-Doppelgangers aren’t that powerful of an Abyssal race...
The goddess of sloth was an experienced goddess who could determine the usefulness of Abyssal races. A primitive race that didn’t know how to use magic like humans do was considered useless. The doppelgangers were hardly any different.
First of all, their characteristics were… ambiguous.
They could transform into something else, but that was pretty much it. They were quite unintelligent, and even though they could become the mirror image of something else, they couldn’t use magic. They were essentially empty shells.
Even though the doppelganger king found himself in front of a constellation, he merely tilted his head rather than prostrating himself or kneeling. He looked like a big slime.
Seeing his behavior, the orcs began to shout angrily.
“What a rude bastard...!”
“Do you want a taste of my axe?”
The doppelganger king wasn’t phased by their yelling. He didn’t seem to care about the fact that the orcs were almost ready to kill him.
“Can you mimic my appearance?”The doppelganger king nodded and transformed into the mirror image of Choi Yeonseung. Some of the orcs were absolutely shocked by the king’s shameless action. He dared to...!
-It’s an interesting ability, but I don’t think it’s useful. Wouldn’t it be better to have a magician who can polymorph, even if it wouldn’t be exactly identical?
Magic that could transform the caster into another person was usually used by those who wanted to play wicked pranks on others. Most of them weren’t very effective, but in rare instances, they managed to cause a mess in the Abyss. As far as the doppelganger was concerned, it couldn’t really follow complex orders due to its low intellect.
“Now, copy what I’m doing.”
Nod nod.
Choi Yeonseung used foot and fist techniques, and the doppelganger king followed suit. It was awkward at first, but it quickly managed to learn the movements and properly imitate them. It managed to do that thanks to imitating Choi Yeonseung’s body, which had been trained to an extreme degree in order to master martial arts!
The doppelganger king was too simple-minded to master complicated martial arts techniques, but that didn’t matter. Given the complexity of martial arts, there were also powerful techniques that were simple to learn.
‘At the end of the day, you just need to hit fast and hard.’
Choi Yeonseung nodded with satisfaction at the doppelganger king.
“Ditto... No, that’s a bad name. Choi Yeonseung Number Two... I’ll just take out my name and call you Number Two.”
The orcs, who had been anxious about the doppelganger receiving the name for a constellation, let out a sigh of relief.
“That’s a good call.”
-I don’t think it’s very good...
“I don’t know about anything else, but I want you guys to take care of this doppelganger.”
“Ugh... If it's the Master's order, I will obey it without question!”
“I hate looking at this guy, but...!”
“Are you cursing at someone who looks exactly like your master?” said Choi Yeonseung while tapping Number Two.
“...!”
“Stay in your usual form when you’re not fighting.”
Number Two became mushy and returned to his slime-like form. The orcs were relieved and ready to curse at him again.
***
Choi Yeonseung was about to finish teaching the doppelganger the basics and making the territory more fertile and rich when he received an unexpected call.
[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ is requesting a meeting!]
[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ says she saw a vision in which the realm of the incarnation is under attack!]
“!”
Choi Yeonseung was surprised. A vision in which his realm was under attack?
-The time to defend the realm has come.
-Umm...
Choi Yeonseung clicked his tongue. Certainly, he had been doing too well recently. First the victory in the constellation battle, then the monster wave… The nail that stuck out was bound to be hit. Choi Yeonseung had expected others to try to keep him in check.
‘I thought it was going to be a constellation battle, but are they really going to launch an all-out attack on my realm?’
Attacking a constellation’s territory was essentially a declaration of war. Constellations disliked such risky fights because, even if they won, their entire realm could end up in ruins.
-But there are some shortcuts to obtaining a realm.
One of the main ways was to deceive the owner of the realm and pick a fight. There were restrictions, but it was enough to keep a new constellation in check.
-Picking a fight with me without revealing their identity… How cowardly.
-...???
[???]
-What? Why?
-It’s nothing.
The goddess of sloth decided to just support Choi Yeonseung, even though he also sometimes played dirty and used cheap tricks. He was her successor after all.
“I’ll gather the orcs, give them weapons, and tell them to prepare for the fight. I also have to call the golem and doppelganger... Um. I need to be there.”
-...You want to fight directly??
The goddess of sloth was shocked by Choi Yeonseung’s seemingly absurd statement. It was hard to believe that he had become a constellation only to directly participate in mortals’ fights. She felt like she was a parent watching her child try to get into stupid fights.
“Won’t the result be certain if I get involved?”
-...Y-Yes. If you’re fine with it, Successor...
The goddess of sloth felt pity for the unknown mortals. If only they hadn’t made the stupid decision of going after the realm of a constellation…
***
Adaquaniel, the keen-eyed angel, was puzzled by her master’s order.
“Master, may I say something?”
-Go ahead.
“It seems that the incarnation of training is fully capable of protecting himself...”
She was trying to imply that it would be better for them to protect their own territory instead of worrying about others.
The incarnation of training had recently made a name for himself in the Abyss. In comparison, the goddess of balance still hadn’t repaired the damage she had received. Why would she try to help others during a time when she had to work hard to manage her realm and keep others in check…?
-Adaquaniel, who can accurately predict what will happen? Not even I can do that.
“You’re right.”
-Therefore, we shouldn’t let our guard down.
“Yes...”
The goddess was right, but what if Choi Yeonseung didn’t need help against his opponents...?
-Go there, and report to me right away if there’s a human hunter.
“Wouldn’t there be only one human hunter in the realm of the incarnation of training?”
-Really? I didn’t know that.
“... Master, if I may say something...”
-Do you have to?
“... It’s not a good idea to try to seduce a household member who’s already loyal to his master.”
-......
Adaquaniel’s words had a profound impact on the goddess and brought her to tears. The goddess’ reaction didn’t seem genuine because her eyes were covered with a blindfold. If it hadn’t been for that, she would’ve shown tears in front of her household.
-I didn’t have that intention... it was because...
“Is that so? I apologize. I dared to guess Master’s intentions… Please punish me severely.”
-That’s not necessary...
“No, I need to be punished.”
-I will forgive you!
‘She had that intention.’
‘That was her intention.’
The angels beside Adaquaniel thought to themselves that the goddess had that exact intention. They were loyal to their master, but their loyalty was more affectionate, like one would have towards their kind parents. It was completely different than being loyal to a terrifying master.
Because of that, they were able to make a composed assessment in this situation. On rare occasions, some constellations from the Abyss would become obsessed with a mortal. In such cases, the constellations would usually persuade the mortal or forcefully take possession of them for all eternity.
The angels never said anything about that. Constellations were immortal, so wasn’t it fair for them to have a bit of fun? They could indulge in any luxuries they wanted, so such displays of debauchery were actually not that bad.
The problem was that the mortal the goddess of balance was obsessed with was a household member of a constellation they were allied with. There was nothing good about such a relationship that one would see in soap operas on Earth.
First of all, if she got into trouble with the other constellation, rumors that she was seduced by a mortal and betrayed by her ally would circulate. Her reputation would be damaged and she would be ridiculed by other constellations…
There were many, many mortals out there, so there was no reason to cling to that one specific mortal who was the household member of their allied constellation.
The goddess looked at the angels like she had been stabbed for no reason and spoke firmly to them.
-I don’t have any depraved intentions. I’m just supporting my ally.
“Yes...
“Yes... I trust you.”
-Adaquaniel, you’d better take some potions with you.
“Master, I’m quite strong, so I don’t need to rely on potions. I’m afraid it would be a waste to take them with me.”
-Then I’d like you to hand out the potions to the mortals who need it while fighting.
“...Should I give it to that human hunter?”
-No!
***
“Support?”
Choi Yeonseung was surprised by the unexpected news.
-It’s a beautiful world.
[Similarly to humans, the ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is gulping due to nervousness...]
-Everybody, shut up.
Choi Yeonseung had met Adaquaniel and the armed angels in the previous constellation battle.
The angels were amazed by the peaceful atmosphere of this realm.
-The orcs are farming, right...?
-Isn’t it a camouflage tactic?
-Why would they use such a tactic?
-Trying to bait attackers with a peaceful appearance... No, I think they’re actually serious about farming. What’s wrong with this area?
Adaquaniel ignored the noise behind her and spoke to Choi Yeonseung.
-I will greet you on behalf of them. We came here for support.
“Please take care of us.”
Choi Yeonseung reached out to Adaquaniel. The latter tilted her head with a puzzled expression before nodding in understanding.
-A handshake. It’s a traditional greeting on Earth. Please take care of us.
The two of them shook hands.
‘It’s reassuring.’
Choi Yeonseung had a pretty high opinion of Adaquaniel. She was very powerful in combat and had good judgment. She would be quite helpful in a battle that was about defending a territory.
-Do you need potions?
“Potions? If you offer, I’d be grateful to receive them...”
-I brought some here.
“...!”
Choi Yeonseung was surprised, as he could see it with the eyes of a constellation. Those potions had an outstanding level of purity that couldn’t be achieved with Earth’s technology.
‘Wow, how amazing...!’
Choi Yeonseung wasn’t proficient at all in alchemy, so he couldn’t help being completely amazed by these potions. He found it hard to believe that they made them and then brought them to him.
Choi Yeonseung was even more grateful to Adaquaniel.
“Thank you.”
-No need. Of course, I have to give it to you.
Adaquaniel meant that her master made her bring him the potions, but Choi Yeonseung understood something else. To him, she seemed very humble.
“Adaquaniel, you’re an angel I really like. It’s rare to find such kind individuals, whether it’s on Earth or in the Abyss.
-Umm...?
The goddess of sloth tilted her head. She knew some alchemy, and to her, the potion looked like it had been created by a constellation, not a mortal.
“I’ll have to share it with my nieces when I go back to Earth.”
-Ummm...?
“What’s wrong? Do you have something to say?”
-No. It’s nothing.
***
-It’s just an area with orcs.
The lich, an evil undead magician riding on top of a skeleton chariot, led his army forward. Through the darkness of the Abyss, he could see a bright area in the distance.
A realm dominated by a constellation. There was the fortress of the orcs that they were aiming for.
-The power of orcs is intimidating, but that’s it. They’re not smart. Quickly burn down the whole place and proudly return home!
Bam!
Starting with the horses, the death knights around the lich fell one by one.
The orcs, who had been waiting in ambush, ferociously rushed in with their weapons.
-How dare you disregard our intelligence?!
-These bastards… They’ve never even plowed the ground...!
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