D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 41

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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 41
“I thought my heart was going to leap out through my nose….”
“Ordinary humans usually say it feels like it’s coming out of their mouth instead, don’t they? Anyway, you did well.”
I gave his shoulder a couple of reassuring pats.
Kim Gyuwun had suggested Ha Gyuhyuk stay for at least a cup of tea, but it was clear he didn’t want to linger there for even a second longer.
Watching him leave without hesitation, I felt relieved—at least he wouldn’t get swindled somewhere.
“By the way, Ulrim.”
“Yes, I can make myself visible to human eyes or hide myself again as I please.”
As my words were cut short once more and the answer came back, Ha Gyuhyuk flinched.
People always say to listen until the end, but that’s advice meant for humans who need to hear the full context to understand. It doesn’t apply to me.
“Now, to my main point. I’ll adjust your stats a bit before you enter the Dungeon.”
It would be convenient if I intervened arbitrarily, but Ha Gyuhyuk would never want that.
Based on all the data I’ve gathered so far, this man named Ha Gyuhyuk has never chosen the easy path.
Even if I offered him a shortcut saying “This way is easier!”, he’d run away saying “If I take such an easy path, wouldn’t it be unfair to everyone else?” That’s the kind of person he is.
Seeing that all the clients I typically take on are this type, it must simply be my preference.
“Right, since you’re a client I chose, I should listen to what you want.”
“Ulrim, I didn’t quite catch that just now….”
“Ah, that was something you shouldn’t have heard.”
“Understood!”
Other people would feel hurt hearing something like that, but Ha Gyuhyuk answered cheerfully without any self-consciousness.
I let out a short laugh and extended my hand.
He hesitated for a moment before grasping my hand with both of his.
“Are you waiting for a blessing or something? Just hold it like you would a person’s hand.”
“Is it really okay for me to do that?”
“Yes, it’s really okay.”
How many times do I need to tell him that I’m using a materialized form and that he can touch me whenever he wants?
He carefully took my hand, his hesitation evident.
I went ahead and interlaced my fingers with his, locking them together.
“I could make you the strongest SSS-rank Hunter on this land right this instant, but that would be disrespecting all the effort you’ve put in so far, wouldn’t it?”
“Ah, if that would be more convenient for you, Ulrim….”
The moment I interlaced our fingers, his face suddenly flushed red and he started rambling incoherently.
He really is hopeless.
I slowed my pace slightly and opened my mouth gently.
If I spoke in a serious tone again, he would inevitably tense up.
“Ha Gyuhyuk, what you need to do to receive my help is simple.”
“Yes?”
“Clearly state what you want to do. Understand precisely what you desire and ask for it.”
I am the one who listens and the one who cares.
The Star gave me the power of care and the authority to twist the causality of this world.
But care can only be fulfilled when one understands what is truly needed.
If I forced my way in, there wouldn’t be no way to discover what he truly wants.
But that would defeat the entire purpose.
“To demand something….”
He hesitated, repeating my words as if struggling to grasp their meaning.
I lifted my gaze to meet his eyes directly, then continued speaking with deliberate precision, each syllable measured and distinct.
“You must be able to demand what you want not only from me, but from everyone you know.”
“…From everyone?”
“Yes. Whether it’s Guild Taemyeon or the strongest guild in the entire world, the mightiest Hunter, or a Dungeon boss—I’ll give you the power so that no one can ever look down on you when you speak. That much, I promise.”
“But.”
“No buts. Even if I grant you strength, it means nothing if you don’t speak. And the courage and will to speak—those are things I cannot create for you.”
No matter how hard I tried to soften my tone, my voice grew steadily firmer.
His gaze still wavered uncertainly, betraying his lack of confidence.
His reluctance to answer hastily without certainty was actually admirable in its own way.
I hadn’t expected a definitive answer from him immediately anyway.
“Even just saying you’ll try your best is enough.”
“I’ll do my very best.”
Only then did his response come back sharp and clear.
“Good. Then let’s stop the lectures here and head to training. You’re well-fed, and we know where we need to go.”
There’s a unique instinct that exists on Earth, in Korea, and in this Korean alone.
Even if the world splits in two, you feed them first.
Before you use their body or manipulate them, you feed them.
No matter how harsh the task you demand, it can only be done after they’ve eaten.
So I had deliberately fed him well beforehand.
I took Ha Gyuhyuk’s hand and began walking, his expression as indifferent as a dog being dragged toward a nail clipper.
Toward a dimension other than Earth.
* * *
[ Tasha: When are you coming back up? ]
[ Tasha: I miss you. ]
[ Se-um: I’m not on Earth right now—I’m at the Client Training Facility. You can come visit if you want. ]
[ Tasha: Really? ]
The Client Training Facility.
A Dimensional Space provided by the Constellation System, accessible only to Clients who have made direct contracts with a Constellation.
It creates training spaces perfectly suited to the dimensions where they live, allowing Clients to maximize their potential.
Of course, it’s not free—it operates on a reservation system where you pay Karma per hour.
‘Still, it’s nothing compared to what gets consumed every time I access Earth.’
I wonder if Ha Gyuhyuk, rolling left and right over there, realizes how much I’m spending just watching him.
I sighed as I watched him through the monitor.
[ Tasha: Will the Earthlings be shocked when they see what I look like? ]
[ Se-um: Our boy isn’t the type to be easily startled, but ]
[ Tasha: Just in case, I’ll go in human form!! ]
[ Se-um: There’s no way for her to see you from the Constellation Monitoring Room in the first place… ]
It seems Tasha, who had been so desperate to see me, was planning to come here after all.
For a Constellation without a client to visit someone else’s training facility, she’d have to pay observation karma again.
She’s spending that pointless currency just for me—truly an adorable friend.
“Ha Gyuhyuk! How’s it going!”
“U-Ulrim, I think I’ve d-died about forty times now….”
“Oh, no. You’ve only died thirty-two times.”
Inside the Virtual Dungeon.
He was facing down countless monsters in succession.
Since it was naturally simulated, the pain was reduced to about one-fiftieth, and damage approaching death felt only like a mild sting.
When he took damage close to fatal, a message appeared on his system window saying something like “You have died. Do your best so you don’t die in actual combat!”
Of course, I could see it too.
I found it somewhat regrettable that he had already failed thirty-two times.
“H-how many times do I need to die?”
“You need to die at least a hundred times to meet today’s training quota. And this isn’t the time to be whining.”
I was pretending to be unbothered, but my karma was melting away like cotton candy soaked in water right now.
To extract maximum efficiency from the time I could use, I couldn’t afford to indulge complaints.
Various buffs were active here to achieve the best cost-effectiveness when raising a client.
“S-Se-um…!”
As Ha Gyuhyuk trudged forward toward death once more, I heard Tasha’s voice right behind me.
Except during competitions, conversations between Constellations were filtered from clients, so I could call out freely.
Tasha, who seemed like it had been ages, threw her small body into my arms with all her might.
Her dark hair shimmered.
“Long time no see. I’m so happy.”
“You know barely any time has passed in the Constellation System. Look at this one for me, Tasha. What do you think of him?”
“Mmm….”
I held Tasha like a doll and stroked her head while pointing at the monitor.
Tasha’s crimson eyes gleamed as she watched Ha Gyuhyuk undergoing his extreme training inside.
“He’s definitely the type I’d like. Earth still has so many children like that. Still.”
“You went in about three hundred years ago—you still remember?”
Tasha rolled her eyes once, then laughed.
It seemed like she was hiding something, but I didn’t press her on it.
Her thin, pale hand clasped mine.
“Se-um, I really, really hope that the next time you enter Earth, it’s with me.”
“I hope for that too.”
She seemed like she wanted to say something more, so I waited, but our serious conversation was interrupted by Ha Gyuhyuk’s scream.
“Ulrim! Ulrim!”
“Yeah, you’re not dead. Go again.”
“…Yes!”
“S-Se-um, I think that kid is c-crying….”
“No.”
“U-uh.”

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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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