Chapter 501
Chapter 501
In fact, Choi Yeonseung was more confident in catering to demons than to humans. At first glance, this seemed absurd, but Choi Yeonseung had spent more time hanging out with demons in the Abyss than with humans on Earth.
He had tried all sorts of experiments with the demons by setting up an inn in the realm of the Ruler of Blood and Brawls, so he had clearly learnt what their tastes were.
“Alright, eat up.”
Instead of cooking something fancy, Choi Yeonseung simply sliced the wyvern meat and added a few fresh vegetables to make sandwiches. If he tried anything fancy, there was a chance the demons would be skeptical and reject his offering, so it was important to keep it simple.
The sandwiches looked plain, but there was more to them than met the eye. The tenderloin part of the wyvern, which Choi Yeonseung had sliced with the orichalcum blade, was full of magic power. The meat was so tender that it would look like it was dancing if a demon stuck their teeth into it.
In addition, the vegetables had been cultivated by the orcs in Choi Yeonseung’s realm. The orcs had put all the teachings and powers of their constellation into harvesting those vegetables, making sure they would offer a variety of special effects to whoever consumed them.
“I don’t know why you’re giving us food all of a sudden, but... Oh?”
“Us demons won’t be swayed by this... Ahem.”
The demons skeptically took a bite of their sandwiches and instantly nodded. Surprised, they took another bite and nodded again.
“Pretty good... Uhum. Wonderful... Uhum. What? I’ve finished it already...”
The demons instantly devoured the sandwiches and stared at Choi Yeonseung with eyes that seemed to beg for more. However, Choi Yeonseung didn’t start preparing more sandwiches. He hadn’t fed them in order to satisfy their hunger.
“If you’re finished, try a challenge. I want to see how it works.”
In order to employ this tactic with the human hunters here, Choi Yeonseung wanted to test a variety of foods on the demons and see if they could pass a trial.
“Try a challenge? We have to prepare more carefully...”
“It’s fine. Go in.”
“Human, you don’t have the right to command us...”
Bang!
“Go in.”
“...Okay, you have the right. We’ll go in.”
Not many demons could protest when concentrated energy flashed before their eyes.
The demons sagged their heads and quietly entered the temple. But after some time, they came out with beaming expressions.
“Thank you, household member of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training! We’ve managed to complete the challenge, thanks to you. That wyvern meat allowed me to attack faster and with more precision. The penetrating power of my magic was especially...”
“I see, but what about your defense?”
“Defense...”
Choi Yeonseung recorded all the information about the challenge that the demons gave him.
-Aren’t you looking for the household members of the evil god constellation...?
-Wait a minute.
The goddess of sloth was convinced.
Choi Yeonseung was dead set on farming all the rewards from the Temple of Glory. Seeing how he was collecting information about the challenges and outlining the effects and compatibility of his food...!
‘Hmm. There’s no need to add eggs for trials that require defense. Let’s add some cucumbers.’
Choi Yeonseung captured another Abyssal race and attempted the same experiment.
“Here, have something to eat. Is it good? Go into the temple after you’re done.”
“We won’t eat what your race has to offer... Yes, sure, we’ll try it... Oh, this is actually pretty good?”
Feed them, make them go in, summarize.
Feed them, make them go in, summarize.
Rinse and repeat.
Choi Yeonseung had also experimented with the food itself—changing up the ingredients of the sandwiches and even trying hot soup. By the time he finished cooking a dish, there was already a long line in front of him. Evidently, rumors quickly started to circulate around the Temple of Glory.
-The household member of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training is here to help people challenge the Temple of Glory!
-...Why?
-I don’t know, but the effects of his food are more potent than you’d think.
-Maybe as the incarnation of training, he’s helping all those who train. He’s a better constellation than I thought.
-I was reluctant because he’s human, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go there and get help.
***
“No, you wicked demon!”
The captured household members of the Explorer of the Stars shouted abuse at the demons. They finally realized the situation they had ridiculously found themselves in.
The betrayal of that demon was one thing, but it was truly absurd that all the other races at the temple had gone out of their way to capture them before Choi Yeonseung even did something.
What had the Undefeated Incarnation of Training done?
“What happened? Did the Undefeated Incarnation of Training buy you off?”
“Be quiet, you noisy bastard! What an insult to the sincerity of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training. He isn’t that kind of constellation.”
“How absurd... Wake up! Didn’t you say you didn’t like it when those humans went on a rampage? They are ruining the realm of demons!”
“You’re a crafty minion of the Explorer of the Stars. I commend your ability to pit two sides against each other!”
The demons silenced the minions of the Explorer of the Stars. Then, they hurriedly went to speak to Choi Yeonseung.
The minions of the Explorer of the Stars were stunned. Just what the hell was going on?
“These guys?”
“Yes!”
A few lizardmen warriors rushed to Choi Yeonseung and summoned him. He came over and asked, “So you’re the minions of the Explorer of the Stars? Whom have you tempted and corrupted so far?”
“Wh-what a ridiculous accusation... We’ve only come here to complete the trials.”
“Khahahahaha!” The lizardmen warriors next to him burst into laughter. “The minions of the Explorer of the Stars are lying through their teeth! Allow us to interrogate them!” they said to Choi Yeonseung.
‘Tsk, these crazy lizardmen...’
The household members of the Explorer of the Stars were baffled. These lizardmen were acting as though they were the household members of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training, even though that constellation had nothing to do with lizards.
What were they doing...?
“Everyone, calm down.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
“We’re really only here to go through the trials!”
“Don’t lie! And by the way, why did you try to attack the household member of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training?”
“They plotted to assassinate the household member of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training! Poisoning the water you drink, releasing venomous snakes in the place where you sleep, making you angry on the way...”
The household members gritted their teeth as they listened to these mortals blatantly lie. Of course, it was true that they were trying to keep Choi Yeonseung in check, but they hadn’t planned to assassinate him like these bastards claimed!
Kurururung!
“??!?”
“!!”
A sudden loud noise interrupted their conversation. As everyone looked around, the area where challenges were held, located in the middle of the Temple of Glory, started to crumble.
A sinister monster was emerging from within.
“...The Explorer of the Stars must’ve done it!”
“Wha...? N-no!”
***
As Choi Yeonseung was gaining control of the mortals around him, the household members of the Noble Crown Collector remained silent. They couldn’t afford to act.
The Noble Crown Collector used to terrify many high-status beings, but he had been greatly crippled by several consecutive defeats. However, a constellation like the Noble Crown Collector couldn’t simply back down.
The household members of the Noble Crown Collector planned to honor their master in the Temple of Glory. Their tactic wasn’t something trivial like corrupting household members.
-The Monk Pursuing Glory is arrogantly drawing mortals to his temple. Let all those mortals know true fear!
The mortals gathered at the temple might’ve noticed something suspicious if the household members of the Noble Crown Collector had attempted something.
Those who served evil god constellations were generally great at being sneaky, but everyone would notice if they did something conspicuous.
However, most of the mortals at the temple were preoccupied with capturing the minions of the Explorer of the Stars, so they were oblivious to the actions of the Noble Crown Collector’s household members.
[The power ‘Crown of Brambles’ of the ‘Noble Crown Collector’ has been activated!]
[A being wearing a crown of brambles appears in a nightmare!]
The Noble Crown Collector generally captured beings with noble bloodlines, but that wasn’t always the case. He also used strong beings with insignificant bloodlines in various ways.
“Rise, King of Brambles! Reveal yourself!”
For this specific battle, the collector constellation had created a special being to wear the crown of brambles.
Crown of Brambles was a powerful and bizarre ability that morphed several beings into one that would wear the crown!
It was a chimera-type power.
[The ‘Explorer of the Stars’ warns that this sinister and vicious being was made by the power of the ‘Noble Crown Collector’.]
As the most intelligent of the evil god constellations, the explorer constellation immediately realized what the origin of that creature was. Of course, the mortals didn’t believe him.
“Don’t be deceived, Choi Yeonseung! Maybe the explorer constellation is playing a trick!”
“Filthy and despicable! On top of trying to destroy the temple of trials, he’s also trying to deceive us! Does his wickedness have no limits?!”
“No...!”
The servants of the explorer constellation were extremely frustrated.
The King of Brambles stretched out his arms that were twisted like tentacles and blew away one of the household members of the Explorer of the Stars.
“It really isn’t the case!”
“Don’t be deceived, Choi Yeonseung. The constellation is using his minions to dispel your doubts...”
-He’s an enemy, but I feel a bit sorry for the Explorer of the Stars.
The Explorer of the Stars was being condemned so vehemently that even the goddess of sloth felt sorry for him.
‘By the way, Chef of Endless Gluttony. This isn’t what you’ve told me. I thought the evil god constellations were trying to tempt mortals to join them. This is rather unexpected, don’t you think?’
[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ apologizes. He says that the evil god constellations are like mold. It can’t be predicted when or where they will burst out.]
“Noble Crown Collector, it’s been a while! I thought you were depressed over that defeat. I’m glad you’re well!”
-No one can match your ability to make the opponent angry.
[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’ is outraged!]
The collector constellation was instantly enraged when Choi Yeonseung shouted and attacked. He hadn’t forgotten that this human was the cause of his hardships.
[The ‘Poisonous Crown’ power of the ‘Noble Crown Collector’ is activated!]
[The ‘Explorer of the Stars’ will handle the ‘Poisonous Crown’!]
[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’ is furious and asking what he is doing!]
[The ‘Explorer of the Stars’ angrily asks you the same question.]
[The ‘Noble Crown Collector’...]
Bang!
Choi Yeonseung ignored the two bickering constellations and launched an attack.
***
The household members of the Monk Pursuing Glory rushed forward angrily. Their reaction was understandable. After all, the temple built by their master was under attack.
“What are the mortals who came to clear the trials doing?”
“What do you expect from them? They won’t be of any help!”
The Monk Pursuing Glory also wasn’t expecting anything from the mortals who had come to clear the trials. They all had different motivations and desires. There was no reason for them to unite in this situation.
Most of them had probably fled.
“...???”
However, the scene at the temple was different from the household members’ expectations. Mortals from different races were fighting off the invaders together.