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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 63: Not an Incompetent Constellation Today
"You really wiped out all the gangs in a single day."
The bases of the seven gangs were devastated.
A procession of the dead walked over the ruins.
There were few in Ground Zero who didn't know about the massacre Yoojin had committed.
Yoojin clicked his tongue at Madam's surprised reaction.
"It would be troublesome if they ran away."
There was nothing good about leaving behind future trouble.
He already felt uneasy about Kim Jaewoo, the boss of the Red Spider, escaping to China.
Since he had decided to use his power, he had to make sure there was no room for gossip.
"The black market has offered to manage the Red Spider's businesses for you."
"Those guys, for free?"
"They failed to keep their promise from the last meeting. They called it a service."
The Three Gangs of Ground Zero.
The Milky Way Pub and the black market had acknowledged Yoojin's position after he defeated the Red Spider, promising to preserve his territory within Ground Zero.
"I knew there were many moths drawn to the flame, but they don't seem to value their own lives."
"Is that something someone who profits from those moths should say?"
"Ho ho. That's true."
"So, what can Madam do for me?"
Madam pondered for a moment.
She subtly crossed her legs and put on an alluring expression.
"Can I answer you later?"
"That won't work on me."
"You're no fun, you know."
"Well, consider it a debt owed. I don't need anything right now."
He had a chance to squeeze out of Jang Miseon an item worth the Heartstone.
Considering Madam's capabilities and connections, it was far more beneficial to bind her with debt than to demand immediate compensation.
"Will you manage the Black Herb and North Korean routes yourself?"
"Yeah. Just send me workers."
"The income from the remaining businesses, after deducting labor costs, will be about... 2 billion won."
Gasp—
Kang Minho, who was sitting at a table behind them, let out a gasp.
"That's less than I expected."
"You blew up the bloodstone supply, and the real valuable stuff is separate."
Madam was indirectly referring to the Black Herb farm.
2 billion won was a large sum for an individual, but it was a pittance for the Red Spider, which had hundreds of members.
That's why they brought half of the hunters in the gang when the Black Herb farm was in danger.
'For the time being, no one will be greedy for the businesses.'
Even better.
He had seen a lot of blood, but he had even acquired the businesses he had given up on for fear of getting sick if he ate them all.
Since the people dispatched from the black market were managing them, all he had to do was pay their wages regularly.
He had also shown off his power by destroying the seven gangs, so there would be no problems for a while.
"In Ground Zero, they estimate Yoojin-nim's level to be 6 Star."
"That's quite an overestimation. I'm honored."
"This is about the man who was only 1 Star when he attacked the Crimson Lair."
"Just keep that between us, Madam."
He hadn't even considered the possibility of Madam selling information.
After saving her from the Red Spider's attack—
And even conquering the Crimson Lair, they were in the same boat.
With the Red Spider gone—
She was in a position where she had colluded with the black market to promote Yoojin as the replacement for the Spider.
'It's clear which side would lose more.'
Madam sensed Yoojin's thoughts and turned her head away with a huff.
"Is that all our relationship means to you?"
"It's an excellent business relationship."
"You're so straightforward. And cold."
Stop pretending to be disappointed.
Despite your words, there's no warmth in her eyes.
In any case, she was someone he couldn't let his guard down around.
"Let me know anytime a singularity occurs."
"I hope there won't be a need to summon Yoojin-nim."
Leaving Madam's feigned anxiety behind, he moved to the table where the Little Runts team was sitting.
The three of them had dark circles under their eyes.
"Are you alright?"
"Uh, hmm. Yes."
"There's no need to force yourselves. You can't suppress your emotions just by trying to."
"...You're amazing, Hyung-nim. You're strong both physically and mentally."
Kang Minho muttered with a darkened expression.
The annihilation of seven gangs.
It wasn't hard to guess how many people had died in the process.
Being a hunter was a profession close to death.
They had to risk their lives every moment,
And sometimes they had to take the lives of others to survive.
"It's not that I didn't know that, but seeing it firsthand shakes me."
"You're not weak. You have to accept it honestly to move on."
Yoojin answered sincerely.
The rest of the group, sitting around the table, also let out a deep sigh.
'Well, it's understandable for Korean hunters.'
The world had undergone a transformation with the Cataclysm.
Korea had managed to enter a period of stability without its social system collapsing.
But even North Korea, right across the border, had collapsed.
And many countries, including China and India, were overrun by warlords, with vast areas beyond the reach of government administration.
'In places that were originally war zones, it's commonplace for hunters to kill more people than monsters.'
Think about it to your heart's content.
And then overcome it.
In Yoojin's view, the Little Runts team could handle it.
〔Khahahaha! Adversity, worry, and growth are all part of the process of becoming a hero.〕
'Have you finally found your voice, incompetent constellation?'
〔This is troubling. I granted you the honor of an audience, and yet this is how you behave?〕
Kronos responded calmly, unlike his usual frantic self.
Something was up.
'Constellation, have you accumulated any achievements while I haven't seen you?'
〔Thanks to the massacre my contractor carried out, my prestige has also grown stronger.〕
'Isn't it a bit much to gain achievements for killing a lot of people?'
〔They say if you kill 100 people, you're a murderer, but if you kill 10,000, you're a hero.〕
Where did he even pick up that expression?
Yoojin let out a deep sigh.
'Stop with the nonsense and let's get to the point.'
〔Find my constellation in the Pantheon. Then, I will open a new path for you.〕
'You're quite confident?'
〔It will be an ability you desperately need.〕
Oh?
Yoojin's eyebrows twitched at Kronos' bold claim.
What kind of amazing holy spell had he created to be so confident?
'I'll look forward to it, incompetent constellation.'
〔Khaha! When you go to the Pantheon, you will regret your disloyalty to me.〕
Kronos' hearty laughter echoed through Yoojin's mind.
＊ ＊ ＊
Yoojin returned to Seoul after finishing his business in Ground Zero.
He gave the Little Chicks team a few more days off.
〔That's not like you, Contractor.〕
'And what exactly is "like me"?'
〔Exploiting those small humans without mercy.〕
'A strong iron isn't forged just by hammering it relentlessly.'
Yoojin chuckled and slowly climbed the mountain of stairs in front of him.
108 stairs.
The first time he visited after his return, he struggled to climb them, gasping for breath.
'Now it's not even tiring.'
It was thanks to the stats he raised with Life Drain.
The physical abilities of a 2 Star martial arts hunter were superior to those of a professional athlete.
He climbed the 108 stairs with light steps, as if taking a stroll.
The moment he stepped his right foot between the pillars, his surroundings turned black, isolating him from the outside.
'Still the same.'
A wave of malice washed over him.
Countless constellations engraved on the dome expressed hostility towards Yoojin.
It wasn't like those high and mighty beings were doing this for the first time.
However…
Unlike before, not all constellations ignored or looked at Yoojin with contempt.
[The Observer of Wisdom observes you with curiosity.]
[The Harbinger of Doom takes notice of you.]
...
'Odin?'
Observer of Wisdom.
It was the constellation name of Odin, the guardian deity of the Romanov family and the Divine King-class constellation who bestowed his blessing upon Dmitri.
〔Harbinger of Doom〕 must be Surtr.
'Have they sensed Kronos' presence?'
Odin was a wizard known to have grasped all the wisdom and principles of the universe.
Surtr was one of the few remaining constellations of the giant race.
Even if their interests were different, both had reasons to watch Kronos.
〔Khahahaha! Behold. There are those who recognize my greatness.〕
'Zeus would be very happy if your identity is revealed.'
〔Ahem. Be quiet.〕
A half-baked constellation with such little achievement that even his presence was faint.
If the Divine King of the Olympus Cluster found out, it wouldn't be difficult to eliminate Kronos.
The light of the constellations gradually faded.
Odin and Surtr, who had shown interest, and a few other constellations soon left.
〔It's quiet now.〕
'Indeed.'
〔I, too, will one day stand shoulder to shoulder with them again.〕
'You should.'
〔Why aren't you insulting my ambition?〕
'I benefit when you become stronger.'
So work harder.
Kronos burst into laughter at Yoojin's blunt thoughts.
〔Khahahaha! Truly worthy of being my contractor.〕
'Enough. Give me what you were talking about earlier.'
〔Don't be surprised.〕
[Holy Spell - Memento, Unholy Shock Shield added.]
◎ Skills
▷ Memento
Category: Holy Spell
Rank: D
Reads the memories of objects. An object once targeted can be reused after 30 days.
▷ Unholy Shock Shield
Category: Holy Spell
Rank: C
Reflects a portion of the impact from melee attacks back to the attacker and blocks ranged attacks. Impact accumulated while using the shield is applied to the impact stack of the Punishing Spike.
Not bad?
'Unholy Shock Shield. Perfect for combos.'
A defensive holy spell that reflects damage from melee attacks.
And blocks the impact of ranged attacks.
It also synergizes with the buff [Punishing Spike], which increases in effectiveness as impact accumulates.
There weren't many defensive spells in necromancy, so it was an even better skill.
‘Damn, Kronos. He actually gave me something useful.’
〔It's too early to be surprised.〕
'Is there something more?'
〔Khahahaha. I put my heart and soul into the former, but you don't seem to recognize its value yet.〕
Memento.
It meant "memory" in Latin.
As the name suggested, it was a psychometry-type holy spell that read the memories of objects.
'It's useful, but I don't think it's something to boast about.'
〔Remember, I was originally the constellation who governed the concepts of time and harvest.〕
'It was me who told you to flip that concept and govern the power of defying fate.'
That was also the reason why Kronos could govern the realm of defying death.
What was the reason for emphasizing that now?
'...I don't know.'
〔Khahahaha. Didn't you turn back time?〕
'Yeah. I did.'
〔Even the events that will happen in the future are a past you have already experienced.〕
Bzzzt—!
The pocket watch in his pocket vibrated.
〔My artifact. Didn't you say you've had it since you were young?〕
'It was left to me by parents I don't even know.'
〔An object that existed on the same timeline as the contractor. It means that both memories of the future and the past remain.〕
No way.
Yoojin held the pocket watch that continued to vibrate in his hand.
[Broken Kronos' Pocket Watch]
Rank: Divine Relic
Category: Artifact
Durability: 1/10
An artifact left in various dimensions by the ancient constellation who governed time.
It remembers events that occurred at a similar point in time from the records of a timeline that has already passed.
'Remembers... events?'
〔I told you before. Even a Regressor cannot remember everything.〕
It was when he accepted the Arhan Guild's proposal and entered the gate together.
Song Myeongseok, one of the nine heads of the Nine Dragons' Hall.
Yoojin didn't know that he was once called Arhan's supernova.
〔If the pocket watch has always been with the contractor, it can read the events centered around you.〕
'That means...'
〔Memories of the time period that overlaps with before the regression.〕
'You're saying I can use the pocket watch to find the opportunities I missed?'
〔That is correct.〕
Wow.
Yoojin was speechless.
He just blinked his eyes several times while standing there.
"This is totally awesome."
The emotions surging within him were far more intense and overwhelming, but—
Unable to find a suitable expression, he spoke concisely.
〔Behold! My magnificent power!!!〕
'I can't help but acknowledge this one. Great King of the Titans.'
Yoojin readily acknowledged Kronos' achievement.
To think he created a holy spell that could search for opportunities from the time period before the regression, linked with the pocket watch as the axis!
The constellation who ruled time.
It was an idea and an ability that only Kronos could have.
'With this spell and the pocket watch, I can seize even the opportunities I don't know about.'
When preparing for the regression, he had organized the opportunities he needed to take.
Even so, Yoojin didn't remember everything, and some information wasn't publicly available or had simply slipped his mind.
However…
What if he used [Memento]?
'I can obtain information about all the opportunities I might miss.'
His heart raced.
It was no different from taking a test with the answer sheet next to him.
[Memento] itself was useful, but with Kronos' touch on the divine relic, it had transformed into a cheat-like ability close to divine power.
〔Why don't you try using it?〕
'Alright. Let's do it as a commemoration.'
[Using Memento.]
[Target - Kronos' Broken Pocket Watch]
Tick-tock—
The stopped minute and second hands started to move.
It was a similar situation to when he absorbed the divine power released by Dmitri and turned back time.
A scene flashed through Yoojin's mind.
"Huh?"
Wait a minute.
This place... isn't that...?
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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