Chapter 239

The expression of the old man changed at my words .

[…Demon King of Salvation…?]

It was difficult to read the exact emotions due to the old man’s intricately folded wrinkles . The old man was first surprised, then angry and finally looked admiring . To be exact, every emotion was contained in one expression .

[That’s right . You are… huhu, I see . ]

The old man seemed to know me . I didn’t expect anyone in the Gourmet Association other than Persephone to know about me… yet he had a surprising awareness?

“Can I ask for your modifier?”

The old man gave an unknown smile instead of answering my question .

[Do you like the coat I made?]

“…Huh?”

[The coat you are wearing . ]

I reflexively looked down at my white coat .

[Infinite Dimension Space Coat]

It was a coat I was awarded with after defeating Myung Ilsang . The name of the constellation who made this coat was…

“…Mass Production Maker?”

The old man laughed at my surprised tone .

[I am called that . ]

He pointed his thumb at himself and I was slightly discouraged . The Mass Production Maker . He was mentioned in the list of constellations who had the greatest influence on the Star Stream scenario .

It was difficult to describe his combat ability as being of the highest level but he was an existence with a close connection with many nebulae and the bureau . To make matters worse, I killed Myung Ilsang who was the incarnation of the Mass Production Maker in the fifth scenario .

[Huhu, you don’t have to look like that . I won’t eat you . ]

The Mass Production Maker seemed to have noticed what I was trying to say .

[I know what you’re thinking . Don’t be alarmed . It is common in the Star Stream . He wasn’t the type of person I was interested in anyway . ]

“…”

[He had no guts, had a weak will and always searched for the easy way . ]

I felt a complex amount of emotions . There was relief that the Mass Production Maker didn’t care much about it and disillusioned that even a constellation like the Mass Production Maker thought of incarnations as tools…

I pretended to be calm . “Thank you . ”

[Don’t thank me for that . No matter how lousy, he was still my incarnation… by the way, I saw the story you made . ]

“My story?”

[Yes, you are great at leading the scenario in unexpected directions and creating a mess . Thanks to you, I haven’t been bored for a while . I gave you five stars . ]

I didn’t know if it was praise or mockery but I thanked him .

[This is your first time here . Who introduced you?]

“The queen of the Underworld . ”

The eyes of the Mass Production Maker shone .

[That old hag… huhu, doing this thing through all means . Bringing a new entrant like you at a time like this…]

I seemed to know what he meant but I deliberately trembled . “What is happening in the Gourmet Association?”

[They are always doing things . Rather, did that old hag abandon her new entrant to see what you could do? Tsk tsk… in any case, she is an Olympian . Come on . I’ll give you a brief introduction . ]

Unexpectedly, things were going well . I followed behind the Mass Production Maker and looked around . I shouldn’t forget my purpose for coming here just because there were many spectacular attractions . I came to recruit constellations to help in the Demon King Salvation .

Let’s see . The first thing was to talk to the constellations…

[You know who that drunkard over there is, right? He is Thor . The vigorous and stern woman over there is Vakarine…]

I felt a thrill every time the Mass Production Maker called out the name of a constellation . The real names of the constellations had the power to attract their attention . The problem was they might like it or be angry . I sometimes called out the names of constellations like Persephone but not like this…

[They don’t like me very much so I can’t introduce you to them . They scared just by me approaching . ]

In fact, Thursday’s Thunder and Morning Star Goddess seemed to be avoiding the Mass Production Maker . I roughly knew the cause .

[Tsk tsk, they don’t know what good stories are…]

In any case, I felt that the reaction of the constellations was noticeably different just by moving with the Mass Production Maker . It was also easy to enter the centre of the banquet hall, which was difficult to get into before . However, now everyone would run away before I could even speak…

Ah, I remembered that Asmodeus was a member of the Gourmet Association… where is he?

[It looks like the main event is going to begin . ]

The Mass Production Maker smiled alone and grabbed my sleeve . I sat at a nearby table and the guide immediately gave me food .

[Eyes of the Ninth Circle Great Sage Merbatos . ]

I took a quick look at the food before putting down my fork . Several of the surrounding constellations laughed at me . They seemed to be despising that fact that I barely touched the food and couldn’t eat it . The Mass Production Maker just ignored the gazes and chewed on the eyeballs .

[This has a good taste . Look, that friend is today’s host . ]

A light lit up the stage and the host appeared . The face was familiar . It was the constellation who pushed past me earlier . It was a young lady dressed in a gorgeous gothic lace dress with a cute face .

[Gourmet Association members, hello~ I am today’s host, Euphrosyne!]

I heard the name and knew who she was . The goddess of joy and celebration, Euphrosyne . She was a constellation belonging to the Olympus constellation .

Along with the applause, some constellations lost their dignity and screamed .

[Ohhh, Euph-ssi! Over here!]

To be precise, it was the Mass Production Maker next to me .

Suddenly, a memory from Ways of Survival came to mind . In the original novel, there was a time when Euphrosyne emerged as the host of the Gourmet Association Festival . At the time, Yoo Jonghyuk…

[Thank you for attending while you’re so busy! Thank you for the owner of Oro Castle, Immeasurable Austerity for lending us this place!]

Maybe he killed her .

[There are two main events today . Before that, I would like to introduce a special guest . Maybe you’ve heard of these constellations? Today’s guest is from a planet that is emerging as a hot spot recently!]

I had an ominous feeling as firecrackers burst in one corner of the stage .

[Please clap for Anna Croft, a prophet from Earth!]

The noisy constellations fell silent simultaneously . I saw Anna Croft climbing the stairs to the main stage .

…I see . I seemed to know why Anna Croft came to the Gourmet Association at this time . She truly was a woman I couldn’t like .

Anna Croft looked at the audience with her uniquely calm gaze and greeted her with a bright smile .

“It is nice to meet you, constellations of the Gourmet Association . I am Anna Croft, an incarnation of the nebula Asgard . ”

She looked dignified but the constellations were already frowning from the moment she opened her mouth .

[The Gourmet Association has really fallen . I can’t believe the food is talking on the stage . ]

[The Star Stream is degenerating these days . ]

This was the Gourmet Association . It was a banquet of carefully selected ‘stories’ for the gourmet constellations . It was a natural story but the ‘fresh incarnations’ were the main ingredients of the

story .

Anna Croft came to this place knowing it . “I might be lacking but I am the host of the first event . ”

That’s why this woman was scary .

[I don’t know what food you have prepared . ]

[Take it out now!]

The atmosphere heated up and it was Euphrosyne who tried to quickly intervene .

[Now, everyone . Don’t be too excited… isn’t it okay to listen to the words of the prey? Shouldn’t you have some patience with your food?]

Euphrosyne smiled in a cheerful manner and the agitated constellations paused for a moment . The clever Anna Croft didn’t miss this gap .

“In recent years, the Star Stream is flooded with obvious stories . ”

The provocative beginning caused the constellations to focus on her . Anna Croft continued speaking . “The returnees, reincarnators, sword masters, 9th circle magicians… even the same prophets . It all starts from being stronger than others…”

There was a faint smile on Anna Croft’s face .

“It is the reality of today’s Star Stream, which is flooded with stories that are created for the sake of fleeting fun . ”

The constellations looked impressed . It was as if they were amazed that their food was telling a story . However, Anna Croft’s story was just beginning .

“it wasn’t like this before . At the very least, the trend was different during the first generation stories . ”

As if possessed, the constellations waited for Anna Croft’s next words .

“In those days, the constellations loved stories . It was because the stories were worthy . The dokkaebis gave a theme and the constellations explored the form and aesthetics of it . At that time, the stories definitely reached the realm of ‘art’ . ”

…Art . She was a truly scary woman . I could say this from the position of an incarnation . The constellations looked nostalgic at Anna Croft’s words . Persephone could be seen among them . All of them were constellations who survived those days .

[Interesting . Then you have a story that can satisfy our appetite?]

The person speaking was a demon king leaning against a corner of the hall . Anna Croft wasn’t panicked by the provocation and smiled .

“That’s right . I am going to give you back the lost ‘first generation’ stories . ”

The constellation’s expressions changed . Everyone doubted their ears .

“You don’t like sword masters or 9th circle magicians . You like stories with a theme of blood, sweat, tears and effort . I came here today to present you with such a story . ”

The constellations reacted in different ways to Anna Croft’s words . Some shouted about how an incarnation was making a fool of them while others were interested in what she was saying . There were also constellations who responded skeptically, just like the Mass Production Maker by my side .

[…She is telling a stupid story . The current Gourmet Association won’t find such stories interesting . Isn’t that right?]

“I agree . ”

There were certainly some great stories among the first generation but times had changed . The constellations who already experienced stimulating stories wouldn’t be touched by stories that mimicked the first generation .

Still…Anna Croft couldn’t be unaware of this . She was the most competent incarnation in all of Ways of Survival .

I recalled the parts of Ways of Survival that were about her . In the original novel, Anna Croft never held such an event at the Gourmet Association Festival . However, there must be something similar to this .

At this moment, someone grabbed my shoulder . “Demon King of Salvation!”

TL: Rainbow Turtle