The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 8: Rewards (2)

[Hunter Association, Announcing an S-rank Hunter in this month’s hunter test]

[An unprecedented event, who is the S-rank Hunter ‘Lee Seo-Jun’?]

[Result of connections? All team leaders who observed the test agree with the S-rank designation]

[Hunter Association Chairman Park Sang-Cheol, guarantees that all suspicions will be dispelled]

The next morning, the articles were filled with stories about me.

Another hero is born… We look forward to your future contributions ^^ [👍862, 👎125]

Oppa, you’re so cool [👍 652, 👎 210]

What are you talking about, people? An S-rank Hunter can’t be appointed just by connections. I think a monster has appeared. The Association wouldn’t have a reason to lie, haha [👍 570, 👎 360]

My photo was embedded in the articles, and underneath were comments praising me. A strange satisfaction surged within me after receiving rewards within two days.

“… My younger sibling is an S-rank Hunter?”

Lee Seo-Yeon still looked bewildered.

Considering I was just a civilian not long ago and had now returned as an S-rank Hunter, her confusion was natural.

The house was surrounded by journalists. Somehow, they had found our address.

After waiting for a bit, I walked over to the window, opened it, and looked down at the swarming journalists.

“Ah, it’s Lee Seo-Jun!”

“Mr. Lee Seo-Jun! Would you mind a short interview?”

“Mr. Lee Seo-Jun! Your abilities have not been revealed yet, what abilities do you possess?”

As I appeared, a clamor broke out.

Numerous arms holding what looked like microphones extended towards me. They all eagerly wanted to catch me.

“Everyone, listen.”

A voice emanating tranquility.

The noisy crowd went silent. Dozens of eyes were solely focused on my lips.

Suddenly, I remembered the demons in the netherworld who awaited my declaration.

I declared to them,

“Come in one by one. I grant you exclusive interviews.”

From that day on, I was dubbed ‘King’.

It was past noon when the journalists finally dispersed.

I had successfully buttoned my first button. Now that I had become an S-rank Hunter as planned, I was well on my way to reaching my goals.

The next step was the ‘guild’.

To create a guild, you need a ‘building’, and for that building, you need ‘capital’.

I had a good idea to easily increase my capital, so I headed outside.

Today marks the fifth year since we lost Hunter Hwang Ki-Beom in an S-rank Gate…

I stood in front of a building. The building was the ‘Alkebury’ Seoul branch.

‘Alkebury is a group of alchemists producing and distributing essential items for hunters such as potions.’

I came here for a simple reason.

This.

[Roberto’s Knowledge]

By gaining substantial trust from Minister Roberto, you can utilize his knowledge about minerals, herbs, and so on.

Roberto, my minister during my Demon King days.

Not only did he possess exceptional military power, but as described, he was a paragon of vast knowledge.

The point was that I could use Roberto’s knowledge.

I didn’t yet know how to utilize it, but I would find out soon enough.

“…..”

I looked through the glass window at the potions displayed on the first floor. They were all representative products of Alkebury.

I activated [Roberto’s Knowledge] while looking at the ‘Best 1’ product.

Blue sparks burst from my eyes.

I quickly shut my eyes due to the burning pain and when I opened them again, something was floating in the air.

A piece of parchment unfolding like a manuscript, signaling that my ability had been activated.

However, it was a parchment filled only with blank space.

Just as my excitement was about to turn into disappointment, countless letters began to etch themselves onto the parchment at high speed.

[…What is this garbage potion?

Well, it would heal even wounds so bad that you can see the bone, but questions keep piling up.

Why was the proportion like that? Why didn’t they leave out useless ingredients and include useful ones?

I simply cannot understand such foolishness.

If you wanted to make a proper potion, you should have included 37g of fire lizard’s tail and 21g of yellow mushroom’s cap.

The tail of the fire lizard contains poison, but mixing it properly with a yellow mushroom neutralizes it and creates an effective medicine.

Then, even a severed bone would heal quickly.

Moreover, if you add 3g less of goblin’s eye and 7g more of orc’s lower molar, even severed body parts would reattach.

Ah! How could they be so stupid?

If they deliberately made it that bad, I wish they would just disappear. How can they call themselves an alchemist?

Ah! I’d love to open up the creator’s head and deeply study that mushy brain.]

The dense text that filled the parchment flew into my brain and lodged itself in my hippocampus.

Just like gathering branches and logs to make a raft, knowledge rose above the surface of my thoughts and became entirely mine.

Just a blink of an eye.

With that, I learned the recipe for the potion.

No, rather, I recognized a much more advanced recipe.

If that was a shabby raft, then this knowledge, empowered by my understanding, was a luxurious cruise.

Of course, this is still just knowledge.

To make a seaworthy ship, materials are needed, and to navigate the boundless ocean of omniscience, a ‘navigator’ is required.

I could make it myself, but I can’t waste my time on that alone.

I have to complete my mission as the captain steering towards a destination.

My goal is to break the demon’s perception entrenched in human minds and become the king, not to become the world’s greatest alchemist.

So then,

The answer is only one.

Recruit a talented alchemist. Just give them the recipe and the ingredients, and they’ll make the potion themselves.

The problem is, where to find such a talented alchemist…

“Hmm.”

I leisurely sat down on a wooden bench in front of the building.

A mediocre alchemist won’t do. Otherwise, no matter how good the recipe is, the end result won’t be satisfactory.

Even if you make a good ship with good materials, if the navigator is incompetent, the ship will capsize.

I decided to think about that later.

Just then,

“Excuse me, please…!”

“Ah, stop it and get out.”

I turned my head at the voices coming from the side.

A man who looked like a bodyguard or secretary was kicking a woman out of the Alkebury Building.

The woman pleaded with a desperate expression.

“If we just add a few more ingredients to this potion, it’ll become much more superior…!”

“Ah, then make it yourself. Even if you’re not a hunter, you can use the ‘Loot Trading Site’. You’re an alchemist, you should be able to use it.”

“But, but, the ingredients are expensive…”

“Then get a loan or something.”

“I still won’t have enough even with a loan… Please, let me speak to the branch manager…!”

The woman let out a heartbreaking cry, but the man ignored her.

“Damn it, do you think the branch manager will meet just anyone? And he already told you to share your boasted recipe.”

“What if they just steal my recipe and leave me with nothing! They’ve done it to other alchemists too! You think I don’t know?”

“Ah, if you’re that concerned, then don’t come. If you show up one more time, I’m calling the police.”

The man shoved the woman and closed the door firmly.

The woman looked at the closed glass door with a stunned expression.

“Ah…”

Then she dropped her head and slowly sat down on the bench.

I took a closer look at the woman. Short purple hair framed her soft face, and her clear eyes were damp. The moisture from her eyes reached her brown leather gloves and trickled down. I used [Lezie’s Insight] on her.

Name: Jeong Ye-rin

Abilities: [Emotion], [Hand of Midas – Unawakened]

Likes: [Calm], [Bed], [Coffee], [Alchemist]

Dislikes: [Contact], [Noise]

Current thoughts: Got kicked out again… If I mix fire lizard tails and yellow mushroom bodies into that potion, the effects would be much better… Why are there no allies by my side? Even if I get a loan, I can’t afford all the ingredients, and living expenses are tight…

I sighed deeply as I examined Jeong Ye-rin in more detail.

[Hand of Midas – Unawakened]

Grants success wherever the fingertips touch. Adds special effects to items one has made or anything that comes in contact with one’s hands. (Note: The effects are most dramatically increased when used on items one has made.)

Awakening condition: Making a potion with the help of another person.

Found her. A talented alchemist.

There are two reasons I say she’s talented.

First, she knows what to add to the potion to maximize its effect. While I used [Roberto’s Knowledge] to find out, she figured it out herself.

And second, the unawakened ability of [Hand of Midas] is incredibly tempting. If that ability were to awaken, her talents would flourish.

So, what I have to do is simple.

Help her realize that potential.

“….”

I got up from my seat and approached Jeong Ye-rin.

Even though each of us has our own motives, this benefits both her and me.

After all, this is a symbiotic relationship. I need her, and she needs me.

I sat next to the slouched Jeong Ye-rin. We both sat at opposite ends of the bench, leaving plenty of space between us.

This is the current status of our relationship—a space with no common ground.

I decided to fill that gap.

“Fire lizard tail 37g, yellow mushroom body 21g.”

I spoke, looking her in the eyes.

“Mix those two appropriately, and the poison in the fire lizard tail will be purified, making it a good medicinal ingredient.”

“…Huh?”

Startled, Jeong Ye-rin stared at me with wide eyes.

Ignoring her reaction, I continued.

“And adding that to the potion will significantly increase its effect. Additionally, if you remove 3g of goblin eye and—”

“Add 7g of orc’s lower tooth, it’ll be even more perfect, right?”

“…Yes.”

Only then did I look back at Jeong Ye-rin and agree.

Her eyes shone like a lake under sunlight.

“Were you also kicked out of that Alkebury place?”

“Let’s just say that for now.”

“Indeed, the world is vast. I thought I was the only one who knew that.”

Jeong Ye-rin put her hand on her chin and nodded in agreement.

I asked her another question.

“Are you an alchemist?”

“Yes, although I’m still unknown…”

She answered cautiously with a shy smile.

“And you are…?”

“I’m Lee Seo-jun.”

“Ah, I’m Jeong Ye-rin. So, are you an alchemist too, Seo-jun?”

“Not yet.”

“So, you’re an aspiring alchemist then? You looked like a renowned one… Amazing! To have such extensive knowledge as an aspiring alchemist…”

Roberto may be an unfortunate guy, but he’s knowledgeable. He may look stupid, but that’s because he’s so well-informed.

I let out a shallow breath and leaned back against the backrest.

“It looks like you’re having a hard time.”

“Ah, did you see me get kicked out just now?”

As I nodded, Jeong Ye-rin scratched her cheek.

“Ha, it’s embarrassing. But it’s true. Most of the ingredients for ordinary potions are grade A, so I can’t afford them. I could make wonderful potions if only I had the ingredients… Why do the ingredients have to be so expensive? It’s really upsetting…”

Jeong Ye-rin bit her lip and held back tears.

It looked like she was about to cry at any moment.

“Is it wrong to have dreams when you’re poor? I’ve studied really hard…”

She covered her eyes with her arm and sobbed.

“I’m sorry… I have no one to talk to about this…”

I stayed quietly by her side, the sorrowful sobs carried by the wind.

“So, if you have the ingredients, you can make excellent potions.”

“…Yes?”

I stood up, bracing myself with my hands on my knees.

Jeong Ye-rin looked up with somewhat reddened eyes.

“A life where no one has expectations for you is really lonely.”

I had been through the same process.

I had judged my own talents through the framework of mistrust, locking myself in a room of powerlessness.

The result was just simple loneliness.

“No one would have looked at you. But don’t worry now.”

I just looked at Jeong Ye-rin.

My gaze softly landed on her.

“I’ll have expectations for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll become your investor. In return, you will produce potions for me.”

This is a symbiotic relationship.

“Make potions for Mr. Seo-Jun?”

“Ah, I should introduce myself properly first.”

I stood firmly in front of Jeong Ye-rin.

A massive shadow enveloped her.

“I am Solomon of the demonic… No, that’s not it. I am S-Class Hunter Lee Seo-Jun.”

“S, S-Class Hunter? I’m really sorry, but I’ve never seen an S-Class Hunter like Mr. Seo-Jun before…”

Her gaze was tinged with doubt.

But it would soon turn into certainty.

“You’re behind on the news.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Look at that.”

At the snap of my fingers, there was a billboard displaying my face and news about the seventh S-Class Hunter.

“…?”

Jeong Ye-rin’s eyes widened as she looked at the billboard.

She seemed to be unable to believe it, shifting her gaze between me and the billboard.

Finally, her eyes were fixed on me.

“Ah…!!”

A talent that had lost its place.

“Jeong Ye-rin, become my alchemist.”

I extended my hand to her.

“A, a miracle?”

“Yes. Some people call it that.”

Now, I chuckled as I looked at the astonished Jeong Ye-rin.

“Grab it. Miracles don’t come twice.”

The sun pierced through the buildings, its rays falling between the clouds, casting my silhouette in a deeper shadow.

Yet, within the palm of my hand was a light contrasting the darkness.

A trembling, radiant light.

Upon seeing it, Jeong Ye-rin swallowed hard.

And then, as if making a decision,

“…I’m looking forward to working with you.”

She grabbed the light.

***

Afterwards, I exchanged numbers with Jeong Ye-rin and we parted ways. Starting tomorrow, I’ll supply her with the necessary ingredients.

Doing that would make more money than just selling loot. We decided to figure out the profit sharing later.

Now, there are more important things to do.

“…….”

I’m standing on the rooftop of a building.

A quiet rooftop, lit only by the tranquil moonlight.

The time is 11:59 PM.

In a moment, it will be midnight, and the day will change.

Without touching anything, a blue window appeared in the air.

[Solomon Demon Summon List] Current Worldview Causality Points: 70 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

4th Legion Commander ‘Quel’: 100 W.C

…

Chief Secretary ‘Hyude’: 50 W.C

Now, it’s time to summon the Solomon demons.

(To be continued in the next episode)