Chapter 223: Chapter 223

The brave hunters discreetly tried to avoid making eye contact with Choi Yeonseung. They were comfortable with other things, such as training or fighting monsters, but when it came to socializing, they didn’t have any confidence.

‘These guys... Aren’t they lacking too much when it comes to social skills...?’

Choi Yeonseung let out a deep sigh.

“For now, Smallwood.”

“It’s true that Smallwood is overly friendly.”

“A hunter from another clan, whom I know on social media, told me he was getting annoyed because Smallwood kept talking to him.”

“......”

Smallwood glared at the other hunters with a serious face. How dare these social misfits...!

“In addition, Illeya.”

“...Me?”

Illeya cocked her head in confusion. Overall, she wasn’t good at speaking, so she wasn’t the right person when it came to selecting someone with good social skills. Illeya asked in a slow, clumsy tone, “You didn’t choose me just because I can speak Korean, right?”

“...Of course not.”

‘It’s the right call.’

‘It seems right.’

***

Contrary to Choi Yeonseung’s expectations, selecting these two people didn’t really improve the situation. Smallwood talked by himself while staring at Choi Yeonseung with the eyes of an abandoned puppy. He was asking for help with that look.

-A monster has been found.

Hearing the report, Illeya was the first to take out an artifact. She was apparently ready to use any excuse to get out of that unpleasant situation.

“M-Me too...!” Smallwood hesitantly spoke out, but it was first-come, first-served.

Illeya spoke in quick and clear Korean, “I’m going!”

Bang!

As a melee damage dealer, Illeya handled the two axes wonderfully. She pushed back the monsters by wielding axes and casting various spells. Additionally, she was also using martial arts, which, combined with the usage of the already enchanted axes, doubled her power.

“Isn’t it amazing?” Smallwood muttered, forgetting about his own predicament.

Among the Icarus clan hunters, there were quite a few who had learned martial arts. Given that Choi Yeonseung was with them, the hunters had the rare opportunity of showing off their martial arts skills. It was an opportunity that not many would miss.

These hunters learned martial arts at a fast pace, given that all of them were considered geniuses. As for Smallwood, he was confident that he wouldn’t lose against a clumsy martial artist. However, he was baffled by Illeya’s progress.

‘Is this the power of her constellation?’

Choi Yeonseung was also surprised. She had improved much faster than he had anticipated. One’s ability in martial arts could be judged based on the amount of internal energy they had, their proficiency in utilizing the internal energy, and how good their linked movements were. To his surprise, Illeya was seemingly close to a first-stage level.

There were several martial artists who had reached B-grade ever since Choi Yeonseung had reached A-grade, but they had been studying martial arts for at least a decade. Those people were quick learners who always accepted Choi Yeonseung’s teachings.

As far as Illeya was concerned, she had only learnt magic all her life. Nevertheless, it now became evident that she had improved in martial arts very fast.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

-I’m really curious which constellation she belongs to.

-That constellation is concealed, so I can’t see them with my eyes.

-Umm, Successor, if your eyes are strong, you should be able to see them even if they’re concealed, but...

-I’m sorry that I neglected my training.

-There is nothing to be sorry about.

The goddess of sloth was no longer easily swayed by Choi Yeonseung’s words. She could tell that that was a speech technique that didn’t so much serve as an apology as a way of making fun of her.

-But I don’t think she’s the household member of an evil god constellation.

-What makes you say that?

-Intuition?

-Intuition...?So you’re just guessing?

-Successor, don’t you know that intuition is something that can hardly be ignored?

The words of the goddess of sloth made sense. Choi Yeonseung had fought for a long time in the Abyss and knew how important his gut feeling proved to be numerous times. Sometimes, intuition was more important than logic and rational judgment.

‘Yeah, Illeya is weird but she hasn’t done anything evil.’

Evil hunters usually couldn’t hide their true colors no matter how hard they tried. Those hunters always pretended to be nice, but as far as Illeya was concerned, her personality was a bit… It was unique.

‘Foreigners who are into Korean culture stand out too much.’

If she really was serving an evil god constellation, why would she use such a peculiar disguise?

Bang!

“!”

There was a bang followed by hunters appearing on the other side.

“What? What??” Smallwood exclaimed in a bewildered tone.

“Hey! The Icarus clan was the first to arrive on this island. Maintain order!”

-The hunters of the Western Shields have invaded. I think you need to be careful.

“Yes, I see them!”

Smallwood’s expression stiffened when he received the radio report. The Western Shields wasn’t a small clan of clueless hunters. They were a large clan that had information about everything. Those guys had clearly come prepared.

“Friend, I think we should call for backup.”

“Backup?”

Choi Yeonseung questioned the necessity of asking for backup.

At these words, Smallwood exclaimed incredulously, “Of course. There could be a real fight, so we need to call for backup!”

Fights between hunters usually didn’t end with just some punches and shoving each other. Since they lived without any concern for rules and order, they didn’t hesitate to commit violent acts that resulted in bloodshed.

It might have been different in a city with lots of witnesses, but if such a fight broke out on a remote island, there would be nobody to stop them. They had to tread carefully, and the best way to handle the situation was to be overall stronger than their opponents.

“Hey pal, I’m not denying your abilities, but the Western Shields over there also have an A-grade hunter!”

“I understand.”

Choi Yeonseung nodded. Smallwood sighed with relief when Choi Yeonseung seemed to grasp the situation. However, despite nodding in understanding, Choi Yeonseung proceeded to rush forward. Smallwood was speechless as he saw him fly away using his footwork.

This jerk...!

***

The hunters of the Western Shields held a defensive position when Choi Yeonseung lightly landed in front of them. Information about him had already circulated so much that the big clans had bitten on it, chewed on it, and savored it. A-grade hunters were analyzed from head to toe by clans around the world. In addition, Choi Yeonseung even had a special skill called martial arts...

‘Don’t get too close.’

‘I know. I’ll be careful.’

Hunters were weary of Choi Yeonseung’s every move and tried to create a distance.

‘They’ve cast magic.’

Choi Yeonseung could sense the flow of magic power around him and knew that the hunters had cast magic in advance. It was from various reinforcement magic to defense magic in case Choi Yeonseung rushed in. They had carefully prepared all of that, but…

‘It’s ridiculous and insulting if they think this can stop me.’

Choi Yeonseung had a puzzled expression. After roughly thirty years, the analysis skills of hunter clans from around the world was supposed to have improved. They were supposed to have found better methods of dealing with hunters. What these guys did here was ridiculous.

Had humans evolved that little?

Fortunately, their laughable defense tactics weren't the only thing favorable for Choi Yeonseung.

-You are the closest to Choi Yeonseung.

-If there’s a fight, grab him no matter what and hang on.

-B-But against an A-grade hunter...

-Ah. Shut up. I told you I would save your life if you cooperate.

Gerrity’s nickname, who was an A-grade hunter, was ‘the Puppeteer’. That kind of nickname would normally be given to a necromancer, given the nature of his skills. Gerrity strengthened living hunters to a crazy extent and controlled them like his own puppets. It was insanely painful for the hunters who were under his spell, but the effect was indisputable. Even the low-grade hunters could notice a significant increase in their power when they were buffed by Gerrity.

“Someone’s hiding in there, aren’t they? Why don’t you just come out and speak?”

“!!”

The hunters were startled by Choi Yeonseung’s words. They were having a secret conversation using magic, but Choi Yeonseung noticed it right away. How on earth was he able to do that?

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Only capable people can pull off something like that. You guys stared at someone in the back. Aren’t you essentially advertising that someone’s hiding in the back?”

-What a bunch of fools!

Gerrity’s words about his subordinates were harsh. They were so embarrassed they couldn’t raise their heads.

“So... Why are you acting in such a high-handed manner when we’ve come here first? Are you looking for a fight?”

The hunters flinched at Choi Yeonseung’s words, despite being prepared. One of them decided to speak out.

“I think there’s some kind of misunderstanding.”

“?”

“We got here first.”

“Are you trying to drive us out ?”

“No, you are trying to drive us out.”

The Western Shields hunters seemed to know what they were doing, suggesting that they had done that a few times before. Whenever the other party didn’t have real evidence for their claims, the Western Shields hunters forced their way in, pushed the other party out, and then presented their own evidence.

Of course, the conflict would be left unresolved if they couldn’t prove their claims, but if they insisted with this tactic, even large clans would be forced to drop out.

Naturally, insignificant clans could get destroyed for doing this, but the Western Shields was one of the largest clans in the United States. They could do that because they had something to believe in.

“Do you have any evidence that you’ve arrived here first?”

“I don’t.”

“Then, Hunter Choi Yeonseung, let’s compete with our skills, like hunters do. Then, the losers won’t disturb the winners.”

“You got it.”

The hunter who issued the challenge became even more flustered when Choi Yeonseung agreed nonchalantly.

Choi Yeonseung moved right away.

Bam!

These hunters had a lot of buffs cast on them, their reflexes and movements being enhanced, but despite that, no one managed to react in time when Choi Yeonseung took a stride and dug into them. One of the hunters took the hit and flew back, hitting the ground and losing consciousness.

“Are you declaring war now?”

“What do you mean? I didn’t hit you, did I?”

“...What nonsense are you talking about, you crazy bastard?”

The Western Shields hunters were left dumbfounded by Choi Yeonseung’s brash attitude.

In situations like this, most hunters would stand their ground and argue even without having evidence, but Choi Yeonseung just started swinging in front of them.

“I saw it! How dare you speak nonse...”

“Really?”

Bam!

Another hunter flew away.

“You probably don’t see it now, right?”

Gerrity stepped up once the situation turned out differently than expected. He smiled in an astonished manner and looked at Choi Yeonseung. He said, “You are a lot crazier than I thought.”

Choi Yeonseung wondered, “Who are you?"

“I am the boss of these hunters,”?said Gerrity, who then went on to criticize him. “I’ve been wondering what kind of A-grade hunter you are, and it’s simpler than I thought. You reacted like this just because someone confronted you. There is no evidence that your clan came out first, but there is evidence that you attacked first. Who do you think will get in trouble if people find out about this?”

“You will be the one in trouble because you will be smashed.”

“Hah, aren’t you awfully confident? What are you going to do if, let’s say, another clan, or worse, the government, confronts you about this? Are you going to start swinging like you just did now?”

Despite his appearance, Gerrity was a ruthless and intelligent hunter. Every single one of his moves were calculated and had a purpose.

Choi Yeonseung’s response to Gerrity’s tactics was quite poor.

“They’ll understand if I tell them that you signed a contract with an evil god constellation.”

“...????”

Gerrity was baffled by his ridiculous response.

“What kind of bullshit is that?? Who will believe that?”

“It’s true.”

Along with these words, Choi Yeonseung drew his sword at lighting speed and rushed in.

The moment the sword filled with sword energy flew out, one of Gerrity’s subordinates cursed and used the power of an evil god constellation.

-Shield of Glorious Greed!

The hunter realized his mistake and gritted his teeth as he stared at Choi Yeonseung. He should’ve just tanked the hit, but Choi Yeonseung’s killing intent was so evident that he reacted instinctively.

“How...?!”

“The Icarus Clan knows everything.”

“...What is this fu■■i??”

Gerrity blinked in disbelief at what was happening in front of him.