Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 318

Now that I think about it, Kang Jin-ho surprisingly didn’t dislike shopping. The feeling of satisfaction when buying things he liked was a common human trait. It was just a matter of degree.

It was the same back in the Central Plains [a historical region in China, often considered the cradle of Chinese civilization].

Even martial artists, who seemed to care about nothing but martial arts, wouldn’t easily change the color of their clothes, and they would go to great lengths to obtain good weapons. Some would even risk life and limb for it.

The obsession with modern items was just a reality that had existed in that era.

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t say he didn’t have such tendencies either.

How proud he was when he first acquired the Red Tear [likely a reference to a powerful weapon or artifact].

The sensation of the Red Tear fitting perfectly in his hand was still vividly etched in his memory.

And when he thought about how he had enjoyed choosing a car, it was clear that Kang Jin-ho didn’t dislike shopping.

However, the reason Kang Jin-ho felt like shopping with his mother or Kang Eun-young was like hell was because of the pain of having to endure things he didn’t understand.

Having to argue about which of two identical skirts was prettier was not something a human should have to do. Kang Jin-ho was capable of discussing the functionality of long and short skirts, but he knew less about the aesthetics of H-line and A-line skirts than a three-year-old.

What made it even more painful was that the question of ‘which one is better’ had no impact on their decision, not even by 0.01%.

Having to continuously ponder for hours about something incomprehensible, uninfluential, and not even considered was akin to mental torture.

In that sense, this shopping trip wasn’t so bad for Kang Jin-ho.

Even if Kang Jin-ho was clueless about shopping, he knew what a TV was and what a washing machine was.

But the problem was that the person he was shopping with now was someone who didn’t even have the basic common sense that Kang Jin-ho had.

“Sir, this TV is a new model with a curved screen that enhances focus on the screen.”

“What? Why is it bent?”

“It’s not bent, it’s made that way from the beginning.”

“Show me a flat one.”

“B-but this is a better product.”

‘It’s supposed to be better.’

“Hey.”

Choi Yeon-ha slightly lifted her leg and stomped it hard on the floor. Normally, if she did that while wearing high heels, the floor would have echoed with a loud bang, but unfortunately, Choi Yeon-ha was wearing the national item, Adidas sneakers. And the market version at that.

Choi Yeon-ha was a little embarrassed by the soft thud, but she didn’t show it at all as she spoke.

“Didn’t you hear me asking for a flat one?”

“No, ma’am! Please come this way.”

The terrified clerk bent over and moved in front of Choi Yeon-ha. Kang Jin-ho was genuinely impressed. The difference between the money he had spent to receive such treatment and the money Choi Yeon-ha had spent was extreme.

But Choi Yeon-ha hadn’t even spent much money yet—nor had she even made a purchase—yet she was already exuding an aura that made the clerks bow down on their own.

And she was dressed like that.

‘She’s a natural.’

Some people just have an aura that most people can’t achieve even with a lifetime of education, and they exude it while wearing a floral shirt and baggy pants.

“But do we really need a TV?”

Choi Yeon-ha’s head snapped around.

Kang Jin-ho could see her eyes widening behind her dark sunglasses.

“Kang Jin-ho.”

“Yes?”

“I know very well that you’re not interested in media, but normal people need to watch media.”

“Well, I don’t think…”

“Men might not care, but girls can’t even have a conversation if they don’t keep up with the latest dramas. How upset would they be if they missed out not because they were busy with other things, but because they couldn’t watch TV properly? Don’t you think so?”

It felt like this was the moment when the saying ‘having ten mouths wouldn’t be enough’ applied [a Korean idiom meaning one is speechless or has no way to argue]. Choi Yeon-ha, who looked at the speechless Kang Jin-ho with a pitiful gaze, shook her head.

“I know what kind of person you are. You’re practically a natural man, so even if you threw away all the cumbersome things around you, you could still live as you do now. But normal people aren’t like that. They just endure because they can’t do it, but if they could, they’d want to try everything that others do. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had been slaughtered in terms of logic and justification, became limp.

“Ahem, you are absolutely right.”

The clerk, who had accurately identified who to suck up to, completely turned his back on Kang Jin-ho and began to attend to Choi Yeon-ha.

“First, a flat TV. How many rooms were there? It won’t go in the kids’ rooms, so show me a reasonable size, not too big.”

“Ah, so you’re putting them in every room. Then how about this model? It’s the best-selling 30-inch model.”

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“What can you see with a 30-inch TV?”

“It should be at least 40 inches. Bigger!”

“Yes, ma’am! You are absolutely right!”

Kang Jin-ho sighed endlessly.

Choi Yeon-ha was like a runaway train with broken brakes. After acquiring a washing machine, microwave, TV, and vacuum cleaner, Choi Yeon-ha headed to the mobile phone store on the first floor.

The clerk was terrified when she asked for 50 of the latest mobile phones, and he even called neighboring stores to gather 50 phones.

“These are the latest phones.”

“Are these Korean made?”

“…W-well, they are Korean made, but?”

The manager started to sweat.

What should he say?

Ma’am, Korean phones are the best? Other countries also use Korean phones?

The manager, who couldn’t clearly tell whether this person was looking down on Korean phones or looking for an apple-shaped phone, started to sweat on his forehead.

“Well, it’s a matter of preference…”

“Y-yes, that’s right. People usually prefer one of these two phones.”

“But I didn’t ask the kids, so I don’t know what to do. Hmm…”

Choi Yeon-ha scratched her head slightly, then turned her head to look at Kang Jin-ho. Then, with a face that clearly said, ‘Asking that guy won’t be any help,’ she turned away and made a phone call.

After finishing the call in a soft voice, Choi Yeon-ha opened her mouth with a bright smile, as if everything was resolved.

“Please prepare 50 of those too.”

“Ma’am, that would be a total of 100 mobile phones?”

“Yes. I’ll return 50 of them.”

“Excuse me?”

“Isn’t it okay if the boxes aren’t opened? I’ll have them lay out 50 of each, let them choose, and then take the rest back. Is there a problem?”

The manager, who had instantly calculated the profit he could make by preparing 100 devices and selling 50 of them in person, smiled brightly and replied.

“If there’s a problem, I’ll take care of it.”

“Okay.”

Choi Yeon-ha purred like a cat who had eaten her fill and was satisfied.

“Then, ma’am, how about the payment?”

“Here.”

A card came out of Choi Yeon-ha’s pocket.

“No, I’ll…”

As Kang Jin-ho tried to take out his card, Choi Yeon-ha frowned and handed her card to the clerk.

“Please make the payment.”

“Yes?”

The clerk glanced at Choi Yeon-ha. The price wasn’t cheap, and usually when a man and a woman both offered to pay, the woman would pretend to give in and let the man pay.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah… Yes.”

But Choi Yeon-ha was firm.

“Why would Kang Jin-ho pay for my shopping?”

“It’s for the children.”

“That mindset that only I can spend money on the children is a bit strange. If you care so much about the kids, you should do better on a regular basis. There are plenty of people who can carry rice and fix the warehouse door. You’re driving a Lamborghini, and you’re just okay with the fact that the clothes of the kids at the orphanage you’re going to are all worn out?”

“I didn’t know.”

“You’re just not interested.”

Choi Yeon-ha said sharply.

“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to show off either. I know I don’t deserve to show off just because I spent this much. I know that no matter how much money I spent today, it’s not worth as much as the donations that people who work really hard have saved up little by little. I’m just having some fun, so just let me be.”

“Yes.”

Choi Yeon-ha stretched as if she was satisfied.

“Then, should we buy the kids some clothes next?”

“No.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“I’ll take care of that, so leave it to me.”

“You? You don’t seem to be good at that…”

“I can make it easy for you to shop.”

“Hmm.”

Choi Yeon-ha, remembering that Kang Jin-ho was related to Jae-kyung, nodded lightly.

“Okay.”

Choi Yeon-ha turned her head and smiled brightly. It wouldn’t be visible because of her mask, but that was the feeling.

With that same face, Choi Yeon-ha looked at the clerk and said.

“Are you ready? Can we leave now?”

“Ma’am, we’re not quite ready yet…”

“Not yet?”

“W-we’ll finish it soon.”

“Okay. Well, then please deliver it. The mobile phones should arrive by ten o’clock when the kids are all back, and please take care of the activation as well.”

“Yes, ma’am. Please don’t worry.”

“Ah, and by the way…”

“Yes?”

“This guy here is expendable if something goes wrong, but I’m not. If the delivery, installation, or service is lacking, I’ll return everything and buy it again from the store next door, so keep that in mind.”

“That will absolutely not happen.”

Looking at the clerk who was making a firm promise and the manager who was burning with enthusiasm behind him, it seemed like that would definitely not happen.

Choi Yeon-ha nodded and turned to look at Kang Jin-ho.

“Now then, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Yes.”

“You admit that what I did today is worth several times more than you going there to play with them and do chores, right?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Although the methods were different, if you were to think about who the director or the people running the orphanage would choose between Kang Jin-ho and Choi Yeon-ha today, the answer would be obvious.

“That’s right.”

“Then can we say that I did what you were supposed to do today?”

“It’s slightly different, but I guess we can say that.”

“Then, if you don’t play with me today and go to the orphanage, would that be okay?”

“Coffee.”

“Pardon?”

“Buy me a coffee. I don’t want to keep you for long. Just what I did now is enough reason for you to buy me a coffee, don’t you think? Or not?”

…It’s more than enough.

Kang Jin-ho sighed deeply, thinking about how he had to pay for the purchase earlier.

“Let’s go.”

“To the orphanage first.”

“Why?”