TPDGR 24

Chapter 24 …

“Let’s do that.”

“Yes!”

Serim immediately used her stealth skills to hide and slipped out of the building.

After Serim had left, a woman emerged smoothly from the shadows.

“…You lied, President. That’s not like you.”

She said it with a displeased expression.

She was Dohwa, known publicly as an S-rank hunter.

Except for her, the other S-ranks were still in Korea. Since it was highly confidential, almost no one knew this except the president.

The president had lied, saying there were no S-rank hunters in the country, to provoke Serim’s pride.

Hmph. The president leaned back on the sofa and burst out laughing.

“Why did you do that, President?”

“Because it’ll make him act all high and mighty. He’ll fight more exaggeratedly and wreck the dungeon too.”

“…….”

“And if it catches Han Hyunjin’s attention, all the better.”

Dohwa narrowed her eyes.

‘Does that mean he doesn’t care if Serim ends up dead while rampaging?’

Probably.

Serim was visibly excited at the thought of catching the president’s attention.

It meant the president had deliberately manipulated that shallow desire for recognition from the start.

‘There’s no way an A-rank stealth hunter like him could take on the boss that even Han Hyunjin couldn’t handle.’

Still, even if that hunter returned beaten to a pulp, the president wouldn’t bat an eye…

At times like this, the president seemed almost like something other than human.

“Aren’t you curious too, Dohwa? What exactly did Han Hyunjin hide that he sneaks into that dungeon and keeps it so well-guarded?”

“…Yes, I am curious.”

Dohwa reluctantly responded.

“Right?”

The president looked out the window with a satisfied expression. Somehow, it seemed like he wasn’t looking at the window at all.

Dohwa watched him carefully.

There’s an old saying:

“Generosity comes from a full granary.”

Just like that old saying, I was currently at ease, having secured gold from the mine.

“Ah, dinner tonight will be beef.”

By coincidence, the puppet troupe and Griffith had gone out to do the grocery shopping.

I had given them a decent amount of gold, so tonight, instead of fruit, we could feast on meat.

After Griffith and the puppet troupe left through the gate, I called the troupe kids to the castle.

It was lunchtime, after all.

“Lord Demon, Lord Demon! Is this the food that guy brought?”

The reason I called only the children was partly to feed them and play with them, but also to keep a promise.

I had eaten all the tteokbokki, but at least they should get the soup that Han Hyunjin promised.

I set up a small cauldron and firewood behind the Demon King’s castle and poured in the fish cakes and broth that Han Hyunjin had brought.

“Yes. Han Hyunjin brought this for you. There isn’t much, so I’m giving it to just you secretly. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“Yes!”

The kids gathered eagerly, eyes shining with anticipation.

Kids really do behave well when it comes to food like this.

“But, um, Lord Demon,” one of them asked.

“Yes?”

“Will that guy come again? Because you allowed it?”

As I threw in the squiggly and round fish cakes, along with sliced radish and spicy peppers, they asked.

“Why, do you want him to come?”

“Yes!”

“Why do you like him?”

“Because he brings us delicious food! The last time was really tasty too!”

They could recognize tasty food even if it was their first time trying kimbap.

A person who brings food is a good person, but you kids… you should be a bit cautious!

Then again, maybe it’s a child’s perspective—they can immediately see how sincere and diligent Han Hyunjin is.

Good people naturally open others’ hearts.

“Well, if he wants to come, he’ll come on his own.”

“Ahh.”

“Hmm, should I tell him to come?”

“Can you?”

“Why not? I’m the Demon King. Don’t you know my word is law?”

I also hoped Han Hyunjin would come to the dungeon more often. And he would probably come more often just because he was curious about me…

He had also promised to come ‘next time.’

“Heh. Lord Demon, you don’t dislike that guy?”

“I don’t dislike him anymore.”

“Why? You used to dislike him a lot!”

I waited for the broth to boil and answered spontaneously.

“I like him now.”

“Why?”

“He’s handsome.”

Apparently, the comment from the puppet troupe lady stuck in my mind. I liked him because he was handsome.

By the way, maybe because it’s a cauldron, it takes a while to boil…

The kids looked at me expectantly.

“You know the saying, ‘A handsome face feeds you well’? There’s even a proverb: ‘A handsome guy deserves an extra rice cake.’”

“Huh? How does a face feed you?”

“It means just looking at him makes you feel full. Like dried fish hung from the ceiling!”

Indeed, judging by his face alone, Han Hyunjin could rival a celebrity.

Seeing him up close and moving, it was far better than imagining it from a novel.

Like a 4K live cam.

But in the novel, his personality seemed too stubborn and boring.

He’d be tedious to live with.

Anyway, my ideal type is definitely someone else…

“Did you hear that? The guy said he likes him because he’s handsome.”

“!”

I turned my head quickly toward the kids, shocked.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Could it be that Han Hyunjin came and heard everything I said?!

Like a cliché in a fantasy romance where the heroine talks about the male lead thinking no one is around, but he hears it all…

If that were true, it would have been mortifying.

But surprisingly…

No one was there.

I really wasn’t a fantasy romance heroine.

“You little brats, how dare you tease your king!”

“Hehehe.”

It felt like my authority as a king had been trampled. This was a challenge to royal authority, but since they were kids, I let it slide…

“When you grow up, you might not even get any soup.”

I ladled the fish cake broth and blew on it, and the kids used their forks to eat the fish cakes and slurp up the soup eagerly.

“Delicious?”

“Yes!”

“Eat a lot.”

The kids began eating the unfamiliar food heartily. That alone was satisfying to watch.

But…

‘I’ve been feeling that suspicious presence all along. That someone’s here.’

In truth, I had sensed a suspicious presence entering my dungeon earlier.

My attention focused on the nearby bushes.

Then it happened.

A sharp metal object flew out from somewhere. The intruder had actually attacked me.

I knew he could attack seriously, but I didn’t expect him to do it with the kids around.

No problem though.

Whish!

The cloak I swung up deflected the dagger from the bushes, sending it flying into the forest.

“?”

“Don’t worry about it, just eat.”

I kept patting the kids’ heads.

Then again, whish! As I swung my arm and spread the cloak, shuriken-like objects slammed into it. I pressed down lightly on the kids’ heads as I patted them.

At the same time, I thought I heard a shocked groan from beyond the bushes.

“Have you finished eating?”

“Yes. It was delicious.”

“Ask that guy to bring it again, Lord Demon!”

“Alright.”

The broth made with seafood and radish was spicy and delicious, earning a five-star rating from the kids.

I promised to relay their compliments to Han Hyunjin and led them to the back gate of the Demon Castle.

“Go inside and lock the door.”

“Why?”

“There are no adults. I’ll open it if I ask.”

“Aren’t you coming in, Lord Demon?”

“I have a little errand.”

“Okaaaay.”

The kids obediently went inside and closed the door. Click. I confirmed it was locked and slowly turned around.

Suddenly, I felt my eyes turn red, and the flow of the surroundings became vividly visible, like smoke in my vision.

At the same time, a blue window appeared before my eyes.

[▶ Demon King’s Vision V1]

“Hey.”

“……”

“Oh? Not answering?”

I had already been spotted.

“Come out while I’m being nice. If you don’t want to die.”

Grind. As I unclenched my fists, I saw the bushes twitch.

An intruder with guts had entered my dungeon.