Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Choi Yeonseung didn’t really know what it was like to be worshiped. He wasn’t a famous hunter when he was on Earth. Hence, the only example he could think of was a movie star! Of course, it wasn’t a good example. No matter how one looked at it, Choi Yeonseung was far from being an actor!

The Manipulator of Dreams and Desires couldn’t understand why a constellation was talking about becoming an actor, which didn’t fit his aptitude. It seemed much better to become a hero admired by the people...

‘Honestly, it doesn’t suit him.’

What type of acting could this honest constellation do?

“... You don’t have to be an actor to be worshipped. You can just be a hero,” she said.

“A hero...”

“With your planet’s gate open, there’s bound to be chaos. Naturally, there will also be heroes.”

“Ah. There were famous hunters.”

Upon slaying A-grade or higher monsters from dungeons or the gate, hunters would become famous and were treated as S-grade. Even if they were just A-grade, they were especially managed and treated as the most important force in the country. S-grade hunters were simply A-grade hunters who had achieved great feats. They were certainly famous. Even when Choi Yeonseung was still around, those hunters had huge reputations.

“I’m definitely more suited for the hunter profession. If I work hard, then people will trust and like me.”

“... But why a hunter?”

“Ah. It’s the only thing I can think of right now. To me, hunters were those who worked with me.”

The Manipulator of Dreams and Desires was about to ask more questions but stopped herself. Maybe he just dreamed of becoming an actor.

“The plan is obviously good, but it has a major flaw, “ Choi Yeonseung added. “One of the constellations on Earth knows me.”

“Huh?”

The girl’s expression stiffened.

“Which constellation? If so, we might have to win that constellation over.”

“Win over?”

“There is no harm in strengthening the Alliance of Small and Medium-sized Constellations. For the sake of our plan, it’d be much better to win that constellation over. However, they’d have to be trustworthy. How did you get to know that constellation?”

“... It’s a long story.”

Choi Yeonseung explained what happened between him and the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead as simply as possible for both of their honors. Nevertheless, the Manipulator of Dreams and Desires was dumbfounded.

“Instead of just entering into a contract with you and granting you strength, she sent you to a training ground instead… and you accepted it?”

“It sounded plausible at the time. It still does.”

Choi Yeonseung was to be given a nice private place for him to train in. Even if the Ruler of Blood and Brawls was the one that offered it, Choi Yeonseung would’ve still been tempted.

“I can’t seem to understand both the constellation who suggested it and the human who accepted it... Training is indeed part of your name, but what type of stupid constellation would even suggest such a plan? I’d rather not join forces with a constellation I can’t believe in, especially if they’re an idiot…”

“No, she isn’t stupid.”

For some reason, Choi Yeonseung defended the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead. The constellation hadn’t done anything wrong to him. Rather, didn’t she try to help Earth? She seemed to have done a sloppy job at it, but...

“She is called the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead. She’s a great constellation who can foresee the future.”

Predicting the future was a rare skill even in the Abyss. Foresight magic was extremely rare, and very few people could use it. Even then, its results weren’t accurate. The ability to peek into the future was a huge deal, though!

“The Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead… I’ve heard that name before.”

The girl spoke in a surprised voice. Choi Yeonseung was a bit taken aback by her words. This place was so far away from that goddess’ realm, yet the girl knew her name. The Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead could surprisingly be a great constellation. Well, few constellations in the Abyss could predict the future...

“I heard she’s a ridiculous constellation that can predict the future but misses every time?”

“......”

That review was worse than Choi Yeonseung expected. He felt a bit sorry for the goddess.

“The future isn’t something that can be accurately seen.”

“You’re right, but doesn’t being able to see the future to some extent yet be unable to save it mean you’ve got a problem with your intelligence? I can’t understand her at all.”

The constellation’s words were so cold that the goddess would’ve cried if she was here. However, she wouldn’t be able to refute it!

“Nevertheless, I think she’s suited to be a part of our alliance.”

“Umm... Certainly...”

The girl was deep in thought. First of all, she wasn’t an evil god constellation. Considering she contacted Choi Yeonseung to try and prevent the evil god constellations’ invasion, she didn’t seem to have joined forces with other constellations. She could cooperate with a good constellation (with no friends)! The Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead precisely met the requirements to join the Alliance of Small and Medium-sized Constellations.

The girl still hesitated, however. ‘She sounds too stupid.’

Dumb allies were more dangerous than enemies. One could never predict when they would mess up. Despite being able to see the future, the goddess was too idiotic to utilize it…

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says we aren’t in a position to choose.]

‘... That is true.’

Moreover, in order for Choi Yeonseung to return to Earth safely and achieve his goal, cooperation with that constellation was necessary. If the goddess didn’t cooperate, she could tell the other constellations the truth and form an anti-Choi Yeonseung alliance.

“I understand. Let’s accept her into the alliance.”

“No. She hasn’t accepted it yet.”

“Such a clumsy constellation should be grateful we’re even allowing her to join!”

“That’s true, but won’t you offend her if you say that to her?”

“... You’ve got a point. I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”

The girl genuinely apologized.

A constellation was basically the ruler of a realm. No matter how weak they were, they wouldn’t accept such a proposal if their pride was hurt, especially if it was a constellation near Earth. She could be stronger than them. She just had a bad preconceived notion due to Choi Yeonseung’s words!

‘The other party is still a constellation and should be treated accordingly.’

“Of course, I don’t intend to say such things,” she continued. “Naturally, we’ll present the proposal politely. She probably won’t refuse, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“I also don’t think she’ll refuse, but...”

Choi Yeonseung hadn’t talked to the goddess much, but he could deduce her personality to a certain extent. She was a pacifist who could be communicated with.

‘I just don’t know how she will react if she learns I’ve become a constellation.’

Was this a part of the future that she saw?

… He didn’t think so. The man she secretly sent to the training camp in her realm to be her household member disappeared and came back as a constellation...

‘Hmm… Well, it’s not something I should worry about right now.’

Choi Yeonseung shifted the direction of his thoughts. There was a far more pressing matter for them to address.

“The question is how can we contact her? Do you know where the goddess is?”

Neither of the two constellations answered.

“I’ve only heard of her name...”

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it doesn’t know the location of such an insignificant constellation.]

“Isn’t the Abyss too big?”

The fact that it was infinitely vast meant there were too many constellations. Most constellations that lived far apart didn’t even know each other. Rather, it was far more unusual that they had heard of the goddess’ name. And that was simply because the ability to see the future was too rare in the Abyss!

“I’ll have to go around and find her myself.”

“I think that is the simplest and most effective method. If you see more and more beings who know the goddess then you are getting closer.”

“Sigh. Nothing has changed from what I’ve been doing so far.”

If he found a gate to Earth then he would find the goddess. If he found the goddess then he would find the gate to Earth.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says the kitchenware set... No, it is telling you to wait until the artifacts are complete.]

“I can wait that long. I can just practice my martial arts while waiting.”

“Ah. Come to think of it, there is a place where the nightmare demons train if you’re interested.”

“As expected of the chairman. You know very well what the members want. I think you will be a good chairman in the future.”

“......”

Choi Yeonseung openly flattered her, causing the Manipulator of Dreams and Desire’s mood to subtly change.

‘He is really bad at flattery!’

***

Since these nightmare demons lived in this domain, they knew more than one place they could use for training. Unfortunately, most of the locations weren’t meaningful to Choi Yeonseung. What was the point of a training ground for practicing magic or melee combat?

There were obvious differences between a constellation and a mortal, and Choi Yeonseung’s close-quarters combat skills were outstanding even among the constellations. Moreover, martial arts was his specialty, not magic. Hence, the Manipulator of Dreams and Desires presented a different training place.

“Here it is. It’s called the Well of Enlightenment.”

“Well of Enlightenment...”

Choi Yeonseung looked around. He couldn’t see any nightmare demons. All he could see was a huge well in the distance.

“Where’s everyone?”

He suddenly felt suspicious! The girl replied as if the answer was obvious. “The Well of Enlightenment is a dangerous place. My subordinates used to frequent it before, but I forbid its use when I was born as a constellation. It simply has too many insane nightmare demons.”

“You want me to do?this when it made others insane?”

“They can’t survive that place, but I doubt a constellation like you can’t. Even if you fail, you’ve got nothing to worry about since you won’t get hurt that much.”

The girl approached the well and started to pull at the rope, raising the deeply lowered bucket. Water sloshed as the bucket surged up. The girl scooped up the water with a pleasant expression. This well had no effect on the Manipulator of Dreams and Desires. What effect could it have on her when she could manipulate desires?

She asked, “Did you see it?”

“...Is drinking the water the training?”

“To be exact, it is holding the rope, lifting the bucket, and drinking the water inside it.” The girl threw the bucket back inside and continued her explanation. “The water here is special for only one reason.”

“What is it?”

“It becomes as heavy as the desire of the person pulling the rope.”

“......!”

“The stronger the desire, the heavier the water becomes and the harder it is to lift it. It is even more so for a race like the nightmare demons. The only way for nightmare demons to lift it is to rid themselves of their desires. Just like the Star Absorption Method, this Well of Enlightenment is one of the methods nightmare demons could use to control themselves.”

The girl’s words made Choi Yeonseung see how much the nightmare demon race suffered from their characteristics. In each of these places, the history of attempting to overcome their racial traits could be felt.

‘How much did Arni suffer to look like that?’

Choi Yeonseung felt sorry for Arni. Arni drooled when seeing Choi Yeonseung, but...

“It looks difficult, but it isn’t dangerous. Why forbid it?”

“The water shows an illusion that satisfies one’s desire when they lift it up. The young nightmare demons were bewitched by it.”

The illusion of having their desires satisfied was so charming for the nightmare demons that they clung to it.

“That’s scary.”

“You don’t have to be afraid.”

“I’m not. Where else can I gain an opportunity like this?”

[The ‘Suppress the Strong and Support the Weak’ skill has been activated. Drinking the water from the ‘Well of Enlightenment’ will increase your power of existence!]

[The ‘Overcoming Oneself Is Being Strong’ skill has been activated. Drinking the water from the ‘Well of Enlightenment’ will increase your power of existence!]

Choi Yeonseung stood in front of the well without any fear. It felt like it had been so long since he last felt fear while standing in front of a much more powerful opponent. At some point, his heart began pounding whenever he faced such foes. It felt like his heart was telling him that that was exactly what he wanted!

As Choi Yeonseung strengthened his determination, the Manipulator of Dreams and Desires saw Choi Yeonseung’s extremely refined desire shine brightly. That moment made the nightmare demons go craziest! It enchanted them like a lantern to moths.

“... I shouldn’t let the nightmare demons anywhere near this place.” She could already feel the nightmare demons drooling from faraway places.