WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 46: My Messiah

[ South Korea has made an irreversible choice. ]

[ The true identity of South Korea's proud new G-rank hunter is the Mad Monarch. ]

[ Testimony from Japan's top hunter guild, SR-rank Kenchi Takahashi: Humanity's fate now trembles like a candle in the wind. ]

"This can't be happening!"

Choi Hyunju was appalled. At the same time, she finally realized the cause of the nervousness, irritation, and anxiety that had been churning inside her all along.

I knew someone might recognize him!

Ryu Jai's downfall? Taiwan's protests?

Those could be suppressed. But the vague fear of Kim Junyong's true identity being exposed had slowly grown, increasing her stress.

"Damn it!"

She should never have let Kim Junyong attend the inauguration of the Asian Hunter Alliance. She should have stopped it by any means necessary.

The Mad Monarch first appeared around Year 50. As clashes with the Allied Forces grew more frequent, his infamy mounted.

That meant for returnees under Year 50, the Mad Monarch was no different than a figure from history books.

Out of ten million returnees, nearly ninety percent fell into that category. They had never seen or even heard of the Mad Monarch.

The problem was the returnees after Year 50. They might have encountered the Mad Monarch in Belhaim. A very small possibility.

Up to Year 80 is fine.

From Years 50 to 80, the Mad Monarch fought the Allied Forces relentlessly. Many returnees also died during that period. It was truly the dark age that decisively broke the Allied Forces' strength.

The real problem starts after Year 80.

In Year 80, the Mad Monarch suddenly betrayed his old ways. At that time, the Demon Realm monarch also began waging relentless war against the Demon King's army.

Belhaim suddenly became a three-way battlefield between the Allied Forces, the Mad Monarch, and the Demon King's army. From around that time, the Allied Forces regarded the Mad Monarch as a force that would not retaliate unless provoked.

It took them thirty years to realize this.

At least returnees after Year 80 like me are fine.

Because they knew the Mad Monarch's true terror and cold-bloodedness. However, they accounted for less than 0.1 percent of all returnees.

Most died before Year 80. This was especially true of the roughly ten percent who fell between Years 50 and 80.

Half of them must have died to the Mad Monarch's forces?

To them, he was both archenemy and foe. And now it turned out that Kim Junyong was the Mad Monarch?

"Damn."

There were far too many enemies. At least the returnees after Year 80 were fine. By then, the Mad Monarch had established himself as a new third power, and the three-way conflict between the Allied Forces, the Demon King's army, and the Mad Monarch's forces had solidified.

Especially through the extreme confrontations and battles between the Demon King's army and the Mad Monarch, the Allied Forces were able to gain time to reorganize.

There was even a prevailing view that regarded the Mad Monarch not merely as a Demon Realm monarch, but as an emperor-like figure of the Allied Forces or a Demon King-like figure of the Demon King's army.

Some within the Allied Forces even revered and followed him.

The people who died after Year 80 will know to watch themselves.

Because they knew fear. They knew better than to kick a hornet's nest.

The real problem was those who died between Years 50 and 80. They didn't know his terror; they only bore grudges. Their ignorant thirst for revenge was frightening.

"Kenchi Takahashi! That damned bastard!"

One of Japan's representative hunters. Hardbank's top hunter. A Year 88 returnee.

"That bastard should know better. What the hell is he trying to pull now?"

From his tone alone, it was a certainty.

Was he insane? Or could he be a Japanese spy?

No, maybe his grudge runs so deep that he wants revenge regardless of what happens to his country?

At least that was a plausible explanation. Either way, it was dangerous.

Kenchi Takahashi's proposal to subjugate the Mad Monarch.

He warned of the Mad Monarch's danger, claiming that everyone must join forces to eliminate him before he became an enemy of humanity.

Even among the insane, there was none like him.

In fact, it was precisely because he was insane that he dared to target the Mad Monarch.

From his tone, he's certain. He's the same case as me.

He must have realized it after seeing Kim Junyong at the Asian Hunter Alliance Consortium. Kenchi Takahashi had sharp eyes indeed.

Even after facing Kim Junyong directly and exchanging a few words, Choi Hyunju still felt uncertain.

The prejudice that the Mad Monarch was the same as a Demon Realm monarch, and thus a demon, was deeply ingrained.

"Deputy Bureau Director! Shouldn't we at least make a statement?"

"Damn!"

Choi Hyunju burst out in anger.

"What statement?"

"W-Well, first deny any connection between the Special Advisor and the Mad Monarch..."

"That won't do."

Lies were not acceptable. Kim Junyong was the Mad Monarch, and denying that fact was sheer stupidity.

"Then should we admit it?"

"You want more attention than North Korea right now?"

"Hahh, what a mess."

They could neither admit nor deny it. Admitting it would make them an international target. Denying it would leave South Korea's relationship with Kim Junyong uncertain.

In truth, Choi Hyunju feared the latter more. Kim Junyong's personal feelings were scarier than the world's reputation.

"But Deputy Bureau Director."

"Yes?"

"Even if the Special Advisor is the Mad Monarch...is it really harmful?"

"...?"

"Isn't this all just Belhaim's war? It was a world of battlefields. Judging good and evil through killing doesn't apply there. After Year 80, the Allied Forces and the Mad Monarch's army were basically in a tacit non-aggression, weren't they?"

"Go on."

"In other words, haven't we simply brought over a war hero from another world? Individuals may have grudges, but Earth's nations have no reason to react to Belhaim's geopolitics."

"Hahh..."

At Park Taejun's words, Choi Hyunju let out a long sigh. Yes, this must be the typical Earthling perspective.

"Bureau Director."

"Go ahead."

"I'm not worried about the Special Advisor."

"Hm?"

"He's simply not someone you can worry about. To put it bluntly, even if Earth were destroyed, he would still be alive and well."

She pointed at the monitor.

"I'm worried about these moths drawn to the flame."

"Ah, that? I know. But isn't it their own doing–reaping what they sow?"

"Hah, how can you say that...Bureau Director."

Her eyes sharpened.

"Mm?"

"Say it. There's something, isn't there?"

"W-What do you mean?"

"Heh, so you're not going to tell me?"

"C-Come here for a moment."

Park Taejun led Choi Hyunju into a separate meeting room and spoke very carefully.

"The VIP thinks even war wouldn't be so bad."

"Huh, what did you say?"

"For heaven's sake. Lower your voice."

He gulped and conveyed the president's true intent.

"You knew full well that Kim Junyong was the Mad Monarch, yet still made him special advisor. Do you remember what you said?"

The reasoning had been that it was like Seoul possessing nuclear weapons.

"The VIP fixated on that."

"..."

Any A-rank demon or dungeon could be stopped. Having a G-rank hunter was like building a massive defense system against an invasion from the Demon Realm.

And his true identity as the Mad Monarch? He was far beyond a mere G-rank hunter. He was a Seoul citizen who could sway the fate of a planet.

"Whether it's Taiwan or Japan, the VIP is hoping one of them strikes at us first."

"You mean he wants a justification for war?"

"Since we can't strike first."

"...So that's it."

Choi Hyunju organized her complicated thoughts.

"You're saying he's hoping Japan or Taiwan crosses the line?"

"To be precise, he hopes they don't. But he's prepared if they do."

"..."

"He doesn't want you to stress."

"You're mistaken."

"Hm?"

"The president's intent isn't war...it's a show of force."

Even if provoked, they had no intention of occupying territory. If anyone crossed the line, the plan was to retaliate thoroughly and reveal the disparity in power. South Korea would seize control of East Asia's order.

"And he is counting on the Special Advisor's role in that."

That was why South Korea was trying to downplay the issue as much as possible. If it seemed like they were using Kim Junyong, his reaction would be unpredictable.

The best strategy was to let another country cross the line and force Kim Junyong to inevitably take part.

"Actually, this is classified information."

"Classified or not, make sure you convey what I'm about to say clearly."

They lacked detailed knowledge of the Mad Monarch.

"The Stratagem of Killing with a Borrowed Knife. An empire in Belhaim tried that once. What do you think happened?"

Park Taejun was the bureau director of South Korea's Hunter Management Bureau. There was no way he didn't know Belhaim's history.

"The emperor was assassinated."

"Yes. And that's how Belhaim's two great empires became one."

"..."

"Do you know why I shudder when I see the Special Advisor?"

"...Because he's an Earthling, a Seoul citizen like us?"

"No."

Choi Hyunju spoke with conviction.

"Because he desires a simple life."

"And what of it?"

"The Mad Monarch does not want war!"

Her eyes turned bloodshot.

"He wants peace. Don't drag him into a battlefield. Let his fury remain directed only at the Demon Realm and its demons."

"..."

"Convince the president."

"Hahh, that won't be easy. He's brimming with confidence right now."

"Tell him to restrain himself unless he wants to die by assassination."

"...!"

"Hahh, I already have a headache, and now war, damn it."

That damn president. See if he gets her vote next election.

Choi Hyunju sighed. Was helping the Mad Monarch Kim Junyong peacefully and stably adapt to Earth's society really this difficult?

Why were they so desperate to keep him from living as an ordinary citizen?

"First, let's shut that bastard Kenchi's mouth."

"How? We can neither admit nor deny."

"Does every question need an answer?"

"...?"

Officially, South Korea's Hunter Management Bureau would take no stance. Unofficially, however, they could still exert pressure.

"Threaten them. After reporting to the presidential office, lodge an unofficial protest with Japan. Ask if they'll be fine handling future A-rank dungeons without Korea's help."

"Ah!"

Ryu Jai's ranking had fallen. It was clear that her combat strength was in question.

It looked like a pretty good card to pressure Japan. Since their side was making noise, have the government shut them up.

"We won't deal with Hardbank's Hunter Kenchi directly. The moment we respond, we're playing into their strategy."

That was how smear campaigns worked. The controversy mattered more than the truth. And if Kim Junyong really were the Mad Monarch, they would lose the moment they responded, since public opinion would only move closer to the facts.

If only someone other than South Korea would step forward at a time like this...

"Deputy Bureau Director!"

"What now?"

An employee suddenly burst in. It seemed that every time Choi Hyunju and Park Taejun tried to have a private meeting, an incident would erupt.

"Ryu Jai just went live on SNS!"

"So what?"

"She's talking about the Special Advisor!"

"Oh no!"

It was trouble. Ryu Jai had just been defeated by Kim Junyong. If she lent strength to Kenchi Takahashi''s proposal to subjugate the Mad Monarch....

"Shit."

Choi Hyunju's face turned pale as she hurriedly pulled out her phone. She grew flustered listening to Ryu Jai's grave words.

[ ...Once again, I warn you. Do not frame him with lies. Kenchi Takahashi, you are deceiving the whole world with falsehoods. Slandering him as a vicious demon like the Mad Monarch is a joke that not even a passing dog would believe. ]

"Huh? R-Ryu Jai is on our side?"

"Y-Yeah, she is."

Both Choi Hyunju and Park Taejun were stunned. Ryu Jai, no–the Final Heroes known as the G7–had never actually faced the Mad Monarch in Belhaim, had they?

[ He is the messiah who has descended from Belhaim to save the world! For humanity, and for my convictions, I swear to serve him and contribute to world peace. Kenchi Takahashi, with your base intentions to undermine peace, you may already be ensnared by demons. I will soon visit Japan to meet you and see for myself whether you sold your soul to them. ]

"S-She's really angry, isn't she?"

"Yeah."

SR-rank Kenchi Takahashi. G-rank Ryu Jai.

The weight of their words was not equal. The creeping suspicions of "Could Kim Junyong be the Mad Monarch?" were quickly overturned.

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