Chapter 256

Chapter 256

“But still... You must’ve had some problems or difficulties finding it, right?”

-No?

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it’s not the case.]

The other constellations were cold, but Choi Yeonseung couldn’t have such an attitude toward the goddess of balance.

Due to embarrassment and awkwardness, she didn’t know where to place her hands and kept squirming. Perhaps it was uncomfortable for her to appear in a human form after so long, but she couldn’t even make proper eye contact with Choi Yeonseung.

“...Indeed. I’m not used to using this power, so I felt like I needed help.”

“...!”

The goddess’ face brightened. She said in a cheerful voice, “Is that the case? You actually need help?”

“Yes...”

Adaquaniel, who had lent her body to her master, smiled happily on the inside. Indeed, Hunter Choi Yeonseung knew quite well how to worship the goddess.

***

“...”

“...”

There was an awkward silence between the two people, or rather, the two constellations, who were walking down the path searching for traces of the holy relic.

-......

[...]

Even the constellations who were observing couldn’t think of any advice to give in this situation. They honestly didn’t want to get involved in this. It was a horribly awkward silence! The goddess was around eighty percent responsible for this silence.

-Come to think of it, you had a lover, right? Luckily, it’s only been thirty years on Earth. Your lover must’ve been waiting for you, right?

-Um, we broke up before I left and she died in an accident.

-......

It was a wonderful way of speaking that made the atmosphere surprisingly chilly every time she chose a topic. After bravely trying to speak a few more times, the goddess became sullen and looked down at the ground, seemingly too afraid to open her mouth.

-Master, it’s okay. There is nothing to be afraid of.

-...Just switch back, Adaquaniel.

Adaquaniel cheered for her from within, but the goddess was already completely dead. No matter how much Adaquaniel supported her, the goddess just wanted to run away.

-No way, Master. I will support you. You must not back down.

-But...

-You can’t!

-Umm...

Adaquaniel, who usually listened to the goddess obediently, came out so firmly that not even the goddess could run away from this situation.

“That way.”

Centered around Buckingham Palace, there was a large number of the collector constellation’s household members gathered in a nearby park. Not only were there dragons flying through the sky, but there were also vampire necromancers who raised undead armies. The appearance of the Abyssal races filling the space where citizens should’ve normally wandered was quite alien. It was as if this place had become the Abyss itself.

“I need to get closer in order to find the exact location...”

They were looking at the palace and the park surrounding it. The land across the UK was narrow, but this area was still very wide. Choi Yeonseung had to look at it with his own two eyes to be certain. It was just that no matter what permission he had, he was bound to arouse the suspicion of the collector constellation and household members if he got close. Ordinary humans had no reason to come this far!

‘Umm. Should I hide my identity and fight?’

Choi Yeonseung was slightly worried. Fortunately, the household members of the angel constellation were now fighting in the distant sky. If Choi Yeonseung hid his identity and messed around...

-Successor, you’re a martial artist.

-...Um. I will stay put and let the goddess fight.

Come to think of it, Choi Yeonseung was more likely to be caught if he fought. If they were going to fight, it seemed better for the goddess to do it.

“There is nothing to be afraid of, Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”

The goddess puffed up her chest and spoke in a confident manner. She looked so proud that it was hard to believe that she was the same constellation who had been hesitantly looking in his direction because she had had nothing to say until now.

“I will use my power to get rid of the household members around here and clear the way.”

“Oh...! As expected! Amazing!”

Choi Yeonseung praised the goddess because he thought it would go well. He had genuinely been very inclined to praise the goddess. It was just that he hadn’t had many opportunities to praise her.

No matter what, he couldn’t praise her with phrases like ‘The way you walk is so graceful!’ or ‘Even the way you breathe is amazing!’ Even the goddess would’ve taken it as mockery.

“Is that right?”

“Yes! It’s amazing. There’s no one like you among the constellations of the Abyss.”

“Hu... Huhu... Huhuhu...”

-I told you to seduce the constellation in order to find out her identity. However, I feel skeptical when I see you doing this, Successor.

The words of the goddess of sloth were filled with indifference. She had suggested digging up the secrets of the goddess of balance, but actually seeing her made the goddess of sloth feel skeptical.

“Okay. Now let me show you my power.” n)-OvE1bIn

The goddess of balance summoned a staff out of thin air. The dazzling gold staff had a scale decoration at the end. The power emanating from it made even the other constellations nervous. What type of power was the goddess about to show?

“...???”

-?????

At that moment, a shockwave shook the ground. Afterwards, a huge explosion occurred in front of Buckingham Palace. Loud screams reverberated and tore through the air.

“Die, you filthy evil god constellation!”

“The land of the United Kingdom belongs to the British! Knights of the Holy Temple, forward!”

“Tear apart all the minions of the filthy evil god constellation!”

-How dare you insignificant humans!

-How arrogant...!

Surprisingly, it was the hunters from the Knights of the Holy Temple who attacked. No one knew what exactly they had done, but they evaded the tight surveillance of the household members and blew up the entrance of the palace!

‘Should I call them crazy or amazing?’

“...I was flustered, but it’s okay. Now!”

The goddess of balance had been caught off guard, but she immediately came to her senses and prepared herself. Looking at this power, anyone would’ve been fascinated by its greatness, whether it was Choi Yeonseung or the household member of another constellation.

A constellation’s power represented a symbol for themselves. The greater the power, the greater the constellation felt.

Choi Yeonseung interrupted her, “No. It’s okay. Their surveillance is now completely broken. This is enough to enter.”

“Huh? N-no... Even so, wouldn’t it be better to use it?”

“Since it’s your power, wouldn’t it be better to save it just in case rather than using it now?”

“That’s true but... Shouldn’t I just use it...?”

The goddess seemed to have some lingering regret.

***

The collector constellation cried out with bloodshot eyes.

-Don’t back down!

[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’ gives great power to the household members!]

[The Crown’s Blessing..]

[...]

[...]

The collector constellation didn’t just use his power of existence. He also used the soul stones that he had saved in order to buff his household members and subordinates. It was a disgraceful thing for him to have to take care of his subordinates in person. However, the current situation was chaotic.

‘Should I have made an alliance?’

The angel constellation with shining eyes who invaded his territory was much more threatening than he had thought. Above all, the collector constellation had once plotted something that went wrong and now he couldn’t receive any help from other evil constellations.

Suddenly, an explosion occurred at the royal palace of England.

“Return the United Kingdom to the British people!”

“Tear apart the evil god and kick him!”

-They dare...!

Something just happened that hurt the pride of the collector constellation, who was already wounded. Those maniac hunters dared to create terror. The collector constellation was furious, but he didn’t have many household members he could mobilize at this time.

-Stop those guys! I will give you strength!

[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’ is giving the shadow sword to his household members...]

[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’ is giving death...]

[...]

[...]

The collector constellation gave powerful buffs to his household members. Those humans were rampaging, but they weren’t that strong. These buffs had to be enough to subdue them. Right now, the most important thing was dealing with the angel constellation!

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ is requesting a constellation battle!]

-...How dare you! How dare you look down on me?!?!

The challenge issued by the goddess of balance made the collector constellation lose any remaining patience. The goddess of balance had been present since the early days of Earth, but she was nevertheless an insignificant constellation compared to him.

How dare such a being challenge him to a fight? It was unforgivable!

***

“It’s a nerve-wracking situation for the collector constellation, so he won’t accept it easily.”

“It seems so.”

“Maybe he’ll have doubts. He might be trying to figure out what’s going on. Above all, he won’t easily give up the British land that he has acquired.”

Choi Yeonseung nodded at the goddess’ words. No matter how arrogant the collector constellation was, he was bound to be suspicious of this sudden challenge. However, the goddess of balance was full of confidence.

“But with my power to see into the future, I will dispel the doubts of the collector constellation and make him accept this constellation battle. Hunter Choi Yeonseung, take a look.”

“Yes. I know.”

After finding where the holy relic was buried, the goddess immediately issued a challenge to a constellation battle. No matter what tricky responses the collector constellation was going to give her, the goddess planned to skillfully persuade and provoke him into accepting the constellation battle.

[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’ accepts the constellation battle!]

[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’ threatens to take the last remaining realm of the goddess and burn it with a fire that won’t go out!]

[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’ mocks the foolishness of daring to attack him when the goddess is as insignificant as a rat!]

[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’...]

‘...’

Choi Yeonseung was speechless.

There were so many surprises. First of all, it was surprising that the opponent accepted it in just one second. He had to have been so angry that he didn’t suspect a thing. In addition, the fact that he was so angry was due to...

-The goddess of balance is really... I think he is looking down on her?

-......

It meant the collector constellation completely disregarded the goddess.

He might’ve been skeptical if the proposal had come from someone he was suspicious or wary of. However, if he thought that the one who challenged him was an insignificant being, he was bound to be angry rather than suspicious.

“...”

The goddess realized why he had instantly agreed to the battle and tears were just about to trickle down from underneath the blindfold covering her eyes. She intended to shrewdly get him to accept the constellation battle, but she hadn’t expected to be humiliated like this.

Worst of all, she was treated like this in front of Choi Yeonseung. The pain of being humiliated in such a fashion in front of a mortal she was supposed to impress with her greatness wouldn’t go away easily.

“It’s wonderful.”

The goddess hastily adjusted the blindfold with her fingers in order to hide her tears.

“...What?”

“Goddess, you’ve completely deceived him. Would he have accepted it so easily if your performance hadn’t been so perfect? No. Your acting was perfect, and that’s why he accepted it!”

“It wasn’t acting...”

The goddess tried to tell him the truth in a slightly embarrassed voice, but Adaquaniel advised her against it.

Choi Yeonseung continued, “I’m impressed by your power! You effortlessly dragged that sly and suspicious constellation into a constellation battle. It’s something that no other constellation can ever achieve!”

“...Once again.”

“Huh?”

“Say it to me once again.”

“Your power is...”

The goddess of sloth was dumbfounded by the fact that Choi Yeonseung was repeating the words. However, the goddess of balance nodded like a puppy and rejoiced. It was almost like they could hear the sound of her self-esteem rising.