Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2091

As the rain gradually subsided, Liang Ru-ao unconsciously put a cigarette in his mouth.

But it seemed the rain hadn’t stopped completely, as the cigarette in his mouth quickly became damp. No matter how many times he tried to light it, it wouldn’t catch.

A cigarette that won’t light is useless, like a tank that won’t fire its cannon.

Liang Ru-ao’s eyes lowered. A hollow laugh escaped his lips.

No one would believe it, no one.

No matter how much of the previous battle was broadcast to the world, no matter how many people here witnessed their fight with their own eyes and continue to talk about it.

It’s not something that can be expressed in words. It’s not something that can be understood through a screen.

It can only be felt through the skin, understood through the senses.

‘Dangerous.’

Those beings break the laws of the world. They deny everything that humanity has built over thousands of years, and they shake the balance that the world has created.

Coexistence?

Can we really coexist with them?

Can humans really live alongside beings who can overturn the earth with their bare hands and break the sky?

It’s impossible.

Humans can’t even coexist with carnivorous animals that have fangs. Human enemies who aren’t confined to zoos are being systematically exterminated even at this very moment.

No matter how much they talk about protected species, humans don’t acknowledge the existence of anything that threatens them. They exclude everything that could be a threat to the species with thorough indifference and cynicism.

Even if it’s just superficial damage that has nothing to do with the species’ survival.

And those humans are going to coexist with them?

Those who can’t be confined to a cage and can’t be satisfied with the food given by a zookeeper?

Liang Ru-ao thought that at least Kang Jin-ho’s argument was more reasonable than the one made by the so-called Black King. It was only natural that someone who talked about dialogue and coexistence would sound more reasonable than someone who demanded a crazy thing like an autonomous region where martial artists live.

But after witnessing all of this, his thoughts completely changed.

The autonomous region is a cage.

The Black King was trying to herd the fanged beasts into one place under the name of an autonomous region. Even a vast safari that doesn’t feel like a cage is enough to give the animals living inside the illusion of freedom.

Thinking about it now, it’s a very reasonable argument.

On the other hand, what about this Kang Jin-ho?

He’s talking about finding a way for those monsters and humans to live together, mixed up.

Maybe that’s the best for those so-called martial artists. Isn’t it just about maintaining their lives as they’ve lived them so far, without changing anything?

But what about the ordinary people who have to live mixed up with them?

Can those who have learned about their existence and their danger really live without any worries? After seeing all of this?

‘I have to stop them.’

That wasn’t a judgment based on his position. It was a decision triggered by the primal fear of a human being.

Liang Ru-ao’s scattered focus gradually returned to its place. What his eyes captured was the figure of Kang Jin-ho holding the Black King.

A figure of a human being who had become so weak that it was hard to believe he was the same person who had shown such terrifying and shocking power in the battle. Liang Ru-ao instinctively knew that if he didn’t kill Kang Jin-ho now, the moment would never come.

“Hoo…”

Liang Ru-ao took a deep breath.

In principle, intervention was impossible for him. There was no way that a field commander would have the authority to make decisions about this critical situation.

That’s why it’s even more dangerous.

The humans who hear the results from afar will not understand the ‘truth’ that those who witnessed this scene have seen. They’ll just hear that the moderates have won and will be sipping champagne, thinking that everything has been resolved.

Yes, maybe that’s true for now.

If the control of the nuclear missile base is returned to them because of Kang Jin-ho’s victory, maybe he’ll even be hailed as a hero. Under that glorious name, the danger they pose might be temporarily submerged, and a mood of reconciliation might be created.

But how long will that last?

How long?

It’ll be too late when they realize something is wrong. If they have to move, now is the only time. When striking an enemy, you must always strike the head first. The leader of those martial artists is right there.

“…Deputy.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Prepare to fire.”

“…Yes?”

“The target is Kang Jin-ho over there. Use all available firepower to kill that one person.”

“W-wait a minute, Commander. The orders we received are…”

“Who has command of this unit?”

“…I will prepare.”

The deputy shut his mouth.

Even if the person in front of him had to take orders from a higher authority, the one giving him orders was the person right in front of him.

Even if it was a unilateral decision that excluded the judgment of the higher-ups, he had to follow the order. That’s what a soldier is.

“Quietly, so they don’t notice.”

Large beads of sweat formed on Liang Ru-ao’s forehead. If it weren’t for the rain, his face would have been soaked with sweat, not rain.

There’s no way to move those huge cannons slowly. But it doesn’t matter. There will already be people aiming at them. He just needs to understand that everyone who can fire will attack first.

Then, after the first shot, there will be an immediate concentration of firepower, and even if they have great abilities, they won’t be able to withstand it in their exhausted state.

‘I will save the world.’

Even if no one understands this decision, even if the world is engulfed in hellfire as a result of this, and everyone in the future spits on him and points fingers at him, it doesn’t matter.

His decision will surely save the world.

Liang Ru-ao, having made his decision, turned to his deputy. The deputy, who was holding the radio, nodded with a firm face.

“Hoo!”

Liang Ru-ao took a deep breath, and just as the word ‘fire’ was about to leave his lips…

At that moment, he felt a chilling pain in his neck. It was as if a sharp razor blade had sliced through his neck.

A low voice reached Liang Ru-ao’s ears, who couldn’t even finish his sentence.

“Try it.”

…

A low voice like a beast growling. The moment he heard that voice, Liang Ru-ao’s whole body stiffened.

“The moment you open your mouth, that neck will fly off.”

He couldn’t even breathe. Gongryeong, who had appeared right behind him, lightly pulled the silver thread that was around Liang Ru-ao’s neck.

Sliiiide.

The silver thread dug into his skin, and red blood flowed down Liang Ru-ao’s neck.

“The Black King gave his life for a new world.”

“Let’s see if you have the courage to do the same. So, go ahead and say it.”

Liang Ru-ao bit his lip.

Wasn’t his life already as good as thrown away? If his life could prevent the chaos that would follow, it would be a cheap price to pay.

So he had to speak. He had to order them to fire. Right now!

But…

“Ugh…”

No matter how much he tried, the words wouldn’t come out as sounds. All he could do was tremble like a fish caught on a harpoon.

“Pathetic.”

Swoosh.

Gongryeong retrieved the silver thread that had been around Liang Ru-ao’s neck.

“Hoo…”

The moment the sensation of the razor-like silver thread around his neck disappeared, a rough breath escaped Liang Ru-ao’s lips.

“…Be grateful to those two.”

Liang Ru-ao’s eyes trembled at those incomprehensible words.

“I don’t spare someone like you. Someone who has targeted you once will always target you again. It’s better to cut off their head cleanly than to leave behind unnecessary trouble.”

“But…”

Gongryeong’s gaze turned to Kang Jin-ho, who was holding the Black King.

“The victor’s words are right. Then… we must follow even the incomprehensible word of harmony for now. That’s…”

Gongryeong swallowed his next words.

That’s the will that the Black King left for them.

“However…”

Gongryeong’s hand lightly gripped Liang Ru-ao’s neck.

“The mercy I bestow is only to let you live.”

“Ugh.”

Liang Ru-ao, with his eyes rolled back, fell backward. His unconscious body crashed to the ground with a thud.

“Will you fire?”

Gongryeong’s gaze turned to the deputy. The deputy slowly shook his head.

“I will not move without orders.”

“If this man is gone, wouldn’t you be the next in command?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have the courage to decide that. Besides…”

The deputy gave a wry smile.

“Although our positions are different, we feel the same way. If it’s something that needs to be achieved by going this far, I want to believe in it.”

Gongryeong stared at the deputy silently before nodding. Then, he slowly walked towards Kang Jin-ho.

They had lost a lot. Too much.

Of the Twelve Flying Blades, only four remained.

‘The name Flying Blade sounds too pathetic.’ No, the word Flying Blade no longer has any meaning. The Black King, who could use them as Flying Blades, was no more. All that was left for him was his final duty.

Step, step.

Gongryeong, who had come right in front of him, raised his head and looked at Kang Jin-ho.

He had a lot to say.

There were many things he wanted to say, and many things he wanted to hear. But… when he actually saw Kang Jin-ho’s face, the words wouldn’t come out.

‘You… must be standing here after overcoming something we can’t even imagine.’

So, he just…

Gongryeong closed his eyes once and then opened them, reaching out his hand to Kang Jin-ho.

“Give him to me.”

When Kang Jin-ho stared at him, Gongryeong opened his mouth again.

“It might have been his wish to meet his end in your hands… but he wouldn’t want to be pitied by you even after death.”

“That’s our job.”

Kang Jin-ho, looking at the coldly stiff Cheongma, slowly nodded. Then, he held out Cheongma, whom he was holding, towards Gongryeong.

Gongryeong received the body.

“Bury him with the others.”

“He’s a lonely guy, unlike what he seems.”

Gongryeong smiled bitterly.

Loneliness… did that word even suit the Black King?

“I understand.”

But the answer that came out of his mouth was just an affirmation. He had come to realize that there was something between these two that even the years they had spent together could not overcome.

“What are you going to do now?”

“…I don’t know.”

Gongryeong turned his head and looked at the remaining Twelve Flying Blades.

“I don’t know what choices they will make, but I won’t interfere in the world you’ve spoken of for now.”

“I’ll just watch. To see if you can really achieve something different from what the Black King thought, and if everything you said wasn’t just empty words.”

Gongryeong’s hand, holding the Black King, tightened slightly.

“And… the moment it’s confirmed that you’re wrong, I will become a Flying Blade again. Even if it’s a sword without a master, it’s a mission that someone has to carry on.”

Kang Jin-ho stared at Gongryeong before nodding.

“Okay.”

“Then.”

Gongryeong bowed respectfully to Kang Jin-ho.

It wasn’t respect for someone who stood at the top of the world. It was respect for the one who had defeated the Black King, whom they respected so much.

Gongryeong turned and walked away.

The remaining Twelve Flying Blades approached him from his left and right.

“Where are we going?”

At Dogwi’s question, Gongryeong lowered his head slightly to look at the Black King. Then, as if there was no need to think about it, he answered.

“To a high place.”

“To a place where we can watch the world from above.”

The Twelve Flying Blades nodded and guarded Gongryeong as if they were protecting him. They slowly moved away, and soon they disappeared like lightning.

Until they were so far away that they could no longer be seen, Kang Jin-ho just silently watched their backs.