WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 74: Transfer Student Kim Remi

Daesan Hotel suite.

Surrounded by his aides, Masanobu Mishima wore a face full of regret.

"Hahh, to be in South Korea and only be able to watch from the sidelines."

"It seems it isn't destined to be ours. We'll just have to swallow the disappointment."

"That's right. Lobbyists are already making indiscriminate approaches to South Korean politicians."

The emergence of an item that could awaken ordinary people. The news had already spread like wildfire.

All eyes and ears were on South Korea. The country's political circles had many loose seams, so information was easy to obtain with just a bit of familiarity.

Like the congressman who had tipped off Masanobu Mishima about the "awakening tickets." Not only China and the United States, but other countries surely had local informants of their own.

"One ticket will probably go to China, and one to the United States."

"Those bastards would pay billions if that's what it took."

Regrettable. It was all the more regrettable since he was in South Korea for the summit. How would Kim Seungtae react if he brought this up tomorrow?

He would surely tell him to negotiate directly with the Special Advisor. South Korea's current strategy was to slip away like a snake.

Ring–

Just then, his secretary answered the phone and, startled, made a report.

"It's the commissioner of the Psychic Awakening Agency."

"Oh? Hand it here."

It hadn't even been thirty minutes since their last call. What could be urgent enough for another report?

"Prime Minister speaking."

[ Prime Minister! We got them! Two tickets! ]

"What do you mean?"

[ We secured two awakening tickets! ]

"W-What? How?"

[ Yoichi Sasaki brought them in! ]

"Heavens, how can this be! Just how did he strike the deal?"

[ It wasn't a deal! They were given as a gesture of goodwill! ]

"Goodwill, you say?!"

Masanobu Mishima was puzzled, then suddenly felt a thrill as if lightning had pierced through his body.

"No way...!"

[ Do you have any idea? ]

"Hah, of course I do."

He slapped his knee.

"Right now, the Mad Monar–no, South Korea's Special Advisor is sending us a message!"

[ A-A message? ]

"Yes!"

He finally understood. The mind of the Mad Monarch.

Though radical and extreme, there seemed to be a side of him that wanted others to quietly pick up on his intent.

The first message had been an assassination warning.

He had brutally massacred the yakuza as an example. If you didn't want to die, you had to obey...And at that time, he declared, "Dokdo is our land."

The message the tickets conveyed is unmistakable.

It was satisfying. It had completely pleased him.

Where was it? Seodaemun Prison? The comfort woman statue? Manse?

Where exactly had the Special Advisor found satisfaction? Whatever it was, one thing was clear–he gave unmistakable feedback.

Please him, and he rewarded you. Displease him, and you were assassinated.

"Commissioner, see to it that Yoichi Sasaki maintains a close relationship with the Special Advisor."

[ Leave it to me! Yoichi's sincerity has always been devoted to the safety and prosperity of our country. ]

"Reliable! Very reliable!"

Masanobu Mishima hung up the phone, thoroughly satisfied.

"What's on the schedule for tomorrow?"

"A visit to the National Cemetery, with a tribute and a brief speech on the North Korea issue."

So, one of the tickets was for me.

This was exciting.

Well then, let's try to impress the Special Advisor! Even if he told him to go to Dokdo, he would gladly go.

* * *

The world was in an uproar once more.

The appearance of awakening tickets that could turn ordinary people into hunters.

"Pay whatever it takes! Secure them no matter what!"

"Buy them–now!"

"Send agents to South Korea! The VIP's orders are clear: secure one at all costs!"

With the emergence of the awakening tickets, the world's tycoons stirred restlessly. Their lobbying zeroed in on South Korea's political circles, with requests pouring in from all sides–ruling and opposition alike–to secure tickets.

One bold lawmaker even visited Hansan 2-dong. However, he was stopped by the security team of the Special Advisor Support Division on duty outside.

"Please leave."

"Hey, don't you know who I am?"

"I said, leave."

"What's your name?"

"Doesn't matter. Just leave."

"Hey! I'm Jung Jinsu! I'm a four-term lawmaker!"

"Whether four or five terms, please leave."

"Why, you–"

They squabbled for some time, but it was clear. The security team was made up entirely of hunters. Mere civilians, such as lawmakers and aides, were no match for them.

Unfortunately, even the "power" bestowed by his office had no effect. After a long squabble, the lawmaker had no choice but to leave with nothing to show for it.

"Hah, how many times has this happened now?"

"It's getting old."

"I guess we won't be sleeping tonight."

"Do they even realize we're saving their lives right now?"

"They don't. It's oddly rewarding, but it wears you out."

"Heh, let's hang in there. This is all for the country."

"Yes!"

It would be disastrous if a news article came out about a lawmaker being attacked in the Hansan 2-dong residential area. Once again, the security team worked tirelessly through the night to ensure South Korea's safety and prosperity.

It was past 11 p.m., but Kim Seungtae still couldn't sleep.

"Good grief. So you're saying he just handed it over to Japan?"

"Not to Japan exactly–rather, it was transferred to a hunter named Yoichi Sasaki."

"That's the same thing!"

"Knowing the Special Advisor, he's not the type to send messages to a country. This was simply thanks to his personal friendship with Yoichi Sasaki."

"Hah, really...such a precious thing."

Kim Seungtae had no thought of becoming a hunter just because awakening tickets existed. The problem was that countries were earnestly demanding the tickets and seeking negotiations.

China had proposed to make major concessions on the North Korea issue in exchange for a ticket.

With this, unification might even be possible during my term.

With China promising not to intervene if South Korea pushed tanks into Pyongyang, the return was far too great for just one ticket.

The United States proposed zero tariffs in exchange for a ticket. Under its protectionist policy, their foreign tariffs averaged 30 percent.

Eliminating those tariffs would yield immense economic benefits. Simply announcing this would cause his approval ratings to soar by tomorrow.

My approval ratings would surely soar.

Such an abuse of authority could only have been ordered directly by the presidents of China and the United States.

The awakening tickets held enormous value as bargaining chips.

And those precious tickets ended up in Japan's hands...

Japan gained something enormous, even aside from what it lost to South Korea. He could already picture Masanobu Mishima's approval ratings soaring.

"Ah, it makes me sick with envy."

This wouldn't do.

"Chief Manager Kim."

"Yes, President."

"Let's take Prime Minister Masanobu Mishima out to Dokdo."

"...He's scheduled to return tomorrow."

"Tell him to stay an extra day."

"..."

Although it was discourteous to reschedule a head of state, Chief Manager Kim thought it might be possible.

* * *

While the stormy day passed, Kim Junyong slept soundly. The next morning, he went with Remi to his sister's house.

"Oh? Junyong. Remi. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah."

"What brings you here so early?"

Kim Jangmi tensed up. Had they come just to mooch breakfast? Should she set the table? But she had to leave for work...

"Where's Jia?"

"Oh? She's still in her room."

"Yeah? Niece! Eldest niece!"

Just then, footsteps sounded from the second floor, and Yu Jia came down.

"Yes?"

Her eyes were sunken. It seemed she hadn't slept well the night before.

"Hm? Sick?"

"No."

She simply hadn't been able to sleep, her mind preoccupied with the feeling that all her hard work had been invalidated, questions about her own existence, her dream of becoming a doctor, her hopes for the future, the sudden appearance of a status window, and her newfound awareness as a hunter.

"Why did you call me?"

"Ah, you'll be going to school with Remi."

"Huh?"

Yu Jia's eyes widened.

"It's much better to go around with Remi than to be trailed by bodyguards."

Remi walked up to Yu Jia and placed her hand firmly on her shoulder.

Flash.

Black smoke engulfed Remi, transforming her clothes into the same school uniform as Yu Jia's.

Kim Jangmi was so amazed that she clapped.

"Oh my! Junyong, how did you come up with such an idea?"

A high school girl accompanied by bodyguards in suits was bound to stand out. But two high school girls walking together was nothing unusual.

"She should at least be able to graduate in peace."

"...Junyong."

Kim Jangmi's face softened with emotion as she hugged her brother. How could he have had such a praiseworthy idea?

Inwardly, she had been full of worries about her daughter, whose daily life had been greatly disrupted by the sudden presence of an uncle. But with her brother stepping in to look out for her, she felt both deeply grateful and moved.

"Aw, it's nothing. At the very least, she should attend school like normal."

"Jia, this is good for you, isn't it?"

"H-Huh?"

Yu Jia was thrown off by the sudden decision. And when she saw how perfectly the uniform matched Remi's unreal beauty, she was even more so.

She'll stand out even more than the bodyguards...

She shook her head to clear her mind of distracting thoughts. Still, it was better than having the children tease and whisper about her as if she were the youngest daughter of a chaebol family.

"I'll take charge of the young lady's close protection."

"Oh my, Remi. I'll be counting on you."

Kim Jangmi grasped Remi's hands and shook them.

"As for saying 'young lady'...just use unni and dongsaeng."

"Hm? But you two are the same age."

"Then just say cousin-unni."

"Oh, my niece is clever."

In South Korea, even twins distinguished who was older or younger and set themselves as unni or dongsaeng. Cousins would sometimes use those terms too if one was born just a few months earlier.

"Ah, we'll be late. We have to go now."

"All right, off you go."

"Okay."

Yu Jia headed to school, trailed by Kim Remi, a high school girl gripping a longsword.

"Uh, Unni?"

"Speak."

"Can't you hide that sword somewhere?"

Remi shook her head.

"You have to bring it?"

"That's right."

"..."

Somehow, it felt like this would only spark more gossip...

No, normal life is out of the question now...

She had spent the whole night mulling it over.

A normal life? A senior preparing for the college entrance exam?

She had given up. She would still do her best, but she had already accepted her fate to some extent. Her sudden awakening as a hunter had played a part in that.

Even her lingering attachment to archery, which she had put aside since middle school, had begun to resurface.

If she couldn't live an ordinary life, then living an extraordinary one was another way.

Everything that had once felt cumbersome and inconvenient now felt a little different to her.

"That's our bus. But what about enrollment...?"

"The Hunter Management Bureau took care of it."

"Ah!"

Yu Jia smacked her forehead. To think she was worrying about transfer procedures, when it was something handled by a national agency. She still hadn't shaken her petty, small-citizen mindset.

With sidelong glances following them, they arrived at school. Remi went to the teachers' office, while Yu Jia headed to her classroom.

Just before the first period began, Remi entered with the homeroom teacher, and the classroom erupted.

"All right, quiet down! Starting today, we have a new friend joining our class. Everyone, help her adjust well. Kim Remi, would you introduce yourself?"

Remi took a step forward and swept her gaze across the class. Spotting Yu Jia's especially tense face among them, she opened her mouth to speak.

"Don't cross the line. I won't kill you."

"..."

Her grim introduction drew every classmate's eyes to the longsword in her hand.

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