The World's Greatest Troublemaker

Chapter 1

A ronin. A wandering warrior. The lowest of the low among those who wield a blade.

Damn it. That was me.

Do you have any idea what it’s like to live as a ronin in the Martial World? It’s a dog’s life, truly. The tempers on those sword-wielding bastards are foul. Can you imagine what it’s like to live while trying to please them? It’s a misery beyond words.

So, I had no choice but to become vicious. I lived with fierce tenacity. I earned nicknames like ‘Fighting Dog’ and ‘Mad Dog.’ In this world, the moment you’re seen as a pushover, it’s over. Not that I went around acting like a complete lunatic. If I had, I would’ve been cut down and killed long ago.

I didn't just mind my grudges; I made sure to repay every kindness. I took care of my own and was merciless to my enemies. But even so, nothing changed. My life was still wretched. An existence where I couldn't even die properly.

That’s why, when I realized I’d been used as bait and abandoned in the fight against the Blood Cult, and as I lay dying from a sword wound to my stomach while trying to escape, I made a resolution. If I were ever reborn, I would never live such a pathetic life again.

Then, suddenly, I heard a voice from somewhere asking if I would take a chance. Of course, I said I would. No matter what happened, could it possibly be worse than this?

* * *

Son of a bitch!

There was a basement beneath the floor.

When I came to my senses, I was in a strange place, and the people there were calling me a hero. A hero? My ass. The Demon King had invaded, and since they couldn't stop him with their own power, they just started summoning people from all over the place.

And then what? They threw me onto a battlefield and told me to catch the Demon King. It was ridiculous. Did they really think a worthless ronin could catch the Demon King? Forget the Demon King; I’d be dead in one hit from one of his underlings.

But they had been somewhat clever. The dragon who summoned the heroes had cast a strange spell on us. Even if we died, we would come back to life! And so, an endless battle began.

Doesn't make sense, you say? How could a dragon have that kind of power? How should I know? There were all sorts of stories. That the Celestial Tribe was behind it. That a god had intervened. But what did any of that matter? It wasn't like I could verify it anyway. I just had no choice but to keep fighting.

You think not being able to die would be great, don't you? Wow. I thought so too at first. It was hell. To die and die again, only to be revived and forced to keep fighting. It’s the kind of thing that truly drives you mad.

But then, I suddenly realized something. I was gradually getting stronger. The dragon hadn't just summoned people; it had also summoned a ton of books and knowledge from all sorts of dimensions.

What do you think was my biggest regret when I lived as a ronin? It was the lack of opportunity to learn. So, I learned everything I could get my hands on. I had plenty of time, so what else was there to do? Hundreds of years passed like that, and I was able to learn and apply things to my heart's content. Medicine, martial arts, spirit arts, internal energy cultivation methods, magic.

It was pretty funny, actually. I honestly thought it was impossible to defeat the Demon King. But as I got a little stronger, my thinking started to change. If I played my cards right, maybe I could actually take him down.

* * *

Thud!

Finally, the Demon King fell.

“I have taken the Demon King’s head!”

I raised my hand high and shouted.

“Finally.”

“The Demon King has fallen!”

The Demon King, who had driven the continent to the brink of destruction for hundreds of years. That object of terror now lay on the castle floor, his head severed. People's faces were filled with elation.

“It’s over. It’s really over.”

Could there ever be a day more moving than this? Everyone clenched their fists and shouted at the top of their lungs.

A few people approached me. They were familiar faces. The strongest on the continent. The Sword Master, the Archmage, the Vampire Lord, the High Elf.

I gave a slight nod to the Vampire Lord. He was the one I was closest to here. Our personalities and interests matched well, and we’d spent a long time together, that bat-like fellow. The Vampire Lord grinned and gave a small nod in return.

Just then, the dragon—the damn dragon who had summoned the heroes—approached me. In his human form, the dragon spoke with a bright smile.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Yes. We had fought a truly endless, repetitive battle. It was a difficult time that couldn't possibly be covered by a simple ‘you’ve worked hard.’

But now it was over. No. Almost over.

“Now I just have to state my wish, right?”

This was a truly emotional moment. I never thought this day would come.

I had already decided what I would wish for. What else would I have done during all those long years here? I had gathered mountains of gold and treasure. All that was left was to enjoy it.

But the dragon just shook his head, a smile still on his face.

“No. You don’t need to say it.”

Then, the dragon began to chant a spell.

Woooong.

As the spell activated, a magic circle began to glow around me. Suddenly, my strength drained away, and a fierce pain washed over me. My breath caught in my throat, and it felt like my body was being torn to shreds.

“I believe there’s a saying in your world, ‘tosa gupaeng’? Cook the hunting dog after the hunt is over? I think that was the meaning.”

I knew immediately what kind of magic it was. The magic of annihilation that had been planted in the heroes.

“Why? We kept our promise!”

“It’s because you all became much stronger than we expected.”

The dragon shrugged as if he couldn’t help it.

No. What did he mean by that? I had no interest in this world. All I wanted was to live out the rest of my life comfortably and enjoy myself. Was that such an unreasonable demand? After all the suffering I went through, you could at least grant me that much, couldn't you? But you betray me? You filthy bastard!

“You son of a bitch dragon!”

“Look at this. The magic has been activated, yet you’re still holding on without being annihilated. You’ve become too strong. It would be troublesome if your blades were turned against us.”

Looking at his smug face, I couldn't help but curse. I ground my teeth and hurled insults at him. Curses from every dimension poured out of my mouth, but the dragon looked as if he couldn't care less.

He knew. He knew that I was barely holding on. That I didn't have much time left.

‘Was it always going to end like this?’

Used and thrown away. I could see my comrades collapsed around me. The comrades who had fought alongside me in countless battles.

“Don’t tell me?”

I lifted my head to look at the dragon. He was still smiling.

“They won’t be coming back to life.”

He was saying they were all already dead. At those words, an unbearable anger surged within me. After all this time, we fought and suffered like dogs for you.

Just because we revived didn't mean we didn't feel pain. There were many who went mad from the endless fighting. We endured it all and fought. All for you.

“Why are you doing this? If you’re so worried about us being here, you could just send us back to where we came from, right?”

“Sigh. Do you have any idea how much it costs to perform a dimensional transfer? Besides, why should I bother when there’s such an easy method right here?”

The dragon grinned and shrugged.

So that was it. From the very beginning, he never had any intention of granting our wishes.

“You don’t have much time. Do you have any last words? You did contribute the most to defeating the Demon King, so I should at least carve an epitaph for you.”

I laughed. No, laughter was all that came out. What a filthy world.

Whether it was here or there, was it the fate of the powerless to be used and discarded? It was like that in the Martial World where I came from, and it was the same in this world.

Yes. This was what the world was like. I knew it well. All too well. I’d been through it countless times.

“Hey. You dragon bastard. Who do you think knows the most about the Demon King?”

“What?”

“I asked, who knows the most about the Demon King.”

The dragon had a look of incomprehension, as if he couldn't understand why I was asking.

“The Demon King? That would be you, of course. You fought him at the closest range.”

He was right. I fought at the very front for the longest time, and I fought until the very end. Thanks to that, I came to know the Demon King’s abilities and weaknesses better than anyone else.

“That’s right. It’s me.”

And there’s something you all don’t know. The fact that I’ve cut off the Demon King’s head before.

So, with that said. I think it’s about time you all learned how dirty the world is, too.

“Hey. Why don’t you get up now?”

The dragon had a bewildered expression. The other races living here wore the same look. The dragon looked around and asked.

“What are you talking about? Get up?”

“Hey. This much time should be enough for you to get up, right?”

The Demon King doesn't die just because his head is cut off. He only loses his power for a short while.

- How amusing.

The Demon King stood up. Black smoke billowed up from his severed neck. And when the smoke cleared, a new head had formed upon his neck.

- Kukuku. As expected, the actions of those who pretend to be noble are always the most vile.

The Demon King’s presence was overwhelming. He couldn't have fully recovered yet, but his aura was enough to overpower everyone.

The dragon and the people of the continent recoiled in horror.

“What have you done? Why didn’t you kill the Demon King?”

Why? Because I knew you’d pull a stunt like this. Do you think I’m an idiot?

“If you don’t deal with the Demon King, everyone will die!”

That’s right. I’m doing this so you all die.

The dragon, his face pale, shouted.

“I’ll cancel the magic! So kill the Demon King! His power isn’t fully restored yet, so while we hold him off…”

“You want me to regain my strength and fight again?”

Hah. This guy really only thinks about himself. He was trying to kill me just a moment ago, and now the words ‘fight again’ are coming out of his mouth?

“Why should I?”

I shrugged.

You guys messed with the wrong person. Whether it’s a kindness or a grudge, I’m the type of person who always pays back what I’ve received.

In the meantime, the Demon King began to move.

Thump. Thump.

With every step he took, the entire Demon King’s castle seemed to shake. The dragon and the various races had no choice but to start fighting against the Demon King.

“Wow. This is fun.”

I was always the one fighting, so I never knew that watching could be this entertaining.

The Demon King was certainly strong. Even with them ganging up on him, he didn't show any signs of being pushed back. The Demon King’s power would only grow stronger. So, there was no hope for these guys here.

And it wasn't just them who were in a crisis. I was also reaching the limit of my endurance.

But still. It’s better to live than to die, right? That’s why I also made some preparations.

“Hey. Dragon bastard. Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot.”

I shouted loudly at the dragon, who was getting beaten up by the Demon King, and then activated the magic circle I had prepared.

A dimensional travel magic circle that I started by stealing the dragon’s knowledge and completed with the help of the Vampire Lord. With this, my soul will return to the world I came from!

Tung. Tung. Tung.

Giant pillars of light shot up around me, drawing the magic circle. An immense light erupted from it. A light so intense it was blinding.

‘In that place, I won’t live like I have until now! Never!!’

I will live with dignity, not servility. I will live as I please, without suffering such filth. As I had that thought, my consciousness gradually faded.

And the light that had filled the castle disappeared in an instant.

After the light vanished, all that remained was the Demon King and the various races of the continent, locked in a fierce battle.

Ah. One more thing. There was a desperate scream echoing through the air.

“Hey. You crazy bastard. I told you to activate the magic circle after I got out! Aaaaaah!”

It was the Vampire Lord’s voice.

(End of Chapter)