The Precious Demon King - Chapter 78

WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 78: Ranking Shift!

Mana cores. White mana, which filled on its own. Black mana, which had to be filled by Kim Junyong himself.

Both mana cores were full. From that point on, his interest in sports plummeted.

Win or lose, his life had been too violent and intense for him to become invested in ball games.

Competitions that determined the winner could never compare to wars that decided life or death.

Ring–

[ World Notice ]

[ All demons in Demon Realm Sector 77 have been exterminated. ]

[ A Conqueror has emerged. ]

The world notice that rang out caught Kim Junyong's interest.

"The kids are back."

At the same time, a message came from the Demon Realm Forum.

[ Admin: Congrats, congrats, hyungnim! I'll start prepping the update soon. ]

[ Admin: Half the resources really have to go here, so I won't have any spare capacity. ]

[ Admin: Hyungnim, please take good care of Earth! Hehe. ]

Just how much of the Metaverse was he planning to overhaul, to be whining like that?

Resources intended for Earth's defense were being diverted into redesigning the Metaverse. There was no doubt problems would arise with dungeons.

Guess I'll rack up plenty of points.

Not bad. The rescue missions that required Kim Junyong's direct involvement were the ones that yielded large hauls of order points.

The scale was sly, handing out meager points for crises that could be resolved without him.

< ...Even trivial good deeds are precious. >

It was laughable to call something precious but also trivial.

< ... >

Since Kim Junyong wasn't watching the baseball game and was only on his phone, Kim Jangmi quietly asked.

"Did you get a girlfriend?"

"No, just a friend."

"Really? Where does this friend live?"

"On Earth."

"What, is there anyone who doesn't live on Earth?"

"...?"

Probably not even a person.

Of course, the worries of an ajumma with an unmarried younger brother didn't stop.

"Meeting anyone these days?"

"Hmm, not really."

"Go out and socialize a little."

The Hunter Management Bureau agent listening from behind turned pale. Was she instigating the Special Advisor to stir up the world?

"I was going to do that anyway. That's why I awakened Noona and the children."

The agent's face turned even more ashen.

"Since it's come up, should we go?"

"Where?"

"Didn't Jihun say he wanted pasta?"

"Hm? Should we find a good place nearby?"

"Come on, pasta means Italy."

"Huh?"

"Let's go after the game."

"No, how can we go when we don't even have passports?"

"Hey, did you forget already?"

Kim Junyong tapped his hunter phone. Kim Jangmi had never experienced teleportation before, but she was filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"Shall we go now?"

"The children are watching the game."

"Mom, let's go!"

"I'm in too."

Not only the eager Yu Jihun–even Yu Jia, who had only come along for the family gathering rather than to watch baseball, chimed in.

"All right, let's go. Everyone, join in."

Flash.

Family names filled the party list.

Flash.

Once Remi joined, all five vanished at once. The agent scrambled to make a call.

"The Special Advisor just left for Italy!"

This urgent news went straight to the Special Advisor Support Division and, through the reports, reached Park Taejun. He then sent a formal document to the Italian government.

[ Please ensure the safety of your citizens from a group of five Korean tourists. This message is from the Hunter Management Bureau of South Korea... ]

Hopefully, nothing would go wrong...At that moment, a staffer rushed into Park Taejun's office.

"Bureau Director!"

"Huh? Director Kim?"

What brought the HR director here?

"Have you seen the rankings?"

"Hm? No."

"Please check them now!"

The director's face flushed with excitement.

"Director Cheon Yubeom and Deputy Director Lee Mina were just evaluated, and they both measured at Rank 1. We checked the rankings just in case, and..."

His voice brimmed with excitement. It wasn't a tone of bad news, but rather one mixed with joy. Eager to learn more, Park Taejun logged into the Demon Realm Forum.

"Let's see..."

Anyone could access the forum as long as they had an internet connection. Only secret posts for hunters were restricted. The ranking table on the main page was visible to everyone.

Cheon Yubeom...Cheon Yubeom...

Even after scrolling up far past rank 1,000, his name was nowhere to be found...

"Start from the top."

"Hm?"

Whirr–

With a smooth spin of the mouse wheel, he landed on the first page. He was about to scroll down, but there was no need.

The first page listed ranks 1 through 100. Among them was Cheon Yubeom's name.

"What? S-Super Ranker?!"

The special title reserved for the first page rankers: Super Ranker.

[ Lin Hongwei, 49th ]

[ Cheon Yubeom, 50th ]

[ Lerry Quan, 51st ]

"Is-Is this real?"

"Check Deputy Director Lee's name too."

"My God!"

Excitement bubbled up in Park Taejun and Director Kim.

[ Lee Mina, 77th ]

[ Lim Dongsu, 78th ]

[ Petrov, 79th ]

[ Lim Hajin, 80th ]

"Wow, Deputy Director Lee is a Super Ranker too?"

"Yes! We couldn't believe it when we checked."

Lim Dongsu, who had been ranked 77th, was pushed down a step.

"Huh, then how many SR-rank hunters does Korea have now?"

"Six in total."

"...Not just Korean-born, I mean current Korean-affiliated hunters."

"Ah, then four."

Choi Hyunju, 31st (Hunter Management Bureau)

Yang Minchan, 39th (Naturalized in China)

Cheon Yubeom, 50th (Hunter Management Bureau)

Lee Mina, 77th (Hunter Management Bureau)

Lim Dongsu, 78th (Daesan Guild)

Lim Hajin, 80th (Rebel Ringleader)

There were six Korean-born, but one was a villain and another had long since naturalized in China.

Encouragingly, three of the Super Rankers now belonged to the Hunter Management Bureau. But that was only temporary.

"No wonder Director Kim ran here in a rush."

"Indeed. We can't risk losing them to a private-sector guild."

It wasn't just private-sector guilds, either. There were also cases of hunters emigrating to other countries, lured by enormous welfare and salary offers.

Choi Hyunju's unwavering patriotism was the exception. Most went where the treatment was better.

Park Taejun's face darkened.

"Hmm, we must prevent them from resigning."

"My thoughts exactly."

"Form an emergency response team right away. We'll meet whatever conditions they want."

"Yes."

"I'll speak with them both personally to gauge their wishes."

"Yes, Bureau Director!"

"Whew, what a situation."

South Korea was suddenly blessed with talent. Hunters who had been Ranks 5 and 3 just days ago were now SR-rank hunters, seemingly by magic.

Guilds, at least, are fine.

It was fine as long as they didn't emigrate. Even if they joined private-sector guilds, it wouldn't matter much. In times of crisis, the country could count on their cooperation, as with Hunter Lim Dongsu.

Of course, the best outcome would be for them to stay with the Hunter Management Bureau. However, more budget was needed to make that happen.

"Hmm, this isn't the time for me to sit around."

He decided to go see Kim Seungtae, who he had been meeting with often lately. Given the Hunter Management Bureau's major results and the president being in good spirits, securing the budget would likely be easier than expected.

* * *

Taiwan. Once the hegemon of East Asia, their power stemmed from possessing a G-rank hunter.

With Ryu Jai, their only means of overcoming the disaster of A-rank dungeons, they had enjoyed the position of East Asia's strongest power–at least within hunter society.

However, they recently lost the G-rank hunter who had given them confidence and served as their strongest weapon.

Initially, blame was placed on South Korea and "that hunter," but that soon faded.

The real blow came from Japan's sudden change in diplomacy. Who would have thought that Japan would bow to South Korea?

[ Japanese Prime Minister Heading to South Korea. ]

[ Recognition of Historical Disputes, Practically a Declaration of Defeat. ]

[ East Sea Officially Recognized–Has Japan Become South Korea's Vassal? ]

Taiwanese media churned out articles laced with mockery and betrayal. Japan should have shown that attitude toward Taiwan.

The jealousy was intense. It didn't end with Ryu Jai's personal downfall. Taiwan's prestige plummeted as well.

[ Japan's Kobe A-Rank Dungeon Vanished Before Crisis Response. ]

[ How Did South Korea and Japan Become Blood Allies? ]

[ Japan Gave up Much, but Gained a Solid Shield. ]

[ Humiliation Diplomacy? Pragmatic Diplomacy! ]

That used to be Taiwan's standing! Those were all things their Ryu Jai had done!

South Korea, South Korea, South Korea.

Taiwan's interest in South Korea was at its peak. The frenzy surpassed even the Korean Wave.

So much so that ninety percent of their news was related to South Korea.

[ Japanese Prime Minister Returns Home After South Korea Tour. ]

[ Japanese Prime Minister Mishima Masanobu Surrounded by Welcoming Crowds. ]

[ The United States announces 0% tariffs on Japan–Mishima Magic. ]

[ Diplomatic Genius Mishima Masanobu's Approval Rating Soars. ]

[ Nikkei Index Breaks Record Highs. ]

Japan went to South Korea and bowed its head, and the United States gave Japan gifts.

"...?"

Taiwan couldn't understand.

[ China Ends Senkaku Islands Dispute, Announces Dismantling of All Structures in the Waters. ]

"...?"

Now they were sick with envy.

Japan bowed to South Korea, so why were the United States and China rewarding Japan?

South Korea, Japan, the United States, and China.

Clearly there had been a close agreement among the four!

[ Taiwan's Growing Isolation–Is This Sustainable? ]

[ Taiwan's Hope: Wu Feilong and Lin Hongwei. Let's Support Them Fully. ]

Anxiety mounted.

Their pride remained lofty, but reality had sunk into the gutter.

The public still dreamed of East Asian dominance, but the international community no longer gave Taiwan a thought.

Even the voices criticizing South Korea had quieted. If an A-rank dungeon appeared in Taiwan now, they wouldn't even be capable of handling it on their own.

The public's rage and inferiority complex turned in another direction.

[ Fallen Hero's Rehabilitation? ]

[ R-Rank Hunter Appearing in an F-Rank Dungeon. ]

[ Silent Before Reporters–Ryu Jai Enters Dungeon. ]

After ending her long seclusion, Ryu Jai's actions were intensely scrutinized. Several media outlets closely followed her, reporting on her every move.

[ Ryu Jai, Wandering Only Low-Grade Dungeons. Has the Fallen Hero Even Lost Her Courage? ]

[ No Teammates. Her Lonely Back as She Enters the Dungeon Alone. ]

The articles received a few supportive comments, but most were filled with criticism and mockery.

– Hey, I can solo clear F-rank dungeons too. Why is she going there?

– Is she going there for fun? A waste of strength.

– Does she have no thought of serving the country? This is a waste.

– Let's push to have her welfare cut.

– We already have Lin Hongwei and Wu Feilong. She isn't needed anymore.

– R-rank, so what? She's slacking.

– She doesn't even seem to have the will to raise her rank.

Ryu Jai didn't care about the public backlash at all. No–in fact, she hoped it would grow even larger.

This anger, this betrayal–it would temper her even further.