The Precious Demon King - Chapter 80

WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 80: Europe is Overly Kind

Hunter Management Bureau, South Korea. The Dungeon Management Division was once again reviewing information on newly appeared dungeons worldwide.

"Huh, three A-ranks appeared."

"Whoa, that's a lot."

Globally, an average of ten to fifteen A-rank dungeons appear each month. It was unusual for three to emerge in a single day, but over the course of a month, the numbers evened out.

"There are ten B-rank dungeons and twenty-one C-rank dungeons."

"That's about the usual."

"Yes, but..."

The employee updating the new dungeon data rubbed his eyes.

"Th-The time limits are shorter than usual."

"How much shorter?"

"About half."

"What?"

The Dungeon Management director was startled. Dungeon conquest deadlines varied by scale.

Normally, an A-rank dungeon came with about thirty days for conquest. But this time, every A-rank dungeon was given only fifteen days, as if by prior arrangement.

"W-What about the B-ranks?"

"Ten days."

"What!"

They had been reduced, too. B-rank dungeons normally came with twenty days, but now it was only half that.

"Check all the other dungeons! Go over the existing ones too!"

The Dungeon Management Division was in chaos. Once considered one of the cushier posts at the Hunter Management Bureau, it had become one of the busiest posts since the time-shortening phenomenon began.

Idly browsing Demon Realm Forum dungeon maps, skimming reports, and mindlessly typing were things of the past.

The time-shortening phenomenon had become too frequent to rely on recorded data alone. Moreover, the conquest deadlines for the new dungeons were drastically reduced from the moment they appeared.

"Dungeon auctions are meaningless now! We need to conquer as many as possible before another disaster strikes!"

"It's urgent. I'll report to the higher-ups."

South Korea's Dungeon Management Division wasn't the only organization in chaos. Every hunter-related organization worldwide took the matter seriously.

* * *

Supernatural Ability Management Bureau, Italy.

Bureau Director Marco asked with a grave expression.

"Who did you say came?"

"South Korea's Specials."

"Hahh..."

A deep sigh escaped him.

"Alone?"

"Both Special One and Two came, along with One's family."

Marco shook his head.

"This is insane."

G-rank hunters were also known as national-power-level hunters. That wasn't just a term of courtesy.

They were irreplaceable assets. However, there had been shifts in that pool of assets.

Four dropped out, three barely remained, and two had newly risen.

Special One. Special Two.

Special One was the codename for Special Advisor Kim Junyong. Special Two was the codename for his companion, Kim Remi.

Both were South Korean. Astonishingly, they were returnees who had come back less than a month ago.

Furthermore, one of them was suspected to be the Mad Monarch. No–in truth, everyone believed he was the Mad Monarch, though no country had officially recognized it.

Kenchi Takahashi, a courageous SR-rank hunter, had stepped forward, but abandoned by his own country, he was now presumed missing.

"To let a deranged man, barely adjusted to society, roam the world without even a passport!"

How irresponsible could South Korea be?

"This might be South Korea's ploy."

"Ploy?"

"Yes. Japan fell right into it and was crushed!"

"What!"

Marco beckoned an aide.

"Take a look at this. It was sent from South Korea's Hunter Management Bureau."

[ Protect your citizens from a group of five Korean tourists. ]

"Exactly! Isn't this less a warning and more a blatant declaration of provocation?"

"So you read it that way too?"

"Yes!"

"So they came to pick a fight with Italy. What do they want?"

"That's the problem–we don't know."

Marco tapped his fingers sharply on the desk.

What could South Korea possibly gain by creating tension with Italy?

Nothing, right?

He even started to wonder if they had come to Italy purely for tourism.

"How about this?"

"What?"

"We give them some pocket money before they extort us."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Come closer..."

After hearing the aide's plan, Marco slapped his knee.

"What a brilliant bastard! What's your name?"

"Lorenzo."

"Why haven't you been promoted yet? You're a team leader from now on!"

"I swear my loyalty! But, um...to which team?"

"Go straight to those Korean hunters and carry this out!"

"..."

He had only meant to suggest it, but now he had to carry it out too.

"Not confident?"

"N-No, of course I am!"

"Good! What authority do you need?"

"Temporary command over all the divisions!"

"You insolent brat! You want to be my equal? Fine! From now on, your words are my words. Seize everything in the Bureau! Whatever it takes, get that troublesome group to France!"

"Yes!"

Lorenzo answered with vigor. Having majored in South Korean history at university and always been interested in South Korean culture, he felt confident in this mission's success.

* * *

Naples, Italy. Known as the birthplace of pizza, the city was now hosting a group of Korean tourists wandering its streets.

"It's morning, so no restaurants are open yet."

"Ah, I forgot about the time difference, Mom."

They had left in the evening, but in Italy, it was morning.

"Are you dumb?"

"Mom! Noona called me dumb!"

"Hey! Did you come all the way to Italy just to fight?"

Kim Jangmi laughed at the sight of Yu Jia and Yu Jihun shrinking under her scolding.

"Oh, someone's coming. Everyone, be quiet."

She tried to look nonchalant.

"Ugh, Mom, that just makes you look more suspicious."

"Quiet. We're all here illegally."

"Ah, if we get caught, we can just go home."

Moving to another location was Kim Junyong's personal ability, so they had to go with him or be sent by him. But returning to their base in South Korea was something they could do on their own.

To put it bluntly, even if they were caught by the police, they could be home in an instant.

"Jihun's right about that."

When Yu Jia chimed in, Kim Jangmi flared up in anger. Just then, Yu Jihun pointed toward a shop.

"Oh! Mom, that one's open! Let's go!"

"Hmm, okay. Let's get something to eat first."

The group of five Koreans kept walking all morning until they finally found a bar that was open and sat down.

"Mom, you order."

"Ugh, idiot. Move over."

Yu Jia stepped forward and opened a translation app on her phone.

[ Can we order? ]

[ Of course, cute young lady. ]

"Bleh."

Yu Jia pulled a playful face and looked at her uncle.

"Uncle, what should we order?"

"Everything."

"Really?"

"Remi eats a lot."

"Ahh."

[ We would like to try everything on the menu. Bring it all. ]

[ Really? There are only five of you. ]

[ We're food fighters. Bring it on. ]

[ Oh, my God. ]

"Uncle, the bill please."

"Uh, here's my card."

Kim Junyong handed over a black card, which was inserted into the card reader.

Beep–beep–

Instantly, payment information was shared from South Korea's Hunter Management Bureau to Italy's Supernatural Ability Management Bureau.

[ Please stay seated. I'll bring it over. ]

Kim Jangmi, seated in a spot with a good view of the street, clapped like a young girl.

"Wow, how wonderful."

Just taking in the foreign street left her face brimming with excitement.

"Mom, do you like it that much?"

"Don't you?"

They hadn't gone through an airport, lugged heavy suitcases, or booked a hotel in advance, yet here they were on the streets of Italy. It was a surreal travel experience beyond anything they had imagined.

Aside from a slight worry about their illegal entry, everything was truly wonderful.

"It's great, isn't it."

Yu Jihun just grinned goofily, while Yu Jia wore a somewhat conflicted expression.

"Jia, is something bothering you?"

"N-No."

She was beginning to suffer from the illness commonly experienced by adolescents during their growth years. Not knowing what it was, she herself was confused.

Am I really meant to be a doctor?

Yu Jia had begun reflecting on her future dream. Then, all of a sudden, she became a hunter. Maybe because her middle school archery club days had left their mark, she coincidentally ended up with the archer class.

Click, and you master languages...Blink, and you travel the world...

She felt disillusioned with the studies she had worked so hard at. She wavered, unsure if the goal she had set was truly her dream.

Yu Jia was filled with all sorts of worries.

"Slurp."

In the meantime, Remi, who had been tasting the coffee as it was served one after another, downed a fruit juice in one shot.

Sitting at an outdoor café made it easy to watch the street, but it also made it easy for passersby to watch them.

Remi's beauty stood out without question, and among the passersby, there wasn't a single one who didn't turn back to look at her.

Each time someone winked as they passed, Remi thought to herself.

Why not just flip me off?

Then, even if she killed them, wouldn't it be self-defense?

Won't someone pick a fight?

Among the trivial men who merely winked or whistled as they passed, there was bound to be a macho type. A large Italian man approached.

Remi felt a small thrill. Was he trying to start something? Would she draw her sword?

But disappointingly, the man's attention wasn't her. He bowed to Kim Junyong and introduced himself.

"I'm Lorenzo from the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau in Italy."

Fluent Korean came from the mouth of a stereotypical Italian macho man.

"Hm? You know me?"

"Aren't you South Korea's Special Advisor?"

"Oh, am I famous?"

"..."

Did he really not know his own fame? Then again, South Korea had been gritting its teeth to suppress any information about Kim Junyong.

Compared to the fact that the existence of the "Special Advisor" was firmly imprinted on the public, the person "Kim Junyong" was still unknown and unfamiliar.

But in agencies like the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau, not knowing Kim Junyong was sheer idiocy. He was the hottest figure in the hunter world.

"So, did you come to arrest me for illegal entry?"

"N-No! Italy will always welcome Special and his family."

"Special?"

"Wow, Uncle, that sounds like a codename."

"Don't interrupt the adults."

"Ah."

While Kim Jangmi reined in Yu Jihun, Lorenzo smiled warmly.

"You have a clever nephew."

"Quick to grasp information."

"...I apologize if I offended you."

Lorenzo grew tense.

Dangerous.

They were here to pick a fight. To sow the seeds of conflict between Italy and South Korea. He couldn't afford to give them any pretext...

"Junyong. For now, at least listen to what he has to say."

Uneasy about their illegal entry, Kim Jangmi cut into the awkward atmosphere. From the look of it, if the conversation went well, they could relax and enjoy sightseeing without worry.

"Well, fine. What's your purpose?"

"Would it be all right if I offered you a request to conquer an A-rank dungeon?"

"Hmm."

It was an easy request. It was also the sort of matter for which Italy's Supernatural Ability Management Bureau would go out of its way to seek out Kim Junyong.

Kim Junyong looked once at his family's faces and readily nodded.

"Where?"

"Eh?"

"The dungeon. Where is it?"

"Ah–you're accepting?"

So easily? Lorenzo mentally crumpled up the twelve scenarios he had prepared.

"Y-You're not even asking about the price?"

"I usually take as much as I'm given."

"Ah!"

Had he been mistaken? Was South Korea's Special Advisor really not the Mad Monarch? What a refreshingly surprising man.

"Ah, I do have a request to add."

"P-Please, tell me."