The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 27 - The Demon King of Greed (3)



The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 27: The Demon King of Greed (3)

 

The only reason I didn’t kill Eden in one shot was simple. It was to observe and learn the magic he manifested. I looked at my stunned teacher.

“What’s the matter? Is Inferno the only magic you know?”

My teacher seemed shocked by my overwhelming talent.

“Could it be, you were a mage all along? Certainly, what I saw on the live broadcast resembled ‘Fire Arrow’…”

Eden shook his head as if to deny this.

“But that’s impossible. One can’t normally possess both the talent of a Skill Hunter and a Magic Hunter.”

“Normally is the key word.”

I was not a being who fit into that ‘normal’ category.

Ignoring my response, Eden remained lost in his thoughts.

“No, even if you do have both talents, how can you handle Magic? My Magic control should have definitely activated.”

Well, unlike you guys, I manipulate ‘pure Magi’ differently.

But there was no need to explain this to him.

“Enough chit-chat. Is this all you have to show for a century of immortality? I expected more from that feeble brain of yours. Seems like one of your years is worth less than one of my minutes.”

I smirked at his twisted expression.

“Shut your mouth, you brat!”

You see, I’m more than six thousand years older than you.

The so-called brat focused his Magi into his staff. The short grasses on the ground instantly froze and turned into an ice sheet, and the surrounding air grew chilly.

 

Whoosh!

 

The next moment, countless ice spikes floated into the air, furiously rotating with a dark red aura wrapped around them.

I activated [Alter’s Understanding] as I observed.

 

[Hmm, this magic is impossible without a ‘special property.’

That ‘property’ is a unique talent he possesses, so it would be difficult to manifest the exact same magic.

However, even that ‘property’ can be claimed as my own if understood.

Gather floating H2O in the air, condense it into a hexahedron, and wrap it with Magi to make it rotate…]

 

Just as always, a foreign language intrusively filled my mind, yet I understood it without a hitch.

“Pierced through and die!”

At that moment, countless icicles were shot at me.

My hands unfolded magic to counter it. I forcibly solidified the dispersed H2O in the air and infused it with Magi to increase its hardness.

As a cold ice sheet formed beneath me,

 

Whoosh!

 

Icicles engulfed in black mist filled the air.

 

Thud thud thud!

 

The oncoming ice clashed head-on with Eden’s magic.

 

Clang, clang!

 

Like a miniature version of a war, the ice spikes collided fiercely.

Fragments of ice scattered everywhere, and massive amounts of Magi dissipated into the air.

Because I had ‘precisely’ adjusted my strength after observing Eden’s magic, neither of us sustained any damage.

“This… this is impossible…”

Eden looked as if he had suffered a fatal wound. It was no wonder, as I had just replicated the magic that took him years to perfect in an instant.

I urged my teacher to move on.

“Next.”

My passion as ‘temporary disciple’ was still burning with the desire to learn.

 

***

 

Eden Alexander.

Before the great changes, he had been a popular university professor. Perhaps that’s why, even after the shift to a world of magic, he easily understood the arcane arts, surpassing countless young people to reach the “Twelve Zodiacs”.

He continued to research the field of magic, building his own magical tower and earning the awe of the people. A life that seemed poised to reach even greater heights.

But then, an unexpected problem arose.

“Be careful, Dean Eden. You’re over 80 now, you need to take care of your health.”

One day, a worry expressed by one of his tower’s members struck him like a dagger to the heart.

The great changes happened when he was in his seventies, and by the time he realized, he was already eighty. Rage filled him more than fear.

“Ah, Dean?”

So, he killed him.

With a mere gesture, he could kill now. But after that, an overwhelming sense of futility hit him. How much longer could he go on living?

[The Demon King of Greed, Beelzebub, awaits you.]

Therefore, the Cult of Great Sin was like rain in a drought for him. They had claimed that even his aged body could be reversed. He had been looking forward to a radiant future.

“Die!”

“Next.”

What the hell is this? What is going on?

That damned kid was greedily absorbing all his magic.

“This is something you can’t mimic! A magic developed by the members of my tower!”

“Is this how it’s done?”

If he cast a lightning bolt, a lightning bolt was cast back.

“Ugh! How about this!”

“So, this is how it’s done.”

If he conjured a tornado, a tornado was conjured back.

“Don’t mock me!!!”

“I’m being serious.”

When he unleashed a fire spell, a demon fire spell came back at him.

All the knowledge he had accumulated over his lifetime, he channeled into magic. But the same magic returned to him.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

He was out of breath, maybe because he’d used up his Magic Power too quickly. He felt the sensation of blood on his face from the clash of spells. On the other hand, Lee Seo-jun seemed perfectly fine.

‘How…’

Even through his blurred vision, his presence was clear.

“Now I’m sure.”

His sarcastic gaze pierced through.

“Your 100 years are less than my 1 minute.”

“Don’t mock me… You have no right to evaluate my life…”

He muttered weakly. The priests and followers who had come with him could only awkwardly watch the situation.

“No, let me evaluate your life. It’s pathetic and repulsive.”

“Shut up… what do you know about me…”

Although he wanted to deny it, his head kept dropping.

‘Is this how it ends?’

Between clenched teeth, rage chewed at him.

There was no way he’d be devoured by this young punk. I will scorn your measly time.

He glared at him with burning eyes.

“Since it has come to this, let me take you along to the underworld! Even you can’t follow this, it’ll cost you your life!”

Roaring Magi burst forth, light exploding from his body. As this happened, his flesh tore, and blood sprayed in all directions.

The followers who witnessed it tried to stop him.

“Lea—, Leader, that is!”

“Shut up, you fools!”

Even so, he did not stop.

The blood that seeped from his skin rode the wind and touched the guy’s cheek. Death would soon arrive there.

This is ‘self-destruction’, even you can’t replicate it.

He performed the strange act of tasting the blood that had stained his high cheekbones, but it didn’t matter.

“Be engulfed by my brilliant explosion!”

You will now bow before my time.

Whether he was still struggling or not, he reached out to this place.

And then, as if to dominate space, he clenched his fist.

“Magic Control.”

 

Woosh…

 

In that instant, the immense Magi erupting from his body vanished.

‘…Magic Control?’

Impossible. That is my ability, there’s no way he could use it.

But no matter how much I tried to pull up my Magi, no matter how much I tried to manifest my spells, it felt like I was blocked by something.

“You make me laugh, even to the point of anger.”

He looked at the cold voice with a dull gaze.

“How dare you try to compare your measly time with mine.”

“W-What…?”

“Kid, you’re not even a speck of dust in the span of my time. I’ll make you realize that now.”

A killing intent quietly rose over Lee Seo-Jun’s retina.

He then ordered the woman standing next to him, still holding onto his energy.

“Kill him, Quel.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The woman took aim and fired a spell.

“This is a fragment of my time.”

The last thing that came through was Lee Seo-Jun’s mockery.

As the woman swiftly passed by, his vision soared into the void. Trees hung like icicles on a green ceiling, and in the middle of it all, Lee Seo-Jun looked down upon him with an inscrutable gaze.

And soon after, Eden’s head rolled to the ground in front of him.

So, this was it, the culmination of Eden’s 100 years.

Lee Seo-Jun’s wave utterly shipwrecked what Eden had built over a century.

 

***

 

After that, I destroyed those who followed Eden. No one resisted, paralyzed by the overwhelming difference.

‘I learned quite a bit from this guy.’

Honestly, even though I was eager, Eden’s magic was something to acknowledge. His magic had the most efficient composition.

On top of that, I filled the last blank of [Predation] with the ability [Magic Control].

The ability restricts the caster from moving more than 1 meter while activated, but even considering that, it was a magnificent skill.

I burned their corpses with black flames and turned around.

“Quel, let’s stop moving now.”

“Yes, I’ll follow your command.”

Our destination was still the central area shrouded in a black curtain.

I heard a male voice about a minute after walking.

“Ho, is this Lee Seo-Jun?”

When I looked in that direction, Jeong Dae-Jin from Moonlight Brew was supporting a middle-aged man. His identity was Ha Seong-woo, the dean of the Illusion Department.

I approached them and asked,

“Are you injured?”

“Ah, we did fight with some robed figures on the way, but the injuries shouldn’t have led to this. But as we were passing through the forest, suddenly…”

I examined the situation. Clearly, the problem seemed to lie elsewhere rather than his injuries.

“Let’s move to a place where you can rest for now.”

“Alright.”

We reached a giant tree at the end of our walk.

I looked at Ha Seong-woo, who was breathing shallowly, and used [Roberto’s Knowledge].

 

[The red spots that popped up on his arm, the heavy breathing, and the purplish face, it seems like he got scratched by ‘The Demon’s Claw’.

‘The Demon’s Claw’ is a plant from Adoniya Realm, usually fatal within 30 minutes if scratched by it.

In this case, he is suppressing the impending death with his energy, but he will likely succumb soon.

Let’s see, 16 minutes? 15 minutes? With that much time, ■■■ ■■■ might personally come out to greet you, ahahaha!

Still, there is a way to save him. The problem is whether we can find the necessary ingredients right away…

I’ll write down the ingredients and the method for you.

Behemoth’s Horn 21g…

… (skipping)…

Ah, and ‘The Demon’s Claw’ is a rare ingredient, so you should get it if you can. Ask where he got scratched before he dies.]

 

I was surprised. It felt like I just had a conversation with Roberto in front of me.

But why is this sentence broken? Is it an error?

Well, that’s not important right now.

“You’re lucky.”

I have all the ingredients needed for the antidote.

I only used half of the ‘Behemoth’s Horn’ to create the ‘Demon King’, and I usually store extra ingredients in [Demon King’s Gluttony].

Jeong Dae-jin asked me.

“Do you have a way to heal him…?”

“Yes. It should take me about 10 minutes, so if it looks like he’s going to stop breathing before that, try giving him CPR.”

“Ah, well…”

“I’d rather die…”

They get along well.

But I also didn’t want to see that.

“Alright, for both of our sakes, let me craft this as quickly as possible.”

I took out the ingredients on the spot and began crafting the antidote.

After cutting various ingredients, measuring them with a scale I had prepared, and mixing them with heat, it took me about 5 minutes.

“It’s done.”

The flask swirled with a purple liquid. A flawless success.

Good thing I practiced whenever I had the chance.

“Your Majesty, you’re truly amazing! Roberto’s position might be in jeopardy!”

“Hm, thank you.”

I nodded at Quel’s praise and approached the lying Ha Seong-woo.

Just as I was about to pour the antidote into his mouth,

“…?”

My hand stopped right in front of him.

A thread of light flickered before Ha Seong-woo’s eyes.

“Let me be clear, this isn’t for free. Teach me magic once all this is over.”

He probably wouldn’t refuse, but even if he did, I planned to give it to him anyway.

“All right… I’ll teach you anything, be it the visions of the Magic Tower or my secrets. Just please save me… I’ll even invite you to the ‘Magic Conference’ that will be held in the future.”

“Good.”

I smiled contentedly and administered the antidote.

 

***

 

Ha Seong-woo’s condition was gradually improving. The effect of the medicine was clear.

I looked back at Jeong Dae-jin.

“But you didn’t see anyone else?”

“No, we were separated and happened to meet each other.”

“I see.”

I wonder if Kim Jin-woo and Park Sang-cheol are dead. They can’t die.

At that moment, I sensed some energy.

‘…Hm?’

I turned my eyes in that direction.

A brilliant magical power was dissolving in the sky about 2km away. It was someone’s presence.

When I focused, I could also sense ‘Adoniya Magi’.

Because that Magi was frozen over the entire land, I hadn’t noticed any specific signs before, but someone’s signal allowed me to find them.

Quel seemed to have detected it too; her eyes sharpened.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

I, who had been sitting, slowly stood up.

Jeong Dae-jin looked puzzled by my sudden action.

“…What’s going on?”

“I’m going to deal with some pests. Stay here. Quel, make sure you guard them well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I left them and walked away.

 

***

 

“…The resistance was quite tenacious.”

One of the priests of Greed looked down at a corpse.

“Indeed, I heard he was an S-class Hunter from Korea, he was stronger than I thought.”

They were members of the Greed faction active in Japan, killing hunters to serve their god.

“Let’s head to the meeting place we agreed upon.”

“Yes, Leader.”

Leaving the corpse behind, they headed toward the rendezvous point. Not even a minute had passed before another group appeared in front of them.

“Isn’t that the Leader from Japan?”

Judging by their appearance, they were from the Greed faction active in Germany.

“Ah, the Brits are coming as well.”

As he said this, another group revealed themselves. Just as the German Leader had mentioned, they were from the UK.

The reason they were able to gather so quickly was due to the ‘Oracle’, which had informed them to some extent about the current situation.

The German Leader asked the British Leader.

“Have the Leaders from the U.S. and China arrived yet?”

“The disciples from China joined us en route, but we haven’t seen their Leader or the American Greed faction.”

“I see…”

The three Leaders gathered among their followers to discuss their next steps.

The Japanese Leader spoke.

“Anyway, isn’t our immediate problem something else?”

“That’s true. Killing this Lee Seo-jun is more important than killing dozens of these guys.”

“Do we know Lee Seo-jun’s location?”

“No news yet since I let my disciples loose as soon as we arrived here. What about Japan?”

“We’re in the same situation.”

“I see…”

The three Leaders fell silent.

The biggest variable in this fight was Lee Seo-jun.

They had heard that Lee Seo-jun had single-handedly taken down Korea’s sect and had even witnessed him killing a demon on live broadcast.

Just as they were contemplating how to find him, a tremendous energy surged from the sky.

And the next moment.

 

ZzzzZZZAP!

 

A bolt of black lightning tore through the sky.

“AAAAARGH!!”

It struck where the disciples were gathered.

It was just a single bolt, but the disciples hit directly turned into ashes, and black flames smoldered, leaving a lingering trace.

“What the hell is going on…?”

Not only the three Leaders but also the priests and disciples looked around.

Then, they couldn’t help but be startled by a figure appearing beyond the disciples struck down by lightning.

“Looking for me?”

It was Lee Seo-jun, and he had come here himself.

 

 

(To be continued in the next episode) 


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