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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Aftermath and the Doberman
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Marbas slowly began to sift through his memories.
‘As for this body….’
He was one of the most influential powers in the demon world, who had risen to the rank of the 72 demons after gaining fame for his tyrannical power and heinous cruelty….
The demon who symbolized dogs and wolves.
He was also known by the terrifying moniker “Guardian of Hell,” a demon among demons who reigned at the pinnacle of the demon world with his brethren.
‘Yes, that was certainly me.’
But now?
“Hmm, he’s definitely cute, but….”
The great demon Marbas, transformed into a small Welsh Corgi, stared up at the Immortal and his strategist, who were looking down on him.
“Something about him just feels subtly off.”
“Forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty, but wouldn't this be sufficient for a companion dog….”
“Hmm, he’s cute, but don’t you think he looks too weak?”
“However, might it not be best to prioritize Her Highness the Princess’s tastes?”
As he eavesdropped on their conversation, Marbas once again felt the flames of vengeance burn within him.
‘Insolent fools! How dare they stand over me, chattering away as if they’re judging me. I will never forget this day’s humiliation and will one day have my revenge….’
On top of that, their tastes were so damn picky. He had already transformed into at least a dozen different dog breeds.
Starting with a Pomeranian, then a Yorkshire Terrier, a Poodle, a Chihuahua, a Dachshund, a Maltese, and so on….
“Hey, next.”
At his words, a Welsh Corgi with stubby legs and a plump body…
No.
The great demon Marbas scowled and began to glare at Kang-jun.
For a moment, their gazes clashed in midair.
“Hey, you got a problem?”
Startled, Marbas feigned ignorance and asked back.
[ Huh? Who? Surely not me? ]
“Yeah, you.”
[ Pfft, as if I would dare. ]
“Next.”
A “Poof!” echoed, and acrid smoke momentarily enveloped Marbas….
When the smoke cleared, an adorable yet rather dignified Doberman puppy had appeared.
“Oh, this one’s the best I’ve seen so far.”
With that, Kang-jun crouched down in front of Marbas, who was in his Doberman puppy form, and began to gently stroke his head.
‘H-How dare he—!’
Was he really treating him, one of the 72 demons and a great power of the demon world, like a common dog?
But why?
He didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt the urge to wag his tail.
He couldn't be sure, but it seemed like he was actually starting to feel good whenever the Immortal’s hand touched him….
“What do you think?”
Kang-jun asked while petting Marbas. Crabslie murmured, “Oh,” before replying.
“I believe this is the perfect compromise between both of your tastes. Her Highness the Princess will likely be pleased as well.”
Kang-jun’s gaze then shifted to Kim Bong-gu.
“What do you think?”
Kim Bong-gu, who had been standing there hesitantly, answered at the top of his lungs.
“I-It looks really cool!”
Finally satisfied, Kang-jun nodded and gently lifted the Doberman puppy Marbas into his arms, adding softly.
“Alright, let’s get going.”
Just then, Kim Bong-gu’s lips parted as he spoke.
“Um, sir.”
“Me?”
“Yes, it’s just….”
“What?”
Kim Bong-gu’s gaze shifted to the corpse of the A-rank Hunter, sprawled on the altar.
“To handle this case smoothly, wouldn't it be better to recover the body before we leave?”
“Handle it?”
“This isn't just a simple fatal accident; it’s a major incident involving the Anti-Bureau Alliance, isn’t it? The Bureau will probably dig deep into this….”
Kang-jun nodded once at his words and replied.
“Hey, you were impressive back there.”
“Huh?”
“You saved my life.”
He then patted Kim Bong-gu’s shoulder and added.
“If I were the king of this country, I would’ve given you a position like captain of the guard. To step up and take down such a heinous and vicious arch-criminal in a single blow….”
It was obvious this incident had the potential to become a huge pain.
Being dragged here and there for trivial things like ‘interrogations’ or ‘testimonies’ was absolutely out of the question.
He especially wanted to avoid attracting any unnecessary attention or focus in the process.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
At those words, Kim Bong-gu glanced at Kang-jun for a moment.
Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he answered with a determined tone.
“No, I was only doing what had to be done.”
A grin spread across Kang-jun’s face as he replied.
“Heh, I like how sharp you are, kid.”
Then, muttering, “Let’s go,” once more, he started walking toward the exit.
Only Kim Bong-gu, who had been silently watching Kang-jun, was lost in deep thought.
‘Just what is his identity?’
He had taken down an A-rank Hunter from the Anti-Bureau Alliance without lifting a finger.
And though he couldn’t fully understand their conversation in a foreign, otherworldly language he’d never heard before….
‘The boss monster was definitely begging for its life.’
Judging by the situation, it certainly looked like it was groveling, pleading for its life.
‘Why would he disguise himself as a porter?’
Could he be a criminal on the run from the Bureau?
‘No, that’s not it.’
If he were, there would have been no reason to spare his life.
‘Then is he an agent from the Bureau?’
Could he be one of the ‘special agents’ the government was secretly training to counter the Anti-Bureau Alliance?
‘That’s not it either.’
If he were a special agent, there would be no reason to pass off the handling of this incident and wash his hands of it, right?
‘Then what is he?’
Although the situation was full of unknowns, if he had to pick one thing he was certain of….
‘At least S-rank.’
He clearly possessed an overwhelming level of power that might even be classified higher than that.
‘If that’s the case….’
Even if he couldn’t fathom the man’s true identity….
‘I have to become his disciple, no matter what.’
To become much stronger than he was now and obtain the ‘Elixir.’
And with that Elixir, to heal his mother and reclaim the peaceful days his family once had….
He felt like he had to hold on to this man.
Kim Bong-gu’s eyes began to gleam with a strange light.
After everyone had safely exited the Gate.
The aftermath of the ‘fatal accident’ that occurred inside the Gate was handled with swift efficiency.
First, the bald hunter, ‘Lee Byeong-cheol,’ who had yet to regain consciousness, was transported to a large nearby hospital.
The rest of the party submitted brief written statements detailing the sequence of events to the Bureau official standing guard in front of the Gate.
“My, what a bolt from the blue this is….”
The Bureau official remarked, scratching his head with his pen after carefully reviewing the statements.
He let out a heavy sigh and continued.
“Anyway, I just received the results of the background check on the body. It’s confirmed that he was a wanted murderer from the Anti-Bureau Alliance.”
He then neatly arranged the bundle of papers in his hand and continued speaking in a calm voice.
“I’m truly relieved that everyone made it back alive without any major injuries. You can all probably head home for today.”
“So, is it all over now?”
“Since this is a serious matter involving the Anti-Bureau Alliance, it’s likely to become quite a big deal.”
“What do you mean by that….”
“The Bureau’s special Gate investigation department will probably form a task force and conduct a large-scale investigation. You might be called in for additional testimony during that process.”
Just as the party leader, Kim Bong-gu, replied, “I see,” while slowly nodding his head.
“And once the investigation is nearing its end, this incident will probably be reported in the media, don’t you think?”
“R-Reported?”
“This isn’t the kind of incident that can be swept under the rug, is it? There’s also the risk of copycat crimes leading to more victims.”
Those words sent him deep into thought.
‘If Mr. Kang-jun hadn’t been there, we would have been the ones coming out of the Gate as cold corpses….’
If that had happened, their bodies wouldn’t have even been recovered.
They would have been mixed in naturally with the other corpses scattered around the chapel, left to slowly rot away.
And what kind of life would his only younger sister, left all alone, have had to live?
‘Damn it….’
The thought was so suffocating it felt like his chest was tightening, and a chill ran down his spine.
Just then, as if remembering something he had forgotten, the Bureau official muttered, “Ah, right,” and asked again.
“Mr. Kim Bong-gu, how on earth did you do it? Did you perhaps have a second awakening recently?”
“Excuse me…?”
“I’m talking about the Hunter from the Anti-Bureau Alliance. I checked the statements you submitted, and they all consistently say that ‘Mr. Kim Bong-gu subdued him personally’….”
Kim Bong-gu, who was naturally terrible at lying, found himself stammering for a moment.
“I-I think I just got lucky.”
The Bureau official repeated, “Lucky…?” once, then nodded a few times with an indifferent expression before continuing.
“Mr. Kim Bong-gu, sometimes excessive modesty can be a poison.”
“Ah, well….”
“That guy from before, his rank was one thing, but seeing as there was a bounty on him, he must have been no ordinary foe.”
Kim Bong-gu’s brow furrowed as he asked back.
“Th-There was a bounty on him?”
The Bureau official replied, “Yes,” and added with a slight grin.
“I suspect you’ll be hearing some good news around the time the investigation into this incident concludes.”
“What kind of…?”
“First, the Bureau will likely issue a reward. The bounty on that guy’s head alone was in the hundreds of millions.”
After finishing his words, the Bureau official added a few more remarks with another pleasant smile.
“You can also expect to be contacted by major guilds. Once this incident is reported, you’ll become a star overnight.”
“Me?”
“Kim Bong-gu, the C-rank rookie and national hero who took down an A-rank murderer from the Anti-Bureau Alliance in a single blow!”
He replied in a rather exaggerated tone, chuckling as he added.
“Can’t you just see the headlines already?”
Kim Bong-gu couldn’t help but let out a low “Haa—.”
From a reward in the hundreds of millions to news articles about him and offers from major guilds.
It all felt like a dream.
But, really?
Perhaps someone else would have been overjoyed, but Kim Bong-gu just felt anxious.
‘This is getting way too big….’
He was in a situation where he might receive massive public attention based on a lie.
For Kim Bong-gu, who couldn’t even tell a small lie properly, it was far from welcome.
He was of the belief that lies inevitably bred more lies, and a tower built precariously would one day collapse.
‘Still….’
Kim Bong-gu’s gaze shifted to Kang-jun and Crabslie, who were eating tteokbokki and fried food at a street stall not too far away.
‘He really saved my life….’
Whatever happened, the important thing was that he had survived.
‘Right, I’ll think about the future later.’
He repeated his vow to live the rest of his life never forgetting his gratitude to his benefactor, ‘staying by his side and repaying him as much as possible.’
‘By the way, what could they be talking about?’
Though he was too far to hear their conversation, judging by the atmosphere, they were surely engaged in a serious discussion.
“Hey, is it really that spicy?”
“I have lost all feeling in my tongue, Your Majesty.”
“Really? Don’t force yourself to eat it.”
“However….”
Crabslie trailed off, picked up a piece of rice cake with a toothpick, popped it into his mouth, and added while chewing.
“For some reason, I cannot seem to stop my hand.”
Then, with a face flushed bright red, he continued.
“I dare say, this food must have been created by a demon. Otherwise, there is no way I could be unable to stop my hand amidst such excruciating pain….”
At that, Kang-jun’s gaze turned to Marbas.
“Is that right?”
“No.”
At that, Crabslie started glaring at Marbas….
“Yelp!”
Letting out a pained cry, Marbas buried his face deep into Kang-jun’s chest.
Kang-jun handed a cup of water to Crabslie and said.
“Hey, you should try ‘Fire Chicken Stir-fried Noodles’ next time.”
“Oho, that must be another delicacy of Earth.”
“Yeah, it’s at least several dozen times spicier than tteokbokki.”
Kang-jun abruptly stopped himself, muttered, “No, that’s not it…,” and corrected himself.
“It’s several dozen times more delicious.”
At those words, Crabslie muttered, “Heavens,” and replied with a dead-serious face.
“I am already looking forward to it. To think that a food dozens of times more delicious than this demonic dish could exist….”
Kim Bong-gu, who was staring intently at the scene, nodded once and thought to himself.
‘Right, they must be having a very important conversation. Like, about the fate of the Earth or something….’
Just as Kim Bong-gu was lost in deep thought.
“Anyway, you must be tired, so you can head home for today.”
At the Bureau official’s words, Kim Bong-gu bowed his head deeply and replied.
“Yes, thank you.”
It seemed the long, long day was finally coming to an end.
