Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 855

The small, cute white car chugged up the hill.

Lee Hyun-joo frowned as she pressed the accelerator.

‘Is it time to get a new car?’

The road leading up to the main headquarters was too steep. Her beloved car, which had held up well until now, seemed to be struggling even more lately.

“Sis, we’re still tight on cash. Let’s hold on for two more months, just two more months.”

She was someone who had never experienced financial hardship in her life. But recently, she had come to understand what it meant to save and live frugally.

In a way, this was something she had brought upon herself.

She was entitled to inherit Lee Joong-gul’s vast fortune. While the hidden slush funds and illegal money had to be returned to the main headquarters, she could have inherited the assets he had legally acquired.

However, Lee Hyun-joo had unhesitatingly pushed all that money into the headquarters’ coffers.

Money wasn’t important.

What would she do with that money? Live a life of leisure and happiness?

‘What a joke.’

Humans couldn’t do that. Or rather, humans might be able to, but Lee Hyun-joo was not that kind of person. She preferred proving her abilities to having useless money piling up in her bank account.

If she had gobbled up Lee Joong-gul’s assets, would she be able to work here now?

Absolutely not.

Lee Hyun-soo would not have stopped watching her, and she would have lived a life of luxury, completely detached from the world of martial artists.

The thought alone was horrifying.

Thanks to shedding all of that, she had gained freedom. And beyond that freedom, she had taken on a fairly important position, and now she was finding her work rewarding.

Except for one small drawback.

“Why is my credit card bill so high!”

The moment her salary was deposited, it vanished without a trace.

There were many partings in the world, but none were as sad as this. To say goodbye to the one you had longed for so desperately, just like that.

This was a tragedy, a tragedy.

Of course, her annual salary wasn’t low. Compared to those doing similar work in her age group… no, there probably wasn’t anyone doing the same kind of work as her at her age, but anyway, compared to those who were considered successful in her age group, she was receiving a lot more money each month.

The unfortunate thing was that her spending was far more than those in her age group.

Every time her credit card bill came, she would be horrified and go through the statement, but the conclusion was always the same. Her sweet tooth was the problem, and her eyes that couldn’t resist pretty things were the problem.

Her hand that swiped the card was innocent.

“How am I going to survive this month?” Her eyes welled up with tears. The only saving grace was that the headquarters provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eating there would at least solve her food expenses. It wouldn’t make much of a difference given her income and spending habits, but it was better than nothing.

Lee Hyun-joo parked her car and glanced around.

“Hmm.”

There were hardly any black sedans. It meant that the higher-ups who drove large cars hadn’t come to work yet.

‘They should all be fired.’

Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo had launched a ruthless crackdown on the elders and directors.

However, they hadn’t imposed significant restrictions on those under the elders, those who had been sucking honey by sticking close to them [a Korean idiom for those who benefit from being close to power].

There were two reasons for this. Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo each had one.

Kang Jin-ho’s reason was simple. He was merciless to the leaders, but not particularly harsh to those under them. He had completely dismantled the Yeongnam Association’s leadership, but he had accepted the martial artists who made up the Yeongnam Association without discrimination.

To be precise, it wasn’t that he wasn’t harsh, but that he didn’t care much. As a result, proper sanctions against them were not being implemented.

However, unlike Kang Jin-ho, Lee Hyun-soo was well aware that they were also collaborators of the former elders. Yet, the reason she didn’t get rid of them was because there was no one to replace them.

A large number of people who could handle administrative tasks were needed for a huge organization like the headquarters to function. And due to the nature of the headquarters, it was impossible to hire the many people who were working outside.

‘Rotten water.’

Lee Hyun-joo also knew that it was impossible to get rid of them right now. That’s why she didn’t want to criticize Lee Hyun-soo. But even if it took some time, they all had to be weeded out. Only then could the headquarters develop.

“Hoo…”

Lee Hyun-joo turned her head and looked at the headquarters.

‘It’s a strange place.’

After Lee Joong-gul was ousted and Kang Jin-ho took power, the headquarters had become quite a bizarre place.

It was a mix of shonen manga-like radicalism [a genre of Japanese manga and anime aimed at a young male audience, often featuring action and adventure] and the darkest parts of society, like a hodgepodge.

It was changing rapidly, with reforms being carried out at an unbelievable pace, while at the same time, the circumstances of adults and tacit acknowledgments accompanied the reforms. Lee Hyun-joo smiled wryly at this grotesque reality.

Brrr.

At that moment, a black sedan entered the parking lot. The sedan that had passed in front of her stopped, and the window rolled down.

A familiar face appeared in the window.

“Hey, Department Head Lee Hyun-joo. Long time no see?” The emphasis was on the word ‘Department Head.’ Even someone who wasn’t particularly perceptive would easily realize that the words were sarcastic.

“…Yes. It has been a while, Department Head Choi.”

The man called Department Head Choi smiled subtly and scanned Lee Hyun-joo from head to toe. Lee Hyun-joo felt unpleasant just from that gaze.

“You look good these days. Looks like something good happened? While everyone else is dying.”

“Yes, I’m doing well. I wish I could be doing even better.”

Department Head Choi stared at Lee Hyun-joo for a moment before spitting out his words.

“You betrayed your grandfather’s followers, his disciples, the people who were like uncles to you, and now you’re doing well by sticking to their side? What would your grandfather say if he saw you in the afterlife?”

He came straight for the jugular. But Lee Hyun-joo wasn’t flustered. She had been through too much to be flustered by something like this.

And in fact, compared to dealing with the twisted Lee Hyun-soo on a daily basis, this level of sarcasm was rather cute.

“He’d tell me not to associate with trash.”

“What, you bitch?”

Bang!

The car door slammed open, and Department Head Choi got out of the car roughly. A man with an imposing physique looked down at Lee Hyun-joo.

“Trash?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“…You seem to be getting too cocky just because you have support from above, but that won’t last long. Do you know why you’re being used? It’s to advertise that even Lee Joong-gul’s granddaughter is sticking to us, taking the scraps we give her, and barking like a dog, you idiot.”

Department Head Choi gritted his teeth.

“Everyone else is looking at you with pity, but you’re the only one who thinks you’re doing great. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“You won’t last long. You’ll get dumped. When you’re about to be thrown into the pot, crying and saying, ‘I shouldn’t have done that,’ it won’t change anything. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Lee Hyun-joo said coldly.

“But what should I do? I know it too well? It seems like Department Head Choi is the one who doesn’t understand the reality.”

“What?”

“Department Head Choi, you’re too naive for your age.”

Department Head Choi’s face contorted.

“So what, do you think those people would hire me if I had no name or ability? And do you think Department Head Choi has any intention of doing so?”

“I’m Lee Joong-gul’s granddaughter. So they’re using me for publicity. So what? Isn’t that a great spec?” Department Head Choi stared at Lee Hyun-joo, speechless.

“That’s how the world is. Companies hire people based on their abilities and value. And they use them. They pay money in return for that use. The headquarters is giving me a position and paying me money because of my abilities and value. I’m getting a high salary in exchange for providing that.”

“Get a grip, Department Head Choi. Times have changed. It’s no longer an era where you can get a position and earn money just because you’re part of someone’s faction. It’s a world where people without ability are cut off if they’re in a position they don’t deserve. And that’s only natural.”

Department Head Choi’s lips twitched.

“You’ve been brainwashed.”

“Yes, think whatever you want. Usually, people who lose an argument resort to personal attacks. What’s next? You were always stupid? You’re too young to know society? You’re being deceived right now? Or you’re a woman, so you don’t know anything?” Contempt flickered in Lee Hyun-joo’s eyes.

“Rotten water needs to be replaced. Especially if the rotten water has no intention of going into the water purifier itself.”

“I’ll give you one more piece of advice, thinking of the affection I once had for you as an uncle. Department Head Choi, if you keep acting like that, you’ll be cut off soon. And you’ll never be able to come back. Because that’s the way things are now. If you don’t want to end up like that, do your job properly.”

Lee Hyun-joo turned away without waiting for a reply. She could clearly hear the rough, panting breaths behind her… but so what? He wouldn’t dare to attack her anyway.

“Don’t think you’re the only one who’s great!”

‘Ah, yes, yes.’

“You’ll regret this one day!”

Lee Hyun-joo didn’t answer. It wasn’t worth answering.

‘Idiots.’

When times change, there are always those who fall behind.

People think that those who fall behind are the powerless and uneducated, but that’s not actually the case. Those who are powerless and uneducated try their best to adapt to change in order to survive.

Rather, those who become obsolete are those who have a bit of power.

Those who shout, ‘Why should I change when I’m already doing well enough?’ Those who have to give up something they have in order to keep up with the changed world.

These are the types who fall behind, become obsolete, and disappear first. Yes, like that Department Head Choi.

Lee Hyun-joo raised her head and looked at the headquarters building.

It was the same building.

The building was no different now than when she first came here. The location of the headquarters hadn’t changed either.

Yet, it felt different.

It was familiar, yet unfamiliar. It was well-known, yet strange.

Lee Hyun-joo didn’t deny that sense of incongruity. Yes, it was different. It had definitely changed.

She would acknowledge and accept that change. And she would cling to it more fiercely. Because that was the only way she could make this change her own.

Lee Joong-gul’s granddaughter.

Until the day she could shed that tiresome label and be recognized as a human being, or a martial artist, Lee Hyun-joo.

“Hoo…”

It wasn’t going to be easy.

But it was because it wasn’t easy that it was worth challenging.

As Department Head Choi said, it didn’t matter if she started as Lee Joong-gul’s granddaughter. No matter how she started, if she produced results, everyone would see her as the human being, Lee Hyun-joo.

“Let’s do our best today too.”

Lee Hyun-joo headed into the building with a light step.