Chapter 270: Chapter 270

The constellation battle, or rather, the SSL, was a game where six hunters entered a virtual dungeon. The dungeon changed with each game, but there were always three lanes leading to the other side’s camps.

The fact that Choi Yeonseung had only fought in the top lane was a bit foreboding.

Sometimes, the hunters had to take control of the lane, keep the enemies in check, and protect the magic tower. Other times, they had to leave the lane and wander around the dungeon to kill special monsters.

“Ummm...”

“Kuoooh...”

The Black Steelers hunters were distressed, but this didn’t change the reality they had to face.

"Understood! I’ll do my best to direct you.”

“Yes. Please do so.”

Choi Yeonseung walked forward after saying this. Then, the hunters murmured anxiously.

“Will it be okay?”

“Hey. It’s not about winning or losing this time. Let’s not piss him off for nothing,” said Rebecca, one of the clan hunters, as she shook her head. She had already partly given up on the game. “We can get some rewards even if we lose.”

“That’s true, but...”

“Our lives will become a lot harder if we anger an A-grade hunter for no reason. Do you understand? Don’t swear like you usually do.”

Rebecca was well aware that if an A-grade hunter put their mind to it, they could make anyone’s life a living hell. If the hunters acted like their usual selves and infuriated the A-grade hunter because of that, their lives would become harder in the future.

“Think of him as an investor. Got it?”

“We said such things earlier. I don't think he’ll change his mind.”

“Nonsense. What person would be happy to hear insults...?”

“That’s true.”

The hunters of the Black Steelers decided to be careful with their language during the match, regardless of whether they were going to win or not. If they used vulgar language like they usually did...

‘I have to be careful!’

***

[The ‘Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place’ is interested. She is asking if you can explain the martial arts skill you used this time.]

“...It’s a martial art that uses extreme yang energy.”

Origin of the Celestial Divine Arts was a martial art that literally controlled every type of energy, so there was no shortage of it. The downside was that the growth rate was incredibly slow, but Choi Yeonseung had overcome this by training in the Abyss.

However, in this type of constellation battle, it was better to use one martial art that specialized in one area, even if it had some shortcomings, rather than such a perfect martial art.

Thus, for this occasion, Choi Yeonseung had come up with a new skill that was different from Origin of the Celestial Step and Origin of the Celestial Finger. If he had to name it, it would be something like ‘Flame God Divine Arts.’ This martial art focused on extreme yang energy.

Even though there weren’t as many types of internal energy as there were of magic, martial arts could still divide it into a few different types.

Yang energy was bright, hot, and had a strong affinity with the fire attribute. Choi Yeonseung had prepared this because the household members brought by the constellation were likely to use the power of cold.

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’ is impressed with your strategy.]

[He is offering you an artifact as a gift.]

“...?”

Even though this constellation was praising him and offering him an item, Choi Yeonseung couldn’t help feeling perplexed as he saw the name of this constellation, which he had seen a lot.

‘What...? Was this guy watching as well?’

[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ is advising you not to reveal your clumsy side.]

“...”

As more familiar names popped up, Choi Yeonseung gradually became more baffled. What were they all doing here?

-Neutral constellations love this kind of entertainment.

-...I see. Although I wasn’t really curious...

-Successor, I know you don’t really like constellations, but shouldn't you find a way to exploit their habits in order to win?

-You’re right.

Choi Yeonseung took the advice of the goddess of sloth seriously.

Even though these constellations were annoying alien beings...

-...

[...]

...He couldn’t overcome their power without making some kind of compromise. It wouldn’t be bad if he found some way to manipulate the constellations, and one of the ways to go about it was to play a game, just like the Observer Who Returned From a Cold Place.

‘What do I have?’

-The agricultural products that are growing in your territory?

-...I guess I can sell it to Endless Gourmet Seeker.

[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ advises you to look forward.]

“!”

Choi Yeonseung raised his head.

This dungeon was called the ‘Valley of Frozen Souls.’ The entire dungeon was cold and full of snowstorms, thus matching the name of the observer constellation.

If Choi Yeonseung wandered away from his lane even a little bit in a place like this, he would find himself surrounded by darkness and in the middle of a blizzard. He also had to be especially careful because he had no idea what was hiding in this dungeon.

By the way...

“Isn’t this unfair?”

[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ says that finding skills that suit the situation is also an ability.]

The observer constellation’s household member was running in the distance. It was an ice golem.

[The snowball golem has absorbed the surrounding cold and has quickly become stronger.]

[The snowball golem has raised ice and is sweeping through the area!]

[The snowball golem...]

This creature naturally got stronger by feeding on the cold air around it. In addition, it could use that cold air to activate powerful abilities. Choi Yeonseung was dumbfounded by the fact that he had to face an opponent that was blatantly overpowered.

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’ says that if you don’t do anything, everything will be swept away!]

“...I don’t know if it’s just in my head, but it feels like I’m the only one being watched.”

Along with these words, Choi Yeonseung rushed in. He knew that he couldn’t let the snowball golem kill the monsters around him.

Thump!

A temporary skirmish took place in the neutral area that was outside the range of magic towers.

The snowball golem was confident in its size and skills, and quickly rushed at Choi Yeonseung. Every time it swung its fists, a shock wave occurred and ice fragments flew like bullets.

However, the Flame Divine Arts that Choi Yeonseung used was also formidable. The moment he moved while circulating internal energy, the burning energy turned the ice fragments, which threatened his surroundings, into water droplets.

The snowball golem seemed flustered by the martial art that melted the ice around it without using any magic.

Instead of dealing with the snowball golem, Choi Yeonseung took out the surrounding monsters one by one. Given how durable and strong the snow golem was, it would’ve taken Choi Yeonseung a long time to kill it. It was better to kill the nearby monsters before focusing on the golem.

[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ admires the excellent strategy.]

[He is presenting you with an artifact...]

***

-Ah. Uhm, Hunter Choi Yeonseung, can you hear me?

-Uh. Yeah, I can hear you.

The Black Steelers hunters naturally had communication magic. This was just a match, but they made it their top priority not to offend Choi Yeonseung.

-We will soon provide you with support. Don’t worry.

-I don’t need it.

-No! We would like to go there and help you.

-I really don’t need it...

Another hunter, who was fighting on the bottom lane, urgently asked for help.

-Can’t you just come over here and help?

-What? Already? Don’t lose your cool like that.

The hunter who was wandering outside the lanes looking for monsters gave a firm reply to her colleague’s request for help. Many constellations watched matches like this, so the hunters had a high chance of receiving rewards if they had an outstanding performance, regardless of whether they won or not. Therefore, the hunters who were in charge of lanes constantly asked for help. If they received help from other hunters, it was easier for them to make significant contributions.

For that reason, the hunters who were on lanes tended to make a fuss, and they gradually got more insistent as the match went on...

-I’m not making a fuss!

-Yeah, well… I’m sorry, but it’s a bit tricky to pass through here. I’ll find a monster and then I’ll come help you.

-You might not be aware of this because you’re wandering around outside lanes, but the opponent is really strong! I’m being oppressed to death in this lane. Please help me!

-Alright, alright. I understand.

-Y... You freaking asshole!

-Shh. Watch your tongue.

Unlike Choi Yeonseung, not everybody was doing good against a household member.

Gary had met a superior cold spirit in the bottom lane and he felt completely powerless against it. The spirit had quickly sucked up the cold around it, instantly growing in size. It had also unleashed a spell that prevented Gary from even coming its way.

There was very little Gary could do! No matter how much the constellation wanted to entertain A-grade hunters, she should at least let the fight take place first before entertaining him.

[The ‘Hound of Instinct and Liberation’ feels that your fight is pathetic.]

[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ looks down on you as insignificant.]

‘Ughhh...!’

Gary looked straight ahead with teary eyes. He had been taught martial arts and even cleared a dungeon, so he had thought he was pretty strong…

***

Unlike the hunters who were in charge of the lanes, the ones who freely roamed around the dungeon and hunted monsters outside lanes had it a bit better. They could go around looking for monsters throughout the dungeon without meeting opponents.

Thump!

Rebecca fired the fist technique Choi Yeonseung had taught her at the monster.

‘Amazing!’

Rebecca was amazed by her power. She could definitely tell that she had gotten overall stronger and that her martial arts power to hit the opponent’s vital points had improved.

-Hey. You’re on your way, right? I swear, if you don’t come to help me after you said you would...

-Uh. Yeah, I’m on my way

Rebecca obliterated the monster and hurried to the top lane.

It didn’t matter whether they won or not. The most important thing was to not upset the A-grade hunter. If she didn’t want to see the A-grade hunter swing a weapon at them after the match, she had to make sure that he would be in a good mood.

“I’m here!”

“Ah, you came? Turns out you didn’t need to.”

Rebecca laughed inwardly upon hearing Choi Yeonseung’s words. Hunters always said the same things during matches. Since they cared a lot about their reputation, they always said things like ‘Oh, you really didn’t need to come... Now that you’re here, there’s nothing I can do about it!’

“Where is the opponent?”

“I just killed it.”

“I see… Huh? Really?”

“Why would I lie?”

“...”

Rebecca was bewildered. Of course, hunters often bumped into each other and defeated the opponent. However, their opponents for this match were the household members sent by a constellation.

Now that the constellation was sending out increasingly stronger opponents, it was hard to believe that Choi Yeonseung, who didn’t know how to properly play in the SSL, had defeated the opponent by himself.

‘He really isn’t lying...?’

Even so, it seemed unlikely that an A-grade hunter like Choi Yeonseung would lie to her.

-Cough... Cough! Help me! Please!

-You owe me twenty thousand dollars and you do this? Really?! You’re a monster if you don’t come down this time.

There were urgent rescue calls from the middle and bottom lanes.

Rebecca replied in a dumbfounded manner.

-Hey. Stop making a fuss!

-We’re not making a fuss!! We really are going to die! Change the position! You take care of this place! The constellation brought crazy bastards this time.

-Hunter Choi Yeonseung has dealt with the top lane by himself. What are you...

-...What? Really?

-Yes! A player with virtually no experience can manage his lane by himself, so how the hell are you guys struggling so much?

-N-No...

Choi Yeonseung called out to Rebecca as he was destroying the remaining monsters. “You still look very weak... why don’t you kill the rest of the ones here?”

“Ah, no need. It’s okay!”

One had to kill monsters if they wanted to rapidly gain more strength.

They were colleagues, but if she killed a monster that another person was trying to kill, she risked getting backstabbed by that person.

“No, you should kill it. There is a slight difference between me and my opponent anyway...”

“T-Thank you.”

Rebecca easily defeated the monsters that had already been overpowered by Choi Yeonseung and gained experience. Afterwards, she tilted her head. She was thankful but...

Was it okay for her to do this??