Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 792

“That won’t do.”

Lee Hyun-soo was utterly bewildered by this absurd situation.

Bewildered… no, calling this feeling bewilderment wasn’t quite right. This was a protest against oppression, a rage against the absurd.

“Why?”

“The budget allocation is finished.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s lips twitched.

“The budget allocation is finished?”

“Yes.”

“The system isn’t even fully established yet, and the budget allocation is finished? The department creation isn’t even complete yet?”

“Yes. Budgeting for newly established departments will be done again next month.”

A vein popped on Lee Hyun-soo’s forehead.

“Am I talking to a government official right now? What company allocates a budget and operates on that monthly?”

“We’ll be doing it this way for a while.”

“On whose authority?”

“I’m sorry, sir, but…”

Lee Hyun-joo said with a smile that couldn’t be any brighter.

“The Chairman and I have already discussed it, so if you want money, you should go argue with the Chairman. Well then.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face contorted horribly as he watched Lee Hyun-joo leave.

“Damn it!”

A vein stood out on Lee Hyun-soo’s forehead.

Those who saw his furious gait as he practically ran down the hallway pressed themselves against the walls, like the sea parting for Moses.

‘Why is that guy acting like that again?’

‘Let’s just avoid him.’

There was no one in the General Assembly with enough courage to stand in front of Lee Hyun-soo, whose face was twisted in anger. Lee Hyun-soo walked forward without hesitation through the cleared path.

‘This is unreasonable.’

This was truly unreasonable.

‘They need to make some sense.’

The Operations Management Department was just starting. To do things properly, a lot of funds were needed. But to have that funding controlled by Lee Hyun-joo of all people. How could they get anything done like this?

‘What on earth is the Chairman thinking?’

There was no disagreement that Lee Hyun-joo should be in charge of the accounting department. Or rather, to be precise, there was no one else in the Assembly who could fill that position.

Lack of talent.

Ironically, the General Assembly suffered from a chronic lack of talent. It was like the Ministry of National Defense was incredibly strong, but the administrative branch had no people, so the Ministry of National Defense couldn’t function properly.

If Lee Hyun-joo hadn’t taken charge of the accounting department, that work would have fallen entirely on Lee Hyun-soo. So, for Lee Hyun-soo, it was a fortunate thing.

Except for one problem.

‘Why is she the department head?!’

What Lee Hyun-soo needed was someone to carry out the practical work based on his instructions. He didn’t need someone who made their own plans and moved independently. It was like buying a robot vacuum cleaner to do the cleaning, only to find it rearranging the furniture when the owner wasn’t around.

Even though it was an era where artificial intelligence was beginning to surpass humans, the only solution for AI that deviated from its role was disposal.

Lee Hyun-joo was trying to break free from the role that Lee Hyun-soo had set for her. This was something Lee Hyun-soo could never accept.

It wasn’t because Lee Hyun-joo was being annoying or because it was bothersome that she wasn’t executing the budget according to Lee Hyun-soo’s wishes.

‘It’s not personal! It’s not!’

Lee Hyun-soo strode towards the Chairman’s office. Seeing the firmly closed door of the Chairman’s office, Lee Hyun-soo grabbed the handle and flung it open.

“Chairman, I have something to say… Ack?”

Lee Hyun-soo’s body froze in place as he entered the room.

“Krrreeee…”

What he saw was a scene completely different from what he had imagined.

His mind went blank in an instant.

A monster, no, a demon?

There was something bizarre and indescribable inside. A massive body that seemed to touch the ceiling, a dark, murky body with a red aura flowing through it, was reminiscent of a giant statue made of steel. Black demonic energy flowed out like black blood around the statue-like body.

Just the sight of it was terrifying enough to cause a heart attack in a weak-hearted person…

“Krrreeee…”

A distorted face, bloodshot eyes, and torn corners of the eyes were bleeding. The pulsating muscles were also splitting in places, starting to bleed.

Was this what a hellish executioner, who catches and punishes evildoers, looked like?

Even the Four Heavenly Kings [Buddhist guardian deities] guarding the temple gates would lower their eyes. They also wanted to live. That human… no, should that even be called a human?

Lee Hyun-soo took a labored breath.

Having gone through countless heart-stopping experiences with Kang Jin-ho helped. If it hadn’t been for that experience, he might have been taken away with a real myocardial infarction.

The hellish executioner in front of him was, of course, Bator. If that appearance wasn’t an illusion and was real, it could only be Bator.

‘This is really too much.’

Living in this world, he had seen countless terrifying sights. He had experienced so many bizarre things that he had even fallen asleep out of boredom while watching a supposedly scary horror movie.

But even for Lee Hyun-soo, Bator’s appearance in front of him was nothing short of cosmic horror.

“Hoo…”

Bator took a deep breath. The demonic energy that had been flowing out of his body was quickly absorbed back into him. Once the distorted face and black demonic energy were gone, he was back to being a normal Bator, albeit one covered in blood.

That was still scary, though.

Bator raised his hand and wiped his face. Thick blood smeared across his face.

‘Wipe it properly, I tell you!’

It was just a smear of blood with his hand. But it made him look like a cannibal from a movie who had camouflaged his face with blood. That physique and that disguise should not be combined. Unless he was planning to kill everyone who saw him with a heart attack, he should never do that.

“Hmm, it’s not an ordinary task after all.”

Bator opened his mouth in a low voice.

“My body can’t handle it.”

Bator’s gaze turned to Kang Jin-ho, who was sitting inside. Kang Jin-ho examined Bator’s condition and nodded.

“You endured better than I thought.”

“I thought my body was going to explode.”

“It’s about accepting a different energy. And it’s about adapting to the most extreme energy you’ve never used before. It would be a miscalculation to think it would be easy.”

“That’s also true, Master. But I thought my body could endure it a bit more.”

“It’s the difference between internal and external. If the same energy had attacked from outside the body, you could have blocked it easily. But external force is weak against internal attacks.”

“I see. I didn’t think of that.”

Bator nodded quietly.

‘But this is really… amazing.’

Mara Blood Flame Energy.

He was only at the beginning stages of Mara Blood Flame Energy. With Kang Jin-ho’s help, he was learning how to use demonic energy and circulating energy according to the formulas of Mara Blood Flame Energy, a very basic process.

But the unbelievable sense of fulfillment he felt when drawing up demonic energy through the formulas was beyond description.

Heat surged, and he was filled with confidence that he could do anything.

‘Demonic energy…’

That’s why this martial art is called demonic energy. Like taking a drug that activates the body, his mind instantly escaped the control of reason.

If it was just his mind that was more active than usual, he could try to control it, but the demonic energy overflowing in his body severed even that last thread. Bator could feel firsthand why demonic energy was a martial art that destroyed human nature.

‘Can I control this?’

He was suddenly afraid.

Generally, those who learn demonic energy adapt to it when their martial prowess is not high. So, even if they go berserk in the process, there is someone to control them.

But what if Bator went berserk?

A terrible thing would happen.

‘This is not something to take lightly.’

After learning what kind of martial art demonic energy was, he felt a new sense of admiration for Kang Jin-ho.

‘He mastered this to that level?’

Then how was he controlling that impulse and desire?

‘He’s someone I can’t understand at all.’

Bator shook his head, and his eyes caught sight of the open door and a person frozen in front of it.

“What is it?”

Bator’s face contorted.

“Do you come in without even checking the situation inside?”

“Uh… well, that’s…”

Lee Hyun-soo froze stiff.

It was understandable.

Who could remain calm in front of a seven-foot giant covered in blood, shouting in a voice that seemed to break the building?

“I, I’m sorry. I didn’t think that Bator-nim would be practicing martial arts here.”

“What?”

Bator’s eyebrows twitched.

“So, if I wasn’t here, you would just enter the Chairman’s office as you please?”

“…No, that’s not what I meant…”

Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t find an excuse and just moved his lips.

‘Why are you training here!’

It was unexpected that Bator was inside. If Lee Hyun-soo had been a little less agitated, he would have sensed another presence in the Chairman’s office, but he was so excited that he didn’t check what was going on inside.

“You!”

Bator’s eyes widened.

Compared to the unbelievable visual he had shown a moment ago, he looked a bit more human, but unlike before, Bator’s anger was now clearly focused on Lee Hyun-soo.

His legs gave way, and his knees buckled.

Department head? Kang Jin-ho’s favor?

That wouldn’t work on this person. In front of Bator, everyone in the Assembly except Kang Jin-ho was equal. You get one hit, and I get one hit.

Bator was grinding his teeth.

“You talk about reforming the Assembly! What you really need to reform is your own attitude! You arrogant bastards! I’ll fix your rotten minds today!”

Bator reached out his hand, as big as a pot lid, and grabbed Lee Hyun-soo by the back of his neck. Then, he lifted Lee Hyun-soo up with one hand.

Hanging limply in Bator’s hand, Lee Hyun-soo looked back at Kang Jin-ho with sad eyes.

“Ch, Chairman.”

But Kang Jin-ho was leisurely drinking his coffee. It was the composure he had learned from Wiggins earlier.

“Lee Hyun-soo.”

“Yes, Chairman! Yes!”

Please save me.

I will give you my loyalty…

“Have a good trip. Then we’ll talk.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled and waved his hand.

Tears began to well up in Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes as he watched that scene.

‘There’s no one to trust in this world.’

Bator snorted.

It was like a puppy who had been running around and attacking anyone, relying on his owner’s power, had met a dog trainer. Bator, who had a firm grip on the leash, shook Lee Hyun-soo lightly once.

“Let’s go.”

Bator grabbed Lee Hyun-soo and began to walk away. Like a large trash bag held in a man’s hand coming out of a supermarket, Lee Hyun-soo, hanging in Bator’s hand, cried out with half resentment and half sadness.

“Chaaaaairmaaaaaan!”

Thud.

But the door closed mercilessly.

Lee Hyun-soo’s rebellion, which had been running wild without knowing its place, was suppressed in less than two days.

In a way that no one had ever imagined.