Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1224

Akinoori’s hands trembled.

His eyes scanned the blood-soaked room. Thick blood was seeping between the tatami mats [traditional Japanese flooring].

Everywhere he looked, there was nothing but blood and corpses.

And in the middle of those corpses,

Jang Min sat calmly on a chair, legs crossed, wiping away the blood.

“Tsk.”

Jang Min frowned, looking displeased as he rubbed the blood off his hand.

“The blood of non-believers is always so unpleasant.”

Akinoori’s trembling eyes fixed on Jang Min’s hand.

His movements were so casual.

Even a butcher who slaughters pigs wouldn’t wipe away blood with such indifference.

A senile old man?

What a joke.

He felt like he wanted to use a sharp knife to shred his own tongue for uttering such foolish words.

He understood why Kang Jin-ho had sent Jang Min.

‘No, isn’t this a bit too much?’

They were all dead.

Everyone who was supposed to hear Kang Jin-ho’s intentions from Jang Min and relay them was dead, without exception. Even so, this was….

“Akinoori.”

At the sound of his name, Akinoori immediately bowed his head. It wasn’t the formal courtesy he had shown before. It was a posture filled with respect and fear for the other man.

“Yes, Elder!”

“Clean up this trash. And gather the others by tomorrow.”

“Yes, I understand!”

Akinoori slightly raised his head, glanced at Jang Min’s face, and then spoke in a low voice.

“But, if I may be so bold…”

“Don’t hesitate.”

Jang Min waved his hand.

“One should not block the channels of speech. Where words are stifled, corruption is sure to follow. This is the Demonic Lord’s principle. In the sect… no, in the General Assembly, even the lowliest should not hesitate to speak.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Even though it was a short statement, it made him feel a lot.

‘The Demonic Lord is truly his faith.’

It wasn’t easy for someone as strong as him to show such absolute loyalty to another.

Strong people have high pride. They dedicate their lives to martial arts, enduring grueling training to gain strength. Therefore, strong people have great pride in their achievements and immense self-esteem.

For a master of Jang Min’s caliber, his self-esteem would be beyond words.

However, every time Jang Min mentioned Kang Jin-ho’s name, he looked as if he were referring to something sacred. Even someone who knew nothing would notice that he was mentioning something important.

‘My loyalty is nothing compared to his.’

Akinoori was in awe of Jang Min in many ways.

“Those people held quite important positions here. If you kill even the next ones who come, there will be problems…”

“Akinoori.”

At the low voice, Akinoori shut his mouth.

“Remember this.”

“Yes, Elder!”

“Those who live with their feet on the ground are bound to seek their own interests. That’s not wrong. But now that you serve the Demonic Lord, you must remember one thing. Those who dare to insult him do not deserve to have their feet on the ground.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

“The Demonic Lord’s command takes precedence over everything. But the Demonic Lord’s dignity takes precedence even over that. How can you claim to be loyal to him while letting those who speak blasphemously of him live?”

It was a loyalty bordering on madness.

“I spoke out of turn.”

“No. It is good to have questions and seek answers.”

Jang Min smiled.

A kind smile.

If it weren’t for the blood all over him, he might have looked like a kind old man. But seeing Jang Min’s white hair dyed red with the blood they had shed, such thoughts were impossible.

“And it seems you’re mistaken.”

“Yes?”

“The Demonic Lord told us to subjugate this place.”

“Yes, I know.”

“But he didn’t say to subjugate it in its entirety.”

Akinoori’s eyes twitched slightly.

“The Demonic Lord told us to show mercy to them, but there is no mercy for those who deny him. My mercy will only be given to those who uphold him. As for those who don’t, they wouldn’t be wronged even if their bodies were torn into a thousand or ten thousand pieces.”

It was chilling.

But it was also incredibly reassuring.

‘It was a mistake to invade Korea, Leader.’

Now, there was no loyalty left for the Leader. But regret was a separate issue. Even if it wasn’t Kang Jin-ho, the power of the General Assembly exceeded the Leader’s expectations.

Just look at Jang Min.

Who would have imagined that someone so strong and ruthless would be under Kang Jin-ho?

“Too many thoughts lead to distractions.”

Akinoori quickly lowered his head.

“Gather those who will listen to the orders. If you filter out the chaff, only the good grains will remain.”

“Yes, Elder!”

At that moment, the door opened, and a person walked in.

The person looked around and frowned.

“You’ve had a flamboyant start.”

“Hmm?”

Jang Min smiled slightly at the person who had entered.

“It’s good to see you again, Elder.”

“It’s been a while, Master.”

The Master slightly bowed his head to Jang Min. Jang Min also acknowledged his greeting with a slight nod.

They were equals, neither one higher than the other. Jang Min respected the Master, the ruler of the Round Table, and the Master respected Jang Min, an elder of the Demonic Cult.

“Isn’t this a bit too extreme from the start?”

“This is just right for fools who don’t even know who they’re dealing with. Don’t you think so?”

The Master looked around with a subtle expression.

Indeed.

If the Master had handled this, what would have been different? Perhaps he would have preserved the corpses a bit better, but the result would not have been different.

For the Master, who was already too jaded, it was pointless to criticize the process when the outcome was the same: death.

“Sometimes, a shock is necessary. But there’s no one to witness this scene.”

“I plan to send the corpses back. There’s no need for us to spend money to dispose of them.”

He was saying that he would send the corpses to each faction to show the consequences of resistance.

‘As expected….’

He was not to be trifled with.

When he first learned about the General Assembly through Wiggins, the Master couldn’t understand why a small organization in the East had such great potential.

It was only after meeting Kang Jin-ho that he understood why Wiggins had chosen the General Assembly.

But recently, his perception of the General Assembly had changed again.

‘It’s not just the Chairman.’

The board members who supported Kang Jin-ho were also formidable. Especially Bator and Jang Min, who were powerful enough to be considered beyond the Master’s capabilities.

Especially Jang Min.

The Master couldn’t understand why someone so strong and leading such a powerful force would pledge loyalty to Kang Jin-ho.

‘Well, is there anything in the General Assembly that I can understand?’

The General Assembly was a place where common sense couldn’t be applied. One just had to accept things as they were.

“I’ve come to discuss something. Our role was to occupy Shin’nichikai. We haven’t received instructions on when to withdraw our forces. Have you heard anything about that?”

“It’s fine to withdraw now.”

“…Now?”

The Master tilted his head.

Currently, only a few elders, including Jang Min, had come to Japan from the General Assembly. If the Knights of the Round Table withdrew in this situation, wouldn’t the gap in forces be too large?

“There might be resistance.”

“That’s what I want.”

Jang Min smiled.

“Those who obediently bow their heads are more frightening. You never know what they’re thinking. But those who resist, while annoying, are not scary. They can all be dealt with by killing them. Don’t you think so?”

Even the Master couldn’t smile at that.

‘Kill them all….’

How many people in the Japanese martial arts world would resist the General Assembly?

The number would certainly not be small.

But if all of them were killed, the Japanese martial arts world would no longer be able to sustain itself. Eventually, the Japanese martial artists would wither away.

“May I say something?”

“Of course.”

“A harsh ruler may maintain momentary strictness, but they are bound to reveal their flaws someday.”

It was a sound argument.

But Jang Min didn’t seem to think so.

“No.”

Jang Min chuckled.

“It’s not that harsh rulers fail, but only failed oppressors are remembered in history. Successful rulers become benevolent monarchs. History is the record of the victors.”

The Master knew that Jang Min was older than him. As the words of someone who had lived through countless years, they carried a different weight.

He was slightly pushed back in logic, but the Master had a trump card.

“But the Chairman wouldn’t have used unconditional violence. He would have given them a chance first.”

Jang Min frowned.

Not because he was upset, but because he was deep in thought. After carefully considering the Master’s words, Jang Min nodded.

“I understand what you mean. If the Demonic Lord would do that, then I must also follow his will.”

“Not necessarily ‘different’ but…”

“I understand.”

Jang Min readily nodded.

“I will do that. I will give them one more chance next time. Will that be acceptable?”

“That is a wise decision.”

Jang Min slightly glared.

“You know how to put people in a difficult position.”

“It’s for everyone’s benefit. If the General Assembly develops, wouldn’t the Round Table also be affected by it?”

“Oh?”

Jang Min said with a smile.

“I’m curious what you plan to do with that influence?”

“I will say this clearly, I have no intention of going against the Chairman. Please don’t be too mischievous.”

Jang Min chuckled and nodded.

“We’re both busy people, let’s end it here.”

“Then, take care.”

The Master slightly bowed his head and turned around.

Only then did Akinoori let out a low sigh.

It was just a light conversation, but the weight and momentum it carried were no different from fighting with real swords.

‘Is the Demonic Lord commanding such people?’

Jang Min and the Master were no less than the Leader. No, in terms of martial arts, they were beyond the Leader’s reach. Yet, even they openly expressed respect for Kang Jin-ho.

Akinoori couldn’t help but think that the person he had chosen as his master might be even more amazing than he had thought.

After the Master left, Jang Min muttered in a small voice.

“The Demonic Lord would have been different…”

A low laugh lingered on Jang Min’s lips.

‘Pathetic.’

Even after all he had been through, he still didn’t know what kind of person the Demonic Lord was. The wrath of the Demonic Lord, when angered, could not be stopped by anything in the world.

“Akinoori.”

“Yes, Elder!”

“Hurry. The Demonic Lord is waiting for the news I will send.”

“Yes!”

Akinoori rushed out.

Jang Min’s eyes, watching him, turned cold.

“It’s still not enough.”

More people needed to know the Demonic Lord, and more people needed to bow at his feet. Jang Min would make it so.

“First, starting with this place.”

A bitter smile formed on Jang Min’s lips.