abcnovels
Chapter 172
Chapter 172
Chapter 172
[The ’One Who Understands and Penetrates Through Indeterminate Forms’ welcomes the two constellations.]
The three constellations secretly faced each other. The constellations of the Abyss normally didn’t share their true selves when facing each other even during just a normal conversation, let alone a secret conversation.
-I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to cooperate unconditionally just because you surrendered. Do you know how many constellations are targeting you?
The constellation of understanding shrugged at Choi Yeonseung’s words.
[The ‘One Who Understands and Penetrates Through Indeterminate Forms’ says that dealing with the constellation occupying Earth was inevitable.]
‘That’s a ridiculous excuse,’ Choi Yeonseung thought.
No matter how unavoidable, this constellation had summoned monsters all over Earth and caused a disturbance. Well, he had known for a long time that most constellations treated humans like pawns.
-Not me.
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that’s not it either.]
‘...I know, so be quiet.’
[The ‘One Who Understands and Penetrates Through Indeterminate Forms’ says it wasn’t alone when it attacked.]
-Is that true?
The goddess was surprised. In comparison, Choi Yeonseung’s reaction was bland.
‘So we were right all along, huh?’
It was a very clever strategy for a new constellation from the Abyss. They had already speculated that someone had given it advice, but they turned out to be correct.
-If you want to negotiate, then tell me your accomplice’s identity first.
[The ‘One Who Understands and Penetrates Through Indeterminate Forms’ says that the ‘Noble Crown Collector’ gave it advice.]
The constellation of understanding didn’t hide much. In the first place, it would have been very frustrating that the collector gave advice, then withdrew. Although the constellation of understanding was currently under intense fire from other constellations, the collector constellation was nowhere to be found. The constellation of understanding wanted to somehow bring out the collector constellation.
-You have been deceived by the collector constellation. He is trying to use you to shake the other constellations.
[The ‘One Who Understands and Penetrates Through Indeterminate Forms’ is angry!]
-Maybe it’s because the constellation of understanding used to be a monster, but it seems to have short patience and a quick temper.
The goddess of sloth’s assessment was sharp. Befitting one who had become a constellation from monster origins, the constellation of understanding lacked patience. It caused an incident the moment it came to Earth and danced on the palm of the collector constellation.
[The ‘One Who Understands and Penetrates Through Indeterminate Forms’ says the other constellations aren’t listening to it at all. It is asking for help.]
Constellations were generally narrow-minded. They weren’t generous enough to listen to a constellation who had caused an incident. Hence, they blocked all conversations. All they talked about was attacking the constellation of understanding!
-Okay. I’ll help you.
[!]
The constellations observing their conversation were amazed. They didn’t expect Choi Yeonseung to help the constellation. The goddess of balance asked in surprise.
-Do you really intend to help? Well, I’m not against it. I’m grateful you allowed me to borrow your household members, but I’m not sure if we even have to get along with it...
-... Listen carefully.
Choi Yeonseung started to convince the goddess of balance.
… The collector constellation had been quite naughty lately, so he wanted to fight it somehow and cause some damage!
-In short, you want to make trouble?
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that your explanation is too vague. It wonders how you plan to fight the collector constellation head-on.]
There was no way the collector constellation would readily admit to his fault unless he was an idiot. He would naturally deny it and try to fight the constellation who dared accuse it of such atrocities.
-We obviously can’t talk about it openly. I’m planning on spreading rumors.
[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ asks how you’re going to do that.]
-You have to play an active role in this.
[......]
***
[Your current ranking is 98th.]
‘I barely made it to the double digits, huh?’
Choi Yeonseung came to check his territory for the first time in ages. Thinking about it, he had been working hard the past few days to make a name for himself by acting as a hunter on Earth. In the Abyss, he worked as a mercenary or participated in constellation battles himself...
He was moving as violently as a flame compared to the many constellations who just stayed still in their own kingdoms.
-This is really great.
-... Do you have any intention of moving from that side?
The goddess of sloth pretended not to hear anything. In any case, his power of existence had risen significantly. He was ranked 120th last time he checked, but he was now 98th.
‘If it rises a bit more, I’ll be able to enter the world of advanced constellations...’
-Don’t rush. You’re going at a fast enough rate right now.
The goddess was right. He was fast enough. Various constellations were paying attention to him, so it could become dangerous if he went on a rampage.
“Um... On another note…”
Choi Yeonseung blinked and looked around. The Blood Fortress used to be filled with blood, madness, and red energy. Now, however, it had changed much more than expected. Every time he visited, he would find so many changes that it would be hard for him to get used to it!
Last time, a lot of the red energy had disappeared, and new rice paddies had been created...
This time, they had erected various buildings. They had laid roads and built walls with polished white stones. The paddies were now separated, and huge barns had been built to raise the cows and pigs brought from Earth...
At this point, it was no longer the Blood Fortress but the ‘Orcs’ Weekend Farm.’
‘No. How come it’s so huge?’
It was just a vegetable garden the last time he visited. When did it expand so much?
Thump thump!
[The strange rock golem welcomes you!]
The golem, his newly acquired household member, approached and welcomed Choi Yeonseung. Since it had a knack for handling stones, Choi Yeonseung had asked the golem to teach the orcs construction...
“Did you make all of this??”
[The strange rock golem says the orcs did most of it.]
“The orcs?!”
Choi Yeonseung was surprised.
To be honest, he didn’t expect much when he asked it to teach the orcs. In the first place, the orcs weren’t made for building things. Even in the Abyss, teaching a famous combat-centered race about construction would cause other constellations to ask, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
It was that alarming!
However, Choi Yeonseung didn’t care and taught the orcs anyway. No matter the race, they could do anything with the right teachings and guidance. As a result, the orcs in Choi Yeonseung’s realm were awakening an unexpected talent sleeping within them.
-This is amazing. Did you know this was going to happen?
-If I had predicted this, the future would’ve been included in my constellation name.
Bewildered, Choi Yeonseung looked around. The rice that grew in the paddies looked cool.
‘Considering their current skills, I can probably make them grow fruits as well.’
These orcs used to have no idea how to even dig, yet they were now skilled farmers. Orcs used to be an agricultural race, weren’t they?
-Moooooo.
-Yes. Yes. Just walk a bit more. It’s all about building muscles!
In the distance, two orc warriors were herding cattle. The cows were tired and wanted to rest, but the orcs wouldn’t let them go.
“Take a deep breath and build up your internal energy. Cow! If you fall down here, then you admit defeat!”
“Gather your strength! Cow! Do you want to lose to another cow?”
-Moooooo!
Choi Yeonseung was once again speechless. What were they doing?
‘Are they teaching the cows martial arts...?’
Perhaps this was why the cows were two to three times larger than normal! Just then, he could hear the flapping of wings as birds flew through the sky.
‘There aren’t birds in my realm, are there?’
He was right—they weren’t birds. Muscular chickens were flying through the air.
“Master! You’re here!”
“Please look at our meager achievements!”
The orcs had bright smiles as they carried sacks of rice on their shoulders.
“Well done. By the way, the cows... why are you raising them like that?”
“If we are going to raise animals, shouldn’t we raise them to be strong?”
No orcs dared to eat the animals that Choi Yeonseung had brought. Instead, they took care of them as if they were their own children. As a result, they had created formidable beasts. The power of existence flowing through Choi Yeonseung’s realm, the energy of the Abyss, and the strong livestock who accepted the orcs’ teachings!
“We have also dug through the ground and built a well. We can now increase the number of paddy fields even without Odaigon!”
“I realized that using cows makes it easier to plow the ground!”
In the absence of Choi Yeonseung, the orcs were moving forward with their own enlightenment, not just in building but also in farming. Choi Yeonseung had nothing more to say, so he just nodded.
“Well done. Keep going!”
“Master...!”
“Thank you!”
The orcs shouted with joy when Choi Yeonseung acknowledged them. Right now, they were holding hand plows and shovels rather than knives and shields.
‘They have done a truly great job.’
He found it unexpected that the cows and chickens that they had been given to eat were being raised for combat purposes, but everything else was amazing. This land didn’t feel like his when he received it, but it wouldn’t be strange to say that it was Choi Yeonseung’s realm now.
“Um. I was planning to raise the chickens and cows here and feed them to you since you have been suffering. But seeing you pour so much affection into raising them, I’d feel sorry to butcher them now. I’ll just do something else—”
“Huh? No! We can butcher it!”
“But you poured all your affection...”
“Catch it! Hey! Catch it!”
“What?! We can eat it?!”
Surprised, the orcs excitedly chased after the livestock. They caught chickens in an instant. Not long after, they started salivating.
“I definitely want to eat it!”
“Thank you for allowing it!”
Choi Yeonseung felt sorry because he seemed to have made them work for nothing when they could have been eating meat already.
“From now on, feel free to eat them for as long as their population is regulated.”
“Are… Are you sure? It would be an honor!”
“Before I eat, I will always offer a sacrifice to Master!”
“There is no need... Anyway, bring me some meat.” Choi Yeonseung beckoned, and the strange golem stood next to him and started preparing a stone slab for cooking meat.
‘I wonder if the cows and chickens they’ve raised will taste good.’
The rice was fine. On the contrary, it boasted an excellent taste that only plants grown in the Abyss could produce. But the cows and chickens...
‘Will it be okay?’
He had never seen such cows or chickens on Earth. The chickens were so big that just one could fill up the stomachs of five to six orcs. At this point, they were more like Abyss monsters than chickens...
Nevertheless, Choi Yeonseung’s hands didn’t stop. Just as how he had dismantled many monsters, he quickly butchered the cows and chickens and divided them into parts.
“Ah. You don’t know how to cook rice...” Choi Yeonseung paused. He was about to teach the orcs how to cook rice, but the orcs had already placed a cauldron on top of a stone fire pit and were adding rice to it.
“Huh?’
“... It’s nothing.”
The changes in the orcs surprised not only Choi Yeonseung, who had been in the Abyss for a long time, but the other constellations as well. Maybe this would eventually create an orc chef.
***
The orcs were so full that they couldn’t get up.
They didn’t dare leave behind the food prepared by the constellation, so they scraped it down and ate it. Above all, the food tasted fantastic. Choi Yeonseung prepared ginseng chicken soup by boiling chicken and white rice. When they had gotten to the cooked beef, the orcs could no longer stop themselves from eating.
Having only eaten raw meat or drank the blood of their enemies all their lives, the orcs found the dishes’ taste shocking!
‘Wait. Did they grow in size?’
Choi Yeonseung was taken aback. Could the orcs really become bigger just by eating?