Chapter 43

Chapter 43

‘What are you doing?’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is secretly whispering away from the other constellations that this is part of a strategy.]

‘... Um. Certainly...’

If one constellation suddenly sent a gift, then others were bound to be nervous. It was the so-called cheating strategy.

[The constellation ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ shakes his head, saying he won’t buy people with goods.]

[The constellation ‘Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ says that soul stones are valuable, but what is truly valuable is the sweat shed by a precious soul.]

[The constellation ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is speechless.]

However, the cat was up against the wrong opponents since they had both entered the ascetic path.

[......]

-It’s hard. Your strategy was fine.

[......]

Constellations also made deals with each other, but they used soul stones—jewels that contained power of existence—as currency. The cat constellation became sullen since no one responded when it bet ten soul stones.

-... I’ll use the soul stones well.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ has recovered its energy and says it is better to secure the soul stones in advance since you need money to not be ignored among the constellations.]

-Soul stones...

Choi Yeonseung had no soul stones. Bartering with the goblins or the Onix family for currency was impossible, and he had only ever received power of existence from beating up and subduing constellations. He didn’t rip soul stones off them.

-Wait. What about selling the constellations I subdued for soul stones?

[...The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is shocked by this crazy idea!]

How could Choi Yeonseung think of turning the constellations that he had defeated and subdued into soul stones?! What type of crazy constellation was he?

[There is nothing you can’t do. They are now your followers. However, the ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ warns that your power of existence will be greatly reduced if they disappear.]

Despite being a new constellation, Choi Yeonseung still managed to become an intermediate constellation. Some constellations became his fans, while others succumbed and were taken in by him. They served as Choi Yeonseung’s followers! Their disappearance would weaken Choi Yeonseung. It was like pulling out the bottom stones.

-I understand. I won’t do it.

Honestly, he didn’t think he would need souls. Who knew it could be used for trading purposes?

-But how can I make deals?

It was a secret that Choi Yeonseung was the Undefeated Incarnation of Training. The moment others learned of that, the plan would go awry! However, to naturally mix among the constellations... No, to play the Game of Stars. What if he got caught?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that the incarnation of training still lacks self-awareness as a constellation. In the Game of Stars, there is no way for constellations to verify each other’s information.]

That was right. Even if they encountered a message window on Earth, the constellations would basically still have no way of knowing where the other person was or what type of constellation they were. If their realms were close to each other in the Abyss, then they’d be able to put two and two together and connect which constellation was which. However, if they were far away, then it would be difficult to determine who the constellation was.

That was evident from the fact that the Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood threatened the cat constellation right away. If he had known where the cat constellation was, he never would’ve made such a meaningless threat!

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it is impossible for the other being to find anything if the incarnation of training is determined.]

Moreover, since Choi Yeonseung was a wandering constellation and had no territory, the constellations wouldn’t be able to identify him from far beyond the Abyss. Hence, he could join the constellation neighborhood under the name of ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training.’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ corrects the name to Game of Stars.]

-... In any case, thank you, ‘Cat of Lava and Magma.’ I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.

Choi Yeonseung thanked the cat, who had been genuinely helping him. Since he was grateful, he thought he should thank the constellation properly.

[The ’Cat of Lava and Magma’ proudly shakes its paws!]

***

Sweating, the director of the measurers sat down. Sitting in front of him was an S-grade hunter with a terrible temper!

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hwang Gyeongryong! I’m really sorry...”

“I want him caught this instant! How dare he take my money and join hands with a different clan?”

“W-We have caught him and are investigating right now.”

The moment Hwang Gyeongryong made a fuss, the director of the measurers immediately started an investigation and swiftly discovered that one of the measurers had mysteriously and quickly became richer.

Hwang Gyeongryong glared at the director, who couldn’t meet his eyes.

‘What did these bastards do...?’The initial posting of this chapter occurred via Ñøv€l-B!n.

‘In any case, the constellations are showing a bit of interest, so I have to be more careful. There’s no harm in slowly rising up.’

The constellation either used their own power of existence or borrowed their household members’ eyes. In any case, it was better to keep his behavior under control. He didn’t know when or where they’d be watching him.

The measurer left, and the calmer Hwang Gyeongryong spoke. “In any case, you’re ranked B- now. You’ve met the basic requirement.”

“What basic requirement?”

“Have you forgotten already? Didn’t I tell you that I’m going to put you in the Icarus clan?”

“Ah. I remember now. A clan of hunters Hyung had kidnapped.”

“Kidnapped... People will misunderstand if they hear that! I didn’t kidnap them!”

Icarus was a clan created to raise young and incomplete aces! Hwang Gyeongryong seemed to be living a great life, but he was from a generation that had experienced the great invasion firsthand. He was warier of the constellations than any other hunter.

“If you join that clan with only a C-grade rank, everyone will ignore you. All of its members are B-grade, so you would’ve been the only C-grade.”

“I’m a martial artist. I think they’ll still ignore me even if I’m ranked B-grade anyway.”

“......”

This was definitely the case!

“It doesn’t matter. It's not like you can't subdue them anyway?”

“Uh... Does that mean I'm allowed to beat them up?”

“... Don’t beat them too hard...”

Choi Yeonseung’s words surprised Hwang Gyeongryong. Hwang Gyeongryong wasn’t the type to get easily surprised, but Choi Yeonseung was honestly unpredictable. Back when they were still in the same clan, he did the craziest things!

“You stand out in many ways, so conflicts will likely arise, but... You're more than capable enough to handle them.”

If he couldn’t subdue those kids even though he had become a constellation, then he wasn’t qualified to be one. Hwang Gyeongryong spoke with that in mind.

“Well, that makes sense.”

“Right! I have a decent weapon in my collection. I'll give it to you as a gift.”

Hwang Gyeongryong excitedly started to unpack it. Choi Yeonseung was bewildered.

“I don’t use weapons?”

“...R-Right... I... I didn’t know that... I was being silly... I’m getting older...”

Hwang Gyeongryong murmured in a very sad voice.

“...Ah, don’t be so shameful. I can use it, I can use it.”

“Is that so? I knew you would say that.” Hwang Gyeongryong said, his expression suddenly changing.

“Why give me a weapon, though?”

“Cough. I just thought it looked cool...”

“... Hyung. Are you afraid I’ll be ignored because I’m a martial artist?”

“N-No.”

Choi Yeonseung suddenly felt sad. How ignored were martial artists...? Would he look more plausible if he had something on his back? That was obviously what Hwang Gyeongryong thought.

‘I don’t think it will be better than the orichalcum knife that I have.’

No weapon could be greater than one made of pure orichalcum.

“Here. It’s this one.”

The elongated double-edged sound emitted a flash of light and released blue energy.

[Sword of Goujian:

Durability: 450/450 Attack Power: 400

Contains the skills ‘Endurance of Hardships’ and ‘Bitter Enemies in the Same Boat.’

Recovers magic power when killing enemies.

Level Restriction: 350.]

‘Oh...!’

It was an A-grade artifact, and it was a much better sword than he expected! This wasn’t an item that money could buy. No country would sell A-grade artifacts. That being said...

‘... Wasn’t this an artifact from China?’