Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2118

“Hey, bro!”

“Huh? What is it?”

“So, can I learn that martial arts thing too?”

“…Yeah.”

“Then, can I become like you?”

Kang Jin-ho silently shoved a handful of snacks into his mouth.

“Hey, why aren’t you answering! I asked if I could become like you!”

Kang Jin-ho, with a serious look, rubbed his chin and opened his mouth.

“With your grades, getting into Jae Kyung University is a bit….”

“Hey, what’s with you! Why are you bringing up grades now….”

“Get out of the way, you brat!”

Jo Mi-ae kicked Han Jin-sung, who was clinging to Kang Jin-ho, away in one swift motion. Han Jin-sung let out an “oof!” and collapsed onto the floor.

“Can’t you let someone who came to rest in peace have some peace! You’re not a kid, what are you doing!”

“…My heart still wants to be a kid.”

“You’re dead.”

Jo Mi-ae glanced at Kang Jin-ho.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“…Stop dropping crumbs everywhere.”

Kang Jin-ho casually reached out and swept the snack crumbs off the floor.

Jo Mi-ae shook her head.

‘He looked so cool on TV.’

Do people know that he has this goofy side?

For Jo Mi-ae, who had only ever encountered one martial artist, Kang Jin-ho, she couldn’t understand people’s worries about martial artists. If he was a dangerous person, then a long-haired chihuahua is a beast, and a Maltese is a ferocious dog.

“Hey, bro, but….”

“Hmm?”

“Are you really going to teach that martial arts thing to people? Like those streamers are saying?”

“…Streamers?”

“Yeah. Poong-ryang said that if you learn that martial arts thing, you can shoot lasers from your hands. Like in a superhero movie….”

“Hey, you idiot!”

Jo Mi-ae immediately grabbed Han Jin-sung’s ear.

“Ow, ow! Let go!”

“You’re supposed to be studying for your retake, but you’re watching internet broadcasts?”

“Is retaking the exam the problem now! The world is changing. If what they’re saying is true, then studying won’t matter anymore, and your quality of life will depend on who has better athletic ability.”

“Then, isn’t Oppa at the bottom of the social ladder?”

“Huh? I guess so?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head, watching Han Jin-sung tilt his head in confusion.

“…Not much will change.”

“Really?”

Actually, Kang Jin-ho wasn’t sure either.

He knew how to make everyone equal, but he didn’t know how a world full of martial artists would change. Perhaps there would be developments he hadn’t imagined, and side effects he hadn’t foreseen would emerge.

He didn’t know if it would be progress or regression, misfortune or happiness.

He was just doing his best in the situation he was in.

“Oh? The US President is on TV.”

“…Oppa, do you even know the US President?”

“What do you think of me?”

Even as Jo Mi-ae and Han Jin-sung bickered, the US President continued his speech at the podium, with Korean subtitles being displayed below.

A special story, though not particularly special.

It was a statement about the US’s position on the dissemination of martial arts, as declared by the Assembly [referring to the global governing body in this story].

“…They’re saying they don’t plan to stop it?”

“That’s how the US is, right?”

“I guess so.”

As soon as Kang Jin-ho’s announcement ended, each country rushed to release their own statements. The US and Europe, while concerned about the side effects of this whole situation, firmly stated that they had no intention of infringing on individual freedom in principle. China and Russia, while not openly opposing it, showed extremely uncomfortable reactions.

But all of that was natural.

One concept doesn’t apply everywhere.

It’s just that people accept things differently depending on their culture and circumstances.

Even the common value of democracy isn’t accepted everywhere.

Kang Jin-ho didn’t believe that learning martial arts would bring a better life to everyone. He had to consider whether firearms had truly brought happiness to humanity. Kang Jin-ho had simply made it possible for everyone in the world to use the firearms that had been monopolized by a select few.

“Hasn’t Korea released a statement?”

“They haven’t, but….”

Han Jin-sung glanced at Kang Jin-ho and said.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? You’re Korean, so it would be weird if Korea opposed it.”

“That’s true….”

“It seems like Japan has also decided to allow it, so there’s no reason for us to be left out. The US and Japan are both allowing it.”

Jo Mi-ae nodded. A hint of anxiety flashed across her face.

“I’m a little worried. It’ll be dangerous if bad people become stronger.”

“What are you worried about? Good people will become stronger too. If you think about it the other way around, it means that people who were originally weak and couldn’t win with strength can now win if they try hard enough.”

“I guess so, but….”

Jo Mi-ae scratched her head, looking unsure.

And then, it happened.

Bang.

The front door opened, and someone walked in.

The eyes of the person standing in the doorway met Kang Jin-ho’s. The person in the doorway stared at Kang Jin-ho with a sulky look for a long time without saying anything.

“Um….”

“Troublemaker.”

“Headache.”

Kang Jin-ho squeezed his eyes shut.

That was probably the highest level of curse that a human named ‘Park Yu-min’ could utter.

“Are you even human?”

Oh, no. She could do a little more.

“Oppa, you’re here?”

“Yeah.”

Park Yu-min shook her head and walked inside.

“That human knew I’d be here.”

“Want me to make you a cup of coffee?”

“No. Before that….”

Park Yu-min gestured with her chin towards Kang Jin-ho.

“Let’s talk.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Kang Jin-ho followed Park Yu-min outside like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

Squeak.

Squeak.

The sound of the swing rubbing against its hinges echoed eerily. Kang Jin-ho glanced upwards.

‘What’s that sound….’

It hadn’t been long since they had moved into the new building and installed new swings, so why was it making such a noise?

I should oil it when I have time….

“Jin-ho.”

Kang Jin-ho flinched.

He turned his head to see Park Yu-min giving him the most awkward smile in the world.

‘Her eyes aren’t smiling, Yu-min.’

A person who is always angry isn’t scary at all. What’s truly scary is when someone who rarely… no, never gets angry, gets angry.

“Really….”

That one word contained so much that it was scary.

“I know you’ll take care of things, but sometimes I think Young-gi is right. Would it kill you to tell us about these things beforehand?”

“S-sorry.”

“So, you know you’re sorry.”

When Kang Jin-ho couldn’t say anything, Park Yu-min sighed deeply.

“You must have gone through a lot.”

“Huh?”

“That’s how you are, right? To others, it seems like you make decisions quickly without any hesitation, but inside, you worry for days.”

“It’s a conclusion I reached after all that, so it must be right.”

Park Yu-min chuckled.

“So, relax.”

“…Huh?”

Park Yu-min looked at Kang Jin-ho with a strange gaze.

“Do you know how I knew you were here?”

“Did the kids tell you?”

“No. I just thought you’d be here right now.”

“It’s always like that. Whenever I see you, you’re always here at times like this.”

At times like this?

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head. It was hard to understand exactly what Park Yu-min meant by ‘times like this.’

“When you have worries?”

“It’s similar, but a bit different.”

“Whenever you come here, it’s always at times like that. When you want to confirm that your choices weren’t wrong. When you want to believe that you’re on the right path.”

Kang Jin-ho slightly narrowed his brow.

It was hard to understand. The reason he came here was simply because it was comfortable….

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze narrowed slightly more.

Come to think of it, it was a bit strange. No matter how comfortable it was here, it couldn’t be more comfortable than his own home, and it couldn’t be more comfortable than the Assembly.

“For me, this place is like home. A place I’ll always return to, no matter how far I go.”

“But for you, it’s not that kind of place. I think for you, this place….”

Park Yu-min smiled gently.

“Isn’t it the place where you first did something you wanted to do?”

It was hard to understand.

But it also felt like he could understand.

Everything he had done so far was one of two things. Something he had to do because it was him. Something he absolutely had to accomplish.

But….

Supporting the orphanage and taking care of the children wasn’t originally something Kang Jin-ho was supposed to do.

Saving his family’s lives, rebuilding the Assembly, and saving the world from crisis were things Kang Jin-ho had to do because it was him. It was like a destiny he couldn’t avoid, no matter how much he tried to resist.

But this place was different.

For him, the Seongsim Orphanage was just a place he had briefly passed through. It was Kang Jin-ho’s will that had shaped that connection into its current form.

It wasn’t something he did because he had to gather strength, but something he did because he wanted to. Something that had results.

That’s why Kang Jin-ho was looking back at this place, wasn’t it?

More than the Assembly, which had established a global presence, more than MK [likely a company or organization], which had moved into that magnificent building and was generating excessive sales,

More than his status, which had become so high that no one could treat him carelessly….

Wasn’t it the sight of those children gathered in this small place that made Kang Jin-ho feel more rewarded?

I am the one who created this scene. I am the one who accomplished this.

So, I haven’t done anything wrong.

“Then, isn’t that enough?”

“…Huh?”

“If it wasn’t for you, the orphanage would never have looked like this. Those kids wouldn’t be so happy either.”

“So, you’re not wrong, Jin-ho.”

Park Yu-min smiled gently.

“I just wanted to tell you that. I felt like I had to say it.”

Kang Jin-ho silently stared at Park Yu-min. After a long time of meeting her eyes, a small smile bloomed on Kang Jin-ho’s lips.

A genuine smile, not a forced one.

“Okay.”

“The head nun would definitely be proud of you if she saw you now.”

Kang Jin-ho raised his head and looked at the distant night sky.

“…Do you think so?”

“Yeah. I’m sure of it.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly stared at the starless sky.

He didn’t know.

He didn’t have the courage to face that person with confidence. He had done too many things that were wrong in her eyes.

But….

He could say one thing, couldn’t he?

If the moment came when his life ended and he met that person again, at least he could say this one thing, couldn’t he?

‘Head Nun.’

Kang Jin-ho, who had been looking at the night sky, slowly and quietly closed his eyes.

‘I….’

The chilly night air brushed against his cheeks. Yet, strangely, he felt warmth. As if someone was embracing him.

‘I tried my best.’

The night sky.

The dark sky, with not a single star visible, warmly descended upon Kang Jin-ho, who had closed his eyes.