Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 829

Organizing (5)

Everything is more troublesome after it happens.

Kang Jin-ho deeply felt the truth of Jo Gyu-min’s words. He hadn’t really felt it before. He was usually the one causing trouble, and there was always someone else to clean up after him.

In the past, Cheongma did it, and now, Jo Gyu-min and Lee Hyun-soo take care of it.

But this time, Kang Jin-ho had to handle everything himself.

While they could handle the administrative and response aspects, it was up to Kang Jin-ho to soothe and calm the bewildered people at the orphanage.

“Are the kids badly hurt? Jin-ho, where are the kids?”

“Sis! Sis, where are you? Sis?”

“Mr. Kang Jin-ho, I mean, why can’t we see the kids right now? I know the doctor said they’re okay, but I need to see them with my own eyes!”

“What a bolt from the blue on a Sunday.”

Kang Jin-ho squeezed his eyes shut.

‘It would be nice if they could just talk one at a time.’

Unfortunately, Kang Jin-ho only had one mouth and one voice, and he didn’t have the ability to answer five questions at once.

He had to praise himself just for being able to listen to and sort out five questions at the same time.

It was a hellish time, but thankfully, everything had an end.

The moment the children came out after their check-ups, Kang Jin-ho was instantly out of the spotlight. Those who had been tormenting Kang Jin-ho rushed to the children, checking with their own eyes and hands to make sure they were okay.

Thanks to that, he was left standing there like a spare part, but Kang Jin-ho was more comfortable with that.

The test results showed no particular abnormalities.

Although a trauma care schedule was set up at the insistence of Lee Hyun-soo and Jo Gyu-min, it was decided that the psychiatric treatment would not be done today, as it was not urgent and would only add to the children’s fatigue.

“Um…”

Kang Jin-ho quietly opened his mouth amidst the people who were crying and talking.

“It’s a bit much to be doing this in the hospital lobby, so how about we move to the orphanage first…”

It was a reasonable thing to say.

If they listened, everyone would understand that Kang Jin-ho was right.

If they listened, that is.

He had put some effort into his words, but no one was listening to Kang Jin-ho. It wasn’t that they were ignoring him; it seemed like they really couldn’t hear him.

“Uh…”

It felt awkward to say something again, but it was also strange to just stand there. Kang Jin-ho, who had recently become accustomed to everyone paying attention even when he spoke casually, recalled a very old memory.

‘So, this is how it felt.’

It was a common occurrence in his first life. No one paid attention to him. Well, there was attention. Being disabled made him visually stand out.

But that was it.

They looked, but no one had any intention of listening to him.

Kang Jin-ho, who had recalled an old memory after a long time, realized anew how much of a luxury it was to be surrounded by people. In his first life, he had died alone and lonely, with no one watching over him.

“Hyung!”

“Huh?”

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

While Kang Jin-ho was lost in his thoughts, Han Jin-sung had come to his side.

“Ah, I was just thinking about something else for a moment.”

“It’s chaotic, isn’t it?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled without answering.

Kang Jin-ho was still awkward in crowded places. There was no way he could be used to such a chaotic situation. He was just holding on because he felt responsible.

“Hyung, thank you.”

“For what?”

“I heard it from Chief Jo. That you were blocking them in front?”

What did they tell the kid? Kang Jin-ho frowned slightly. Of course, after going through various things, these kids would know that Kang Jin-ho was not an ordinary person.

But he wanted to hide it if possible.

These kids shouldn’t get involved with the Murim [martial arts world]. It was dangerous for ordinary people to get involved with the Murim. He didn’t intend to make them hothouse flowers, but at least he wanted them to live ordinary lives.

“It wasn’t really anything like that.”

“Hyung always says it’s nothing. But it’s a big deal for us.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Anyway, thank you, Hyung.”

“No need to thank me.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed deeply.

“It was supposed to be a fun outing, but I’m sorry you got caught up in this.”

“It’s not your fault, Hyung.”

“Yeah, but still.”

He couldn’t understand why these things always happened.

The amusement park incident was understandable since that guy went crazy, but the aquarium incident happened on its own without any external intervention. He was worried about how much shock the kids would suffer from experiencing both of these incidents in such a short period of time.

“Don’t look so glum.”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing. I’m more scared when the teachers are angry. At least this has an end.”

“…That’s true.”

He agreed with that.

Kang Jin-ho was also most afraid of Baek Hyun-jung when she was angry. Because that never ends.

“If you look so glum, the kids will get anxious. We’re okay, so please smile.”

“Okay.”

As Kang Jin-ho’s expression brightened, Han Jin-sung grinned.

“Let’s go now, Hyung. Everyone’s tired. I want to go home and rest too.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

The children were divided into buses and headed to the orphanage. The children, who had looked anxious, soon fell asleep.

When the bus arrived at the orphanage, the exhausted children got off the bus.

“Ugh, I’m going to die.”

“I have no energy left.”

It seemed like they were finally relaxing.

At any other time, he would have made fun of their dramatics, but now, the children were in a state where they could fall asleep on the spot.

“Should we wash up and sleep?”

Cho Mi-hye’s eyes flashed at Han Jin-sung’s words.

“Then are you just going to sleep like that?”

“I’m tired…”

“You’re tired, but why are you still breathing! You have to do what people do!”

“…Hey, you have a lot of energy. I’m so tired, but why are you so energetic?”

“It’s because there’s someone like you, Oppa!”

“What did I do?”

Cho Mi-hye chuckled and pushed Han Jin-sung into the bathroom.

“Hurry up and wash. Quickly.”

“Wash the kids first…”

“Just wash up quickly!”

“Don’t come into the men’s bath!”

Cho Mi-hye smiled brightly and pushed Han Jin-sung into the bathroom.

‘He must be tired.’

Everyone knew how much Han Jin-sung had suffered. In that situation where he was barely able to take care of his own life, Han Jin-sung took care of each and every child.

He used twice the energy and paid several times more attention.

So, how tired must he be?

‘He’s like this sometimes.’

Normally, he would whine to death, but he hadn’t complained once on the way here. Instead, he checked on the other kids several times to see if they were okay.

Considering Han Jin-sung, who would scream like he was dying even if he just stubbed his toe on the doorframe, this was an unusual sight.

But Cho Mi-hye knew.

Han Jin-sung was originally this kind of person. He was someone who didn’t complain when he had to do something.

‘He’s kind of cool sometimes. Just sometimes.’

“Kids.”

“Yes!”

“Oppa might fall asleep while washing, so go in and wash him.”

“Roger!”

When the energetic elementary schoolers were thrown into the bathroom, screams could be heard from inside.

“Okay, and…”

Just as she was about to think about what to do next, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Huh?”

“You should wash up and rest too.”

“Ah, Oppa. No, I…”

“Rest.”

The strength she felt in her shoulder.

It wasn’t a strong grip, but Cho Mi-hye felt a sense of relief from that steady hand.

“You don’t have to. I’ll do it. Yu-min is here, and the teachers are here too.”

“…Okay, I understand.”

“Go on.”

Cho Mi-hye nodded. But she didn’t move right away. She wanted to feel the relief from the hand on her shoulder a little longer.

Kang Jin-ho, knowing that, didn’t urge her any further.

“Okay, Oppa. Then I’ll go wash up too.”

“Okay.”

As Cho Mi-hye headed to the bathroom, Kang Jin-ho shook his hand and his eyes lit up.

‘Okay, let’s get started.’

The children who had experienced the aquarium incident were barely keeping their eyes open. So, Kang Jin-ho had to do what they usually did.

Then first!

“Jin-ho.”

“…Huh?”

“Come here, come here.”

“…Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had been full of motivation, realized the presence of the battalion commander Park Yu-min behind him and approached weakly.

“We need to feed the kids, but I don’t think they’ll be able to eat regular food?”

“…That’s right.”

Their stomachs wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“I think we should make porridge. Can you go get some rice?”

“How many bags?”

“Just two bags, just in case. One bag should be enough, but just in case.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho trudged towards the storage room.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Park Yu-min opened a can of cola and handed it to Kang Jin-ho, who was sitting on the bench.

“Yeah.”

Kang Jin-ho accepted the cola without a word.

‘It’s not easy after all.’

Whether it was because it didn’t suit him or because it was originally a difficult task. Dealing with and putting the children to sleep was never easy.

Kang Jin-ho, who had barely finished all the work, leaned back on the bench.

Click.

“Stop it.”

“It’s not easy, you know.”

Park Yu-min shook his head at Kang Jin-ho’s jest.

“Other people quit easily.”

“We can’t be like other people.”

“I’ve been feeling this lately, but you’re really good at talking. You weren’t like this before.”

“I’ve improved.”

Park Yu-min, who had laughed lightly, patted Kang Jin-ho on the shoulder.

“Don’t blame yourself.”

“It’s not your fault. No one thinks that way. No one was seriously hurt.”

“I’m not really thinking that far.”

Kang Jin-ho said, looking at the sky.

Looking at the dark night sky made him feel a little more at ease.

“It seems difficult.”

“What is?”

“It’s like, even if something starts with good intentions, it doesn’t always lead to good results?”

Park Yu-min chuckled.

“That’s how it is.”

“All?”

“Yeah. That’s how it is. Things don’t always go as planned. But we still do something. If we keep doing that, things will get a little better. Isn’t that how everyone lives?”

“That’s how everyone…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

The nuance of the phrase ‘that’s how everyone’ was good. It was like saying that Kang Jin-ho, who had always lived a life a little different from ordinary people, was now living like them.

‘Ordinary…’

It was a dream that was now a little difficult to achieve. But that was good in its own way.

The current life was several times more enjoyable than the ordinary life Kang Jin-ho had initially dreamed of. Perhaps Kang Jin-ho was already achieving his dream.

“Drink.”

“Okay.”

Two grown adults sat on a bench and drank cola.

After that, the sound of insects chirping slowly spread.

Nothing particularly special, but special.

It was just another one of those days.