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Chapter 197

“How naive of a child to not know their place.”

That’s why it’s best not to offer gentle suggestions to those who are clueless. It’s always the same. When we extend a polite proposal to save face, they act as if they’ve become something great because of it.

“Tsk tsk…”

The old man, Edward, clicked his tongue in the spacious office he occupied alone. In contrast, his secretary, Aaron Chester, was a young person with an unexpected level of responsibility, not typical for his age.

The failure of persuasion was purely due to the arrogance of a rookie; it was not his fault, yet he stepped forward to take responsibility.

Edward couldn’t help but pat himself on the back, thinking his judgment hadn’t dulled. No matter how much he considered it, it was like finding a hidden gem in the filthy back alley.

Unlike the self-satisfied hunters around him, who flaunted their pride, Aaron worked diligently even for a small pay without letting arrogance get in the way.

‘That rookie from the back alleys is truly repaying the favor of being nurtured.’

That was Edward’s first impression of Aaron Chester. He had discovered a gem lying amidst all the worthless debris.

To the old man, the sight of a sparkling gem among trash was truly an affront.

Immediately, the old man began “educating” the young man. Aaron, with a sharp mind, absorbed the lessons like a sponge. Occasionally, he would display behavior that seemed out of place, but Edward attributed it to his nature.

Someday, that child would understand. That everything he taught was ultimately for his own benefit. Edward had no doubt he would grow into an excellent awakener.

“Now, what kind of price shall I make that rookie pay…?”

A chilling, unpleasant chuckle filled the office.

*

“Ouch, my ear itches.”

Yeon-woo, startled, rubbed her ear with her pinky finger. What’s up? Did someone talk about me? Did someone witness Bai In-hwa confessing to me?

But it probably wasn’t that. If it were, it wouldn’t stop at just an ear itch.

After that, she chased after Bai In-hwa in a bid to strike up a conversation, but Bai In-hwa seemed uninterested in listening and promptly left the scene.

Absurd. Without even a moment to decline, how could she proudly say to Nea, “I was confessed to by Bai In-hwa but turned them down!”?

Regardless of that story, this feeling could be summed up in one way.

‘Someone’s plotting something sinister against me.’

It was a thought that came out unfiltered, yet in truth, Yeon-woo felt it was about time.

It had been seven months of nothing happening. While there were those who thought of dragons as necessary beings for humanity and should be left alone, not all hunters acted with humanity’s future in mind.

If they did, traitors siding with the Demon King wouldn’t even exist. Living peacefully never meant that one was surpassing the notion of being a hero protecting the world.

But she was not overly concerned. Shar was unlikely to pose harm unless using special means, and in Nea’s case, she was accompanied by the solid bodyguard, Riley.

‘Maybe the one who should be worried is me.’

The weak Choi Yeon-woo was merely a student with a slight backing…

While it sounded like a joke, it wasn’t entirely mistaken. Viewed from afar, Yeon-woo was just a lucky and talented student. The connection between Riley and the Magic Tower’s library wasn’t publicly known, after all.

‘I must look like delicious prey to them~’

There were countless ways to pressure a mere academy student. A guild of considerable size could put pressure on local businesses, or initiate ostracism through internal connections within the academy, which wasn’t uncommon.

However, the moment someone attempted such petty tactics against Yeon-woo, problems would arise.

No matter how much pressure they applied to the business scene, the Magic Tower connected to Riley would solve it. As for ostracism… honestly, at this point, it wouldn’t really matter if it happened. But to attempt that quietly without attracting the department head’s attention required extreme caution.

Well, if you can’t bring someone greater than a sword master, just give up already~

As she let her middle finger fly in all directions, Yeon-woo chuckled to herself. Hey! Do you think the reincarnator is easy prey!! If you’re going to scheme, bring something better!

…

“Good day.”

The following day, as she went out in response to news of a visitor, Yeon-woo smacked her forehead upon seeing a smiling old gentleman in a white suit, holding out a letter at the academy’s main gate.

“I didn’t know this.”

So there’s a method of sending invitations rather than setting traps?

*

The Demon King basically means a being that harms humans and drives the world to ruin. That Alkeion threatening them is one such “King of Ashes,” and the “Heavenly Demon” that entirely took over the martial arts dimension is another.

The “Seven Demon Kings” are the same. Each one has massacred countless hunters: the “Sad Monday,” which buried many hunters; the “Furious Tuesday,” which turned a frontline city into ash; and the “Flowing Wednesday,” where an entire region disappeared into the sea…

One after another, they embodied enmity and massacre against humanity. However, there was one singular Demon King that was thought to possibly coexist with humanity.

That was Leviathan, the leader of the organization “Golden Desire.”

Why was she considered capable of coexisting with humans, you ask? Because she displayed a friendly attitude towards them.

Like the golden goblin tribe, Earth decided to accept anything that would help humanity.

Absurd as it is, even a Demon King aiming to annihilate humanity was no exception. Leviathan showed goodwill, and humanity accepted it, albeit with skepticism. The “Suppressed Friday” was an accident born from that process.

She proposed to offer countless items almost for free, or at extremely low prices, as evidence of her goodwill to humanity. But there was a condition. It was still a sale, not a gift.

She indicated that sales would take place in her shop for promotional purposes. Naturally, countless people flocked to her store.

The problem was that too many people gathered. The weakened ground from large-scale construction collapsed, burying numerous individuals alive. Objectively speaking, Leviathan exhausted every means she could employ at her disposal.

However, she did not directly use her powers as a Demon King. Everyone understood there could be greater accidents if she did.

Many people were rescued, but just as many lost their lives. The action intended to foster goodwill ultimately confirmed her identity as a Demon King.

As a result of that incident, Golden Desire completely shifted its sales method. To be more specific, everything switched to internet sales. While there were still physical stores, they were places reserved only for VIPs.

‘And this is the invitation to that store.’

What Yeon-woo knew about the main store of Golden Desire was that an invitation would be issued, and that it functioned as a scroll to create a teleportation gate.

Beyond that, there was nothing else she was aware of. Not that it ever concerned her, anyway.

“Leviathan hasn’t personally invited anyone in years. You can’t imagine how surprised I was to receive the order to deliver this invitation to Hunter Choi Yeon-woo.”

As the old gentleman chuckled while saying that, Yeon-woo couldn’t help but feel he looked like a butler with his appearance.

With his meticulously groomed mustache, neatly combed white hair, and perfectly tailored suit.

His appearance might have stepped out of a comic, but beyond that, Yeon-woo sensed an intense presence.

Logically, this made sense. The creature she had previously killed, the Curnoon of Corruption, had weakened after being taken down by Noel and, in essence, had turned into a mere shadow. It was said that one must be at least an Aura Master to combat such monsters.

Noel had managed to defeat Curnoon precisely because of their favorable compatibility. The minions of a Demon King were monsters of equal caliber, one and all.

And that held true for the man before her as well. This meant that a being at the level of Yuri or Kim Hyun-soo could probably match up against a mere errand boy standing before her.

‘Considering I’m a hero, I should have decent compatibility, right?’

With that doubt in mind, she watched as the old gentleman stroked his mustache. If one must grow old, she thought, one would wish to age like him; it was unexpectedly captivating.

“The ambition reflected in your gaze is quite admirable. It’s an overflowing desire, indeed. The wish to grow stronger is a sentiment… Excuse me. A feeling beloved by my master.”

“Ah, yes…”

Honestly, she had no way to respond to that. It was just how great it was… But then again, it seemed like Leviathan didn’t particularly like being called a Demon King. The fact that he went so far as to correct himself to “my master” was telling.

“I’ve said all I needed to say. My master wishes you to visit at your convenience, so please do use it when you desire.”

“Got it. When I go… what do I get? Honestly, I don’t have nearly enough money to buy anything there.”

“I’ve been told you will receive one gift of your choosing, excluding anything illegal.”

“Oh really.”

That was definitely intriguing. The weapon she had requested through Yuri was probably fine, but if she had any hope, it would be armor or an artifact.

Even though the Harmony Academy uniform had impressive defensive capabilities, it was merely average compared to the proper gear used by hunters.

Tae-oh typically only came out during battles, and Shar seemed satisfied with the dragon scales and equipment she had tailored previously. Nea didn’t seem likely to get into many fights either, so it would probably be wise to prioritize her own gear.

“A hunter’s fight is also a fight of weapons. Might I expect good judgment from you, Hunter Choi Yeon-woo?”

Well, that was quite the devilish whisper. Yeon-woo took a quick glance at her watch. Hmm, well. It could be worth checking it out. As she contemplated that, the old gentleman, still smiling, laid it on thick.

“If you decide to go now, I, Jiz, will take full responsibility for your trip, separate from the invitation. Of course, you will only be able to receive one gift. But that authority isn’t with me.”

“…Sure thing! I’m in!!”

I’m not sure how much benefit could come from just this invitation, but it certainly wouldn’t be small. Thinking that, Yeon-woo accepted the proposal.

“Uh, before I go, is it okay if I make a call?”

“Of course. I’ll wait here, while you get your wife’s permission.”

Hey, she’s not my wife~ but even as Yeon-woo thought that, the grin on her face refused to fade.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

 

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