Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1549

A strange silence filled the room.

Before Kang Jin-ho appeared, there had been some murmuring, but after he left, you could have heard a pin drop.

In that silence, Michihiro spoke softly.

‘Are you going to stay?’

‘I thought you were going to show us something?’

Ryuichi didn’t answer.

Was he scared?

It wasn’t that.

He had simply realized that showing his will to them was meaningless.

And his death wouldn’t convey anything, even to the people gathered here.

They would just say that a delusional man had hastened his own demise.

Ryuichi glanced at Michihiro.

The argument they had shared came to mind.

‘I was just living in a dream.’

Ryuichi was the one who hadn’t been seeing reality clearly. The state of Japan was far worse than he had imagined.

‘Even if the Assembly withdraws from Japan, can the old Japan ever return?’

It was impossible.

They had lost their talent, their martial arts, and even their will to fight.

Could these people rebuild the Japanese martial world from the ground up?

‘Even after a hundred years, they wouldn’t recover their original form.’

Even returning to the pre-war state wasn’t hopeful. That original Japan was a weak place that had been defeated by the Assembly without even putting up a fight.

There was no way for Japan to move forward, no matter how he looked.

Then…

‘They are strong.’

Looking at Kang Jin-ho, he understood.

And he could see it in the people who followed Kang Jin-ho.

Something that they had, and that the people gathered here did not.

It was composure.

‘Will Japan ever regain that kind of composure?’

Ryuichi closed his eyes and spoke.

‘No matter what I do here, nothing will change.’

‘You’re just realizing that now?’

Ryuichi let out a low sigh.

He had thought that if he had the will, he could do anything. But he had only realized that will alone could not accomplish anything.

‘Hoo.’

Ryuichi lightly grasped the sword inside his coat.

Before coming here, he had thought this sword was his will. But now he knew, this sword was just bravado.

A sword that didn’t know when to be drawn, and was drawn at any time, would only ruin its wielder.

‘If you’re going to leave, now is the time. Don’t stay and get dragged in. Leave now.’

‘What I said earlier wasn’t for nothing. You know how scary they are.’

He knew.

He knew it well enough.

He knew how thoroughly they had ruined Japan, so how could he not know?

‘Your purpose is already over, isn’t it?’

‘No.’

Ryuichi shook his head.

‘My purpose hasn’t even started.’

‘What are you going to do?’

‘…What do you think my purpose is?’

Michihiro narrowed his eyes.

‘Wasn’t it just to show off some bravado?’

‘No…’

Ryuichi bit his lip hard.

‘What I want is to revive the Japanese martial world. To restore the Japan that was ruled by the old powers.’

‘…How?’

‘I thought that if I could ignite the fire in the hearts of the remaining martial artists, something would happen. But now I know that’s not it. So…’

A resolute will appeared in Ryuichi’s eyes.

‘I will do it.’

‘I’m willing to endure being cursed and pointed at.’ He was prepared to throw away his life. How could he not endure insults?

‘So? You’re going to go to Korea?’

‘Yes.’

Michihiro smiled.

‘You talk big, but you’re no different.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’

Ryuichi glared at Michihiro with a fierce look.

What he wanted wasn’t money.

‘I need power.’

Japan was already ruined anyway. No matter how many people he gathered from the bottom and encouraged, they would only be dregs. Then, he would rather seize their power.

That way, he could do something.

‘If they need a pro-Korean, I’ll gladly become a pro-Korean.’

Michihiro let out a low sneer.

Ryuichi knew that Michihiro’s smile contained contempt, but he just kept his mouth shut.

‘Sneer all you want.’

It was better if they thought that way. That he had lost his will in the face of the enemy’s strength and had decided to lick their boots.

That was enough for now.

Ryuichi’s eyes shone coldly.

‘I’ll submit as much as you want. But don’t think that I’m truly submitting to you.’

When they trusted him completely.

When they gave him all the authority.

He would live, waiting for that moment. Until then, he would be their dog.

At the moment Ryuichi was solidifying his will,

Kang Jin-ho and his group opened the door and entered.

Kang Jin-ho, standing on the platform again, looked around at everyone and opened his mouth.

‘Has everyone made up their minds?’

‘Yes!’

‘Good.’

Kang Jin-ho raised the corners of his lips.

They were excellent traitors.

Kang Jin-ho also knew. That not everyone here intended to cooperate with him. There would be some who genuinely wanted to cooperate with Korea, but most were just chasing after benefits.

Those benefits could be money, power, or glory.

But…

‘They’ll soon find out.’

No matter what they gained, nothing would fundamentally change.

In the end, it would only be about power.

The more they experienced it, the more they would realize how powerful the Assembly was.

And the more they felt it in their bones, the weaker their will would become, and eventually, they would have no choice but to be completely subordinate to the Assembly.

‘I understand your will.’

Kang Jin-ho made eye contact with everyone.

‘However, that doesn’t mean I can accept everyone. I plan to only accept those who are deemed to have at least a minimum of potential through a test.’

‘Uh, may I ask what kind of test it will be?’

‘It’s simple.’

Kang Jin-ho stepped slightly to the side of the platform.

‘You just have to withstand one blow.’

‘I’ll judge those who don’t die after being hit as having potential. If you’re going to faint, faint while standing. Only those with that kind of will will be qualified to go to Korea.’

The eyes of those who heard those words widened in shock.

Who hadn’t heard the rumors about Kang Jin-ho?

The story of him killing the leader of the Yamakawa-gumi [a yakuza group] with one blow was now a legendary tale known by everyone in the Japanese martial world.

The Demon King of East Asia.

He was now called one of the Four Kings, along with the three kings of China.

And they were supposed to withstand a blow from him?

Even the elites of the old Japan couldn’t do that. How could they possibly withstand Kang Jin-ho’s blow?

‘Those who want to take the test, come forward.’

No one stood up.

Kang Jin-ho looked around at everyone with a strange look.

‘No one?’

Lee Hyun-soo spoke up in a disgruntled voice.

‘Hey, honestly, does that even make sense?’

Kang Jin-ho glanced at Lee Hyun-soo.

‘I understand you want to raise the bar, but even the Assembly guys can’t do that. It’s natural for the Lord to adjust the intensity, but even a slight mistake could kill you. Just do it another way…’

At that moment, one person stood up.

‘Ugh.’

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes widened.

Ryuichi, who had been holding his head high towards Kang Jin-ho just a moment ago, was walking forward.

‘Is he crazy?’

No matter how he looked at it, that guy was out of his mind.

First of all, talking back to Kang Jin-ho so clearly was not something a sane person would do. And now he was stepping forward to withstand Kang Jin-ho’s fist with his own body.

That meant one of two things.

Either he was really crazy, or he had really made up his mind about something.

Kang Jin-ho smiled as he looked at Ryuichi stepping forward.

‘Looks like your plan has changed a bit?’

‘I’ve just come to my senses.’

‘Senses?’

‘Yes. I’ve realized that no matter how much I struggle, the world won’t change.’

‘Hmm.’

Kang Jin-ho laughed as if he found it interesting.

‘So?’

‘If the world won’t change, then I have to change. I’m going to be thorough, either way.’

It was an interesting thing to say.

Of course, Kang Jin-ho didn’t trust Ryuichi’s answer. However…

‘No matter what his purpose is, he’ll go wild for a while.’

Whether it was to get into Kang Jin-ho’s good graces or to make up for his past actions, Ryuichi would follow Kang Jin-ho’s words and side with the Assembly more thoroughly than anyone else.

And that attitude could be an example for others.

Kang Jin-ho glanced at Lee Hyun-soo.

Lee Hyun-soo seemed to have the same thought and nodded lightly.

It was a signal to let him pass.

‘Come here.’

Kang Jin-ho called him onto the stage.

Then, he lightly clenched his fist.

‘If you can’t withstand it, you’ll die. Is that okay?’

‘Of course.’

As soon as those words were finished, Kang Jin-ho threw a straight punch at Ryuichi.

Kwaaaang!

Ryuichi, who was hit by a blow that seemed to show no mercy, flew straight to the other side.

Koo-oong!

Ryuichi’s body, which had crashed into the wall of the stage, remained stuck for a moment before sliding down.

‘…Please consider the repair costs.’

Lee Hyun-soo sighed as he looked at the cracked wall.

‘And… I told you not to kill him.’

Lee Hyun-soo’s second remark didn’t really have any meaning.

Because Ryuichi, who had fallen to the floor, was starting to tremble and get up.

Shuuu.

Blood poured like a waterfall from his nose and mouth.

Staggering.

Ryuichi, who had almost fallen several times, finally managed to stand completely. Then, he succeeded in getting into a stance while trembling.

‘What’s your name?’

‘Ryu, Ryuichi. Suzuki Ryuichi.’

‘Pass.’

Thud.

As soon as the word ‘pass’ came out of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth, Ryuichi collapsed to the floor.

Lee Hyun-soo raised a hand and rubbed his forehead as he looked at the scene.

‘There aren’t any doctors I know in Japan…’

‘He’ll get up if you leave him alone. He won’t have any internal injuries.’

‘He’ll die from excessive bleeding! From excessive bleeding!’

Lee Hyun-soo sighed, but Kang Jin-ho didn’t pay much attention and looked at the remaining people.

‘Anyone else want to take the test?’

‘Only those who want to try should stay, the rest can get lost.’

That decisive statement made things simple.

Those who had seen Ryuichi’s miserable state were terrified, and those who had thought of joining the Assembly without much resolve all ran away.

As a result, the number of people who remained to take the test was about the same as the number Lee Hyun-soo had originally intended to select.

‘At this rate, there’s no need to take the test.’

‘He’s a bit pitiful, though.’

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Ryuichi, who was lying on the floor, with a pitiful expression.

The blood flowing from his face was truly heartbreaking.

‘That’s the price of bravado.’

‘Still, you should at least remember his name. That way, he’ll feel less wronged.’

‘I should.’

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and nodded.

Kang Jin-ho, who was about to turn around, suddenly tilted his head.

‘By the way, what did he say his name was?’

It didn’t seem like his resentment would be easily resolved.