn’t known when Illeya would show her true colors, but he had anticipated that if she did that, she would do it when everyone least expected it. After all, a constellation disguised as a human wouldn’t reveal themselves under normal circumstances.

The observer constellation had to have been hiding for a specific reason.

‘It’s coming!’

Choi Yeonseung was ready for whatever Illeya would throw at him.

Out of everyone at the scene, he was the most likely opponent for her. Regardless of the boss-employee relationship, Choi Yeonseung had recently been the most threatening being in the Abyss.

Moreover, considering Illeya’s past actions, Choi Yeonseung had to be her only target. Not only had she entered the clan under Hwang Gyeongryong, but she had also faithfully carried out Choi Yeonseung’s orders.

...But Choi Yeonseung’s prediction was flawed.

Illeya, who had half-overpowered the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust, immediately attacked the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead in front of her.

Even though there were three individuals with the power to see the future, Illeya had broken through their foresight and caught them by surprise.

I’ve prepared a power to get past Future Sight, just for this moment! Got you!

“!”

Illeya grabbed the wrist of the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead and rapidly froze it.

Choi Yeonseung immediately responded by firing Origin of the Celestial Fist, blowing away Illeya’s head. Likewise, Adaquaniel jumped into action and sliced through Illeya’s torso.

However, the disfigured Illeya merely turned into a block of ice and dispersed. Before he knew it, Illeya appeared behind Choi Yeonseung and subdued the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust and the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead.

“Two constellations with one clone...?” the chef constellation asked in disbelief. “How? What power is that?”

Illeya’s current form seemed absurdly powerful. Despite being targeted by multiplied constellations, she had managed to suppress two of them with her power. The clone of a constellation couldn’t possibly do something like that.

It’s simple. This is my kingdom.

“What kind of nonsense is that? This is the kingdom of the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust!”

Take a good look. It is, in fact, my kingdom, Illeya, or rather, the Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place, declared firmly.

The luxurious palace of the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust, filled with her nightmare demons, was changing into a chilly winter palace.

The goddess of pleasure was livid at the fact that her territory was being overtaken by her opponent.

How dare you!

Don’t be surprised. I’ve been preparing for this since the moment you chose this place as the Fifth Kingdom. You’ve been in the palm of my hand all this time.

Everyone’s expression stiffened. Now that it had come to this, there was only one question left to ask.

“Are you the master of the Sixth Kingdom?”

The observer constellation didn’t reply, but her silence confirmed it to everyone.

“I’ve been searching for a long time for the bastard who joined forces with the Master of Slowness and Silence and betrayed me!” the chef constellation growled, gritting his teeth. “I am grateful that you’ve finally shown yourself! But don’t think you’ve won just because you overpowered an idiot like the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust!”

At that, the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust glared at the chef constellation, but he didn’t care. As the master of the Sixth Kingdom, there was only one reason the Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place had revealed herself here.

She planned to deal with the mortals and constellations who had plunged their daggers into the Abyss Kingdoms!

Judging from what she had been doing, she seemed to be a sinister and crafty adversary. She had let the master of the Fifth Kingdom play into her hands while she sharpened her sword to eventually eliminate the most threatening adversary.

She hadn’t plotted with the Master of Slowness and Silence from the shadows for nothing.

But that didn’t matter.

“Don’t think that today’s victory has won you the war, Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place!” warned the chef constellation. “You and the Master of Slowness and Silence had better prepare for your demise! He’ll destroy you before we do anyway!”

Are you done blabbering? Can I say what I wanted to say now?

“...?”

I’m not on the same side as the Master of Slowness and Silence, you fool, the observer constellation shot back coldly.

“Nonsense! Then what do you consider all this?!” snapped the chef constellation, dumbfounded. “I won’t tolerate you taking me for a fool!”

Would the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust have stood still if I had told her that? She would’ve made a fuss about being deceived.

Choi Yeonseung was unknowingly convinced by the observer constellation’s words.

Given her character, the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust would absolutely not tolerate being played for a fool by the observer constellation ever since the Abyssal gate had opened on Earth. She would’ve used her power to annihilate the observer constellation right away.

However...

“Yes, I understand that,” Choi Yeonseung said. “The Goddess of Pleasure and Lust is difficult to talk to, so you had to keep her in check like that.”

Despite being frozen in place, the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust stared at Choi Yeonseung as if she wanted to kill him.

“But that’s not the case with the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead. I want you to return the goddess.”

What I am about to say is very relevant for what I am to do, so listen before saying anything else, the observer constellation said in a frosty voice.

Choi Yeonseung wanted to take this opportunity to recover the goddess, but the observation constellation warned him not to do anything rash.

I know about most of your powers, so you better not try any tricks. You wouldn’t want the goddess to get seriously hurt, would you now?

“If this is because of the lingering grudge from the time you worked with me, you should settle this with me, not with her.”

No!

“...?”

My issue isn’t with you! It’s with her!

The observer constellations grabbed the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead and shook her back and forth. Choi Yeonseung was taken aback.

“The goddess didn’t do anything wrong! I made you do the work.”

Quiet, demonic boss! You think that as a constellation, I would hold a grudge because of something so petty?

Despite what she was saying, it seemed to Choi Yeonseung that the observer constellation harbored quite a bit of resentment toward him, but he didn’t bother insisting on that.

The observer constellation looked over at all the other constellations.

Let me ask you a question. Say you waited a long time to take a mortal into your household. Then one day, another constellation snatches the mortal from you. How would you react?

“That sounds very insulting.”

“I would have to make the other constellation pay for it.”

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ says he would shed blood to get his revenge.]

The observer constellation nodded at the answers of the other constellations.

Then, instead of nurturing the mortal in their own realm, she abandons him. She simply throws him away!

“Such a thing...!”

“That’d be too much...” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ says he would show no mercy.]

The constellations found themselves swayed by her words without realizing. Indeed, it would be most insulting to have a mortal they had long coveted stolen from them. And for that thief to shamelessly abandon that mortal?

It was an insult among insults.

“Don’t you think so?” the chef constellation asked Choi Yeonseung.

“...”

Choi Yeonseung couldn’t help sweating; something wasn’t right.

‘Don’t tell me...’

Still, I didn’t give up. I eventually found that mortal and offered him gifts. However, he was loyal only to the constellation who had abandoned him.

“Loyal but foolish!”

“That’s awful!”

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ says it is heartbreaking.]

I didn’t even urge him to join my household! The moment he was snatched away from me, I made my peace that it wasn’t meant to be. But then he joined forces with that despicable constellation and remained her ally even after becoming a constellation himself! Does that make sense? In a situation where you need to fight the Master of Slowness and Silence?

“It really makes no sense...” the chef constellation muttered to himself when he suddenly got a weird feeling and turned to Choi Yeonseung.

“Huh?”

“Don’t tell me...”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding,” Choi Yeonseung said hurriedly.

The observer constellation ignored him.

I have but one demand. Get rid of the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead! If you let me turn this goddess into an ice statue and put her in my domain, I will fight the Master of Slowness and Silence alongside you. I swear by my name. I am convinced I make for a better ally than this pitiful goddess!

The Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place was very familiar with the Master of Slowness and Silence and boasted tremendous power of existence. In comparison, the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead had nothing to offer besides her special power.

The other constellations went silent, unable to refute her arguments. But Choi Yeonseung was different.

“I can’t do it.”

That angers me deeply.

“The power of the goddess will always be useful! If you talk to her, you’ll understand!”

I’ve witnessed it from the side again and again. The power to see the future is inherently unreliable. Of what use is it to glance at the future when fighting Master of Slowness and Silence? You would just be confronted with countless uncertain outcomes.

The observer constellation hit him with cold, hard facts, but Choi Yeonseung didn’t yield.

“I won’t abandon the goddess for that reason.”

I see... Let’s see if your resolve stays the same in the face of despair.

The Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place summoned a huge floating sphere above her finger, and Choi Yeonseung recognized it right away.

It was Earth.

Most constellations don’t know how to intimidate humanity. Their attempts are laughably ineffective. But me? I have been on Earth for decades, learning firsthand. It turns out that the most trivial things are the most effective for instilling fear in humans.

With that, the observer constellation proceeded to increase the reflectivity of Earth, causing the temperatures to plummet and glaciers to expand a hundredfold.

Don’t you think that this planet is very delicate compared to kingdoms in the Abyss? There are so many things that will instantly collapse at the slightest error. Think carefully. This glacier will move if I set my mind to it, and then...

“I’ll issue a constellation battle!”

What?

“A constellation battle! Observer constellation, I apologize for subjecting you to heavy work without knowing your condition!”

If you apologize for that one more time, I really will freeze Earth...

“...If you really are powerful enough to deal with the Master of Slowness and Silence, prove it to me.” Fight me.”

Why should I? I have nothing to gain from fighting you.”

“If I lose, I will be your household member.”

The observer constellation was taken aback by that. The other constellations, who knew Choi Yeonseung’s identity, were equally surprised.

That... is quite tempting.

“We will bet on the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead.”

The observer constellation tapped the pillar of ice with her fingers and nodded.

...Very well! It’s worth it if I can make you my household member. If you win, I shall also give you the Goddess of Pleasure and Lust as a bonus.

“I don’t need her. “

Well, I don't need her either. You can just throw her away.