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... ’

He was a few ranks higher than an ordinary measurer, but he was just a public servant who had to take care of himself in front of Hwang Gyeongryong. In this situation, he could go to prison if he spoke the wrong words.

“Which clan is it?”

“They’ll just erase any proof even if we identify them, Mr. Hwang Gyeongryong.”

“What made you think I’m asking without knowing that?”

Hwang Gyeongryong spoke as if he found it absurd. It wasn’t just yesterday or today that the clans had been keeping each other in check like this. It wasn’t easy to hold them accountable for something like this even if they were caught. However, that was a separate matter altogether. He still had to figure out who did it! That way, he would be able to get revenge later.

“A... Am...”

“Am?”

“I think it’s the Ambitus clan, but...”

Having listened to his colleagues' testimonies, the director grew suspicious of the Ambitus clan. Some of their members would come here and wander around every now and then.

“The Ambitus clan? Has their courage swelled?”

Hwang Gyeongryong muttered, seemingly dumbfounded. The Ambitus clan was a large clan in its own right, but it was worth nothing compared to Dragon Industry. Dragon Industry had various corporations behind it, and the government had granted it the authority of a clan state.

Meanwhile, the Ambitus clan was just a rising new clan! These two clans were on different levels.

‘What are they up to?’

The Ambitus clan should be aware that it would be dangerous to fight?Dragon?Industry right now. Why were they suddenly making trouble?

Hwang Gyeongryong smelled something strange from this. Could it be that a larger clan was supporting Ambitus to keep Dragon Industry in check?

“M-Mr Hwang Gyeongryong... Please calm down.”

Knock knock.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"What is it?"

“Chairman, the qualifying results are out.”

“Tell me if it is a good result. If it is a bad result then don’t say it.”

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung won the qualifiers.”

“......”

Hwang Gyeongryong looked at the measurer. Not everyone could win the C-grade League qualifiers, and such an occurrence was even rarer for martial artists.

“I’ll revise the rating right now. If there is a problem with this one, I’ll take responsibility.”

“Great thinking. You’re finally saying what I’d like to hear.”

***

Back at the mansion, Choi Yeonseung calmly followed the measurement process, though he couldn’t help but wonder why there were measurers here.

“The assessment is complete. He’s a?B- grade.”

“What? Are you blind? Why is?it B- grade?”

You can give it B+!

Hwang Gyeongryong was angry.

“H-Hunter Hwang Gyeongryong. A B- grade is great.”

C-grade and B-grade were only one level apart, but the difference between them was huge. While C-grade hunters could get tens of thousands of dollars from one raid, there was no limit to how much a B-grade hunter could earn. After all, B-grade hunters could attack B-grade dungeons, the profits from which could jump to ten times?the profits C-grade dungeons could bring. Hence, Aside from making a living, it was natural for hunters who wished to be millionaires to aim for B-grade.

“You should know that martial artists start with the minute rating due to a lack of practicality...”

The new measurer spoke timidly. He was just sticking to his principles! Wasn’t this what Hwang Gyeongryong said every day?

-Principles! Public servants have to abide by principles!

It was rare for hunters without practical experience to receive a B-grade with just the measurement results, which was only possible if they were really talented! However, Choi Yeonseung had been a C+ and had a sufficient raid record (30 years ago). B-grade was well deserved.

Nevertheless, he received a minus since he was a martial artist. Martial artists had almost completely disappeared in recent times, which made martial arts evaluated as lacking in practicality.

“Hyung... This is embarrassing. Stop...”

“Ah, leave me alone! I have to do this!”

“Stop complaining. It’s embarrassing.”

Choi Yeonseung pulled at him, causing Hwang Gyeongryong to sigh and shut up. The measurer was both grateful and surprised. Who was this hunter who could shut Hwang Gyeongryong up?

‘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.’ n0VElusb.c0m

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?’