Otherworld Constellation Gallery Chapter 44

Otherworld Constellation Gallery

Chapter 44

One of the guys turned his head, spat and then muttered two syllables.

“Kill him.”

VROOM-! VROOOOOOM-!

They immediately started their engines and charged toward me. I stood still and waited.

Closing distance. 

I gripped Manyō’s Tomb. 

No need to swing it wide.

Just slightly applying the ‘sword’s trajectory’ in the direction they’re rushing in.

SWOOSH- SLASH-

“Kgh! You bastard!” 

“Urk, fuck!”

The guys clutched their wounds and spewed curses. Some flinched in pain, rolled off their motorcycles, and tumbled onto the road.

[Title: Hey First Hunter!! Dammit, I’ve been believing in you!!] You jerk! You deliberately cut them shallowly! You jerk! You knew the sword’s ability!

ㄴ That level of fanboying is impressive.

ㄴ But he really seems to know what he’s doing. 

ㄴ For real lol if not that, it would be a pointless action.

ㄴ First Hunter is a god and First Hunter is eternal. 

ㄴ He absolutely knew what he was doing. 

ㄴ PinkuPojjak) keep your eyes off First Hunter~ First Hunter is mine~

“You damn son of a…” 

“You bastard… You’ve got a death wish.”

I smiled brightly.

“So you wouldn’t get hurt, I deliberately cut very, very shallowly. Don’t you think you should appreciate my kindness?”

They fell silent for a moment. And then their eyes changed.

“…It does seem that way.” 

“Is that so? Thinking about it, he could have just killed us but gave us a chance.” 

“He’s an annoying guy, but I think we should acknowledge it.”

I burst into laughter at their reaction.

‘They turn into fools in an instant. This is seriously overpowered.’

At that moment, the look in their eyes changed again. There was something unusual mixed in that gaze.

“Hey you bastards, wake up! Don’t listen to what he’s saying! This punk is tricking us right now!” 

“Right, I felt like we were turning into fools.”

I tilted my head. What is this? Could the instigation last only 3 seconds? Like a high-grade archer’s ‘Oblivion Poison’?

Probably not. 

If it were, the constellations would have made a fuss. So that must be the issue.

The timing when their eyes changed was clear. When I was inwardly mocking them. 

I changed my inner thoughts again.

‘Honestly, it’s true that I didn’t kill them and showed consideration.’

At that moment, their eyes return to being gentle again.

So that was it. 

The limitation of instigation. 

It might be tougher than I thought.

‘Not just words, but even mindset needs to be controlled.’

If I let my guard down, it’s quickly back to square one. 

I spoke again with a calm voice.

“Instead of doing that, let’s go catch that guy Dae-ju or whatever, shall we? That bad guy will treat you like objects and kill you when your usefulness runs out, right?”

As my words ended, they exchanged glances with each other. 

Though no words were spoken, an atmosphere of agreement flowed.

‘They really are like fools.’

Oops.

Shouldn’t think like that.

This really is trickier than it looks.

***

Five motorcycles stopped behind a building. 

Giggling sounds could be heard from inside. 

Plus, the sound of music turned up loud. 

People enjoying the end of the world like a festival.

‘They seem quite relaxed.’

I got off the motorcycle I was riding and turned my head toward them. 

And then I opened my mouth very quietly.

“Remember. You don’t need to scream or make it obvious there’s a war when you go in. To them, you’re still partners. It’s simple if you use that point.”

Their eyes flickered with complex emotions. Vengeance, anger, tension. 

At the same time, a sense of relief from trusting me.

“Be the trusted axe that strikes the neck. Then you can gain the upper hand without much damage. Understood?”

“You mean take advantage of them letting their guard down around us and kill them all.” 

“Yes. That’s right.”

Now their eyes were firm. 

Resolution and strange loyalty.

“Call me when you’re done. Going in together would only make them more wary.” 

“Yes!” 

“Fuck, don’t answer so loudly, you crazy bastard.” 

“Sorry.”

I looked up at the building. 

There are no windows on this side. 

And the inside is still noisy.

‘Low chance they heard us.’

Well, even if they did hear, it doesn’t matter. I turned back to look at them.

“You get the idea, right? Now go kill each other.”

Bowing their heads roughly, they soon turned around and went into that old building. 

The tension felt from behind. And strange excitement. I raised the corner of my mouth as I watched their backs.

‘So this is how that bastard felt.’

I mean the incarnation who gave me ‘Instigation’. 

I can imagine the thrill he must have felt seeing humans following his every word.

[Title: HAHAHA This is crazy] Instigation isn’t for running your mouth.

ㄴ For real lol the incarnation who realized it only after dying deserves an upvote lol. 

ㄴ Look, this is the world of slaughter you created.

ㄴ First Hunter stop being so good stop being so good!! My stomach hurts!! It hurts like diarrhea!!

ㄴ First Hunter ‘HE’ is so good. 

ㄴ Oh when will you make the contract you bastard… 

ㄴ For real… At least let us give up by making the contract, I’m dying of anticipation.

At that moment, Tulip, who was standing beside me, carefully asked.

“Mister, how did you do it?” 

“Do what?” 

“Those people, they completely changed.” 

“Well, I guess they were moved by my words.”

I smiled lightly and turned my gaze back to the building. Now, it’s time for self-destruction. 

Let them dirty their own hands.

***

The laughter never ceased inside the building. 

This place was once a billiard hall, but now it’s just a criminal cartel base. 

The fluorescent lights on the ceiling were half broken and dimly lit, and rusty weapons were lined up next to the cue sticks.

“Ah, fuck. Put in one more bank shot and you’ll get hit with a billiard ball.” 

“Well now~ You’re threatening me.”

Amidst the guys enjoying billiards even at a time like this, a man lying on a furry sofa stretched.

“Haven’t the ones who went out come back yet?” 

“Yes, but I heard the sound of motorcycles.”

Lee Dae-ju roughly removed the sleep from his eyes and carelessly put on his glasses. 

His height was just over 160cm as he got up cracking his neck. 

No visible muscles on his skinny body. 

The fact that someone with such an appearance controlled an organization actually made him seem more threatening.

“Damn, I’m still sleepy even after sleeping.”

Lee Dae-ju rubs his head vigorously. 

His fully puffed-up bomb hairstyle wasn’t much different from before he went to sleep.

At that moment, the returning subordinates pushed open the door and came in. 

Their eyes all had a strange look. 

They weren’t smiling obsequiously while watching Dae-ju’s mood as usual, nor were they showing provocative expressions.

“You’re back? Did you find anything worthwhile?” 

“Nothing special.”

A short response. 

And the subtle sound of swallowing. 

They glanced at each other’s eyes slightly. A brief exchange of glances in that instant. 

Right at that moment.

“What the hell have you guys been doing, sweating like pigs?”

“……It’s just too hot these days.”

At that answer, Lee Dae-ju narrowed his eyes and said nothing. 

He was suspicious. 

But there was no evidence. Lee Dae-ju twisted up the corner of his mouth.

“Well. All of you take a drink and rest.” 

“Yes.”

The guys tried to move as usual. 

One quietly moved near the billiard table.

“Boss, this one’s a tough shot, isn’t it?”

“This? Come on, you’re too old to not know how this works. Look here, the angle’s like this.”

“Ah~ That’s right. Why would that be difficult.”

He pretended to focus on the billiard game at their comments, naturally bent his body, and then.

STAB!

He thrust a blade into the stomach.

“You, son of a…… what are you doing……?”

STAB! STAB!

At the same time, the rest moved toward their targets. One who was naturally drinking alcohol smashed a soju bottle on his friend’s head.

CRASH!

“You treacherous……”

Before those words were finished, another broke his soju glass and stabbed it into the neck. 

The victim grabbed his neck and collapsed.

“You bastards! What is this all of a sudden?! What are you doing?!” 

“You guys were trying to betray Boss Dae-ju.” 

“What nonsense!” 

“These bastards all betrayed the boss! They were selling out Boss Lee Dae-ju!” 

“We’ll clean up, you just watch!”

They were already fully under the First Hunter’s instigation.

But on the surface, they were packaging all this bloodshed as if it were for ‘loyalty.’

“Hey guys! Those guys were sharpening their knives targeting Boss Dae-ju! I saw it!”

The hideout instantly became a stage of blood. The fluorescent lights trembled, and the smell of blood swept across the roof of the mouth. Lee Dae-ju jumped up from his seat. 

“Everyone STOP!” 

At that moment, everyone froze. Lee Dae-ju let out a deep sigh. 

“Jesus fucking Christ… what the hell are you doing?”

“We told you.” 

“Enough already.”

His eyes were filled with confusion. 

He couldn’t tell who was a traitor and who was on his side.

At that moment, one guy standing right next to him quietly moved behind Lee Dae-ju’s back. 

The dagger hidden in his left hand briefly gleamed with light. As he approached like a shadow and raised his arm.

GRAB.

Lee Dae-ju extended his arm backward, precisely grabbing the opponent’s arm.

“……!” 

“Persistent, aren’t you?”

He twisted the man’s arm behind his back.

The blade was now lodged in the would-be attacker’s neck.

“AAARGH!”

Just by releasing the arm, the guy fell. 

He trembled and groaned, unable to pull out the knife stuck in his neck.

“Son of a…”

Lee Dae-ju, with a heaving chest, slowly looked around. 

The only ones still standing… were all the ones who had come back.

Their eyes were different now.

Each held a bloody weapon, forming a ring around him.

He swallowed.

A lump heavier than blood.

“Didn’t you do this for me?” 

“We’re doing this for you, boss.” 

“You’re targeting me?” 

“That’s a misunderstanding…” 

“Shut your trap.”

Lee Dae-ju twisted his mouth.

“Do you know who I am?”

Despite his low, grating voice, they laughed. 

Far from being scared, they just laughed.

“I know very well.”

One said, slowly moving his steps.

“I know what kind of bastard you are, boss.” 

“Bastard?” 

“I now feel the truth about who we should be living under.” 

“Boss, you should feel it too.”

And one guy raised his voice.

“Look! There’s only one left!” 

“Hey, are you talking about me?” 

“Who else would there be?” 

“Damn, now you’re not even hiding it.”

Lee Dae-ju adjusted his glasses.

“I trust you’ve accepted what comes next.”

At that moment, the door opened.

And an unfamiliar figure entered.

“Well now, what the hell’s this?”

Lee Dae-ju’s head tilted. The man before his eyes opened his mouth with a big YAWN.

“I almost fell asleep waiting, are you Lee Dae-ju? Or perhaps Neck Dae-ju?” 

“……It was you?” 

“What do you mean by ‘it was you’ out of nowhere.” 

“You’re the reason they’re acting weird, aren’t you?”

Lee Dae-ju pushed up his glasses once and added. 

“What’d you give them? Did you drug ‘em or something?”

“Them?”

Yu Ju-han slightly raised the corner of his mouth. 

“Ah, you mean my subordinates.”