Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Kim Hyun Treaty (1)
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“First, put some clothes on.”
As soon as Kim Hyun spoke, a veil of blood enveloped Bathory's entire body. The blood soon transformed into a gothic-style dark red dress.
Bathory, now fully dressed, blinked brightly and asked,
“Is this sufficient, my Demon King?”
Kim Hyun pulled a sour face.
He wanted to just let good be good, but no matter how he looked at her, Bathory resembled someone in cosplay. Even her stark white hair looked like a wig.
But now wasn't the time to point it out.
“No... We'll change the clothes later.”
“Yes, my Demon King!”
Watching Bathory beam at him, Kim Hyun cut straight to the most important question.
“How did you get here?”
To return from hell to Earth, Kim Hyun had needed 666 demon lord souls.
That was the bare minimum to pinpoint Earth's exact coordinates and allow his true body to cross over.
Which meant no one could easily replicate his method.
Hunting that many demon lords was tough enough in itself, but there simply weren't that many around to begin with.
Even Kim Hyun had eventually resorted to breeding and slaughtering them when supplies ran low.
So how had Bathory crossed over?
“It wasn't that difficult, my Demon King.”
“Not difficult?”
“No. Thanks to the traces you left behind, I already knew the coordinates for this place. After that, it was just like with other worlds—I tossed out a summoning scroll and waited.”
Bathory winked.
“Fortunately, the humans here are just as dimwitted, so I managed to get summoned!”
“No, what I'm saying is, crossing over like that... ”
Only then did Kim Hyun notice Bathory's condition.
“...You gave up all your power?”
“If it's to serve you, my Demon King, that's a trifle worth discarding.”
“Hah.”
Kim Hyun let out a hollow chuckle.
Chae Seol-ah, who had been watching the two from behind, widened her eyes.
Gave up all her power? For real?
Even at her current level, she looked like an S-Rank hunter. So just how strong had she been originally?
“Well, whether you ditched your power or not is your call.”
Kim Hyun shrugged.
Bathory's eyes sparkled as she asked,
“Then, may I serve you as before, my Demon King?”
“Do whatever.”
With that answer, Kim Hyun glanced at Chae Seol-ah and grinned.
“It won't be as easy as you think.”
“...?”
The catastrophe in Gangwon Province spread across the nation in under three hours.
The moment the situation was assessed, nearby military units rushed down to Sokcho City to lock it down. Firefighters, police, and soldiers from across the country flooded in.
The media couldn't be contained, and broadcasters switched to disaster alert mode to report live.
“Whoa...”
“This is nuts...”
“Fifty thousand? No way?”
Chae Seol-ah watched the customers freak out over the news broadcast, inwardly relieved.
Good thing we bailed early.
The Superhuman Management Bureau had quickly loaned them cars, making their escape from Gangwon a breeze.
And the reason they'd provided the vehicles? Kim Hyun, naturally.
This Gangwon incident was a colossal disaster.
Over fifty thousand lives lost—an event of unimaginable scale.
With the entire nation watching, it would've been a bad move to leave Kim Hyun smack in the middle.
In gamer terms, you never knew what kind of agro she'd pull.
Kim Hyun was a walking powder keg as it was; no need to park her right next to the arsenal.
Which was why—minus Lee Hyun-sik, who'd dipped out midway claiming stomach troubles—the trio had ended up at a local dakgalbi joint, right on schedule.
Not real Chuncheon-style, but hey...
Tasty was tasty, right?
With that thought, Chae Seol-ah poured water into Kim Hyun's cup.
“Thanks.”
Kim Hyun lifted the cup and downed it the instant it was full.
Bathory blinked in surprise, then snatched up the pitcher herself and refilled Kim Hyun's cup.
Pat pat.
Of course, Kim Hyun didn't touch the water.
“...”
In the meantime, Chae Seol-ah fetched a bottle of soju from the fridge, cracked it open, poured a shot, and set the glass within Kim Hyun's reach.
And just as expected.
Kim Hyun snatched up the soju and knocked it back.
“...”
Bathory wore a sullen pout.
Meanwhile, Kim Hyun toyed with her empty shot glass and chuckled.
“Still tastes like regret. This stuff.”
As Kim Hyun drifted into nostalgia, Bathory sprang to her feet.
“Understood! I'll procure finer liquor at once and offer it to you, my Demon King!”
“Pipe down and sit, you.”
After shutting Bathory up, Kim Hyun set her glass down.
“Agent Chae.”
“Y-Yes!”
“We'll hit that gate we missed next time.”
“Uh...”
Chae Seol-ah managed a wry smile.
We really have to go back...?
Ignoring her gloom, Kim Hyun eyed Bathory.
She was still decked out in that gothic dress—an eye-catching beauty drawing stares from all over.
Arms crossed in thought for a moment, Kim Hyun turned to Chae Seol-ah.
“And one favor.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Can you socialize this one?”
Kim Hyun jerked her chin at Bathory.
“That returnee program or whatever? Oughta do the trick.”
“Pardon?”
Chae Seol-ah's face twisted in disbelief. She seemed to be referring to the standard returnee socialization protocol...
Kim Hyun herself is still in that program...
But what could she do?
Orders were orders.
As Chae Seol-ah nodded with tears in her heart, Bathory piped up in protest.
“D-Demon King! You're entrusting me to this human?”
“Not handing you off to her exactly. Just till you're socialized.”
“Socialized?! You know full well that I, Bathory, am a perfectly socialized demon!”
Kim Hyun narrowed her eyes.
“No, you're not socialized for this world.”
And what was a “socialized demon,” anyway?
Bathory glanced around.
Most patrons were glued to the Gangwon disaster on the news, but more than a few kept sneaking peeks their way.
She wanted to deny it, but those glances were clearly fixed on her.
Bathory bit her lip, resigned.
“Urgh... Fair point. Very well.”
“Good. That's settled.”
Kim Hyun clapped her hands lightly.
“So, now what.”
Time for dakgalbi.
A few days passed after that.
I'd shipped Bathory off to the Superhuman Management Bureau's program.
No clue if she'd adapt, but tough luck—she'd have to.
If she'd clawed her way out of hell for modern life, she'd better shape up to fit in. Right?
Lounging on the sofa, one leg propped on the desk and swinging idly, I sank into thought.
...Never figured she'd chase after me, dumping all her power.
She wanted to stick with me that badly? Why?
I just couldn't wrap my head around it.
Bathory was one of hell's last remaining demon lords.
Staying put would've meant supreme power and immortality as one. Yet she'd thrown it all away to follow me.
Even sacrificed the strength she'd built up.
“...Well, pot calling the kettle, huh.”
I'd had it all in hell too, but I'd itched to come back to Earth—and did.
Though I sure hadn't picked the “abandon power” option.
Anyway, it was intriguing.
As I mulled it over, the door opened and someone stepped in, taking a seat across from me.
I straightened up and met their gaze.
“The new demon lady... is following our Superhuman Management Bureau program nicely.”
Team Leader Lee Min-hyuk opened, after all this time.
“Following it and adapting are two different things, you know?”
“Hahaha. She's adapting just fine.”
“Her?”
Didn't buy it for a second.
Whatever, if he said so.
“So, what's the visit for today?”
“To relay the Korean government's official position.”
Official position, huh.
I crossed my legs and sank deeper into the sofa.
“Not more bullshit, I hope?”
“No. The President has decided to formalize a treaty with you, Kim Hyun. The official ceremony is set for seven days from now. We can cancel if it's inconvenient.”
I cocked my head.
“Official ceremony?”
Implying there was an unofficial one too?
Lee Min-hyuk gave an awkward smile at my confusion.
“Yes. The treaty signing itself will happen separately from the ceremony.”
Fair enough.
I nodded.
“When do we sign the treaty?”
Lee Min-hyuk flashed a bitter smile.
“Right now.”
“?”
As I tilted my head again, he took a deep breath and said,
“The President is coming here in person right now.”