Episode 24 - The Future Demon King's Pledge
"......What?"
"I'll serve ya faithfully! Use me like a dog, big bro! I'll devote my full loyalty!"
A booming diaphragmatic shout.
The narrow basement hallway rang with echoes.
I furrowed my brow.
"Please take me under your wing, big bro!"
Park Ji-hoon's eyes were beyond desperate—they were frantic.
He clung to me like he was about to grab my pant leg.
"If ya don't, I'll get beat to death by my old man!"
"......By Chairman Park?"
"Yessir! He said if I can't make ya my big bro, he'll kick me outta the family! Nah, he'll straight-up bury me......"
The guy shuddered violently.
Ah, I can picture it.
Park Yongguk, that sly old fox—I could guess his scheme.
He didn't want to let me go.
A simple business deal wasn't enough for him.
So he was using his son as a hostage. No, a link.
What a ruthless bastard.
Sending his freshly awakened kid to do this.
But what really complicated my thoughts was something else.
Is this really the future Demon King Park Ji-hoon?
I scrutinized the sniveling mess in front of me.
This wasn't the Park Ji-hoon I knew from the future.
The stoic, ice-cold absolute ruler with no blood or tears in him.
The monarch who dominated the underworld with overwhelming charisma.
But the guy right here? A textbook neighborhood thug sidekick number one.
Why the hell did he talk like that? And those sparkling puppy-dog eyes?
Did lying in bed for three years rot his brain?
Or was that ruthless persona something forged later on?
"Big bro! Please! Even errands are fine! I drive great, clean like a pro, do laundry too!"
Park Ji-hoon slammed his head down again.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Looks like a mobster. Scary."
"Debt collector?"
Murmurs started buzzing around before I knew it.
Neighbors from next door and upstairs had come out to gawk.
A suited guy on his knees howling at the basement entrance—bound to draw eyes.
Leave it like this, and cops might even show up.
I let out a deep sigh.
"......Get up."
"Ya acceptin' me?"
"Come inside first. People are watching."
"Thank ya, big bro!"
Park Ji-hoon sprang to his feet.
His face lit up with joy.
He stepped into my cramped studio.
Park Ji-hoon sat ramrod straight on the edge of the sofa.
Hands neatly on his knees, the picture of deference.
I handed him a glass of water and asked,
"You serious?"
"Dead serious, sir. Dad said you're gonna be a dragon."
Honest to a fault. Nice.
I propped my chin and eyed him.
Utility value: high.
Future Demon King. Top-tier Awakener.
Sure, he's a weakling now, but the potential's rock-solid.
Above all, I could wield Park Yongguk's organization like my own limbs.
Perfect for handling the petty crap without me lifting a finger.
Talented guy. Too good to pass up.
Plus, this dopey version might be even easier to handle.
"Fine."
I nodded and spoke.
"But conditions."
"Name 'em!"
"One: My word is law. No backtalk."
"Obvious, sir!"
"Two: No freelancing without my say-so. Cause trouble, and it won't be your dad burying you— it'll be me."
"Got it etched in my soul!"
I gave him a cold stare, and Park Ji-hoon gulped hard.
He felt it instinctively.
My words weren't empty.
I waved him off.
"Now go. I'll call when I need you."
"Huh? Already? Lemme give ya a massage at least?"
"......"
"I'm outta here, sir!"
Park Ji-hoon shot up like a raw recruit and bowed ninety degrees.
Then he handed me a business card.
"Head in, big bro! I'm on standby 24/7!"
"Quiet down. You're bothering the neighbors."
"S-sorry, sir. Call me, and I'll shut my trap and get here faster than light."
The kid grinned ear-to-ear as he headed out the door.
Slam.
The door shut.
Silence returned to the room.
I glanced at the money bag on the table.
300 billion won total. And a bonus minion to boot.
"......Hah."
A dry laugh escaped me.
I'd suddenly gained a little brother.
The future underworld emperor had waltzed right in.
If I could reform him, not a bad deal.
Life's full of surprises.
Never saw this coming.
But not bad at all.
The world's too vast and the gods too numerous for me to shoulder it solo.
Now for the rest......
Where to spend that 300 billion cash.
Of course, I already had a plan.
Investigate Yamamoto. Confirm if he's an avatar or not.
"Why're you back already?"
Park Yongguk barked at Park Ji-hoon.
He'd sent him off to play errand boy, but the kid was back in under half a day.
But Park Ji-hoon stood tall, unashamed.
"Big bro told me to come back."
"You deliver the money proper?"
"Yessir."
Park Yongguk stroked his chin.
The real reason he'd sent his barely recovered son to Kim Jeong-seok was to forge a bond.
With Park Ji-hoon still looking frail, rejection would be tough.
Build a big bro-little bro dynamic, and it'd pay dividends later for sure.
A man who'll become a dragon.
After living long and meeting countless people, Park Yongguk was certain.
Kim Jeong-seok.
He was the real deal.
A talent to dominate the era.
Because he had a good eye for goods?
Or exceptional talent for using them?
Maybe for saving his son?
None of that.
Far from such shallow impressions.
He looked utterly ordinary on the surface.
But the deeper you looked, the more an untouchable aura emanated.
Those who gave off that vibe always became untouchable existences later.
Especially in this era.
I must forge that connection.
Monsters popping up out of nowhere.
Endless anomalies.
And humanity gaining superhuman powers.
In this unpredictable future, types like Kim Jeong-seok were bound to shine.
Miss this chance, and it'd only get harder.
A wild era ruled by force was coming.
I need to prepare.
If he could tie down someone like Kim Jeong-seok with money, 300 billion was pocket change.
Not to mention the top-shelf relics he'd brought.
Good eye. Foresight too.
With these artifacts, he could seize the high ground.
Build up an armed force. Brace for the chaos.
"Ji-hoon."
"Yessir, Dad."
Park Ji-hoon looked at Park Yongguk with tense eyes.
Park Yongguk spoke in deadly earnest.
"Serve him with all your heart. That's the only way a screw-up like you survives."
"I'll remember that."
"But don't just sit idle. You need to get strong too."
"......I'll recover fast."
Park Ji-hoon was inwardly puzzled.
First time seeing his dad treat someone like this.
That big a deal?
Honestly, he had doubts.
Up close, the guy didn't seem that impressive.
He'd just given his all because it was his savior.
But Park Yongguk never moved without reason.
If he kept backing Kim Jeong-seok, the guy must hold massive value.
Park Ji-hoon shelved his suspicions.
After all, recovery came first right now.
Yamamoto.
No one in Japan didn't know that name anymore.
Number two in Episode 1's Hall of Fame.
The legendary hero who'd saved countless lives.
And he'd proven himself again with second place in Episode 2.
But.
"......No Name."
Yamamoto tilted his head at the Hall of Fame rankings.
Someone had claimed first with an overwhelming margin.
And without even revealing their name.
Not interested in money or fame?
Sure, some folks were detached from material things.
But Yamamoto saw it differently.
Can someone without desire reach number one?
Impossible.
Desire was the driving force of humanity.
In fact, no one in the top ranks of the Hall of Fame hid their names.
Human instinct demanded it.
The primal urge to broadcast your greatness to the world.
Yet the number one— with that insane score gap—hid theirs?
When they should be bragging from the rooftops?
Come on.
Not human.
That wasn't human.
And if not human.
Avatar.
An avatar of a god.
Just like him.
A fake created by one of the gods in the tower.
But this puzzled him too.
The Game.
Meant for enjoyment.
Countless avatars revealed themselves without hesitation.
They reveled in the hero worship.
Even though in truth, they were the culprits unleashing disasters and dragging the world to ruin.
They couldn't let go of the thrill from that disconnect.
But hiding the name......
And that score gap.
They must've pumped this avatar full of nectar.
Probably no ordinary god.
Only Supreme Gods could use nectar like water.
The more nectar fed to an avatar, the closer it got to the original's divinity.
Problem was the backlash.
If a divinely empowered avatar vanished, the original took a massive hit.
Plus, it was embarrassing.
A god of that caliber going all-in on nurturing a mere avatar.
It strayed from the 'game's' spirit.
Hiding out of shame?
Plausible.
If exposed, they'd be the laughingstock of God's Tower.
Their reputation among gods would tank.
......Who could it be?
Yamamoto felt an odd itch.
It was just a game, but that extreme gap nagged at him.
So.
Maybe feed this one a bit more.
It might be good to pump more nectar into his own avatar.
Even a fraction of his vast reserves would crush low-tier gods easily.
Ah.
Only then did Yamamoto understand the feeling.
Competitive spirit.
He was definitely burning with rivalry toward 'NONAME'.
Thus.
I'll win the next episode.
Win. No question.
Especially since rankings mattered hugely next time.
Such thoughts were natural for him.
Yamamoto.
His true body was a god who tolerated no competition.
A god who crushed all and stood at the peak.
......One of the 12 Archgods.
The God of War.