Chapter 214: Chapter 214

“What are you saying...? Why do you think you’d lose against other A-grade hunters? You’re not inferior in anything, whether it’s stats, skills, experience or age.”

“... Uhm, the age isn’t exactly working in my favor.”

“In any case, I understand that Hunter Kwon Yeongseung said he wants to become stronger. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Actually, it’s what the leader of the Six-Eyed Turtle clan said, not Kwon Yeongseung...”

“What difference does it make?”

“Well, it’s not that important.”

Lee Changsik knew what kind of relationship Hunter Kwon Yeongseung and the leader of the Six-Eyed Turtle clan had, so he passed on the message without thinking much of it. If Kwon Yeongseung had heard this, he would’ve said, ‘It is important!’

“Other than that... There’s going to be a conflict.”

Lee Changsik recalled something and decided to warn Choi Yeonseung.

“Are you talking about a fight?”

“Isn’t there only one thing that hunters do when they get together?”

Regardless of their rank, hunters always did the same thing when they gathered together, and that was fighting with each other and having a wild party. A-grade hunters were no exception in that regard.

“Just because they are A-grade hunters doesn’t mean they can act like that. Their image is too important for stuff like that…”

It didn’t matter where the low-grade hunters went, but A-grade hunters were the pride of the country. There were few things more embarrassing than defeat.

“Hyung. You don’t have to worry. Are you forgetting who I am?”

“Indeed, you’ve always been good at beating people.”

“It sounds a bit strange when you say it like that, but I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Lee Changsik nodded with relief. He too was aware that martial artists were always quite powerful in PVP battles.

***

“I heard you are an A-grade hunter. Your skills one time... Cough! W-Why??”

One of the Chinese hunters tried to speak to Choi Yeonseung, but he was immediately subdued with Pressure Point Attack.

“Ah. I’m sorry. Was it just a harmless question?”

“Cough... Cough cough.”

The paralyzed hunter struggled on the ground and barely managed to get up. The atmosphere around him became tense.

‘Who’s the bastard that said Hunter Choi Yeonseung has a good personality?’

‘He is completely crazy...’

Unlike other A-grade hunters, these hunters approached him with a slightly condescending attitude because he was rumored to have a good personality. However, seeing the way he acted, they became frightened and backed away.

A-grade hunters often felt like they were on a pedestal that others didn’t dare touch, but the hunters’ sensibilities were a bit different from those of ordinary people.

Among the B-grade hunters, there were quite a few who were confident that they could also become A-grade if they were lucky enough to get some impressive achievements like A-grade hunters. It was a no-brainer, given that B-grade was just below A-grade.

That was why they were going to ask Choi Yeonseung questions that were partly out of curiosity, and partly filled with belligerent intent.

“Now, get up. What are you curious about?”

“I... I’m also a martial artist... I want to be taught once...”

“That’s not difficult.”

“?!”

When hunters from other countries asked for lessons, the person teaching usually didn’t do a good job. If anything, it was more or less the same even if a hunter asked someone from their country for lessons. A hunter’s experience was an expensive asset in itself.

‘Will he really teach?’

‘I don’t believe it...!’

Several hunters murmured while watching the two of them. The prospect of receiving lessons from Choi Yeonseung was unbelievable!

“Do you want to go to the Otherworld?”

“No. The Otherworld isn’t bad, but it’s better to learn in real life than in virtual reality.”

“...Won’t I get hurt in real life?”

“It’s okay. You are less likely to get hurt with martial arts than with magic.”

“N-No. Wait...”

“Are you backing out now?”

There weren’t many people who could endure the stare of an A-grade hunter. The martial artist was dragged to the side in tears. The hunters who saw it realized.

‘Is he trying to use this as an excuse to kill him!’

‘Best case scenario, he’s going to be paralyzed from the waist down.’

Contrary to their expectations, he didn’t die. The hunter receiving the lessons flew back and forth like a soccer ball, but in the end, he was able to walk out of the training ground in one piece. His whole body was covered in dust and sweat, but he nevertheless seemed moved by the teachings he received. He nodded in satisfaction and shouted, “Thank you, Hunter Choi Yeonseung! I’ve learned so much!”

“Yes. Let’s do our best.”

“...????”

It was something that the spectating hunters who didn’t know martial arts couldn’t understand. Did Choi Yeonseung threaten this hunter while beating him?

Thump—

As the hunters were watching and holding their breaths, a hunter with a huge physique appeared.

“It’s Ma Jun!”

China might’ve lost the northern part to a constellation, but it still retained a large amount of population and a lot of land. The large population meant that there were many hunters. As opposed to South Korea, which had only three A-grade hunters, China had as many as ten A-grade hunters. One of them was Ma Jun.

“This is exciting.”

The hunters from other countries watched with a hint of anticipation. Originally, the most entertaining thing was watching hunters fight each other. For that reason, the UHC, the place where hunters fought each other, became a massive success. A-grade hunters didn’t desire anything, so they rarely fought against each other. Thus, seeing two A-grade hunters like Choi Yeonseung and Ma Jun face each other like this was an amazing opportunity. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Are they actually going to fight?”

“You don’t know how nasty his personality is. He has an especially nasty personality among the Chinese guys.”

“If he has a particularly vile character among the Chinese hunters, then he must seriously be a terrible person.”

“But isn’t South Korea on good terms with China?”

“Who’s the imbecile who said that? Have you lost your wits? Do you want to die?” one of the Korean hunters growled.

The Western hunter who brought it up took a step back as if he was stung.

“S-Sorry. I thought you were close because the countries are next to each other...”

The Korean hunters were glaring at him like they were going to kill him, so he didn’t have enough courage to stand his ground.

“Which country is that hunter from?”

“He looks like he’s from a German clan.”

“Since Germany is so close to Russia, you must get along well with Russians, am I right? Indeed, you were the same country once, so you must be on good terms.”

The Western hunter backed down with tears in his eyes as he was fiercely berated. After all, they were in South Korea, and South Korean hunters were good at swearing at others.

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”

‘He’s a tanker.’

.

Choi Yeonseung used the eyes of a constellation to check Ma Jun. He had a solid level worthy of A-grade and he was specializing in physical strength and magic power. Those who could cast various defensive spells and buff spells that acted like a protective iron wall were always welcome. However, that had nothing to do with his personality. Most hunters became even more insufferable if they were met with too much hospitality…

“First of all, I want to thank you.”

“?”

“Chen Yuwei is my apprentice. Thank you for helping him.”

“Ah.”

Chen Yuwei was a Chinese hunter who participated in the exchange exhibition on Jeju Island. Choi Yeonseung saved him from dying on the mountain.

“It wasn’t a big deal.”

‘Does this guy belong to the Tangmen clan?’

He hadn’t seen all the hunters of Tangmen, but those he met were big tank types. What a way to name the clan! Choi Yeonseung thought it was a bit ridiculous.

“But that’s it. I have no intention of making any compromises in this monster wave.”

“Then don’t...”

“I came here to tell you something. Thank you again for your help. I won't forget your graceful act.”

Ma Jun just said what he wanted to say and left. The cat constellation looked at him walking away and was dumbfounded.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is dumbfounded about why there are so many people like dogs among the humans!]

-Humans have their own circumstances.

In the eyes of a constellation, it was ridiculous for humans who lived less than a hundred years to take such a form, but humans also lived fiercely in their own way.

“Ah, right.”

Ma Jun suddenly returned.

“...?”

“I forgot to say one thing.”

“......”

“Be careful of the people who have signed a contract with a constellation during this monster wave. There will be a lot of them keeping others in check.”

“!”

It was easy to forget during the noisy battle between the Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons and the Noble Crown Collector, but the constellations quietly went about their work in the midst of it.

Choi Yeonseung had been distracted by various events and reflected a bit on what Ma Jun just said.

-There are bound to be many constellations involved in this type of thing.

-Which constellation has the strongest household?

One couldn’t really compare households that way unless they fought them directly. At any rate, some constellations were already preparing.

-I understand why they would interfere, but why are they keeping me in check?

-Your ranking is still low, but you’ve gained a lot of momentum recently. Isn’t it because of that?

Choi Yeonseung’s performance stood out among A-grade hunters. A household member who succeeded in humanity’s first Abyss Gate raid and also defeated the collector constellation’s household member in the Paris raid. For that reason, other constellations no longer looked down on him.

-I think that’s probably why you haven’t received any requests for constellation battles recently.

-So they’re keeping me in check?

-It’s more of an experiment. If they find a weakness, there’s a high possibility that they will bite without mercy.

-Weakness... Could it be the number of household members?

-It’s hard to find that kind of weakness. What constellation would think you have so few household members? Moreover, it would be hard for them to capitalize on that kind of weakness..

-Then?

-Maybe they’re targeting weaknesses that are really apparent when contrasted to a constellation’s attributes? Like intelligence...

-...Are you saying I would lose against them when it comes to intelligence?

-I didn’t mean that.

The goddess of sloth spoke as if to soothe Choi Yeonseung.

-Successor, among the games played by humans... Are you good at things like chess or go?

-No. I’ve never been interested in such things.

-There are many constellations that are good at such games which focus on intelligence.

-...Can’t I compete with them in games like rock paper scissors?

-They wouldn’t accept something like that.

Choi Yeonseung would certainly have to decline the challenge if it was some game for intellectuals.

‘Ah, then it’s doomed.’

-Everyone wants a fight in which they have the upper hand... In any case, I think it’s better to forget about the constellation battle and focus on the monster wave.

The words of the goddess of sloth soon came true. The constellations began making declarations.

[The ‘Storyteller Who Likes Gossip and Explanations’ is looking for constellations to participate in a monster wave bet.]

[The ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ believes in his household members and will participate in the bet!]

[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’...]

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’...]

[The ‘Iron-Blooded General Who Shakes the Battlefield’...]

Several constellations, some of which he knew, some of which he’d never heard of, started to participate in the bet. The constellations gambled their power of existence by betting on their household members!

‘Can I bet on the household member of another constellation?’

-...Don’t do it. It would be really embarrassing…

Choi Yeonseung wondered why no one else would do such a thing, but in fact, it was natural.

A constellation wasn’t just an ordinary existence, but a ruler of the Abyss. No matter how small their power was, they were still rulers. Placing bets on another household member would be detrimental to their pride.

[The ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’ believes in his household members and will participate in the bet!]

Without any further worries, Choi Yeonseung expressed his intention to participate. He was confident he would win, no matter what obstacles would appear in his way.

The other members of the household inherited the power of a constellation, but Choi Yeonseung was a constellation himself!

***

“Hunter Kwon Yeongseung! I’m a fan!” Please sign this!”

“Hunter Kwon Yeongseung! Please look this way!”

“Hunter Kwon Yeongseung! Hunter Kwon Yeongseung!”

Every time a star hunter went out in public, all eyes were set on them.

Kwon Yeongseung had been a star for a long time, therefore he knew how to control the crowds with the right fan service and reactions.

“Hunter Kwon Yeongseung!”

“......?!”

The voice that came from among the people gave Kwon Yeongseung goosebumps. Why did he get goosebumps when he heard this familiar voice?