by Park Saenal
“We didn’t even get in the top three this year? The continent’s weather has plummeted.”
“Dammit… We were pushed by South Korea…”
“There is no need to blame anyone. The players were pushed by the S.A Group, not because of their abilities. In the first place, does it make sense for a South Korean player to play the role of the Demon King? The competition itself wasn’t fair. Our China is the true third.”
The doubts and anger of the Chinese were reasonable. Demon King Grid had killed China’s rising star, Mei Xiao, at the beginning of the battle.
A press conference was held amidst this turmoil. It was a press conference for Yoon Sangmin, the executive director of the S.A Group and a member of the National Competition’s committee. He sat facing nearly one thousand reporters alone and picked up the microphone without the slightest bit of tension.
A reporter from CMM, the largest US news channel, asked the first question, “Many people are feeling doubts and have complaints about giving special benefits to Grid, who played the role of the Demon King. There is a consensus that the S.A Group is favorable to Korean players because they are a Korean company. How is the S.A Group planning to put their complaints to rest?”
“We can’t accept the complaints. We didn’t give any preferential treatment to Grid.”
“Huh?”
“We have adopted the Demon King Subjugation as a regular event. It will be held every year in the future and the role of the Demon King will be assigned to a qualified top ranker, just like it was done with Grid this year. There is a clause that says a player who has been the Demon King once can’t do it again. Thus, this is a clarification of the misunderstanding that the Demon King Subjugation event was prepared only for Grid.”
“Do you mean next year’s Demon King can get the same rewards as Grid this year?”
“Of course. If they achieve the same results, they will get the same reward. We have determined that the Demon King Subjugation event is suitable for the purpose of ‘a competition that joins players together’ and will guarantee many rewards for both players and the Demon King. We hope that all players will enjoy it. The National Competition is a festival that promotes harmony in the world.”
“Will they receive the same stats correction?”
“Stats correction?”
“The stats correction Grid received when he took on the role of the Demon King. In fact, most people’s doubts and complaints were about the stats, rather than the rewards. It is the unanimous reaction from people that an excessive stats correction was the cause of the 1-against-400 victory. Next year’s Demon King will have the same correction effect as Grid’s Demon King, and people will complain once again. The Demon King Subjugation will become a festival for the few people ‘lucky’ enough to become the Demon King.”
“Haha, that’s funny but you’re mistaken. The correction effect that we gave to the Demon King is the minimum qualification to be called a boss monster—health.”
“…?” The CMM reporter was confused because of the unimaginable answer. While he was trying to interpret the question correctly, other media reporters quickly spoke up. “Does that mean you didn’t give any benefits other than health?”
“That’s right. The Demon King gains 500,000 health every 10 minutes until the gates guarded by the fourth Demon King are broken through. That is the basic rule for a ‘raid’, and it is an inevitable benefit.”
“If it is 500,000 health per 10 minutes and the total progress of the raid on the four heavenly kings was one hour and 38 minutes, does that mean Grid had a total of 4.5 million health?”
“Oh, Grid only received 200,000 health per 10 minutes.”
“Huh? Didn’t you just say 500,000?”
“That’s the basic rule. Next year, the player who becomes the Demon King will get an additional 500,000 health every 10 minutes.”
“No, then why is Grid different with 200,000 health…?”
“Grid’s subordinates who acted as the four heavenly kings were too strong. We were forced to put constraints on Grid.”
“…?”
He was so strong that constraints were placed on him…? If the Demon King Subjugation was to be adopted as a regular event and held steadily every year… It meant that Grid alone had fought in a disadvantageous manner compared to the players who would become Demon King in the future. They thought Grid had received preferential treatment, but it was reverse discrimination.
In this sizzling atmosphere, Yoon Sangmin released data related to the Demon King Subjugation. Grid had only received 200,000 health every 10 minutes. The surprising thing was that the Grid on the screen didn’t complain at all. He had been silent throughout the four heavenly kings raid and hadn’t shown any response to the penalty. It was a clear attitude.
He wouldn’t be the supreme player if he couldn’t tolerate this much. In fact, he would be ashamed if he didn’t sacrifice this much. Grid seemed to endure it with his spirit.
“…” The press conference was silent. The people around the world watching the press conference were also quiet. All of them were impressed by Grid’s attitude. The one who broke the silence was a Japanese reporter. As soon as he had Director Yoon Sangmin’s permission, he carefully asked a question, “You said that the identity of the four heavenly kings are Grid’s subordinates… Are you referring to NPCs owned by Grid?”
“Correct.”
“Did they receive the S.A Group’s support?”
“Yes, it is stated in the application form for future ‘Demon Kings’ that the four heavenly kings must be the player’s NPCs or pets. They have to use their own power to truly be the Demon King.”
“What correction effect did you give to the four heavenly kings?”
“It is like the Demon King. We gave them extra health to make it a raid. However, the exact correction figure will vary according to the level of the four heavenly kings. Thus, I can’t tell you the exact amount.”
“The other stats?”
“There is nothing. For reference, the four heavenly kings this year didn’t receive any health correction.”
“…Huh?”
Grid and the four heavenly kings—the monsters that killed 100 rankers each had been in their genuine states…? It meant the NPCs owned by Grid were stronger than the 400 rankers. Moreover, wasn’t Grid a king? He wouldn’t only have four NPCs.
‘How much power does Grid have?’
‘Perhaps he can fight the empire?’
Yoon Sangmin’s press conference was meant to quell the confusion, but it ended up causing greater confusion. The reporters’ minds were filled with Grid. Yoon Sangmin’s press conference wasn’t over yet, but the reporters’ gazes kept shifting toward the clock. They were waiting for Grid to enter the venue after Director Yoon Sangmin.
However, time flowed too slowly. Not long after the reporters felt like this…
Yoon Sangmin rose from his seat. Then a handsome Asian man entered the conference. “I am Grid.”
The reporters’ anticipation was heightened because of his determined expression which made him seem like he had something important to say.
Chapter 967
“I am Grid,” Grid introduced himself in a simple manner and looked around the conference venue. There were maybe over one thousand people…? The reporters filled up the conference room like bean sprouts. Despite this, Grid wasn’t nervous at all. He was accustomed to this kind of situation as the king of a nation.
Grid leisurely examined the reporters’ faces before pointing to a blonde reporter. “Ask a question.”
The lucky person who got to speak first was a reporter for Canada’s national television station. She didn’t have positive or negative intentions toward Grid. Instead, she just showed her genuine passion as a reporter. That’s why Grid selected her. Grid read the reporters’ different intentions with a quick look and led the press conference to begin smoothly.
“I am Caroline from the CBC Cultural Department of Canada.
First of all, congratulations on your win. Please tell us how you feel about fighting against 400 rankers alone and winning.”
“I am naturally delighted.”
“Did you expect to win from the beginning?”
“That’s impossible. I was just lucky.”
“What exactly are you calling luck?”
First, the timing of Duke of Wisdom’s Magic Contemplation was too good. The players misunderstood that, so Grid managed to be safe from the magicians throughout the battle. The greater luck was that Kraugel didn’t engage in the fight. However, Grid had no intention of disclosing these facts. He didn’t want to expose his own limitations, and he also didn’t want to raise a topic that would cause Kraugel to be criticized.
“No comment.”
The question was passed onto the next reporter. “Director Yoon Sangmin said that you weren’t given any preferential treatment. The ability to reflect magic and summon the magic machine should be interpreted as your unique ability. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Grid had revealed all of his powers in the Demon King Subjugation. It could be somewhat dangerous, so he started bluffing. He didn’t explain the effect of Duke of Wisdom or that the magic machine was the result of copying rather than summoning. Instead, he just allowed people to keep misunderstanding.
‘In the first place, they don’t know about the item duplication.’ It wasn’t possible for anyone other than Grid or his aides to understand the concept of duplicating an item.
Then a sharp question emerged. “The appearance of your magic machine is exactly the same as Zibal’s magic machine. Not only that, the emblem of the empire was carved in the same place. Doesn’t this mean that Grid’s magic machine was originally owned by the empire? How did you get an empire weapon?”
It was a reasonable question, but he hadn’t predicted it in advance. Grid was struggling to answer when a reporter made a guess.
“Did you receive a gift when you visited the empire with the emperor’s invitation?”
“…?”
The emperor was crazy enough to give him a gift…? Moreover, it was an ancient artifact? It was absurd, but it wasn’t unfounded. The Saharan Empire had been the first to propose the peace treaty, and Grid had visited the imperial palace at the emperor’s invitation. Was the relationship between the Saharan Empire and the Overgeared Kingdom more special than the world knew?
The relationship between Grid and the emperor couldn’t be simple if the emperor gave Grid a gift. Grid was silent, and the reporters started typing because they interpreted it as a positive response. Articles such as ‘Grid has the Saharan emperor’s favor?’ and ‘The Saharan Empire and the Overgeared Kingdom are eternal allies?’ appeared on the Internet.
‘Well… I don’t dislike him.’
Certainly, Emperor Juander was a person different in comparison to what was known. He was a tyrant who dominated the continent in a violent way, but he had also given a great gift to Grid who would someday become his obstacle. The gift was Mercedes the legendary knight. She was much more valuable than the magic machine.
‘To be exact, it wasn’t a gift he gave me.’
The emperor had sent Mercedes to the Overgeared Kingdom for Piaro, not Grid. Tricked by Great Demon Astaroth, the emperor had declared his friend and loyal knight a traitor. Once he learned the truth, he sent Mercedes to Piaro’s side in the hopes that Piaro could spend his last years comfortably.
Of course, the emperor never imagined that Piaro would be a farmer and living well. Additionally, Piaro was still sharpening his sword of revenge toward the empress.
‘Piaro’s heart is complicated.’
The third question was from a Chinese reporter. It was a reporter who stared at Grid with grim eyes from beginning to end. “In the early stages of the battle, you used a skill that brought hundreds of players to their knees. In that short time, you killed Player Mei Xiao. What were your intentions behind this action?”
The Chinese people hated Grid. Having defeated their hero Hao, Grid looked like an eyesore to them as he stood in the position of the greatest. Thus, the Chinese media couldn’t be sympathetic to Grid. The Chinese media criticized Grid according to public opinion. It was reported that Grid did a malicious act against China by assassinating Mei Xiao.
Of course, Grid also knew these facts. That’s why he behaved more carefully. “Mei Xiao is incredibly good as a new generation player. Early in the battle, she was one of the most threatening players, so she was the first target. If I failed to kill her, I definitely would’ve been defeated in the Demon King Subjugation.”
“…Are you acknowledging Mei Xiao’s abilities?”
“I think anyone would acknowledge her considering what she showed at the National Competition this year.”
“T-That’s right.” The Chinese reporter blushed and sat down like he was embarrassed by asking such an obvious question. Then he started to write an article with an excited expression.
The Chinese people watching the broadcast also softened their hearts. Grid showed a casual expression. He acted like praising Mei Xiao was as natural as flowing water. The Chinese people became aware of two facts. Mei Xiao was a true rising star from China, and Grid had no prejudice or malice toward China.
-If he hated China, he wouldn’t acknowledge Mei Xiao.
-Grid’s favorite food is jjampong! Chinese noodles!
-Grid is pro-China.
-Simple fools. You are deceived by lip service.
-It’s lip service to acknowledge Mei Xiao’s skills…? He is telling the truth. Why is it lip service? Aren’t you an offensive jerk?
Looking at this, the offensive jerks were split up between China and Korea. The friendlier Grid was, the better the situation became. Since the loss of Khan, Grid became even more aware of this important fact. He should refrain from acting emotionally and making too many enemies. The effect was great.
A reporter from Argentina asked gingerly, “Did you kill Seuron first for the same reason as Mei Xiao?”
‘No, it is because Seuron spread rumors about hemorrhoids.’
…Grid suppressed the words rising in his throat and barely managed a smile. “That’s right. I was wary of Seuron, who becomes stronger as the casualties increase.”
30 minutes passed by. The questions and answers continued for a short period of time.
“You used a skill two times in a row. What type of ability was involved?”
“I will only say it is a hidden card.”
“Did you promise a one on one match with Kraugel in advance?”
“No.”
“It is rumored that there is criticism among a very small number of people in South Korea. They say the overall ranking of South Korea is lowered as a result of you participating in the competition as an individual rather than as part of South Korea. What do you think about this reaction?”
“I fully understand their feelings.”
“How do you rate Zibal who has returned after a long time?”
“I am impressed with his rapid development. He is one of the players to be most cautious about.”
“People are calling God of War Ares as the most likely candidate to be the next Demon King. What do you think about this?”
“I also expect Ares to be one of the candidates. The other one is Pope Damian. I think will be really scary if the gates are guarded by Rebecca’s Daughters.”
“The power of the Overgeared Kingdom has grown over the years. Do you have any plans to expand the Overgeared Kingdom?”
“Please only ask questions related to the National Competition.”
…And so forth. Time flowed on very smoothly. Reporters asked questions that the audience might be curious about, and Grid responded to them with skill. The ‘most viewed news’ all over the world was filled with Grid’s press conference.
The press conference itself ended smoothly. The reporters showed expressions of slight disappointment, but most of them wanted to maint
ain their relationship with Grid and didn’t ask any inflammatory questions.
At this moment, a reporter raised his courage and asked a question, “It is known that Grid has received offers to be an advertising model for Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Maybach, and other luxurious car brands. Then shortly after the Demon King Subjugation ended, you made a remark that suggested you’ve signed a contract with Daejin Motors. Is the reason why they were able to grab you over the world’s best brands related to Player Yura?”
Daejin Motors had become famous because of Grid’s words. Now, everyone in the world knew the brand Daejin Motors, and they also knew that Yura was the granddaughter of the chairman of the Daejin Group. It was easy to make the relationship between Grid, Yura, and Daejin Motors. Still, the reporters hadn’t asked blatantly because it was a personal question. Indeed, the sharp-eyed staff members were trying to pull away the American reporter who asked the rude question.
However, Grid stopped them. Surprisingly, Grid had been waiting for this question.
He faced the dozens of cameras lined up like a wall and pulled out the answer he had prepared. “I chose Daejin Motors because I personally like the new luxury King General Sys from Daejin Motors. Originally, I was going to sign with a supercar that you know well. Then I happened to walk past a Daejin Motors car dealership and saw the King General Sys on display. I entered the sales office in a bewitched manner and tried it out with the recommendation of a friendly staff member. It was unbelievably beautiful and drove well. Of course, there was a part that was regrettable. It was released as a luxury brand, but the price was quite inexpensive compared to the world’s top three cars. Thus, some of the specifications didn’t satisfy me 100%. I wanted to have a King General Sys and put in an inquiry with Daejin Motors.”
“…What was the inquiry?”
Grid was openly doing promotion. The reporters knew the truth but had to ask the question. This was why Grid stopped talking at that part. Grid looked somewhat excited as he said, “Daejin Motors were willing to design the God General Sys just for me. I was impressed by the prompt customer service of Daejin Motors and decided to become their model.”