The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 62: Ranking Measurement (2)

As the main agenda was brought up, a more careful silence than ever before enveloped the audience.

“We originally planned to measure Lee Seo-jun’s ranking after Beelzebub, but we postponed it briefly because we couldn’t know exactly what happened there.”

“Yes, above all, he hadn’t met the conditions for ranking measurement as it hadn’t even been a year since he became an S-class hunter.”

“However, with this recent achievement, the value of Lee Seo-jun’s existence has been sufficiently proven. I believe it’s time to measure now, even if he doesn’t meet those conditions.”

“I agree.”

The executives nodded at this opinion.

“Then let’s have each person speak based on valid reasons.”

“I’ll start then.”

One executive raised his hand. As all eyes turned to him, he spoke.

“I believe that Korea’s Hunter Lee Seo-jun is more than qualified to be called one of the 12 Zodiac. Not only has he stopped the existence of a Demon King twice, but he also survived a fight with Eden, who was the Capricorn.”

The executive continued carefully.

“Honestly, when I saw him say at the press conference after the last Beelzebub incident that we shouldn’t evaluate him unless he’s number one, I thought he was arrogant. But seeing this performance, I have no choice but to acknowledge him now.”

“Well, looking at just the existence of ‘Lee Seo-jun’, I agree too. Although the number of achievements is lacking, he has massive accomplishments that more than make up for it, enough to deserve a place in the upper ranks of the 12 Zodiac.”

“I agree as well.”

“Me too…”

The executives had no complaints about him grasping the honor of being one of the 12 Zodiac. After all, humanity’s survival might have been in danger without him.

However, since this gathering wasn’t just executives, complaints from the 12 Zodiac about him were inevitable.

One man slammed the round table and exclaimed.

“Fuck! What bullshit is this?”

The conference room suddenly fell silent, and dozens of pairs of eyes turned to one man.

“…Calm down, Zai Feng.”

“Do I look calm right now?”

Feng was originally ranked 16th, but as four seats among the 12 Zodiac became vacant, he naturally entered the last seat.

However, if Lee Seo-jun were to enter the 12 Zodiac, it was only natural that he would be expelled from this glorious honor once again.

“I’ve been building up achievements as an SS-class hunter for 10 years! But what? The 12 Zodiac for a rookie who hasn’t even been a hunter for 3 months? There should be a limit to this nonsense!”

“That’s because Lee Seo-jun’s achievements are greater than your 10 years of accomplishments.”

“Fuck, why are you guys judging that? Do you know how hard I’ve worked to get here? If I had been there instead of that guy, I could have done better! Anyway, stop this bullshit. I can’t accept this.”

The executives looked at Feng with troubled expressions. They couldn’t really say anything since it was true that he had built up achievements.

It was then that a woman spoke in a cold voice.

“The only one spewing bullshit here is you.”

“…What?”

Feng, with a vein popping on his temple, turned his head. In his sight was a blonde woman, Anna Paisley.

“You’re whining about just 10 years? That man has…”

Anna, cutting off her words with a start, waved her slender hand.

“Hah… forget it. You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”

Anna recalled that day. The vast memories of Lee Seo-jun that she had seen with [Mind’s Eye].

It was an amount of memories that was impossible for a human to handle or ever possess.

Seeing Feng babbling without knowing any of this, she felt needlessly irritated.

“And you say you would have done better if you were there? Then why weren’t you there?”

“I-I didn’t know! And I was in China─”

“That’s the difference between you and him. He was in Korea too, but he recognized the danger and arrived in London faster than the British hunters. You know?”

“……”

Unable to refute, Feng glared at Anna, emanating killing intent.

Anna raised the corners of her mouth as if finding it amusing.

“What, you got a problem? Want to try me? And did I say anything wrong?”

Feng glared for a moment before finally averting his gaze.

Anna’s original ranking was 10th. In numbers, it was only a 6-position difference, but the gap in ability became extreme towards the upper ranks.

“Idiot.”

Anna sneered as she watched him.

It seemed the meeting would resume, but Feng made one last attempt to salvage his pride.

“B-but isn’t it going too far to put him in the upper ranks no matter what? Maybe the Demon King was just weaker than we thought─”

“Hey, kid.”

The one who interrupted Feng was not Anna, but a man’s deep voice.

The moment he turned to look, Feng couldn’t help but be startled.

“W-Wei….”

A burly man sitting quietly with his arms crossed.

It was ‘Huang Yao Wei’, the Taurus and current rank 1.

“Why are you making a fuss when I’m sitting here quietly? You’re lucky to be sitting here, so stop chirping so loudly.”

“S-Sorry Wei…. I was wrong….”

Wei stared at Feng, who was lowering his eyes, for a while before looking away.

Wei turned to look at the executives.

“Well, but I have similar thoughts to that guy. I understand that he’s strong, and that he prevented an unprecedented disaster. But no matter how I look at it, placing him in the upper ranks of the 12 Zodiac seems a bit hasty.”

Wei scanned the other 12 Zodiac members.

“In fact, myself and others here have prevented major disasters multiple times, protecting the survival of the world and nations. Don’t you think that such a judgment is disrespectful to us?”

As the distant starry gazes poured down, the executives groaned.

This was why subjective judgments without clear criteria were such a headache. It was inevitable that there would be opposition from somewhere.

“Then how about this?”

At that moment, a man who had been quietly observing all along opened his mouth.

A handsome man with long blonde hair, Daniel Edwards. The one who became the director of the International Hunter Organization at a young age.

“What do you mean?”

“If there’s a problem with not only elevating him to the upper ranks, but even letting him into the 12 Zodiac, why don’t we create one more position? Originally, the 12 Zodiac had another constellation besides the twelve, didn’t it?”

“…You don’t mean.”

Daniel drew a bright smile.

“Ophiuchus.”

A constellation that passes through the zodiac but isn’t included in the 12 Zodiac. That’s why ‘Ophiuchus’ didn’t exist in the current ’12 Zodiac’.

Wei looked at the director.

“So you’re saying you’ll call Lee Seo-jun ‘Ophiuchus’ and measure him as rank 13?”

“No, he wouldn’t accept that this time. Irregulars should be treated in a special way befitting an irregular. I’m thinking of not measuring his rank at all.”

The murmurs that filled the conference room were tinged with questions and curiosity.

Wei asked without delay.

“…What do you mean by that?”

“We’ll just mark it as unmeasurable and watch. Which constellation he’ll take and where he’ll sit. Who knows? He might devour all of you.”

As the director laughed nonchalantly, the 12 Zodiac, except for Anna, showed their displeasure in their expressions.

Wei stared at the director, emanating an ominous aura.

“I suppose you wouldn’t mind if it’s the other way around?”

“No, I wouldn’t mind. Of course, that’s if you can do it.”

“……”

“Judging by your expressions, it seems there are no objections to this. Then let’s give Lee Seo-jun the ‘Ophiuchus’ and conclude this meeting. Everyone, please return safely.”

The director ignored the gazes pouring down on him and quietly stood up from his seat.

The director walked away, his golden hair fluttering.

This meant that the meeting had come to an end.

===

**

===

– (Source) Anna Paisley: There will be an article later, but Seo-jun’s ranking measurement has been decided as ‘Ophiuchus’. What this means is…

Anna’s message contained an explanation about ‘Ophiuchus’.

It was basically saying that because my case was so unusual, they added a constellation that didn’t originally exist.

– (Source) Anna Paisley: Originally, there was talk of measuring it as a upper rank, but it seems the other 12 zodiac signs wouldn’t stand for it. Ah, of course, I stayed quiet. 😀 I’ll contact you if I have any more information to share.

A high rank wouldn’t have been bad, but this seemed better. Rather than an ambiguous position, this exceptional constellation could attract more attention from others.

“What’s this, what’s this? A girlfriend?”

Lee Seo-yeon jumped up and down beside me, trying to peek at the contents. I put my phone away and peeled off the clinging Lee Seo-yeon.

“It’s not like that, don’t worry about it.”

“Aw, what’s wrong with an older sister caring about her younger brother?”

“Worry about yourself before me. You’re already thirt─.”

I cut off my words abruptly. Not because of Lee Seo-yeon’s wavering eyes, but because I wasn’t in a position to say anything.

After all, I’m 6,691 years old.

“Well then, Twilight Guild members, let’s have a comfortable meal here. My father says he’d like to have our discussion after the meal.”

I’m currently at Buckingham Palace, invited by the King of England. For the future establishment of the Twilight Magic Nation, such diplomacy was important.

“Alright.”

“Then, enjoy your meal.”

As the King’s daughter bid farewell and left the room, only the Twilight Magic King personnel remained.

Among them was Shayen, whom I’d prefer to keep hidden from others as much as possible, but it couldn’t be helped since he had already shown himself to the King.

I had already made a request to the King’s daughter about Shayen.

“…Why are you looking at me like that, my lord?”

With Robert gone, this one was causing trouble now. Well, it stemmed from my own greed, so I had to understand.

I sighed and said,

“Well then, everyone take a seat.”

We each took a seat at the long table filled with food. I sat in the center and began cutting my steak.

As I put a piece of meat with a lustrous bloodiness into my mouth, they too picked up their utensils.

I chewed the tender meat while looking at them. The sight of everyone concentrating on cutting their steaks.

“Hyude, I still find this difficult. Help me.”

“You seem to have gotten more used to it than before, though.”

“That’s all. I still can’t get a clean cut with this small knife.”

“Let me show you. I’ll help.”

Hyude helped Quel, who was clumsily cutting his meat.

“Tsk tsk, Quel, you’re really just like a child. You still can’t cut by yourself.”

“S-Shayen sir! Use the knife on the table, not your dagger! You’re cutting through the plate too!”

“Shut up, Hyude. This is also a knife used for cutting meat. Don’t force your prescribed methods on me.”

Hyude scolded Shayen, who was using a dagger pulled from his waist to cut the steak.

Seeing this familiar scene after such a long time, I smiled faintly.

‘If only the others were here too.’

The empty seats beyond caught my eye. It felt strangely lonely, as if someone should be sitting there.

I realized anew how far we still had to go.

“Um… shall I help you?”

As the Solomon demons were struggling, Kim Eun-ha addressed them.

Hyude turned to Kim Eun-ha.

“Could you do that for us?”

“Yes, it’s not to brag, but I’ve been taught since I was young…”

“Then please do. Show Shayen the difference in class.”

“Hmm, daring to help me… Very well. I’ll accept that help.”

Shayen put away his dagger and picked up the dining knife.

Kim Eun-ha placed her plate where they could see it well. Faced with the sudden attention, Kim Eun-ha blushed slightly, cleared her throat, and began to explain.

“First, pierce a bite-sized piece with the fork like this.”

“Oh.”

“Hold the knife lightly like this.”

“Ooh!”

“Then place the knife on the meat and move it back and forth like this…”

“Oooh!!”

As Kim Eun-ha perfectly cut the steak, the Solomon demons praised her. Kim Eun-ha seemed a bit flustered by their enthusiasm over such a small thing.

Shayen spoke.

“Hmm, Commander Kim Eun-ha, that was helpful. I’ll try it now.”

“Excellent, Commander Kim Eun-ha!”

“How can there be such an elegant cross-section…”

“Ahaha… just Eun-ha is fine.”

…It seemed what they had built up wasn’t in vain after all.

“Um, please help me too! I haven’t really done much cutting before…!”

“I’ll help you, Ye-rin.”

“Ah! Thank you, unni!”

As Jeong Ye-rin raised her hand, Lee Seo-yeon approached her.

I watched their noisy scene and quietly cut my meat.

Knock knock─

The knock was heard just as the meal was completely finished.

– Twilight Guild members, have you finished your meal? If it’s alright, I’ll guide you to my father.

“We’ll come out now.”

I wiped my mouth with the white cloth on the table and stood up.

Hyude reflexively approached me.

“I’ll attend to you, Your Majesty.”

“Alright. I’ll go with Hyude, the rest of you stay here.”

I said this to them and went out the door.

As I walked through the luxurious interior filled with chandeliers and red carpets, the King’s daughter spoke to me.

“Mr. Lee Seo-jun, you seem somewhat familiar with this kind of scenery?”

“Well, I suppose so.”

A quiet but peaceful atmosphere. Indeed, these were enough to give the illusion of being in Solomon’s palace.

Formal footsteps walked over the gentle classical melodies.

“It’s here.”

We stood in front of an antique door.

Knock knock─

And it was the moment when the King’s daughter lightly knocked on that door.

“Come in───!!!”

Hyude’s thunderous shout echoed throughout the palace.

(To be continued in the next part)