The Precious Demon King - Chapter 41

WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 41: Murder and Execution

Chairman Kang Mujin of the Daesan Group. He was the captain who built Daesan into South Korea's number one company and a global firm competing on the world stage.

For health reasons, he had stepped back from the forefront of management, but in truth, he had only temporarily entrusted the group to decide on his successor.

He distributed the management rights of the Daesan Group affiliates among his three sons and one daughter. Since this was a test of their managerial abilities, he required minimal reporting and interfered very little.

Was it about ten days ago? He received a call from the president, after which he issued a directive at the group level.

"Do not clash with the Hunter Management Bureau."

A chaebol grandchild had lost an arm. The rumor spread far and wide, yet Daesan remained quiet on the surface. It wasn't just because of the benefits and guarantees the president had offered the group.

"Special advisor? Find out everything about him."

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you will be undefeated in a hundred battles. For now, it was time to assess the enemy.

But then the impulsive eldest son stepped forward first. His hot-blooded nature sometimes worked as a driving force in a positive way, but at other times it became a flaw of rashness.

Nevertheless, he had managed to coax Tenluo and Hardbank, and even roped in Ryu Jai before reporting back.

"Father, please trust me just this once."

It was too late to stop the cart, and Kang Mujin allowed it, thinking perhaps there might be something to gain against the government.

But today. Looking at the wrecked interior, Kang Mujin belatedly reproached himself for not stopping it back then.

In truth, when Kim Junyong slew an A-rank demon and became a hero of South Korea, the matter of avenging his grandson should have been put aside completely.

"..."

The interior was in shambles. Daesan's top hunter, Lim Dongsu, lay collapsed and soaked in blood.

The eldest son and eldest grandson were wrapped in black tendrils, unable to move as they hung suspended.

"..."

When he left the Pyeongchang-dong mansion at the Hunter Management Bureau's request, he never imagined seeing such a sight.

Wasn't this the very image of a villain? Could anyone be so reckless?

It was a brazen blunder, openly opposing government authority. But from the Hunter Management Bureau's side...

"Special Advisor. Please, I beg you to stop."

Choi Hyunju bowed deeply and begged. Was this the proper appearance of a hunter and the Hunter Management Bureau? To anyone, it was clearly the appearance of being unable to control.

"Me?"

Thud.

"Please."

"Hmm."

Choi Hyunju knelt. Kang Mujin was so shocked that he let out an involuntary groan.

"Who's that old man?"

"Chairman Kang Mujin of Daesan."

"Oh! Grandpa's here!"

Kim Junyong grinned as he dragged Kang Hyunsik over.

Whoosh.

Like an octopus pulling its foot from the mud, another tendril shot up from the ground and grabbed Kang Hyunsik. It dragged him forward.

"Wow, you even told Grandpa already?"

"N-No."

Kang Hyunsik was utterly terrified and had turned pale.

Kim Junyong grinned at Kang Mujin.

"Now then, how prepared is the king of Daesan?"

"..."

Kim Junyong's gaze swept behind Kang Mujin. There were twenty people in suits. Half of them appeared to be secretaries or civilians, and the other half were hunters. But disappointingly, their auras were only Rank 1 to 5.

"What's this? You call these the reinforcements you brought along?"

"..."

Kang Mujin stared vacantly at Kim Junyong.

Kim Junyong's expression and eyes revealed someone capable of habitually destroying things for amusement.

Madness, curiosity, and ennui blended in his gaze, ironically making it shine beautifully.

King of Daesan, reinforcements...

He looked less like an Earthling and more like a man from Belhaim who had crossed over. In fact, that was the more accurate way to see it.

A returnee after two hundred years, roughly ten days back on Earth.

It had barely been ten days since Kim Junyong's return. He was a man who had lived in Belhaim, where feudalism had been entrenched for two hundred years. He was a hunter who had not yet adapted to Earth's society.

Kang Mujin made his decision.

Thud.

"...!"

Everyone was surprised.

"Ch-Chairman."

The secretaries and guards who had come crowding behind Kang Mujin were startled and tried to help him up.

"Stand back!"

At Kang Mujin's roar, they stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

Still on his knees with his hands pressed to the floor and his head bowed, Kang Mujin prostrated himself before the youth and spoke in a grave voice.

"This old man sincerely apologizes."

"Ugh, Father..."

"Chairman..."

The gloomy atmosphere was akin to that of a funeral. Kim Junyong smirked.

"Interesting."

Despite the differences in culture and fundamental societal systems between Belhaim and Earth, why did people act so alike?

The king of Daesan. That very king knelt. To them, it was like a grievous declaration of defeat. But to Kim Junyong, it was merely an old man bowing.

His delusion–so steeped in authority that he thought he was making a great sacrifice–was laughable.

Whether king or commoner, he was just an old man bowing to beg forgiveness.

"Fine, I accept your apology."

"R-Really?"

"When an old man apologizes, I should accept."

Kang Mujin's eyes lit up. He jumped to his feet and smiled broadly.

"What a straightforward fellow. Tell me what you want."

Kim Junyoung chuckled. It was a kingly way of thinking. Now that he had saved face, would he offer a reward? His sudden swagger was laughable.

"What can you give me?"

"Whatever you want."

Kim Junyong grinned.

"Empty words."

He pretended to be magnanimous, but his face showed that he didn't want to give up anything.

"It's about saving my bloodline. Do you think money matters? Just say it. Whatever it is."

This hypocrisy was entertaining. Should he strip off the mask?

"Fine. What I want are their lives."

"...? Isn't that different?"

"How is it different?"

"Didn't you just accept my apology?"

"I did."

"...?"

Kang Mujin's face flushed blotchy red. Was this just wordplay?

"Hey! Right in front of the chairman..."

At that moment, a sharp-faced man behind Kang Mujin stepped forward, and–

Bang!

His head exploded.

< "Murder" has been added to the Scale of Chaos. >

< Bel's Scale tips toward chaos. >

"Shut up."

< ... >

Chaos points didn't matter. Whether or not it was self-defense didn't matter either.

He simply didn't like being interrupted while toying with the old man. Should he call Remi?

Daesan reacted belatedly to their colleague's death.

"Hahh!"

"C-Chief Manager!"

"Ghhk!"

The situation was surreal. They scattered, floundering in confusion. In an instant, it turned into pandemonium.

Kang Mujin's eyes widened, his blood vessels bursting within them. He couldn't bring himself to look back.

...He's not someone to negotiate with.

The extraordinary perception and senses that had brought Daesan to the top were now sounding the alarm.

He stole a glance at Choi Hyunju. She wore a resigned look. The deputy bureau director of the Hunter Management Bureau was condoning murder.

...Has extraterritoriality been granted to an individual?

The government had granted absurd power to that villain-like man. An individual above the law...

Kang Mujin's knees touched the floor again. The first time was hard, but why hesitate the second time?

"I'll do anything. Just tell me how."

"Oh?"

Kang Mujin wasn't slow to catch on. Kim Junyong crouched in front of him.

"All right. I'm not one to enjoy killing."

"..."

In the silence that followed, all eyes turned to the headless corpse. Regardless, Kim Junyong continued.

"Did you say you don't mind your wealth? All right, I'll give you a chance."

He looked at Kang Changseong and Kang Hyunsik, whose faces were stricken with fear.

"I have a skill called Judgment. It weighs sin on a scale. If virtue outweighs, reward is given. If sin outweighs, punishment is given. If the sin is unforgivable, death is given."

"..."

Kim Junyong smirked as he looked straight at the face of the kneeling old man.

"Surrender all your wealth, and I'll spare the two of them."

"...And if I refuse?"

"It will depend on the outcome of the judgment."

"..."

Lose all wealth, but the son and grandson live. A guaranteed salvation.

Does he act this way because he knows how much wealth I have?

It was an absurd demand. If he wanted to keep his wealth...

His son and grandson might die. Since he had only heard an explanation of the skill called Judgment, it was difficult to judge.

Kang Changseong and Kang Hyunsik looked at him with eyes filled with fear and desperation.

"..."

Kang Mujin's bloodshot eyes were fixed on them. His reddened eyes brimmed with moisture.

"Is this a drama? Hurry and choose."

Swish.

Kang Mujin pressed his hands against the floor and stood back up.

"Hm?"

"Please judge them."

"...Oh? You mean to kill them?"

"I believe in my children. If they die, it's because they did something deserving of death."

Kim Junyong grinned. Just as he thought–a greedy old man.

"Father!"

"Grandfather!"

The panicked Changseong and Hyunsik cried out to Kang Mujin, but he only wiped away his tears.

"I raised you properly."

"Wow."

Kim Junyong clapped. Why watch dramas? Reality was more fun.

Kang Mujin was extremely pragmatic. To the point of abandoning his own blood...

"All right. Shall we roll the dice? Judgment."

Flash!

When Kim Junyong cast the skill, a golden scale appeared before each of the two men bound by black tendrils.

And then, the sins they had committed over the years poured out one after another.

Kang Changseong

< Assault, incitement of assault, attempted rape... >

Kang Hyunsik

< Drugs, rape, murder, torture, solicitation of murder, deceit... >

What a pair–father and son both a disgrace. Sheets of paper like wall posters stuck to their chests, and the names of their crimes began to be written one after another.

The father, at least, had done many good deeds, so there still seemed to be a chance he might live...

"H-Hyunsik! N-No!"

"No! It was an accident! An accident!"

With tears and snot streaming down their faces, the two thrashed about, but the scale was merciless.

< Requesting punishment for Kang Changseong. Requesting hanging for Kang Hyunsik. >

"Do it."

Whoosh.

When the golden lightning struck, Kang Changseong trembled violently.

"Aaaaghhh!"

A scream so dreadful it was hard to believe a human could make it burst out. Meanwhile, something like a golden hemp rope descended over Kang Hyunsik's head and coiled around his neck.

"Grrk!"

When the black tendrils released him, Kang Hyunsik's body dangled limply.

"H-Hyunsik!"

Kang Mujun rushed toward his grandson, but a golden radiance repelled him.

Thud!

"Chairman!"

While the bodyguards attended to the fallen Kang Mujin, Kang Hyunsik's execution ended in an instant.

Thud.

Kang Changseong slumped to the floor, and Kang Hyunsik lay motionless with a broken neck.

< Execution for evil deeds has been carried out. >

< The world has become more just. >

< "Judgment" has been added to the Scale of Order. >

< "Execution" has been added to the Scale of Order. >

< The Scales of Chaos and Order find balance. >

The execution of a criminal that the modern system had failed to weed out more than offset the chaos gained from killing a guard.

"...Nngh."

Kang Changseong trembled as he stood. The roasting by lightning had been brief, but the mental torment was immense. Divine punishment was never light. He had felt as though he burned for decades.

Yet even villains seemed to hold affection and love for their children.

"Hyunsik! Nngh, Hyunsik!"

Clutching his dead son, he screamed in anguish.

Regret, grief, despair, rage, hatred.

The typical emotions of a parent who had lost a child surged within him. Interestingly, however, his rage and hostility were not directed at Kim Junyong, but at his own father, Kang Mujin.

"..."

Kang Mujin, too, looked at his son with a vacant expression.

Was it fortunate that at least the son survived? Or was it a disaster that the grandson had died?

Kim Junyong discreetly stepped back and whispered to Lee Mina.

"Hey, this is hilarious."

"What?"

"It looks like the father and son might as well go to war."

"..."

Lee Mina shuddered as she looked at the very man responsible for this mess.

Is the Special Advisor truly a demon?

"Father! How could you!"

"..."