Chapter 9. Constellation VS Constellation (1)

"Alright, Mr. Kang Yujin. This way."

After the after-party with the group of contractors and a night of camping,

Kang Yujin was traveling with them to their hometown.

"I'm not sure if I should be imposing like this."

"You said you had nowhere to go."

"You saved our lives, so we should repay you."

For Kang Yujin, it was a welcome offer.

Currently, Kang Yujin has no home or temple.

It would be better to stay somewhere temporarily and look for the next destination rather than wandering aimlessly.

"Do you have any plans for the future?"

"Well, I think the nameless one will guide me."

"Stay in our hometown for a while, get a feel for the world, and think about it slowly."

Unlike the first impression when they met, they became quite friendly after getting to know each other.

Especially the bald leader, Seok Taejun, seemed to be a good person despite his intimidating appearance.

"Seok Taejun, what kind of place is your hometown?"

"Just... a normal rural town."

Seok Taejun said with a wry smile.

"But a few years ago, many monsters appeared in the surrounding areas, so many people gathered in our relatively safe hometown. So the population is quite large."

"Are there many monsters around?"

"Yeah, but our hometown is safe. We have someone protecting us."

"Someone protecting you?"

"His name is Cheon Muhyeok."

Cheon Muhyeok.

When Seok Taejun mentioned this name, his voice slightly tensed.

"He's a very skilled contractor, and he has a powerful constellation contract."

"A powerful constellation..."

"He has been responsible for everything in our hometown since last year. Thanks to him, we can go out and hunt with peace of mind."

They all seemed to be from the same neighborhood, a group of young men who had come together to walk the path of contractors.

Currently, they have their base in their hometown and only hunt in nearby areas, but their goal is to leave their hometown and actively engage in contractor activities once they gain more experience.

"Ah, there it is."

Seok Taejun raised his hand.

Looking in that direction, an unnatural scene for a rural town caught his eye.

A high wall surrounded the entire area, making it look like a fortress, or... a prison.

* * *

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kang Yujin."

The one who greeted Kang Yujin was a man in an elegant white suit.

"I am Cheon Muhyeok, responsible for this village."

"..."

Actually, Kang Yujin wasn't in a good mood.

He was trying to rest in the assigned accommodation, but the leader of this place had him brought here almost forcibly.

"Mr. Seok Taejun's group said you helped them a lot?"

"It wasn't that much help."

"They said you have great skills."

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

"I heard you crushed a large dinosaur-type undead in one blow."

"Thanks to the nameless one."

"The nameless one... the constellation you have a contract with. What is its name?"

"Don't know."

"Really? According to Mr. Seok Taejun, it seems to be an S-grade constellation."

"S-grade or whatever, I don't know. What I know is..."

Kang Yujin took a sip of the coffee served by Cheon Muhyeok's secretary and said,

"that it guides me on my path."

"..."

Cheon Muhyeok's expression momentarily darkened, but he soon smiled again.

"I see. In any case, Mr. Kang Yujin, you have remarkable skills."

"All thanks to the nameless one."

"Mr. Kang Yujin, let's get straight to the point."

Leaning forward, Cheon Muhyeok said,

"Would you consider working with us?"

"Work?"

"I've been looking for excellent contractors. When I heard about you, I thought, 'This is the one!'"

"But you said you can protect this place on your own?"

"Protecting this area isn't the main issue, Mr. Kang Yujin."

"Then what is?"

"You must have heard that many monsters are appearing in the surrounding areas."

"I have."

"There is a leader... or rather, a source of these monsters."

Cheon Muhyeok's voice was serious.

"If we kill that one, the momentum of the monsters will be completely broken."

"..."

"But I can't do it alone. I need a skilled partner."

Saying this, Cheon Muhyeok shook his head.

"I've been looking around, but it's hard to find the right person. This area is quite remote."

"What about people like Seok Taejun?"

"Are you joking? They're not up to the task."

"But they have the enthusiasm."

"Bringing them along would just get them killed. You need someone with skills like Mr. Kang Yujin."

"..."

"Please help, Mr. Kang Yujin. I'll provide adequate compensation."

Kang Yujin took a sip of coffee and put the cup down.

"Many people have lost their homes due to the monsters, right?"

"Yes, many villages have been ravaged by monsters. Many people have fled to this place."

"If we take down that source, we can reclaim those villages, right?"

"That's right."

"We should do it quickly."

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Cheon Muhyeok's face.

"Then, Mr. Kang Yujin, will you..."

"But I don't want to fight with you."

"What?"

"I'm going to refuse your offer."

Cheon Muhyeok's expression hardened.

"What's the problem?"

"Taking down that source is a good thing. It will save many people, and that's what I, who follows the nameless one, should do."

"But why..."

"You."

Kang Yujin looked directly at Cheon Muhyeok.

"Seeing your face when I came here made me feel really bad. At first, I thought it was because I was forced to come here."

"But now?"

"But now, I don't think that's the reason."

"Then what is it?"

"You remind me of someone."

"Who?"

"Those cult guys."

People who pretend to be priests with all sorts of smooth talk but do all sorts of dirty deeds behind the scenes, like devils.

I could smell the same stench from this well-dressed man.

"Something felt off from the moment I arrived."

"..."

"A normal rural town? It looked more like a slum."

As soon as they passed through the checkpoint at the entrance of the wall, Kang Yujin frowned at the stench coming from inside.

There were indeed many people, but they all looked shabby and lacked vitality.

In the back alleys, emaciated children were huddled, and people lying helplessly on the ground were often seen.

Moreover, there was a lot of smoke, as if there was an industrial area nearby. When he wiped his nose with a tissue at the accommodation, black mucus came out.

"You say you're protecting this place? What a joke. What are you really doing here?"

"It seems there's a misunderstanding."

"Like hell."

Now he could see it clearly.

This man, while claiming to protect people, was actually confining them behind the wall and exploiting them.

"Did Mr. Seok Taejun say anything strange about me? I don't think so."

"They wouldn't badmouth you. You are a hero to them for saving them."

"Then..."

"But that doesn't justify what you're doing now."

Seok Taejun's group treated Kang Yujin with respect for helping them.

Such people who value loyalty would not speak ill of Cheon Muhyeok in front of an outsider.

"Mr. Kang Yujin, I admit the living standards in this area are poor. But it can't be helped. We have to take responsibility for many refugees. It's a necessary sacrifice."

"Ha, what a joke."

Kang Yujin laughed and pointed at Cheon Muhyeok.

"But why are you wearing such an expensive suit? Your watch is shiny, and your shoes look very good."

"..."

"The interior of this office is also very luxurious. Why don't you share the burden?"

Watching Cheon Muhyeok bite his lip, Kang Yujin continued,

"Let me guess."

"..."

"Are you also taking a cut from what Seok Taejun and his group earn outside?"

It was just a guess.

But Cheon Muhyeok remained silent.

"Your silence tells me I'm right."

"..."

"I provide them with equipment and other things, and I take a cut in return."

"Ha, what a joke."

After finishing the cold coffee in one gulp, Kang Yujin stood up.

"If I could, I'd like to take you down first, but I'll hold back."

"Then, what do you plan to do?"

"I'll go and take down that source on my own."

"..."

"What?"

"That will solve the problem. I don't want to work under someone like you, but I want to save people."

"Wait a minute."

Cheon Muhyeok frowned, looking troubled.

"Are you thinking it's too easy? I asked for your help because I can't do it alone."

"Hey."

Kang Yujin laughed.

"I have the protection of the nameless one. Don't compare me to you."

"Damn it!"

Cheon Muhyeok's voice was tinged with frustration for the first time.

"Stop with the nonsense about that unheard-of constellation!"

But as soon as he said it, Cheon Muhyeok flinched and took a step back.

"What did you just say?"

Kang Yujin didn't touch him.

He just glared at him.

That alone was enough to make Cheon Muhyeok step back.

"If you insult the nameless one again, I'll destroy you."

"What... what is this..."

His expression showed that he couldn't understand why he had stepped back.

"Who are you? What kind of person are you?"

"I'm just a guy who lived at the bottom of society."

Kang Yujin frowned and turned away.

"One of the trash that people like you exploit for a living."

* * *

After Kang Yujin left the reception room.

"Number 36! Number 36!!"

When Cheon Muhyeok shouted, a jester appeared from the corner of the reception room.

A close associate of Cheon Muhyeok.

"Things have gone wrong!"

"That's what it seemed like."

"I didn't expect him to be that strange! He's completely insane!"

Cheon Muhyeok scratched his head and shouted.

"We need to change the plan! Move immediately!"

"Are you feeling threatened by that man? Isn't that an overestimation...?"

Number 36 tilted his head.

"Is it because you heard he has an S-grade constellation contract?"

"I don't really care about that!"

The S-grade constellation that Kang Yujin had a contract with seemed to be unnamed, indicating it was a recent newcomer.

There was no need to be overly cautious.

"I figured it out halfway. He's from that cult."

"Cult? You mean the Cult of the Morning Star?"

"There's a human experimentation facility of that cult nearby. He escaped from there."

Cheon Muhyeok had been dealing with the Cult of the Morning Star for a long time, which is why he could figure it out.

"That's why he was so strong! Maybe he was using an awakening skill?"

"If he really is the perfect modified human they were creating, he's dangerous."

"Then..."

"Yes."

Cheon Muhyeok bit his lip.

"If he finds the Hidden Piece, all our efforts will be in vain."

"We need to act quickly."

"First, call Seok Taejun. They're useless, but we can use them now. And..."

Drawing a symbol in the air with his right hand, Cheon Muhyeok said,

"Call the Constellation."

* * *

"Thank you, Mr. Kang Yujin."

As soon as Kang Yujin left Cheon Muhyeok's office, the jester appeared.

"Wow, Mr. Kang Yujin. You really have a temper! I was on edge watching you."

"You told me to provoke him as much as possible, right?"

Hearing this, the jester looked surprised.

"Wait, so you did it on purpose?"

"Do you think I'm crazy? Would I start a fight with someone I just met?"

While he was really angry when the nameless one was insulted... his aggressive attitude towards Cheon Muhyeok was intentional.

"Was it all an act?"

"No, the things I said were all true. I didn't like what I saw here."

Seeing the kindness of Seok Taejun's group, he felt the world was still livable.

But coming here confirmed that there were still many rotten parts in the world.

Perhaps the nameless one saved him to fix these issues, Kang Yujin thought.

"Cheon Muhyeok is collaborating with an A-grade constellation to dominate this area and exploit people. It seems he's not just taking money or labor."

"Are you saying he's draining people's vitality?"

"I'm not sure about that."

The people here mostly looked unhealthy.

If it wasn't just due to poor nutrition but because Cheon Muhyeok was draining their vitality... then he's a worse villain than I thought.

"And he's targeting the leader of the monsters in this area."

"Not just to protect people, right?"

"No, he must have some ulterior motive."

"Then my task is clear."

Kang Yujin rotated his neck, making a cracking sound.

"First, I'll take down the leader of the monsters. If Cheon Muhyeok shows his true colors, I'll take him down too."

"Very clear."

"Is that the will of the nameless one?"

"I didn't say that. As a jester supporting Mr. Kang Yujin, I just provided information."

The nameless one probably has a separate plan.

There's definitely a bigger picture.

So, I just need to follow the path the nameless one guides without thinking.

"But, Mr. Kang Yujin, are you sure you'll be okay? Cheon Muhyeok is a very skilled contractor and seems to have a close relationship with an A-grade constellation."

"What are you talking about?"

Kang Yujin shrugged.

"The constellation behind him is A-grade, but the great one on our side is S-grade. We'll win, of course."

"It's not that simple..."

The jester sighed.