WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Our Precious Demon King ◈
Chapter 85: A New Retainer
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The South Korean presidential office.
Requests for meetings had come from the Italian and French embassies first thing in the morning.
It would have been proper to meet them separately, but the president had replied that he could see them if they were willing to meet him together. Both had readily agreed.
“Thank you for graciously overlooking our rudeness in requesting a meeting without notice.”
“It’s an honor to be granted an audience with you, Mr. President.”
President Kim Seungtae felt rather strange at the cautious, polite words of the French and Italian ambassadors, who represented their countries in Korea.
“Haha, please sit.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It’s a little early for breakfast. Let’s have some tea.”
“Thank you.”
“We’re honored.”
Their careful manner made the president chuckle in disbelief.
Before meeting them, he had already received a brief report on the Special Adviser’s activities on the other side of the world overnight.
“Here is an official letter from the French president.”
“...?”
The Italian ambassador gave a little smile and took out a similar bundle of documents.
“I have a handwritten letter of thanks.”
“Handwritten?”
“It was flown over by private jet overnight.”
“...”
Sending a private jet just to deliver a letter seemed wasteful, but the sentiment and care conveyed by that very inefficiency were beyond words.
That was also why the French ambassador’s face had darkened.
“Hahaha. Well, now.”
The official letters from both countries contained nothing but thanks.
To sum them up:
‘Let’s be good friends from now on.’
He had simply gone to sleep and woken up to find two countries approaching him with their tails wagging. All thanks to the Special Adviser, who had gone sightseeing in Europe during the night.
He hadn’t done a thing, yet the whole world had begun to love Korea.
President Kim Seungtae couldn’t hide his satisfaction.
‘Is this what it feels like to be the president of a major power?’
Was diplomacy allowed to be this easy?
He felt as though he was getting a small taste of what it was like to be the American president, who had always acted like a thug.
“Haha, excellent. What harm could there be in being friends? I’m sure you didn’t come all this way just to deliver letters. What brings you here?”
The two ambassadors grew a little tense and watched his expression.
President Kim Seungtae already had a fair idea.
“We’d like to form an alliance between Korea and France against dimensional invasion.”
“Italy would like the same.”
“Haha, well, now.”
President Kim Seungtae smiled.
He could practically see the two ambassadors’ hearts pounding at that smile.
So this was what it felt like to look down from a position where he wanted for nothing.
“There’s no reason to refuse. However, Europe is very far away geographically. Would such an alliance be effective?”
“...”
The Special Adviser could use teleportation.
The two ambassadors looked gloomy as he played innocent despite knowing that perfectly well.
Kim Seungtae decided that was enough teasing.
People often came to regret throwing their weight around just because they happened to have the upper hand.
“I’m joking. But not entirely.”
“...?”
“You’re making this proposal with the Special Adviser in mind, I assume.”
“That’s correct! If he could provide assistance when high-rank dungeons appear... France is willing to pay anything in return.”
“Italy already considers Korea a brother nation! We can offer more than France.”
“Haha, that’s the key point.”
“...?”
“Whatever payment you offer, please make it to the Special Adviser himself. He belongs to our Hunter Management Bureau, but we can hardly consider him entirely one of our agents. To put it bluntly, he’s a national-authority-class hunter, isn’t he?”
“...”
He was right.
The term had come into use when Logan Hayes signed a “treaty” with the United States. An individual had emerged who stood on equal footing with a nation.
“You should view Korea and the Special Adviser as partners. If you need his help, negotiate with him directly.”
“...”
How bleak.
Did they have to go and beg him every time something happened?
South Korea seemed to be taking a step back.
“Ah, of course, the capabilities of our Bureau’s hunters have improved noticeably of late.”
“Ah! Forgive our belated congratulations. Congratulations on the emergence of a new SR-rank hunter.”
“Korea’s rise is truly remarkable. Congratulations, Mr. President.”
“Hahaha. At any rate, that is our position. Whether it’s a contract, an alliance, or anything else, we cannot order the Special Adviser around.”
They couldn’t force him.
But they wouldn’t stand in the way of negotiations either.
The two ambassadors realized the president wasn’t going to change his position.
‘Even so, it’s better to work toward an alliance.’
‘Korea is on the rise. Its strength will only grow, not weaken.’
The two ambassadors offered flattering remarks, and they agreed to let their working-level officials sort out the details later.
After seeing them out, the president called in his chief of staff.
“What’s the Adviser doing now?”
“I’m told he’s sightseeing in Rome.”
“When does he say he’ll be back?”
“We don’t know. It happens to be the weekend, so his niece and nephew don’t have school either.”
“Hmm. Then he should be back by Sunday at the latest.”
“That’s right.”
The president was tapping the armrest of his chair when he suddenly flinched.
“S-surely not.”
“What’s wrong, sir?”
“He isn’t thinking of emigrating, is he?”
“Pardon?”
“Think about it! If he finds somewhere he likes while traveling the world...”
“Oh! He might want to settle there.”
“That’s exactly what I mean!”
Anxiety suddenly surged through President Kim Seungtae.
Everywhere the Special Adviser went, the entire country went out of its way to give him special treatment.
If their efforts to win him over worked and he decided to settle down there...
“But surely he wouldn’t leave Korea when his family is here?”
“What about studying abroad? Huh?”
“Oh!”
South Korea was a country with an exceptional passion for education.
If someone wanted to send their children abroad to study, emigrating became an even easier choice.
“Ugh, this won’t do. Call the mayor of Seoul.”
“Why the mayor, sir?”
“Tell him to bring every urban development plan for Seoul. And the officials in charge!”
“Wh-why all of a sudden, sir?”
“Seoul has to be a good place to live if we don’t want the Adviser thinking about leaving!”
“Ah, understood!”
President Kim Seungtae was deeply uneasy.
Were there countries in the world that were better places to live than Korea?
Yes. In fact, there were plenty.
Cities more comfortable than Seoul?
Those existed too.
“Damn it! I’ve been complacent.”
The fact that the Special Adviser was a South Korean citizen no longer mattered. While they let their guard down, his nationality could change in an instant.
It all depended on what Special Adviser Kim Junyong wanted.
If he wanted to leave, who could stop him?
President Kim Seungtae made a call.
[Hunter Management Bureau Director Park Taejun speaking.]
“Ah, Director Park! How’s construction on the Adviser’s mansion coming along?”
[It’s currently 49% complete.]
“Make it faster! Throw more people and machines at it than you could possibly need! If you’re short on funds, spend whatever it takes!”
[Pardon?]
“Turn it into paradise! Make him say, ‘There’s no place like home! Ah, home really is the best!’”
[Yes, sir. We’re doing everything we can.]
“Good. Give it some extra attention.”
Even after hanging up, President Kim Seungtae couldn’t shake his anxiety.
“Ha... When is he coming back?”
It felt as though his heart wouldn’t settle down until Kim Junyong returned to Korea.
* * *
The Colosseum.
The Special Family arrived at the site, which had been closed to tourists under the pretext of maintenance work.
“Wow, this is amazing.”
“Hmm.”
Yu Jihun and Yu Jia marveled at seeing an ancient site they had only read about in books with their own eyes.
“Oh, kids, look this way.”
“Mom, we already took pictures.”
“Oh, you! Pictures are all you have left in the end!”
“Come on.”
Despite their grumbling, they stood where the ancient structure could be clearly seen behind them and posed for a picture.
Lorenzo, serving as both photographer and guide, beamed.
“You look wonderful! Hahaha.”
“Hoho, thank you.”
“Italy is a country with a long history. It would be such a shame to end your sightseeing after only a day or two.”
“You’re right.”
“Would you perhaps allow us to provide a mansion for you to stay in during your time in Italy?”
“Pardon?”
As Kim Jangmi’s expression grew uneasy, Lorenzo hurried to explain.
“Oh, please don’t feel burdened. It’s only a very small gift to mark the Special Adviser’s visit.”
“Hmm.”
That made her even more uncomfortable.
“I appreciate the thought, but I’ll have to decline.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I seem to have been too hasty.”
Lorenzo quickly apologized at Kim Jangmi’s obvious discomfort.
“We would be grateful if you visited whenever you liked and treated it as your own home. You needn’t come with the Special Adviser.”
“Haha, all right.”
She had answered, but she still seemed uneasy.
Lorenzo doubted Kim Jangmi would ever visit Italy on her own, and he blamed himself.
‘I rushed it. Damn!’
He hadn’t considered Korean sensibilities.
Anyone else would have happily accepted the offer on the spot.
Koreans simply refused to accept anything for free unless they had done something to earn it.
He felt bitter, having only made her more suspicious for no reason.
“Junyong!”
“Yeah? What is it?”
She called to Kim Junyong, who was down below in the Colosseum’s arena.
“When are we leaving?”
“I’m almost done!”
She didn’t know what he was doing, but he had been down there talking with Remi for a while.
At the center of the Colosseum.
In the middle of this battlefield, where gladiators had once fought for their lives, Kim Junyong was having a conversation.
Not with Remi, but with the faint soul beside her.
[...No, my friends...]
“Look, are you going to follow me or not?”
[Sob... I’m sorry, everyone. I’m sorry.]
“Oh, for... This bastard.”
“Let’s just cut it down.”
Kim Junyong frowned at Remi’s urging.
“Wait. Do you think it’s easy to find a soul this old?”
It was a soul filled with deep grief.
It had to be over two thousand years old, yet it still hadn’t become corrupted.
“It’s right on the verge of corruption. Why not just cut it down?”
“I just need to recruit it.”
First, he needed to get a conversation going, but this one only said whatever it wanted to say.
Guilt toward those friends was probably what had kept this soul from becoming corrupted and left it lingering here for two thousand years. That made it difficult to interfere carelessly.
“Hey, this really is your last chance. If I don’t take you in, you’ll keep going on about your friends until you become corrupted and turn into an evil spirit.”
[I’m sorry. I’m sorry, everyone...]
“Ugh, I’m really leaving.”
[Again...]
“Hm?”
[Can you let me see my friends again?]
For the first time, he got a reply.
Kim Junyong’s eyes lit up.
“Look. How could you see friends who died two thousand years ago again? I don’t lie.”
A soul contract couldn’t be made through lies.
[...Then, new friends... Can you help me make new friends?]
What?
Was this bastard an outcast?
“Of course.”
[Can you... keep my friends from being sent into battle?]
“Yeah, of course.”
[All right. I’ll become your servant.]
Kim Junyong grinned.
The first soul he had acquired on Earth.
And one with incredible potential at that.
If he raised this one well, he could even hope for performance on Remi’s level someday.
“Good. Deal.”
Fsssh.
The soul shone brightly, then was absorbed into Kim Junyong and entered his void pouch.
The new soul’s consciousness connected with his own.
‘Ferus.’
Someone who had worked at the Colosseum in Roman times...
‘What? Those friends were animals?’
Hunting wild beasts, training them, and sending them into the Colosseum...
His new retainer, Ferus, was a beast trainer.
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