Chapter 478: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 478: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
The commotion at the restaurant finally ended when the guards belatedly arrived.
Thanks to the voluntary(?) defense from the other patrons, Kang Hyun-woo and his party were able to leave without issue. Afterward, they returned to the hotel.
As the night deepened, Kang Hyun-woo remained holed up in his room.
His mind was consumed with a single thought: killing ‘Beautiful Skin’.
But since he didn't even know his target's whereabouts, it was nothing more than a vague fantasy for now.
‘...The fastest way would be to kill Choi Taeho. That's bound to get a reaction.’
A high-ranking deity might be different, but a low-ranking one, who couldn't possibly have deep pockets, had spent a massive amount of WP to save him.
In other words, it was highly likely that Choi Taeho was the apostle of ‘Beautiful Skin’.
‘I'm sure of it. Otherwise, there would be no reason to go to such lengths to save Choi Taeho.’
An apostle is a Constellation's representative.
Of course, 'representative' made it sound grander than it was. To high-ranking Constellations, an apostle was more like an errand boy who handled their tedious tasks.
This could be as simple as having them offer coveted food or items as tribute, or it could go as far as ordering them to dispose of a Player the Constellation wanted dead.
For Constellations who pursued such a comfortable existence, a competent apostle was indispensable.
However, this was only true for high-ranking Constellations.
The situation was a bit different for their lower-ranked counterparts.
Top-tier Constellations like Ishtar or Fenrir were billionaires overflowing with WP without having to do much, but low-ranking ones like the Beast of Gévaudan had to earn their WP through various means.
After all, there was nothing more pathetic than an impoverished noble.
Among the various ways low-ranking Constellations made money, the activities of their apostles were by far the most profitable.
Of course, they didn't take WP directly from their apostles. If they did, the apostle would see their Constellation as nothing more than a parasite.
Basically, Players earn rewards by passing trials or completing various achievements.
When this happens, if the Tower determines that the contracted Constellation contributed to the achievement, it awards a certain amount of WP to that Constellation as well.
From the apostle's perspective, they could grow stronger faster by receiving more powerful Authorities than other contractors. From the Constellation's perspective, their income increased as their apostle grew stronger. In essence, it was a symbiotic relationship.
However, there was a restriction: if an apostle died, the Constellation would lose the right to appoint a new one.
Furthermore, once appointed, an apostle could not be replaced at will.
Changing this required paying an enormous amount of WP.
Kang Hyun-woo recalled the status window of Choi Taeho he had glimpsed with the Incomplete Moon's Eye.
「Name: Choi Taeho
Age: 37
Contracted Constellation: Beautiful Skin
Affiliation: Reapers Clan
Authorities: Skin Wearing (C-), Heart Devouring (D)
Exclusive Trait: Vile Power (B+)
Exclusive Skill: Shaping Public Opinion (D)
Traits: Contempt for the Wicked (D+)
Skills: Mind Control (C-), Peeping (C), Heart Eating (D+), Immature Swordsmanship (D), Incitement (E+)…」
Kang Hyun-woo scowled.
It was so full of filthy desires that one glance was enough to know it belonged to Choi Taeho.
‘A B+-rank exclusive Trait, along with mental-type Traits and Skills...’
But aside from that, he was certainly worthy of being chosen as an apostle.
To think this was the status window of a Player who had entered the Tower only six months ago.
Of course, his talent wasn't so exceptional that high-ranking Constellations would take notice.
He had a B+-rank exclusive Trait, but it was just a paltry ability for launching mental attacks on those weaker than him.
What actually caught Kang Hyun-woo's attention was the skill ‘Heart Eating (D+)’.
It was a skill that enhanced one's physical abilities by consuming the hearts of other living beings. He was certain a similar martial art existed in Cheon Yeo-hwa's world.
‘It was called the Heart Devouring Art (攝心功).’
To Kang Hyun-woo, Choi Taeho was less than a summer mosquito, but he didn't analyze him carelessly.
He didn't want to let his guard down and let him slip away a second time.
‘The reason that bastard, who was once an ordinary person, could get so strong in such a short time must be because of this skill.’
And on top of that, he had the Authority ‘Heart Devouring (D)’.
Just how many people's hearts did he eat to get stronger with a mere D+-rank skill?
It had to be in the triple digits, at least.
Crack-
“...Maybe I should have just killed him.”
Kang Hyun-woo struggled to compose his twisting expression, but he couldn't stop his fists from clenching.
For once, he was regretting his decision.
It was an undeniable fact that his desire to torture Choi Taeho had created an opening for the Constellation to intervene.
Kang Hyun-woo made a vow.
The next time they met, he wouldn't hesitate for a second.
Having organized his thoughts, Kang Hyun-woo spent his time meditating to calm his murderous intent. He didn't want to show a disheveled side of himself in front of the women.
How much time had passed?
Knock, knock.
“...Hyun-woo?”
He heard Lee Serin's voice, along with her presence, from beyond the door.
Slowly opening his eyes, Kang Hyun-woo checked the clock.
It was just past two in the morning.
Though puzzled by Lee Serin's visit at such a late hour, Kang Hyun-woo silently got out of bed and walked to the door.
Creeak-
The doorknob turned slowly, and as the door opened, he saw Lee Serin standing in the hallway.
Her hair was slightly damp, as if she had just washed it, and she was dressed more lightly than usual.
“Sister Serin? What's going on at this hour?”
“W-Well...”
It was a simple question, but Lee Serin's lips trembled as she kept glancing nervously at Kang Hyun-woo.
Seeing her fidgeting with her fingers, her head lowered, was so cute that a smile spread across Kang Hyun-woo's face before he knew it.
“Why don't you come in first?”
“Ah, okay...!”
At his words, Lee Serin's face brightened, and she stepped into the room.
As her dark brown hair swayed, a pleasant scent tickled his nose.
Thump-
Kang Hyun-woo followed Lee Serin, who had perched on the edge of the bed, and sat down beside her.
“So, what's up? Coming to another man's room in the dead of night.”
Kang Hyun-woo closed the distance, toying with a strand of her slightly damp hair as he gazed at her intently.
She was so dolled up that even the most clueless man would have noticed immediately.
“And after a shower and putting on makeup, no less.”
Even on Earth, she had worn very light makeup, and after entering the Tower, she often went barefaced. But this moment was an exception.
Her eyelashes were more striking than usual, her skin seemed smoother, and her cheeks were tinged with a reddish blush, her lips like cherries.
“So, should I be getting my hopes up?”
Kang Hyun-woo gave her a sly grin as he inhaled the scent of her hair.
At his teasing, Lee Serin was left speechless.
Instead, she ducked her head to hide her flushed face, fidgeting with her fingers as she carefully began to speak.
“...I've never seen you that angry before, Hyun-woo.”
“Huh?”
The unexpected words caught Kang Hyun-woo off guard.
At the same time, the lines he had crossed in front of her flashed through his mind.
Grabbing Choi Taeho's head and slamming it into the floor repeatedly, brutally severing the Reapers Clan member's neck, and unleashing his killing intent without hesitation.
The other women were hardened enough to witness death without flinching, but Lee Serin was different.
It was painfully obvious—so obvious a passing dog could see it—that it wasn't a sight for her, the one in their group who had retained the sensibilities of a modern person.
Left with nothing to say, Kang Hyun-woo hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Uh... I'm sorry. I got too worked up and showed you something you shouldn't have seen.”
“No, you don't have to apologize.”
A faint smile touched Lee Serin's lips as she slowly shook her head.
“You were... angry on my behalf, weren't you?”
Even now, whenever Lee Serin closed her eyes, the incident at the restaurant replayed vividly in her mind.
Kang Hyun-woo, who had never once gotten angry in front of her, had been genuinely furious—so much so that it was frightening, and even unfamiliar.
All for her sake.
That fact alone made her incredibly happy.
After returning to the hotel, her thoughts were filled with nothing but Kang Hyun-woo. The truth she had heard from Choi Taeho had already been pushed to the back of her mind.
“So please, don't apologize.”
Lee Serin gently caressed Kang Hyun-woo's face, then faced him and settled softly onto his lap.
Her bold move made Kang Hyun-woo suck in a sharp breath.
Her face, now so red it made her makeup pointless, slowly moved closer.
“...Mwah, mwah♡”
Having lost her virginity only a few days ago, their lovemaking had always been led by Kang Hyun-woo.
But this time was different.
Lee Serin surrendered to her instincts, losing herself in the kiss as she diligently licked and sucked on Kang Hyun-woo's lips.
As if she could no longer control her feelings.
Thump-
The force of it sent Kang Hyun-woo falling backward.
Lee Serin straddled him, continuing the kiss with an intensity that seemed as if she wanted to devour him.
“Hah, oop, mwah, schlip...♡”
Their tongues and saliva tangled fiercely, and the air in the room grew hot and heavy.
Kang Hyun-woo naturally began to undress her, his hands gripping her buttocks.
“Phwaa...! Hah, hah...♡”
After a kiss so long it felt like her lips might have swollen shut, Lee Serin gasped for air the moment they parted.
Anyone watching would have thought she'd just run a marathon.
Kang Hyun-woo's eyes, fixed on Lee Serin, who was now only in her underwear, burned with the urge to pounce on her.
“Did you wear this for me?”
She was wearing a sensual black lace lingerie set.
It was a bold choice, almost unbelievable for the Lee Serin who usually wore simple underwear.
“...Yeah. I bought it because I wanted to show you. What do you think...?”
Seeing her nod shyly, Kang Hyun-woo immediately sat up.
Thump-
“...Huh?”
In an instant, their positions were reversed. Now lying on the bed, Lee Serin looked up at Kang Hyun-woo with a dazed expression.
Meeting her gaze, Kang Hyun-woo began to unbutton his shirt and spoke.
“I'll show you with my actions.”