The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 42: Doppelganger (4)

“…What on earth just happened?”

Anna stared at Lee Seo-jun with eyes filled with terror. Until now, she had freely delved into the memories of others without any interference. However, the moment she tried to peek into Lee Seo-jun’s memories, she was forcefully expelled.

If it had ended at that, it wouldn’t have been so bad.

‘My body won’t move…’

A tremendous pressure engulfed her entire body. Although they were presumably in the same space, there seemed to be a thick darkness surrounding only Lee Seo-jun.

However, how he nullified [Mind’s Eye] and revealed such a presence was not important.

‘…If I confront this person, I will definitely die.’

What mattered was solely that her life was now at the mercy of this person. Although he hadn’t shown any signs of hostility yet, her instincts dictated that her life was now under his control.

Of course, he had not shown any signs of movement yet, but her instincts accepted this fact. Her feeble heart within her body started beating rapidly, unaware of any formality.

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[Heavenly Demon]

A Demon King beyond the sky. With an insurmountable difference in caliber, possesses an absolute mental strength that does not yield to any mental abilities.

This [Heavenly Demon] not only blocks mental abilities but can also control ability users in return.

I intervened in the image of Anna’s ability using [Heavenly Demon], allowing me to observe what she saw and eject her consciousness at any time. The reason I momentarily let her glimpse into my memory was to make her feel the overwhelming difference in power, making it impossible for her to oppose me.

Furthermore, the fact that she dared to peek into my memories became a shackle, allowing me to tighten the leash around her neck.

“….”

As I remained silent for a while, the air in the association office became heavy with tension. Anna continued to stare at me with vacant eyes, and her secretary and Park Sang-cheol, who hadn’t grasped the situation, fell silent.

“I’m sure I warned you not only this time but also last time.”

The stifling silence broke as I spoke.

“I told you that if your American, Eden obstructs my way and if there’s a brain inside of you, come to me to bow your head. And if you come with other ill intentions, I will impose a fitting punishment.”

As Anna’s focus gradually returned, the fear embedded in her eyes became even more clear.

“However, how did your attitude towards me that came this time seem? The justification may have seemed plausible, but there was a hidden motive, and even the way you treated me was arrogant.”

In the chilly atmosphere, Anna’s shoulders shrank.

“Is that all? You dared to covet my territory, the floating island.”

“I-I never did anything like that…”

“Shut up. Before you start digging through your phone’s photos. ”

Anna’s lips, which had been speaking softly, tightly sealed. Though a suspicious gaze that seemed to probe me reached me, I lowered my gaze confidently.

Indeed, I had been reading the thoughts of the translated guy in Korean from the beginning using [Lezie’s Insight].

“Now, how should I deal with you? You not only disrespected me but also dared to covet my land.”

Sweat started to form on Anna’s smooth chin.

Her subsequent actions were quite straightforward. She detached herself from the sofa and knelt on the floor, bowing her head.

“S-Sorry!! We dared to offend you without knowing the subject! I apologize on behalf of my country! I’ll do anything, so please, spare our lives…!”

The knees on the floor were hidden by her upper body, the forehead touched her neatly clasped hands, and her blonde hair was scattered carelessly.

‘Life…’

I looked at Anna’s trembling shoulders.

It was an overly sensitive reaction, but I had no intention of taking her life. Killing her here would surely lead to negative perceptions among the masses.

Although the reputation of a few individuals might not matter, the perception of the crowd was crucial for the future nation I aimed to build.

At that moment, the secretary looked at Anna with a bewildered expression.

“Sis! What are you doing…?”

I couldn’t understand English, but I could roughly guess the situation.

The feared ’12 Zodiac’, which even the leaders of each country would be wary of, was obedient to another hunter, causing confusion.

“N-Noisy! If you don’t want to die too, shut up!”

Anna, still bowing her head, shouted in English.

Later, I should learn not only English but also other languages. Maybe using [Alter’s Understanding] would make it easier.

“W-What the hell is… Sis is a representative hunter of the United States! Even if she made a mistake, she shouldn’t show herself like this!”

“Why does that matter! I’m about to die right now!”

“Wh-What did you see in that state?”

“I-I didn’t see anything! I didn’t see anything…”

Anna covered her head with both hands.

The scene of them mumbling in a foreign language was quite interesting, but there was no need to prolong the time any further.

I still looked at the standing secretary. He should understand at least Korean.

“You…”

With just one word, the secretary turned to look at me.

His eyes carried a hint of venom.

“The horizon is too high for you.”

– Swish. –

A slightly spilled, dense magi encircled the secretary’s body like a snake. The venom in his gaze, once present, scattered, leaving only confusion.

I pointed at him with my index finger and pulled it down.

“Bow.”

Language might not communicate, but force always prevailed. Especially when it was accompanied by overwhelming dignity.

“Count to three.”

As the cold voice seized the space, no one dared to speak.

With each rapid reduction of the time bomb-like tension, the secretary’s actions transformed.

“One.”

At first, he hesitated.

“Two.”

Next, his straightened back bent.

“Three.”

Eventually, he bowed his head to me.

At my feet, a pair of men and women were kneeling. This was the desirable height for them and my eye level.

Contemplating what to do with them, I suddenly became curious and asked Anna.

“By the way, did you glimpse into my memories?”

“I-I didn’t see anything!”

“…I’ll ask again. Did you glimpse into my memories?”

Knowing everything, yet attempting to lie. Anna, who was momentarily flustered, finally spoke.

“Sorry! It was so brief that I don’t remember well, but it was some kind of black volcanic terrain.”

“That’s enough.”

“Yes, yes!”

It seemed to be a memory of the first encounter with Quel. Since it was a distant memory, there was a need to confirm whether it was a mistake.

“I won’t risk my life to reveal anything about that! I’ll do anything, so please spare my life….”

“Anything…”

I let out a bitter laugh and lifted myself from the sofa. Then, I grabbed Anna’s chin with my hand, forcing her to face me.

“Do you know what I can make you do?”

My gaze traveled over her, touching the smooth jawline, the white shirt with sweat-soaked skin showing through, and the red lips.

There was no impure intention, just a measure to instill caution and assess determination.

As Anna swallowed her saliva, her pristine woolen vest fluttered.

“If you really want that…”

I smirked and released her face.

“No need. Besides, don’t you think that’s too simple?”

“…What?”

I blinked at the slightly puzzled Anna.

“I was observing you. Kneeling so easily might seem insignificant, but you’ve built up achievements longer than I have. It’s already proven by the honor of the ’12 Zodiac’.”

The top-ranked ‘Leo Bradley’ died, making her the strongest hunter in the United States. She would be an even better asset.

Leaning back again, I spoke.

“Anna Paisley, from now on, you will be my informant.”

“I-I’m an informant?”

“Yes, travel around the world like before, meet key figures from various countries, and let me know if you come across any information I need.”

It was a different role than Shayen. Shayen specialized in assassination and tracking, while Anna specialized in information itself.

Anna nodded with a determined look.

“Okay, understood.”

“For now, finish the mission you were doing. Report to me when you encounter the Doppelganger, and in the U.S., report positively about me. Say that I’ve been helping others since I was young, overflowing with a sense of justice, and so on.”

But it’s not necessarily a lie, right?

“Leave it to me. Eloquence is my specialty.”

It was evident from her past. She was just lacking compared to me.

…Now, the problem is that guy.

The secretary, who had been glancing over here, quickly averted his gaze when our eyes met.

Anna bowed her head again.

“Seo-Jun, sir! That man is my younger brother! I will definitely keep an eye on my brother, so please show great leniency and I will serve you faithfully!”

Using [Lezie’s Insight], I confirmed that it was true. I remembered she had a younger brother, and it turned out to be the secretary.

I briefly let out a sigh before speaking.

“Well, for now, I’ll trust you. But you should be prepared for the consequences.”

“Yes, yes!”

At this level, there shouldn’t be worries about betrayal. Even if there were, I could quickly discern it.

I addressed them, who were still showing deference.

“All right, you can stand up now.”

“Thank you!”

Anna stood up abruptly, and the secretary also got up clumsily.

I glanced at the secretary, who couldn’t hide his unwilling expression.

“Your name is James right. You have a sharp sister.”

“…Yes. Now I’m your faithful servant.”

“James!”

When James responded curtly, Anna scolded him.

Since James hadn’t directly sensed anything, this situation wouldn’t be convincing to him. Moreover, if a close relative showed subservient behavior to an outsider, it could distort the evaluation. However, there was no need to make him feel the difference in intensity. Dealing with someone like him was easier treating him differently than with fear.

“Siblings are proficient in Korean.”

“Sorry. Seo-Jun, sir! I will discipline my younger brother well, so please forgive him! Apologize quickly too!”

Anna pressed down on James’s stiff head with a forced smile.

I looked at James, who was resisting, and spoke quietly.

“Hawaii Liberation Operation.”

Both siblings stopped their actions simultaneously, and their shaky eyes turned towards me.

“Twenty years ago, you lost your parents, who were SS-rank hunters, during that operation.”

“H-How do you know that…?”

“Well, it’s not exactly hidden information.”

To James’s puzzled voice, I casually replied.

“Anyway, it’s known to the public that your parents passed away during that mission. However, you might suspect that the Pisces Zodiac, ‘Cordelia Maimi’, killed your parents.”

“A-Are you trying to mock us?”

“I’m not mocking. I’m doing this to smoothly resolve our relationship. So, please shut up. Before I resort to other methods.”

As my cold gaze met James, he closed his mouth firmly.

I sighed lightly and continued.

“But there’s no concrete evidence, and it’s just based on suspicion. So, you might consider extracting her memories as a pretext for this incident.”

“S-Seo-Jun, is this widely known information?”

“No, this is just my recent speculation. But well, she could easily anticipate something like this.”

I looked at the siblings.

“You don’t seriously think she would allow herself to be probed with [Mind’s Eye], do you?”

“But, if we don’t go through that process, she might be suspected as a doppelganger….”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“…What?”

James gave me a puzzled look in response to my firm statement.

“Even if others suspect her of being a doppelganger, do you think she would care? I guarantee it. Those in the 12 Zodiac will reject your abilities no matter what.”

They know that power equals strength. So, even if someone suspects her of being a doppelganger, she won’t bother. James seemed to vaguely understand this as he chewed on his lips.

“So, Seo-Jun, do you have another way?”

“Well, not exactly, but I can cooperate with you.”

If prioritizing their problem could help find a solution, I would show a bit of favor. Naturally, I would prioritize my goals.

This was just part of the process.

“Of course, I don’t know how long it will take, but if you come under my command, you won’t regret it.”

At my confident tone, the siblings looked at each other.

In the brief silence, the fear and tension in their eyes seemed to slowly dissipate. When they turned to look at me again, there was a faint trust in their eyes.

I faced that and drew a faint smile.

As always, their answer was already determined.

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“Seo-Jun, I sincerely apologize for today’s rudeness. We are also grateful for your assistance.”

“…I apologize too.”

Before leaving the Association Chairman’s office, the siblings bowed deeply. As I nodded, they closed the door quietly and left.

Park Sang-Cheol, who had been silent, looked surprised as he stared at the closed door.

“For those with such positions and power to bow their heads to someone… I still can’t believe it.”

“Dealing with others is one of the essential virtues of a king.”

“W-Well, that’s true.”

In the end, anyone in front of me would eventually yield. Those who shed their husks would be reborn anew at my fingertips.

And then, the phone rang.

[(Illusion Faction) Ha Seong-Woo: As you mentioned, we decided to proceed with the ‘Magic Presentation’ scheduled for tomorrow. I absolutely, absolutely do not doubt you. Do you really have a way to find out if someone is a doppelganger?]

After checking the message, I adjusted my monocle.

In the end, in front of me, every demon will be compromised. Those who shed their disgusting husks would die at my fingertips.

With a faint smile, I left the Chairman’s office.

(To be continued in the next part)