Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – Constellation VS Constellation (1)

“Now then, Kang Yujin, this way.”

After finishing the celebration with the group of Contractors and spending the night camping, Kang Yujin began traveling with them toward their hometown.

“I’m not sure if it’s okay for me to rely on you this much.”

“You said you have nowhere to go, right?”

“You saved our lives, brother. We should at least repay you somehow.”

From Kang Yujin’s point of view, it was a welcome offer.

Right now, Kang Yujin had neither a home nor anywhere else to stay.

Rather than wandering aimlessly, it would be better to stay somewhere for a while and decide where to go next.

“You don’t have any particular plans for what you’ll do from now on, right?”

“Right. Though I believe the Nameless One will guide me.”

“Then stay in our hometown for a while, learn how the world works, and think things through slowly.”

Unlike the impression they had given him when they first met, they were quite kind once he got closer to them.

Especially the bald man who acted as their leader... Seok Taejun.

Despite his rough appearance, he seemed to be a good person.

“Seok Taejun, what kind of place is your hometown?”

“Just... an ordinary countryside village.”

Seok Taejun answered with a bitter expression.

“But a few years ago, a lot of monsters started appearing in the surrounding areas. Since our hometown is relatively safe, many people gathered there. So the population has grown quite a bit.”

“There are a lot of monsters around?”

“Ah, but our hometown is safe. We have someone protecting us.”

“Someone protecting you?”

“A man named Cheon Muhyeok.”

Cheon Muhyeok.

When Seok Taejun spoke that name, a hint of tension entered his voice.

“He’s an extremely skilled Contractor. He also has a contract with a powerful Constellation.”

“A powerful Constellation...”

“He settled in our hometown last year and has been taking care of everything ever since. Thanks to him, we can safely leave the village and go hunting like this.”

Apparently, all of them came from the same village.

A group of ambitious young people had gathered together and begun walking the path of Contractors.

For now, they used their hometown as a base and only hunted in nearby areas.

But once they became stronger, their goal was to leave their hometown and work seriously as Contractors.

“Ah, there it is.”

Seok Taejun raised his hand.

Kang Yujin looked in the direction he was pointing.

What appeared before him was a strange sight for something supposedly called a rural village.

A towering wall surrounded the entire settlement.

It looked more like a fortress...

Or a prison.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kang Yujin.”

The man who greeted Kang Yujin was dressed in an expensive-looking white suit.

“My name is Cheon Muhyeok. I’m responsible for this village.”

“...”

To tell the truth, Kang Yujin was already in a bad mood.

He had been planning to rest at the lodging they had prepared for him, but he had practically been dragged here because the leader of this place wanted to meet him.

“I heard Seok Taejun and his group received a great deal of help from you.”

“It wasn’t enough to call it help.”

“They told me you were extremely skilled.”

Sitting across from Kang Yujin on the sofa in the reception room, Cheon Muhyeok spoke in a subtle tone.

“I heard you destroyed a large dinosaur-type undead in a single blow.”

“That was thanks to the blessing of the Nameless One.”

“The Nameless One... So that is the Constellation contracted with you. May I ask what their Constellation name is?”

“I don’t know.”

“You really don’t know? According to Seok Taejun and his companions, it seems to be an S-Rank Constellation.”

“I don’t know anything about whether He’s S-Rank or whatever. All I know is...”

Kang Yujin took a sip of the coffee Cheon Muhyeok’s secretary had prepared.

Then he continued.

“He lights the path before me.”

“...”

Cheon Muhyeok frowned for a moment.

But soon, he smiled again.

“I see. In any case, Kang Yujin, you possess extraordinary strength.”

“It’s all thanks to the Nameless One.”

“Kang Yujin, let me get straight to the point.”

Cheon Muhyeok leaned forward.

“Would you be interested in working with me?”

“Working?”

“I’ve been searching for talented Contractors for quite some time. When I heard about you, I thought, ‘This is the person I’ve been looking for!’”

“You said you can protect this village by yourself.”

“Protecting this area isn’t what matters, Kang Yujin.”

“Then what is?”

“I’m sure you’ve heard that many monsters have been appearing around this region.”

“I have.”

“There is a leader behind those monsters. No... you could call it the source that produces them.”

Cheon Muhyeok’s voice turned serious.

“If we kill that creature, the monsters’ momentum will completely collapse.”

“...”

“But I can’t defeat it alone. I need a capable companion.”

Cheon Muhyeok shook his head.

“I’ve searched everywhere, but it’s difficult to find someone suitable. This region is extremely remote.”

“What about people like Seok Taejun?”

“You’re joking, right? They aren’t strong enough.”

“They seemed motivated.”

“Taking those people along would only get them killed for nothing. I need someone with strength on your level.”

“...”

“Please help me, Kang Yujin. I’ll make sure you’re properly compensated.”

Kang Yujin took another sip of coffee.

“There are many people who lost their homes because of the monsters, right?”

“Yes. Many villages were devastated by the monsters. A lot of those people fled here.”

“If that source is defeated, they’ll be able to reclaim those villages too?”

“Most likely.”

“Then it should be killed as soon as possible.”

A smile appeared on Cheon Muhyeok’s lips.

“Then, Kang Yujin, if you join us—”

“But I have no intention of fighting alongside you.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m rejecting your offer.”

Cheon Muhyeok’s expression stiffened.

“What exactly is the problem?”

“Defeating that source is a good thing. A lot of people can be saved that way. That’s exactly the kind of thing someone who follows the Nameless One should do.”

“Then why...”

“You.”

Kang Yujin stared directly at Cheon Muhyeok.

“The moment I came here and saw your face, I got pissed off. At first, I thought it was because I was trying to rest and you forcibly summoned me here.”

“And?”

“But after thinking about it, I don’t think that’s the reason.”

“Then what is it?”

“You remind me of someone.”

“Who?”

“Those cult bastards.”

Those demons who spoke beautifully on the surface and pretended to be holy men...

While committing every filthy act imaginable behind closed doors.

Kang Yujin could smell the same stench coming from this well-dressed man.

“Something felt strange ever since I arrived here.”

“...”

“An ordinary countryside village? This place looks more like a slum.”

The moment Kang Yujin had passed through the checkpoint built at the entrance of the wall, he had frowned at the foul smell drifting from inside.

There were certainly a lot of people.

But everyone wore shabby clothes, and their faces had no vitality.

Thin, starving children sat around in the back alleys.

He had also frequently seen people lying helplessly on the ground.

On top of that, the air was filled with smoke, as if there were factories somewhere nearby.

When Kang Yujin wiped his nose with a tissue at the lodging, even the mucus had come out black.

“You say you’re protecting this place? Bullshit. What the hell are you doing here?”

“I believe there’s been some misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding, my ass.”

Now he could clearly see it.

This man claimed to be protecting the people.

But in reality, he had trapped them behind these walls and was exploiting them.

“Did Seok Taejun tell you some strange things about me? That doesn’t seem likely.”

“They wouldn’t insult you. From their perspective, it’s true that you’re a hero who saved everyone.”

“Then...”

“But that doesn’t justify what you’re doing now.”

Seok Taejun and his companions had treated Kang Yujin respectfully because he had helped them.

People who valued loyalty that much would never badmouth Cheon Muhyeok in front of an outsider.

“Kang Yujin, I admit the standard of living in this area is poor. But there’s nothing I can do about that. We have to take responsibility for many refugees. It’s a hardship we have no choice but to endure.”

“What a joke.”

Kang Yujin snorted and pointed at Cheon Muhyeok.

“Then why are you wearing such an insanely expensive-looking suit? That watch on your wrist is shining pretty nicely too, and those shoes look expensive as hell.”

“...”

“This office is ridiculously luxurious too. Why are you the only one who doesn’t have to endure any hardship?”

Watching Cheon Muhyeok bite his lip, Kang Yujin continued.

“Want me to guess something?”

“...”

“You’re skimming off what Seok Taejun and the others earn outside too, aren’t you?”

It was only a guess.

But Cheon Muhyeok fell silent.

“Judging by the fact that you can’t answer, I guess I’m right.”

“I provide Seok Taejun and his group with equipment and other necessities. I simply receive compensation in return.”

“Bullshit.”

Kang Yujin downed the now-cold coffee in one gulp and stood up.

“If I followed my feelings, I’d blow you away right here. But I’ll hold back.”

“Then what do you intend to do?”

“I can just go kill that source by myself.”

“Excuse me?”

“That solves everything, doesn’t it? I don’t want to work under someone like you, but I still want to save those people.”

“W-Wait a moment.”

Cheon Muhyeok stared at him in disbelief.

“Aren’t you taking this too lightly? I’m asking for your help precisely because even I can’t handle it alone.”

“Hey.”

Kang Yujin snorted.

“I have the blessing of the Nameless One. Don’t compare yourself to me.”

“Seriously!”

For the first time, irritation entered Cheon Muhyeok’s voice.

“Enough with that Constellation nobody has ever even heard of!”

But the moment he said those words, Cheon Muhyeok flinched and took a step backward.

“What did you just say?”

Kang Yujin had not touched him.

He merely stared at him.

And that alone was enough to make Cheon Muhyeok retreat.

“Insult Him one more time, and I’ll smash you apart.”

“W-What kind of...”

Cheon Muhyeok looked completely baffled.

“What exactly are you? What kind of life did you live before this?”

“I was just some bastard living at the very bottom.”

Kang Yujin frowned and turned his back.

“One of the pieces of trash that guys like you made a living exploiting.”

After Kang Yujin left the reception room—

“No. 36! No. 36!!”

At Cheon Muhyeok’s shout, a clown appeared in the corner of the room.

It was an Apostle who had maintained a close relationship with Cheon Muhyeok for quite some time.

“Things have gone wrong!”

“It certainly seems that way.”

“I never expected him to be that insane! He’s completely crazy!”

Cheon Muhyeok shouted as he scratched his head furiously.

“We need to change the plan! We move immediately!”

“Are you telling me you feel threatened by that man? Aren’t you overestimating him?”

No. 36 tilted their head.

“Is this because you heard that he contracted with an S-Rank Constellation?”

“I don’t care much about that!”

The S-Rank Constellation contracted with Kang Yujin did not appear to have a Constellation name yet.

That meant it was probably nothing more than a newly born Constellation.

There was no need to be particularly cautious.

“I realized it halfway through. That bastard came from the Church.”

“The Church? You mean the Church of the Morning Star?”

“There’s a human experimentation facility belonging to them around this region. He escaped from there.”

Cheon Muhyeok had done business with the Church of the Morning Star several times in the past.

That was why he had been able to notice.

“So that explains why he was so strong! Then perhaps the skill he used when he awakened was also...”

“Probably. If he really is the completed form of the modified human that Church was trying to create, then he’s dangerous.”

“In that case...”

“Right.”

Cheon Muhyeok bit his lip.

“If that bastard finds the Hidden Piece, everything we’ve done will be wasted.”

“Then we need to move quickly.”

“First, call Seok Taejun. Those useless bastards should at least make themselves useful at a time like this. And...”

Cheon Muhyeok drew a symbol in the air with his right hand.

Then he spoke.

“Summon my Constellation.”

“Good work, Kang Yujin.”

As soon as Kang Yujin left Cheon Muhyeok’s office, the clown appeared beside him.

“Wow, Kang Yujin, you’ve got one hell of a temper. I was nervous just watching you.”

“You told me to get under his skin as much as possible.”

The clown gave him a puzzled look.

“Huh? You were doing that on purpose?”

“Do you think I’m insane? Why would I pick a fight like that with someone I just met?”

It was true that Kang Yujin had genuinely become furious when Cheon Muhyeok insulted Him at the end.

But his aggressive attitude toward Cheon Muhyeok before that had been intentional.

“So it was all an act?”

“No. Everything I said was sincere. I really didn’t like anything I saw after coming here.”

Seeing Seok Taejun and his companions treat him kindly had made Kang Yujin think that perhaps the world was still worth living in.

But after arriving here, he had once again confirmed that there were still plenty of rotten parts in this world.

Perhaps the Nameless One had saved him so he could tear those rotten parts out and fix them.

That was what Kang Yujin believed.

“Cheon Muhyeok has joined hands with an A-Rank Constellation. He rules this region and exploits the people living here. It doesn’t seem like he’s only taking their money or labor either.”

“What, is he draining their life force or something?”

“I don’t know if it goes that far.”

Most of the people here looked unhealthy.

If it was not simply because they were malnourished...

And if Cheon Muhyeok was actually draining their vitality...

Then he was an even greater villain than Kang Yujin had imagined.

“Also, he’s targeting the leader controlling the monsters in this area.”

“He isn’t trying to kill it purely for everyone’s safety, is he?”

“Of course not. He must have some ulterior motive.”

“Then I already know what I need to do.”

Kang Yujin rolled his neck, making it crack loudly.

“First, I crush the leader of the monsters with my own hands. Then, if Cheon Muhyeok reveals his true colors, I crush him too.”

“Very simple and straightforward.”

“That’s what the Nameless One wants, right?”

“I never said that. I merely provided you with information as the Apostle supporting you, Kang Yujin.”

The Nameless One probably had His own intentions.

Surely, He was already drawing up some grand plan.

In that case, Kang Yujin did not need to think about anything complicated.

He simply had to keep fighting in the direction that He guided him.

“But Kang Yujin, will you really be alright? Cheon Muhyeok is quite a powerful Contractor, and he seems to have a very close relationship with an A-Rank Constellation.”

“What are you talking about?”

Kang Yujin shrugged.

“The Constellation behind that bastard is A-Rank. The great One on our side is S-Rank.”

He grinned.

“Obviously, we win.”

“It’s not quite that simple...”

The clown let out a long sigh.