WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 40: Breakdown

Demon Realm Forum Public Board

– I'm in South Korea right now, and it's chaos. Ryu Jai got utterly crushed without doing a thing.

– What kind of fresh nonsense is that?

– Tons of witnesses. Check the rankings.

– Huh? Ryu Jai's ranking is gone.

– It's down there. She dropped to 833rd.

– Whoa, what's going on?

– Rankings aren't PvP standings to begin with.

– Sure, having a higher rank doesn't guarantee victory, but higher rankers do usually have the advantage.

– No, what I'm saying is–can you even flip rankings in a single match within the system?

– Huh? You're right. Isn't ranking up only possible by getting stronger through hunting?

– And even that has clear limits. The higher you rank, the less experience you gain.

– Wow, from 5th to 833rd...So she's not a Guardian anymore?

– Hey, why's everyone only talking about Ryu Jai? Who overtook her? There's no new entry on the rankings.

– Who else could it be? It's gotta be that new G-rank who showed up in South Korea.

– Tch, where does South Korea keep finding these ultra-elite talents?

– He must be from a major power.

– What's his name? Can there even be an unranked G-rank?

The Demon Realm Forum was on fire. Ryu Jai was a 5th-ranked hunter.

That meant she was the fifth strongest human in the world and one of only seven Guardians. She was humanity's strategic asset against A-rank demons and dungeons.

Her influence was so great that it was considered national-level. For the first time in ten years, her unshakable position crumbled.

And it had been brought down by an unranked, nameless hunter surrounded by nothing but sensational buzz that South Korea was keeping tightly under wraps.

While the world reeled from this hot news and scrambled to gather information about "that hunter" in South Korea, the hunters gathered in the Daesan Hotel banquet hall could barely contain their excitement.

"What's going to happen to the Alliance now? Ryu Jai was supposed to become its president..."

"Hey, are you stupid? This was a show from the start."

"What? A show?"

"Yikes, it's still confidential, but..."

"Oh, I've heard about it too. There's no Alliance. This is just for show."

"Oh, really?"

The Asian Hunter Alliance Consortium. Some hunters knew the background behind it, while others had no idea. They were simply told by their guilds to attend and treat it as a vacation to South Korea.

While most were chatting about the day's events, in a corner of the banquet hall–

Brrr.

"Hey, Kenchi."

"Huh?"

"What's with you? Still spacing out?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Let's go. The Alliance's already fallen apart."

"Uh, where to?"

"Where do you think? Sightseeing. I've got to try samgyeopsal."

"..."

Kenchi Takahashi's face turned pale.

"Sightseeing? South Korea is dangerous. Shouldn't we go back?"

"What? Dangerous? How?"

"Didn't you see that hunter earlier?"

"Thanks to him, South Korea is now the safest country in East Asia."

"...!"

That was why it was dangerous. Safe? Not at all. South Korea was the most dangerous place in the world right now. The Demon Realm? No–it was right here in South Korea.

Am I the only one who has noticed?

Kenchi Takahashi looked at his Hardbank Guild colleague in disbelief. Sightseeing? They might as well tour the Demon Realm!

"H-Hina. Did you see that hunter's face earlier?"

"I did. He looked decent, right?"

Hina Kamishiro's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Koreans all look pleasant."

"Hey, if that guy counts as good-looking, South Korea's average male appearance is terrible."

"Oh, Yuji, what do you know?"

While his colleagues bantered, Kenchi Takahashi felt dazed.

"Why bring up his face?"

"No reason. Just...doesn't he look familiar?"

"Hm? It's the first time I've seen him."

"Maybe from a drama?"

When the two still didn't get it, Kenchi Takahashi closed his eyes tightly. His heart pounded, and his body stiffened.

No one seems to know. Well...

How many people could recognize the Mad Monarch's face? He knew only because he had been tortured and mocked before being killed in front of the man.

Does no one really know?

Kenchi Takahashi scanned the room. Neither his colleagues nor the hunters from other countries seemed to notice anything amiss. Not even SR-rank hunters at his level recognized Kim Junyong.

The Mad Monarch!

He wanted to scream it out, but the words wouldn't come. No, he didn't have the courage.

It was a brand burned into him alongside death. An instinctive fear.

It was still vivid. That smiling face forcing him to shout "Long live Dokdo!" under torture. Only now was the entire secret revealed.

To think he was human.

He could never have imagined it.

The Mad Monarch. Of course, he had assumed the man was a high demon–never that he was an Earthling like himself. No, wait–then right now, South Korea was...

This is absurd!

Were they turning the Mad Monarch into a hero?

No, this wasn't right.

"Hahh, I'm going back."

He wanted to return to Japan immediately.

Bang–

A sudden explosion rang out.

"What? Upstairs?"

"Is the building collapsing?"

Rumble.

Still traumatized, Kenchi Takahashi overreacted.

"I have to leave right now!"

With the determination to swim to Japan if there were no planes, he left the Daesan Hotel convention hall.

* * *

Daesan Electronics President Kang Changseong had given up on watching the banquet the moment Ryu Jai knelt before Kim Junyong.

Damn it.

All he could do was curse. The once confident Ryu Jai couldn't even move. When Kang Changseong returned to the private meeting room–

"President Kang. The Communist Party accepted Tenluo's demands, so we'll be leaving."

"What? Are the negotiations already over?"

"Yes. The Communist Party made a big concession. Our Tenluo hunters no longer have to wear GPS anklets when they go out."

"...?"

As expected of China. The Tenluo Guild president looked very pleased, and the situation was no different for the Hardbank president.

"Our government gladly accepted our conditions too."

"What were Hardbank's conditions?"

"We're introducing electronic payment for dungeon entry permits."

"...?"

So what were they using for dungeon entry permits until now?

"In any case, we'll be going."

"May Daesan also get what it wants from the South Korean government."

The two left without hesitation, leaving Kang Changseong with a dismayed look on his face.

"These bastards."

They concluded negotiations without any real back-and-forth, using absurdly easy terms as an excuse to withdraw immediately.

Ryu Jai was subdued.

It wasn't just a Korean beating a Taiwanese hunter. This could provide a pretext for government conflict, with Taiwanese public opinion fanning the flames and possibly escalating the situation.

Taiwan and South Korea could clash. What should Daesan do?

The government hadn't even sent a messenger yet. Negotiations? Forget it. This wasn't just a bust. They were about to be left holding the bag entirely.

"P-President!"

As the Chinese and Japanese guild members rushed out, the chief secretary came running into the room where only the Daesan people remained.

"How did it go?"

"Ryu Jai fainted! It was one-sided."

"...Damn!"

This wasn't a matter for gambling. He hadn't imagined such a huge gap within G-rank itself.

If 5th-ranked Ryu Jai and 1st-ranked Logan faced each other, what would happen? Logan would have the advantage, but the outcome couldn't be guaranteed.

Then Kim Junyong is Earth's strongest.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Instead of pitying his son, he now felt irritated. That's why you should watch who you mess with!

For no good reason, the first button had been misaligned, souring Daesan's relationship with Kim Junyong.

I should have ripped the button off back then!

He had misjudged his opponent. Relying only on Daesan's stature and hesitating, he ended up distancing even the government.

Needlessly trying a bluff had tangled the situation into an irreversible mess.

Damn it.

Did he step in for no reason? Should he cut ties? At the guild president level?

While Kang Changseong was agonizing, the door opened and the worst person walked in.

"Everyone's here."

"Grrrk."

Fainted guards were visible beyond the door. This was a Daesan Guild event, and the guards were all at least Rank 5 hunters, but...

"..."

"Where's Kang Hyunsik? Oh, there you are."

Kim Junyong pointed to Kang Hyunsik, who was hiding behind the Daesan Guild members.

Whoosh.

"Aaagh!"

Black tendrils sprouted and bound him. Kang Hyunsik screamed convulsively. The fear from that time came flooding back. He swung the one right arm he had left, but the tendrils grabbed it.

"Hyunsik!"

"Oh, you're his father."

"Mmph."

The Daesan Guild members were quite startled when the black tendrils bound Kang Changseong as well.

No one expected Kim Junyong to so recklessly skip any attempt at conversation and start with brute force.

"Nggh! Dongsu! Dongsu!"

Lim Dongsu! An SR-ranker, ranked 77th. As Daesan's top hunter, he stepped forward at heir apparent Kang Changseong's urgent call.

His massive pay and king-like treatment were meant for moments like this.

"Release the president and executive."

"Don't want to."

"..."

Lim Dongsu was speechless. It was impossible to converse with this kind of opponent.

"Then I'll have to use force as well."

Kim Junyong grinned.

Seriousness, responsibility, trust.

These were not the most common kind of "loyalty" in Belhaim, but the creed of a bodyguard from Earth was firm.

Even with the opponent who had easily beaten Ryu Jai standing before him, Lim Dongsu didn't shrink.

"Go ahead."

Well then, the first prey of this trip? Go on, attack. The moment the scale cries self-defense, your neck will snap.

Tap-tap.

In the blink of an eye, Lim Dongsu lunged forward and swung his blade.

Slash!

Kim Junyong blocked the sharp wave of magic by deploying a defensive barrier. Then, he smiled when he saw Lim Dongsu quickly change direction and charge toward Lee Mina.

Well, would you look at this guy?

Was he going to take a hostage?

< Recognizing the Arbiter's crisis. Punishment seems necessary. >

As Lim Dongsu almost reached Lee Mina, a black sphere of magic appeared at his side. If he just stretched out his hand, he could grab Lee Mina's collar, but...

Danger!

He poured all his magic into guarding his side.

Boom!

Together with a heavy explosion sound–

Boom!

The building shook, and a massive shockwave followed. Lim Dongsu flew through two walls before crashing to the ground. He was covered in blood, but by some miracle, still alive.

"How dare you target my subordinate?"

"Ah!"

Lee Mina, who had nearly become a hostage, felt her eyes grow moist.

Kim Junyong turned his gaze to Kang Hyunsik, whose face was etched with despair.

"Telling your dad won't help, will it?"

"..."

Kang Hyunsik's expression was completely different now. There wasn't a trace of anger or revenge to be found. Only despair, fear, and an earnest longing for mercy remained.

Was it because he was an Earthling after all? His spirit was even weaker than that of Belhaim's pampered young masters.

"What a letdown."

He had expected Daesan to have laid traps and make it plenty of fun for him, but there were none.

The only one who came at him with full force was Lim Dongsu.

"You guys, are you going to come at me?"

"..."

Just in case, Kim Junyong asked the Daesan hunters, but they only kept silent, busy avoiding his gaze. One of them even shook their head.

He didn't have the distasteful habit of picking on wallflowers.

"Good grief, worse than a one-armed man."

At least Kang Hyunsik didn't submit even in the face of strength and barked back. These people had no fight in them at all.

"S-Special Advisor!"

"Hm?"

At the sound of a quite familiar voice, he looked back and saw a group approaching. At the very front was an awakened person...

"Deputy Bureau Director?"

It was the awakened representative of South Korea his sister liked. She approached, looking at him with eyes full of desperation, pressure, and fear.

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