Chapter 42
At this rate, it was almost impossible to get his hands on Choi Yeonseung. Judging from his attitude earlier, it didn’t seem like he would accept, but...
‘Damn. What excuse do I have?’
“In any case, he finishes everything with one blow.”
“It’s a C-grade qualifier. That’s not that uncommon.”
“Still, isn’t it rare to end?everything?with one blow?”
“Isn't it because he had only fought twice so far? We don’t know if that would still be the case with the rest of the fights.”
The reporters and the people watching had the same thoughts.
-Who is that guy?
-He’s an Abyss returnee.
-Ah. So the martial arts...
-Aren’t martial arts good? Why aren’t hunters learning this?
-Crazy guy. What’s so good about martial arts? You’ll see what I mean when you try it.
-Based on the way he dodges all these attacks, it seems much better than magic.
-Can’t magic do the same thing? Don’t make it obvious that you don’t know anything.
-This jerk... What are you? Are you even a hunter?
-Will he finish it in one blow again?
-You probably don’t know this, but it’s impossible for him to do that to everyone. One of the hunters in the qualifiers is Eugene Ellai, a rookie of the Strickland clan. They said they would push him here.
-Ah, Strickland? It would be great if they could push it here.
-What is that? Aren’t you going to tell me what you know?
-You don’t even know Strickland? For those who don’t even know the basics, please don’t watch the matches.
-Really? Oh my. Alright. Then how about you, a hunter expert, tell me what that martial art is?
-......
-......
The chat window grew quiet. Though they could have heard of martial arts, they didn't know much about it. The conversation moved on after the momentary silence.
-Eugene Ellai is an expert in man-to-man combat. They say he doesn’t run raids and only kills people.
-Is he really fit to be a hunter? He's getting paid to fight monsters, after all.
-Are you the one paying him? Why are you making a fuss?
-In any case, Eugene Ellai is in the opposite block, so it’s impossible for him to win.
-Can’t he just settle for second place? That’s good enough to sign with a decent clan. I wish I?can?see more of him. I won't be able to find a martial artist anywhere else.
***
It was the qualifiers, but it wasn’t without dark horses. There were a few prospects who were already training with clans. No matter how strong Choi Yeonseung was, could he really defeat all these people with a single blow despite the restrictions?
The answer was ‘yes.’
The independent D+ grade hunter Colby lost.
The C-grade hunter Ralph of the Franklin clan lost.
The C+ grade hunter Eugene of the Strickland clan lost.
“!!!!”
“This... this is crazy!”
The incredible results stunned the Strickland clan’s hunters. Eugene Ellai was being pushed by the clan and was a personal combat specialist who could take on B-grade hunters. In addition, the hunters who fought with Choi Yeonseung now knew how Choi Yeonseung attacked.
The moment the match started, he rushed at full speed and punched! It was such a simple attack! If they knew what the other person was about to do, why couldn’t they stop it?
The hunters were the most frustrated. They just couldn't make sense of the fact that they couldn’t stop him even if they already knew his pattern.
‘Just once... Stop his movement just once...’
‘If I place Shield magic in front and bounce him back...’
Choi Yeonseung tore all of the hunters’ schemes and tricks apart with a single punch. To be honest, for Choi Yeonseung, these hunters’ combat experience was too…?insignificant. Even hunters trained as an expert in man-to-man combat were inconsequential in Choi Yeonseung’s eyes.
Having fought for over a thousand years, just looking at his opponent’s breathing was enough to make him?think where they were going to attack or when they were about to do something. If he did this a few more times, then even if he closed his eyes...
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that you’re like an?old man coming back to his home village after studying abroad!]
‘...... !’
Where did it learn this?
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that it signed a contract with some of the smartest cats on Earth!]
‘......!’
Now that he thought about it, the Cat of Lava and Magma had such an ability.
In any case, Choi Yeonseung stood proudly as the winner.
“C-Congratulations on winning the qualifiers.”
“Thank you.”
Choi Yeonseung could feel the jealous gazes of the hunters who had missed their opportunity, but he didn’t care.
‘What? Have people already come?’
He saw individuals who definitely hadn’t been present before. They stared at Choi Yeonseung while wiping their sweat with a handkerchief, as if they had run over hurriedly. It was as if he could hear their innermost thoughts.
-Be sure to attract him!
‘Their eyes are no joke.’
There were also those who were more tenacious than the scouts.
[The constellation ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ is interested in you.]
[The constellation ‘Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ is handing you a towel.]
[The ’Cat of Lava and Magma’ is shaking its paws!]
‘Already?’
Choi Yeonseung was surprised by the messages the constellations had sent. Something was strange about this! The constellations would only throw a look of admiration toward impressive mortals. Still...
‘Isn’t this too fast? Is it because the number of constellations interested in Earth has increased while I was gone?’
It was really hard to get an offer from a constellation.
Only outstanding talents worthy of a constellation could get their attention!
‘... No. They are all mistaken.’
He was just in the C-grade League, but finishing everyone off with a single blow was still a big deal. The constellations were more objective than Earthlings, so they knew the value of that achievement even more. In the constellations’ eyes, Choi Yeonseung would now seem like a huge gemstone that could be hundreds or thousands of times more valuable depending on how they sharpened it!
[The constellation ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says this is why it told you to hide your power.]
‘......!’
It was a scam!
It was more impressive to see a B-grade hunter showing that same level of strength than to see an A-grade hunter doing the same. The constellations would also be more tempted. Wasn’t this a gemstone?
… It was a scam, but...
[The constellation ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ is displeased. He warns the constellations not part of the Earth Agreement against stepping forward.]
The Earth Agreement. The agreement between the evil god constellations and the existing constellations made them enter a truce and prevented them from invading each other’s territory! Of course, the cat constellation didn’t care about this. In the first place, it was an agreement not to touch each other’s territories, not an agreement not to create household members.
[The constellation ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that contracting household members have nothing to do with the agreement. It is saying that he should make a contract if he’s dissatisfied.]
[The constellation ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ growls and asks if it wants to die. He warns that he can fight against a constellation that’s not part of the agreement at any time.]
[The constellation ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ curses and says that he should come to its territory if he’s dissatisfied.]
A quarrel between constellations! Their fight could only be heard in the form of world messages, but the tension was awful.
The Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood was an evil god constellation. Strong and aggressive, most countries banned hunters from contracting with him! He had to be an advanced constellation at the very least! In addition, the cat constellation wasn’t part of the Earth Agreement, so a war could break out at any time. It was something to worry about, but...
The cat constellation was confident. After all, they were far from each other! The Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood wasn’t certain how far away the cat constellation’s realm was.
[The constellation ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ warns that he won’t forget this incident. He declares that he will wash away the insult with the blood of the household members of the ‘Cat of Lava and Magma.’]
[The constellation ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ hates the savage declaration.]
[The constellation ‘Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ licks his tongue while coveting the sight of blood.]
[The constellation ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ snorts.]
-Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood.
-?
-I don’t?want to have a?contract with a guy like you, so get lost.
-......!!!
The constellations were like gods. It had been decades since the constellations appeared on Earth. The number of constellations snooping around Earth was increasing, and so did the amount of discovered information about them... The more this happened, the more people’s awe grew.
That was only natural. Learning that the constellations' abilities far surpassed what they were aware of left them unable to resist feeling amazed?The same went even for the evil god constellations despite most countries banning their contracts. They could refuse or ignore constellations, but no one directly insulted them. It?was that terrifying?for a constellation to have a grudge against them!
-Do you have any idea what you’re saying, mortal? Do you think you’re the only being that’s been undeservedly cocky? There had been arrogant bastards before you, and they all sank into a cursed fate.
Of course, there were fearless individuals among the hunters. Very occasionally, a truly fearless hunter would insult a constellation. Of course, they were mercilessly punished. Constellations didn’t allow mortals to insult them.
Nevertheless, the Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood gave Choi Yeonseung one more chance.
What an amazing exception! It was because he saw the qualities of a strong warrior in Choi Yeonseung.
-You’ve been?going on and on about how you're dissatisfied. Are you proud to be a constellation that messes around with other constellations? Don’t go bragging all over the place that you've caught an ant. Do you have no sense of shame?
-......
-You came to Earth and made a fuss. However, you can’t go on a rampage because the other constellations have noticed you. Are you still a Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood? It seems to me that you’ve been doing well in anger management. I don’t want to sign a contract with someone like you, so go away.
-... You will regret this, mortal!
The evil god constellation growled and whispered fiercely. Choi Yeonseung’s words hit his sore spot. It was a huge insult for a constellation to not match their title!
[The constellation ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ is amazed by your words!]
[The constellation ‘Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ says it has a good sweaty smell.]
[The constellation ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is giggling at the ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’.]
[The constellation ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ is challenging the ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ to a duel.]
[The constellation ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ ignores him.]
‘Stop teasing him.’
Choi Yeonseung just insulted him once, so why was the cat making fun of him like that? No matter how he looked at it, the cat was doing that just for fun.
The cat constellation aside, Choi Yeonseung got what he wanted. He could never cooperate with the evil god constellations. They were the reason why Choi Yeonseung suffered so much in the Abyss, after all. There was no need to be polite. Other mortals had to be polite because their lives were in danger, but that wasn’t the case for Choi Yeonseung. They would need to fight one day.
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is secretly whispering away from the other constellations not to be too conceited.]
‘I know. We can’t fight each other right now. I’m just going to use it as a stepping stone.’
If he insulted an evil god constellation, then he would naturally look good to the constellations of the other faction. That wasn’t necessary to sign a contract and receive help from a constellation. However, if he did something that a constellation liked, then he could receive gifts without having to make a contract. The constellations were bored and idle beings, after all!
[The constellation ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is handing over 10 soul stones.]
[The other constellations are amazed!]
[The constellation ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is clearing its throat.]
—Just like right now.
“......”
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