WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 65: For Who Do Heroes Exist?

Kim Junyong had only skimmed the dungeon information before entering, so he didn't even know the name of this dungeon's boss.

"How dare you challenge me alone."

"Yeah, okay."

Whoosh.

"Graaahh!"

Leaving behind the demon whose neck had been snapped along with its clichéd last words, he took out his phone.

"Wow, there are still this many left?"

About twenty C-rank dungeons remained. He was slowly starting to feel hungry.

Since returning to Earth, had there ever been a day when he had worked this hard? Looking at the time, he saw that it was already lunchtime.

Jun Dragon Kitchen must have opened by now.

"I'm starting to get hungry."

How many dungeons had he conquered already?

"Well, let's stop at C-rank."

He sent a message.

– It's been a while, so prepare lunch in Belhaim noble style. Tell Gram to take out the ingredients too.

Kim Ed: I'll prepare the best taste, nya!

"Hmm."

His mouth watered.

It was like someone who always sought out Korean food whenever they traveled, yet once back in South Korea, found themselves missing the food they had enjoyed abroad.

No, Kim Junyong was a Korean who had lived twenty years, but he was someone who had returned after spending two hundred years in Belhaim.

In fact, his palate was more accustomed to Belhaim's food, which was his hometown fare, while Earth's food had the special taste of travel fare.

In any case, he conveyed his will to Gram, the dungeon keeper of the tribute storehouse. Edmond was given unlimited authority over the ingredient storehouse.

Since ingredients could be brought from Belhaim, he would be able to taste authentic Belhaim cuisine.

"Let's wrap this up quickly and go!"

Was this how office workers felt, working hard while waiting for lunch? Kim Junyong cheered himself on and went to conquer the remaining dungeons.

* * *

Taiwan. Another country thrown into crisis by the time-shortening phenomenon. They used to have the top hunter in East Asia, but not anymore.

R-rank. It was still an elite rank among the world's top one thousand. However, given that Ryu Jai had been a G-rank and 5th in the world until recently, this was a precipitous drop–one that could only be called a downfall, a collapse.

It was like having the best sports star, only to see their performance decline due to injury during a game.

Naturally, they were bound to curse the one who injured her. Taiwan badmouthed Kim Junyong and South Korea.

The media fanned the flames, and with the government silent, anti-Korean sentiment spread like wildfire. There was good reason for Choi Hyunju to be so careful about keeping this news from reaching Kim Junyong. She feared that such ignorant uproar might anger him and awaken the "Mad Monarch" slumbering within.

They eagerly denounced South Korea, the Daesan Group, and the Special Advisor. Meanwhile, South Korea did not carry a single line of foreign news. Some communities scraped foreign articles, but news from Taiwan was deleted every time it was posted.

Thus, nothing happened between the country that lashed out unilaterally and the country that firmly shut its eyes and ears.

Amid it all, the time-shortening phenomenon erupted...and Taiwan now faced an unprecedented crisis.

The "Joker card" they had always used in every crisis was gone.

That card, now ordinary, had shut herself away at home.

The media, once filled with anti-Korean articles, now covered breaking news about domestic dungeons after the disaster broke out.

[ Taichung B-151 Dungeon: Newly Founded "Dragon Rising" Guild Launches Conquest. ]

[ Confidence of Wu Feilong, Guild Leader of the New "Dragon Rising" Guild: Citizens, do not worry. Dragon Rising will protect Taichung. ]

[ Top Free Agent Lin Hongwei, Still Unaffiliated, Accelerates Dungeon Conquests, Cooperation with the Taiwanese Government Imminent. ]

[ Elites of the Disbanded "Ryu Jai Crew" Active Across Various Guilds. ]

The fall of a hero was nothing more than gossip, but the appearance of new heroes gave the people hope.

– Wow, seeing this, it's clear that all of Taiwan's elites were in Ryu Jai Crew.

– Basically every Taiwanese ranker was in one group.

– In hindsight, that was absurd power.

– No wonder Ryu Jai Crew kept thriving.

– Honestly, this is better. They shouldn't have been her underlings–they were leaders in their own right.

– Now things are working properly. Their know-how will spread. Losing Ryu Jai might actually boost Taiwan's hunter strength overall.

Meanwhile, dungeons whose conquest deadlines had been shortened by the time-shortening phenomenon were being conquered one after another.

Lin Hongwei and Wu Feilong, who took the lead in resolving this crisis, gave interviews with somewhat grim expressions.

"We must prepare for the day an A-rank dungeon appears in Taiwan."

"With Taiwan's current power, we can't handle it."

"To make up for the absence of a hero, we need to improve relations with neighboring countries."

Public opinion subsided when those who had accomplished great deeds stepped forward to speak.

– That's true. If an A-rank dungeon appeared right now, we wouldn't have any countermeasures.

– Yeah. As for who in East Asia could handle one...

Taiwanese citizens slowly came to their senses, as if waking from hypnosis.

Articles criticizing South Korea, the Daesan Group, and the Special Advisor sharply declined.

Then, like a fire spreading, a new topic flared up.

Ryu Jai remained in seclusion, and amid Taiwan's crisis, questions of responsibility arose.

[ Ryu Jai in Seclusion. The Silence of the Fallen Empress. ]

[ Lin Hongwei and Wu Feilong Set Out to Conquer B-Rank Dungeons. Ryu Jai Unseen. ]

[ Taiwan's Guardian Is Now a Duo, Not a Trio. ]

[ Waste of Taxpayers' Money: Is the Welfare and Pension Being Provided to Her Justified? ]

[ Her Proper Treatment Should Match R-Rank. ]

Gradually, the media began to attack her. Some outlets, having sold their souls for clicks, criticized her directly.

[ Sinking Taiwan by Personal Choice. ]

[ Needless Trip to South Korea–Ryu Jai Caused Great Loss to the Country. ]

[ the Epitome of Irresponsibility: Taiwan's Security in Shambles. How Will She Compensate? ]

The media's attacks on Ryu Jai were simply an outlet for their anger. Even amid her continued silence, the press gradually crossed the line.

* * *

Since returning from South Korea, Ryu Jai had refrained from all activities, both internal and external, and remained silent.

In truth and in public perception, she simply stayed quietly at home.

The reactions she had been waiting for gradually began to pour in.

Curse me and criticize me.

From hero to traitor. The media initially poked lightly, but gradually crossed the line in the face of her silence. Public opinion turned to outright criticism.

When the media started criticizing her, those around her kept their heads down.

Since her crew disbanded, there had been no contact with them. Those she thought were friends never called to console her. The five lovers she had cut ties with her, and her family only spoke to her about money.

Celebrities unfollowed her on SNS one after another as if she were filth.

Watching it all unfold, Ryu Jai laughed.

The Goddess is washing away my faults.

Though she had become an outcast, her heart was calmer and more peaceful than ever.

No–she even felt a sense of stability, as if she had finally found her rightful place.

This was the act of washing away the false reputation built up by her once slothful and arrogant existence.

As the media scrambled to insult her, she laughed instead.

Public praise had almost sent her to the devil's side. Now, the changed criticism would guide her to the side of the Goddess's apostle.

Time to prove myself.

Taiwan had already cast her aside, but all of that would be for naught unless he accepted her. It was time to prove her usefulness.

After ending her long seclusion, Ryu Jai headed to an F-rank dungeon.

She had also changed weapons: a large shield that covered her body, and a one-handed sword.

With no teammates left, she intended to walk the path of a solitary warrior.

Step by step.

When she started with F-rank dungeons, the Taiwanese media were taken aback and went on mocking her.

She closed her eyes and ears. In the darkness, she saw only the Goddess's face.

A wandering warrior of the Divine Tree, seeking to become a Knight of the Arbiter–this was her repentance.

* * *

Kim Junyong's house. Kim Junyong accepted the property registry and looked at Choi Hyunju.

"Whoa, you're giving me this much?"

"Th-That's merely a fair reward."

He chuckled at the timid woman who still showed fear and reverence toward him.

"What about my sister? Is she moving?"

"Ahh, that's something Special Advisor should ask her directly..."

"Oh, right."

After Choi Hyunju left, Kim Jangmi came by with Yu Jihun that evening.

"Uncle! You promised to make pasta!"

"Oh, that's right!"

"This child! Just eat what you're given."

"Aw, Mom."

"I need to talk to your uncle, so go play with Ed until your sister comes."

"Ah, okay."

Moving was an important matter for the whole family. Even Yu Jia, who was busy with her senior year of high school, skipped cram school today. She was currently on her way by taxi.

"So they gave you all these houses?"

"Yeah."

"...It seems you really are being put to valuable use by the country."

"Hehe."

"Where did Remi go?"

"She went on a business trip."

"Ah, is that so?"

Kim Jangmi gave the two-story house a quick sweep of her eyes. It was a house that hadn't particularly changed.

It doesn't really feel like a newlywed home.

She wasn't about to meddle in the love life of her younger brother, already forty, but–

The Hunter Management Bureau said for Junyong's mental health, living together is better.

When her daughter arrived, they would need to discuss it properly. For now, though, Kim Jangmi thought it wasn't a bad idea. After all, she was still worried about her brother, who had suddenly moved out.

With separate houses, the children would feel less uncomfortable.

Kim Junyong had moved out in the first place because he was worried that his sudden presence as their uncle might affect the children's studies.

The Hunter Management Bureau even helps with the children's commute...

In fact, she also knew that the Hunter Management Bureau was providing long-distance security. Given her brother's admirable work, it was only natural for the family to endure such inconveniences.

"Mom."

"Oh, Jia, you're here."

"Yo, niece, long time no see."

"Hello, Uncle."

"Jihun, you too. Come here. Let's have a family meeting."

Soon, the whole family gathered and sat down together.

"The Hunter Management Bureau and I think it would be better for us in many ways to live with your uncle."

"I agree!"

"I'm fine with it too."

"Jia, are you really okay with this?"

"Yes, well."

For no apparent reason, Yu Jia blushed and nodded.

She had asked her friends from school about South Korea's Special Advisor. Ah, of course, she didn't reveal that he was family.

As she watched them speak passionately about him, as if it were their own affair, she realized that her uncle really was amazing.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, well. Actually, it's better–since they said they would even help with commuting to school..."

The Hunter Management Bureau's care would become more focused, because attention on the family living with Kim Junyong would increase.

They would switch entirely to close protection and provide assistance with school commutes by car.

An ordinary high school senior was about to end up with an entourage trailing after her as if she were a chaebol heiress. She wasn't so immature as to strut around and brag about it. To her, it was neither good nor bad.

Since her friends were proud of Kim Junyong as if he were their own, and because he was her uncle and someone needed by the country, inconveniences or fame of this degree felt like no big deal.

Who am I to oppose this...

Her younger brother Yu Jihun was, if anything, even more welcoming. Without a father figure, he was the one who felt happiest about having his uncle Kim Junyong around.

"All right then, it's decided. Mom likes this house best."

Though it was just one house over from Jun Dragon Kitchen, it was a home newly built two years ago. The owner had built it with care, intending to live there for life. However, when faced with an offer they couldn't refuse, they sold the house and moved out.

"Mom! Let's go see it!"

Excited, Yu Jihun urged the family on, and they headed toward the house.

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