The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 21: Hell (3)

“What… what is this?”

Lee Han-gil couldn’t believe the sight unfolding before him. Sharp, piercing sword energy surged, followed by last gasps. The once silent building was now echoing the cries of hell.

“How can that be an S-class Hunter?”

This place had enough power to suppress even an SS-class Hunter. However, Lee Seo-jun, in a state of frenzy, continued his indiscriminate killing.

“Argh!”

Every time a trajectory was drawn by the Seven Cravings, one life after another withered away. Severed bodies were strewn on the floor, and blood filled the air. Amidst all the death, only Lee Seo-jun stood victorious.

“……”

His gaze turned towards us. Despite his frenzy, there was no sign of fatigue. The immense pressure he exuded made it feel as though one needed his permission to even breathe.

“You’re not going to rush at me?”

Lee Han-gil’s face furrowed, perceiving himself as prey.

“I am different from the others!”

Lee Han-gil began to transform into a demon. Unlike the other followers, his size grew to almost 5 meters.

“Die!”

A massive red shape lunged at Lee Seo-jun. He stood calmly, unyielding. As sharp claws came within inches of his face, his sword slightly rose.

Swoosh!

With that, Lee Han-gil’s head and body were severed. Only the afterimage of a pitch-black sword indicated that the blade had swung.

“Indeed, you were different.”

Blood spurted from the clean cut. The once haughty face slid down the steep incline of his own body and tumbled onto the floor.

Thud.

His body hit the floor, slightly lifting Lee Seo-jun’s bangs before they settled back down. His eyes then met Heo Ki-Chan’s.

Step by step—

Lee Seo-jun slowly approached. The blood glistening on the surface looked like a red carpet.

Stopping before Heo Ki-Chan, only a table stood between them.

“You’re the only one left.”

A flicker of hostility passed between their locked gazes.

Rumble—

Just then, a vibration was felt from the upper floor. A tremendous sense of impending doom followed. As Lee Seo-jun looked up, Heo Ki-Chan twisted his lips.

“Hahahaha!”

Suddenly hearing laughter, Lee Seo-jun turned his eyes back to Heo Ki-Chan.

“What are you laughing at?”

“I’m laughing because I see your future! You will be horribly torn apart by the Demon Marquis!”

” Demon Marquis?”

“The world will fall into fear! But this is just the beginning! That day is getting closer, so be afraid, foolish humans!”

Heo Ki-Chan spread his arms, praising the demon. Lee Seo-jun simply looked at him intently.

Thud. Thud.

Heavy vibrations sounded from above. Though they moved away, the noise grew louder. It was headed down the stairs.

“Ah, so this is it.”

Susuran Sishian, commonly called ‘Susuran’ revealed himself from the stairway. With red skin and sharp curves, he was a giant with a height of 5 meters and slit pupils.

“Why is no one showing their face now that I am here?”

Susuran gripped the walls as he descended the narrow stairs. And then, looking at the pile of corpses on the floor, he raised a question.

“Hmm? I thought it was strange because of the smell of blood, but did you guys fight among yourselves?”

“Lord Susuran! I summoned you here! I’m really sorry I couldn’t greet you properly! Some rascal caused a disturbance!”

Heo Ki-Chan quickly appeared from beside the table to welcome Susuran.

Susuran shifted his gaze to the culprit.

In front of him stood the back of Lee Seo-jun.

“Ah, so that guy alone made this mess? Not a bad form of entertainment for a moment…”

Susuran approached him, displaying his sharp fangs. With each step, the puddles of blood splashed.

“Hey, lesser being. Isn’t it polite to turn around when I’m here? Or are you scared—”

Susuran’s hand, which was about to touch Lee Seo-jun’s shoulder, suddenly stopped.

Not just his hand, his entire body had frozen like a statue.

Heo Ki-Chan showed a puzzled expression.

“Lord Susuran? What’s wrong?”

“Hey.”

A trembling voice.

“Yes?”

“Why is this guy here?”

“What do you mean by that…”

Susuran backed away in overwhelming fear.

“It’s impossible… This guy shouldn’t be here… What have you all done? Greed can go too far…”

Susuran’s voice was shaking terribly.

“A black cloak and black uniform, apricot-colored skin and black hair too. Ah… seeing this confirms it… He’s just like the Apocalypse of the Demon King of Lust…”

“Apocalypse?”

“Reverse summon me immediately.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“Now!!!”

Susuran snapped at Heo Ki-Chan, turning to look at him. The face that was once full of confidence was now crumpled in fear.

Susuran pointed his sharp finger at Lee Seo-jun.

“Are you saying you really don’t know anything after seeing this guy?!”

“Who exactly is this guy…?”

“That guy is Solomon’s Demon!”

Slash!!

A thick, dark aura passed through Susuran.

Following its trajectory, Susuran’s giant body began to split.

“Damn it…”

Those were his last words before his nerves were completely severed.

His eyes rolled back, and his massive body fell into two pieces.

Heo Ki-Chan blankly stared at the fountaining blood from Susuran, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

“Is this the end?”

At the sound of the voice, Heo Ki-Chan turned his shaky head.

Lee Seo-jun, twisting his body halfway,

His sword was swirling with a vast magical aura, and his gaze was icy cold.

“If there are any more, summon them all at once. This is bothersome.”

That man had sliced the demon noble in one go.

Although he took in the information, his brain still couldn’t interpret it.

Snipe!

Suddenly, a flesh-colored object spun through the air. A hand rose, then fell with a thud onto the ground.

Heo Ki-Chan looked at his own arm with a vacant expression.

The next moment, blood spurted from the cleanly severed wrist.

“Aaargh!!”

“Your screams are quite entertaining. I won’t kill you easily.”

“Damn…”

Heo Ki-Chan used his other hand to press down on his severed wrist and jumped back.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but if it’s come to this, fight me!”

Growl–

A sinister energy erupted from Heo Ki-Chan’s body, distorting and twisting his form.

… Lee Seo-jun kindly waited.

He didn’t want to kill Heo Ki-Chan easily. More importantly, there was information to extract.

Growl—

Heo Ki-Chan’s body rapidly expanded, causing the building to collapse. His head broke through the ceiling, and the floor was crushed under his massive feet.

Soon, the forlorn moonlight poured into the collapsed building.

“…”

Lee Seo-jun looked up and examined Heo Ki-Chan. His frame was as large as an apartment building, and he had two horns like a mountain goat. Overall, he resembled a goat. ‘So, he managed to regenerate his hand…’

Woosh—

A massive hand swung, and a powerful gust of wind followed. Lee Seo-jun lightly jumped out of the building.

Boom!

Due to Heo Ki-Chan’s hand, the building was demolished, and debris flew in all directions. Landing on the ground, Lee Seo-jun quickly scanned the area. He saw mountains in the distance; this was neither a city nor a village. It felt like a church standing alone in the mountains.

A red gleam flickered in the eyes of the massive mountain goat.

“Foolish human, why struggle when you will inevitably die once ‘He’ descends?”

“…Who is ‘He’?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“The Demon King of Greed, huh.”

“……!”

Heo Ki-Chan staggered back.

…What? Does this guy know something? Or did he read my thoughts?

No, considering he’s using magic, the likelihood that he already knows about the Demon King of Greed is high. Thinking he read my thoughts must be a delusion.

“What’s Cult of Great Sin?”

“Do you think I would tell you—”

“So, it’s an organization made up of the Seven Deadly Sins… I suspected as much, but I didn’t think it would actually be true.”

“How, how did you…”

No, it’s not a delusion.

The guy was definitely seeing through him.

Lee Seo-jun continued with his questions, cutting off Heo Ki-Chan’s thoughts.

“Then what is this so-called ‘oracle’?”

“Kuh…”

“Hmm, no need to struggle. I’ll just ask him later.”

Lee Seo-jun calmly entered a meditative state.

‘Now!’

Taking advantage of the moment, Heo Ki-Chan took a deep breath. The air around him condensed into his lungs, which rapidly expanded.

Whoooom!

The next moment, a pitch-black beam erupted from his mouth, slicing through the moonlight towards Lee Seo-jun. Only then did Lee Seo-jun shift his gaze.

Kraaaang!

A thunderous noise reverberated through the mountains.

The birds resting on the trees scattered into the night sky, and the grass on the ground was swept away.

Laughing uproariously, Heo Ki-Chan thought,

‘Hahaha! You let your guard down, what a fool!’

To be honest, had they been fully engaged, he would have lost. His downfall was his arrogance.

But then…

Sssssst—!

The beam began to split into two.

Soon after, the beam entirely vanished, and silence filled the air.

“That was somewhat impressive.”

…There was no trace.

Only a black aura surrounded him.

“Leader of Greed, Heo Ki-Chan.”

“How, how do you know my name…”

As Lee Seo-jun walked through the grass, Heo Ki-Chan instinctively retreated.

“Your sin is ‘Greed’. Your excessive desire almost led you to consume me, a meal you can’t digest. Had you restrained yourself, you might have lived another day.”

Lee Seo-jun slowly raised his arm.

The tip of his sword caught the moonlight.

“I’ll give you a punishment that matches your sin. Human consumed by Greed, Heo Ki-Chan, I’ll execute you with the 18-piece cut.”

Swoosh!

The afterimage of the sword hid in the night sky, but the erupting power was vivid.

The arm floated momentarily before falling to the ground. The sturdy body crashed like a falling leaf.

As Lee Seo-jun pointed his sword again, the figure finally became visible.

“Start counting.”

Thump!

Lee Seo-jun lightly kicked off the ground and soared into the air.

On a night sky filled with a full moon and twinkling stars, the silhouette of the Demon King became clear.

The Demon King had jumped to eye level to face him.

“Your hell starts now.”

Flames of hell flickered at the tip of the Demon King’s sword.

(To be continued in the next episode)