The Celestial Returned From Hell

A soul stone.

The souls of mortals that the constellations used. The Argo was an A-grade monster, but there was no reason for it to have a soul stone.

-Don’t tell me...

-A constellation probably put it there.

-For what purpose?

-Isn’t that obvious?

The evil god constellations’ goals were simple: recruit talented people and eliminate those who would refuse. The problem was that the outstanding talents weren’t willing to go under the evil god constellations.

Of course, there would always be crooked and greedy people, but bluntly put, talented and promising hunters had no reason to make a deal with the evil god constellations. On the contrary, doing so could sentence them to life imprisonment if discovered.

Hence, the evil god constellations often created a lot of disturbances.

This exchange exhibition gathered hunters from various countries, which meant one accident could result in mass casualties. The participating countries fighting each other during the event was a bonus for the evil god constellations.

-So this monster was manipulated?

-It isn’t easy to control Abyss monsters, and it only gets harder the stronger they are. Maybe the evil god constellation just strengthened it and threw it there.

-If they did that and left it alone, the monster would have gone on a rampage.

-Putting a soul stone in a monster’s head to make it stronger is a pretty difficult trick. Weak constellations wouldn’t be able to do it.

-The Master of Slowness and Silence? The Snake of Alcohol and Dancing?

One of those constellations occupied northern China, and the other occupied North Korea. Any constellation that could conquer a country was bound to be strong. They were nearby as well.

-Those two don’t seem like constellations who would do something like this.

The goddess cocked her head.

-Maybe their behavior changed while you haven’t seen them.

-... Constellations don’t change as easily as mortals, Successor.

-I should think of this as the work of a different constellation, then.

Choi Yeonseung put away the soul stone, thinking it could be a clue.

‘I have to wrap things up.’

Choi Yeonseung finished dismantling it using his sword so beautifully that there was no meat left on the bones. He took the monster core, folded the skin and scales separately to keep them in good condition, and classified the lean meat according to their cuts...

‘This monster has the sirloin, ribs, tenderloin, and short loin.’

Choi Yeonseung separated some of the meat. He planned to help the several suffering hunters rejuvenate. The hunters watching him were just puzzled, though.

‘Why is he taking that?’

‘Ah. I understand. He’s trying to practice martial arts. He will dip his hands in there and suck up the monster’s energy.’

‘Oh... Such a practice exists in martial arts?’

‘Don’t they do that in movies?’

When Choi Yeonseung finished the work, message windows burst out as if they had been waiting.

[You have dismantled the monster while preserving beauty and dignity. The Dignity of Light skill has improved.]

‘......?’

[The ‘Endless Gourmet Seeker’ has given you a soul stone.]

[The ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ has given you a soul stone.]

[The ‘Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ has given you a soul stone.]

[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ has given you a soul stone.]

‘... I’m thankful, but why did they give me soul stones after a dismantlement show? They were quiet throughout my battle with this monster.’

-They were probably waiting for you to finish your work before giving you gifts. I don’t think they gave it specifically due to the dismantlement show.

[The ‘Endless Gourmet Seeker’ says he sincerely wants to properly witness your skills one day.]

-... One of them did, I guess.

-That constellation seems to be interested in me, which is quite bothersome. What type of constellation is it?

Excessive interest in Choi Yeonseung wasn’t good. It forced him to hide while climbing up one step at a time.

-Endless Gourmet Seeker? Ah. That constellation... He isn’t a bad constellation.

-Oh...

-He isn’t a good constellation either, though.

-......?

-There has been a lot of talk that he isn’t that good to deal with.

-......

The seeker constellation wouldn’t hesitate to do anything for the sake of food. Constellations only ever cared about themselves, and the seeker constellation’s behavior showed just how severe their self-centeredness could be.

‘I have to be careful in the future.’

***

@Dragon_Hwang

-Came to Jeju Island to enjoy a vacation.

-An A-grade monster appeared on Jeju Island. It was quite fearsome.

-But the Icarus clan stopped it. The Icarus clan is the best clan.

-I don’t mean to brag, but the Icarus clan’s Choi Yeonseung killed it alone.

ㄴDragon Hwang went to South Korea??

ㄴㄴIs Dragon Industries investing in South Korea? Has their relationship recovered?

ㄴㄴㄴCan I go buy stocks?

@Hunter_Koyama

-Chinese hunters attacked me during the exchange. I almost died.

-Chinese hunters don’t follow the rules. The Japanese government should strongly protest.

-Fortunately, I managed to escape with the help of the Icarus clan’s hunters.

-That being said, have martial artists’ healing skills always been so painful?

@Hunter_Wangyalong

-Anyone who complains about failing to watch out for themself doesn’t deserve to be a hunter. I hope you know that’s shameful.

ㄴThat’s right. The ones who whine about things like that in an exchange exhibition should just retire as a hunter. Is it not your fault if you break a bone while hiking?

-That being said, have martial artists’ healing skills always been so painful?

By the time the exchange match participants finished the clean-up and descended the mountain, the reporters had already gathered like clouds. Considering the uproar, there was no way that news about the incident wouldn’t spread.

“That has to be annoying,’ Antony muttered.

Hunters graded B or higher had to get used to reporters flocking like this. They were currently in an unusual situation. After all, American hunters just killed a monster in South Korea, not in the United States.

Questions in times like this were even more annoying.

“How... Are they annoying?” Illeya questioned.

“First of all, they will ask if we know any Korean hunters.”

“And?”

“They will also ask what type of Korean food I like... Their questions will revolve around similar topics.”

“They aren’t... really tough questions, are they?”

Choi Yeonseung, who was listening to them, felt slightly embarrassed.

‘They’re still asking questions like that?’

Thirty years ago, reporters were already asking foreign hunters visiting South Korea things like, ‘Do you know ■■?’ Those watching always felt embarrassed…

“That isn’t all. I’m sure some will try to pick a fight.”

“?”

“Hunters from their own country could kill it. Why did we cut in line?”

“Yikes... that’s too much.”

“Reporters will always be like that no matter where you go.”

However, Antony’s prediction was wrong. First of all, Choi Yeonseung wasn’t an American.

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung! Thank you very much for what you have done.”

“You didn’t back down from defending your homeland! It was so touching!”

“...???”

“????”

Flustered, Antony and Illeya looked at Choi Yeonseung. They couldn’t help but wonder if it had always been like this.

“Indeed. If you are a hunter, you should protect your country at the risk of your life,” the Chinese hunter next to them said in admiration.

“As a hunter, shouldn’t you give your soul for the party and the country?”

“No. That isn’t it, you crazy people.”

“What are you saying...?”

The Chinese hunters’ reactions took the Korean hunters aback. Choi Yeonseung stared at the reporters with a lukewarm expression.

“I just happened to come across a monster during the exchange, so I killed it. I didn’t do it with great intention...”

“As expected! Despite encountering it by chance, you fought with your life on the line because you couldn’t stand seeing the good citizens of Jeju Island get hurt!”

“I heard that the battle was so fierce that you even had to borrow the power of your constellation during the fight! Does that show how much you love South Korea?”

“... Did the press get any instructions in my absence?” Choi Yeonseung wondered, bewildered.

The reporters...

They were too friendly. They weren’t like this before, were they? Didn’t they usually pick a fight and poke at people to create a situation that the public would be more interested in? In the past, the common questions were, ‘Do you feel any responsibility for greatly damaging Baengnokdam?’ or ‘Why did you fight there instead of going down first?’

“About that… We have a few laws that regulate this, so unlike before, reporters rarely argue with hunters now,” Lee Changuk, who was Next to him, carefully replied.

“Huh? Really?” Choi Yeonseung was surprised.

There were laws like this in South Korea now?

“That’s not all. Reporters have always acted like this toward hunters who have gone abroad.”

That was right. Reporters liked to bite at people that lived in South Korea, but they were strangely kind to Koreans who had gone abroad. Likewise, they thought it would be better to write about Choi Yeonseung’s patriotism rather than slander him.

“I heard you saved the injured hunters during the exchange match?”

“It was just simple first aid.”

The reporters ignored Choi Yeonseung and just wrote down what they wanted to hear.

-With a humble attitude, Hunter Choi Yeonseung replied, “I just did what I had to do…”

-He is based in the US now due to circumstances, but he has never forgotten his country. He learned never to leave a fallen person behind while he was still South Korea’s hunter.

“.. I don’t think I said that many things, so why are they typing so much?” Choi Yeonseung asked, realizing something was wrong.

***

If Choi Yeonseung knew what the reporters were writing in their articles before they could post them, he would’ve already hit the reporters the same way he hit the US reporters. However, even he couldn’t figure out what they were writing down.

After cleaning up the situation, the hunters gathered in small groups and dispersed. Unexpected things had happened, but the exchange was still underway. Naturally, some of the hunters’ glares at each other became more severe.

“What are you staring at? Want your leg broken again?”

“You better watch your back, you son of a bitch.”

The relationship between countries, which was already bad in the first place, exploded due to the friction that took place in the exchange. Realizing it, the quick-witted hunters immediately warned their colleagues.

“Be careful. Fights are bound to break out, so don’t go around bumping into others unless necessary.”

“Yes.”

“If you have anything to ask, just take it to the officials directly.”

“Yes.”

“... Where are they going, though?”

“You don’t know?”

They soon got their answer: the hunters were going to the rooftop.

“Why?”

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung is grilling meat.”

“... What?”

Many of the hunters were bastards that liked to engage in many activities. Throwing a crazy party in a hotel room, driving a sports car into a pool, trying to fly right into their room on the first floor with flying magic... Compared to that, grilling meat was a very safe and good hobby. Hence, they were flustered.

Why would anyone grill meat?

“Do they not like the hotel food… Ah. I see why he’s grilling meat now.”

“Isn’t it like a picnic? Grilled meat is good for that.”

“Why is everyone going up, then?”

Choi Yeonseung was grilling meat, but that didn’t answer why hunters from other countries were going up. They definitely didn’t come here for the meat…

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