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Before the train carrying Team 2 departed, Jeong Gyeoul called Heukrang aside.

“You guys are the biggest merchants in the Demon Realm, right?”

“Looks like Heukgu told you. Yes, we are the economic offenders who control half of the Demon Realm’s economy.”

“…Economic offenders? Who taught you that term?”

“I heard it from some human slaves. It sounded like a fitting term for us.”

Heukrang shrugged with a proud expression.

I’m a demon of the Demon Realm, yet I’m praised by humans as a great merchant! That’s the vibe I’m getting…

“That’s what you call criminals.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s a term for those who violate economic ethics, disrupt economic order, and hinder economic development.”

“…Huh?”

Even after explaining, it didn’t seem like he understood.

Maybe he just doesn’t want to understand.

I needed to explain it more simply and directly.

“So… I’m just saying you’re scammers.”

“Th-These humans!”

Finally understanding the meaning of “economic offenders,” Heukrang’s face turned red, and his body trembled.

“Anyway, when we return to Earth, make sure to save my share. And I’m taking the human slaves you’ve been keeping with me.”

“O-Of course. I’ll prepare 10% of the shares and the slaves for you.”

His red face quickly returned to its original black color, and he looked like he finally realized what was coming.

“…?”

“…?”

“This isn’t going to work, Heukrang. Do I look like a pushover to you?”

“W-What do you mean…?”

Heukrang looked genuinely confused.

If it’s acting, he deserves an award at Cannes or Venice.

If it’s real, then he’s not the Demon Realm’s top merchant but the Demon Realm’s top fool.

‘Is this guy acting right now?’

Thinking about it, it’s been over 40 years.

There’s a chance he might have forgotten, so before resorting to violence, I decided to kindly explain again.

“Do you think I lose my memory just because I often lose my way? You clearly promised me half of the shares.”

“Th-That was about the treasures from the ruins. Taking half of what we’ve multiplied dozens of times is just too much…”

As expected, Heukrang remembered the verbal agreement perfectly.

“If you trample on my sincerity like this, I’ll turn into a thug.”

Jeong Gyeoul hardened her expression, quoting a line from a gangster movie.

“B-But still! Half is too much!”

“Are you trying to make me experience being a robber? Should I negotiate with Heukgu’s ransom? Or maybe your life?”

Her cold glare made Heukrang shrink instinctively.

No matter how much he thought about the half of their wealth, he couldn’t hold his ground.

“…I’ll give it to you! I’ll give it! Just take it!”

The opponent was a transcendent powerhouse that even the Demon Kings of the Demon Realm couldn’t mess with.

No matter how much Heukrang tried to bluff, he couldn’t stand against Jeong Gyeoul.

Moreover, Jeong Gyeoul had the moral high ground.

After everything was settled, they agreed to hand over half of the artifacts and wealth once everything was done.

“Don’t get any funny ideas.”

“…Calling us economic offenders, but you’re the real criminal here…”

“What was that?”

“N-Nothing! I said I’d gladly give you half of my wealth to clear my economic worries.”

“Oh, and make sure we have enough money for expenses. You’re covering all the costs until we return to the Demon Realm.”

“……”

Before the journey to Asmodeus’s territory, Jeong Gyeoul secured (extorted) the funds.

For the still-recovering Team 2, she bought carriages with Heukrang’s money.

In the midst of war, hiring coachmen was tough, and the cost was over five times the usual rate.

Heukrang was throwing Demon Realm currency at the coachmen with a pained expression, but Jeong Gyeoul didn’t care.

They set off for Asmodeus’s territory, avoiding the desolate desert where Satan’s army was advancing.

Though it was a detour, it seemed faster than constantly battling Satan’s army along the way.

“Couldn’t you just have one of the healthier humans do it? You’re spending money like it’s not yours…”

“That guy talks too much. If the money’s so precious, deduct it from the half you promised me. After saving, feeding, and keeping that charmed guy alive, you should be serving me with all your heart, but you’re just trying to save your own skin.”

After all, Jeong Gyeoul couldn’t take half of Heukgu and Heukrang’s wealth back to Earth.

Even if there were checks in the Demon Realm, they wouldn’t be usable on Earth.

It’s all gold, jewels, and artifacts. Unless there’s an artifact like a pocket dimension, which I’ve never seen in either realm.

In the end, there’s a limit to how much can be carried due to volume.

If shared with Team 2 and myself, it would still be dozens of times more than what I took last time, so I was satisfied with that. But Heukrang’s attitude kept grating on me.

“If you keep this up, I’ll drop you in front of Satan. If I offer to deal with Heukgu in exchange for you, he’d probably give me the Dimensional Stone and even draw a magic circle as a bonus.”

“…S-Sorry.”

“I’ve got a lot on my mind, so let’s keep it quiet, okay?”

“Yep!”

With Heukrang’s loud response, the carriage fell silent.

Jeong Gyeoul was thinking about the past.

‘I’m sure there was something I was supposed to get from Asmodeus… Hmm… Or was there?’

During a past trip to the Demon Realm, Jeong Gyeoul had won a bet against Asmodeus.

She was recalling that memory.

-If I win, I’ll take your body. And your heart.

-That’s two things.

-Then you get two things too.

-I only want one thing, but I’ll think about it. Can I tell you later?

-Sure.

Finally, the terms of the bet came back to her.

There was still one wish left from that time.

As the memory resurfaced, her eyes widened.

“I have a wish left!”

“…A wish?”

“When I fought Asmodeus, the winner could ask for two things. I won.”

“…So the rumor about Asmodeus losing to a human was true? And it was the Captain?”

“How would I know about Demon Realm rumors? Anyway, one was the Dimensional Stone, and I kept the other. I can use that.”

“…The more I learn, the more amazing you seem.”

Heukrang looked at Jeong Gyeoul with a tired expression.

“Having someone like this as your Captain must be great, right?”

“Having someone like this trying to take half of our wealth makes it impossible to keep it…”

“Anyone listening would think I’m threatening you to take it, but it’s mine. Calling yourself economic offenders, talking about my wealth like it’s yours.”

“….”

He couldn’t win with strength, nor with words.

Jeong Gyeoul excitedly scolded Heukrang, and Heukrang fell silent again.

***

They stopped at every visible village, rested at inns, and set off again.

They even camped occasionally.

As a snack, they hunted Demon Realm monsters and formed a Demon Realm version of a gourmet club.

Thanks to that, the mentally exhausted Team 2 recovered somewhat.

If they were in a similar situation again, the memory might trigger PTSD, but for now, they seemed fine.

‘I’m not a psychiatrist… I’ll just do this much and tell them to see a psychiatrist when we get back to Earth.’

Pretending not to care, she was actually exhausted from looking after Team 2.

It would’ve been easier to use physical strength than to heal their minds with words.

It was far from my expertise.

Anyway, they safely arrived at the city where Asmodeus’s Demon King’s Castle was located.

With dozens of carriages moving at once, they were stopped by guards at the border and the city entrance, but with enough money, they passed through safely.

“Everyone, rest at the inn. I’ll go meet the big boss here.”

“…Wouldn’t it be better if I came with you?”

“Hmm, I can’t take someone who’d melt at a single gesture…”

At first, it seemed like a joke, but seeing my serious expression, Hero Jung Daesik’s face stiffened.

“I-I’ll stay here and protect Team 2.”

“That’s probably for the best. I’ll leave Heukrang with you too. Satan’s army is still in the desolate desert… This is the capital, so nothing major should happen.”

“Yes, please be careful.”

Leaving Team 2 at the inn, I headed to the Demon King’s Castle.

It was bigger and more magnificent than Satan’s castle.

“This snake really lived in luxury.”

Weaker in power, influence, and brains than Satan, but his castle is huge.

With a bitter laugh, I approached the castle, and two sword-wielding demons stopped me.

“Halt! This is no place for the likes of you.”

Do these demon bastards read from the same script? Their lines are all the same.

If you speak nicely, you’ll be spoken to nicely, but they don’t seem to think about that.

They’ll only learn after getting beaten.

If I were here for fun, you’d be in big trouble. Consider yourselves lucky.

But since I’m here to make a request, I decided to act as politely and humbly as possible.

“I’m here to talk to the snake, so open the gate.”

“…!”

One of the guards with a stiff expression glanced toward the guard post.

Simultaneously, an alarm sounded.

See… Being nice doesn’t help at all.

Demons repay kindness with hostility.

 

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