Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 902

Blood dripped from the tips of Kang Jin-ho’s fingers.

The ends of his magic, grown long like fingernails, were dripping blood.

But the sight wasn’t particularly gruesome, probably because Kang Jin-ho’s entire body was already soaked in blood.

There was one slight difference.

The blood on Kang Jin-ho’s body had already dried and hardened. But the blood dripping from his fingertips was not dry at all.

The steam rising from the blood on his fingertips proved that it had just flowed out.

“Ugh…”

A faint groan.

A groan that wouldn’t be heard if one wasn’t listening closely. But because the surroundings were so quiet, the sound was exceptionally clear.

Of course, the source of the groan was Nakata Yuji.

Kang Jin-ho stared silently at Nakata Yuji, who was covered in blood. If his chest wasn’t rising and falling, no one would think he was alive.

Kang Jin-ho, who had been silently watching Nakata Yuji, opened his mouth.

“How is it?”

A thin line appeared between the red. Nakata Yuji’s eyes appeared through his blood-soaked face. The moment his eyes caught Kang Jin-ho, they began to tremble like an aspen leaf.

“…Ki, kill… kill…”

Whether it was because his tongue had been cut off, or because he had no strength left, he couldn’t speak properly.

Kang Jin-ho watched him silently and then opened his mouth.

“You’re asking me to kill you, aren’t you?”

His head nodded very slowly.

“That’s a foolish thing to say.”

Kang Jin-ho spat out the words.

“You want to choose death for yourself. But was that opportunity given to others?”

“It’s nothing to kill someone who wants to die. Humans are ultimately beings who make their own choices. But what angers me is that you deprived them of that choice.”

Nakata Yuji’s fingertips trembled.

“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to do anything more either. But I won’t kill you. Just die here slowly. While remembering what you’ve done.”

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Kang Jin-ho slowly stood up. Then, he began to walk across the deck, which had turned into a steep cliff.

A beast-like scream was faintly heard from behind, but he didn’t turn his head. He had made Nakata Yuji pay the price. So, there was nothing more to see.

Kang Jin-ho, having erased Nakata Yuji from his mind, climbed up the deck. He met Wiggins’ gaze, who was looking down from above.

And at that moment, Wiggins knelt on one knee.

Kang Jin-ho frowned slightly and stepped to the front.

“What are you doing?”

“A subordinate doesn’t look down on their superior while waiting. Since the situation is unavoidable, I should at least show some other form of respect.”

“…It’s better to skip unnecessary formalities.”

“Of course, I know that you value efficiency, Lord. But please consider my position, as I don’t want to offend you right now.”

“Hmm?”

“…I wish I had a mirror.”

At those words, Kang Jin-ho looked down at his body. Then, he smiled wryly.

“I need to wash up a bit.”

“Of course, that’s a good idea. Since we’re in the middle of the sea, there’s plenty of water. However… since there are many people watching, please refrain from jumping into the sea to wash. I will take care of that problem.”

Wiggins raised his prosthetic arm. The prosthetic arm seemed to glow slightly, and then huge water droplets began to form above his head.

Then, they all clung to Kang Jin-ho’s body.

Kang Jin-ho didn’t refuse.

Wiggins would never harm him. As the water flowed over him, Kang Jin-ho’s body regained its clean, original appearance, as if it had never been covered in blood.

Of course, his torn clothes were beyond repair, but at least visually, there seemed to be no problem.

“Everyone is waiting, Lord.”

“Hmm?”

“You must end it now.”

Wiggins pointed below the sea.

Those floating on the sea, and those on the ship. Everyone was looking up at Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho frowned slightly.

‘A bizarre sight.’

The scenes he saw at the end of a war were one of two things.

Either standing indifferently in a world covered in endless corpses, or looking down on enemies prostrating themselves on the ground.

But this scene didn’t belong to either of those.

That’s why it seemed like it needed a conclusion. But the problem was that Kang Jin-ho didn’t have anything to say.

“Uh…”

They fought a war and won. So the war is over.

What more is there to say?

“…What should I say?”

Kang Jin-ho turned to Wiggins and asked. Wiggins sighed.

“Anything is fine. They probably don’t have anything they want to hear either. They’ve already grasped the situation. Right now, they’re just waiting for their fate.”

“Fate…”

Kang Jin-ho looked down again.

Over a thousand people were floating on the sea.

The fact that so many remained, even after so many had been killed, was proof of how massive this expedition had been.

‘What should I do?’

It was a problem he hadn’t considered.

He had thought simply until he arrived here. He would kill everyone on the ship, and spare those who jumped into the sea. A very simple problem.

But as the ship began to sink, and they remained here, another choice was forced upon him. If he left them as they were, it would be difficult for them to survive.

Even if they were all warriors, with their stamina depleted like this, it was almost impossible for them to swim all the way to Japan from here. Even if they took the shortest route in a straight line, it would be difficult, and it was even more impossible to navigate in a straight line on the sea.

If he left them, they would all die.

Wiggins was asking now.

Whether to kill them all, or to provide a way for them to live.

And Kang Jin-ho’s choice was simple.

Kang Jin-ho, having shaken the water from his hair, turned his head. Then, he looked at Nobuo.

“Korean?”

“Yes? Ah… Ah! I can! I can also translate into Japanese. Please use me as you see fit!”

It was a sudden self-introduction, but it was an answer that accurately captured Kang Jin-ho’s intention. Kang Jin-ho chuckled and opened his mouth.

“Tell them.”

“Yes!”

“The holes in the ship have been sealed.”

Nobuo shouted Kang Jin-ho’s words as loudly as he could. The words were amplified by magic, so there was no need to shout, but a nervous Nobuo didn’t have the capacity to think that far.

“I’m leaving you behind. From now on, how you survive is up to you.”

As the words were conveyed, a murmur arose. But Kang Jin-ho didn’t bother to listen to the murmuring. He was just conveying what he had to say.

“If you’re lucky, you might survive.”

As he finished speaking, everyone glared at Kang Jin-ho with wide eyes.

The fear of being left in this sea temporarily surpassed their fear of Kang Jin-ho.

“Or else…”

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

“Let’s start again. This time, a war with no survivors.”

That was the final blow.

Not many people choose a quick death over a slow one.

It was more rational to choose the option where there was even a slight hope of survival.

And above all, they didn’t want to fight Kang Jin-ho.

Absolutely not, even if it meant death.

It was then.

“Lord.”

Wiggins approached Kang Jin-ho and whispered something.

Kang Jin-ho nodded at Wiggins’ words. He stretched his hand to the right and pulled out the Red Tear from the subspace.

“I’ll give you one service.”

O O O O

The Red Tear, drawn from its scabbard, emitted a sword cry. The sound of the sword echoed across the desolate sea.

At the same time, black flames blazed along the Red Tear. The flames that stretched from his fingertips instantly covered the Red Tear, increasing it more than threefold.

And then…

Swoooooosh!

Kang Jin-ho slightly lifted his body and swung the Red Tear downwards. The black flames shot out like an arrow, splitting the ship in half.

Crack! Crackkkkk! Screeeeeech!

Ear-splitting metallic sounds and dull thuds erupted.

‘Could it be?’

The only thought that came to the minds of those watching was.

Could it be…

No way.

But Kang Jin-ho defied their expectations.

The ship slowly split apart to the left and right.

One strike.

With just one strike, the huge passenger ship was split in half.

Shock, and fear.

Those who had witnessed the unbelievable fact couldn’t take their eyes off the ship that was slowly splitting in half.

The bow of the ship split to the left and right, and the ship shook. Then, the ship quickly sank into the water.

“…Ah!”

Nobuo couldn’t even open his mouth. His mind couldn’t comprehend what he had just seen.

“Tell them.”

“Ah?”

“Since it’s a passenger ship, there should be life jackets. Tell them to look for them.”

“…Yes.”

Nobuo stammered as he translated. The reactions of those who heard the words were divided into two groups.

Those who were still stunned, unable to believe the scene unfolding before their eyes, and those who quickly dove into the water and headed towards the ship.

Kang Jin-ho turned his body, observing the contrasting reactions.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Wiggins, having grabbed Nobuo, and Kang Jin-ho jumped up from the spot. Then, they moved to the ship where Lee Myung-hwan and Lee Hyun-soo were.

“You’ve worked hard!”

“You’ve done a great job.”

Their heads and waists bent sharply.

Those who saw Kang Jin-ho on the ship all showed the utmost respect.

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho glanced back.

Numerous people were floating on the sea. But there were no more warriors left here.

A warrior is not determined simply by being strong or weak.

Those who have lost the will to fight cannot be warriors, no matter how strong they are. And if they are not warriors, they cannot be Kang Jin-ho’s enemies.

The war was over.

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes!”

Leaving behind the numerous people on the sea, the ship turned its bow. Then, it began to move at full speed towards Korea.

Those left behind on the vast sea stared blankly at Kang Jin-ho’s ship as it moved away.

They still couldn’t believe what they had experienced today. The only things that made them realize it were the sea, stained red, and the passenger ship slowly sinking into the sea.

But they soon had to realize it.

“Found it!”

Someone who had risen above the sea held up a life jacket. The moment they saw the life jacket, they realized what they had to do.

Some dove into the sea and headed towards the ship, while others…

“Give it to me!”

“If you don’t give it to me right now, I’ll kill you!”

A scramble began.

A scramble to survive.

Once again, a scene of chaos unfolded on the sea over the life jackets.

Unfittingly, the sun rose in the distance.

A sunrise that signaled the end of the war.