D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 27

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 27
I never expected him to pull off a flawless victory against zombies in the first place.
Having heard him say he’d put in more effort, why would I scold him now?
Low self-esteem clients were always problematic in moments like these.
No matter how much I coaxed and encouraged him from the sidelines, for some inexplicable reason, his depression would flare up again.
“Ha Gyuhyuk, you know it’s still a long way off.”
I muttered toward the monitor in frustration, though my words would never reach him.
Making him the strongest Hunter in that world right now would be trivial.
I’d only need to lift a finger.
The reason I refrained was simply because raising him that way would be neither helpful nor satisfying for Ha Gyuhyuk.
I respect my client’s autonomy.
– That’s… beautiful…?
While I was lost in such thoughts, Ha Gyuhyuk spoke to me.
One might expect him to feel uncomfortable with the way I was praising him, yet the figure on the screen simply looked delighted.
“As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.”
Other Constellations had mocked me before, saying my compliments toward clients were outdated.
But my good client seemed to appreciate it, smiling warmly at me.
Was he merely smiling?
Seeing him blush slightly as he beamed with joy, it was clear that my praise had genuinely pleased him.
[ So don’t say things like you’re beyond saving anymore. ]
Do you understand the care with which I’m raising you?
Originally, if one doesn’t love oneself, no Constellation’s efforts can achieve anything.
– Y-yes…! So what should I do now?
As the saying goes, praise can make even whales dance.
Simply hearing me call him beautiful gave him such energy that he asked if there were any stronger opponents—zombies, krakens, anything.
At his current rank, sending anything stronger would be pointless; he’d be knocked out before he could even engage.
I had no desire to dampen his enthusiasm with such reckless challenges.
[ Effort is admirable, but you need to rest sometimes too. ]
[ You don’t realize it, but you just transcended your limits. ]
I rapidly scanned through the countless Dungeon data floating beside the screen.
A thousand pieces of data seemed far too meager.
Though considering I nearly collapsed backward when someone asked me to write sixty thousand sentences by hand…
He might never clear all of this even in a lifetime.
Still, I wanted to give him diverse experiences so he could save many lives.
Even for me, it’s impossible to discern who will die in the future and tell him about it.
To be precise, discerning it is possible.
But conveying it is forbidden as a grave violation of causality.
“Se-um, what are you thinking about?”
Franson, who had been wandering about after apparently failing spectacularly at client selection again, casually nudged his head toward me.
“I was just venting my frustration at the absurdity of reality—why Constellations must be bound by the laws of causality.”
“If I interfere with causality to sponsor a client, that would completely break the balance. The stars’ equilibrium would shatter. There would be backlash.”
“…I understand that.”
“You understand, so why are you angry?”
“I don’t know!”
“Why are you angry with me this time?”
Understanding something and feeling it’s unjust are two different matters, aren’t they?
Constellations are omnipotent.
They can hold in one hand and trample those whom humans and other life forms worship as gods.
But ultimately, we too are bound by the flow of the stars to a certain degree.
Karma, called ‘karma’, is converted into goods in this world and then returned to the flow.
We harvest as much karma as possible from lower life forms and return it to the stars.
Then we select another client and harvest their karma.
We utilize it through this special system called sponsorship, but truthfully, it’s no different from a karma factory.
[ I’ll probably tell you which Dungeon to enter within a week. ]
[ Unlike the SA Dungeon last time, I might not be able to handle everything myself, so you should build up your stamina in the meantime. ]
– Is there a possibility I’ll enter a Dungeon higher than the SA Dungeon?
The classification system for Dungeons is incredibly detailed.
From FFF-rank Dungeons to SA-rank, AAA-rank, SSS-rank, and so on.
Honestly, I haven’t even memorized them all.
I categorize them roughly as: Dungeons you clear by breathing, Dungeons that require some karma expenditure, and Dungeons that require significant karma expenditure.
These are further subdivided into Minor Dungeons that must be cleared in one attempt, and Major Dungeons where you can freely exit and re-enter once you’ve cleared a certain percentage.
Usually, Dungeons with high difficulty and vast size are called Major Dungeons, though there are exceptions.
The ‘Landquake’ that caused my death was the largest one to date, yet it was a Minor Dungeon that had to be cleared in one go.
‘That’s why I died, after all.’
If I entered a Dungeon higher than SA-rank, I could certainly save many people.
But separately, I cannot guarantee Ha Gyuhyuk’s survival.
After finishing my thoughts, I purchased a few items and sent them over.
[ Your sponsored ‘Stamina Enhancement Set’ is being transmitted. (47% progress…) ]
[ Your sponsored ‘Major Dungeon Entry Ticket’ is being transmitted. (79% progress…) ]
The transmission speed was certainly faster after using the server expansion voucher.
Right, since I’m originally from Korea, I couldn’t bear such slow speeds.
“It’s definitely slow. How did you endure it, Se-um? You smash a monitor every time Se-um’s chat lags even a second.”
“….”
I was expressing my joy at this speed improvement when Franson poured cold water on my happiness.
I’m depressed. Truly.
Here I am, someone who’s never been outpaced by internet speeds, celebrating this tortoise-like velocity.
[ I’m sending you the Major Dungeon Entry Ticket, so go look around the open Major Dungeons and pick one you want to enter. If you’re unsure, I’ll choose for you. ]
– A Major Dungeon Entry Ticket? I, I heard those can only be obtained from the Black Market….
Normally, Major Dungeon entry tickets are distributed randomly by the system to ‘high-ranking’ Hunters.
The system selects and distributes them to those who can efficiently clear those places.
However, when people consider the merit of the rewards dropped within, they begin to feel that the system is unreasonable.
Many high-ranking Hunters would attach a premium and sell them to the Black Market.
[ What do you take me for? ]
But I am a Constellation.
Intervening in the system and extracting a few of those items is hardly a difficult task.
While I conversed with Ha Gyuhyuk, Franson peered over my shoulder, observing Earth through the small windows I had opened.
Seeing him replay recorded footage of the previous situations suggested he was quite pleased with what he saw.
“So this is the Earth where Se-um was born. It’s quite radiant.”
“Indeed. It’s a star whose light never dims.”
– But wouldn’t it be difficult for me to enter a Major Dungeon with my current abilities? I can barely handle four zombies.
[ There are lower-level Major Dungeons too. Just go in there, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll give you a few more Escape Stones, so don’t worry. ]
Even if I fail to clear beyond a certain point, having Escape Stones means I can exit whenever I wish.
[ This time, you must leave immediately when I tell you to. Don’t try to save anyone else on a whim. ]
I also voiced a light complaint about the Dungeon incident from last time.
I could sense Ha Gyuhyuk’s face flushing on the screen.
– Should I write another reflection essay?
Do you think writing a reflection essay will soothe my anger?
[ Start it right now. ]
This clever yet stubborn child.
“Se-um, but why did you take fifty screenshots of this document? What did you write in the input field? Oh, right now, this very moment, five thousand sheets.”
“Don’t butt into thoughts like this without any sense of propriety. Franson, do you have mind-reading abilities? And stop reading other people’s chats!”
“Huh?”
As I frantically pressed the delete button and scolded him, he wore an aggrieved expression.
That was separate from the fact that I had already captured it myself. I quietly averted my gaze.
Ha Gyuhyuk said he would wash up immediately and search for a new Major Dungeon, then moved to leave.
Since I noticed last time that he found it quite burdensome to watch me bathe, I readily turned the screen away.
“My client seems to be busy for a moment, so feel free to look around elsewhere.”
“Oh, really? Then I’ll do that. I’m logged in on my own device anyway. I’m dying of boredom.”
“I won’t forget this kindness.”
“Just don’t suddenly scold me out of nowhere like before.”
As Franson, who was making an effort for me, carefully examined this Earth, he suddenly narrowed his eyes.
Sensing something amiss, he paused the page and tapped one section.
“Isn’t this where your client lives?”
Unfamiliar figures were loitering near Ha Gyuhyuk’s House.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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