Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1015

“You’ve worked hard.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly, looking at the Master.

‘A bit ironic.’

They were now at the airport.

It felt quite amusing that they were entering the airport so confidently, after having sneaked out when they arrived in England. Moreover, it was also funny that this large group was completely occupying a VIP lounge.

“We have prepared everything to ensure you have a comfortable journey. If you experience any inconvenience, please inform the flight attendants, and they will resolve it immediately.”

“There was no need to go to such lengths…”

“Please consider it a courtesy to our alliance.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled slightly.

He had no intention of demanding special treatment, but he also had no intention of refusing it. Besides, this wasn’t something he could refuse based on his personal feelings.

Most of all….

“…This time, I can at least travel with my back straight.”

It was a necessary measure, especially for Bator. He couldn’t possibly ask Bator, who was already struggling in a first-class seat, to go back to the cargo hold.

“So, perhaps preparing another private jet would be…”

“It’s fine.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

The Master had intended to prepare two private jets. One for the regular members, and another for the executives.

This wasn’t to give special treatment to the executives, but because the private jet modified for a smaller number of people would have wider seats, allowing Bator to travel more comfortably.

However, Kang Jin-ho didn’t want to go that far.

“I shouldn’t expect others to understand my large size.”

“Tch.”

Bator grumbled, but he didn’t openly complain. A first-class seat was comfortable enough for him.

And Bator didn’t particularly want to receive special treatment either.

“Master.”

Wiggins smiled and spoke to the Master.

“I will contact you as soon as the portal preparations in Korea are complete.”

“Please hurry.”

The Master stroked his beard.

“I don’t think they would, but there’s always a chance. If they revolt, I no longer have the power to stop them.”

“You’re being overly dramatic.”

“Am I being dramatic, my friend?” The Master sighed.

“There’s no need to worry. I’ve learned over the years that while honor is incredibly important, not many people value it more than their lives.”

The Master agreed with that.

When you think about it, he had also chosen practicality over honor.

“There used to be a sense of romance in the past.”

“Romance still exists. It’s just that something more important has emerged.”

“It feels like the world is moving too far ahead of me.”

Pfft.

The Master turned his head at the slight burst of laughter.

Kang Jin-ho was covering his mouth and clearing his throat where his gaze was directed.

The Master’s face became awkward.

“…I apologize, young ones.”

When he thought about it, it was ridiculous for them to be discussing the passage of time in front of Kang Jin-ho.

“No, it’s not that…”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

He didn’t know where to begin explaining.

People usually think that the world becomes more pragmatic and harsh as time goes on, but in Kang Jin-ho’s view, it was the opposite.

In fact, the current world was several times warmer and more beautiful.

In the Central Plains [a region in ancient China, often used to refer to the cradle of Chinese civilization], parents would kill their children, and children would kill their parents to gain even a tiny bit of power. They thought nothing of killing hundreds or thousands of people for their own purposes.

But at least in the modern era, there was a firm understanding that people should not kill each other, and that the natural order of family should not be violated.

‘They wouldn’t understand even if I explained.’

Even in history books, there were countless instances of parents and children killing each other for power, so Kang Jin-ho couldn’t understand why everyone had such a perception.

If the Master were taken to the Central Plains of Kang Jin-ho’s time, he would be speechless at the misery.

The Master smiled when Kang Jin-ho seemed a little flustered.

‘I can’t seem to fathom what’s going on in this man’s mind.’

Usually, the more time you spend with someone and the more you learn about them, the easier it should be to understand them, but with Kang Jin-ho, it was the opposite.

The more the Master experienced Kang Jin-ho, the harder it was to understand him.

Look at him now.

How could the Kang Jin-ho who had suppressed him and overturned the Round Table be the same Kang Jin-ho who was now flustered by the Master’s words?

If someone else had shown such behavior, the Master would have seen them as two-faced and would never have trusted them.

But with Kang Jin-ho, it felt different.

He wasn’t hiding himself to deceive others for his own gain.

It was just that Kang Jin-ho was that kind of person.

The Master thought of Kang Jin-ho as the ocean. People who don’t know the ocean well only think of its calm surface, but those who know the ocean well know how terrifying it can be during a storm.

‘So, I need to be prepared.’

Until now, he had only been observing Kang Jin-ho’s ocean.

But now, he had to navigate the ocean of Kang Jin-ho with the ship called the Round Table.

Depending on how well he steered, the ship of the Round Table could sink or sail out into the vast ocean.

“Lord.”

“Yes.”

“As a token of welcome for the alliance, we have prepared an initial gift. Please understand if it does not meet your expectations.”

Kang Jin-ho slightly turned his head to look at Wiggins.

Wiggins nodded silently.

“I will accept it gratefully.”

“Yes.”

The Master smiled.

“It’s not exactly a trade, but please don’t forget to visit the Round Table again once the portal is open. It’s important.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The current Master could not completely control the Round Table.

The Elder Knights, his military power, no longer existed, and his authority had been undermined by Knight Levo.

“How much do you intend to change?”

“I believe we need to overturn it from the roots.”

The Master said firmly.

The Master had also felt many things during this incident. The biggest takeaway was that the Round Table could no longer grow stronger with its current methods.

The General Assembly, united around Kang Jin-ho as a perfect center, had become strong enough to threaten the Round Table, while the Round Table, which maintained a vague alliance, had become weaker than in the past.

This conclusion wasn’t just based on a comparison with the General Assembly. Having witnessed the Elder Knights’ power firsthand, there was no way to deny that they had become weaker than before.

‘To regain the glory of the past, we must change the Round Table from the roots.’

And to do that, they needed Kang Jin-ho’s power.

The power and authority he had lost could be replaced by relying on Kang Jin-ho. In fact, he could gain even more power and authority than in the past.

It was a classic case of riding on someone else’s coattails, but the Master was willing to be a fox if necessary.

“I’m sorry for only receiving.”

“It’s not at all. You have already given us so much, Lord.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek.

He wished he could help with martial arts, but Western martial arts were an unknown territory for Kang Jin-ho. If he had the time to study it thoroughly, he might find another way, but Kang Jin-ho didn’t have that time right now.

Moreover….

“First, there’s something I need to discuss with Wiggins.”

“Yes?”

“A certain martial art I know might be helpful to you. It would be good if you could learn it.”

The Master’s eyes flickered slightly.

Kang Jin-ho’s martial arts would definitely not be ordinary. The Master was now too old to learn new martial arts, but the moment he heard the words “Kang Jin-ho’s martial arts,” he became greedy.

“You mean research with Wiggins?”

“There’s a language problem.”

“Ah…”

With that one word, the Master understood everything.

Martial arts are not made of language, but to pass on martial arts, you must use language. Most martial arts are imbued with the unique implications of their culture.

Conveying those implications in another language was not an easy task. Even for Kang Jin-ho, it would be a headache.

“You don’t have to go that far for us.”

“Giving and receiving is what an alliance is about.” Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“If it doesn’t work, it can’t be helped. It’s worth trying.”

“In that case, I will look forward to it. With gratitude.”

At that moment, an announcement was made.

Kang Jin-ho and the others rose from their seats.

“It seems it’s time.”

“Okay.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and extended his hand to the Master.

“See you next time.”

The Master grasped Kang Jin-ho’s hand with both of his.

“Lord.”

The Master spoke in a serious tone.

“I know that our alliance did not start with good intentions. That is an undeniable fact. But I don’t believe that a relationship that didn’t start with good intentions cannot develop into one that does.”

The Master said firmly.

“I hope it doesn’t end as a shallow relationship based solely on calculations. I will also make an effort.”

He was asking Kang Jin-ho to make an effort as well.

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“That depends on you.”

The Master smiled back.

“Then it will be a good relationship.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and turned around. The Master sighed as he watched Kang Jin-ho walk through the automatic doors.

“Master.”

“Yes.”

Everyone else had gone through the automatic doors, and only Wiggins remained.

“Please provide the promised information as soon as possible.”

“Don’t worry. We’ve been keeping a close eye on information about East Asia.”

“It’s a relief that you’re here, Master.”

“You don’t mean that.”

The Master muttered quietly, watching the spot where Kang Jin-ho had left.

“Now, a great change will begin. The change in the Round Table doesn’t just mean a change for the Round Table. The world’s balance, which has been precariously maintained, will begin to be distorted from this moment on.”

“I believe so.”

“To survive in this turbulent world, we must do our best. Both you and I.”

“I look forward to your continued guidance.”

“You don’t mean that either.”

“Then.”

Wiggins smiled and bowed. Then, he walked through the automatic doors.

“Tsk.”

Once everyone had disappeared through the doors, the Master clicked his tongue lightly.

It felt like a storm had passed.

“A great change at this age.”

A hollow laugh escaped him.

But somehow, it wasn’t all worry.