Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Sea God Palace
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Sea God Palace.
This palace of the sea god was a massive island rising majestically from the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, where nothing had existed before—a realm on an entirely different level from Golden Mane.
Unlike the Olympus Guild's impression of cutting-edge magic and divine blessings fused with advanced technology, the island was fantastically adorned.
Verdant gardens, trees, mountains, and lakes graced its surface, and amid these natural landscapes stood the palace of the Sea God Palace, its exterior so sublime and fantastical it resembled a temple.
As a sanctuary dedicated to a constellation of the sea, both the exterior and interior were decorated with sea-related animals and scenery. Armor and protective suits invariably featured scale patterns.
[Check the barrier—hurry!]
[Mega Ocean Eater pair breaking through the barrier!]
[Call Lion! Take them down with 300 Laistrygon legionnaires!]
[2nd Fleet, 3rd Fleet—requesting return for resupply!]
[Resupply fast! Refuel and head right back out!]
This enormous base was currently buzzing with frantic activity. Countless people scurried about, alongside humans with half-beast features, sea-creature beastkin, and even giants, all working diligently.
"Wow... they're on another level entirely. And they don't even glance at someone like me?"
"Hahaha, they've seen far stranger things than golden armor."
"Hahaha..."
Yoo Seongwon felt a novel sensation seeing everyone focused solely on their tasks, ignoring him in his dazzling golden armor in this unfamiliar place.
In any case, Yoo Seongwon followed the Olympus Guild member's guidance into a building and headed toward the elevator area.
"Well, Constellation Poseidon is one of the top three main gods of the Olympus Guild, after all. The audience chamber is at the very bottom underground, so we need to take the seabed elevator."
"There's an underground section here too?"
"Of course. The audience chamber is about 200 meters below the island. Please, step in."
They boarded the elevator and began descending.
Thanks to the glass walls, they could take in the underwater scenery and the various facilities beneath the Sea God Palace at a glance.
It wasn't just a combat base; it seemed designed for families to live comfortably, with residential zones, shopping malls, stores, and even amusement parks—making one wonder if this was truly the front line.
"Wow... they've got everything here. Do they run a tourism industry on the side too?"
"No way. If they did, the world would have heard about Constellation Eternal Wrath by now. Most residents are families of hunters or people employed by the Olympus Guild. We're doing our utmost to ensure the hunters feel no discomfort."
"Makes sense. Who'd stick around a hellish front line if the treatment was poor? And living together like this makes them fight even harder."
"Exactly. Once they move in, their remaining family lives worry-free for life, so everyone fights with everything they've got."
It was understandable that the Olympus Guild offered the best treatment to its members, given they fought on front lines as intense as threats to humanity itself.
On the flip side, being on a front line swarming with A-rank and above meant it was the place to harvest the most magistones in the world.
But the more they talked, the more Yoo Seongwon's unease grew about why they'd summoned him specifically.
"This just makes the reason they called me seem... even more suspicious."
"We don't know either. He'll explain himself. We've arrived."
Ding!
The elevator reached the bottommost underground level, and as the doors opened, a temple-like entrance came into view beyond pillars, leading to an interior resembling a chapel.
Someone approached from afar to greet them.
A man in priestly robes, flanked by escorts—hulking men around three meters tall in scale-patterned armor. As he drew near, he bowed to Yoo Seongwon and introduced himself.
"Thank you for coming such a long way. I am 'Tayon.' Welcome to Poseidon-nim's temple, Hunter Yoo Seongwon."
"Yes, yes. I'm deeply honored by the invitation. So, what do I need to do? Kneel somewhere?"
"Ah, yes. Something like that. Anyway, please follow me and take a seat there. Constellation Poseidon-nim will speak to you shortly."
"Ah... a direct audience? Ahem!"
He'd imagined some kind of meeting, but a one-on-one with a constellation made him a bit nervous.
Backing out or running here was unthinkable. Awkwardly, he decided to sit as instructed.
Taking a deep breath, he sat where they indicated, and a status window unlike any he'd seen appeared before him.
['Constellation Poseidon' asks if you can see this message.]
"Ah... yes. I can see it."
['Constellation Poseidon' feels relieved to finally speak with the 'Star's Guardian.' He wishes to entrust you with a personal request.]
"That... Slaughter King constellation, right? I figured as much, but with the bounty on them, hunters worldwide are already swarming. Shouldn't that be enough? Most apostle-level monsters are dead, and only humans remain..."
Yoo Seongwon judged the Slaughter King's forces relatively non-threatening now, with most apostle-grade monsters slain and their lich legions blocking supply lines, starving even the scavengers.
Sure, they'd caused this incident, but with S-rank and A-rank bounty hunters converging globally, they should be handled easily.
['Constellation Poseidon' says humans don't realize the true hidden threat.]
"The true... threat?"
['Constellation Poseidon' says, 'In that place, Slaughter King's apostle is growing to gain infinite power. Time remains, but if left alone, it will become the greatest threat among all apostles on this land.']
"My God."
['Constellation Poseidon' conveys that while he placed a bounty, he doubts it will fell Slaughter King's cunning and evil apostle, so he seeks a surer method—and conveys it to you.]
A surer method: Yoo Seongwon and his knights, with their overwhelming record against Slaughter King's forces.
Moreover, as a constellation, Poseidon knew Yoo Seongwon's body and mind had largely recovered, aside from the core dungeon incident—leaving no excuses.
['Constellation Poseidon' also conveys he's prepared fitting compensation. He knows you, the 'Star's Guardian' who must drive all 'constellations' from this 'star,' need armaments like 'divine beast weapons' or 'chaos artifacts' above all. He proposes granting you one 'divine beast weapon' upon successful completion.]
"...D-Divine beast weapon?"
Yoo Seongwon was stunned by Constellation Poseidon's sudden offer.
He'd long experienced the power of 'divine beast weapons': armaments with absolute laws, transcending raw power, stats, or skills. Naturally, he'd want one if possible.
"You can just... give that to me? You know who I am, right? I'm the one who must eradicate all constellations from this 'star.'"
Yoo Seongwon's mission, chosen by this 'star' called 'Earth.'
He had to expel all 'constellations' from Earth—including the Olympus Guild. It was hard to believe they'd give him a 'divine beast weapon.'
['Constellation Poseidon' says, 'The danger emerging now warrants giving you a divine beast weapon. Better to sacrifice flesh than break bone, and we too are desperate, having no place to settle but this star.']
"Ah... right."
He'd been mistaken because they used familiar Greek and Roman mythological names, but to these 'constellations,' those were mere borrowings—easy introductions to this 'star's' people, signals of their pursuits, or echoes of Earth history's similar deities.
This Constellation Poseidon merely wielded sea-related authority and power, granting 'blessings' to followers to stoke apostles' loyalty and faith.
"Whew... give me a moment to think."
['Constellation Poseidon' says to do so.]
"......"
Seated, Yoo Seongwon pondered deeply.
It was clearly a good offer.
He didn't know how strong this pastor who'd caused the massive incident was, but unlikely stronger than the woman blessed by Persephone before—and still growing meant he could snuff it out himself.
'...So why does it feel off?'
Perfect setup for a 'divine beast weapon,' straight from a constellation, yet something felt wrong.
He doubted Olympus Guild's constellation would pull anything shady, and the pastor was plenty evil—but it nagged at him, uneasy.
Call it gut instinct from the streets? The perfection felt eerie. He wanted to refuse but needed justification.
'......'
He wanted advice, but he was alone here.
Deep in enemy territory, no less. Yet many fates hung on his choice, so he deliberated intensely.
After long thought, staring at his armor and the 'Constellation Poseidon' status window, something clicked.
"I've decided. No reason to refuse. Knowing that pastor poses such danger, I can't sit idle. But..."
['Constellation Poseidon' grows curious.]
"I won't accept the 'divine beast weapon' or other rewards. As a knight considering Korea's peace, it's my duty. Your guild's already suffered massive losses anyway."
['Constellation Poseidon' responds positively to your answer, saying he understands.]
The 'divine beast weapon' temptation was huge, but Yoo Seongwon rejected it, accepting only the request.
This left no bad impression on Olympus Guild for a clean exit, erasing the nagging feeling.
With no further words for Yoo Seongwon—who accepted sans reward—Constellation Poseidon instructed his apostle to send him back.
"Not much talk for a hours-long trip."
"What did you discuss with Poseidon-nim?"
"Just... that the pastor's more dangerous than thought, so take him out? Nothing much."
Riding the elevator back to the island, Yoo Seongwon chatted lightly with his original guide.
The guide was eager about the schedule—and whether he'd been rude to Constellation Poseidon.
"I see. Shall we head straight back to Korea then? Fuel's topped off; we can leave immediately."
"No, first... something to do. Can I see the weapons and armor you use? Ideally including Golden Mane ship's materials or blueprints. As stolen goods, scavengers would mod and use them, right? Olympus Guild gear is... top-tier worldwide, honestly."
"Ah! Right. Since you've accepted the request, I'll contact the relevant department to prepare the data."
"And heads-up: I'm on your 'constellation's' request now. No funny business with security or anything~"
Having rejected rewards but taken the request, Yoo Seongwon headed to the Sea God Palace guild HQ on the surface for data to prepare against the pastor.
He regretted the 'divine beast weapon' a bit, but better no reward than a suspicious one—he pushed aside the lingering regret.