Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: The Reluctant Emperor's Paperwork
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In the end, after losing to Ayoung, I changed clothes and headed down to climb aboard the trailer.
Since they'd said they'd handle everything else themselves, I figured I could just lounge inside while watching the others work outside.
For reference, Ayoung and So-mi noona had gone off separately to prepare something extra, saying they'd join us later, so for now, it was just me.
"Hmm~ They're all so busy."
Right now, the knights, the Heavenly Sword Army's elite soldiers, and the drones were bustling about like they were prepping for battle, which made me start doubting if we were really just going on a trip.
"Hey, we... are going on a trip, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Officially, it's to clean up after the Goblin Dungeon, but we'll take a break once we get there. That said, since we have some time, could you please handle these documents?"
"Ughhh."
I'd been sitting quietly inside the trailer, but before I knew it, Yucheong had shown up out of nowhere and shoved a thick stack of papers at me.
We're going on a trip, aren't we? On a trip!
I shot him a glare of protest, but Yucheong responded with a sparkling smile straight out of a shoujo manga.
"It's just a good opportunity to get them done on the way, Your Majesty. Time is money—better to knock it out early. Plus, it looks good, doesn't it?"
"Haaaaah~ I knew it would be like this. Should've stayed put. Can't you just handle it yourself, oh brilliant one?"
"Please speak sense, Your Majesty. No matter how capable I am, it's you who's on the throne."
"...So you're admitting you're more capable. But aren't you adapting a bit too quickly? This looks like it was done on a computer. Figures—a guy like you flies high wherever you go. Haah~"
I only noticed because of the overly formal, archaic tone—like something out of an imperial decree—but otherwise, the documents were so perfectly prepared I might've thought someone else had done them.
The items to review were about selling off the spoils of war—there were tons of them, including some real jackpots, and it was chaos.
"S-grade mana stones, A-grade mana stones... we're swimming in them. Huh? What's this about?"
"Which one?"
"My account's frozen again? It says... 'The national emergency has ended, so the temporary measures are lifted. If you'd like to reopen your account, please resolve all related legal disputes and report to the bank...' Are they screwing with me right now?"
"If Your Majesty feels that way, it's an insult. Then we must find a way to repay it immediately. Just give the order, and I'll draw up plans to deal with the Korean government and the other guilds at once..."
"Don't. Forget it! I'll handle it myself."
Argh, I seriously can't say anything around this guy.
Does Yucheong really see me as some emperor and serve with total sincerity? He'd take any offhand comment of mine dead seriously, which was the problem.
Please, just take jokes as jokes! Anyway, I stared at the documents, pondering what to do.
'This is so annoying. Not a peep about those Shin Gangnam bigshots getting indicted or their crimes exposed. Why are they only screwing with me? Do I look like a pushover? Nah.'
Honestly, I hadn't expected much regarding the bizarre, high-class hobbies and crimes of Shin Gangnam's elite, but their vendetta against me alone made zero sense.
In this hellish Joseon mindset, the strong always bend the knee... So does that mean they still see me as a pushover? Kinda pissing me off.
"Oh? Working already, eh? That Ayoung girl's a miracle worker. While you're at it, could you handle these too?"
With Yucheong came another unwelcome ghost, crumpling my face even more.
Baek Gayeon had entered carrying another stack of documents, and with nowhere to run, I quickly gave up and took them.
"I'm only doing this on the way there. And right off the bat, I got handed something infuriating. Take a look."
"Where...? What's this? I can introduce you to a law firm I know. Hand it off to them and..."
"Elder, doesn't it strike you as weird that I'm even stepping into a fight rigged by Shin Gangnam's bigwigs? No matter the firm, it's the 'judge' who decides in the end. Oh, don't give me crap about precedents or legal principles—I wouldn't understand anyway, and it's all just excuses. They even mock how the goddess of justice weighs money, connections, power, and strength on her scales~"
Why do you think people have been calling to replace judges with AI since decades ago?
Judges are human too, and humans are social creatures—they can't help being influenced.
They spout off about upholding 'justice,' but in this era, every side factor ends up on those scales.
"So even a clueless bum like me knows how the verdict will go. Just weigh the victim and perpetrator's power, influence, and wealth on the scales—that's all it takes."
"...Can't argue with that."
"Well, we're not exactly powerless commoners, so we'll probably get a partial win and be ordered to pay some of the damages. I've got 500 billion... They won't take it all, since that'd kneecap their raid on 'Lee Moksa,' so maybe 200-300 billion. Predictable, right? But that predictability is what's~"
"I get which part rubs you wrong. Weren't you the type to compromise on everything? Money shouldn't matter much to you."
Baek Gayeon was right.
The amount didn't really matter to me; I could just hire a firm, settle, and move on.
But people have feelings, don't they?
"Thinking about my money going to those dog bastards who treat humans like livestock... it just sours my mood."
"So what'll you do? War just ended... Gonna pick another fight with Shin Gangnam?"
"Do I look like the type to do something that stupid?"
"Didn't you just do it?"
Huh? Yeah, fair point. Now I've got nothing to say.
But after over a month of nonstop fighting, I had zero desire for more battles.
So I needed a way that didn't involve lifting a finger.
"Ah! That'll work."
"What now?"
"How about a quick call to Japan's Defense Awakening Ministry and China's Communist Party National Defense Awakening Department?"
Unlike us, who operate guilds independently from the military, Japan and China had their governments controlling Awakeners and deploying them in units.
Private guilds existed, but mostly production or crafting types tied to corporations, not monster hunters.
Why was Korea the only one with this guild system? No need to explain—thanks to our glorious Ministry of National Defense.
It splintered due to the distrust and hatred from forcibly conscripted men.
"You in your right mind?"
"Oh, not seriously negotiating—just tossing out bait. They'll freak out on their own, and when word gets back, it'll be a show."
"What if it blows up for real? Your '1 trillion alliance' actually happened, didn't it?"
Huh? Come to think of it...
Chilled by the elder's words, I scrapped that idea.
Actually opening talks and escalating would drag me into another massive brawl, which I hated.
Better to block contacts from China and Japan outright.
"But doing nothing pisses me off too? Nah. Let's flip it—do nothing to jack up the compensation to the max! The damage I dealt Shin Gangnam is trillions at least, right?"
"Increase the payout? What's your angle?"
"If even working doesn't make money, who'd bother? Plus, raiding Lee Moksa ain't easy and needs budget—we're already in debt?"
Even I thought it was genius reverse psychology.
Yeah, let's balloon the compensation and debt, with interest piling up hundreds of billions yearly.
Then, no matter how many commissions or whatever, I can refuse jobs since I'm always in the red.
"My official title's temporary administrator here anyway—no assets to seize. And no one's crazy enough to go up against five—no, seven S-rank+ Awakeners to try~ So it's just about maxing out that payout, right?"
If I can refuse the Lee Moksa raid, other pressures don't matter.
Even frozen finances—plenty of illicit ways around it if you've got power, or cash and mana stones work fine.
Worst case, hop to another country.
"Heh heh heh, perfect. Guess I gotta show up in court and lose spectacularly. Skipping's good for pressure, but showing up lets me add contempt of court on top."
I jotted down the directive, scheduled a court date later, and moved on to the next papers.
Next up: spoils handling. Best way was trading them via the Slaughter King-blessed ring with constellation merchants for gear or skill books.
"Just store the spoils—don't process them. I've got a use for them."
"Planning something specific?"
"Uh... trading with constellations, I guess? That Remrem guy's mana stones and materials work for trades. If we need cash, use the A-grade stones and stuff from the Merman Warlord."
"Aren't you totally unconnected to them...? Nah, for a Hunter like you, they'd be watching closely..."
Truth is, I'd never even heard of constellations before, let alone drawn interest—but explaining the ring or mentioning it to this upstanding elder wouldn't go well, so I glossed over it.
"Next... guild and association stuff. This one's for you, Elder."
"At least check the demands and changes. Blue Dragon Guild got an SS-rank—gonna ignore that?"
"Blue Dragon? Let's see... 'Blue Dragon Guild Master Go Cheonsu and members felled the S-rank monster 'Goatman,' earning the 'Constellation Blue Dragon's' blessing and rewards, achieving SS-rank status! Of course, formal recognition needs proven combat power, but in this string of bad industry news, it's welcome tidings.' Hmm..."
Oh, as expected of the Blue Dragon constellation—one of those that pays rewards promptly.
The guild landscape shifts were worth watching, so I kept reading.
Blue Dragon was skyrocketing. Their master's SS-rank was inspiring, solidifying their top-three spot.
"Huh? New Seoul Guild Master... Oh Kyung-hoon? Missing? What happened?"
"So they say. No clue what occurred or where he is... Anyway, Shin Gangnam's shaking again. The old top-three system is toast, and you're basically a new pillar now."
"Me?"
"Five S-rank+ Hunters... no, six including Choi Choong-seon, seven with this old man—all in one group. What else would you call that but a faction?"
"Add Minister Yucheong and General Jang, that's nine total, Your Majesty."
Oh... yeah, that does make me sound like the head of some rising power.
But that's outsiders' views. I still just wanted to live quietly, dodging worldly storms and fights, fading away peacefully.
Recent actions undermined that, but I hadn't forgotten my ultimate goal. Praying the vehicles would hurry to the Goblin Empire Dungeon, I set the papers aside.