D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 45

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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 45
[ Tasha: That’s the beauty trap technique. ]
[ Tasha: You’re supposed to use that only on me! ]
[ Se-um: What I just did was indeed the beauty trap technique, but I’ve never used it on you. ]
[ Franson: Rarely, but Tasha is wrong this time and Se-um is right. ]
[ Se-um: Franson, what do you mean by that? ]
[ Franson: Even when I take your side, you still complain… ]
No, I’m grateful he took my side, but doesn’t this suggest I’m always spouting nonsense otherwise?
I closed the chat window abruptly and gazed down at the city in silence.
Perched precariously on the rooftop of Korea’s tallest building, I swung my legs back and forth.
I whistled softly.
Only those still awake would be able to see the window floating in the sky right now.
[ The Constellation of Spectation and Care has granted Korea in the 34R7h World the right of Nebula Priority Claim. ]
[ The system of Korea in the 34R7h World will be reorganized. ]
[ From now on, Korea will receive the blessing of the stars during times of absolute crisis. ]
I could see my Karma draining away in real time.
Korea’s system reinforcement right.
It sounded grand, but ultimately it was a declaration that when Earth faced crisis, Korea would be the first to receive a Constellation’s aid.
A kind of territorial claim.
A unique privilege only the first Constellation to access could possess.
Should a crisis approaching annihilation ever arrive, the first-ranked Constellation would be obligated to provide aid to the region granted the Nebula Priority Claim first.
Even if that aid were exceedingly meager.
In practice, Constellations were known to conserve their power except for their own clients, so it could amount to nothing.
But it was better than nothing.
“The night breeze is nice. Full of exhaust fumes, hazy clouds, city lights blocking out the stars—absolutely magical.”
There were more people awake than expected; social media was in an uproar.
Essentially a gift of national pride.
Even if it’s not much, there’s an authority that comes with the phrase “Nebula Priority Claim,” isn’t there?
Since you have a Constellation from Korea, you deserve such privileges.
I’m starting to think I need to return to Sungdo soon.
I can do most things here, but occasionally I need to go back and earn Karma to support Ha Gyuhyuk.
Let me just watch Ha Gyuhyuk clear the Dungeon and then leave.
‘…Yes, I understand. I will follow whatever it may be.’
To be clear, I didn’t deliberately shake his brain or heart to seduce him.
I merely gambled on the possibility that Kim Gyuwun was imagining something about what a “Constellation” might be.
And I thought that if I expressed a somewhat mysterious atmosphere and applied pressure, he’d come around out of fear if nothing else.
[ Tasha: You shouldn’t easily consent to anything a Constellation says, even by accident. ]
[ Tasha: If I had been logged in, I would have gone and stopped him no matter what. ]
I know that too.
If it were Tasha, she would have found a way to prevent him from responding so readily, no matter what.
He likes me, but that kid loves fairness even more than I do.
A promise between a Constellation and a client—it inevitably comes with conditions unfavorable to the client.
Simply by accepting a Constellation’s proposal, a certain binding force is created within it.
“But what can I do? I’ve already done it.”
A Constellation is ultimately one who wields the power of stars.
Having answered the stars’ call, I can only be swept along by that current.
I reached toward the stars floating in The Sky.
[ Se-um: Would Ha Gyuhyuk be happy if I plucked a star from The Sky for him? ]
[ Tasha: He’d die. ]
How utterly unromantic, my little friend.
* * *
“Ulrim, what is this? What is all this?”
“Ah, a Nebula Preemption Right?”
“Yes, the internet and TV are all talking about this right now.”
〔Last night, a star visited Korea.〕
〔So the Constellation chose Korea after all?〕
〔Korea’s System Restructuring—Hunter Association States “We Will Do Our Best to Verify the Changes”〕
Countless articles and speculative posts flooded the networks.
But this is a reward never before granted to Earth—there’s no way they could figure it out properly.
I’ll explain it later if I feel like it, or when other Constellations log in.
“So when will you get up?”
“My whole body aches…”
Ha Gyuhyuk, lying down and frantically searching the word “Constellation,” looked at me with a guilty expression.
It’s unfortunate that he rolled around in the Training Ground, but I doubt he’s truly immobilized to this degree.
I pressed my finger firmly into his side.
He flinched without even managing to cry out at my touch.
Seeing his body tremble, it seems he really is in pain.
“…Should I give you another potion?”
“Ah, no… I’m fine.”
He insisted that if he kept relying on potions and depending on my help, there would be no progress.
As if there’s any progress to be made from muscle soreness.
What benefit would you gain from acquiring advanced muscle soreness?
I swallowed my incomprehensible doubts and withdrew my hand.
From yesterday onward, I’ve changed my strategy to listen to whatever Ha Gyuhyuk wants, even if I don’t understand it.
“Ah, and don’t worry about the Guild matter.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve acquired a Public Relations Director.”
“A Public Relations Director?”
Since Ha Gyuhyuk is better-looking and he’s the only one I cherish, I struggled to find an appropriate title.
Public Relations Director.
That seems like a good justification.
Even if Guild Taemyeon is nothing, Hunter Kim Gyuwun is known to everyone.
This is no longer a world that grants special treatment simply for being S-rank.
It’s a world where only those with exceptional power among A-rank and S-rank hunters are recognized.
Anything below C-rank is excluded, so that won’t work.
“Right, PR team leader. I’ll make sure no one can disrespect you even if you sit in the Guild Master’s chair.”
An A-rank Hunter Kim Gyuwun ranked below D-rank hunters.
I didn’t give much thought to how he might feel about it.
If Guild Gyun protests, claiming he’s never heard of it, I’ll just insist that you agreed with me that night, and that settles it.
I could even use it as an example to show why promises with a Constellation shouldn’t be made so lightly. That works out nicely.
“Someone other than me?”
“Are you going to run the Guild all by yourself?”
“No.”
“Can you handle all that work alone and then do a Dungeon conquest with me when I ask later?”
“No….”
If I hadn’t stopped him just now, jealousy would have definitely started blooming.
With an expression as if his tail would have drooped if he had one, Ha Gyuhyuk whimpered and stood up.
“Then accept it.”
He still seemed to be suffering from muscle soreness, but he was trying to act dignified.
With him trying so hard, I should let myself be deceived.
I reached out and lightly swept my hand over his head as if pressing it down.
“Ulrim, am I being childish?”
“You’re young enough that you can afford to be childish, so don’t worry. Do I seem like someone who can’t even indulge a twenty-something’s whims?”
My age is approaching 350 soon.
[ Tasha: You’ve already passed 350. ]
[ Se-um: What? ]
Following the rhythm of my stroking hand, Ha Gyuhyuk slowly lowered his eyes and nuzzled his head against my palm.
He’d been unbearably anxious just moments ago, but after a few more strokes, he quickly calmed down.
“Whatever schemes or cunning tricks I employ against humans, it’s all for your sake.”
“Yes, I believe you.”
“If you ever feel that I’m more tender with another human or that I care for them more, tell me immediately.”
“If I tell you?”
I withdrew my hand and leaned my body closer.
At the suddenly shortened distance, he flushed, caught off guard.
I wish his expressions were always this varied even in normal times.
In front of others, he either puts on airs or pretends to be strong, never showing his struggle.
Even when frightened, he acts unafraid.
“Even if I have to turn this world upside down, I will prove that my heart is true.”
“Turn this world….”
“Listen well, Ha Gyuhyuk. This world ultimately rests in the palm of a star’s hand.”
The system you all regard as so omnipotent is no different.
If it blocks the path ahead of my client and threatens their life.
I can erase even that.
“There’s only one thing I ask of you.”
“To live a long life.”
“Yes.”
Live long and accumulate much virtue.
And then, should you suddenly grow curious about what lies beneath this world, or develop lingering attachment to my existence.
Then come to my side and stand there.
Constellations are truly strange beings.
They wish to make their clients into Constellations, yet if they truly care for them, they pray those clients never walk this path.
How fortunate that I have not yet reached that degree of attachment.
I tilted his chin up with my fingertips to meet his gaze.
“You should answer.”
Ha Gyuhyuk responded, his neck flushed crimson.
“Yes.”
“Good. Now get up. Even if your muscles are sore, you cannot neglect your training. We have things to do today.”
“Yes!”
As he tried to spring up, he simply rolled across the floor instead.
I paused to consider for a moment, then sighed.
“Let’s have a potion.”
“Yes….”

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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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