Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 66

“Hey!” Hwang Jong-in kicked the ball and moved forward. But Kang Jin-ho didn’t move. Hwang Jong-in subtly pushed the ball to Kang Jin-ho’s right, then timed his move to kick the ball to the left and pass him. ‘What? He can’t even react?’ It was a clean feint. If it had succeeded, that is. “Huh?” The ball was gone. It looked like the ball had clearly passed behind Kang Jin-ho, but the ball was nowhere to be seen. Thud. Turning around, Kang Jin-ho was leisurely dribbling the ball forward. ‘When?’ It was like a ghost had done it. But it didn’t seem that way to the people around them. “He’s so dumb. Why would he give the ball to someone standing still and go off on his own?” “He was in the soccer club, right? Seriously? I could do better than that.” Hwang Jong-in yelled. “Ah! Seriously!” Hwang Jong-in rushed at Kang Jin-ho, tackling him from behind. It was a dangerous tackle that could cause serious injury if his ankle got caught. But Hwang Jong-in was too worked up to care about that. But that was it. Kang Jin-ho didn’t even change his pace as he leisurely walked forward. Whoosh! Hwang Jong-in slid a long way across the grass, but strangely, his foot didn’t touch Kang Jin-ho’s foot or the ball in front of him. It looked like Hwang Jong-in had just tackled the ground by himself. “What’s he doing? Why is he like that?” “Is he an idiot?” The guys burst out laughing, and the girls covered their mouths and giggled. Kang Jin-ho leisurely moved forward. “Hey! What are you doing!” Jeong Seong-gu yelled and rushed forward. Kang Jin-ho’s foot slightly pulled back, as if he was going to pass to Park Yu-min again. Jeong Seong-gu blocked the pass and tackled him. But Kang Jin-ho waited for Jeong Seong-gu to tackle him, then lightly rolled the ball to the open side. Roll, roll, roll. The ball rolled at a speed slower than a child would kick it. Thanks to that, even Park Yu-min, who had trouble with his legs, could easily catch up to the rolling ball. Tap. The lightly rolled ball went into the goal. First goal. It was a goal that went in too easily and simply. Kang Jin-ho said to Hwang Jong-in. “That’s one goal now.” Hwang Jong-in’s face contorted. “Get up. You have four more goals to go.” He didn’t know what was going on, but one thing was certain. Hwang Jong-in had made a bet he shouldn’t have. The game ended in an instant. Hwang Jong-in couldn’t do anything and kept losing the ball, and the ball was naturally connected to a goal by Park Yu-min’s foot. Five goals by Park Yu-min. Hwang Jong-in stared at Park Yu-min with a blank look. “I, I…” Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth. “Don’t forget the bet. It’s next class time.” “…No, wait a minute.” Too many kids had heard it. If he said no now, who knew what would be said. Then, Park Yu-min helped Hwang Jong-in. “Jin-ho, I set it up, but I think this is a bit much.” “Why?” “It’s embarrassing.” “If we had lost, we would have done it. It’s a natural result.” Park Yu-min couldn’t find any room for compromise in Kang Jin-ho’s firm tone. But who was Park Yu-min? The person who knew Kang Jin-ho best wasn’t his parents or Hwang Jeong-hu, but Park Yu-min. “It’s disrespectful to the professor too.” “Hmm.” Kang Jin-ho flinched at the card Park Yu-min had pulled out. Kang Jin-ho nodded. It made sense. “Let’s change it. Run one lap around the field here. In your underwear.” “…” Hwang Jong-in stared blankly at Kang Jin-ho, then gritted his teeth. “Damn it! Isn’t that too much?” “What?” “No, isn’t it a bit too much!” Kang Jin-ho stared at Hwang Jong-in. “Weren’t you the one who suggested the bet?” “Still, this is a bit…” “A bit?” Kang Jin-ho slowly approached Hwang Jong-in. Hwang Jong-in puffed out his shoulders as if he was about to throw a punch. Then he looked down at Kang Jin-ho. “Keep going.” Kang Jin-ho lightly opened his mouth. “No… I mean…” “Keep going.” Hwang Jong-in shut his mouth. It was a strange feeling. Nothing much had happened, but he kept breaking out in a cold sweat and his throat was tightening. His mouth was dry and his heart started pounding like crazy. ‘Why is this happening?’ Hwang Jong-in and Kang Jin-ho’s eyes met. “…” Hwang Jong-in couldn’t even open his mouth and stared at Kang Jin-ho with a pale face. He didn’t know why. But his body kept trembling, and he just wanted to run away from this place. He wanted to run away right now, but his body wouldn’t listen. “I don’t care about the bet.” Kang Jin-ho lightly placed his hand on Hwang Jong-in’s chest. “I’ll let it go this time. So, from now on, I hope you don’t run your mouth so carelessly. Or I might have a hard time holding back.” Thud. He just lightly tapped his chest. But Hwang Jong-in fell to the ground as if he had been hit by a hammer. “Cough! Hack! Cough!” Hwang Jong-in couldn’t even speak from the terrible pain in his chest. But to the people around them, it just looked like Kang Jin-ho had tapped his chest and he was rolling around on the ground. “What is he doing, seriously?” “It’s a Hollywood action. Hey, someone get a red card.” “He’s doing all sorts of things. What an idiot.” That’s how Hwang Jong-in’s image plummeted in an instant. Kang Jin-ho glanced at Hwang Jong-in rolling on the ground and turned around. “Let’s start class. Let’s go.” “Okay.” Park Yu-min followed Kang Jin-ho. “Hey!” But Han Se-yeon still seemed dissatisfied. “Is it over?” “Yeah?” “Hey, how can you end it like this! You have to completely crush that annoying bastard!” “Should I fight him?” “How can you end it like this when your friend heard those words!” “I’m fine.” Han Se-yeon got angry at Park Yu-min’s words. “What do you mean you’re fine? Ugh, it’s annoying. That annoying guy.” Park Yu-min burst out laughing. Seeing Han Se-yeon getting angry as if it was her own problem, he felt grateful and embarrassed. “Don’t worry.” “Huh?” “He won’t be able to hold his head up anymore.” “…What are you talking about?” Kang Jin-ho walked slowly. But the direction he was walking was a bit strange. “Where is he going?” Kang Jin-ho walked towards the kids sitting in the stands. And he spoke to one of them. “Did you record it?” “Yeah, I recorded everything. This is going to be a hit.” “I guess so.” Han Se-yeon’s eyes slightly widened. “What are you talking about? Record what?” And why is he asking her that? Han Se-yeon swallowed the words that kept trying to come out and looked at Jin Mi-hee. Jin Mi-hee smiled brightly at Kang Jin-ho and held out her phone. “I recorded the whole game from the beginning, Jin-ho told me to. Here you go.” “Huh?” Kang Jin-ho took his phone that he had left with her. Then he handed the phone to Han Se-yeon. “Can you edit it?” “I’m the master of evil editing. I can make a normal video into a mess.” “Edit it and upload it.” “Hahaha! Got it! I’ll make something amazing.” The unpleasant feeling that Kang Jin-ho and Jin Mi-hee were involved disappeared from Han Se-yeon’s mind, and pleasant fantasies began to fill it. That evening, a video titled ‘Hollywood Action Man’ was uploaded to various comic sites. The reaction to the video was explosive. The game was funny… but the last moment, when one of the people who seemed to be arguing just touched the other’s chest and he rolled around, made people burst out laughing. There was a flood of mocking comments saying that he should go to Hollywood and that he deserved an Oscar for Best Actor. Although his face was blurred, people who knew him could tell who he was. Kang Jin-ho sat at his computer and played the video. ‘That’s funny.’ The benefits of civilization are sometimes used to harass people. It was something he had tried as a test, but the reaction was more than Kang Jin-ho had expected. It was as if people had been waiting to laugh at someone. “If used well, it could be medicine… or it could be poison.” But right now, that didn’t matter. Kang Jin-ho chuckled at the video and closed the site. Hwang Jong-in probably wouldn’t be able to hold his head up from tomorrow. Because the rumors would spread around the school. ‘He shouldn’t have messed with me.’ But Kang Jin-ho wasn’t unscathed either. From that day on, rumors began to spread that Kang Jin-ho was good at sports, and certain groups who had not been interested in Kang Jin-ho until then began to take an interest in him. It was something Kang Jin-ho had never imagined. In the end, the confrontation between Hwang Jong-in and Kang Jin-ho ended in an unintended draw. “I’m home.” Kang Jin-ho frowned when he saw Kang Eun-young opening the front door. Her face was pale, and it wouldn’t be strange if she collapsed right now. “Have you been practicing until now?” “Yeah.” “Why didn’t you come home yesterday?” “I slept in the practice room.” “You should sleep at home.” “I don’t have enough time… I wanted to sleep a little more instead of coming home and going back.” Kang Jin-ho didn’t feel good about Kang Eun-young’s words. She was still growing. But was it right for her to train and practice so hard? Of course, success is important, and so are dreams. But wasn’t this too much? What were the adults who should be stopping her doing? “Wash up and go to sleep. Quickly.” “Okay, oppa [older brother].” Kang Eun-young staggered into the bathroom. Kang Jin-ho sighed as he watched her. It was her goal, so he couldn’t say anything, but it wasn’t a pretty sight to watch. “Tsk.” Kang Jin-ho clicked his tongue lightly. Kang Eun-young, who hadn’t come out of the bathroom for a long time, walked out with difficulty. “Oppa, aren’t you going to sleep?” “Sit here.” “…I’m too tired right now. Can we talk later if you have something to say?” “Okay, just sit down.” Kang Eun-young sighed and sat down. Kang Jin-ho grabbed Kang Eun-young’s wrist. “What are you doing?” “Just stay still.” It was a mess. The inside was more damaged than it looked on the outside. The accumulated fatigue was starting to eat away at her body. He could see why idols were sometimes taken to the hospital. “To be in this state…” Kang Jin-ho was angry. Dreams are good. But shouldn’t you take care of your body while doing it? Kang Jin-ho channeled his energy into her, cleansing Kang Eun-young’s body. “It’s strangely hot?” “Just stay still.” Kang Jin-ho circulated his energy, expelling the remaining fatigue from Kang Eun-young’s body, and then let go of her hand. “Go to sleep now.” “…That’s weird? I’m suddenly not tired.” “You still have to sleep.” “Okay, oppa.” Seeing Kang Eun-young nodding obediently, he couldn’t get angry even if he wanted to. When you think about it, what fault did this child have? She was just doing what she was told. “Is your debut confirmed?” “Yeah.” “Is that why you’re so tired?” “I’m going to collapse before I even debut. Is it normal to work this hard before debuting?” Kang Eun-young covered her face. After covering her face for a while, Kang Eun-young’s shoulders began to tremble. “Oppa, I’m so tired.” Kang Jin-ho’s face hardened. “Tell me.” “I said, tell me.” “No. I’m just a little tired.” “Kang Eun-young.” Kang Eun-young’s body trembled slightly at Kang Jin-ho’s firm voice. “Before I go and see for myself, tell me with your own mouth.” “Oppa.” “Hurry.” Kang Eun-young hesitated, then opened her mouth.