Chapter 21  

Putting all this aside, the nightmare demons were seeing enormous effects. The dishes made with the hydra meat were like a powerful magic potion. It increased the amount of magic power the moment they ate it!

“Everything seems fine, so why are you looking at me while eating?”

At Choi Yeonseung’s words, all the nightmare demons looked down. They looked at Choi Yeonseung once, drooled, then took a bite of the dish.

‘What type of stinginess is this?’

Choi Yeonseung once again vowed to leave as soon as possible. This place was really too much!

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ asks what type of dish this is.]

“Ahh. It’s?ride porridge.”

The second dish he prepared after the tartar steak was gukbap (hot soup with rice) without the rice! It was a good choice for feeding several people with a limited supply of meat.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ asks where the rice is.]

“... Give me a break.”

There was no rice here. Choi Yeonseung had no choice but to cook and serve the spicy meat soup alone.

‘I wish I could get ingredients other than meat.’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that it is still delicious. It is asking if this is the type of food you used to eat in your hometown.]

“In my hometown, we use food as a currency.”

[Just as the constellations use souls as currency? Then the food there has got to be really amazing.]

“No. It’s just a metaphor...”

“Kuoooh!” Beside him, Arni drank the soup. Soon, he let out a groan.

“? ?”

“It’s killing me, Constellation-nim!”

“Didn’t you just sound like an old man?”

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that the nightmare demon is old enough to be an old man.]

‘That’s true, but...’

“Kuooh!”

“Kuoh!”

“...... ?”

Choi Yeonseung flinched when he heard all the nightmare demons ‘groan’ in the same way.

‘Were they Korean?’

[Kuoh!]

“?!”

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it copied the nightmare demons because it surprised you. It also says they don’t often eat hot food.]

‘The nightmare demons seem like it since they usually only get to eat slightly cold food and it contains strong magic power.’

The dishes that Choi Yeonseung made with sincerity contained powerful magic power. And these Abyss dwellers used magic. Hence, they couldn’t help but feel intense stimulation. Moreover, the nightmare demons were a race that could live without eating anything. All they had to do was?eat desires. If they had to eat something, they usually just ate it cold with raw ingredients! The result...

“Constellation-nim! Can you give me another bowl?”

“Constellation-nim! Where is the meal?”

“Constellation-nim! Constellation-nim!”

“Where is this jerk sneakily trying to touch?”

“Get lost, you brat! You tried to eat his desire as well!”

“You rude bastard!”

A brawl took place after they crowded around Choi Yeonseung!

The Manipulator of Dreams and Desires cried out emotionally. “Stop this madness now!" ***

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

“... I hope you find what you are looking for. If you find the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead, please contact me.”

“I will..”

Choi Yeonseung left in a hurry.

The nightmare demons in the back were shouting, “Don’t go! If you’re leaving, let me eat your desire just once!” and “How?do you make the?gukbap?” but Choi Yeonseung pretended not to hear them.

It would be annoying if he answered!

“Arni. Don’t forget what I taught you. Work hard. Your techniques aren’t bad.”

“Yes... I will never forget it!”

“Good. Take care.”

Choi Yeonseung left the realm as quickly as he had come. However, he had grown much more compared to when he arrived. Moreover, he could now relax since he had heard the Abyss’ various rules from the Manipulator of Dreams and Desires. He also now had the dignity that came from realizing that he was a constellation! In the past, he was afraid of constellations and wandered around avoiding their gaze...

‘Thinking about it now, there’s absolutely no reason for me to avoid them, isn’t there?’

There was a reason why constellations didn’t their subordinates to attack Choi Yeonseung. Choi Yeonseung initially thought it was because he wandered around neutral, masterless zones. However, pondering about it again, he realized that wasn’t the case at all.

‘The constellations find it hard to touch me.’

He had been a constellation all this time. He just didn’t realize it before. Hence, even if the constellations sent all their subordinates at him, they would just be sending them to their deaths. The results would likely change if the constellations themselves came at him, but they only ever left their territories for extremely serious matters.

Choi Yeonseung was indeed a newborn constellation, but nobody could predict what variables would appear when constellations engaged in an all-out war against each other. The constellations didn’t like to fight for their lives. That was why they tried to scam him through the message windows and offered him to become their household member!

‘Those shameful jerks...’

If Choi Yeonseung had given up there and accepted their proposal, he wouldn’t have been able to traverse the path to becoming a constellation. Being born as a mortal and becoming a constellation needed a strong heart that refused to compromise.

[The ‘Horseman of Plague and Darkness’ has expressed displeasure toward you for entering his territory.]

[The ‘Horseman of Plague and Darkness’...]

Choi Yeonseung closed his eyes and used the power of existence. The power of existence was like a type of MP. It recovered naturally after usage, so he could use it as much as he wanted for as long as he knew how to use it.

[Hiding your existence from the world.]

[The eyes of the constellation can no longer see you.]

Just as Adaquaniel blocked them from seeing her using the magic spell she received from her master, Choi Yeonseung blocked their vision using the power of existence. It was easy as long as he believed he could do it.

‘I can’t believe I’ve never done something this easy.’

Since Choi Yeonseung blocked the Horseman of Plague and Darkness’ vision, the latter came at him using a different method. He sent his subordinates.

-Grrrrruk...

A plague knight on a hideously swollen slime appeared. The sight of poison and plague being emitted from his body was overwhelming.

-Incarnation of Training! You have invaded my master’s domain!

“That’s right.”

-Such disrespect is unforgivable! However, my master is generous. He told me to give you a chance!

The plague knight spoke in an exaggerated, theatrical tone.

“What is it?”

-Join the household of my master! My master truly cares about talented people. If you join us, he will forget all of the irreverent past and welcome you!

“Hah. I see.”

Choi Yeonseung sighed.

Did these guys still think he was a pushover? The constellation thought that Choi Yeonseung was still naive and tried to scam him!

Just like the worn-out constellation in the Abyss, there were no gaps in this area.

Upon noticing Choi Yeonseung seemingly hesitating, the plague knight threatened him.

-You better not think about defeating me and running away, Incarnation of Training! If you refuse this offer, then my master will step in directly. Don’t think that my master can’t come here just because he rules a kingdom. He will come in person to teach you, a rude being, a lesson!

The plague knight made quite a plausible threat and judged Choi Yeonseung would be thinking, ‘Will the constellation really come here in person?’

That would’ve worked on him before, but...

Choi Yeonseung had heard the Abyss’ rules from the Manipulator of Dreams and Desires. Hence, the plague knight could no longer fool him. Choi Yeonseung raised his hand, then snapped his fingers. -?

“Come.”

-...Did you not hear me?

“No. I’m telling your constellation to come. You aren’t a match for me even if you try it.”

[The skill ‘Suppress the Strong and Support the Weak’ has been activated. If you win against the Horseman of Plague and Darkness, then your power of existence will increase!]

[The skill ‘Overcome Oneself to Become Strong’ has been activated. If you fight against the Horseman of Plague and Darkness, then your power of existence will increase!]

-It seems you still don’t understand the situation you’re in! No matter how strong you are compared to mortals...

“Aren’t you coming? I’ll make you come here, then.”

Choi Yeonseung ignored the plague knight and rushed in. Frightened, the plague knight raised his slime shield, but...

Choi Yeonseung ignored that as well and just fired concentrated energy toward the surrounding buildings.

“Come! Horseman of Plague and Darkness! If you don’t, I’ll assume that you’re scared and have run away. Can’t you even defend your realm?”

A clear declaration of war! The moment he said this in the realm of another constellation, he was declaring that he would fight to the end with this constellation.

The moment the constellation stepped back here, the subordinates of this constellation would no longer trust him. Who would trust a ruler who couldn’t even defend his territory?

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ has become flustered and is trying to stop you!]

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is asking what crazy things are you spouting?!]

Perturbed, the two?constellations?tried to stop Choi Yeonseung. They knew that Choi Yeonseung was an experienced warrior, but he was still a low-ranking constellation based on his power of existence. The Horseman of Plague and Darkness was an intermediate constellation with his own kingdom and household members! It was too much of a disadvantageous battle.

-S-Such a reckless rioter...!

The plague knight rushed to stop Choi Yeonseung, but the latter easily overpowered him and threw him away. Choi Yeonseung then resumed destroying his surroundings. According to Choi Yeonseung’s will, more than a dozen lumps of concentrated energy were created around him.

A bead made of concentrated energy, Concentrated Sphere! They were quite large, and they would unleash tremendous destructive force as soon as they were touched. The Concentrated Sphere flew in all directions, turning the surrounding area upside down.

[The linked movement ‘Origin of the Celestial Meteor Bombardment’ has been added to the martial art ‘Origin of the Celestial Divine Arts.’]

There were reasons why Choi Yeonseung was acting so crazy. It wasn’t just that this constellation tried to fool him.

‘I’ve been acting too cowardly all this time.’

Choi Yeonseung had never been a powerhouse in the Abyss. He had always done his best to win from the standpoint of the weak. And after becoming a constellation, others seemed?to think he had?given up just because his opponent was strong.

However, his opponent wasn’t absolutely stronger than him. The Horseman of Plague and Darkness became a constellation before Choi Yeonseung and had a realm and more household members, but that didn’t mean his strength was absolute.

A battle between constellations could be won by any side. There was no reason to avoid it!

‘I would rather give up being a constellation than be a cowardly constellation that’s nothing like me. I’ll do this my way.’

This time, he purposely visited the Horseman of Plague and Darkness’ realm to reinforce his original intention. He would carve his own path, even if doing so meant putting his line on the line against the Horseman of Plague and Darkness! He wasn’t afraid. He had already fought countless similar battles. Becoming a constellation didn’t change that.

***

“This crazy bastard!”

However, that was just Choi Yeonseung’s position. From the Horseman of Plague and Darkness’ perspective, it was a bolt out of the blue.

A fight with no benefits at all! Even if he beat Choi Yeonseung, he had no souls or territory for him to take away. And there was too much for him to lose!

-Master. What will you do?

-He is making a mess! magic

The constellation’s household members sent him desperate requests for help. Choi Yeonseung entered his realm and started destroying everything he laid eyes upon.

‘What is he thinking... !’

The Horseman of Plague and Darkness held his head and pondered over it. What was Choi Yeonseung thinking? Wasn’t Choi Yeonseung’s power of existence lower than his? Was Choi Yeonseung absolutely confident he could win? If he lost, wouldn’t he just perish? Wasn’t he scared at all?

The constellations of the Abyss were beings born from nothing. Most of them were already constellations and powerful from birth. Hence, they never had to participate in unfavorable or unpredictable battles where their victory or defeat couldn’t be determined from the get-go. They would only fight when they had the advantage.

Meanwhile, the constellation of mortal origin was accustomed to fighting regardless of whether he was at an advantage or disadvantage. He was a unique seed who was fundamentally different from other constellations.

Of course, the Horseman of Plague and Darkness had no way to know the difference. He was afraid because he thought Choi Yeonseung had a reason to be confident.

‘It is plausible that he’s allied with others without my knowledge! But there are no other constellations near my kingdom! What is going on?!’

-Master!

“... I’m going now! Be quiet!”

-Yes... I understand.

Eventually, the Horseman of Plague and Darkness stopped managing his realm and formed a body to appear in front of Choi Yeonseung.

“Incarnation of Training. How dare you do this... Gasp!”

Choi Yeonseung came rushing over before he even finished speaking!