As Choi Yeonseung was talking to the constellation, Kalasnegen proceeded with his work.
“Start the tracking.”
“Yes.”
The naga magicians activated their magic to scan the traces around them. Red footprints appeared on the parched ground of the Abyss, where previously there had been nothing.
“I found it! There’s many of them.”
“Can you determine what race it is?”
“Yes. Giants... There are also quite a few undead… The yin energy is strong…”
“The undead have either created the giants or joined forces with them.”
Kalasnegen was an experienced household member when it came to fights in the Abyss, so he managed to form a hypothesis with just a few clues.
Choi Yeonseung was slightly impressed by him.‘As expected, the household members who work on behalf of their constellation have impressive abilities.’
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m just impressed by how well you do your job.”
“What... I’m embarrassed.”
Kalasnegen shook his tail in embarrassment, his white skin having gone bright red.
Illingars, whom Choi Yeonseung was riding, felt creeped out.
‘It’s creepy to see a snake doing this.’
Illingars was also a monster who had lived in the Abyss for a long time, and he was aware that monsters like Kalasnegen were known for being cold and heartless. Thus, it was shocking to see him so embarrassed.
“Then let’s move on right away. Can you follow me?”
Kalasnegen muttered, “I’m sorry… I myself can’t keep up, but these guys here...”
“Everyone has their strong points and their weak points. There’s no need to apologize. Get on top of Illingars here.”
-...Huh?
Illingars stared at Choi Yeonseung in horror.
Choi Yeonseung was puzzled by his reaction and asked, “Can’t he ride you as well?”
-T-that...
Honestly, Illingars didn’t want to carry the nagas on his back… It would be unpleasant…
However, Choi Yeonseung misunderstood Illingars’ attitude.
“Ah, it’s understandable.”
-!
“You’re afraid of nagas.”
-...Huh?No!
“No, it’s okay, Illingars. I won’t force you.”
-I’m really not scared!
“It’s okay.”
-Hey!Get on my back!Quickly!
Illingars promptly grabbed all the nagas, threw them on his back, and swiftly moved forward. Regardless of anything else, he didn’t want anyone to say that he was scared.
The naga magicians were bewildered by the tiger’s behavior and asked, “Why is he doing this?”
“Please understand. Illingars is a bit... Hmm, should I say… intimidated by you?”
“Ah...”
-I’m telling you that it isn’t the case!!
Illingars scratched at the ground with his claws in frustration.
***
“I found them!” shouted one of the naga magicians.
Choi Yeonseung’s group were traveling at a high speed. The naga magician who shouted saw the enemies passing through the jagged rock walls in the distance.
“Let’s surround them.”
“Are nagas good at close combat?” asked Choi Yeonseung.
In response, Kalasnegen shook his head. Nagas generally preferred ranged combat, not melee combat.
Illingars grumbled.
-How can I be afraid of such a race?
“I see. Then I’ll take the lead. Can you support me from the rear?”
“But we can’t just let you engage by yourself...”
Kalasnegen tried to stop him. It was too much for Choi Yeonseung to take the role of the sole tanker. The two constellations had joined forces to fight, so there could be misunderstandings if only one side got up and close to the enemies.
“No, you should do what you’re good at. If you’re not used to melee combat, you don’t have to force it. I can handle it by myself,” said Choi Yeonseung as he pulled out a sword.
Seeing how valiant Choi Yeonseung was, Kalasnegen flushed once again.
“You’re really wonderful.”
“I’m just doing what I have to do.”
[...’The Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ is confused about whether this is something you should be worrying about right now.]
[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says you might need to be careful.]
***
Choi Yeonseung rushed ahead and disappeared. Kalasnegen already knew about martial arts, so he wasn’t surprised about Choi Yeonseung’s speed.
However, the naga magicians hissed in amazement.
“That human’s skills are amazing.”
“He’s the foremost household member of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training, so he naturally has incredible skills. Master also spoke highly of him.”
“Has Master woken up?? She has been sleeping since yesterday...”
“...”
The nagas chattered like that as they were completing the encirclement. No matter who was here in the forest, they clearly had bad intentions.
They had to eliminate them and be done with it.
-Snake’s Perspective.
-Cold-Blooded Protection.
-Summon Wandering Magic Spheres!
The naga magicians quickly enhanced their stats, cast magic that would fire additional attacks, and got ready to attack the enemies.
Bam!
“?”
“???”
The naga magicians who rushed in were stunned by what had happened.
The enemies… They were all surrendering in front of Choi Yeonseung.
“Did he overpower all of them in the meantime?”
“To subdue them without killing them... That is ridiculous!”
The naga magicians were both dumbfounded and amazed, even Kalasnegen, who was rarely surprised by anything.
He shook his tail and gave a compliment to Choi Yeonseung.
“I knew you were strong, but I didn’t expect you to be this strong. You are amazing!”
“No...”
“I never thought that the power of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training would be so amazing. I feel like the rumors are actually downplaying the Undefeated Incarnation of Training.”
“Is this the power of martial arts?!”
“...Will you let me talk?” said Choi Yeonseung awkwardly.
“Ah, yes, please.”
The naga magicians fell silent when Choi Yeonseung turned his head.
“I didn’t subdue them… They just surrendered.”
“...??”
***
Surprisingly, these beings weren’t the household members of the Chef of Endless Gluttony. To be precise, they were household members of the constellations who had been beaten and kicked out by the Chef of Endless Gluttony.
“I... serve the Black Magician Who Shares Everything.”
“We are the servants of Rider of Thirst and Famine...”
The tattered death knights were the subordinates of the black magician constellation, and the rock giants served the rider constellation.
-Wait…Aren’t they both evil god constellations?
-That’s right, but the chef constellation is now attacking both good and evil god constellations...
The chef constellation was furious over the betrayal and was attacking constellations indiscriminately. The evil god constellations had initially laughed at him, but they started taking him seriously as their territories were attacked and their subordinates defeated.
“The chef constellation… That lunatic! He has nothing to vent his anger on, so he’s attacking his peers?!”
“I agree. What a maniac!”
Bang!
Kalasnegen slammed his tail against the ground like he didn’t want to hear it, causing the opponents to flinch.
“I have no interest in how he’s managed to defeat you all. Why have you come here?”
“...”
“No answer, huh? You must’ve come here with nefarious intentions. I will execute you according to my master’s rules!”
“N-no… We really don’t mean anything like that! We... We…!”
“?”
Choi Yeonseung was puzzled by their reactions. Why were they so worried?
“...We lost the fight and ran away… Then we eventually got lost.”
“...”
“...”
An awkward silence hung in the air. It was such an absurd reason…
“This is ridiculous...”
“R-really…”
The opponents explained it.
They had run away in a hurry after the subordinates of the chef constellation burned the area and turned it into ruins. However, they had been so panicked that they had lost their way. It was only natural that one couldn’t navigate properly through a maze-like forest when they were running for their life.
‘I can relate.’
Choi Yeonseung had wandered around the Abyss for a long time, so he sympathized with these creatures. Of course, Kalasnegen didn’t understand it.
“You think you can fool me with such a stupid explanation?”
“B-but it’s true...” the rock giant sobbed.
They explained that they were starving because they had gotten lost, but the nagas didn’t believe them. They were truly heartless.
“I say we kill them, Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”
“Um… Wouldn’t it be better to listen to their story?”
The rock giant was relieved by Choi Yeonseung’s words. He was glad that there was a human with a heart among these ruthless nagas.
Concerned, Kalasnegen explained, “They’ll take advantage of your good heart and hurt you, Hunter Choi Yeonseung.”
“...I won’t get hurt, so you don’t have to worry. I’d like to hear what’s going on.”
“But they won’t talk. Aren’t all the subordinates of evil god constellations like that?”
“You also serve the Snake of Alcohol and Dancing!” a death knight cried out angrily.
It was despicable of these nagas to make such a distinction when they all served evil god constellations!
Of course, Kalasnegen blatantly ignored the death knight. He wouldn’t listen to a bunch of intruders who were on their knees.
“But we still have to listen.”
Choi Yeonseung thought about how to persuade the death knights and the rock giants. What was the best way of going about this?
***
After an hour…
“Sob… Sob… Thank you!”
[The rock giants serve you!]
“...I probably shouldn’t say this, but how can you change your allegiance so easily?” asked Choi Yeonseung, perplexed. He had only wanted information from them, not their sworn allegiance.
If the Rider of Thirst and Famine had been watching this, he would’ve been absolutely dumbfounded.
“The Rider of Thirst and Famine keeps us hungry and thirsty, so everyone is always frustrated with him. On the other hand, it seems that the Undefeated Incarnation of Training feeds others well. We are very satisfied,” said the rock giants as they mixed the kimchi with the tightly pressed rice and ate it greedily.
It seemed that they were very dissatisfied with the rider constellation. Evil god constellations had to do well in order to compensate for their notoriety, or at least take good care of their subordinates, but the rider constellation was doing none of that…
‘The work of constellations isn’t easy.’
“I also heard that the Undefeated Incarnation of Training is a friend of the rock snakes. We have been interested in him for a long time. I’m glad we got this opportunity.”
“No... Are you guys not even considering the aftermath?” the death knight next to them asked in a flustered manner.
However, the rock giants merely shrugged. They had already changed their allegiance, so what was the point? In addition, they believed that the Undefeated Incarnation of Training was more powerful than the Rider of Thirst and Famine.
Kalasnegen, who was watching from the side, asked curiously, “Is there some type of drug in the food you gave to those giants? No, that wouldn’t work on the rock giants...”
-Stupid.
Illingars growled.
-Don’t you know that there’s something more important than that?
“Huh?”
-Sincerity.
“Ah...!”
Kalasnegen was impressed. Of course, it was nothing but sincerity that had managed to shake and persuade the dull heads of the rock giant serving the evil god constellation.
“It really is sincerity...”
“It’s just fresh and delicious rice. What are you talking about?” asked Choi Yeonseung incredulously.
“...”
-......
Choi Yeonseung had just poured cold water on the conversation between them.
***
Having listened to the rock giants, Choi Yeonseung realized that the situation was worse than he had thought.
The chef constellation didn’t hesitate to attack constellations directly, let alone household members. Everyone was well aware of how serious it was for a constellation to come forward and directly attack other constellations.
‘Ordinary mortals will have no choice but to run away.’
“What is the goal of the chef constellation? I find it hard to believe that he just intends to burn everything around him out of anger...”
“He told the other constellations to submit to and serve him.”
Kalasnegen frowned at the words of the rock giants. “It’s a crazy idea to increase his power by subduing other constellations.”
“...T-t-that’s right…”
-Don’t stutter! Act nonchalantly!
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