WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 48: A Bus with Broken Brakes

SR-rank-and-above, known as Taiwan's three guardian deities:

Ryu Jai (G-rank, 5th > R-rank, 833rd)

Lin Hongwei (SR-rank, 49th)

Wu Feilong (SR-rank, 89th)

Ryu Jai, formerly G-rank, had fallen to R-rank. With her in seclusion, the rest of the Ryu Jai Crew gathered for an emergency meeting.

"All right. Does anyone object to disbanding the crew?"

"No."

"She's beyond recovery."

The small, elite crew voted with raised hands, and so the disbandment was decided.

Ryu Jai, the center of the crew, was shut away. It seemed she had ended her relationships with her five boyfriends and ceased all external activities.

Even now, her sudden praise of South Korea's Kim Junyong on a livestream and her talk of visiting Japan to punish Kenchi Takahashi for advocating the Mad Monarch's subjugation remain shocking.

One had to wonder if she was even the same Ryu Jai anymore.

"If only she would get treatment..."

"She refuses. What can we do?"

"So this is the end."

"Yeah, with the crew disbanded, where will everyone go?"

"Lingshan contacted me."

"I'll be working with the government."

As expected of an elite group, many of them were high-ranking hunters. They had already been in talks with various guilds and organizations.

"What about you two?"

"..."

All eyes turned to Lin Hongwei and Wu Feilong, who hesitated to answer.

"What? Don't tell me you're considering emigrating?"

Wu Feilong was momentarily flustered.

"Seriously?"

"I did get an offer."

"What? Ha! If you leave now, you'll suffer enormous criticism."

"You could end up being branded an even greater traitor than Ryu Jai."

If Ryu Jai was condemned for betraying her fans' hopes, then leaving Taiwan would be outright treason.

"Damn it, fine. I'll be honest."

Wu Feilong began to speak earnestly.

"I'm not leader material. I don't have the confidence to take Ryu Jai's place."

Wu Feilong's confession struck a chord with Lin Hongwei. He, too, had quietly been feeling the burden.

"What? You got an offer too, Lin Hongwei? If you both leave, Taiwan is finished."

"But we can't just die for it either."

The expectation and responsibility of replacing Ryu Jai were overwhelming.

Though the other crew members understood their feelings, they voiced their dissatisfaction because it wasn't their problem yet.

"I hope you don't make a reckless choice."

"Hahh, don't provoke them. They haven't decided yet."

"Exactly. We've all received offers, haven't we?"

Nearly all high-ranking hunters had been approached by foreign agents encouraging them to emigrate. The United States and China, in particular, were zealous about poaching other countries' top hunters.

"Anyway, let's all do our best."

"Sure. We'll end up seeing each other when a high-level dungeon erupts, right?"

"..."

After someone spoke, the atmosphere grew quiet.

Wouldn't it be dangerous without Ryu Jai?

Damn, what if they send us to an A-rank dungeon?

Even a B-rank is too risky.

They were only now realizing what an enormous benefit it had been to be with a G-rank hunter.

"M-Maybe Korea will take care of the A-rank dungeons now?"

"Right! That must be it."

"You idiots. Think about the current relations between the two countries."

"..."

This was also why Lin Hongwei and Wu Feilong were wavering over the emigration offers. If, in an irresistible disaster, the people's expectations were placed on them...

Can we pull it off? No, do we really have to?

Given the government's conduct, it was clear they would once again shift dungeon-handling from the state onto individual hunters...

At this point, all they could do was pray that no critical dungeon erupted in Taiwan.

* * *

Slash!

Each time Luciel swung his mana whip, the monsters burst apart.

Whoosh! Crunch!

The whip cut through the monsters and wrapped around the territory boss's waist.

"Damn it!"

Whoom!

Caught fast in the whip, the demon was helplessly dragged along.

"Die!"

But it wasn't just dragged along helplessly. It spurred on the speed of it being dragged. At tremendous speed, it closed in on Luciel, reaching out its long claws. Its sharp, dagger-like claws were aimed at Luciel's throat, but...

Luciel blocked them with his open palm.

Crunch!

The claws pierced his palm but were too short to reach his neck.

Wham! Bang!

Grabbing the claws that had pierced his palm even tighter, he slammed the demon down. Then, with a snap of his other wrist, the whip flew with a whoosh and bound the demon tightly.

"Hmm. Captured."

He kneaded his blood-soaked palm and gave his report.

"Hm?"

Though they must have heard him, Luciel turned to the two "master's pet humans," who gave no reply.

"Please finish it."

"Uh, yes!"

"Oh!"

Was his master's preference for pets the derpy kind?

Cheon Yubeom and Lee Mina composed their startled expressions as they approached the demon. Their hearts felt like they were about to burst.

It's A-rank!

I know!

L-Luciel must be A-rank too.

He's way above that!

As they cleared the demons marked on the map in order of proximity, they inevitably encountered a high-ranking demon. It was an A-rank demon's territory, but Luciel assisted the two's training with ease.

There are demons above A-rank too!

Of course! There's even a Demon King.

If Luciel is this strong, then how powerful must the Demon King be?

Watching the two exchange a flood of thoughts with their eyes, Luciel let out a sigh.

His master could have chosen pets of a finer breed, but of all things, he had to raise humans. And among humans, these two didn't seem particularly exceptional.

"If you dawdle any longer, it'll break free. Finish it quickly."

"Uh, understood."

"Hyah!"

The two drew their weapons and stabbed the restrained A-rank demon.

"Argh! You vile bastards! Kill me in one blow!"

"S-Sorry. Your skin's too thick."

Stab, stab, squelch.

"Gaahh!"

Stab, stab.

Watching Cheon Yubeom and Lee Mina unintentionally torture the demon, Luciel sighed.

"Don't torture it. Aim for its weak points."

"W-Weak points?"

"I'll go for the eyes!"

"Uh, got it."

Positioned at the demon's head, Lee Mina drove her dagger into its eye.

"Gaaahhh!"

Sure enough, the demon's agony as it resisted more fiercely than before was all too vivid.

"Team Leader, what are you doing?!"

"Grr!"

At her urging, Cheon Yubeom steeled his resolve. It was a demon, after all.

From his position near its legs, he thrust his sword toward its weak point.

Stab, stab.

"Ughh, w-what are you doing?!"

"J-Just wait. It's not going in."

"You vicious humans!"

"Got it!"

The long sword went straight into the weak point, the anus.

"Gaahh!"

The demon screamed in agony.

"Tch, this won't do."

"Gaahh!"

Lee Mina pulled out another dagger and stabbed the other eye.

"Hyah, me too!"

"Ghhkk!"

Cheon Yubeom twisted the sword buried to the hilt, as if he were handling a gear stick during a manual license test, rapidly shifting from first to sixth gear.

"Gaaahhh!"

Soon, the demon's life was extinguished.

Perhaps because he was a demon himself, Luciel unconsciously empathized as he watched his kin die in agony. It felt as if his anus itched and his eyeballs stung.

"Oooh! So much experience!"

"Ahh, m-me too!"

Luciel marveled inwardly at the two humans who felt no guilt whatsoever.

They are wicked. Master's eye for people wasn't wrong.

He had thought them unremarkable among humans, but now he saw that while their talent might fall short, their cruelty was every bit as devilish as any demon's. Through them, he could discern, if only indirectly, his master's preferences.

"Let's return."

"Ah, yes!"

Subduing was naturally harder than killing. Having done it so easily meant the skill gap was enormous.

Now that they knew Luciel's true strength, they didn't even feel like defying him. They meekly trailed after him.

The map of the Demon Realm was modeled after Earth. The area they had just cleared was a seaside village within the territory of an A-rank demon.

Kim Junyong had set up a hammock on the sandy beach and was lying in it. Luciel approached him, bowed politely, and gave his report.

"The demon has been dealt with."

"Hmm? Is that so?"

Kim Junyong, buried deep in the hammock and wriggling like a pupa, came out and stepped onto the sand.

"Ughhh, how long has it been?"

"One hour and twenty-three minutes have passed."

"Ah, I slept a lot."

Rubbing his eyes, Kim Junyong looked at Cheon Yubeom and Lee Mina.

"Oh, you're brimming with energy."

"Ah, y-you can see that?"

"More or less."

Kim Junyong waved his hand dismissively and asked.

"Where's the next target?"

"Yes, I'll find it."

Cheon Yubeom took his phone out of his pocket. Before launching the dungeon map, he saw a message from the Demon Realm Forum. His eyes bulged wide.

[ Interest in the Special Advisor has declined. Return possible. ]

It's done! It's done!

It was time to end the hellish hunt. Now they could return to Earth!

"Special Advisor, we can sto–mmph."

At that moment, feeling the familiar pain in his side, he turned his head. Lee Mina whispered with a serious expression.

Are you really going to let this chance slip?

Uh?

You're not getting on the bus?

B-But we can go back!

Are you crazy? You think we'll get another chance like this?

Maybe we will?

Ha, just shut up and get on the bus!

Isn't it hard for you?

We're hunting demons we couldn't even dare to normally–of course it's hard!

It wasn't a matter of whether it was hard or not. They were directly taking down demons they couldn't even attempt to hunt under normal circumstances. In less than two days, they had earned more experience than in their entire lives as hunters.

Lee Mina didn't want to miss this opportunity. When it came to fickleness, the Special Advisor was second to none.

Opportunities must be seized while they last.

"Over there."

"All right, let's go."

Kim Junyong yawned and started after them but then suddenly stopped.

"...I don't really need to be here, do I?"

"...?"

"...?"

Cheon Yubeom and Lee Mina were startled. Luciel, quick-witted, bowed respectfully.

"Once training is complete, we'll return to the dungeon."

"Do that."

"Uh?"

"Special Advisor?"

"Then come back once you're useful."

Kim Junyong waved his hand at human subordinates No. 1 and No. 2.

Flash.

When Kim Junyong vanished, only Luciel–the suspected S-rank demon who could easily handle the likes of A-rank demons–along with Cheon Yubeom and Lee Mina, remained.

"Hmm."

With his master gone, Luciel's gaze changed immediately, as if he were looking at pathetic creatures.

"Follow me, trash."

"...?"

"...!"

It was hard to believe that such words could come from Luciel, who had once been so courteous and refined.

Whoosh, wham!

Before they could react, a black whip struck the ground beside them. Dirt burst up from the sunken earth as a powerful shockwave spread out.

"I won't say it again. Follow me."

"Ah, yes!"

These inferior humans. He would put them through the elite course of a high-ranking demon.

As Luciel made his vow, Cheon Yubeom and Lee Mina felt something was wrong.

Deputy Director Lee, this bus isn't stopping!

...

They had boarded the bus, but the final stop seemed a bit far off.

* * *

"Hup!"

Teleporting back to his base, Kim Junyong looked out beyond the terrace.

"Oh!"

It had been two days since he left home.

Yesterday and today, Edmond and Remi had been running the business together. For some reason, the alley was packed with people waiting in line.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried