Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 244

244. Star of Hell (11)

Suddenly, a sharp, spiderweb-like thread shot from the darkness, narrowly encircling Hyun-woo’s neck.

The movement was so swift and subtle that he wouldn’t have noticed it if he hadn’t been hyper-focused.

Hyun-woo immediately raised his right hand. The pattern etched there blazed with a light as bright as the sun.

The moment the drain’s interior was bathed in intense purple light, the spiderweb was forced back, its form twisting and collapsing.

“I said, let’s talk.”

As the intense purple light pushed back the darkness, a figure gradually receded into the shadows.

Despite his heightened senses, Hyun-woo still couldn’t pinpoint Sang-hyun’s exact location, a testament to her skill in concealing her presence. However, simply revealing the star’s mark had already put Sang-hyun at a disadvantage.

Hyun-woo now held the upper hand. Perhaps he could afford to be magnanimous.

After all, Hyun-woo had been the aggressor, and Sang-hyun the betrayed victim.

But Hyun-woo had no intention of yielding.

Right now, he needed to demonstrate his power to Sang-hyun. That would be far more persuasive.

Soon, Sang-hyun’s voice echoed from the darkness.

“If you knew I was pretending to have no memories…”

Her voice was surprisingly young and youthful.

“You should have just pretended not to know and turned a blind eye.”

“I’m not the type to leave a potential enemy lurking behind me.”

“Might become an enemy?”

A low chuckle rippled through the air.

“You make it sound like we aren’t enemies already.”

“If I considered you an enemy, I would have already told Ha-hyun the truth.”

Ha-hyun remained completely unaware that Hyun-woo had killed Sang-hyun.

Hyun-woo assessed that Sang-hyun was, at the very least, willing to negotiate. If Sang-hyun revealed the truth, Ha-hyun would likely side with her.

Swish.

The spiderwebs began to stir slowly.

Gradually, Sang-hyun emerged into the purple light.

***

She appeared to be only about seven years old.

While she possessed a generally human form, it was evident that her transformation was incomplete.

Some of her fingers resembled spider legs, and she had insect-like black eyes positioned beside her human eyes.

“You hatched early, and you definitely look underdeveloped.”

“I’m not trying to take on a human form to please you,” Sang-hyun retorted coldly.

“I’m simply adopting the form that’s most familiar to me. Similarly, the spiders under my control are instinctively drawn to familiar forms.”

In their terms, it meant that ‘self-establishment’ was not yet sufficient.

Sang-hyun moved fluidly along the spiderweb.

Hyun-woo watched her leg movements. Though concealed by a wide skirt, her gait resembled the coordinated movement of multiple legs rather than bipedal walking.

It was clear that more spider-like features remained hidden beneath her clothing.

“The reason I haven’t said anything to Ha-hyun is…”

Sang-hyun began, pacing slowly on the spiderweb.

“It’s for her own good. It would be troublesome if she attacked you on my behalf, or if she abandoned you.”

“She could always return to Monstrill, couldn’t she?”

Sang-hyun offered a bitter smile.

From the beginning, the Sang-hyun and Ha-hyun sisters had been members of the Whispering Star. Hyun-woo had no intention of preventing Ha-hyun from returning if she desired. However, Sang-hyun’s continued presence was unexpected.

“In the first place, it was the Whispering Star who ordered me to kill the Widow Queen Spider. Even though she was already in a state worse than death, I still haven’t forgotten that. The Whispering Star elevated me to an apostle, but it was also the Whispering Star who left me to die.”

Sang-hyun continued with a sigh.

“And more than anything, the Whispering Star instructed me to stay by your side. She’s a seducer, whispering promises of schemes and rewards. You and I must still be valuable to her cause.”

“Hmm, it seems to me that Monstrill should be more concerned with her own affairs. Now that I’ve become a star, isn’t her plan ruined?”

Sang-hyun fell silent.

Her eyes flickered with unease for the first time.

“Where is Monstrill, and what is she doing right now? Seeing your condition, I’m even more concerned. The reason you were born prematurely isn’t just because Ha-hyun was annoyed.”

Hyun-woo said, carefully assessing Sang-hyun’s state.

“More than me being immature as a star, you are immature as an apostle. When you were inside Ha-hyun’s body, Ha-hyun may have been a medium that could stably draw out your power, but now it seems like you’re barely maintaining your form. Monstrill seems to have pushed you too hard, right?”

“Are you worried about a star? That’s like a water flea worrying about a wolf.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m a star now too.”

Hyun-woo said, raising his right hand. Sang-hyun clicked her tongue and retorted.

“It’s like a water flea wearing a dog skin. Well, the star must be embarrassed. She noticed early on that you were the type to bounce back when pressed, and she took such good care of you, but in the end, you chose to become a star yourself instead of choosing her.”

Sang-hyun sighed and continued.

“But her cause remains the same. She will try to embrace you until the end. She’s the type who feels more attracted to those who resist.”

“Even after becoming a star, it’s still the same…”

“You are still immature, and your territory is small. As long as you haven’t shed your human skin, you can be absorbed by another star at any time.”

Indeed, that possibility remained.

In any case, it was good news if Monstrill hadn’t lost her motivation. One way or another, Hyun-woo owed her a great deal.

The only strange thing was that she hadn’t contacted him directly yet, but as always, she would appear whenever she deemed it necessary.

Sang-hyun could be an important source of information regarding Monstrill’s intentions.

“It’s a relief that I don’t have to serve a star like you, but that’s all. Don’t expect any more kindness or cooperation from me. I’m just helping Ha-hyun.”

Even with those words, if she intended to help Ha-hyun, she would inevitably have to assist Hyun-woo as well.

After killing the Widow Queen Spider, her hatred, which had once caused her to tremble with betrayal, seemed to have subsided over time. She must have realized that Hyun-woo had been left with no other choice.

Or perhaps, witnessing Hyun-woo’s rise in status from a mere human to a star, she couldn’t help but harbor expectations.

Ultimately, the goal of these sisters was survival.

When Hyun-woo first entered this drain, revealing his status as a star must have made a strong impression on Sang-hyun.

“Just focus on maintaining this situation and ensuring Ha-hyun’s safety. She trusts you deeply.”

“Ha-hyun trusts me?”

“Yes. I wanted to wait a little longer inside her to mature. But after you disappeared, I felt the emotions she had flowing into me, and it was so disgusting that I couldn’t bear to stay long.”

“Ha-hyun’s emotions? I don’t think anything happened.”

Sang-hyun glared at Hyun-woo with a contemptuous expression.

“I would have told her the truth without hesitation if you had simply died.”

“So you’re pretending not to remember anything?”

“It’s the easiest way to avoid expressing my feelings or revealing my discomfort.”

She couldn’t have known all of that as soon as she hatched, so it seemed she had been observing and listening to the surrounding situation since she was still in the cocoon.

Besides, Ha-hyun had demonstrated her ability to draw upon Sang-hyun’s power.

“Ha-hyun is capable on her own, but she’s easily influenced if she has nowhere to belong. That’s why she followed you. Since I was gone, she had to cling to something. You’re a mediocre guy, but it seemed like she wasn’t being treated too badly. She even had a hidden card.”

She stared at Hyun-woo with cold eyes and continued.

“So, what’s the next plan, you fledgling star? You don’t even have a name yet.”

“Does the name matter?”

“It does. So does the concept. Your subordinates are too disorganized. A strong personality and a consistent concept greatly affect their sense of belonging. The higher the loyalty to the star, the stronger the star’s power becomes.”

Hyun-woo raised his right hand and examined the pattern.

A warm, heat-like power, distinct from mana, swirled within the pattern. It grew and shrank according to Hyun-woo’s will.

“It doesn’t matter whether you use it to strengthen your power or distribute it to your apostles or agents. Of course, if you monopolize it, you might be able to easily deal with someone like Kawaro from before. But…”

“If you don’t share your power with your subordinates, your foundation will eventually be shaken. I know.”

Sang-hyun nodded. Hyun-woo turned to her and smiled.

“Don’t worry. I have something in mind.”

Hyun-woo looked up at the drain. Now that he had confirmed that the blade behind him would no longer be aimed at him, it was time to move.

“I’ll be busy for a while. Follow me if you want to watch.”

***

Hyun-woo took Ha-hyun, Kirson, and even Sang-hyun to the intersection.

And after a long time, he summoned Kazat and Yerdan as well.

Kazat was adorned with gold and jewels from head to toe, holding a wine glass, and Yerdan was in a white suit with blood smeared on her bright red lips.

As soon as Kazat saw Hyun-woo, he immediately prostrated himself.

“Oh great one. It has been a while. You seem to have become even more sublime in the meantime. It’s as if there’s a halo behind you… Oh, a halo?”

It seemed that Kazat was the first to notice Hyun-woo’s transformation.

Kazat stared at Hyun-woo with wide eyes and then turned to the pattern engraved on his right hand.

Kazat’s mouth dropped open when he saw the pattern glowing faintly in purple.

“M-m-my goodness, oh great one. In the meantime, have you even encroached upon the seat of the stars? Where is your sky? Does an area where your great touch does not reach even exist?”

“You sound surprised, Kazat.”

“N-not at all! Of course, I thought that the grace of the most high and lofty one had finally embraced and encompassed even the stars, and I realized once again that the heart of the great one is wider and deeper than the universe!”

He was surprised, but once he started making excuses, the praise flowed like a torrent.

Ha-hyun made a disgusted expression as Kazat’s exaggerated praise continued endlessly.

“What have you been doing?”

“Well, recently, during the resource development of the territory, I discovered and was organizing a vault hidden by the former ruler of this territory. And then I received the summons and rushed out.”
The former ruler of Pyongyang hid a vault… It was a plausible story.

It didn’t seem like he was just playing around, but there was no reason to be wearing the vault on his body.

Hyun-woo ordered Kazat to remove all the accessories he was wearing before he personally separated them from his body.

What Kazat needed was the imposing presence of a demon king, not the image of a nouveau riche [new rich].

Yerdan was still looking at Hyun-woo with a bothered expression.

She didn’t want to act cute like when she was in wolf form, but she was particularly rebellious in human form.

“I must have called you in the middle of a meal.”

“If you follow the inspiration, you’ll never go hungry.”

Well, I did give Park Hwi-so the condition that ‘Yerdan’s stats increase as she eats her opponents,’ but every time I call her, she’s always in the middle of a meal, so I can’t imagine how she’s doing.

Still, it was amazing that she didn’t gain weight. Does she burn a lot of calories as much as she eats?

Anyway, if I keep using her so hard, there might be a gap, so I should send her back as soon as possible.

Hyun-woo looked around at his subordinates.

Kirson, Kazat, Ha-hyun, Yerdan, and others, ranging from tiny mosquitoes to goblins, ratmen, and werewolves.

Except for a few that Hyun-woo had raised directly, they were truly a ragtag bunch.

Hyun-woo glanced at Sang-hyun, who was clinging to Ha-hyun’s skirt and watching as if she were oblivious.

She was observing to see what Hyun-woo would do.

Whether he would abandon them or find a way to embrace them all.

Hyun-woo might even absorb them all.

Sang-hyun considered that a distinct possibility, given Hyun-woo’s methods.

Soon, Hyun-woo addressed his subordinates.

“I’m sorry.”

The first word was an apology.

“I think I’m going to betray you.”

***

And a little later, strange rumors began to circulate around the intersection.

It was a bizarre rumor, yet it also functioned as a speech and an incitement, containing a message that was difficult to fully grasp.

The rumor spread, whispered in language to those with intelligence, and in instinct to those with less intelligence.

There was a whispering voice in the howling of wolves and the flapping of mosquitoes. There was even a voice among the members of the Star.

When translated into the voices of those with intelligence and a mouth, the message began like this.

“────The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.”

A formless ghost was wandering among the stars.