The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 64: The Speech (2)

For a moment, the crowd forgot their nationalities and chanted the name of the hero who saved London in unison.

It was a natural reaction, as everyone knew that he, a foreigner, had risked his life for their country.

However, not everyone was cheering for Lee Seo-jun.

“…You’re still in league with the demons, after all.”

“…This incident must be their own doing. How could a foreigner arrive earlier than our British hunters?”

People muttering in the crowd. Brooks, a middle-aged man, observed them.

‘As expected, there are others like me.’

Brooks understood them. After all, he too had lost his parents to demons.

The only difference between him and them was that he didn’t step forward like that. It might be called cowardice, but this silence was a kind of courtesy he showed to that man.

‘The fact that he saved London remains unchanged.’

The cheers for Lee Seo-jun continued. It was enough to easily drown out any dissenting voices.

But when a pair of men and women appeared on the balcony, the atmosphere changed.

A middle-aged man in secretary attire and a woman with silver short hair.

‘…Demon race.’

With the unsettling appearance of the demon race, the cheers that had filled the streets gradually subsided.

No matter how helpful they had been in this incident, it was hard to cheer for demons who had been the scourge of humanity.

And the extremists didn’t miss this opportunity.

“Get out of here, you demons!”

“How dare you show your faces here! Do you know where you are?”

Clear hostility displayed in front of them.

A woman who was watching this distastefully spoke up.

“Isn’t that going too far? They may be demons, but they helped save us this time.”

Judging by the bandage on her cheek, she seemed to be a survivor of this incident.

Indeed, there were certainly those who had been moved by their actions this time. But conversely, there were also those who remained unchanged.

“So what? Does that change the fact that they’re demons? We don’t know when they’ll show their true nature! I lost my little sister to demons like them!”

It was those who, like him, had lost someone precious to demons.

“That’s…”

The woman avoided his eyes filled with immense hatred. It was an emotion too large for one person to handle.

The man who had shouted at the woman turned to the balcony with agitated eyes.

“Lee Seo-jun, you’re no different for leading such demons! Get out of here, Demon King!”

Those who agreed with him raised their voices. Though not many in number, their emotions were enormous.

Brooks observed them and then shifted his gaze to the balcony.

Lee Seo-jun, quietly staring this way.

‘Now, what will you do?’

There was no one to help him now. Even if someone else tried to placate them, they would be helplessly swept away by this torrent of emotions.

‘What method will you choose?’

The first thing that came to mind was him suppressing them with overwhelming fear.

It was a method that strong hunters had often used, a simple way to quell this disturbance.

‘But that always ended badly.’

The next thing that came to mind was simply ignoring them.

From the start, the worlds of hunters and ordinary people were different. Even if ordinary people criticized hunters as much as they wanted, there was nothing they could do to affect them.

But what Lee Seo-jun chose was a surprisingly unexpected method.

“I understand you all.”

He faced their hatred head-on.

It was such an unexpected response that they were momentarily taken aback.

“…What, what?”

“I said I understand that look in your eyes.”

Lee Seo-jun spoke in fluent English.

They stood there with dumbfounded expressions for a moment, then one man shouted back.

“D-Don’t make me laugh! What would you know! Such disgusting hypocrisy—”

“H-Hey… That guy also…”

Someone who knew Lee Seo-jun’s past tried to restrain him.

Seeing them, Lee Seo-jun smiled bitterly.

“Well, fortunately, it seems I won’t have to tell that story again.”

Lee Seo-jun took a breath and continued.

“Yes, I too once hated demons like you do. When I closed my eyes to sleep, the faces of demons would linger, and the emotions I felt that day would surge up.”

“Even if you sympathize like that, we—”

“I’m not trying to persuade you right now.”

“…You’re not trying to persuade us?”

“That’s right.”

Lee Seo-jun nodded at that question.

“Humans don’t change easily because of others. In fact, I changed because I realized for myself that these demons were different from others, not because someone changed me. That’s what I want to say.”

Lee Seo-jun took a deep breath and shouted to them.

“And the same goes for you all. Even if I pour out words here, that hatred you have for demons won’t subside. Because you haven’t realized it for yourselves.”

His straightforward voice was enough to captivate their attention.

“So you can hate them as you’ve always done. Of course, it’s a very painful thing, but you have the right to do so. Whether you hate them or like them, it’s entirely your freedom.”

“…I still hate demons.”

It was said in a tone that seemed almost stubborn.

“Yes, that’s your freedom.”

Lee Seo-jun smiled at them wistfully.

As no one dared to speak up, silence hung over the crowd.

And after a moment, Lee Seo-jun suddenly declared, spreading his arms wide.

“I will build walls from now on. Walls so strong that no one would dare touch what’s inside them.”

Everyone quietly looked up at him.

“I have that kind of power. And the same goes for these beings.”

Lee Seo-jun’s low voice dominated the space.

“But even I cannot protect those outside the walls. From the start, I have no intention of protecting that far, and above all else, I will prioritize those inside the walls.”

Lee Seo-jun looked down at everyone with a distant gaze.

“You have all trembled in fear and lost precious ones to monsters. Some lost parents, some siblings, some friends.”

Everyone held their breath and listened to his words.

“But if you trust these demon folk, they will become your walls. They will sometimes protect you, and sometimes be your companions.”

Quel and Hyude stood tall beside Lee Seo-jun, as if assisting him.

The crowd looked at Lee Seo-jun, then at those demon folk. But still, the distrust in their eyes remained undiminished.

At that moment when no change seemed to have been made, Lee Seo-jun shouted louder than ever before.

“Listen, everyone!”

His resounding voice seemed to declare to all beings on Earth.

The startled crowd’s attention focused on Lee Seo-jun.

“I will not refuse your entry into these walls, nor will I dissuade you from leaving! That choice is yours alone!”

His firm tone gripped the hearts of the crowd tightly.

“But if anyone tries to harm these walls, I will mete out appropriate punishment! You must choose from now on! Whether to live inside the walls I’ve built, or outside them!”

As if signaling the end of his speech, Lee Seo-jun shouted with all his might.

“People of the world!”

His gaze of supreme dignity swept over all.

“Prove your worth to me.”

In the silent landscape, only his presence shone distinctly. The deep darkness was swallowing all light and gazes like a black hole.

Soon, the man who had spoken with Lee Seo-jun earlier asked.

“So you’re saying… if we trust those demon folk, things like losing a little sister won’t happen anymore…?”

“I can’t protect everyone. But I’ll do my best.”

They sincerely pondered whether to enter the walls Lee Seo-jun had built.

Brooks watched this scene and genuinely admired it.

‘…He’s an extraordinary person.’

Lee Seo-jun didn’t try to persuade them, but drew a clear line on the ground. Then, he let them choose their place for themselves.

But while it was called a choice, it was essentially coercion. For these people, the other side of that line would seem so brilliant and peaceful.

He was truly a formidable strategist.

‘No, is this only possible because it’s him?’

If he had been an insignificant being, everyone would have scoffed. But Lee Seo-jun possessed an indescribable dignity.

In fact.

“L-Lee Seo-jun!”

Some people began to chant his name. It spread like an epidemic in an instant.

Even those who had opposed him just moments ago were quietly joining in.

Waaah───!

Lee Seo-jun stood there calmly, as if this was the natural result.

“…I still can’t believe it.”

“…Let’s go back.”

But of course, there were those who turned away at that line.

No matter how great his speech was, if everything could change with just a few words, there would be no problems in this world.

Brooks stared at Lee Seo-jun on the balcony for a moment, then averted his gaze.

‘…This isn’t a place for me.’

If he believed in those walls, it felt like something he had been holding in his heart all this time would crumble. Without that, he felt he couldn’t go on living.

Just as he was about to turn away from that line out of fear.

“Mister.”

Looking down at the bell-like voice, he saw a brown-haired little girl.

Surprised, Brooks asked.

“…Huh?”

“Give me a piggyback ride. I can’t see because of the people.”

The girl said boldly, spreading her tiny arms.

…Clearly a child he had never seen before, but her attitude suggested they had known each other for years.

“Where are your parents?”

“Daddy’s hurt. And my daddy is short.”

…So that’s why she came to me, being tall.

Just then, a man who seemed to be the girl’s father emerged from the crowd.

“I-I’m sorry. Aria, come here quickly!”

“No. I want to see.”

The girl shook her head, still with her arms spread.

…Indeed, not only was he short, but he had a bandage on one arm, making it difficult to give a piggyback ride.

Sighing, Brooks picked up the small girl.

“It’s alright. It’s not hard to give one piggyback ride.”

“Th-thank you. Aria, don’t be a bother and come down soon, okay?”

“Okay!”

As Brooks gave her a piggyback ride, the girl laughed delightedly.

“Ahaha! So high!”

“…Can you see well now?”

“Yes! Thank you, mister!”

The girl patted Brooks’ head and then looked up. Seeing Lee Seo-jun on the balcony, the child exclaimed in admiration.

The girl said excitedly.

“Mister, you know what? That big brother saved me!”

As he looked up, feeling a bit hurt by the difference in how she addressed Lee Seo-jun and himself, Brooks’ eyes shook violently.

The child’s eyes, beaming with a bright smile, were shining like stars in the night sky. As if nothing else mattered.

“It was warm.”

…Perhaps this girl’s face was what someone wanted to protect. A space where children could live at ease in peace.

It was a scene he had forgotten somewhere along the way. Had he smiled like that before the great cataclysm? And had his parents thought the same as him?

‘If I could watch over this smile…’

His hands holding the child’s legs tightened.

Brooks looked at Lee Seo-jun. Lee Seo-jun, radiating the warmth of life like the sun. Suddenly, he was reminded of the sun he used to look up at while lying in the front yard.

He smiled at that familiar, warm sunlight.

“…I see.”

Brooks, still holding the girl’s legs, asked.

“Want to see closer?”

“Yes!”

Brooks’ steps moved towards the sun as if enchanted.

By the time he came to his senses, he had already crossed that line.

===

**

===

After finishing my speech, I returned to Korea using [Magic Path].

Honestly, this is just a temporary measure.

What I did wasn’t changing the perception of demon folk itself, but merely showing their necessity.

Of course, I think I’ve brought about a big change, but if people suffer harm from demons again, the aversion will return.

“Oh, it’s Lee Seo-jun!”

“Mr. Hyude, your secretary uniform looks great!”

“Sister Quel, you’re so beautiful!”

When we arrived at the liaison office, a large crowd welcomed us.

It seems things have improved a lot in Korea. It’s a great result, but we can’t stop here.

As we pushed through the crowd and entered the building, Quel said,

“Your Majesty, this feels strange.”

“I feel the same way.”

I hope they get used to this too. No, I will make them get used to it.

I looked at the Twilight Magic Kingdom staff.

“You all should handle the backlog of work here. I have a lot to do as well.”

“Yes, understood.”

I went up to my office. Due to focusing on London’s recovery for a week, work had piled up.

I plan to start with the most important tasks first.

Sitting in my office, I picked up an ‘invitation’.

(To be continued in the next episode)