Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.45
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Lee Daeju narrows his eyes.
"Subordinate? You sound pretty damn sure."
He throws his gaze behind me and continues speaking.
"Ain't no way ya bought 'em off with cash in a spot like this. So ya convinced 'em with those sweet asses back there?"
A sinister smile spreads across his face.
"Half-and-half honey, bet that tastes real good. If I join up under ya, ya gonna let me have a taste?"
"What the hell are ya blabberin' about, ya crazy fuck."
I grimace and make a light gesture with my hand.
Then the incited thugs charge at Lee Daeju all at once.
"Come at me if ya can handle it."
The guy flashes his eyes wildly and emits killing intent.
At that moment, the thugs halt their movements.
"B-big brother Daeju…."
The thugs start scanning their surroundings, hands trembling.
"W-what the…."
"We, we musta lost our minds for a sec…."
"Damn, givin' me the chills."
What the hell? They suddenly snapped back to their senses?
While I'm thinking that…
Puk!
Lee Daeju stabs the throat of the guy who'd gotten closest to him without a second's hesitation.
"Y'all doin' comedy with me right now?"
That guy looks clueless too.
In other words, it ain't because of him that they broke free.
'Weird. I had their minds locked down tight.'
I open my mouth again.
"What're ya waitin' for? That fucker's straight-up evil, ain't he? He kills ya if ya don't kill him—ya get that?"
"Ya goddamn bastard! What'd ya do to us?!"
"We gettin' played by that slippery-tongued fucker right now?!"
They're legit back to normal.
What's the reason?
'No way….'
Is mana gettin' drained the whole time the incitement's active?
If that's my guess, then the gap between that bastard's passive version and my active one is fuckin' insane.
'Fuck, same skill and the difference is this huge?'
And that theory got confirmed when I checked the Constellation Gallery.
Don't need to use incitement again now.
It's just mana waste at this stage.
Intelligence boost can wait.
"Too bad. Those retard faces were kinda cute."
As I smile, the thugs charge straight at me.
"Ya fuckin' bastard!"
"Dieeee!"
"The ones dyin' now that the useless incitement's over—you guys, not me."
I lightly grip the Grave of Ten Thousand Demons.
"Ya did good work though. I'll honor your efforts by slicin' your throats, so don't dodge for nothin'."
"Fuck you!"
"With clear heads, ya ain't shit!"
"Yeah?"
The thugs are right in my face now.
But I don't dodge. Don't lift my feet.
Just stand there and swing the sword.
"What ya…"
Swipe.
"fuckin'…"
Swipe swipe.
"gonna do…"
Swipe swipe swipe.
The thugs were like one big Lego set.
Necks smoothly severed.
A tragedy that can't be reassembled.
Behind me, I feel Tulip and Kang Harin's trembling.
Unlike monsters, first time seein' human necks come off—makes sense.
A whole different level from bullets in skulls.
"Don't shake. Get used to it. It's the world ya gotta face."
Meanwhile, Lee Daeju's eyes turn vicious.
Tremblin' lip corner struggles upward.
"Hands pretty quick, huh? Speed's my thing too."
"Yeah? Can't wait."
"Don't get cocky—I'm dead serious."
And in that instant, his body vanishes.
I consciously widen my eyes and scan around.
'What? Stealth?'
The moment that thought hits—
Crack-!
"Gaaaaak!"
A crushin' sound hits, and his crumpled face comes into view.
The guy drops his knife, clutchin' his right wrist.
"…What're ya doin'?"
"Ya sneaky fuck, got steel plates in yer gut or somethin'?"
"What the fuck, moron."
The absurdity inside me turns to laughter quick.
Swing a sword careless and wrist snaps. But that ain't the only reason for him.
'This bastard didn't level Vitality.'
No gold to level up?
Or doesn't even know how.
While I'm smirkin', he pulls back distance again.
Fast as hell.
But that's it.
'In that state, speed don't mean threat.'
He's an egg.
I'm the rock.
No matter how fast he comes at me, he takes way more damage.
'But it's definitely a skill….'
Ain't just leveled Agility.
Faster than me—max Agility plus party stat bonus.
'Not stealth. Saw the afterimage.'
Then he grabs a weapon hangin' by the pool cue.
Slaps it right on his left hand.
"This time it's gonna hurt."
The weapon's brass knuckles.
The second I clock that, he vanishes again.
No—this time I see it.
But by the time I do…
Thwack!
"Guhk!"
A totally different shock slams me compared to before.
Massive destructive force from the gut.
Beyond pain—a warning signal.
Still holdin' up though.
Feels feather-light next to Fimuk, realistic pain like takin' a solid hit in sparrin'.
'Keep eatin' these though? Dangerous.'
Let a guy who hits like this land keeps landin' clean shots, I'll drop fast.
"What? All big talk but can't even react."
Thwack! Thwack!
"Urk! Gasp…!"
Can't breathe right from the solid connects.
Can't cope? Fuck that shit.
I already got his number.
'Ain't no way that speed's passive….'
Me with max Agility can't keep up, and he uses it forever? Bullshit.
Definitely active.
Means time limit or mana-dependent.
'Outlast him and I win….'
But not guaranteed.
What if passive?
Just tankin' won't cut it.
"Thinkin' 'just outlast me,' huh? Which runs out first—my steam or yer life?"
"…Crazy fuck."
This guy's dangerous.
'Call in support fire from Tulip?'
Nah, if he switches targets, catastrophe.
I gotta handle this.
But Tulip jumps in first.
Swish!
Arrow whiffs him.
Swish swish swish!
Tulip's already at rapid-fire level.
But still missin'.
"Dang, pretties stay back. Don't wanna scratch the goods. Yer bro dies first, then I play—wait nice and quiet."
Teeth grind hard.
"Yer the one dyin'."
"Warme~ Tongue still waggin'. Persistent."
Even then, Tulip keeps firin' arrows nonstop.
He dodges casual with a smirk, again and again.
Like how I dodge archer or goblin shots.
'No goddamn way.'
Just one. One hit's all it takes!
Tulip missin'?
And it's Archery loaded with constellation power.
'Predictive shots ain't landin'?'
Lee Daeju bein' an Incarnation's basically confirmed.
So this fucker too….
'Usin' a constellation skill.'
That said, active skills got the edge over passives, huh.
"Whatcha thinkin' so deep?"
His voice—zero intimidation, light as air—bores into my head.
Along with monster speed slicin' wind toward me.
Thud! Thud! Thwack!
The whirlwind punches keep slammin' home, over and over.
No breather—I just absorb 'em, endure.
'Keep endurin'… it'll end….'
Then teary voices pierce my ears.
"Mister!"
"Juhan-ssi!"
But this ain't manga or movies.
Not some miracle comeback from allies yellin'.
"Why cry already? Die soon enough—wait a sec."
Even against his jeers, I just endure.
Focusin' hard for that counter window, focus focus.
'Bastard's gotta keep attackin' to kill me.'
Means swing at his attack timing—no need to tank, straight win.
Like nabbin' those motorcycle rushers.
'Just nail the timing once.'
Body twistin', strength fadin', but my mental game's still kickin'.
So I can focus through any hits.
'Nothin' next to Fimuk.'
Hard to buy he's faster, but power's way lower.
Once. Just once.
"Damn, mental's tough."
As he tosses that shitty nod—
'Got it—now!'
The timing I'd been waitin' for sharpens crystal clear.
Swoosh!
Swing the sword.
But the arc slices empty air.
Nothin' but wind at the tip.
'Fuck….'
Perfect timing, but Lee Daeju halts his strike right before the blade.
His arm freezes mid-motion.
If not for Spirit of the Constellation, I'd be panickin'.
"Warme, eyes adjustin' now, huh."
He's right.
Fimuk was razor-close; now this guy's feelin' the same.
His speed's gettin' familiar to my eyes.
Problem: hands can't keep up.
Agility's already maxed.
'Just a tad… if I could react a hair faster… could end this fucker… fuck….'
Hidin' the regret, he adds with a dead-serious face.
"Can't toy anymore. Time to kill quick."
No more gut shots now.
His fists start hammerin' my face.
Thwack! Thud! Thwack!
Jaw spins but mind's sharp.
Livin' punchin' bag status.
"Guhk…!"
The moment blood sprays from my mouth.
'…Huh?'
A few seconds after the alert.
A smile spreads.
A grin full of certainty that I can take him.
'Sucks Agility didn't rise, but fine.'
I switch tactics.
Slash my forearm with the Grave of Ten Thousand Demons.
"Warme, goin' seppuku now? Cut yer gut or wrist proper-like."
"Got it. I'll carve ya up just like that."
Slash, slash, slash again.
15% is plenty for him.
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