The Precious Demon King - Chapter 9

WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 9: Seoul Is Kind

Even Yu Jihun, a middle schooler who was the last to leave for school that morning, had left. Now, Kim Junyong was alone in the house.

"Mmm."

There was still time before sunset. Should he collect order points and get rid of the remaining black orbs? The pain was bearable enough to tough out until settlement. Pain and agony were all too familiar to a black mage.

"What a hassle..."

First, he opened the fridge. He grabbed an ice cream bar, took a bite, and wandered to the window.

"Wow, now this is a city."

He smiled contentedly at the tightly packed buildings. Then, a sudden question struck him.

"So there's no Demon King's army?"

Earth had been invaded just like Belhaim, yet everything looked peaceful.

"Not a single monster in sight."

Even if the city were guarded like a fortress, there wasn't a slime in sight.

"I need to test monster hunting, too."

If he killed a monster and opened his status window, an "order mana core" that stored white mana would likely appear. That would reactivate the "chaos mana core," which was currently suppressed by the scale.

"Did they all go into hiding?"

In the well-patrolled Imperial Palace of Belhaim, monsters could easily be found in the underground sewers or in creepy abandoned homes.

"Should I head out and look for some?"

He still had time until evening. A stroll might lead to monsters, or even better, criminals he could harvest order points from.

There was no reason not to go.

He threw on some casual clothes, took the pinnacle of modern alchemy–a credit card–and stepped outside.

He left the apartment complex and wandered aimlessly.

[ 33-Hour Grandma Gukbap ]

"Oh, yeah. You can't beat a grandma's gukbap. Remi."

Whoosh.

As soon as Remi was summoned, she scanned the area and locked eyes with a passerby.

"Is it a target?"

"No. We're eating."

"..."

"You need to try Earth's cuisine."

Remi looked visibly displeased. Her master's obsession with food left even a demon speechless.

"Understood."

Ding-a-ling.

They sat down at a table in the restaurant, and the food was promptly served.

"Oh my, is this young lady a celebrity?"

"No. She's a prosecutor."

"Oh wow, a prosecutor! And so young! Please enjoy your meal."

After the woman left, Remi stared blankly at the gukbap.

"This is a common dish in Belhaim."

"Hey, Earth's is different. The umami flavor is better. Try adding this."

Remi followed the other customers' example and added some salted shrimp. Then, she took a sip.

Slurp.

"...Belhaim's might be better."

"Hah, seriously."

Kim Junyong took a spoonful and frowned at the mediocre taste.

"This place is probably just unusually bad."

Just then, the grandmother wearing a bandana who had been chopping green onions in the kitchen froze and glared at him.

"Huh? Say that again, young man."

"I said it's not good."

"What?! Not good?!"

The grandmother pointed to the wall full of signatures.

"Look there! Even celebrities come here! I've run this place for thirty years!"

"Goodness, boss. Please calm down."

"Let go of me! That brat insulted my pride!"

As the flustered woman tried to hold the grandmother back, Remi leaned over.

"Shall I cut her?"

"Well, let's wait a bit longer. The scale is not reacting."

Shouldn't the scale respond to this level of insult? After all, it was called "Bel's Scale."

If it followed any moral standard, it would be Belhaim's, not Earth's. Back in Belhaim, this level of insult would justify a duel.

"You rotten brats! I've been boiling bones for thirty years–thirty years!"

Ding-a-ling.

Two men rushed into the restaurant, flashing papers.

"We're from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. We'll be conducting a hygiene inspection."

"Huh? Out of the blue?"

"Are you the owner?"

"Pardon? I'm the owner..."

"Please step into the kitchen."

The flustered grandmother was dragged away. Meanwhile, the woman serving food apologetically turned to Kim Junyong and Remi.

"Oh my. Young couple, we won't charge you. Just finish your meal."

She went into the kitchen, too. Kim Junyong shook his head.

"The mood's ruined."

"...Shall I cut them?"

"Stop asking."

"Are you lifting the restriction?"

Remi asked, her eyes gleaming. Kim Junyong chuckled.

"Is this worth turning into a bloodbath?"

"Tch."

"Let's go. I've lost my appetite."

The two stepped out, and shortly after, the inspectors in sunglasses finished up.

"Just be more careful from now on."

"Huh? We didn't break any hygiene laws."

"I'm telling you to watch what you say."

"Wait, are you even from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety?"

"Anyway, we'll be off."

Once they left, the grandmother and the woman in the kitchen were left in a daze.

"Goodness, even a ghost would be dumbfounded."

Kim Junyong continued exploring the neighborhood with Remi.

"Have you ever tried coffee?"

"What is that?"

"A stimulant from Earth."

"Even demons don't do drugs."

"It's not a drug, you idiot."

Traveling through a foreign world was a joy. So was showing someone your hometown.

Showing Remi, the stoic bodyguard, various aspects of Earth's culture was genuinely fun.

"Hello. May I take your order?"

"Let's see."

Kim Junyong looked over the café menu for the first time in two hundred years and raised a finger.

"I'll have one of everything from here to there."

"Pardon?"

"From there to there."

"T-Takeout?"

"Dine-in."

"O-Okay. Just a moment."

After he paid with his credit card, the staff returned it to him along with a buzzer. With the buzzer in hand, the two of them sat by the window.

Kim Junyong and Remi were both wearing tracksuits. Kim Junyong looked fairly handsome, having just washed up, while Remi's beauty seemed almost inhuman.

Naturally, the café's customers turned their attention toward them.

"Whoa."

"Oppa, what are you staring at?"

"Huh?"

People were either sneaking glances or openly staring.

"Wow, Remi, you're a total superstar."

"...Shall I cut them?"

"Kekek."

Demons did have genders, and Remi had originally been male. But on Earth, she had taken on a female form.

"Just enjoy it."

"...I'm still adjusting."

"Oho."

"Gender isn't important to a swordsman."

Bzzzzzzzz.

The buzzer rang shortly after, and they both looked at it with blank expressions.

"The customer who ordered 15 drinks, from Americano to Strawberry Frappuccino! Your order is ready."

As the part-time worker shouted from the counter, Remi's eyebrow twitched.

"How rude. Permit me to cut him down."

"Ah! Right, this is a buzzer."

Kim Junyong recalled the buzzer from a distant memory and gestured to Remi with his chin.

"Take this and go get the drinks."

"Hah. Earthlings have no manners. Sending the Mad Monarch on errands?"

Kim Junyong chuckled. He had no intention of ruling over anyone, not even on Earth. That wouldn't be fun or comfortable.

"Just go. Don't cause a scene."

"Tch."

Remi clicked her tongue and went to get the drinks. The surrounding murmurs grew louder.

"Wow, she went herself."

"The dude must be loaded."

"Damn, I'm better looking. Should I ask for her number?"

Kim Junyong picked at his ear. His body, tempered by multiple transcendences, wasn't just incredibly durable–even his senses were overly sensitive, making moments like this occasionally uncomfortable.

"All right, this volume level should match what a normal person could hear."

His overly sharp senses made life uncomfortable. Being a little dull was more peaceful.

Remi returned with a tray of 15 drinks.

"Drink...oh, you're already drinking."

In any case, Remi was just as impatient as ever. Maybe he needed to teach her about Earth's table manners.

Kim Junyong picked up an Americano and took a sip through the straw.

"Ahh, nothing beats a straw."

Wasn't half the flavor coming from the pleasure-driven convenience that ruined the environment?

"Hey hey, I'm not going to take yours. Take your time."

"...This one tastes good."

Kim Junyong smirked.

"See? Earth's food culture is way more advanced."

"I wouldn't go that far."

"Don't nitpick."

Remi kept slurping away. Then a stranger approached and bowed.

"Hello. I promise I'm not a weirdo. I work in this line of business."

"What?"

Kim Junyong snatched the business card the man held out.

[ SL Entertainment Chief Manager Kim Mangcho ]

"Hm?"

"Haha, not the gentleman–I meant this lady here...May I ask, what's your relationship?"

As Remi finished her fifth drink, she replied.

"Scram."

"Pardon?"

Kim Junyong held onto the business card, leaned back in his chair, and smiled broadly. He was curious to see how Remi would react.

Because of the restriction, killing without authorization is impossible, but...

Physical violence was still an option.

"Haha, sharp, aren't you? I'm sure you get offers often, but here at SL Entertainment..."

"Sir, I'll have to ask you to stop."

"Huh?"

The man who had just approached was wearing a café staff apron, but he was anything but ordinary-looking.

"Please leave."

"Wait, I was just–"

"I said leave."

"What?"

"Out."

The large man threatened Kim Mangcho and kicked him out of the café. The café owner walked over to the part-time employee and praised him.

"Wow, nice job! Uh? Who are you?"

"Just a customer."

The man took off the apron and left quickly.

"What ridiculous guys."

Kim Junyong chuckled and looked in the direction the man had left.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

Remi had already finished her drinks, so they headed out.

"Let's get some food."

"Okay."

Remi's beauty drew attention wherever they went. Though confrontations were frequent, someone always showed up to intervene, so they never escalated to bloodshed.

In the afternoon, while out for a walk, Kim Junyong spotted a phone store.

"Ah, right."

He remembered his mission.

"Let's go in."

"Are we eating again?"

"No, we're not."

Kim Junyong decided to show Remi the pinnacle of modern civilization.

"Welcome!"

"Could you give me two phones?"

"Oh, sir. Are you looking for the latest models?"

"The best you've got."

After all, he had his sister's magic credit card.

"Oh, you've come to the right place! The Pebble 22, our latest model, is currently on sale. If you use this plan for the first three months, it's practically free..."

Just as the salesperson began his flashy pitch, his hands dancing over the calculator, a stranger grabbed him and dragged him away.

"Oh? Sir, we'll assist you in the order you arrived."

"It'll only take a moment."

The store manager, who had been dragged away by a customer, returned looking pale. The customer sat on the sofa in the waiting area and glanced over.

"Haha, sir. Do you remember what I said earlier?"

"Free."

"Yes! I'll give you the Pebble 31 for free."

"...? You said 22 earlier."

"Oh come on, that model is ancient. You must have misheard. One moment, please."

The store manager went into the back room and soon returned with two phones.

"Please give me your ID and wait just a moment."

"I don't have it."

"Excuse me?"

"I didn't bring mine. She doesn't have one."

"Wait, what?"

The flustered store manager's pupils dilated. He looked desperately at the man on the sofa.

Kim Junyong looked at him, too. He thought he had seen the man's face twice already that day. And the woman hiding behind the tree outside–three times.

"Ah, this lack of ID makes me want to kill someone."

Upon hearing Kim Junyong's words, the man's face paled, and Remi brightened.

"Shall I cut them?"

"No."

Kim Junyong left the dejected Remi behind and approached the man sitting on the sofa.

"Get me two IDs."

"S-Sorry? What do you mean?"

"You really don't get it?"

Kim Junyong grinned.

Ding-a-ling.

The door flew open and a familiar man shouted urgently.

"Please wait just a moment!"