The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 35: Doubt (1)

The next day, numerous articles flooded the news.

【Successful Conquest of Mysterious Gate in Korea Within Just an Hour】

【Was the Gate Really Nothing Special? However, the Survival Rate is Just 20%】

【SS-Rank Hunter Eden and Ryu Chun-ji Dead, Waves of Condolences from America and China】

【Nation in Shock Over Death of Mass Leader, Jang Min-tae】

This time, the gate couldn’t be graded due to an error in the magical energy measuring device. The reason is most likely, human technology couldn’t measure the overwhelming force.

As a result, others could not ‘accurately’ comprehend the danger of the Seven Deadly Sins. They only guessed its overwhelming difficulty through the countless casualties.

【How Will the Rewards for Conquering the Gate be Distributed? The Survivors Already Received Enough from Lee Seo-jun, Didn’t They? 】

【Is it Lee Seo-jun of South Korea Again? Survivors Say, ‘We Would Have Died if Lee Seo-jun and Quel Weren’t There’】

【America and China: ‘We Will Definitely Claim Our Share of the SS-Rank Hunters’】

The survivors kept their promise. Well, to be honest, since Park Sang-cheol stepped forward, it was more like a threat than a promise, but they gave up their greed for rewards.

The nations of the deceased will take care of their compensation.

‘The real issue is with the two countries.’

However, America and China demanded compensation from us. Because what they lost was an ‘SS-Rank Hunter,’ they believe it had a significant influence on the conquest. The reason they’re demanding compensation is that the floating island was in Korean airspace. On the face of it, their claims seemed reasonable.

Well, they would have been if things were normal.

That day, a brief press conference was held.

“America and China have declared that they will receive compensation for Eden and Ryu Chun-ji. Did they actually have a significant impact on the mission?”

“They did have a significant impact.”

“Oh, really? Then isn’t it only fair to compensate them?”

“Significant impact, but in a bad way.”

“…Excuse me?”

The reporters looked at me in confusion.

I snapped my fingers, and Hyude behind me projected a hologram.

Footage from the lens Quel and I wore was displayed.

[You’re stronger than I thought.]

The initial footage showed Ryu Chun-ji attacking Quel and speaking.

[What will you do if I insult that guy? What, kill me?]

Next was a scene where Ryu Chun-ji provoked Quel, followed by him getting into an attack stance.

I carefully edited the footage, showing only the scenes where Ryu Chun-ji displayed hostility toward humans.

It was demon’s editing.

“Ryu, Ryu Chun-ji, how could he…”

“Next.”

The footage continued.

[Ho, dodging this, huh. You’re no ordinary hunter, are you?]

It showed Eden launching a bolt of lightning at me.

[Now, boy, let this old man bestow some final compassion. Will you join us now? I’m willing to forgive you if you kneel and apologize.]

And then his provocation.

I filtered out any mention of ‘Cult of Great Sin’. It would be troublesome if it came out that I had connections with them.

That information could have been a weapon for me.

[Inferno]

The footage ended with Eden releasing a massive flame.

Upon seeing this, the reporters swallowed hard.

“No way, how could they…”

“It’s unbelievable, but it’s the undeniable truth. They killed other humans and obstructed Quel and me in conquering the gate. And now they demand compensation?”

I smirked and stood up.

“Cut the crap. Close your mouths before I burst them open.”

My imposing gaze met the camera.

“The ones deserving compensation are not you, but us who were attacked. If you have a brain, come bow down to me. If you harbor any other intentions, I’ll give you the punishment you deserve.”

The reporters swallowed their saliva again at the aura they had felt at some point.

“The press conference is over.”

In that heavy silence, I lightly turned my body. Just as I was about to leave, the final question followed.

“Ah, Mr. Lee Seo-jun! Lastly, the ‘International Hunter Organization’ is going to measure your ranking. What do you think it will be?”

My gaze calmly returned to the questioner.

“First.”

“Excuse me?”

“Tell them not to evaluate anything below that.”

With those words, I left the scene.

***

Inside a building in the United States.

“Arrogant.”

A man sitting in a giant bathtub chuckled as he watched Lee Seo-jun’s press conference.

Women wrapped in thin cloth, leaning on the man’s arms, agreed.

“Exactly. There is already Leo Bradley who is ranked first. Doesn’t that statement imply he intends to dethrone Leo, the Lion of the Zodiac? We who know Leo’s power find it amusing.”

“Hahaha! You girls know how to flatter!”

As Leo laughed loudly, his mane-like hair touched the water.

“Alyssa Grace, what do you think?”

Leo looked at a woman standing next to the bathtub. She had black hair and wore a black suit with a white mask.

Alyssa hesitated before speaking, “I think he’ll be better than you.”

“You cheeky woman.”

At her cold tone, Leo’s smile twisted.

“You must be pleased.”

“About what?”

“Since the Capricorn died, you, the Virgo, will naturally become 11th.”

“I don’t care.”

“Tsk, you’re as cold as ever. But thanks for coming all this way to show me this. Would you like to come in?”

Leo flashed his white fangs and gestured to the bathtub. He continued speaking as he observed her indifferent expression.

“I find it fascinating that you’re a ‘Virgo’, considering you were born in a red-light district. Isn’t it weird?”

“…”

“Drop the act. What about becoming a Capricorn this time?”

For a moment, silence fell between them. Their quiet glares sparked like electric currents.

Alyssa began to remove her black high heels.

“Hmm, you’re quick to agree.”

Wearing only her shoes, Alyssa stepped into the tub. Her black stockings shimmered in the water.

“Now take off the mask.”

As if obeying the beast, Alyssa’s hand moved inside her coat. However, she did not unbutton it. Instead, she pulled out something shiny.

“What’s this? An artifact from a bygone era?”

A gun barrel tinted with a seven-colored sheen, its icy silver muzzle pointed at him. A gun, now considered an artifact of the past.

“You’re not thinking of killing me with that, are you?”

“Who knows?”

“Ha ha ha ha!!”

Leo roared with laughter at her serious expression.

With a change of expression, Leo pushed the women next to him away.

“You’ve lost your mind.”

“…”

“Go ahead and shoot. Even a missile wouldn’t scratch me.”

Alyssa’s red lips curved into a subtle smile.

“Leo Bradley.”

“So, you’ve finally come to your senses?”

“It must have been quite an effort for you to indulge in your ‘lust’ all this time.”

“What?”

Confused by her incomprehensible statement, Leo raised an eyebrow.

“Soul Absorption.”

Sssss-

The next moment, a pink aura was drawn from Leo and absorbed into Alyssa. Leo had no time to resist as his energy drained away.

“What, what’s happening?! My strength is…!”

His statue-like muscles contracted, and his solid bones became pliable. His mane turned white, and his skin sagged around his cheeks.

“Wa, wait…!”

As Leo rapidly weakened, Alyssa smiled.

“Goodbye.”

Bang!

A single gunshot, devoid of any magical power. An archaic relic pierced through Leo’s forehead.

A moment of silence. The blood oozing out colored the bathtub water crimson, making the women beside him scream.

“Aaah!!”

“You should die too.”

Without hesitation, two more bullets were fired, and the women wilted away, their bodies soaked in red.

Ignoring the atrocity, Alyssa stepped out of the bathtub and walked out of the room.

“Only one piece remains.”

She then muttered softly.

“Asmodeus.”

***

As soon as the press conference ended, I used the invitation to meet Irina.

As usual, I was greeted by Irina in the forest, her eyes closed as if to shut everything out.

“I’m relieved you’re safe. Lee Seo-jun, your power is indeed beyond what I worried about.”

I had a question for her.

“…I’ve been curious for a while, can you see everything that happens on Earth?”

“No, I can’t. Not only that, I can’t look inside barriers like the one created by Beelzebub.”

So, there are some limitations. That’s not what I was curious about right now though.

I got to the point.

“Did you pop Beelzebub’s head?”

The silence floated down and gently touched the ground.

As Irina opened her mouth, the silence flew away on the wind.

“No. If I had that much power, I wouldn’t have needed to ask for your help.”

“That guy was completely drained at that moment, weaker than a fly. Even a normal person could have killed him with a stab.”

“But why would I do that? It was a good opportunity to gather information about Adoniya.”

“There’s a reason. Maybe your deception would be revealed through information from Adoniya.”

“I understand your concern. But isn’t it more plausible that a cautious Adoniya interfered to avoid unnecessary information exposure?”

In a typical case, yes. My suspicion towards Irina made me ask.

I sighed and decided to let it go. Pressing any further would be a waste of time.

Then I looked at the crown in my hand. It appeared after Beelzebub died.

“What is this? I can feel Adoniya’s energy from it.”

“Oh, it probably serves a similar role to your ‘invitation’, as a sort of medium to communicate with Adoniya.”

I didn’t feel like I could use it, though.

Irina carefully spoke.

“And… this is just a speculation, but if you kill all of the Seven Deadly Sins and gather their mediums, perhaps you can meet Adoniya.”

Seems plausible. At least if they say something along those lines.

Something suddenly occurred to me.

“Asmodeus is already dead. What about his item? Nothing like that came up before.”

“…I don’t know?”

Irina responded as if it were obvious.

I blinked and said,

“You’re not really that useful, are you?”

If you’re going to help, give some direct help, not just speculation.

Upon hearing me, Irina puffed up her cheek.

“Don’t pretend to be offended.”

“I’m not pretending!”

Irina shouted back.

“I’ll show you that I can be helpful.”

She looked up into the void and countless twinkles appeared.

“This time, I used the ‘karma’ allocated from your side to grant effects to the floating island of Canaan. It’s not a huge difference, but it should help.”

I couldn’t fully understand what she was doing, but it seemed like she was activating some sort of ability.

Watching her, I asked,

“Do you create what humans call ‘abilities’?”

“Well, half-right and half-wrong.”

“What does that mean?”

“What I provide is the mechanism for abilities to manifest, but all ‘karma’ comes from the individual.”

“Karma?”

“Yes.”

She met my gaze.

“Abilities are the result that stems from the cause, which is an individual’s past. I only facilitate the manifestation of this result. Quests, for instance, are just a means to connect cause and effect more easily.”

“So, the abilities I gained after returning are also like that?”

“Yes, your past accomplishments in the Solomon demon realm are why you have those abilities now.”

I see.

I remembered that when I returned, it said, ‘Consuming karma to grant suitable abilities’.

‘…Hmm?’

At that moment, an enormous sense of dissonance washed over me.

Earlier, Irina said that ‘Adoniya’ was the one who sent me to the Solomon demon world. However, all the abilities I gained after returning were contained within the ‘Blue Window.’

Moreover, the one who asked me about my willingness to return and granted me abilities was also the ‘Blue Window.’

In other words, her statements were inconsistent.

(To be continued in the next episode)