n

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nHo Sung Lee felt like crying when he saw Min Sung.

nHow could he return so suddenly without warning?

nOf course, since he was in the Demonic Realm, it couldn’t be helped. But in any case, seeing how he was overwhelmed with so many emotions, he must’ve been having a hard time.

nThe thought that it was all over and he could now escape from the heavy burden of the position he was in made him feel free.

n“Are you crying?” Min Sung asked as if he was annoyed.

n“It’s been hard.”

n“Stop crying. I’ll kill you,” said Min Sung with a straight face.

nIn response, Ho Sung Lee sucked in his tears.

n“… Yes, Sir.”

n“Let’s eat.”

nMin Sung entered the house.

nBowl and Repone realized that their master had returned.

nBowl shook his big head and ran over while Repone flapped his wings, and Ssol, who practically lived in the garden, ran over with grass all over his body.

nJust like that, Bowl, Repone, and Ssol stuck onto Min Sung like glue.

nWith all three of them on his body, Min Sung went to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and took out the water.

nChug! Chug! Chug!

nHe chugged all the water.

nThe taste of the clean water upon returning from the Demonic Realm was refreshing and delicious.

nIt felt as though the dust that accumulated in his body got washed away.

n“Phew.”

nJust as Min Sung let out a sigh, Ho Sung Lee rolled up his sleeves and entered the kitchen.

n“Is there anything you’d like to eat?” Ho Sung Lee asked with a bright face.

n“Anything Korean.”

nMin Sung put down the water and headed to the living room with Bowl, Repone, and Ssol on his body.

nWhile Ho Sung Lee prepared the food, Min Sung laid on the sofa and closed his eyes.

nSince he was waiting for his food to be ready, Bowl, Repone, and Ssol also enjoyed a nap close to Min Sung.

n***

n“Sir, the food is ready!”

nIn response, Min Sung opened his eyes and got up.

nHe hadn’t eaten anything during his time in the Demonic Realm. It felt like there was thunder inside his belly.

nBut he didn’t let himself get excited.

nPatience was not always necessary, but he was able to wait.

nAnd the wait would result in fruits blooming from the tree.

nHe had starved significantly during his time in the Demonic Realm. Since he starved after eating so plentifully, he felt even more hungry.

nMin Sung sat down at the table with great anticipation.

nThe meal Ho Sung Lee prepared was very fancy.

nThe grilled deodeok was the main, and beside it were grilled short rib patties and other side dishes.

nHe wondered when he had the time to make all of it.

nMin Sung picked up his chopsticks and began his meal.

nHe took a bite of the rice before his chopsticks headed toward the main, which was the grilled deodeok.

nHe then immediately chewed on the grilled deodeok.

nAs soon as he did, Min Sung experienced an amazing scent.

nThe deodeok itself was very fragrant, and even the marinade was simple and delicious.

nThe grilled deodeok proved just how superior Korean food was.

nMin Sung’s chopsticks couldn’t’ stop.

nThat was because there were way too many side dishes.

nThe next dish Min Sung’s chopsticks headed toward was the steamed stingray. It was very soft, and just by looking at it, it looked like it was soft, and it was true.

nAs soon as he put it in his mouth, it chewed softly, and then the stingray soon disappeared.

nThe next dish was kimchi, which he put on top of rice.

nMin Sung looked down at it for a long time.

nHe suddenly felt very touched.

nWhen he went to the Demonic Realm, he prepared himself to some extent.

nHe knew that it was possible he would never return, so he felt relieved that he actually came back.

nAnd that was why the kimchi on top of the rice made him feel so touched.

nHe quickly wrapped the rice with the kimchi and put it into his mouth.

nOm nom. Chomp.

nThe refreshing scent of the cabbage and the spicy red pepper flakes allowed him to experience the extreme beauty of Korea.

nHe added green onions and onions on top and ate another piece of the grilled deodeok.

nNo matter how many times he ate the grilled deodeok, he couldn’t get sick of the scent.

nBracken, peppers, and strong seaweed soup, due to the deep flavors of the Korean meal, Min Sung just had to get another bowl of rice.

nHo Sung Lee’s food was still spectacular as ever.

nIt was near perfection.

nIt was as if Ho Sung Lee’s skills got even better.

n***

nMin Sung went out to the yard in order to enjoy a little tea time after dinner, and Ho Sung Lee followed.

nMin Sung, who drank his warm tea while drinking his warm coffee, looked at Ho Sung Lee and opened his mouth.

n“Brief me,” said Min Sung.

nAnd in response, Ho Sung Lee informed him of everything that happened while he was in the Demonic Realm.

nIn order to brief Min Sung properly, Ho Sung Lee had written in his journal every day of everything that was happening.

nFor that reason, he reported in a smooth manner.

nNo matter how simple the information, there was a difference that preparation made, and in that sense, Ho Sung Lee’s report was flawless.

nMin Sung listened to the briefing and nodded.

n“Good work.”

nIn response, Ho Sung Lee sighed.

n“Um, Sir.”

nMin Sung drank his hot Americano and sat down on the bench.

n“Sat down.”

nMin Sung pointed at the seat next to him.

n“That’s all right.”

nMin Sung didn’t refute any further.

n“You want to ask me about the Demonic Realm, don’t you?”

nHo Sung Lee’s eyes sparkled.

nMin Sung didn’t hesitate to tell him about how he defeated Rucifer and Hellcard, but Ho Sung Lee’s response was strong.

n“Y-y-you obtained the great god’s powers?”

n“Yeah. But not anymore,” replied Min Sung calmly.

n“I-I see.”

nHo Sung Lee’s pupils shook from left to right.

nMin Sung spoke as if it was no big deal, but the one listening couldn’t feel the same way… because it almost sounded like an ancient myth.

nBut since it actually happened, it was surprising.

n“Where’s Woong Jang?”

n“Oh, I let him know that you’ve returned, so he’ll be back by late afternoon.”

n“Okay.”

n“But about what Ethan said about how more hunters will get involved with crimes.”

n“What about it?”

n“Is there a way to prevent it?”

n“Why are you asking me?”

n“… I’m sorry?”

n“That’s what you and the hunter leaders should work out.”

nHo Sung Lee froze up.

n“… Me?”

n“Then should I?”

n“Yes… Well, I should do it, but you’ll be the one making the decisions, right?”

n“What kind of decisions?”

n“About the issues.”

nHo Sung Lee’s face turned yellow as he watched Min Sung contemplate.

n“You must. I felt so pressured that I had to make such big decisions while you were away. You have to take over the responsibility. That’s what makes it meaningful.”

n“Do I have to? I don’t want to be bothered,” mumbled Min Sung while clicking his tongue.

n“You must. They’ll only listen to you. They won’t listen to what a representative says. And rather than someone like me, I think the Central Institute’s Commander Ji Yoo Kim…”

n“Not her.”

n“Why not?” Ho Sung Lee asked as if he wasn’t able to understand.

n“I think it’s better to leave it to someone dumb but knows how to act, rather than someone who’s smart, but doesn’t do anything about it.”

n“I’m thankful that you see me that way… Or am I? Anyway, what should we do from now on? Now that there are no dungeons or monsters, the hunters will soon resort to crimes when they lose their jobs.”

n“That’s not for me to worry about. That’s your problem. Like I said, all I do is make the decisions.”

n“Why me? There’s the Central Institute. Won’t they take care of anything as long as you ask?”

n“I can’t trust the Central Institute. They’re corrupt, too. So you take care of it.”

n“Um, Sir. Then since you have money, please give me a helper. It’s better to work it out with someone smart than struggle all by myself.”

n“You can do that as long as you don’t make my surroundings noisy, but make sure you pick the right person.”

n“Thank you.”

n“Anything else?”

n“… No, Sir.”

n“Then I’m going to get some rest.”

nHo Sung Lee bowed and returned to the living room.

nHo Sung Lee plopped down on the couch and grabbed his face with both hands.

nHe thought things would become easier now that Min Sung Kang was back, but that was nothing but his false hope.

n“I should still stay positive.”

nNow that he was back, all he had to do was follow orders.

nAnd as for the difficult issues, he just had to employ smart minds.

n‘Yeah. I won’t make this complicated.’

nHo Sung Lee nodded and immediately called Central Institute’s Commander Ji Yoo Kim.

n***

n“You need someone smart and trustworthy?”

n“Yes. I need to find someone who can help me find resolutions to the hunters who’ll get involved with crimes later on.”

n“That’s not difficult, but was that Min Sung’s idea?”

n“No. I didn’t want to tell you this, but he said he can’t trust the Central Insitute. So he told me to take care of it on my own. Sigh…”

nHo Sung Lee dropped his head and sighed.

nJi Yoo Kim looked at Ho Sung Lee and smiled.

n“I’m sure you’ll do a good job. You’ve done a good job so far, right?”

n“Haha, that doesn’t comfort me at all.”

nWhen Ho Sung Lee lifted his head again, Ji Yoo Kim flinched

nThat was because his eyes were covered in dark circles.

n“I’m going to go for a smile.”

nBy the time Ho Sung Lee struggled to get up, Ji Yoo Kim’s phone rang.

nJi Yoo Kim answered the phone, and her face quickly turned stiff.

nHo Sung Lee watched Ji Yoo Kim look nervous.

nAnd as soon as she hung up, she smiled bitterly at Ho Sung Lee.

n“Ethan was right.”

n“… Have the hunters started acting already?”

nJi Yoo Kim nodded heavily.

nHo Sung Lee was then reminded of what Ethan told him.

nThat what was scarier than a powerful enemy was evil that wouldn’t go away.

n