abcnovels
Chapter 169
Chapter 169
Chapter 169
-Huhuhu... Is that enough for today? If I listen to such phrases too much, it would seem like flattery, so let’s move on now.
The goddess of balance seemed satisfied. Didn’t she listen for over an hour?’ Choi Yeonseung thought but didn’t bother to say it.
-Do you know why I called over my household members?
“Is it perhaps because of the ‘One Who Understands and Penetrates Through Indeterminate Forms?’”
-Good guess.
Just like many other constellations, the goddess of balance was also aiming for the constellation of understanding.
Adaquaniel was back, so it was time to regain what she had lost.
-Many constellations are aiming for that constellation right now, but surprisingly few are attempting a constellation battle.
Most constellations could just deal with the constellation of understanding themselves instead of putting a bounty. After all, constellations that could set a bounty likely already had several household members they could brag about. So why didn’t they just handle the issue themselves?
‘Are they scared because they have no information on their opponent?’
-That’s right.
The goddess of sloth nodded. The constellations of the Abyss were arrogant and violent, but they were also cunning. Being the first to attack the constellation of understanding, whom they had little information about because the constellation appeared out of nowhere, could bring them great losses.
-Still, they’ve placed bounties on the invader. It would be beneficial to you for as long as you win.
“You’re right.”
-That’s why I want to get permission from the Undefeated Incarnation of Training for you to participate in a constellation battle with my household members. Of course, you will have to ask for permission first. Ah. I’m not up to anything. Really. There are no traps.
“......”
Choi Yeonseung was speechless. This was suspicious! Of course, he didn’t think that the goddess had set a trap. She wasn’t that type of constellation. From the goddess’ perspective, she clearly spoke at length to avoid the Undefeated Incarnation of Training’s suspicion. Considering a 1v1 constellation battle already had multiple traps and tricks at play, he couldn’t grasp what type of traps there could be in a battle with allies on his side. In the worst-case scenario, the goddess could betray Choi Yeonseung.
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says this is a trap.]
[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says it would be better if the goddess had the ability to set a trap.]
As the atmosphere became subtle, Adaquaniel next to the goddess quietly made a remark.
-Master. If you talk too much, you could be misunderstood.
-Oh… Was that too much?
“I think it was just right.”
-Look. He said it was alright.
Adaquaniel stared at Choi Yeonseung with an emotionless gaze. Her expressionless face made it hard to decipher what she was thinking.
‘... What? Why is she staring at me?’
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says it could be because from a household member’s perspective, you could be seen as seducing their master.]
[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says that is definitely plausible. More household members fight over their master’s favor than you probably expect.]
‘All of you, be quiet now.’
***
Choi Yeonseung accepted the goddess’ offer in the end since he had a lot to gain from it.
-The constellation of understanding has accepted the household competition.
“A household competition... Does that mean it’s a six-on-six battle like what humans do?”
[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says that the constellations don’t copy humans. Rather, humans are the ones who copy the constellations.]
Although it was a common misunderstanding that humans knew nothing about the constellations of the Abyss, information about the Abyss surprisingly often trickled into humans thanks to those who had contracted with a constellation.
They would sometimes participate in their master’s tests or get sent to combat. Because of them, it became six-on-six battles in the virtual world of the Abyss became a trend on Earth. If it wasn’t for the constellations, it would’ve taken Earth’s humanity a lot of trial and error to build such things one by one.
‘I already know that, but I still find it amazing every time I hear about it.’
-Oh, you’re aware of it?
“Uh... I’ve seen a little of it.”
The only game Choi Yeonseung had seen was the one where the Korean national team got beaten like crazy. His heart hurt while watching it, so he turned it off instead of watching it until the end.
“Well... This is complicated. Can someone as oblivious as me join such a constellation battle?”
-It doesn’t matter. Strategy is important, but the skills of those who participate are far more crucial.
‘Isn’t strategy important?’
Choi Yeonseung didn’t watch the SSL much, but he still picked up on some things from the hunters around him.
-Ah!! The director is crazy! I can’t believe he put that bastard in the top lane! Did he get paid? That bastard is messing around again! I want my hundred thousand dollars back!!
-Does that bastard only know how to argue? That is why I put him in the top lane!
-Why does the guy in the middle lane have a narrow field of view? Did the constellation steal his eyes?
Witnessing even some pretty good hunters being criticized taught him that strategy was important.
“Do you know what strategy the opponent is planning?”
-No, but it doesn’t matter.
The goddess was confident.
“Why?”
-Adaquaniel will take care of everything.
“......”
Choi Yeonseung was speechless. He started to feel sorry for the angel standing with no expression in front of him.
***
‘This is a bit different since the last time I came here.’
The realm of the goddess was a bit more lively than last time perhaps because the angel called Adaquaniel had returned. Her land had expanded. She also had new buildings and removed all the dust and cracks. Choi Yeonseung decided to fight the constellation of understanding together with five of the goddess’ household members. However, he was starting to feel as if it was a reckless choice.
‘I don’t know anything about the opponent, and I have never worked with my colleagues before.’
Choi Yeonseung knew and understood that the power of the goddess’ household members was highly regarded. It wasn’t unreasonable to think they had a chance of winning if his abilities were taken into consideration as well. The problem was that he had never fought alongside the goddess’ household members before. Moreover, they had almost no strategy for this. The goddess said that the angel called Adaquaniel would take care of everything, but...
Would it be okay to leave everything to her?
-Please take care of me, Household member Choi Yeonseung.
“I am the one who should be saying that. Please don’t take the conversation that happened earlier too deeply.”
-You mean the previous conversation?
Adaquaniel raised an eyebrow.
‘This... Should I not have said anything?’
Choi Yeonseung felt a bit of regret. He thought she disapproved of him as a member of the goddess’ household, so he tried to lighten the mood…
-Didn’t you mean what you said earlier?
“I did, but I’m just trying to say that I have no intention of fighting you over the goddess’ favor.”
-What do you mean?
Adaquaniel didn’t understand. The thought never even crossed her mind.
“Uh... Everything is alright, then? I thought you were angry.”
-I wasn’t angry at all. On the contrary, I was deeply impressed.
“... Huh?”
-We didn’t have enough time so I didn’t tell you this, but how you described my master is very accurate. Among the many humans on Earth, you have amazing eyesight.
“......”
[......]
Choi Yeonseung and the other constellations were speechless.
‘I don’t think she’s normal.’
Choi Yeonseung quickly came to a conclusion. He had high expectations of her because she was known to be the goddess of balance’s ace, but it seemed that she was a bit too blinded.
‘Is everything going to be alright...?’
-I’m sure it will be fine. Just because she is blindly loyal to her constellation doesn’t mean she isn’t skilled.
As they were talking, Adaquaniel continued.
-I am glad to have met a household member who appreciates the master’s greatness. Household member Choi Yeonseung. I look forward to working with you.
“Well… Alright. I’m also looking forward to it.”
Choi Yeonseung was worried. If all of the goddess’ household members were like this, he could suffocate from frustration before they could even prepare for the household competition.
***
...Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
The other angels had very objective and sane thoughts.
-I’m loyal to my master, but I think she makes too many mistakes.
-I wish Adaquaniel would give her some advice, but she would never do that due to her personality.
-I don’t know if we can fix Master’s personality with advice, though.
‘... Isn’t this too harsh?’
He thought their allegiance was too shallow, but upon closer inspection, he realized that the angels only complained a lot. They didn’t seem to have the slightest intention of betraying the goddess. It was because they believed in the goddess that they could speak freely like this. If the constellation didn’t have faith in their household members, they wouldn’t dare utter such insolence.
-In any case, household member Choi Yeonseung. Please look after me. I heard that you are very skilled.
-I wish we could be in the same household. You would have been Master’s first human household member. We are all angels over here.
-Drink some of this. Don’t work too hard.
“Ah. Thank you.”
The atmosphere was completely different from the realm of the evil god constellations. The goddess of balance’s subordinates were kind and warm-hearted.
-In the household competition, six people will have to fight together, so we have to be in harmony to some extent.
But you don’t have to worry too much. Although this is your first time, we have Adaquaniel on our side.
-We actually don’t study that much either. We just follow Adaquaniel’s instructions.
Choi Yeonseung aside, the other angels surprisingly didn’t know much about strategy either. They left everything to Adaquaniel’s instructions.
-As you can see, there are three main lanes: the top, middle, and bottom. Buildings that contain the power of a constellation are also all over the map. Breaking them is beneficial, but don’t overdo it because it could kill you. Most of your power will be tied up in the beginning, so you have to be extra careful.
-We’re using locations in the Abyss that are full of monsters. We can become stronger quickly by killing them.
-Destroying the constellation’s sanctuary in the enemy camp ends the battle. Easy, right?
‘Isn’t this a lot harder than the UHC?’
Choi Yeonseung looked troubled. The UHC also started with a certain amount of magic power to make it a fair fight for all parties involved. However, household competitions were even worse. They were all weakened in the beginning. To regain their strength, they would have to kill their opponent or the monsters. Even if it was for the sake of fairness...
-You can’t use all your skills either. You can only bring a few with you.
“Can’t we just have an all-out war?”
-All-out wars are far too serious. Only the household members can die in household battles. In all-out wars, everyone can die.
The goddess’ angels didn’t find what they just said strange at all. Choi Yeonseung had never participated in this type of constellation battle before, but he quickly got the hang of it.
-Let’s have a practice match, shall we?
***
-Doesn’t Adaquaniel seem to be in a good mood today?
-Right? She looks really good.
“???”
Choi Yeonseung was taken aback. Wasn’t she expressionless?
‘Do the angels see something I don’t?’
The angels spoke to Choi Yeonseung.
-This is just practice, so take it easy. Just follow Adaquaniel’s instructions.
The angels weren’t expecting much from Choi Yeonseung. They knew he was good in single combat, but he was human. In addition, he said he had never participated in a household competition before. It was too much to expect a lot from him. The goddess could be looking forward to it, but...
-?!?
However, The angels’ opinions immediately changed when the game began.