Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1220

“Dad!”\n\n”……I’m not your dad, I’m your older brother.”\n\nKang Jin-ho scooped up the children running towards him.\n\nSpotting a child with an unsteady gait approaching from afar, Kang Jin-ho quickly crossed the floor.\n\nHe gently smiled as he picked up the wobbly child.\n\n”Did you all behave?”\n\n”Yes!”\n\nSeeing the children nod, a smile naturally formed on his face.\n\nThe children he was holding now were mostly ones he didn’t know well. When Kang Jin-ho first started visiting the orphanage, these children weren’t there, but now they made up half of the orphanage.\n\nKang Jin-ho was newly aware of how often he had been coming here.\n\n”Bro!”\n\n”Hyung!” [Korean term for older brother, used by males]\n\n”Yeah.”\n\nKang Jin-ho smiled warmly.\n\nThe children rushed towards him.\n\nKang Jin-ho smiled even more.\n\nThe children rushed even more.\n\n……Now, he couldn’t even smile.\n\n”Waaaaaaaah!”\n\nLike a cow being attacked by a pack of wolves, Kang Jin-ho was swarmed by the children.\n\nHe couldn’t shake them off, nor could he hug them all. As Kang Jin-ho was stuck in this predicament, a savior appeared.\n\n”Don’t bother your brother, come with me.”\n\nThe children slowly turned their heads. Upon seeing Jo Mi-hye’s face, they abandoned Kang Jin-ho without hesitation.\n\n”You get up too, brother.”\n\n”……Thanks.”\n\nKang Jin-ho staggered to his feet.\n\n”Nothing happened, right?”\n\n”Something just did. How are you going to handle things if you can’t even handle the kids? You used to control them with a single finger.”\n\nKang Jin-ho gave a wry smile.\n\nThe Kang Jin-ho of then and the Kang Jin-ho of now couldn’t be the same. For better or for worse.\n\n”You look okay.”\n\n”I’m still okay, brother. Still.”\n\n”Huh?”\n\nSaying ‘still okay’ meant that a problem was about to arise.\n\n”What do you mean?”\n\n”Someone’s coming back right now. Someone who might become a hero of the ages, or a traitor of the ages.”\n\n”What are you talking about…”\n\nJust then, the door slowly opened.\n\nKang Jin-ho’s gaze turned to the door. Jo Mi-hye swallowed hard as she looked at the person who entered.\n\nSlumped shoulders.\n\nA tearful face.\n\nA man carrying all the world’s worries was entering. The weight of it made even Kang Jin-ho tense.\n\nThud, thud.\n\nThe man walked in with heavy steps and raised his head. Then, with eyes that showed no light, he stared at Kang Jin-ho and Jo Mi-hye before slowly opening his mouth.\n\n”……I’m screwed.”\n\nIn Han Jin-sung’s hand was a crumpled college entrance exam score sheet.\n\n”He’s screwed?”\n\n”He’s screwed.”\n\n”What do we do?”\n\n”He’ll figure something out.”\n\n”Is he going to college?”\n\n”Who knows?”\n\nJo Mi-hye rolled her eyes and turned towards the door. The children who had been peeking out quickly scattered.\n\nJo Mi-hye sighed deeply and turned back to Han Jin-sung.\n\n”Well, it’s not like you’re completely screwed!”\n\n”Why are you slumping your shoulders like that just because your test scores aren’t up to par! Straighten your shoulders!”\n\n”Just leave him alone today.”\n\n”Seriously……”\n\nJo Mi-hye, who was about to say something, pursed her lips and sighed. What kind of comfort could she offer a student who had messed up their college entrance exam?\n\n”No, you actually did well.” It wasn’t an empty compliment.\n\nConsidering Han Jin-sung’s scores before he started studying properly, this was a victory for him.\n\n”Ugh, don’t annoy me!”\n\n”Brother!”\n\n”I told you to stop.”\n\nKang Jin-ho frowned.\n\n”Does taking it out on others make you feel better?”\n\nHan Jin-sung’s gaze turned to Kang Jin-ho. The slightly provocative look in his eyes soon faded, and he lowered his head.\n\n”I’m sorry, Mi-hye. Sorry, hyung. I was a bit sharp.”\n\nKang Jin-ho nodded.\n\nIt was good that he apologized quickly.\n\nHan Jin-sung sighed deeply.\n\n”I know this isn’t something to get upset about, but the scores I got are what I deserved. But this is…”\n\nHan Jin-sung scratched his head.\n\nKang Jin-ho understood Han Jin-sung’s feelings.\n\nEffort doesn’t always guarantee 100% reward. Just because you try hard doesn’t mean you’ll get the results you want. Someone who feels they haven’t received the reward for their efforts can’t help but be disappointed and frustrated.\n\n”So?”\n\n”I should accept it, but at this rate, getting into a university in Seoul won’t be easy…”\n\nKang Jin-ho understood why Han Jin-sung was so depressed.\n\nMost welfare foundations run independent living facilities. These facilities provide a place for those who have become adults and are going to college or getting a job, helping them adapt to society after leaving the orphanage.\n\nThe problem is that these facilities are for those who are going to school or have a job.\n\nTo live in an independent living facility, you have to go to a school or have a job within commuting distance.\n\nIf getting into a university in Seoul is difficult, living in an independent living facility becomes impossible. Because you’d have to go to another province.\n\n”Isn’t this good enough to get into a university in Seoul?”\n\n”I can’t get into the department I want.”\n\n”What department do you want?”\n\nHan Jin-sung clamped his mouth shut.\n\n”What are you trying to do! Why is the department so important? Just go to any university nearby. You can work hard there.”\n\n”I said there’s a department I want to go to.”\n\n”What?”\n\nHan Jin-sung closed his mouth again.\n\nKang Jin-ho turned his head to Jo Mi-hye.\n\n”Give us some space.”\n\n”Brother.”\n\n”Go on.”\n\nJo Mi-hye nodded and got up from her seat.\n\n”Ah, no. It’s okay. Sit down. I’ll just talk.”\n\nJo Mi-hye, who was about to get up, glanced at Kang Jin-ho and sat back down.\n\nHan Jin-sung’s gaze shifted between Kang Jin-ho and Jo Mi-hye.\n\nThen, he sighed and opened his mouth.\n\n”Social Welfare.”\n\n”……Huh?”\n\n”Social Welfare.”\n\nKang Jin-ho looked at Han Jin-sung quietly, then chuckled. Han Jin-sung’s face turned bright red.\n\n”I knew you’d laugh! That’s why I didn’t want to say it!”\n\n”Ah, sorry.”\n\nJo Mi-hye was also desperately trying to hold back her laughter.\n\n”Don’t you dare laugh.”\n\n”……I’m not gonna laugh.”\n\nHan Jin-sung said with an annoyed face.\n\n”There are older brothers who have graduated and are sending money back to the orphanage, right?”\n\n”That’s right.”\n\nPark Yu-min was the prime example, of course.\n\nPark Yu-min was continuously sending a portion of his salary and prize money to the orphanage. Even though Sungsim Orphanage was in the best financial condition among orphanages, Park Yu-min didn’t hesitate to contribute.\n\nThe other children were the same.\n\nThe children who had left Sungsim were getting jobs and sending money back to the orphanage. Although it wasn’t a lot of money, it was definitely helping the children’s lives.\n\n”I think it’s good to help the orphanage that way. But… well, I don’t know… it doesn’t seem to fit me.”\n\nHan Jin-sung scratched his head.\n\n”I don’t know how to say it…”\n\nHan Jin-sung hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.\n\n”There’s this anxiety. Since I’m from the orphanage, I can understand the kids better, but I’m not sure if I can give them something that people with parents can give them.”\n\nKang Jin-ho listened to Han Jin-sung’s voice without a word.\n\nIt was enough to just listen for now.\n\n”There are people who can do it better than me. And I wouldn’t want to live with a childcare worker like me. But… well…”\n\nHan Jin-sung scratched his cheek and sighed deeply.\n\n”I think I can make up for my shortcomings if I try harder. I’ve received so much from the orphanage. So, I want to become someone who can give something to the children too.”\n\nKang Jin-ho’s face became serious. He felt a throbbing sensation in his chest.\n\n’I haven’t told him about the nun’s words…’\n\nBut Han Jin-sung was saying something similar to the late head nun’s last words.\n\nAs he thought about how the seeds that the head nun had sown in Sungsim Orphanage were sprouting in the children, an indescribable emotion washed over him.\n\n”……Don’t make that face, hyung. I know it’s a pathetic thought. Who am I to say that?”\n\n”No.”\n\nKang Jin-ho shook his hand.\n\n”It’s not like that.”\n\nHe was admirable.\n\nHe didn’t know when he had last felt someone was admirable.\n\n”Anyway, that’s what I was thinking. Now I have to decide. Whether to leave the orphanage and go to school, or… well.”\n\nHan Jin-sung sighed.\n\n”No, I think I’ve already decided. I should leave the orphanage.”\n\n”Brother!”\n\nJo Mi-hye shouted in a sharp voice.\n\nBut Han Jin-sung didn’t even look at Jo Mi-hye and said in a firm voice.\n\n”I want to stay in the orphanage too. I want to nag the kids while living in the independent living facility, and I don’t want to leave. But if I go to another department here, I think I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”\n\n”There are other options, like a double major.”\n\n”I don’t have time for that. I have to work part-time too, and I can’t do it half-heartedly.”\n\n”Still…”\n\n”I’ve decided, so don’t say anything more.”\n\nKang Jin-ho stared at Han Jin-sung with a blank look before opening his mouth.\n\n”Why are you choosing that now?”\n\n”Huh?”\n\n”Retake the exam.”\n\n”……Huh?”\n\nHan Jin-sung stared at Kang Jin-ho with a dazed look.\n\n”You can retake the exam. If you study for another year, your scores will go up, and then you can go to a good school.”\n\n”Ah, no, hyung. You can’t enter the independent living facility if you’re retaking the exam.”\n\n”Who says that?”\n\n”That’s how it is.”\n\n”Not here.”\n\n”No, that’s the law…”\n\n”Why does the law matter when I’m paying for it?”\n\nHan Jin-sung’s eyes trembled.\n\nWhat should he say, this…?\n\nHe was incredibly reliable, but also incredibly annoying.\n\n”Tell the other kids that if they want to retake the exam, they can. We’ve already set up the academy, it’s a waste to just send the kids there.”\n\n”……Is that okay?”\n\n”Is there any reason why it wouldn’t be?”\n\nHan Jin-sung’s eyes trembled slightly.\n\n”They’re just eating up the food.”\n\n”For now.”\n\n”……Don’t you have any intention of comforting me with warm words?”\n\n”I’m just telling you the reality.”\n\n”Ugh.”\n\nHan Jin-sung scratched his head.\n\n”I still want to start working as soon as possible.”\n\n”It’s okay. It’s not that late if you’re a year behind.”\n\nJo Mi-hye chimed in.\n\n”That’s right, brother. They say retaking the exam is a must these days. Retaking it twice is a choice.”\n\n”Are you trying to pick a fight?”\n\n”Just take it well! You’re so twisted!”\n\n”Ugh.”\n\nHan Jin-sung seemed to be deep in thought. Kang Jin-ho chuckled as he watched him.\n\n”Why are you thinking so hard? You’re not going to the military anyway. So, even if you retake the exam for a year, you’ll still be a year ahead of others.”\n\n”That’s true, but…”\n\n”As I said before…”\n\nKang Jin-ho smiled and said.\n\n”Sometimes, taking a detour now might not be a delay. Sometimes, you have to know how to crouch down to go further.”\n\n”Yes, hyung. But…”\n\nHan Jin-sung’s voice trembled.\n\n”D-doing this for another year… it feels like I’m going to die.”\n\n”Ah, crazy. I almost died studying for a year, and now I have to do it again. Ah, I should have studied earlier!”\n\nKang Jin-ho shook his head.\n\nHan Jin-sung was making the same regrets that everyone makes, as if it was natural.\n\n”Then I’ll think about it a little more, for now.”\n\n”Okay. Rest well today, and think about it from tomorrow. There’s still time.”\n\n”Yes.”\n\nKang Jin-ho nodded.\n\n’I’m curious.’\n\nWhat would Han Jin-sung be like as a childcare worker?\n\n”Ah, I should go bother the kids. I should show the kids who are becoming seniors this year what I’m like. It’ll be so satisfying.”\n\nMaybe it’s better not to see it.