Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 834

“Your waist is wide open.”

People are people because they understand words.

Beasts that don’t understand words can only be controlled by force. Although the world is moving towards a place where animals are not beaten, such a climate is still prevalent.

In that sense, Bator was now somewhere between a human and an animal.

Speaking in a low voice and pointing out problems is a way of treating a human. If a person who has been pointed out a problem recognizes it and corrects it themselves, it can be said to be good education.

But it seems Kang Jin-ho is a bit impatient.

Thwack!

Before feedback on the problem could even be given, Kang Jin-ho’s fist dug into Bator’s side. A straight punch that seemed like it would break all his ribs.

Bator’s face contorted in pain.

“Kuaaaaaaaaah!”

“Shouting won’t solve anything.”

Thud!

Kang Jin-ho’s leg kicks Bator’s solar plexus again. Bator’s body floats into the air like a balloon.

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho, with his hands on his stomach, watched Bator fall and rested his chin on his hand.

“There’s no harmony at all.”

Kang Jin-ho could see it.

The magical energy flowing within Bator was not mixing with his existing energy.

But there was no way Bator could be in the right state of mind to hear such words.

“Krrrk!”

Bator, who had landed on the ground with a thud, gritted his teeth. But Kang Jin-ho calmly approached Bator. Bator, making beast-like noises, charged at Kang Jin-ho.

Thud.

Kang Jin-ho lightly flicked his hand, sending Bator’s fist flying, and then landed three punches on Bator’s exposed upper body.

Bator, struck in the neck, chest, and solar plexus at once, collapsed on the spot.

“Magic is ultimately a martial art of controlling oneself.”

It was better not to learn it than to lose your mind and run wild. After all, he would have to deal with the aftermath.

“Kkeueuk.”

Kang Jin-ho placed his hand on Bator’s head as he knelt on one knee, growling.

‘It’s like a baptism.’

Wiggins thought as he watched. It was like a giant from mythology recognizing his master and kneeling. In reality, it was not faith or loyalty, but a knee forced down by a beating.

Reality is always more cruel than stories.

Ssssh.

With a sound like air escaping, Kang Jin-ho sucked in the magical energy that filled Bator’s head.

But there was no significant change in Bator. He was still glaring at Kang Jin-ho with bloodshot eyes.

“Hmm?”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

“Is the magical energy not gone yet?”

His fist was raised.

“Ah, no, Master! I!”

Thwack!

Those who have been hit while talking know. If you close your mouth when you get hit, it hurts, but if you open your mouth, it hurts like you’re going to die.

Bator fell to the side with his mouth wide open.

“Is the magical energy not going away?”

“M-Master! I’ve regained my senses… Aaaack! Aaaack!”

He was getting hit.

‘He’s doing it on purpose.’

‘He’s doing that on purpose.’

Kang Jin-ho began to thrash Bator as if he had seized an opportunity. Bator was desperately shouting something, but it seemed Kang Jin-ho couldn’t hear it at all.

It was a sight that made one wonder if his hearing had been damaged as his martial arts skills improved.

‘I shouldn’t mess with him.’

‘That guy, he wasn’t this violent before…’

‘That’s what you get for acting up.’

Everyone turned their eyes away.

Originally, the Assembly was a sect focused solely on Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho wielded all the power, and the subordinates only dared to offer their opinions cautiously to Kang Jin-ho.

But with the arrival of Bator and Wiggins, the channels of communication opened up.

They could confidently discuss right and wrong in front of Kang Jin-ho, and they could point out when Kang Jin-ho was wrong. They were people who could throw out the words that Lee Hyun-soo had to say in three hundred and fifty roundabout ways in the past.

It was a very good direction for the development and future of the organization.

But…

Thwack!

Kang Jin-ho’s foot kicks Bator’s head as he tries to get up. Bator, with a large footprint on his forehead, lay on the floor. White steam was rising from his forehead.

‘I should shut up.’

‘Dictator.’

‘He’s doing that to show us, that’s what he’s doing.’

Bator, who had been one of the pillars of the resistance against Kang Jin-ho, was being beaten like a dog on a hot day.

Now, who would dare to speak up in front of him?

‘It was a bit strange from the moment he suddenly suggested a sparring match.’

‘He’s just beating him up because he doesn’t like him, what kind of sparring is this? Where in the world is there sparring like this?’

There was much to say.

But they couldn’t say it out loud.

The barely opened channels of communication were closed again.

Kang Jin-ho, with a refreshed face, lightly pressed Bator’s side.

“Are you back to your senses?”

“…Yes.”

His tone had become respectful.

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bator with a gentle smile.

‘They’re all like that.’

It’s not that Bator has a strong personality.

In the old Demonic Cult, there were crazy people everywhere.

It wasn’t just that they were impatient or strong like Bator, but they were literally crazy people roaming around. If you released just one moderately crazy person from the Demonic Cult into the martial world, it would cause chaos. The ones who were considered truly crazy in the Demonic Cult were not even allowed to leave the cult. Because they knew what would happen.

Compared to those guys, Bator wasn’t even considered crazy.

Even those crazy guys eventually got beaten and became cute on their own.

“If magical energy fills your bone marrow, you’ll lose your mind. You have to be careful.”

“…Yes.”

It had been a long time since his lost reason had returned. But what was the point of arguing about it? He would just get hit more.

‘Damn it.’

He wasn’t particularly resentful about being hit.

The world of martial artists is ten times more violent than the world of ordinary people. Getting hit is a daily occurrence. What truly made Bator miserable was the fact that he was unilaterally beaten without being able to land a single blow.

“…Master.”

“Hmm?”

“How did you become so strong?”

“Became strong, huh…”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“I haven’t become stronger.”

“…You haven’t?”

“I’ve just become a little more efficient. I just can do things now that I couldn’t do before because my control couldn’t keep up.”

Bator tilted his head slightly.

He didn’t understand what he meant.

“In other words…”

Wiggins, who was approaching, interpreted Kang Jin-ho’s words instead.

“It’s like the engine output of a car hasn’t increased, but through detailed adjustments, it can accelerate faster and corner more easily.”

“You could say that.”

“But can that alone make such a big difference?”

Kang Jin-ho was at a loss as to how to explain it.

“The explanation might be a bit crude, but anyway, I’m someone who has driven an F1 machine before.”

“That’s right. Your past level is different.”

“When people drive a car, they usually don’t step on the accelerator all the way. Most people don’t even know how fast their car can go.”

“Yes.”

“So, they can’t try cornering at their maximum speed or use various techniques. They’d be afraid to even reach that speed.”

Wiggins nodded.

‘I understand what he means.’

For others, speeds over 200 km/h are a challenge. Reaching 200 km/h on a straight road is not a common occurrence in life. They might try to reach that speed as a test, but they wouldn’t think of doing anything while maintaining that speed.

But Kang Jin-ho could do it.

He was someone who had already driven over 400 km/h. For him, the world of 200 km/h was just an ordinary part of his daily life.

That’s why he could do it.

Using various techniques with the maximum power he could output.

Even with the same output, the versatility and efficiency were on a different level. That’s what Kang Jin-ho was saying.

“I understand, but I don’t accept it. Can that alone make this much of a difference?”

“Do you need an explanation?”

It was a question of whether he didn’t believe it even after seeing it.

Wiggins shook his head.

“No explanation is needed. I’m just amazed.”

“It’s just a matter of skill. A hammer held by a beginner can only break a pebble, but a hammer held by a skilled person can split the grain of a rock.”

“Indeed.”

“Increasing output is important. But using the power you have properly is also important. You have to grasp both.”

Wiggins nodded.

It wasn’t just about the present moment.

Kang Jin-ho’s words were discussing the direction the Assembly should take. Learning new things and mastering new martial arts were important, but using what they had properly was also important.

That was the meaning.

“It’s meaningless to just learn magic. You have to know how to use it properly.”

“Master.”

Bator interrupted Kang Jin-ho.

“I want to ask you something.”

“Ask.”

“Am I doing something wrong?”

“No.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head firmly.

“Your direction isn’t wrong. Your method isn’t wrong either.”

“Then?”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Kang Jin-ho slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.

“Since we’re living in modern times, I thought things should be a bit different from the past. So, I was thinking of trying a modern approach to education, but in the end, I realized that wasn’t it. What you want is results. Then, no matter what the method is, we have to produce the best results.”

Crack.

The sound of bones echoed from Kang Jin-ho’s fist.

“Even if that method is a bit violent.”

The faces of those watching turned pale.

“Um…”

Lee Hyun-soo raised his hand slightly.

“I think a democratic approach is sufficient.”

Everyone cheered for Lee Hyun-soo.

Who would want to suffer under iron-fisted rule and harsh treatment disguised as education now? The people here were not young. Although Kang Jin-ho’s mental age was older than theirs, that guy’s body was still that of a healthy young man.

“I don’t.”

Kang Jin-ho firmly cut off Lee Hyun-soo’s words.

Then that was the end of it.

“It was the same in the past. I tried teaching and making a fuss, but in the end, it was no better than two sparring matches. The conclusion was easily reached.”

“The head forgets, but the body doesn’t. I need to let everyone know that now.”

Bator shouted fiercely.

“Master!”

“Hmm?”

“I!”

He jumped up from his seat, staring at Kang Jin-ho with eyes that looked like they would burst.

“I agree!”

Everyone’s eyes were on Bator. In Bator’s eyes, which were glancing back, one thought could be seen.

‘I can’t be the only one to suffer.’

Isn’t it true that if you share sadness and pain, it becomes half? Since he had already been beaten, he couldn’t end it here. Sharing the pain and experiencing the same thing together.

“This is what a comrade is.”

“Comrade, my foot!”

“If you’re going to die, die alone!”

In an instant, words of criticism filled the air, but Bator covered his ears and turned his head away.

“So…”

At that moment, Kang Jin-ho’s voice silenced everyone.

“Who’s next?”

Looking at Kang Jin-ho’s exceptionally refreshed face, Wiggins closed his eyes tightly.

A true demon king was descending upon the Assembly.