Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 111: Star, The Biwi (1)

[Biwi]

The cryptid is known to feed on the tiger that causes a Hohwan Mama. A bit sly, it constantly tests its owner’s ability. However, once it yields to its owner, it will become so loyal that it will devote its soul to its owner.

‘I can turn a Biwi into my subordinate?’ Chang-Sun repeated. After all, subordination meant a lot. ‘It means I can create a loyal slave.’

Be it a great hero or miracle-performing Celestials, everyone had to have subordinates to maintain their power. Hence, they normally had apostles or clergy to spread their gospels. Still, they needed someone who could support them in other ways.

That was why Celestials had enough subordinates to be called an army. Of course, some found them bothersome and preferred to exist alone, but most of the Celestials who wanted to reach a higher level created an <Organization>.

‘If an <Organization> grows large enough that many of their subordinates can become Celestials, then it develops into a <Society>,’ Chang-Sun thought.

The Zodiacs and the <Society> Heoju had joined could be considered one of those <Organizations>, but Chang-Sun had never joined an <Organization> before. His arrogance and self-righteousness made it difficult for him to be a part of a group. The Celestials like Xerxes, whom Chang-Sun had stayed with, were just ‘colleagues.’ They were not a part of the same <Organization>.

However, a message stating Chang-Sun could have a subordinate had just shown up before him. It seemed the Biwi factors he gained from purifying the <Starlight> he absorbed had reached a critical point, causing them to acquire divine spirit property.

‘What should I do?’ Chang-Sun momentarily wondered. Having a subordinate who followed his order would be very convenient, but it had its downsides.

‘This is such a tough decision. I have to share experience points and take care of them to make sure they don’t think about betraying me,’ Chang-Sun thought.

He was already hunting incomparably more monsters than other people because it was difficult for him to level up. He couldn’t even begin to fathom how many monsters he would have to kill if he had an extra mouth to feed experience points to. He could effectively level up through party hunting, but it was more efficient for him to hunt solo. He already had Baek Gyeo-Ul anyway, who could be considered his colleague.

‘Well, I’m still raising Gyeo-Ul, so he’s technically not a colleague who has my back yet.’ Chang-Sun shrugged.

Anyhow, he would have to consider how the new subordinate would get along with Gyeo-Ul. Depending on the situation, Chang-Sun also had to think about Shin Eun-Seo and Shin Geum-Gyu.

‘One or two doesn’t matter.’ Chang-Sun soon changed his mind.

Chang-Sun had already felt his own limit during the <Myth War>, so the more reliable colleagues he had, the better. In fact, having an army of them would be best. If so, who should he make his subordinate?

‘I don’t really have to think about this that hard, I guess.’ Having made a decision, Chang-Sun reached out his hand.

[Will you select a subject as a Biwi?]

Looking at the message before him, Chang-Sun nodded. “I’ll do it.”

[Accepted the Biwi subordinate selection.]

[Who will you designate as a Biwi?]

“Hongsal King,” Chang-Sun answered.

[Selected the dead ‘Hongsal King’ as a Biwi!]

Paah―!

Woosh, woosh, woosh…!

At that moment, the black haze rose up from the Hongsal King’s corpse, which was on the ground. The haze twisted like a cruller and soon took the shape of a person. It had a translucent spiritual body, but he looked exactly like the Hongsal King before he died.

He was technically a little different. Before his death, the Hongsal King didn’t look like an ordinary person due to his pale face and sharp canine teeth, but he didn’t have any of that anymore. He just looked like an ordinary human being now.

He no longer had vicious eyes or released the violent energy that overwhelmed his subordinates, but Chang-Sun knew that the man standing before him right now was the ‘real’ Hongsal King. He likely looked like this when he had just entered the Changgwi Cave, living as an ordinary person in some plane before the curse gained total control of him.

‘He’s strong.’ Chang-Sun examined the Hongsal King.

Although he couldn’t feel any pressuring energy from the Hongsal King, Chang-Sun thought he would have been strong even before he became a Changgwi. Only calm energy came from the Hongsal King, but something very powerful was hidden inside him. Considering the king ruling over the first and second floors hadn’t disappeared, Chang-Sun assumed he liked to fight and had a strong desire to win before he became a Changgwi, just like the Hongsal King in the past.

「I never thought I would wake up like this again.」 The Hongsal KIng dumbfoundedly chuckled as he looked at himself. Although he was broken down into pieces until he died, his body right now was intact.

Unable to get used to it, he still found it unpleasant even though he had already died twice. Compared to his first death, he had so much fun before his second death that he didn’t have any lingering feelings. However, he woke up again, which felt odd.

「Are you going to turn me into your subordinate or something, just like what I tried to do to you?」 One end of the Hongsal King’s lips curled up as he looked at Chang-Sun, who summoned him.

“Is that a problem?” Chang-Sun asked.

「Not really, but there’s no benefit in turning me into your subordinate. We’re in the Changgwi Cave, not Arcadia. The winner takes everything here. You won, so you own me. That’s it.」 The Hongsal King narrowed his eyes. 「But it doesn’t mean I accept you as my master.」

The Hongsal King meant he would try to stab Chang-Sun in the back if he laid himself open to attack, but it made Chang-Sun gladder. It was better to have a brave subordinate than a fainthearted one.

‘He has zero intention of becoming my subordinate,’ Chang-Sun thought as he noticed the Hongsal King subtly rejecting his offer.

The Hongsal King wanted to rest peacefully and no longer be tied somewhere, but that only made Chang-Sun want him more.

“I’ll let you go outside,” Chang-Sun abruptly offered.

The Hongsal King’s face hardened. 「…!」

“Don’t you want to go to your home planet?” Chang-Sun asked.

「… What are you saying?」 The Hongsal King frowned.

“I’m saying I won’t give you a fancy order like accept me as your master or become my loyal subordinate. Just come with me. I can’t promise I’ll immediately take you to your home planet, but I definitely will someday,” Chang-Sun explained.

「How can I trust you?」 The Hongsal King coldly asked.

Chang-Sun smiled crookedly, not missing how the Hongsal King’s eyes lost focus for a moment. “Won’t it be better to just trust me? It’ll be less annoying to have a glimmer of hope than being dragged around by force.”

The Hongsal King didn’t expect to hear such an answer. He asked the question because he wanted Chang-Sun to persuade him, but Chang-Sun just told the Hongsal King to trust him instead. The Hongsal King’s eyes widened, but he soon burst into laughter, seemingly dumbfounded.

「You’re a crazy bastard,」 the Hongsal King said, revealing his canine teeth. 「Well, it’ll be a lot better to get some cold air than be stuck in this small pigpen.」

Brushing up his hair with his hand, the Hongsal King glared at Chang-Sun. 「However, as I said, you better brace yourself. I’m not the type to take things lying down. I hate being ordered around.」

“I look forward to it.” Chang-Sun nodded, crossing his arms.

The Hongsal King dumbfoundedly chuckled again. He had never met anyone who replied to his warning like this. 「You get weirder and weirder.」

Paah!

A ray of light shone on the Hongsal King. It was incomparably whiter and holier than the Hohwan Mama he had controlled until now. He now glowed with a new and beautiful <Starlight>, not the <Starlight> of the dying <Forgotten Star>.

「It looks like I’ll have more fun.」 The Hongsal King went down on one knee and bowed. 「Give a <Name> for the new me, master who promised me freedom.」

Giving someone a <Name> was very meaningful since it established the concept and identity of a being. Although there were many monsters, most of them didn’t have a <Name> because they didn’t have egos or the ability to think, which would have separated them from the group.

And the Hongsal King, who was born again as a Biwi, wanted a new life. Desperately desiring to find new values in his new life, he no longer wished to be bound to the Changgwi Cave and live according to his instincts. Knowing the intention behind the Hongsal King’s request, Chang-Sun had already thought of the <Name> he’d give to him. In fact, he didn’t have to think much about it since he was simply returning the <Name> the Hongsal King had lost.

“My name is Jin. I’m the heir of the Prezia family, the prestigious wizard and bloodline clan. I will become the king of the Changgwi Cave after I kill you. ”

The Hongsal King had already introduced himself before he fought Chang-Sun for the first time.

“Jin,” Chang-Sun said.

The Hongsal King immediately raised his head high. His lips were trembling hard.

“I told you I’ll take you outside. I always keep my word, Jin Prezia.” Chang-Sun promised.

After being momentarily stunned, the Hongsal King faintly smiled. 「… I seem to have met a very strange master.」

[The Biwi subordinate selection has been completed!]

[The Biwi has been named ‘Jin Prezia.’ He will become your ‘sword’ and stay by your side from now on.]

Paah!

A ray of light shone on the Hongsal King—no, on Jin again, and his translucent body became vivid. When he stood back up, the ray of light slowly broke down into pieces and dropped to the ground.

「So, Master. What order will you give me? 」 Jin asked.

Chang-Sun turned the two Nameless Batons into a long spear and threw it to Jin. He then pointed at the Changgwis, who still looked confused. “Take everyone out.”

Receiving the Nameless Spear, Jin chuckled quietly. He wasn’t sure if Chang-Sun would really do it, but he instructed Jin to kill the Changgwis, who were his subordinates until recently. Chang-Sun had such a nasty personality.

Nevertheless, Jin pointed the spear downward and smiled hideously, showing no reluctance to kill these monsters. After all, he had no affection for the Changgwis. To him, the monsters that killed humans were all the same, which was why he didn’t even hesitate to send the ‘general-class’ Hongsals against Chang-Sun and why it didn’t change now that they had become his enemies.

[Your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ is a level 1 Biwi class.]

[Increase his level to 10 to upgrade his class.]

More importantly, Jin had to level up and adjust to his new body right now. There was no better way to determine his current condition than to fight the low-class Changgwis. After deciding on what to do, Jin flew at the Changgwis.

Paah―!

[Your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ is using the ‘Basic Prezia Spearmanship’!]

“Y-Your Highness… Why?!”

“Arrggh!”

“The dead king has gone mad!”

“R-run! Come on!”

In a flash, the twenty-fourth sector was engulfed in chaos.

* * *

Tap, tap―!

Chang-Sun left Jin since he was doing a better job than Chang-Sun expected. His level had decreased to some degree after his reincarnation, but the resurrection didn’t affect his talent. Hence, Chang-Sun believed Jin would be fine on his own. Besides, Chang-Sun’s attention was currently needed elsewhere.

[The Additional Skill ‘Cruel Tiger’s One Eye’ has been activated, locating the Player ‘Jeong Yoo-Jin’!]

Blazing up a will o’ wisp in his right eye, Chang-Sun looked at Yoo-Jin, who had bled so much that she was about to die even though she had closed up the wounds using demonic energy.

“You…! You…!” The overwhelming energy of [Cruel Tiger] made Yoo-Jin tremble, but she still managed to glare at Chang-Sun as she gritted her teeth.

Since the Highoff Clan’s downfall, everything she had done up until now had become Chang-Sun’s pawn and was destroyed. Now, she was about to die. Hence, she wasn’t only furious. She also had countless grudges against Chang-Sun.

Tap!

Nevertheless, Chang-Sun pulled out [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth] without even saying anything to the angry Yoo-Jin. The curved edge of the dagger viciously shone. The time to ask about the [Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan] had come.