WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 54: The Wheel of Fate

What have these bastards done? Logan Hayes's head throbbed.

"Why did you do something so pointless?"

"What?"

Kazuma Saiga tilted his head. He thought Logan Hayes would be pleased.

"Didn't we save you the trouble of going all the way to South Korea?"

"You bastards don't even know what's truly important."

The Mad Monarch? That snake bastard could be handled as long as they avoided the power that had bewitched Ryu Jai. The real problem was the demon sword.

If that cursed demon sword is real...

Logan Hayes shuddered. This was truly a serious problem.

"Logan."

"Gah!"

He was startled by the hand on his shoulder. When he turned around, it was Jose Ramirez.

"What is it? Why are you so tense?"

"Jose."

Was Logan Hayes tense? He felt cold sweat run down his back. Yeah, of course he was tense.

The Final Seven Heroes. Before the final raid on the Demon King, they had the honor of receiving the Goddess herself.

[ Of the heroes who responded to the summons, you are the only ones who survived. ]

The final seven. God Earth sent ten million Earthlings, but only seven survived.

[ This too is fate. I shall give you my remaining power. ]

Flash.

They were blessed once more. Thus, the "Guardians" were born, having gained divine power.

With their newfound strength, they were brimming with confidence.

They crushed the demon beast armies and demonkin in an unstoppable charge. The Allied Forces, having scraped together their last remaining troops, faithfully supported them.

After hacking a bloody path, they finally reached the Demon King's castle. At the castle gate stood a cold, heartless man.

He wielded a sword already far too famous in Belhaim.

"The demon sword!"

"The Demon King's sword!"

The battle-hardened veterans of the Allied Forces said in unison.

It was the archbishop of the Goddess Church. The commander of the palace's greatest knights. And the magus of the Magic Tower.

"...Demon King."

Seeing the pale-faced man holding the Demon King's sword, the Final Heroes steeled their resolve. Now, they could do it.

Empowered by the Goddess's strength, they could now defeat the Demon King.

Step.

The Final Heroes did their utmost to slay the Demon King, who stood guarding the entrance to his castle...

"Ugh."

One by one, their comrades died.

The Demon King...was truly strong.

"Logan! Finish him!"

At the moment Saintess Sophie's head was severed, giving them one last chance, Logan Hayes succeeded in cutting off the Demon King's head.

And then...

...the demon sword.

As he watched the demon sword fly toward him even without a master, his life in Belhaim came to an end.

"Logan!"

"Hahh!"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Ah, nothing."

"So, what will you do?"

"What?"

Jose Ramirez sighed. Why was Logan Hayes acting like this today of all days?

Arjun Mehra stepped in to settle things.

"The target is already here. If we want to deal with them separately, we'll have to wait for the next chance."

"Hmm. Let's sit for now."

Logan Hayes looked at the old yakuza.

"You too. Come sit down."

"I'm excited to be seated with heroes."

The old man was talking rather pointless nonsense. Kenchi Takahashi, who had been kneeling on the floor, also sat on the sofa.

Five people.

Three were G-rank hunters, one was an SR-rank hunter representing Japan, and one was the boss of Japan's largest yakuza group.

What a historic moment.

Kazuma Saiga was so excited to be shoulder-to-shoulder with them as an "ordinary man" that his whole body trembled.

He had become one of those playing a crucial role in this historic moment: the task of eliminating the Mad Monarch, who threatened world peace.

"This area is an office zone. There are no houses, and since it's evening, only a few people are working late."

Kazuma Saiga flaunted his power.

"I've pulled some strings with the Metropolitan Police. They won't respond to ordinary disturbances–not even an explosion that could bring down a building."

He emphasized his role and usefulness to them.

"Six hundred Orochi-gumi members are surrounding the area. Even if unexpected witnesses appear, it will be enough to appease or deal with them."

Jose Ramirez laughed as he watched Kazuma Saiga lay on the heavy tone.

"Wow, you really sounded like a real yakuza boss just now."

"..."

Not just like one–he really was a yakuza boss! This South American fool...

"No one will know the heroes were here."

"Logan, how about it? The stage is already set."

"..."

Logan Hayes looked at the yakuza boss, Kazuma Saiga.

"What do you want?"

"Hahaha, merely lending a hand to the heroes' secret operation is reward enough. I want nothing."

"..."

"On the contrary, I only wish to express my gratitude that you heroes answered Japan's plea."

Logan Hayes's gaze turned to Kenchi Takahashi, who was sitting beside him.

These bastards. They think we came in response to the Mad Monarch subjugation proposal.

Whatever the circumstances, Logan Hayes had to make a decision now. Should they wait for another chance? Or should they hunt the Mad Monarch and the master of the demon sword simultaneously?

"Let's just finish them off."

"Yeah, is there any reason to wait until tomorrow?"

"This might be a fateful encounter."

For some reason, Logan Hayes felt uneasy.

"It could be a trap."

"What? Logan, don't joke."

"Jose's right. The scheme was drawn up by that Japanese."

"..."

Logan Hayes looked at Kazuma Saiga, who wore a confident smile.

"..."

Why did the situation feel so unsettling?

"Go or stop?"

"I say go. Definitely go. I just want to get home quickly. My son's eighteenth birthday is in two days."

At Jose Ramirez's urging, Logan Hayes reluctantly nodded.

"All right. Let's go."

"Good."

"Let's finish them off quickly."

The stage was set. Could the cover-up have been any better if they had gone to South Korea?

I don't like it, but...

Three G-ranks entered the country under false identities. What bothered Logan Hayes most was how the yakuza boss acted precisely according to their intentions, setting the stage.

He never got along with sycophants.

In any case, the battlefield had been prepared as if they had been pushed into it.

"The plan is simple."

Before leaving the room, Logan Hayes reviewed the final plan.

"You two, along with Kenchi Takahashi, will take on that man."

At the words telling him to take on the Mad Monarch, Kenchi Takahashi's eyes gleamed.

"I'll confirm whether the demon sword is real. If it is, we retreat immediately."

"Huh? Without even trying to fight?"

"What? She didn't seem like much aside from her face."

"Doesn't matter. If the sword is real, it's serious. We retreat immediately and bide our time for another day."

Who held it wasn't important.

The demon sword had flown at him. As it pierced him and he lay dying, he could still hear the voices of the Allied Forces who arrived too late.

Were those the voices of the master of the Magic Tower and the commander of the imperial knights?

"What a strange thing! The Demon King is the only one who can possess the demon sword, yet it moves on its own after losing its master."

"In any case, the heroes have slain the Demon King."

"That's fortunate. Huh? Wha–?"

"Th-That's–!"

His memory ended with their startled voices. And then he was reverse-summoned to Earth.

He was curious about what happened afterward, but he had no way of ever knowing. Because he was the last returnee.

If that guy's identity really is the Mad Monarch, then I could hear the rest of the story.

The appearance of an unofficial returnee. Goddess Belhaim called them the Final Heroes. Though he didn't know how it was possible, someone presumed to be the Mad Monarch had appeared on Earth.

"All right. Well, I don't like it, but it's a good plan."

After Jose Ramirez's rambling, they stepped out of the room.

"Today, the world's justice will be set right. I will be cheering for the heroes in their hard-fought battle."

The old yakuza, harping on about justice, withdrew. After all, he was just an ordinary man. If he got caught up, he would only lose his life for nothing.

"Are all the other rooms cleared?"

"Yes, we asked for understanding and sent everyone away, but one guest insisted on staying."

At the manager's words, Kazuma Saiga's face hardened.

"Leave him. If he insists on dying, so be it."

"But his identity..."

Boom!

"Yikes, that's violent right from the start. Hurry, let's get out of the way."

"Yes, kumicho."

They rushed toward the underground bunker set up inside the private room.

* * *

"This is the room."

"Go ahead."

"Yes."

The staff member who had guided them quickly disappeared. Before opening the door, Logan Hayes exchanged glances with Jose Ramirez, Arjun Mehra, and Kenchi Takahashi in turn.

The plan was for the three of them to handle the suspected Mad Monarch while Logan Hayes confirmed the demon sword's authenticity. The key was determining whether to continue the battle. Once everyone seemed ready, Logan Hayes opened the door.

And in there–

"You're here."

He was waiting.

"Ah!"

"Huh?"

"Hm?"

Logan Hayes. Arjun Mehra. Jose Ramirez.

All three froze at the strange sensation, as if someone were whispering in their ears.

Kneel at once. Beg forgiveness.

The voice sounded like Ryu Jai's–the comrade they had dismissed as crazy–and it echoed in their minds. It felt as if an irresistible force was binding their bodies.

No, it wasn't just their imagination. A force unlike air was filling the space around them, pressing down with such weight that they couldn't even move a finger.

"W-We have to run..."

"M-My body won't move..."

"...Damn."

All they could do was barely open their mouths to speak. At that moment, Kenchi Takahashi, unaffected, stepped forward.

"Mad Monarch!"

My enemy! Take my blade!

Slash!

As expected of an SR-rank, he flew in at incredible speed and thrust his sword.

Clang!

But Kim Junyong always had a swordmaster by his side.

"Step aside, woman."

Clang, clang, clang!

When none of his slashes landed despite several attempts, Kenchi Takahashi sensed something was wrong and leapt back.

As he caught his breath, he looked at his opponent.

She's smiling?

What was with this woman?

"What are you?"

"Shall I cut him?"

Remi asked with a broad smile. Kim Junyong shrugged.

"It's self-defense."

"Hehe."

Remi pressed forward, driving Kenchi Takahashi back.

Clang, clang!

Fun.

Slash! Whoosh!

"Guh!"

As if toying with prey, her attacks left Kenchi Takahashi covered in shallow wounds until his body gradually looked like a figure painted in blood.

Kim Junyong merely chuckled at Remi's game. Who could deny that she was a demon?

Just then, with a crash, the wall collapsed and a new figure appeared.

Boom!

"Hah! Kenchi Takahashi! How dare you raise your blade against a frail woman!"

"...? Yoichi! Why are you here?"

"Hmph! You look like a villain caught in the act. Now that I, Yoichi Sasaki, have appeared, you won't touch a single hair on that woman!"

Slash! Boom!

"Y-You crazy bastard!"

Not even one blow had connected!

Boom! Bang!

"Urgh."

Yoichi Sasaki drove Kenchi Takahashi back again and again with his attacks. Remi scowled as her prey was suddenly snatched away.

"Shall I cut them both down?"

"No. That guy...his soul is pure."

Kim Junyong looked at the newcomer with interest. He was a man with clear goals and dreams. A pure soul with added passion.

"Ah, if I gave him a little power and made a soul contract...hahh."

He had fallen into demon-like thoughts again. It was a serious problem. Whenever he saw a pure soul, he felt the urge to corrupt it.

"Leave him for now."

Killing Kenchi Takahashi could be considered self-defense, but killing Yoichi Sasaki would be murder.

"Annoying scale thing."

< ... >

Kim Junyong grumbled lightly as he took the drink Edmond handed him.

"Kanpai, nya!"

"Yeah."

Some unexpected people had shown up.

"Three orbs, huh..."

Including the one he had already absorbed from Ryu Jai, that made four. Even after giving the three that God Earth required, one would remain.

"Good grief...Did that God Earth deliberately make them all gather here?"

He had come thinking the yakuza were just holding some kind of event, but an unexpected gift fell into his lap.

"Shall I cut them?"

"No. Even if only in name, I'm still the Arbiter of the Scale, so I have to judge them."

< A righteous decision. >

Now then, it was time to see how much sin they had committed in their lives. Kim Junyong drained his drink and stood up.

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