Chapter 17: The Chaebol Demon Lord and the Returned Hero (3)

The mission given to me after being summoned to this other world was to defeat the Demon King.

It was said that the Boundary of Magic had thickened because of the Demon King’s presence, making it impossible to open the Gate.

It’s a cliché, but only those who come from another dimension could wield the Holy Sword Laevateinn.

My body was too weak to use the Holy Sword, so I went through training that felt like half dying over and over.

I trained not only to build solid muscles and tireless stamina but also to possess unending Magic Power.

One year later.

The Demon King’s Army began to move, aiming to bring the Seven Kingdoms to their knees.

Each kingdom united tightly to prevent their destruction.

But the Demon King didn’t budge, even against the combined forces of the Seven Kingdoms. Rather, as if pleased, he showed off just how formidable his army was.

The Death Knights, loyal only to the Demon King’s orders, rose again, their bodies possessed by the souls of the dead.

They wielded weapons once more, displaying a Lance Charge stronger than when they were alive, striking fear into the Seven Kingdoms.

On the first day, the bravest king died in battle.

The same happened the next day. Fierce battles raged on, but every time, the Demon King unveiled a new elite guard, humiliating humanity.

Those who remembered the death of the bravest king fought more passively.

And that was exactly what the Demon King wanted.

The Seven Kingdoms were overwhelmed by the Demon King.

The hope that was fading was reignited by the Order of Knights I led myself.

“If it hadn’t been for that Order of Knights, I would have been the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.”

“Regretting old decisions is amateurish. It’s no use regretting not being nicer to an ex-girlfriend.”

“How much do you want as a signing bonus?”

“According to my calculations—being a math major—the Hero’s signing bonus should be around 20 million won.”

“20 million won worth of hits?”

“I’m a PE graduate, so I’m not easy. I’m a black belt, after all.”

Olivier must have gone to several universities just to create clones like that unnecessarily.

She seems to want to call herself elite, but I know her true nature. She’s secretly a klutz; there’s always a flaw in what she does.

Thanks to that, she once barged in trying to ambush me but got completely stripped of her soul and fled.

Let’s see.

The fighter offered me 3.5 billion won.

“10 billion.”

“Billion…”

“Let’s make it 10 billion.”

Everything.

Olivier really asked for a billion won.

Currently, only S-rank Hunters receive signing bonuses over 10 billion won.

And that’s domestic—overseas, that figure multiplies several times.

Because of that, several S-rank Awakened have changed their nationality in our country.

“For someone claiming to do righteous deeds and help the needy, that’s quite a large amount for a Hero.”

Why are you so money-minded?

That’s the idea.

Hey, why are you acting like this between players?

“Does a Hero not eat or poop? Do you think selling a 1 million won item for 10,000 won as a favor is a wise investment?”

Let’s be honest.

“Is 10 billion too expensive for me?”

No, it’s not.

On paper, I’m not worth 10 billion. But if you ask people who know me about my worth—

“They’d say, ‘That’s cheap. Far too cheap.’”

Even the Demon King, Im Jaejoon, smiled while agreeing.

“You just became Guild Master. Signing such a radical contract with someone without any experience will cause problems later.”

“Does the Demon King fear getting nagged by old fogies?”

“Maybe the Demon King thinks nagging sounds like classical music?”

To be honest, I know.

Hanul Group, a global company, is skeptical about the guild business.

Because the previous Master, the eldest son of Hanul Group’s chairman, caused all sorts of chaos.

Hunters involved in various scandals and accidents without proper management.

What should have been a golden egg business for other companies became a loss for Hanul.

Given the situation, Hanul wasn’t in the best financial shape.

“Capture all public attention with bold moves. That’s what you’re good at.”

Honestly, you know I’ll quickly prove my worth for that money.

“Treat talents well. Let the pearls in the mud who haven’t yet revealed their value come to you.”

When Youngking of the Yeon Dynasty worried about finding talent, his retainer Gwak-oe told him to take care of me first.

Gwak-oe, who was favored and meticulous, apparently attracted talented people like a cloud. Though there’s no one better than me, of course.

“In the other world, you didn’t even want a single gold coin.”

“I have many uses for it here too.”

Money is good.

And personally, I had things I wanted to do and invest in when I had money.

It wouldn’t be a loss for either me or Im Jaejoon.

“100 billion is too much. 40 billion.”

Im Jaejoon offered half.

That’s over the fighter’s 3.5 billion.

“95 billion.”

“45 billion.”

The basis of negotiation is to meet in the middle.

“90 billion.”

“50 billion.”

“I’ll also fully support all the equipment developed at the Guild’s Equipment Lab.”

“Isn’t that normal support?”

“That’s in normal times.”

The Demon King said this as he raised his hand to Olivier.

She soon pulled out a sword from her inventory.

Even at a glance, its dazzling brilliance suggested it was made of top-tier materials.

The Hunters’ primary weapon—the Ether Blade.

“MAA-RX07 Longsword, Blue Label-grade weapon. Made by Graham.”

Feeling it, the blade was definitely different.

In an era where wars ended with missiles, cold weapons had weakened. But with the age of Hunters, a fusion of cold weapons and science had arrived.

Yes.

Weapon properties vary depending on their label. The Blue series generally emphasizes durability.

“Oh, Graham?”

“Yeah, that Graham.”

The legendary dwarf blacksmith hailed as the continent’s greatest.

That guy’s here?

“You know Graham’s value well. Now there’s a reason to join our guild.”

“Sorry, no discounts for acquaintances. You’re not even an acquaintance to begin with. No chance. 8.5 billion.”

“5.5 billion. I’ll give you shares in the guild.”

“Shares?”

“Yours. Yeah.”

He placed his clasped hands on his crossed knee.

“Thinking of rebuilding the Order of Knights?”

In other words, he was offering to form a team just for me and support it.

Of course, I can live well on my own. But dungeons are, after all, team play.

Or, even for the future, it’s advantageous to have friends who can become my hands and feet.

“I’ll help you build a team suited to your taste.”

Definitely glad I came here.

Because we were once enemies, I recognize the value of my opponent.

“8 billion.”

“6 billion.”

“I’ll also settle everything about your roommate.”

Im Jaejoon put the final touch on the negotiation.

“Alright.”

The deal was made.

I had been worried about Karin for some time.

She didn’t even have a Resident Registration Card. Above all, there was no data about her in this modern era.

I actually planned to send her back to her original world, but I didn’t know when that would happen.

And for the day that would come, I wanted Karin to live a normal life.

So I signed a contract with Hanul for 6 billion won.

Signing a contract for 6 billion for a mere Supporter, a Hunter just awakened, was very unprecedented.

Im Jaejoon might be called crazy for it.

Well, not my problem.

When I returned home, I told Karin the Demon King was here.

Her pupils trembled upon hearing the news.

It was understandable.

She was from another world. To them, the Demon King was a symbol of terror.

Especially since Karin was like a Saint of the shrine, she was even more incompatible with the Demon King.

“Now I can finally make you your own card.”

Until now, she had been using cards under my name.

Her game accounts, even portal site accounts, were all under my name.

“Good?”

“But once I get a Resident Registration Card, I’ll be able to make cards and do economic activities too, right?”

“Uh, probably?”

“Now I can even do real estate transactions, right?”

She’s already saying scary things.

She doesn’t realize how terrifying housing prices are. Normal office workers sometimes work like ants their whole lives just to get one house.

Or they struggle with loan debts.

“There’s a school here too, right? I can go to school?”

She’s still a teenager, so maybe she wants to go to school. It makes sense she’d be interested in a place where kids her age gather.

“You want to go to school?”

“No, a main quest popped up.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

“I have no choice if I want to raise my affinity.”

She loved games so much that her life had become like a game.

She wants to go to school just to complete a quest.

“Heheh. It’s quite lucrative.”

Karin imitated a sly old man counting money.

She looks normal, but her actions are something else…

A week passed, and Karin’s Resident Registration Card arrived.

Lee Seoyeon.

That became Karin’s Korean name.

“Jaejoon.”

Im Jaejoon turned his head at the call.

How many people at work call him by his name? Sure enough, there was the face he hated.

“Did you lay off everyone?”

It was his older brother, Im Jaeho.

“Still, those were people you brought in. How does it make you look to lay them all off like that?”

“Employees who only know flattery. Assistants who only think about dating. How can you work with people like that?”

Im Jaeho chuckled at his brother’s words.

“This guy always nags at me. If you cut everyone like that, it’ll look obvious. I’ve got a temper. Consider others’ feelings. Play with class.”

“Don’t worry. I only fired corrupt employees. If they object, we’ll have to investigate how they handled work and embezzled company resources, then discipline them. It’s their choice: money or discipline.”

The youngest brother kept butting in. Thinking back, he’d been stubborn since he was a kid.

Always a thorn in their side and never in a good mood.

“It’s been noisy lately. I heard you gave 6 billion won to recruit a porter?”

That was the reason for his visit today.

Im Jaeho sneered at his younger brother.

He found it ridiculous that their father trusted the younger brother so much.

“If you don’t know, hire a professional manager or something. Don’t you know the market? 6 billion for a porter? For someone without experience to be a convoy captain? Everyone’s talking about it. How expensive the cargo must be to pay 6 billion. Father would be disappointed if he knew.”

“Well, since you’ve disappointed him enough, I don’t think he’d be upset by much anymore.”

Some even called Hanul Guild a gang of troublemakers.

Only Hanul Guild caused all sorts of incidents.

Because of that, even shareholders within Hanul Group talked about disbanding the guild.

“Kim Changyeon won’t just step down. Although he caused trouble, he’s been here since the guild’s early days. Yang Cheonsu is a backbone too. Both have high personal rankings.”

“The tail’s bigger than the belly.”

“The dog can’t bite its owner. But maybe it can bite the dog you brought?”

Im Jaeho and his brother had two fierce watchdogs each, hard to handle.

If the guild ordered them out, Yang Cheonsu and Kim Changyeon wouldn’t just comply.

Not that it’s something to brag about, Hanul Guild was basically made up of those two factions.

“I know.”

“You know? So, any plan?”

“No.”

Hearing this, Im Jaeho smirked. Losing control of the guild business might actually benefit him.

Guild management is no easy task.

The more the younger brother mismanages it, the more it will drag his reputation down to the bottom.

Fortunately, having worked in that world first, he had some influence left.

“You don’t have to worry. 6 billion is actually a bargain.”

If the opponent understood money, he’d have paid even more in this other world.

Getting him not to turn into an enemy for just 6 billion is a huge win.

“That guy will become the franchise of our guild.”

Im Jaejoon said with a smirk.

The golden goose no one knew about.

When he was an enemy, he made them nervous like this. Now that he’s an ally, it feels so reassuring.