Chapter 508

Why can’t I have an all-out war with them?

“The reason is... simple... You are... weak...”

...

The face of the Noble Crown Collector was flushed with fury. It was true that he had fallen from grace, but he had once been a powerful constellation nonetheless. That was why his emotions still shook his kingdom and instilled fear in his subjects.

But Tardus, a household member of the Master of Slowness and Silence, who resembled a giant snail, didn’t waver at all.

The Noble Crown Collector was now angrier than before because of this mortal’s insulting remark and blatant lack of fear. However, Tardus continued speaking slowly as though he didn’t care about the anger of the collector constellation.

“Don’t ruin the work... because of emotions... Proceed... quickly...”

Shut your mouth.

I know what I have to do.

One of the constellations supporting the collector constellation was the Master of Slowness and Silence. Unlike many moth-like evil god constellations, the Master of Slowness and Silence had a different weight to his name.

Normally, the collector constellation wouldn’t resort to joining forces with a powerful competitor due to his pride, but... In this situation, he was in no position to choose his allies.

No matter how humiliating it was, the collector constellation had no choice but to accept the suggestion of the Master of Slowness and Silence.

[The ‘Master of Slowness and Silence’ sends his household member.]

[He requests command of this constellation battle.]

‘If he makes a mistake, I won’t let him go.’

Humiliation scorched the heart of the collector constellation now that a mortal had taken charge of his constellation battle.”

“The Undefeated Incarnation of Training... A cunning and patient constellation... He won’t accept this suggestion easily...” Tardus said slowly.

Unlike the collector constellation, the Master of Slowness and Silence held the Undefeated Incarnation of Training in high regard. No matter how arrogant and prejudiced a constellation was, one couldn’t deny the fact that the incarnation of training was strong.

The newly emerged evil god constellations were loudly gaining momentum and boasting about the greatness of the invasion. However, they still didn’t compare to the Undefeated Incarnation of Training, who was getting much stronger in a more subtle manner.

“Behave... more and more... submissively... so that the enemies... let down their guard... and don’t know our true intentions...”

I understand.

“You should... be great at it... being humiliated...”

I under...

Wait...

The collector constellation was about to lose his temper again, but Tardus was already moving on.

“If the other party... isn’t tricked...”

[The ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’ accepts this proposal.]

[He declares that he will play the territory battle!]

[The constellations of the Abyss are cheering!]

“...”

...

There was a moment of awkward silence.

The collector constellation glared at Tardus as if wondering how it had come to this after Tardus had made those remarks.

“The other party... disregards you... a lot more than I thought...”

...You damn bastard!

“It doesn’t matter... Do... as I instructed...”

***

Given his tenacious and fierce personality, Choi Yeonseung would never accept the conditions that the other party wanted. There was only one reason he had changed his mind and accepted the conditions of the collector constellation.

It was because the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead had seen a victorious future.

[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ admires how reliable the power of the ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ to predict the future is.]

[He says that such a power understandably allows her to be arrogant.]

“...”

Adaquaniel looked at Choi Yeonseung with a worried expression.

-...

The goddess of sloth also looked at Choi Yeonseung with a worried expression.

Everyone in this circle except for the Chef of Endless Gluttony knew that the power of predicting the future was uncertain and subject to many variables.

...There was also the fact that the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead was generally clumsy.

-

I believe in the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead.

-

If you really believed in her, I don’t think you would say it so firmly.

Contrary to what the goddess of sloth thought, Choi Yeonseung actually believed in the goddess of balance.

A constellation battle was a duel full of uncertainties. Besides, the collector constellation wouldn’t have challenged him to a constellation battle if he didn’t have a chance of winning.

The situation was unclear overall, and Choi Yeonseung couldn’t tell if the conditions of the collector constellation were sincere or merely a smokescreen meant to conceal his tricks.

In this situation, it might be better to follow the guidance of the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead. It was common for an interpretation of the future to be slightly off, but the goddess’ predictions had rarely been outright wrong.

[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ says he will lend you non-intelligent monsters.]

[Thinking about the territory battle, you will need a lot of strong beasts.]

Generally speaking, non-intelligent monsters were those that didn’t have the ability to communicate, unlike Illingars, who was Choi Yeonseung’s subordinate.

The rock snakes currently rubbing their heads against Choi Yeonseung’s lap were one of the good examples.

“I definitely need stronger monsters.”

Most monsters that were incredibly strong were also intelligent, so Choi Yeonseung had to find monsters that were just reasonably strong.

That was the essence of this constellation battle.

[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ suggests that you search through the Abyss and find more useful monsters...]

Can you lend me some useful monsters?

[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ readily responds.]

[The ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ says it won’t be difficult.]

[The ‘Endless Gourmet Seeker’...]

[The ‘Warrior With a Hammer’...]

[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’...]

[...]

[...]

The Chef of Endless Gluttony was speechless as he saw not only good god constellations, but also evil god constellations come forward to help.

When did the incarnation of training become so close with so many constellations?

***

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ asks for a meeting.]

[She asks you to bring the rock snakes with you.]

“...?”

Choi Yeonseung, who was in the middle of preparing for the constellation battle, was puzzled by the sudden call.

What was this?

‘Does she have ulterior motives?’

The Snake of Alcohol and Dancing was more moderate and quiet compared to other evil god constellations, and she also didn’t have a particularly bad relationship with Choi Yeonseung.

However, just as the Master of Slowness and Silence put on the appearance of a recluse while actually sharpening his blade, the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing might have an insidious ulterior motive.

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ guarantees that you won’t regret it if you grant her this favor.]

[She says she has some advice for this constellation battle.]

But the offer was too good to refuse. Choi Yeonseung took the rock snakes and headed to the realm of the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing.

“Welcome.”

Kalasnegen, the household member resembling a giant snake, welcomed Choi Yeonseung warmly.

Choi Yeonseung wasn’t surprised that a household member had come to greet him instead of the constellation herself.

Last time was the same.

“Is she still drunk?”

Kalasnegen waved his tail in a slightly embarrassed manner.

-■■■■?

The rock snakes behind Choi Yeonseung looked at Kalasnegen warily. They were in an unknown realm, so they were naturally apprehensive of any mortals other than Choi Yeonseung.

Kalasnegen stepped forward to clear up the misunderstanding. “I’m not the enemy...”

The rock snakes made a blatant noise and distanced themselves from Kalasnegen.

Choi Yeonseung was slightly taken aback.

“What’s wrong? Kalasnegen isn’t an enemy.”

“It’s fine. Rock snakes are generally very wary of other creatures and don’t like their company.”

“?”

Was that really the case?

Choi Yeonseung looked at the rock snakes, and they tilted their heads as if to ask why he was looking at them like that.

These rock snakes followed Choi Yeonseung despite having just met him for the first time at Jacob’s venue, and there were also those he had first met in the Abyss...

In Choi Yeonseung’s opinion, rock snakes had no issues with interacting with humans. After all, they had befriended him after he had beat them up.

Kalasnegen added, “My master was also quite intrigued to hear that you have tamed the rock snakes.”

“Ah. Is that why she called me?”

“Yes. She is curious about the secret.”

“...”

Choi Yeonseung was taken aback.

There was no secret...

‘I think there’s a weird misunderstanding here...’

[The ‘Snake of Alcohol and Dancing’ has woken up!]

Ahhhhh...

It has been a whileeee...

‘She’s strong.’

It was obvious from the snake constellation’s voice that she was still drunk, and the scent of alcohol wafted through the area.

She seemed like a pushover at first glance, but Choi Yeonseung could feel her tremendous power of existence. It was precisely because she was powerful that she could always be drunk and mess around.

The Goddess of Defeat and Sloth was the same. She was also very well off despite having sealed herself away due to laziness...

-

Why me...

The goddess of sloth felt it was unfair to be insulted for being idle...

Yooooou will fight the Noble Crown Collector this timeeee?

Choi Yeonseung nodded.

Be caaaaareful.

The Master of Slowness and Silence is helping him this timeeeeee.

“...!!”

In contrast to the relaxed tone of the snake constellation’s voice, her words were surprisingly startling.

The Master of Slowness and Silence was behind this constellation battle.

‘I thought there would be other evil god constellations, but the Master of Slowness and Silence is acting so blatantly...’

[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ says that he must feel threatened.]

“I can tell just by looking at that ability of his that I’ve recently received, but his power is tricky.’

Choi Yeonseung frowned. He had long felt that the power of the Master of Slowness and Silence was difficult to deal with. Besides, that powerful ability he had acquired from the Silence of Lentus, the Monster’s Silent Power, was also one of the abilities of the slowness constellation.

Was that why the collector constellation had proposed those seemingly easy conditions for the constellation battle?

-...

I think you should’ve refused.

Choi Yeonseung ignored the goddess of sloth.

‘Whatever, there’s still a way to win this thing.’

He would have faith in the future seen by the goddess of balance!

[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ thinks that maybe you trust her too much...]

You know what happened last timeeee.

The Master of Slowness and Silence put the soul stone in the monster’s heaaaaad.

“What do you mean by last time?”

From Jeju Islaaaaaand.

“...!”

Choi Yeonseung immediately realized what the snake constellation was talking about. She was referring to the exhibition on Jeju Island, where there had been a rather unique incident involving a monster that had a soul stone in its head, which only a constellation could use.

‘Is it like that?’

He thought it was something that a weak constellation couldn’t do...

The snake constellation shook her head in satisfaction as if she had said everything she wanted to say. She then asked,

Noow.

Sooo...

How did you tame these snakeeees?

“...”

Choi Yeonseung paused.

Was it okay to tell her the truth?

***

Tardus and the Noble Crown Collector looked down at the monsters gathered in the realm. Despite being non-intelligent, they were strong enough for this battle.

The collector constellation was still angry with Tardus, but he had to admit that he had the skills to back up his arrogance. To gather so many monsters in one place...

Given that they’re unintelligent, won’t they start fighting each other?

It was generally difficult to command monsters, especially when they were numerous and powerful. If different species were put together, they would fight among themselves before fighting the enemy.

“So... I will control them... with my power...”

What type of power?

the collector constellation wondered. He himself was accustomed to controlling other beings with the power of his crown. However, to fully control all these monsters clearly required a different kind of power.

The collector constellation didn’t know much about the Master of Slowness and Silence, so he couldn’t help being curious.

“I have no intention of... telling you...”

...