Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 901

‘It’s over.’

Wiggins turned his body lightly.

The deck was already cleared. Wiggins’ strength wasn’t even needed. From the moment Kang Jin-ho arrived, the outcome here was already decided.

Even so, the reason Wiggins stayed close to Kang Jin-ho was because all sorts of bizarre things were rampant in the world.

No matter how much strength transcends everything, those who experience a field they’ve never encountered before are bound to be flustered. There’s no guarantee that such a thing won’t happen, even if it’s one in a thousand or ten thousand.

Wiggins is the best person to deal with such a situation.

As a mage, his ability to respond is superior to that of ordinary warriors.

But now, he is no longer needed here.

‘They were more foolish than I thought.’

If Wiggins were in charge of organizing the Japanese expedition, he would have definitely formed a separate group of sorcerers with unique Japanese characteristics. Variables are always important.

By giving up that variable themselves, this war was as good as decided.

‘I don’t know. Are they foolish, or…’

Wiggins glanced back. He looked at Kang Jin-ho’s back and smiled, a bit dumbfounded.

‘No, that can’t be.’

The position of leader in the martial world isn’t hereditary. It’s usually taken by the strongest person of that era. And that strength isn’t determined solely by martial power.

Just look at the Round Table [a group of powerful mages in Europe].

The Master is definitely strong. But if you were to ask if the Master is the strongest martial artist in Europe, it would be hard to say yes.

The same goes for Korea.

Before Kang Jin-ho appeared, Korea was dominated by Lee Jung-geol and Kim Seok-il. But if you were to ask if they were the strongest in the Korean martial world, well…

The strongest martial artist in Korea was probably holed up somewhere in the mountains. It’s obvious that those who have devoted themselves solely to martial arts without wasting time on organizational management or schemes are stronger than others.

Japan wouldn’t be any different.

If the person they call the leader is indeed the head of Shin’ichi-kai [a Japanese martial arts organization], that position could never be obtained by force alone.

In the martial world, martial power is the most important. But it’s not everything. A fool who is only strong will inevitably show weaknesses to those who use their heads.

So, they wouldn’t have done this out of foolishness. They just couldn’t grasp it.

How strong Kang Jin-ho is.

Even Wiggins, who is watching right next to him, can’t comprehend his level of strength. The Kang Jin-ho he saw at first was strong too. But the current Kang Jin-ho has become so much stronger that the phrase ‘a sea change’ would be fitting.

How could they understand something that even Wiggins has given up on understanding?

So, this wasn’t something they could be blamed for.

Of course, they’re not fools, so they’ll learn from this failure. If they have the resources to plan another invasion of Korea, they will organize an expedition that is incomparable to this one.

But…

‘Will they really have the resources?’

If they all die here, the damage to Japan will be enormous.

War isn’t arithmetic.

If 10% of the force is lost, it might be considered a minor loss in a game, but in an actual war, a 10% loss of force is enough to make one consider giving up the war.

And the damage they suffered here is more than 10%.

To lose this much force and still organize a larger expedition?

It wouldn’t be easy at all. If they fail, they would even risk the destruction of the Japanese martial world. Do they have that kind of will?

‘I don’t know, that is.’

You can know the depth of ten fathoms of water, but not the depth of a man’s heart [an idiom meaning you can’t know what someone is thinking].

Logically, a second expedition would never happen, but Wiggins knows that things in the world don’t always go logically.

Most wars don’t start based on rationality. It’s the madness of some ruler that causes wars.

So, what should Wiggins do?

‘Shall we wrap things up?’

Wiggins reached out and grabbed Nobuo’s shoulder. Nobuo, who was clinging to the railing, not knowing what to do on the already tilting ship, looked up at Wiggins with a slight start.

Wiggins grinned at the sight.

‘He’s lost his mind.’

It’s understandable.

Right now, the only railing left on this ship is the one Nobuo is holding onto. The steel deck is completely crumpled and broken, and the corners are all blunt.

It’s nothing to Wiggins, but it must be like hell for Nobuo.

‘Come on, let’s go somewhere a little more comfortable.’

Wiggins grabbed Nobuo and soared upwards.

‘Uwaaaaaaaah!’

Nobuo screamed. They landed on the bow of the tilted ship. As the ship tilted backward, the front part was sticking up.

Wiggins, who stood on the bow that rose like a tall tower, glanced around.

‘It’s cleaner than I thought.’

If this were land, it would be a mess of corpses and blood, but since it’s the sea, it didn’t feel that way. The sea was dyed red, which wasn’t a pretty sight, but since the bodies had sunk below, it didn’t look much different from the usual sea, except for the fact that it was full of people.

Those many people were gathered on their ship’s side.

‘Hey.’

Nobuo’s gaze snapped towards Wiggins.

‘Are you used to people’s attention?’

‘……Yes?’

‘I hope so.’

Wiggins smiled and raised one hand.

Shhh!

Then, he shot something from his fingertips. What Wiggins shot soared upwards and then caused a huge explosion.

Kwaaaaaang!

An explosion.

No, it was more like a firework. Along with a loud noise, colorful lights flashed in the air. It felt a bit different, but it was like watching fireworks.

That’s why it was even more in line with Wiggins’ purpose.

Those who saw the fireworks exploding overhead turned their gaze to Wiggins.

‘Now, you just need to speak in Japanese. Repeat after me. The war is over.’

Nobuo nodded his head vigorously.

He didn’t know what was going on, but he had a strong feeling that he should do as this person said.

– The war is over!

His voice echoed loudly through amplification magic. It was as if only his voice existed in the otherwise silent sea.

But how the words were conveyed to those filling the sea was not important. What was important to them was the meaning of the words.

It’s over.

It was a word they didn’t want to believe.

But they had no choice but to believe it.

Wiggins was standing alone on the passenger ship that was almost completely tilted, with only the bow sticking up. That meant that there was no one to stop Wiggins from climbing up there.

Then what happened to them?

It was obvious. They were all dead.

The ones left on the ship were the leaders of each group and their elites. The fact that all of them had died meant that this war could no longer continue.

The moment the meaning of the words hit them, there was no will left to resist.

– So, stop the meaningless resistance. The reason we’re not killing the rest of you is not because we’re kind. The moment our annoyance exceeds our patience, we can kindly end your lives.

A nonchalant voice.

It was a translated word. That’s why the meaning of the words couldn’t be conveyed with intonation. The words spread in a mechanical tone.

Coupled with this situation, that tone created a synergy. Words that might have been a bit funny if heard in a different place or situation became chilling in the current situation.

Sluuurp.

People started letting go of their grips.

As one or two people let go first and fell off the ship, others also moved away from the ship.

‘Three…’

Lee Myung-hwan wiped his forehead as he watched the scene. Cold sweat was dripping down to his chin.

‘It would have been dangerous if it had dragged on any longer.’

It wasn’t that difficult to stop those who were climbing onto the ship, but it wasn’t as easy as he thought. Those who were climbing were also martial artists. And their abilities were by no means insignificant.

If they had met on flat ground instead of fighting a siege battle on the ship, it would have been impossible to deal with them. If Lee Myung-hwan, who was now somewhat confident in his skills, felt this way, it was obvious that the other ships were in even more serious situations.

In the midst of all that, Wiggins had broken their will at the right time.

But it seemed that there were some who couldn’t accept it.

‘What? Over?’

A booming voice erupted.

‘What are you talking about! We were just about to get started!’

A person who was floating on the sea, yet exuding an overwhelming presence. Looking at his upper body floating on the water, it was easy to mistake him for a whale spouting water.

Bator was pointing his finger at the front.

‘Tsk tsk, who told you to go down?’

Wiggins shook his head. He was blaming others for doing something he did on his own.

‘Now, continue.’

‘Yes? Ah, yes!’

Nobuo calmly waited for Wiggins’ words.

– Everyone retreat from the ship. The Lord will decide your fate.

Those words were the final blow.

The Japanese martial artists gathered here didn’t know much about the structure of the General Assembly [likely referring to a governing body], but they knew very well who the person referred to as the Lord here was.

Kang Jin-ho.

The mention of that devil made their bodies lose strength.

If all those who tried to stop Kang Jin-ho on that ship were dead, then that devil would have been released. If they continued the war to seize the ship, they would have to face Kang Jin-ho now.

They were the ones who jumped into the sea to avoid Kang Jin-ho. The cold seawater touching their bodies wouldn’t bring back the will that had disappeared.

At this moment, the war was over.

The martial artists moved away from the ship. At the same time, the sea was filled with a cold silence.

‘He’s waiting.’

It wasn’t a war that ended with death and escape. It was a war that ended with both sides preserving their forces. So, this war needed a conclusion. Everyone knew that fact, so they were waiting now.

For the person who would conclude this war.

‘He’s taking quite a while.’

That must mean he’s angry.

It didn’t feel right to act like that in the middle of a war, but… what can you do, that’s Kang Jin-ho.

Wiggins’ gaze turned downwards. Wiggins, who saw Kang Jin-ho in a corner of the deck, unconsciously turned his eyes slightly.

Every time he saw Kang Jin-ho like that, he got goosebumps. That man is raising a monster inside him.

And that monster raises its head like that from time to time.

Kang Jin-ho, who has revealed his monster, should never be provoked.

Wiggins closed his mouth and quietly waited for Kang Jin-ho. Everyone on the sea began to wait for Kang Jin-ho in silence.