Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 566

“Cheers!”

Joo Young-gi raised his glass with a flourish.

The beer glasses clinked roughly in the air, sending beer foam flying everywhere.

“Young-gi, take it easy.”

“What are you talking about, man! It’s the day our jobless friend got a job.”

“…I’m not jobless, okay?”

“Then what are you?”

“Well…”

Park Yu-min mumbled. Come to think of it, he was jobless. A total gaming addict who did nothing but play games all day.

“See, man.”

“Wow, I have no comeback.”

Joo Young-gi gulped down his beer.

“Kuhhhhh!”

Joo Young-gi slammed his glass on the table, wiping his eyes.

“Man, to think that my good-for-nothing friend who did nothing but loaf around got a job.”

“It wasn’t that hopeless, okay? I worked at the store.”

“Man, it’s been ages since you quit that. You’ve been loafing around ever since.”

“…”

“In this world where youth unemployment is a social problem, a guy who didn’t even graduate college, not going to school and just playing around, how worried do you think I was? I couldn’t sleep these days because of you guys, couldn’t sleep.”

“Isn’t it because the store isn’t doing well?”

“What are you talking about! Our store is invincible these days. It’s growing like crazy, sales are booming!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and then spoke.

“Anyway, congratulations, Yu-min.”

“Yeah, thanks. It’s all thanks to you.”

Joo Young-gi’s lips protruded.

“So, I did nothing? Feeding a hungry guy pizza like crazy was useless.”

“…No. Thank you.”

“Whatever, man! It’s like begging for a bow.”

Joo Young-gi yelled, but he couldn’t hide the smile on his face. He knew how hard Park Yu-min had worked. Park Yu-min practiced even after coming home from work. How could he not be happy that Park Yu-min was finally being recognized?

“So, are you moving into the dorm now?”

“Yeah, I have to.”

“We won’t see your face much?”

“It’s not like that these days.”

“Huh?”

Park Yu-min shrugged.

“These days, it’s all about autonomy, so as long as you keep the practice hours, it doesn’t matter what you do the rest of the time.”

“Hmm…”

Joo Young-gi nodded as if that was a relief.

“Okay. Anyway, that’s a relief.”

“But, um…”

“Yeah?”

Park Yu-min scratched his head.

“There’s something I want to ask you two. Even though I can get out easier than before… it’s not as easy as it sounds.”

“I guess not.”

He couldn’t help but be conscious of his position. Especially since Park Yu-min’s position was such that he couldn’t just act like a rookie. He had to set an example for the other kids. The coach would want that too.

“I need to stick around for a while at first. It’s not like I’m going on vacation. So, I was wondering if you guys could keep an eye on the orphanage.”

“Of course, man.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded calmly.

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

“When I first started my gamer life, the head nun was there. So, I wasn’t worried, but now that I’m about to leave, I feel a bit uneasy.”

Park Yu-min looked straight at Kang Jin-ho and said,

“I’m counting on you, Jin-ho.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Kang Jin-ho said as if it was nothing.

“You’re just worrying too much. The kids are all doing fine on their own.”

“Still…”

“I know what you mean.”

Kang Jin-ho knew what Park Yu-min meant.

The kids at the orphanage were strong.

Having grown up without parents, they were used to doing things on their own. They were generally mature.

But on the other hand, they were also incredibly vulnerable.

They were so starved for affection that there was a big difference when someone was watching over them and when they weren’t. Park Yu-min had been pushing himself to watch over them, but now he couldn’t do that anymore.

And he was asking Kang Jin-ho to take on that role.

“We need to change it.”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho said in a low voice.

“It shouldn’t be you or anyone else in that position. We need to change it.”

“…Change it?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“You and the head nun… you’ve both worked too hard for the kids. That’s not a bad thing. But broadly speaking, it’s a problem.”

“…”

“It’s not good for one person to carry that heavy burden. It needs to be shared. And we need to make it so that the kids are comfortable without anyone having to sacrifice themselves. It’s the right time to start.”

“Honestly, I’m a bit worried, Jin-ho. It feels like things are getting too big.”

“Don’t worry. It’s just doing what we’ve been doing, but on a slightly larger scale.”

Park Yu-min nodded silently.

When a business doubles in size, the workload doesn’t just double. It increases exponentially. Kang Jin-ho probably knew that too.

“When are you planning to move in?”

“I should move in about a week.”

“That long?”

“…Please understand. I’m going into a training camp.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Park Yu-min with a displeased look. Park Yu-min flinched at that look and turned his head slightly.

“Do your best when you get there.”

“Don’t worry.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

Yeah, there was no need to worry. Park Yu-min would definitely take care of himself.

“Okay, let’s have a toast.”

Joo Young-gi raised his glass again.

“Why are you drinking so fast?”

“Man, I can’t even drink these days. The surveillance is so intense.”

“Surveillance?”

“Yeah, man. Surveillance. I… I can’t even drink properly these days.”

“Who’s watching you?”

“Who else would it be?”

Joo Young-gi looked dejected.

Park Yu-min smiled knowingly.

“Soo-yeon?”

“…Yeah.”

“You’re completely under her thumb. That’s how it is.”

“Aish.”

Joo Young-gi gulped down his beer.

“I didn’t think it would be like this…”

“Hey, don’t even mention it. She was nice at first, but these days she’s a total tiger, a tiger. If I say I’m going out for a drink, her eyes light up… wow, it’s so bright even in the middle of the night. If we get married, we’ll save on electricity bills. No need for air conditioning or fluorescent lights.”

“Hearing you talk about marriage… it seems like you’re thinking about it.”

“I’m just saying.”

“Good. You need to be kept in check.”

“Man! How can a man be controlled by a woman?”

“…It seems like you’re already being controlled?”

Joo Young-gi looked dejected and lowered his head.

“I’m just holding back for now, for now. I’ll take it all back later.”

“You’re dreaming, kid.”

“Tsk.”

Park Yu-min chuckled as he watched Joo Young-gi gulp down his beer as if his insides were burning.

‘It’s so strange.’

Not long ago, when the three of them sat down for a drink like this, they were all practically jobless. Park Yu-min had quit being a pro gamer and was working at the orphanage, and Kang Jin-ho and Joo Young-gi were jobless after just being discharged from the military.

But now, they were all doing their own thing.

The change was a little bittersweet, but also good.

“So, we won’t be drinking together for a while.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s a bit of a shame.”

Joo Young-gi smacked his lips, and Kang Jin-ho spoke calmly.

“If you miss him, you can go to the stadium.”

“Man, where would I find the time to go there and watch that? I have to work at the store!”

“…I’ve been feeling this lately, but you’ve become strangely diligent? You weren’t like that in the military.”

“Do they give you money in the military?”

Joo Young-gi thumped his chest and said,

“Modern society is about getting paid for the work you do. But they don’t give you money in the military. So, I didn’t work hard. Now, I get money for the work I do, so how can I not work hard? I have to work my butt off. I told you, I’m going to be rich.”

Park Yu-min nodded meaningfully.

“And Jin-ho is going to get rich by doing nothing?”

“…Ah, stop it. I’m really hurting right now.”

Park Yu-min burst out laughing at Joo Young-gi’s banter.

Kang Jin-ho also smiled gently.

It felt like it had been a long time since they had such a pleasant drinking session.

“You have to win the championship.”

“…No. I’m a substitute, okay?”

“Substitutes can win too.”

“Can you be realistic for a moment?”

“I am being realistic, realistic.”

Park Yu-min sighed deeply.

These guys just didn’t understand.

“If you haven’t started, you wouldn’t know, but if you have, you have to be the best.”

“Hmm…”

But he liked that determination.

‘It was like that before too.’

It was Kang Jin-ho who pushed Park Yu-min, who thought he had achieved his goal by becoming a pro gamer. That personality of his, that you have to see things through to the end once you start, had a big influence on him.

“This is a team game, so it’s not something I can do well on my own. I’ll work hard, but there will be limits.”

“Then build up the team.”

“…Is that something you can just do?”

“Why not!”

Joo Young-gi shouted as if he was about to breathe fire.

“Man, aren’t they pro gamers too! Which do you think is harder, me starting from scratch and making the pizza place I’m running now into the best franchise in the country, or you taking pro gamers and raising them to win the championship?”

“Yours would be harder.”

“Of course! But I’m doing it! I am!”

“…Um, Mr. Joo Young-gi. Your store is just one store, right? You haven’t even started yet, right?”

“Wrong! I’m opening a second store this time.”

“Huh? Really?”

Joo Young-gi grinned.

“Last time, it was just a plan, but this time, I’ve actually signed the contract. I’ve rented a place for the store.”

“Wow, that’s really fast?”

“I told you. I’m going to be the best pizza store owner in Korea.”

“And Jin-ho is making the money?”

“Stop it! Stop it!”

Park Yu-min chuckled.

‘Everyone is moving forward.’

Joo Young-gi and Kang Jin-ho were both working hard in their own places. As a friend, he couldn’t lose either.

“Okay. I’ll try to win the championship.”

“You promised.”

“Just don’t beat me up if I don’t.”

“I’ll throw you in a liquor barrel.”

Park Yu-min shuddered at the thought that these guys could really do that.

“Please, have mercy.”

Laughter burst out.

After a long time of passing drinks back and forth, it was already dawn.

“Ah, damn…”

Joo Young-gi’s phone started ringing.

“I think I have to go?”

Park Yu-min’s eyes twitched.

“I’m just asking, but… are you and Soo-yeon…?”

“No, man! I haven’t even done anything properly yet. Don’t misunderstand. She’s just a bit peculiar, so if I’m late getting home, she throws a fit. We’re not living together.”

“Hmm…”

Park Yu-min looked at Joo Young-gi suspiciously. But Joo Young-gi waved his hand as if to say it wasn’t true.

“Why would I hide something like that if it was true? I’m telling you, it’s not.”

“I guess.”

“Anyway, I think I have to go. I’ll pay.”

“It’s okay, man.”

“Hey! Where do you think you are, you beggars! I’m the boss, man! The boss!”

“…That crazy guy.”

Joo Young-gi staggered to the counter and paid. Kang Jin-ho and Park Yu-min smiled wryly at the sight and got up from their seats.

“He seems completely under her thumb?”

“…He’s like our father.”

At Kang Jin-ho’s words, Park Yu-min closed his eyes tightly. The thought that that could be his future someday made him feel strangely sad.