WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

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◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 71: Automatic Clock-Out

After visiting Seodaemun Prison, they took a photo in front of the comfort woman statue.

Masanobu Mishima wore the smile of a seasoned politician, but inside, he wept bitter tears.

I'm ruining Japan's future.

It was all just to survive. Although an open "assassination notice" had been sent, there were no real countermeasures.

Masanobu Mishima was old, but he still wanted to live. The stress of the past few days...

He had nightmares about being assassinated in his sleep.

Isn't he a hunter beyond reason?

Truly superhuman. Impossible to stop, impossible to control.

"Prime Minister Masanobu Mishima. Please, take this seat."

"Y-Yes."

During the dinner banquet, Masanobu Mishima looked at Kim Seungtae, who was smiling affably.

That cunning bastard.

There was no doubt that he had incited South Korea's Special Advisor. He told him to intimidate.

As if he had been waiting for this moment, he forced concessions on every issue that had fueled conflict between the two countries.

After being summoned here and there all day, Masanobu Mishima felt a deep sense of defeat. It was the same humiliation as a king of a defeated nation being dragged before the victor and mocked.

My political career is finished.

Upon returning to Japan, he would apologize to the people. Then, he would resign and spend the rest of his life in peace. After facing assassination threats, everything felt meaningless.

He had checked Japanese public opinion earlier, and it was as bad as he expected. If he felt humiliated, surely the Japanese people felt it even more.

Still, I have to live.

What choice was there? More than six hundred people had been beheaded in the capital of a foreign country. Even now, his body trembled at the terrifying threat.

Nevertheless, the results of this humiliating diplomacy weren't entirely empty. Though he had conceded much, simply dealing with the A-rank dungeon threats in the archipelago would be enough.

He didn't ask for much. He had no intention of making unreasonable demands.

As Ryu Jai had done for Taiwan, the Special Advisor would be dispatched to handle the dungeons whenever Japan made a request.

Just don't let Japan be ignored.

The outcome of the agreement he had flown to South Korea to sign was pitiful, but he had no choice but to be content with it.

"Hohoho, these ribs are truly delicious. Please, try some."

"Ah, y-yes."

Kim Seungtae! That insidious bastard.

Behind the scenes he had sent an assassin, and at the table he grinned while seizing everything he wanted through negotiation. And of all people, the target turned out to be him.

To Masanobu Mishima, Kim Seungtae looked like a man smiling as he pressed a blade to his throat.

"Oh, is that so?"

Kim Seungtae beamed after hearing something from an aide.

"I hear the Special Advisor has already been to the Kobe dungeon. Hoho, Japan's negotiating power is truly impressive."

"...W-What?"

What on earth was he talking about?

"Ah, it seems your Psychic Awakening Agency envoy was very persuasive. Though it's fortunate enough that the Special Advisor lives in Seoul, even we find it difficult to ask anything of him."

"...E-Excuse me for a moment."

"Of course, take your time."

When Masanobu Mishima left the banquet hall, his aides followed.

"What's going on?"

"It's true. The commissioner seems to have sent Yoichi Sasaki as a messenger to ask."

"And he agreed right away? What was the price?"

"A Kobe beef gift set, apparently."

"...?"

"It looks like a token of gratitude. Rumors that Yoichi Sasaki and the Special Advisor are close friends seem to be true."

"Huh."

Masanobu Mishima's brow furrowed.

"Yoichi Sasaki–he's the son of Councilor Sasaki, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. I see."

The old politician's mind raced.

"What about public opinion?"

"Favorable."

"Because the dungeon was cleared quickly?"

"All economic indicators, starting with the Nikkei index, are climbing."

"...Why?"

"Just now, Moody's raised Japan's national credit rating."

"Huh."

All because one dungeon disappeared, everything about Japan began to be reevaluated upward.

"Yes, congratulations, Prime Minister. Your approval ratings may recover beyond your first term's highs."

"...?"

"You're now being portrayed as a politician who has shouldered a personal burden for Japan's future."

Him? He only gave in because he didn't want to be assassinated.

"Ahh, I'm ashamed of myself for even briefly thinking of Prime Minister as a traitor."

This bastard...

"Prime Minister, you are Japan's guiding light! You sacrifice your personal honor without hesitation for the sake of the country. I respect you!"

"...Let's head back for now."

Masanobu Mishima returned to the banquet hall, where Kim Seungtae welcomed him warmly.

* * *

At Kim Jangmi's new house, there was an outdoor kitchen for barbecues. Right now, a full spread was being set up there.

Sizzle–

"Where's Jia?"

"Ah, she's on her way."

"Skipping cram school again today?"

"No, she quit altogether."

"Hm? Why?"

Yu Jia had always been serious about her studies. Why did she quit cram school?

"Oh, don't even get me started."

Kim Jangmi shook her head.

"Even from a distance, with bodyguards following her, it seems gossip started."

"Gossip?"

"Children are naturally curious at that age."

There were always quick-witted children. Seeing the constant presence of bodyguards and Yu Jia openly going to and from school in a black car, some children were said to have asked questions.

Was she the daughter of a chaebol family? Yu Jia had confided the truth to just one close friend, but...

"As you know, there's no such thing as a secret. Once one person knows, everyone knows."

The rumor spread in an instant. Not only was Yu Jia's regular school thrown into chaos, but her cram school was too.

Jia's uncle is the Special Advisor!

The remote security was immediately switched to close protection, and things grew even more chaotic.

"Damn, those guys. They can't even do their jobs properly."

Kim Junyong scowled. Yu Jia wasn't some part defined only as the Special Advisor's niece.

She had her own life, and because of him, it was disrupted. What if Kim Junyong experienced his life being infringed upon by outside factors?

They would all be dead.

It would be extremely irritating. He could relate to Yu Jia's distress, and it made him angry.

"Should I erase the children's memories? How many students are there in the whole school?"

Would there be enough Mind Slimes for that many?

"Junyong."

"Yeah?"

"You can't change everything around you just because things don't go your way."

"..."

"Jia has to learn to adapt, too, don't you think?"

"But..."

"It's not your fault."

"..."

Kim Junyong fell silent. Even a prideful adult was still just a child before their mother, and before his sister, always just a younger brother.

Look at that concern and affection. As a black mage who could see emotions laid bare, he found himself short of words to reply.

He knew she only said it out of care for him.

"For now, we cut all the cram schooling. Private tutoring seems better."

Truthfully, the cram school had received a complaint. They said that Yu Jia was distracting the other students and asked if she could quit.

"Oh, really? Should I find a tutor then?"

"Junyong. I'll handle Jia. You just focus on the nation's affairs."

"I'm not really doing nation's affairs..."

"Of course you are. Didn't you just get back from Japan?"

"Oh, that."

Kim Junyong smirked as he looked at Yoichi Sasaki, who was stuck close to Edmond and diligently eating ssam.

Yoichi Sasaki had gone with him all the way to Kobe to conquer the dungeon. Though the housewarming invitation was mere courtesy, he still went out of his way to accept it and came along to South Korea.

"U-Umai!"

"Nyaa, my grilling skills are the world's best, nya."

"Isn't it just the meat being good?"

"Nyaa! Whether Hanwoo or Kobe beef, once in my paws, I make it the best, nya!"

"S-Sugee!"

Another family member's eyes sparkled as he watched them. He was a boy in the midst of stormy adolescence: Yu Jihun, a second-year middle schooler.

Wow, so fluent in Japanese.

This was the first time he had been this close to a foreigner, let alone invited one to a home party. Ever since his uncle arrived, life had somehow felt more dynamic.

"Nephew."

"Ah, y-yes, Uncle."

"Why aren't you eating? Not tasty?"

"N-No, I'm just amazed."

"Oh, by Yoichi?"

"Yes. Haha, an R-rank ranker visiting our house!"

"Yeah, easy enough to say."

This was what someone with pure souls were like. Since he himself told no lies, he assumed no one else did either.

"Go talk to him."

"Ah, I'm not good at Japanese."

"Hm? You're always watching stuff in Japanese."

"Huh? Eh?"

Seeing Yu Jihun's reaction break down, Kim Junyong chuckled and called out to Edmond.

"Ed!"

"Nyaa! Did Master call for me, nya?"

"Give Jihun Japanese."

"Yessir!"

It was Japanese Edmond had acquired by even offering up a precious Lucky Stone. With his copy ability, he might as well use it to the fullest.

The cat's forepaw touched Yu Jihun's forehead.

Flash.

"Uh?"

He suddenly picked up Japanese!

"Ehh?"

Seeing Yu Jihun bewildered, Kim Jangmi was startled.

"What did you just do?"

"I gave him Japanese. Want it too, Noona?"

"Huh?"

"Nyaa! Here you go, nya."

Edmond hopped over and gave Kim Jangmi Japanese as well.

Flash.

"W-What on earth is this?"

"Language Copy."

As Kim Jangmi and Yu Jihun looked bewildered at the absurd situation, Yoichi Sasaki shouted.

"Oooh! Ed's talent is truly incredible. Copying language!"

"Ahem."

The Japanese that had only been awkwardly half-understood until now suddenly sounded like their native tongue.

"Wow."

Did this even make sense? She knew Edmond was a demon, despite his cute cat form. But wasn't this the kind of ability only true demons would have?

"Amazing!"

Unlike Kim Jangmi, who was a little worried, Yu Jihun was thrilled.

"Wow, it feels like I've mastered Japanese!"

"Oh, impressive, Yu Jihun."

"Y-Yoichi! I can understand what you're saying!"

Seeing Yu Jihun all excited, Kim Jangmi called out to Kim Junyong.

"Is this okay?"

"There are no side effects."

Although the foundation of black magic was equivalent exchange, this had already been obtained by paying with a Lucky Stone. By now, the Japanese woman who lost her native language would have seen her life change.

"Oh, right. The tickets."

Remembering, Kim Junyong pulled out the tickets.

"They were needed for travel anyway. Jihun, come here too."

He held out two Hunter Awakening Tickets.

"Here, take one each."

"What are these?"

"Whoa, Uncle!"

The moment Yu Jihun received his ticket, it activated. Likewise, the ticket in Kim Jangmi's hand was absorbed into her in a flash of light.

"Oh, healer."

< Kim Jangmi >

Class: Healer

Mana: 0

Skill: Heal

< Yu Jihun >

Class: Student

Mana: 0

Skill: Study

Heh, that Earth god. Still as sloppy as ever, but unlike demons like Remi or Edmond, the skills and mana were displayed properly.

Maybe because they were Earthlings, they had awakened properly.

"What on earth is this?"

"Mom! We became hunters!"

"Keep it down."

With a rather serious face, Kim Jangmi asked Kim Junyong.

"This is what you mean by acquired awakening?"

"That's right."

"And those tickets made it possible?"

"Yep. Now I've got three left. Jia will get one later."

"..."

Kim Jangmi's expression turned perplexed. An item that enabled acquired awakening had appeared.

How much money had been poured into researching that?

If this gets out...

Her gaze turned to Yoichi Sasaki.

"Umai!"

Of all people, he was eating most of the meat he had brought as a gift.

He'll know what to do without being told.

He was close enough to call Kim Junyong hyungnim. He surely wouldn't trouble him needlessly.

"But why did you hand out the awakening tickets all of a sudden?"

"They're needed for travel. Oh, looks like you'll be clocking out early from now on too."

"...!"

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