Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 412

“Master.”

“Yeah?”

“There’s a problem.”

“What is it?”

Chun Tae-hoon approached Bang Jin-hoon with a stiff expression.

“We just received a call from the Yeongnam Association.”

“It’s not the Yeongnam Association, it’s the Yeongnam Division.”

“Whatever.”

Bang Jin-hoon looked at Chun Tae-hoon with a displeased expression. The Yeongnam Association had already been integrated into their group, and until a complete reorganization was done, it was under Lee Hyun-soo’s command as the Yeongnam Division.

Reorganizing so many people was no easy task. Even though Bang Jin-hoon was quite skilled in organizational management, it was a task that would take some time to figure out.

“Okay, so what? What’s the problem?”

“Lee Hyun-soo just contacted us, and it seems the head of the Yeongnam Association has escaped.”

“The head of the Yeongnam Association? The head? Lee Hyun-soo?”

“No. I mean the head of the Yeongnam Association.”

“Are you talking about Kim Seok-il?”

“Yes.”

“Hey, man. Are you making any sense? Do you even know what state Kim Seok-il is in? How could he escape in that condition? He couldn’t even escape if you pushed him out.”

“I thought so too.”

“But?”

“The guys we placed to watch him were attacked.”

“What?”

Bang Jin-hoon jumped up from his seat.

The fact that the guys were attacked was no small matter.

Kim Seok-il was already a cripple who had lost his martial arts. So there was no need to watch him. The reason Bang Jin-hoon placed guards there was not to watch Kim Seok-il, but to protect him.

The rift between the Yeongnam Association and the General Assembly was deep, and they had been hostile to each other for a long time. Because of this, there were many who held personal grudges against Kim Seok-il. Bang Jin-hoon had placed people there to prevent those people from harming Kim Seok-il, taking advantage of his current state.

It was also to follow Kang Jin-ho’s wishes, but harming an opponent who could not resist was not in line with Bang Jin-hoon’s principles.

But those guys were attacked?

“…Here’s a picture they sent.”

Bang Jin-hoon’s face twisted horribly as he looked at the picture Chun Tae-hoon handed him.

“What is this?”

“What the hell is this, you bastard!”

Bang Jin-hoon jumped up from his seat.

If he could remain calm after seeing the corpses of his subordinates, who were killed in such a gruesome way as if they had been struck by a giant fly swatter, he wouldn’t be Bang Jin-hoon.

“This!”

Bang Jin-hoon, who was about to curse at Chun Tae-hoon, clenched his fist tightly. This was not Chun Tae-hoon’s or Lee Hyun-soo’s fault. Venting his anger on them would only make him look pathetic.

“Kim Seok-il couldn’t have done this.”

“Yes.”

“Then that means someone took Kim Seok-il. Did you confirm it?”

“I’ve only received the report for now. I’ve already told them to check immediately.”

“Right now! Check it right now. Hurry!”

“Yes.”

Watching Chun Tae-hoon turn and leave, Bang Jin-hoon instinctively pulled out a cigarette. As the smoke filled his lungs, he felt a little calmer.

‘Who is it?’

It wasn’t the Japanese side. They pursue practical gains. There was nothing to gain from taking Kim Seok-il, so they wouldn’t do something like this.

“Then who is it?”

Bang Jin-hoon slammed his hand on the table.

He was furious because of the subordinates who died there, but also because of how Kang Jin-ho would react when he found out about this….

Suddenly, Bang Jin-hoon’s eyes widened.

“Chun Tae-hoon!”

Bang Jin-hoon called out to Chun Tae-hoon and rushed outside.

“Are the guys guarding Kang Jin-ho safe?”

“Huh?”

“Right now! Check it right now, hurry!”

“Yes! I understand.”

Bang Jin-hoon’s face twisted.

He was certain that someone who had no hostility towards Kang Jin-ho would not have done this. If so, then this was ultimately an act targeting Kang Jin-ho….

“Kang Jin-ho is going to be okay, right?”

There was anxiety in Bang Jin-hoon’s voice.

“Huh?”

Jo Mi-hye looked at the ceiling with a slightly dazed expression.

“No, I thought I heard a sound.”

“Just pull the rope.”

“Okay.”

Jo Mi-hye, who had moved closer to the front for the people waiting behind, looked at the ride with an expectant expression.

“I think we can ride it. It looks like the timing is perfect?”

“Yeah, that’s a relief.”

“Is unnie okay?”

Jo Mi-hye chuckled.

It was a truly amazing experience to feel that someone’s face was pale even though it was covered with sunglasses and a mask.

“She’s such a grateful unnie [older sister].”

“Right?”

Choi Sun-hee nodded emphatically in agreement.

“But she’s really useless.”

“Tell me about it!”

They had made the arrangements because she said she wanted to go on a date, but instead of going on a date, she ended up worrying about the kids and ended up like that….

When they first met her, they thought she was a really smart and amazing unnie, but the more they saw her, the more they realized she was a bit of a pushover.

It made them wonder if that was why she didn’t have a boyfriend.

“But at least they’re spending time together now.”

“Do we have to go through all this trouble just to make that one moment?”

“I know, who even likes amusement parks?”

“It’s not like we’re kids.”

Even as they said that, Jo Mi-hye and Choi Sun-hee couldn’t hide their anticipation.

Now that it was night, the amusement park was filled with bright and colorful lights. The thought of seeing that view from the sky soon made their hearts flutter with anticipation.

“Unnie, unnie!”

“Okay, okay. We need to take care of the kids. Hold Yeon’s hand tightly.”

“Okay, unnie.”

Choi Sun-hee looked around once and asked Jo Mi-hye.

“Where are the others?”

“They said they’re going to ride the roller coaster one more time.”

“Again?”

“What do you mean again? They couldn’t even enjoy themselves properly because they were worried about Yeon-ha unnie.”

“Hmm, that’s for sure….”

Thud.

Jo Mi-hye’s head snapped back.

“What’s wrong?”

“No. I keep hearing a sound.”

“You have good ears. How can you keep hearing sounds in this noisy place?”

“It sounds like something is being torn apart.”

“Just calm down.”

“Okay.”

Jo Mi-hye stuck out her tongue and scratched her head.

‘Am I imagining things?’

“How many people?”

“Four.”

The staff member checked the children and Jo Mi-hye and smiled.

“Please come this way.”

“Yes!”

Their hearts swelled with anticipation.

As they carefully climbed into the ride with the children in front, the staff members fastened their safety devices.

“You must not run or play inside. You must not try to open the door either.”

“Yes!”

“Have a good time.”

The staff member closed the door and locked it from the outside, and the ride slowly began to move.

“Oh, unnie!”

“Yeah, it’s moving.”

The children pressed close to the window and began to look down.

“It’s pretty!”

“Yeah.”

Jo Mi-hye also looked down with a slightly enchanted expression. The buildings, which seemed to be from another world, were shining in various colors, and below them, characters that looked like they came from a fairy tale were parading.

Jo Mi-hye felt a little more at ease as she looked at the scene.

She could see why people came to amusement parks.

If you looked at it coldly, this place was too crowded, there was a lot of dust, and it wasn’t as clean as you would think. If you wanted peace, it would be better to go somewhere else.

Yet, the reason why she felt comfortable in this space was for a different reason.

‘Everyone seems to be having fun.’

Everyone who came here was looking for fun. Everything that existed here was meant to give people joy. People who were tired of their daily lives could put down their difficult realities and enjoy themselves with others for a day.

Jo Mi-hye quietly looked down, thinking that she should have come a little earlier.

“Unnie! Unnie! The people look so small.”

“Aren’t you scared?”

“No. I’m not scared.”

Jo Mi-hye smiled.

‘I should do better starting tomorrow.’

She felt it again.

The world that her brothers and teachers were trying to create for them was like this. A world without worries.

But to create this world, the efforts and strength of many people would be needed. The time for her to just enjoy herself in that world was passing.

The time had come for her to return the love and attention she had received to the children.

“Your hair is loose. Come here. Unnie will tie your hair.”

“Can’t you do it later? I want to watch that.”

“Keep watching. I’ll tie it for you.”

“Okay.”

Jo Mi-hye quietly smiled as she watched Hwang Do-yeon, who couldn’t take her eyes off the window as if she was amazed.

‘I should thank my brothers.’

The reason why she could come to the amusement park today and play without worry was because the school issue had been resolved to some extent. Jo Mi-hye, who knew how amazing it was that they could put so much effort and actively get involved in something that wasn’t even their own problem, felt grateful to Kang Jin-ho and Choi Yeon-ha again. Of course, Park Yu-min too.

‘And who was that guy again? The old bachelor ajusshi [middle-aged man].’

The scary-looking ajusshi.

Everyone.

Everyone was so grateful.

“Unnie.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think oppa [older brother] is around there?”

“Yeah, probably.”

It was at that moment.

Thud!

Suddenly, the ride dropped down.

The moment she looked up, the ride suddenly dropped and then jerked as if it was being lifted.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

The children fell to the floor as the ride suddenly lost its balance and shook.

“What, what is it?”

“What is this….”

Jo Mi-hye barely managed to get up, using her trembling hands to support herself on the floor. Then she looked up.

‘I can’t see….’

The giant hot air balloon blocked her view, so she couldn’t see what was happening above. But….

“Oh, unnie.”

“Yeah?”

“Th-there….”

Jo Mi-hye’s body froze like a stone as she looked at where Hwang Do-yeon was pointing. The rides here were not actual hot air balloons, but rather rides that were suspended from rails installed on a dome-shaped ceiling.

But….

Where Hwang Do-yeon was pointing.

The rail that was laid in the direction the ride was moving had fallen from the ceiling and was sticking out downwards.

“Wh-what is that? Is it supposed to be like that?”

Jo Mi-hye pulled Hwang Do-yeon close and hugged her tightly with her trembling hands. Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“Unnie?”

“Yeah, Do-yeon. It’s nothing. The ride will start moving again soon, so it’s okay. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Even if there’s a problem, people will come to help us, so it’s okay. Right?”

“Yeah. Jin-ho oppa is here too.”

“Yeah.”

She desperately tried to stabilize her voice.

But she couldn’t help the tears flowing down her cheeks and the weakness in her legs.

It was obvious what would happen if the ride started moving again.

‘God, please.’

She was afraid of dying in an accident. She was so scared. But what was even more frightening was that if they were to have an accident, Kang Jin-ho, Park Yu-min, and the children at the orphanage would never be able to escape their guilt.

That was even more frightening to Jo Mi-hye.

“First, I need to call with my phone….”

Thud!

Before she could finish her sentence, the ride sank about 50cm further down.

“Ah… ah….”

Choi Sun-hee trembled as if she had lost her mind, then grabbed the window and screamed hysterically.

“Oppa! Aaaaaaaaah!”

It was the moment her reason collapsed.