The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King – 36

Episode 36: Doubt (2)

I reflexively called Irina.

“Wait.”

“…Yes?”

Irina, who had been working in the air, looked at me.

Reflecting on the previous situations, I slowly unfolded my thoughts.

“You clearly said before that Adoniya sent me to the Solomon Demon Realm. He wanted to make me hate you and Solomon’s will to kill you.”

“Is that so? Honestly, I’m not sure if that’s the exact reason.”

So, this guy also doesn’t know Adoniya’s true intentions. Anyway, that’s not important now.

“But there’s something strange. It’s surprisingly intriguing why I remembered this now.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“I distinctly remember that when I returned from the Solomon Demon Realm to Earth, I ‘returned through the Blue Window.’ Not only that, the abilities I gained at that moment were in the ‘status window’ that you created.”

I continued without pause.

“Even if, let’s say, Adoniya used the ‘Blue Window’ instead of the ‘Black Window,’ doesn’t it seem inconsistent? Adoniya wouldn’t have given me abilities when I was already stronger than expected.”

I presented a more plausible hypothesis that I had been holding onto.

“Rather, it seems more likely that you sent me to the Solomon Demon Realm to protect Earth and are now taking advantage of me getting stronger after a certain period, doesn’t it?”

Indeed, I am currently taking actions to protect Earth. Of course, I am moving according to ‘my will’ that aligns with my current goals, but my assistance to Irina’s goals remains unchanged.

“Try to counter this hypothesis.”

A subtle aura emanated from me and touched Irina’s eyelashes like a gentle leaf. She, slightly startled,

“…Wait, calm down, Mr. Lee.”

“Answer, Irina. I’m not particularly patient with enemies.”

Although there was no visible movement from either of us, tension filled the air. Irina, as if dispelling the oppressive feeling coming from me, exhaled a sigh.

“For now, I admit that I brought you back to Earth. I also admit that I gave you abilities at that moment.”

“But why did you have the power to bring me back to Earth and yet watched for thousands of years? Didn’t you just stand by until I became stronger? Don’t tell me you didn’t know about that endless and eternal time?”

There’s no way she didn’t know.

If that were true, she wouldn’t have known that Adoniya sent me to the Solomon Demon Realm using the ‘Blue Window.’

“Firstly, regarding your return, I had no choice but to do it since Adoniya didn’t intervene until the return. Because Solomon’s will is more dangerous than Earth, I wanted to extinguish Solomon’s will first.”

That was understandable. The power disparity between the two realms was significant.

However, there was one thing I couldn’t understand.

“Then, why did you bring me back 6666 years later?”

“There was a reason for that. I wanted to bring you back to Earth as soon as possible, but when I realized that fact, it was already 6666 years later.”

As I was tearing apart her words and understanding them, Irina spoke.

“By any chance, did you not receive the message ‘transcending space and time’ when you were sent to the Demon Realm?”

I pondered for a moment. Indeed, it was written, ‘Someone allocates karma to transcend space and time’.

“Yes, I did.”

“But when you returned, only the message ‘transcending space’ appeared.”

That was correct. The difference between them was the ‘time,’ the time aspect.

“Mr. Lee, when you were sent to the Solomon Demon Realm, you went back 6666 years in time. What if you had returned to Earth along that same time axis?”

The answer to that was simple.

“…Time paradox.”

Time paradox, in other words, a temporal paradox.

It meant that at that time, the existence of ‘me’ itself had not been born. It was much earlier than the current civilization of humanity. In other words, if an entity that shouldn’t exist at this time were to exist, a contradiction would arise.

“Yes, if an existence that shouldn’t have been born before the ancestors existed, it would create a contradiction.”

I was puzzled. I had spent what felt like 6666 years in the Demon Realm, but upon returning to Earth, I realized that not even a day had passed. Was it because I had simply shifted to the time axis of 6666 years ago? In the non-existent Solomon Demon Realm, my existence wouldn’t cause any particular contradictions.

“So, when I became aware of that fact and brought you back, it was already 6666 years later.”

“Wait, that means…”

I looked at Irina with a bewildered expression. She wore a bitter smile.

“Yes, Seo-jun’s 6666 years passed in the blink of an eye for me.”

It was absurd. The eternity-like time that was difficult to fathom was, for the humans on Earth, just a moment to take a breath. It was a time that was almost impossible to articulate in a single sentence. With just that thin second hand, it couldn’t convey any meaningful significance.

“I didn’t want to mention this if possible, but your mind is quite sharp.”

Of course, this could be false, but if it were true, it was information I didn’t particularly want to know. However, to some extent, I had expected it. Even Seo-Yeon, for now, didn’t know about my 6666 years. The only ones who could empathize with that period were the Solomon guys.

Irina glanced at me for a moment before speaking.

“But I also didn’t feel good about your situation. My worries accumulated day by day, like plastic waste piling up to create an island in the Pacific.”

What the… That was an overly realistic analogy.

“So, I was angry at the situation that couldn’t be avoided! It’s like a volcano that seems to erupt at any moment!”

What on earth was she saying? That excessively realistic analogy.

“Still, I hope you understand this much. My actions are all to help Seo-jun. If this feeling doesn’t get through, I feel like…”

“It’s been conveyed sufficiently.”

To the point it would be ingrained in my mind.

“…That’s a relief.”

Irina placed her hand on her chest and sighed in relief. I watched her for a moment and burst into laughter.

“I hope that wasn’t just an act.”

I said to Irina, “Please send me back now. There’s a lot to do when I return.”

There were other important tasks that had been pushed aside. I had to use the ‘Solomon’s Demon King’ immediately, resolve the issue of the ‘Canaan Floating Island,’ among many other important matters.

As an invisible gaze seemed to touch me, Irina replied, “…Yes. See you again.”

“Sure.”

In a curtain of light enveloping my entire body, I just nodded my head.

====

***

====

Right after returning, I used ‘Magi’ and, along with Quel and Hyude, ascended to the Canaan Floating Island. The reason for coming here was that there were no watchful eyes nearby.

By defeating Baalzebub this time, I obtained [Heavenly Demon], and the Worldview Causality increased to 140.

[Heavenly Demon]

A Demon King beyond the sky. With an insurmountable difference in caliber, possesses an absolute mental strength that does not yield to any mental abilities.

In short, mental immunity. This should complement my most vulnerable part, even if I’ve become stronger. No matter how strong I became, I couldn’t evade Lezie’s mental abilities. Of course, she didn’t use the abilities on me without permission.

I activated the [Solomon’s Window]

[Solomon Demon Summon List] Current Worldview Causality Points: 140 W.C

Minister ‘Roberto’: 200 W.C

Femme Fatale ‘Lezie’: 200 W.C

Great Sage ‘Alter’: 200 W.C

1st Legion Commander ‘Zeratus’: 100 W.C

2nd Legion Commander ‘Shayen’: 100 W.C

3rd Legion Commander ‘Ophelia’: 100 W.C

…

Now that the Worldview Causality had gathered, it was time to summon another corps commander. Hyude, who was by my side, asked me.

“My Lord, who will you summon this time?”

“Hyude, that’s a really stupid question.”

Suddenly, Quel responded.

“Yes?”

“Do you think the Demon King would bother with such a thing? Just summon them all, it’s that simple.”

“R-Really! Certainly, there’s no need for the Demon King to bother with such trivial considerations! I’ve committed a transgression against the Demon King’s status for thinking like this.”

“Hmph, understood.”

Come to think of it, they don’t know that I summon Solomon guys as the ‘Demon King of Solomon.’ That’s why they are having these misconceptions among themselves.

‘Hmm…’

While I’m actually contemplating whom to summon first.

‘He might be better for now.’

Although there is a bit of a concern, in the current situation, he would be more helpful.

When I decided whom to summon, Quel cautiously spoke up.

“But, Demon King, isn’t it cramped to summon all of them here?”

“I won’t summon all of them. I’m only summoning ‘Shayen’ this time.”

“Yes…? Why…?”

Quel looked at me with slightly enlarged pupils.

…It’s been a few thousand years since I felt this way. Someone misconstruing my power.

After a moment of contemplation, I confidently said.

“The others didn’t pass my test.”

Just like in my Demon King days.

And, just like back then, ripples appeared in Quel’s pupils.

“T-Test!”

“Indeed! In other words, we passed the Demon King’s test! Hyude, even if we die here, it’s no big deal!”

“S-Sorry, Demon King! I dared to be arrogant without being able to read such deep thoughts!”

“Well, I’ll let it slide this once.”

I gave a casual response.

Then, while they were marveling at each other, I muttered quietly.

“Worldview Causality 100 consumed.”

[‘Demon King of Solomon, Seo-jun’ distorts ‘100’ of the Worldview.]

“Come forth. 2nd Corps Commander ‘Shayen.'”

[2nd Corps Commander ‘Shayen’ responds to the summoning of the ‘Demon King of Solomon’.]

As always, the crimson whirlwind swirled and turned white.

The size was smaller than when Quel was summoned, but the power emanating from it was still on par.

– Swoosh! –

A figure resembling an assassin with navy-colored hair covering the face, wearing navy clothes with a dagger by the side, appeared. 2nd Corps Commander Shayen knelt on one knee before me.

With navy-colored hair hinting at a bluish shade, the clothes hiding his lower face, and a cold dagger, he exuded an assassin-like vibe.

2nd Corps Commander Shayen lowered his head.

“Master!!!”

A deep, thunderous voice pierced through the cloth.

“Yeah, how have you been?”

“Master!!!”

Shayen couldn’t bring himself to speak and shed thick tears.

Although the flowing tears on his sharp nose and eyes looked alien, I wasn’t surprised because I knew his personality.

Shayen poured out the words he had kept inside during this time.

“I finally passed Master’s test! The training of falling from a steep cliff and enduring in the water for three days wasn’t in vain! Thank you so much for choosing me, my Master!”

“…Fine, get up now.”

Shayen’s hunched back straightened like a log. Then, he approached and examined my body.

“However, Master, have you incurred any blemishes on your noble body? Or perhaps someone dares to aim for Master’s life? Or is it some strange illness? Let me check once.”

Despite his appearance, Shayen grumbled heavily. Well, it was a familiar sight to me, so I let him be.

“…Lord Shayen, do you not think you’re too close? The Demon King will surely find it unpleasant. Please step back.”

However, Quel, who was by my side, caught on to his actions.

Shayen’s movement, which had been wandering around me, stopped, and his sharp gaze slowly turned to Quel.

Shayen smirked as if mocking.

“Oh, Quel, daring to challenge me. Are you big not only in stature but also in audacity? Just because you received the Lord’s call, you’ve become quite haughty.”

“Well, don’t think I’ll stay in one place forever. In reality, I was summoned before you.”

“…Your eloquence has improved. So, shall we see who is superior?”

“Anytime.”

With sharp gazes entwined and sparks flying in the air, a dense magical energy emerged from them. It seemed like they could collide at any moment.

“In front of the Demon King. Both of you, calm down.”

Since no one was backing down, eventually, Hyude intervened.

When Shayen and Quel’s eyes met mine for a moment, they quickly suppressed the rising magical power.

“…Let’s save this for another time.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

It was quite thrilling for a while.

But since it had already passed, I looked at Shayen.

“Shayen, there’s something I want to ask you directly.”

“Yes, anything you say.”

Shayen knelt on one knee, awaiting the continuation of the command.

“The land you’re standing on right now is coveted by others. Not only other countries but even this country, Korea.”

Tomorrow morning, I will attend the ‘Compensation Plan Meeting for the Floating Island.’

If reasonable compensation is determined based on contributions, that’s fine, but the problem is that the Korean government decides it.

If left as it is, the Korean government is likely to proceed with nationalization.

But naturally, it must be my land. I did everything alone, and I can’t let those who did nothing take it away.

“In the old saying, ‘defend and win a hundred battles.’ So…”

I handed a photo of the president to Shayen.

“You track this person.”

====

***

====

During the land spider incident, at the ‘Gate Research Institute’ in Korea.

President Yoon Jae-pyo, accompanied by bodyguards, headed towards the entrance of the institute.

“Have you arrived, Mr. President? Did you sense anything unusual on your way here?”

As they entered the building, the head of the Gate Research Institute, with half of his head shaved, greeted him.

“Yes, as you mentioned, I came secretly.”

“You should be careful, as spies from other countries might try to track you. They could dig into the information we’ve gathered about the Floating Island. It would be really dangerous if this information gets into the wrong hands. Please be cautious.”

In this era of hunters, sending spies skilled in stealth to various countries was commonplace.

“Don’t worry about that. The bodyguards here are A-class hunters, and in terms of magic detection, they are considered S-class hunters. So, there’s no lack in that area.”

Therefore, bodyguards of key figures had to possess the ability to detect magic.

Knowing this fact, the director, while scanning the bodyguards, nodded in understanding.

“Then, I’ll guide you. Others are already gathered inside.”

The president, guided by the director, entered the building.

…Unaware of a presence nearby.

(To be continued in the next part)

Translator Note: Changing Celestial Demon into Heavenly Demon