Chapter 220
Even though Choi Yeonseung looked displeased, Hong Gildong was looking at him with a proud expression. He seemed to think that this alliance would make Choi Yeonseung very happy.
-You can’t lose!
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is telling you to be patient!]
-I have no intention of losing.
Choi Yeonseung found the whole thing ridiculous. He even wondered what the two constellations thought of him. Of course, the situation was uncomfortable, but if he were to punch the hunter in front of him for what he said, hundreds of hunters would’ve immediately intervened.
‘It’s an unpleasant offer, but also tempting.’
Right now, Choi Yeonseung needed someone to team up with. Because his power of existence had rapidly risen, even the good god constellations were likely to be apprehensive about Choi Yeonseung. It wasn’t a permanent alliance like the Alliance of Small and Medium-Sized Constellations, but he still needed someone to join forces with, at least temporarily.
If cooperation was actually possible, the berserker constellation had the potential to be a surprisingly good partner.
‘It’s because no one would expect it.’
The berserker constellation was supposed to be the one to hate Choi Yeonseung the most, therefore no constellation would’ve expected an alliance between the two of them. The problem was...
‘Can I trust it?’
-I don’t think it’s a lie. If he were to set up a trap, he wouldn’t have done it so carelessly.
-Considering the goddess of balance, isn’t it possible that even constellations can be amateurish and mess up big time?
-That’s an exception, so forget about it.
The words of the goddess of sloth were firm.
The goddess of balance was too... She was one of the clumsier constellations. Normally, such a clumsy constellation would’ve disappeared a long time ago. However, given that the goddess of balance was still holding out on Earth, it seemed that her power and household were quite great.
‘She’s too clumsy.’
Those harsh words would’ve made the goddess of balance cry if she had heard them. However, they weren’t wrong. In the eyes of the goddess of sloth, who retired after going through numerous battles in the Abyss, the goddess of balance was too...
She was too clumsy.
-Still, don’t say that in front of the goddess of balance.
Within the Alliance of Small and Medium-Sized Constellations, Choi Yeonseung was the only one who took care of the goddess of balance and thought about her.
-Do you like the goddess?
-Why is the conversation going there?
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it is exciting!]
-...Don’t forget that I can leave the alliance.
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ apologizes profusely!]
-At any rate, if you don’t trust the constellation, then make him swear by his name. That should be enough.
-Will he make that oath?
Choi Yeonseung was skeptical, but to his surprise, Hong Gildong spoke first.
“When I think back to what happened between our masters, I can understand why you’re worried. However, you may rest assured. My master swore by his name. He most certainly won’t betray you if we cooperate this time!”
[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ swears by this true name!]
“!”
Choi Yeonseung couldn’t believe the other constellation was bending over like this. He was surprised.
‘Is he in trouble?’
-That could certainly be a possibility... Moreover, the berserker constellation seems to have taken a liking?to you.
-Why would he like me? Unless he’s a pervert who wants to get robbed...
-...That’s not what I meant. It’s because you, Successor, have been fighting like a madman.
-Ah. You meant that.
Choi Yeonseung was now convinced. It actually made sense that other constellations would be interested in working with him after seeing him fight.
Hunters usually fought strategically, with damage dealers hitting and running, and tanks buying time, ultimately aiming for the monster’s weak points.
On the other hand, Choi Yeonseung employed an intense hand-to-hand combat style in which he attacked while also defending himself. It wasn’t for nothing that, every time he was bored, the berserker constellation sent him messages in which he praised him for being exceptional.
‘But that’s not a berserk style’
It might’ve seemed crazy on the surface, but Choi Yeonseung’s use of martial arts meant he had to be calmer and more composed than everyone else. Indeed, some martial artists had more wild, explosive styles, but Choi Yeonseung wasn’t like that.
-Let’s not point that out now.
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung, if you will allow me, I will proceed to lead you to my master’s domain.”
“...Now?”
“Yes! The situation is urgent, isn’t it? There’s chaos everywhere and the household members of other constellations probably don’t know what is to be done.”
Even the household members of the constellations were in a quandary. There was little information regarding the situations in China and Japan.
No matter how much hunters wanted to represent their constellations and bring glory to their name, there weren’t many who would be crazy enough to risk their lives for that. Given how many A-grade monsters had emerged, going to fight in China or Japan was an act of insanity, not bravery.
“If we team up and start moving together right away, we will be able to get ahead of the rest of the household members.”
“...Okay. Let’s go.”
Once Hong Gildong put things that way, Choi Yeonseung finally became interested. What was the berserker constellation planning?
***
‘His instinct for interior design is crazy.’
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ points out that lava should be added instead of blood.]
The realm of the berserker constellation had a classic design. A gloomy, dark air of madness spread over the barren wasteland, and springs and rivers of blood were swirling and flowing everywhere. Many Abyssal races that were living on the wasteland were worshiping the berserker constellation. As expected, the orc race was the most common one, but there were also many unusual races.
‘Is it over there?’
There was a citadel in the middle of the seemingly limitless dark wasteland. The fortress of the constellation had mysterious thorns rising from its walls. Above it was a veil of terrible madness.
-I think even a normal constellation would go crazy living in a place like this.
-Well, since he’s a crazy constellation, isn’t it fitting that he lives in a place like this?
-That’s true.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
As Hong Gildong was passing by, a nearby orc suddenly started yelling and banging his head on a stone.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s doing this because he doesn’t have enough madness, and he’s trying to gain more. My master likes even more intense madness.”
“What an elegant taste.”
Perhaps because he misunderstood Choi Yeonseung’s words as a compliment, Hong Gildong said with delight, “I knew you would understand! I heard that your constellation, the incarnation of training, is quite formidable in terms of madness.”
“...What?”
Choi Yeonseung’s tone became colder, but Hong Gildong didn’t seem to notice.
“Isn’t that right? I’ve heard he forced the orcs to farm in this area that he acquired last time. How crazy is that?”
“...They did it because they liked it...”
“Uhahahahat!” Hong Gildong laughed as if he heard a hilarious joke.
Choi Yeonseung closed his eyes and tried to compose himself by repeating his thoughts like a mantra.
‘This is someone else’s territory. Don’t make a scene. This is someone else’s territory. Don’t make a scene.’
“What nonsense is that, Hunter Choi Yeonseung?! There’s no way orcs did that because they love farming!”
-■■■■■!
-■■■■■!
The nearby orcs started pounding the ground while clutching their bellies. They had to have heard them.
“What’s the name of this orc tribe?”
“They are the Blood-Soaked Axe Tribe.”
“I see.”
Choi Yeonseung memorized the name of the tribe. If anything happened later, he was going to bring the orcs there and make them teach the others about the joys of farming.
“Maybe the incarnation of training gave the order and the orcs obeyed.”
“...Yes. Think what you will.”
“I must say that that’s a truly crazy act, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. My master has many worries these days.”
“Is it because his territory is being taken away?”
“...That’s also a reason for his worries, indeed.”
Hong Gildong seemed shocked by Choi Yeonseung’s words. After all, Choi Yeonseung was the reason the berserker constellation had lost two territories.
“However, the main problem has to deal with the humans on Earth.”
“......?”
Hong Gildong piqued Choi Yeonseung’s interest and proceeded to explain the situation thoroughly. Originally, people who placed their fate in the berserker constellation were those very similar to him.
Fanatics, terrorists, serial killers...
Quite literally, only those who immersed themselves in madness and blood worshiped the berserker constellation. At first, the berserker constellation consumed the faith sent by those people because it was good, but there had been some problems recently.
The quality of their faith had severely deteriorated.
Various governments imposed all kinds of restrictions, starting with a strict ban on the evil god constellations and their minions. After that, only desperate hunters tried to serve the berserker constellation.
The situation wouldn’t have been that bad if, among those who still served him, there had been anyone useful. However, a talented individual wouldn’t have any reason to sign such a contract with the berserker constellation because many other constellations would accept them, or at the very least the government would offer them a lot of support.
If he tried to empower those who lacked talent just because they were religious, those people would’ve taken the first opportunity to betray them. Those kinds of people usually betrayed their masters either out of boredom, or if their masters made a mistake. Thus, the berserker constellation couldn’t easily offer strength to such people.
Choi Yeonseung looked bitter as he listened to Hong Gildong talk about the explicit hardships and the evil god constellations.
‘What is he thinking about?’
It was ridiculous that the berserker constellation only chose crazy people and then worried that those crazy people might do crazy things.
“But, as expected from someone with such a glorious reputation, my master has come up with a solution to this problem.”
“Oh. What is it?”
Could the solution have been to do less crazy stuff?
“Why do other evil god constellations have a lot more household members and minions than my master?”
“...Could it be because the realm of madness and blood isn’t exactly great?”
“No way! No, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. How could it be bad? This is the most primal feeling!”
“......”
Choi Yeonseung was left speechless, but Hong Gildong continued to speak, thinking that Choi Yeonseung was convinced of his argument.
“It’s actually because the other evil god constellations have taken over countries on Earth and aren’t backing down.”
“...That’s quite the explanation...”
“When I heard about that, I figured it all out. The other evil god constellations are cowardly trying to subdue my master.”
The evil god constellations who first arrived on Earth launched a great invasion and conquered several countries on Earth. It wouldn’t have been wrong to call them the most prominent evil god constellations. Given that whole countries were occupied, the amount of faith they received was enormous.
As for the berserker constellation, he couldn’t help being envious of them. Thus, in accordance with his personality, his logic was replaced by madness. It could’ve been because he had recently suffered a lot because he was being subdued by the other evil god constellations.
“That’s actually plausible,” responded Choi Yeonseung with a monotone voice. He was starting to get tired.
Once again failing to read Choi Yeonseung’s reactions properly, Hong Gildong nodded with a happy expression and said, “I’m glad you understand. Even during this monster wave, the evil god constellations sent their household members to get involved. What do you think that means?”
‘I guess they’re trying to gain more power of existence by participating in the bet.’
“Isn’t it possible that the good god constellations are keeping your master in check?”
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung, you are missing one thing.”
“?”
“Master has always been paying close attention to the good god constellations, so there’s no way he’s being subdued by them. He must’ve been stabbed in the back by the evil god constellations.”
Choi Yeonseung was overwhelmed by the logic of the berserker constellation. How could one think that maybe, just maybe, he made some mistakes? No, that was absurd. It was everyone else’s fault! He hadn’t thought that the berserker constellation was going to be such a rational constellation.
-Successor, not all Abyss constellations are as rational and sincere as you.
-...I think he’s just not in his right mind.
Come to think of it, the berserker constellation was crazy from the get-go.
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