Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 53

“Forget about saying goodbye, who are you people!” A sharp, irritated voice. Han Se-yeon scratched her head, looking flustered. “It’s nothing much, these are things we don’t use anymore, so if you need them, please use them, and if you’re going to throw them away, please take them to the junkyard…” “Damn it, do you think I’m a beggar! Take it all away!” Han Se-yeon looked like she was about to cry. “Grandma, that’s not what I meant.” “Go! I said go! Take it back before I throw water on you!” The grandmother, full of anger, grabbed the doorknob and pulled it hard. Bang! The door slammed shut roughly. Han Se-yeon turned to Kang Jin-ho with a look of dismay. “What should we do?” Kang Jin-ho said calmly. “Let’s just leave it.” “She hates it so much.” “It’s okay.” Kang Jin-ho approached the cart. “The gate is too narrow to bring the cart inside.” “We can just leave it in front of the gate.” “Is that okay?” “She’s probably going to sell it anyway, so if we put it inside, she’ll have to move it again when she sells it, which isn’t good.” “Yeah, you’re right. Then let’s leave it.” Kang Jin-ho unloaded the appliances from the cart in front of the gate. Kang Jin-ho carried the large appliances, and Han Se-yeon diligently carried the small TV and other items she could manage. “But why is she so angry?” Kang Jin-ho replied indifferently. “Because she doesn’t like it.” “Doesn’t like what?” “People.” “Why doesn’t she like people?” Kang Jin-ho pondered what to say. Why doesn’t she like people? There’s no reason for disliking something. But Han Se-yeon was too young to understand that. “More accurately, she probably dislikes the hurt she gets from people.” “Is that so? Still, how can someone reject people and live? We have to live together.” “Sometimes it’s more comfortable to be alone.” Han Se-yeon stared at Kang Jin-ho. Sometimes, Kang Jin-ho seemed blank and completely thoughtless. At times, he even seemed genuinely clueless. But other times, he would say things like this so casually. As if he had experienced it himself, very naturally. He was a very strange person. “So, is that why she’s like that?” “That could be the reason.” “But we came to help her.” “Do you know when people get hurt?” “When?” “When they’re betrayed by someone they trusted.” “The hurt from strangers isn’t really hurt. It hurts because we know them. Because we trusted them.” Han Se-yeon’s eyes flickered slightly. It was an indifferent remark, but it carried a strange weight. “That’s why people who approach you warmly are scarier. It’s hard to understand, but…” “I think I kind of get it.” Kang Jin-ho nodded. She wouldn’t understand. It was the kind of story that someone who hadn’t experienced it could never understand. “Still, it’s sad. Not being able to accept kindness as kindness.” “It’s not like that.” “Not like that? You just said it.” “I told you, it’s just fear.” “What’s the difference?” “She knows it’s kindness. But she’s uncomfortable with responding to that kindness.” “What do you mean?” “Did you unload everything?” “Yeah.” Kang Jin-ho nodded. “Then let’s have a drink.” “What are you talking about?” “That.” Kang Jin-ho pointed to the gate. “Huh?” Inside the gate, a small tray with two bowls had been placed. “Oh! What’s this? This is sikhye?” [Sweet rice drink] It seemed the grandmother had brought out the sikhye. She had yelled at them to leave immediately, but seeing them unloading the heavy items, her heart must have softened. “Let’s drink it.” “Huh?” Kang Jin-ho and Han Se-yeon drank the sikhye from the bowls and placed the empty bowls back on the tray. “So, it’s like this.” “It’s not that she doesn’t know kindness. It’s just…” “Ah, she’s just embarrassed.” “…Never mind.” Kang Jin-ho gave up trying to explain. “Let’s go.” “Okay.” Han Se-yeon shouted loudly towards the gate. “Grandma, I’ll come again next time!” There was no reply. But Han Se-yeon was able to leave the gate with a lighter heart than when she had arrived. “But why are you here?” “Because I have nothing to do.” “Huh?” “Why?” “Nothing to do! How can you have nothing to do! You have to do all the things you couldn’t do for 12 years! How can you have nothing to do when you’re so busy?” “Hmm…” “Do you really have nothing to do? Is there nothing you want to do?” “Not really.” “…You really live a boring life.” Kang Jin-ho smiled. Boring? That was something only people like Han Se-yeon could think. She would never know how fortunate it was to wake up in the morning without having anything to do or worry about. It might look a little dull to other people. But for Kang Jin-ho, these were the most peaceful days. So peaceful that he was afraid they might break at any moment. “Why don’t you go on a trip or something?” “A trip?” “Yeah, a trip. You like bikes, right? Other kids are using this opportunity to ride their bikes around everywhere.” “Really?” “Ah, that’s in the summer. If you do that in this weather, you’ll freeze to death.” “A trip…” Kang Jin-ho was lost in thought. A trip… Come to think of it, he didn’t think he had ever gone on a trip in his life. “Do other people go on those kinds of things?” “What do you mean?” “Trips.” “Trips? They go often. They go on package tours, or they travel with just a backpack.” “I see.” Kang Jin-ho smiled. A trip… It didn’t sound bad. “Why? Are you thinking about it?” “Not now.” “Why?” “I have something to do.” “What? Getting your license?” Kang Jin-ho’s face stiffened slightly. “Didn’t you fail for the third time?” “Was it Jung In-gyu?” “You’re really dumb. How can you fail your driver’s license three times? Other people pass it in one go.” “…” “Well, I guess there’s nothing you can do about the difference in ability.” Kang Jin-ho’s teeth clicked slightly. “Let’s go. You just ride your bike around. You’ll never be able to drive a car.” A vein popped out on Kang Jin-ho’s forehead. “Do you have one?” “Have what?” “A license.” The corners of Han Se-yeon’s mouth curled up slightly. Kang Jin-ho realized his mistake. It would have been better not to ask. “Are there even people who don’t have a license these days? Isn’t it weirder not to pass it in one go?” Han Se-yeon took out her wallet and held it out. Inside the wallet, her license was clearly visible. The license, shining in the sunlight, was dazzling. Kang Jin-ho’s hand trembled. “Oh, when?” “I registered at the academy right after the college entrance exam and got it right away. What a shame? I have a license. Why? Should I give you a ride?” “…” “Okay, let’s go. We have to go back now.” Kang Jin-ho stopped walking and slowly approached Han Se-yeon. “Uh, uhm?” Why is he suddenly like this? Just as Han Se-yeon was about to say something in confusion, Kang Jin-ho placed the handle of the cart in Han Se-yeon’s hand. “Pull it.” “You, are you telling me to pull this now? Just because I teased you a little?” “It’s empty, so it’s light.” With those words, Kang Jin-ho turned and walked away. “Hey! Still… wait, where are you going?” “I have something to do.” “What? Hey, no! You have to hang out with me now!” “Next time.” “Hey! Where are you going! Where are you going!” Han Se-yeon sighed deeply as she watched Kang Jin-ho walk away without looking back. “Such a timid man.” * * * “Yes, Chairman. Regarding that matter…” Jo Gyu-min was reporting on the phone with a pale face. “Yes. It seems that persuading the director and professors is… Yes? Ah, if the Chairman himself steps in, of course, it would be possible. Yes…” The sharp voice coming from the other end of the phone made him sweat. Recently, he had been reporting directly through phone calls at least once a day, but talking to Hwang Jung-hoo was something he could never get used to. After a long report, Jo Gyu-min hung up the phone with difficulty. The aftereffects of riding in Kang Jin-ho’s car yesterday had not subsided. He had only been in the passenger seat for about an hour, but the terrible fear was still gripping him, as if he had been on a roller coaster for twelve hours. “A roller coaster is better. At least you don’t die on that.” A roller coaster feels like you’re going to die but you don’t, whereas Kang Jin-ho’s car had the huge disadvantage of not knowing when you might die. “Ugh… I need to take a vacation.” He had never taken a vacation before, so there shouldn’t be any problems. Kang Jin-ho was also on vacation and not at school, so even if he was away, the work gap wouldn’t be too big. First, he had to take a vacation as long as possible and hold out until Kang Jin-ho got his driver’s license. That was the only way his lifespan wouldn’t be shortened. “They wouldn’t even treat this as an industrial accident. I have to protect my own life.” Jo Gyu-min made up his mind and got up from his seat. While he was thinking about it, he would go to headquarters right away to take a vacation… Bang! At that moment, the door was opened roughly. “…K, Kang Jin-ho?” Kang Jin-ho, with a stiff face, was staring at Jo Gyu-min. Gulp. Jo Gyu-min swallowed unconsciously. He could feel a faint anger in that expressionless face. What was he going to say? Kang Jin-ho’s mouth slowly opened. “Let’s go.” “Yes?” “Practice.” Jo Gyu-min’s face turned pale. “W, what kind of practice are you talking about?” Kang Jin-ho said with a determined face. “I have to pass this time.” “Y, yes…” “The test is tomorrow, so we have to keep practicing until dawn today. You don’t have anything busy, do you?” “No, but my father is also there…” “You’re busy because of the store.” “My friends too.” “A veteran driver has to be in the car.” “Am I the only veteran driver you know?” “There’s one more.” “Then please ask that person…” “Hmm…” Kang Jin-ho nodded. It seemed like it was too much to ask. Kang Jin-ho eventually called another veteran driver he knew. Ring ring ring. [What’s up?] “Ah, Chairman?” “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” Jo Gyu-min ran like crazy and snatched Kang Jin-ho’s phone. “Ch, Chairman! It’s nothing! It’s nothing at all.” [These guys are so boring.] “Then.” Jo Gyu-min hung up the phone and looked at Kang Jin-ho. “If the Chairman has a heart attack after riding in Kang Jin-ho’s car, do you even know what will happen to the Jae Kyung Group?” “Why would he have a heart attack in my car?” “Why the Chairman?” “He’s the only veteran driver I know now.” Jo Gyu-min cursed the heavens. Why did they send this disaster into his peaceful life? What did he do wrong! ‘Let’s go to church. Or maybe a temple. This needs the power of faith.’ “Then what should I do?” “…I’ll ride with you.” “Then please get ready.” Jo Gyu-min took out his wallet with tears in his eyes. He saw his wife’s picture in his wallet. ‘I’m sorry, Yeon-ji. I might not be able to go home anymore. I’ve taken out insurance, so you have to be happy.’ “What are you doing?” “It’s nothing…” Jo Gyu-min ended up getting into Kang Jin-ho’s car again. The next day, Jo Gyu-min submitted a sick leave form to the company, not a vacation request.