Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1046

“Why?”

“Why can’t I?”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

With each tilt of his head, Bae Jae-min’s mental state crumbled into pieces.

It all started when Kang Jin-ho suddenly returned and offered to directly teach those who hadn’t performed well that day.

How gracious was that?

Kang Jin-ho was the head of the Assembly. [The Assembly likely refers to a martial arts organization or group.]

And the position of the head of the Assembly commanded both respect and fear from all the martial artists within the Assembly.

Kang Jin-ho himself didn’t seem to realize it, but the authority of the head of the Assembly within the Assembly was immense. Lee Jung-geol had intentionally strengthened the authority of the head of the Assembly to reinforce his own power and authority, but those who sat in the position of the head of the Assembly were, in the first place, the most recognized martial artists in Korea.

The already high status of the head of the Assembly became even more extraordinary when Kang Jin-ho became the head.

For someone in such a position to directly review and evaluate the performance of a low-level office worker, and even teach them directly! How incredible was that?

An emotional person might even shed tears over such a thing.

But….

“So, why?”

Bae Jae-min was realizing that this situation was a little different from what he had imagined.

“Yes, Head of the Assembly. I did try my best, but…”

“But?”

“…I think I’m just not smart enough, I don’t really understand.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bae Jae-min with a completely clueless expression, then smiled gently.

“I guess there’s no helping it.”

“I’ll do my best by tomorrow…”

“No.”

“Yes?”

“You’ll just forget it again by tomorrow. Whether it’s martial arts or anything else, you have to learn it properly to make it stick.”

Bae Jae-min’s fingertips trembled slightly.

“Could it be…”

“Additional class. Over there.”

Bae Jae-min raised his head and looked at one of the walls. Those who had not been allowed to go home were leaning against the wall with gloomy faces, staring blankly.

Now, Bae Jae-min would also join that line and become one of those with dead fish eyes.

‘Time…’

Bae Jae-min’s eyes unconsciously searched for the clock.

Eleven o’clock.

Not a bad time. Usually, he would be enjoying a can of cold beer, watching a movie, and getting ready for bed. But unfortunately, such pleasures were not allowed for Bae Jae-min today.

“Um, Head of the Assembly.”

“Yeah?”

“I have a question, how long will it take if I start training again from now?”

“Wouldn’t it take about an hour or two?”

“Ah, yes. Two hours. Yes… two hours.”

Even if they started training right now, it would be past one in the morning before everything was finished. Considering that it would take about an hour to get home, he wouldn’t be able to get home until two, and wouldn’t be able to sleep until three. And he would have to wake up at seven in the morning.

‘Wow, I can sleep for a whole four hours.’

He almost clapped. How thoughtful.

His teeth were grinding at how thoughtful he was.

“Are, are you okay, Head of the Assembly? Isn’t it too late for you to go home?”

“Me?”

“Yes. We don’t really matter, but you have a lot of work to do besides us, Head of the Assembly, so I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head slightly, and Bae Jae-min launched a counterattack.

“It’s not that I don’t want to be re-educated, Head of the Assembly. You have a lot to do, don’t you? If you’re not satisfied with our performance, we’ll study on our own and make sure we’ve mastered it by tomorrow morning!”

Bae Jae-min turned his head sharply.

Then, those who had not been allowed to go home shouted enthusiastically.

“That’s right, Head of the Assembly!”

“We will definitely master it! No matter what it takes!”

“We can’t waste your precious time like that!”

Kang Jin-ho smiled at the enthusiastic response.

“Hmm.”

He seemed to like their enthusiasm.

“I understand what you’re saying.”

“Th, then?”

“But.”

He didn’t really need to hear the rest. But Kang Jin-ho went ahead and said it anyway.

“One of the people I know said something like this.”

“Yes?”

“Treat your subordinates like family.”

Kang Jin-ho said with an utterly serious face.

“If my sibling wasn’t performing well, it’s not like family to just tell them to study on their own. Especially if they haven’t given up on studying and have the passion to do it, I should spend my time and teach them as much as I can. That’s what family does.”

It was a touching statement.

But those who heard the touching words were not touched at all.

‘What kind of crazy bastard said that?’

‘You should choose who you say good things to! Choose who you say it to!’

‘I’m going to catch that guy!’

Of course, it was said with good intentions.

The problem was that Kang Jin-ho was someone who didn’t know the meaning of ‘moderation’.

Who doesn’t know that clear water is good? But no one can live in water that is too clear.

If Kang Jin-ho thought it was good to give clear water to fish, he was the type of person who would drain all the water and fill it with purified water.

“No, you’re busy…”

“There’s no way to neglect family just because you’re busy.”

Kang Jin-ho said firmly.

“I felt a lot from those words. It’s not what family does to just create a place to put in some effort, I’m going to make sure I follow the words to treat employees like family.”

‘Don’t do it!’

‘Why am I your family!’

‘Please, let’s not get involved personally! Please separate work and personal life! Please!’

‘These days, if you say a company is like a family, no one will even apply! Are you living in the 80s!’

There were so many things they wanted to say, but who would dare say those words in front of Kang Jin-ho?

It’s not like he’s telling them to stay and study, he’s saying he’ll stay and teach them himself?

The moment they said, ‘Okay, I won’t learn,’ Lee Hyun-soo and the board of directors would come running with foam in their mouths. And then they would turn the entire group of trainees upside down, saying that these guys were slacking off.

“Next.”

Bae Jae-min staggered to the side.

‘We’re not high school students…’

‘It’s good to learn, but do we have to go this far?’

Just as everyone was in despair, the door burst open and Jo Gyu-min came in.

Jo Gyu-min, who had completely grasped the situation just by looking around once, approached Kang Jin-ho with a twitching eye.

“K, Kang Jin-ho.”

“You’re here?”

“What is this…”

“Ah!”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his head.

“It’s a bit long to explain… but to put it simply, I’m re-educating those who didn’t meet the standards so they can keep up with the next course.”

“You’re teaching them, Kang Jin-ho? As a fellow trainee?”

“Is that not okay?”

“…No. Well, there’s nothing wrong with it, but…”

Jo Gyu-min knew Kang Jin-ho’s abilities well. Even if it was a field that Kang Jin-ho knew nothing about, if he studied it for a few days, he would already be at a semi-professional level.

There was no way it would be difficult for such a person to teach those who couldn’t even use basic word processing.

However.

“I, it’s eleven o’clock now.”

“There’s no day or night when it comes to learning.”

“That’s a violation of labor laws, you know?”

“I’ve never really lived by the law.”

Jo Gyu-min’s mind began to spin rapidly. He had mentioned a violation of labor laws, but this wasn’t a situation where they were paying people to work, so there was no room for labor laws to interfere.

Besides, they weren’t being taught, they were saying they would study on their own, so how could he stop them?

‘But I can’t just leave them like this.’

Jo Gyu-min glanced at the people by the wall. People he had never seen before were looking at him with eyes like beaten puppies.

Looking at those sad eyes, he felt a sense of duty.

“F, first of all, what should I say… Ah, rest! People need proper rest to be more dedicated to learning!”

“That’s right.”

“Yes. So!”

“They’re getting enough rest. Their rest efficiency and physical strength are different from ordinary people.”

“Ugh.”

Jo Gyu-min, speechless, turned his head again.

The puppies were whimpering.

‘Please don’t give up on us!’

‘Please! Please!’

‘I want to go home. Please let me go home!’

In any other situation, Jo Gyu-min would have just let it slide. Even if these guys were getting beaten up by Kang Jin-ho, Jo Gyu-min would have been clapping and cheering them on. Jo Gyu-min was definitely not a nice guy.

But this situation! He couldn’t just stand by and watch this situation.

The reason was very simple. Wasn’t Jo Gyu-min also the biggest victim of a life without going home? The experience of having a home 20 minutes away become the farthest place in the world was a sadness that only those who had experienced it could understand.

Jo Gyu-min clenched his fist.

“Of course, their physical strength is extraordinary. But Kang Jin-ho, you only know one thing and not the other.”

“Yes?”

“Even the most physically fit national athletes among ordinary people are guaranteed a minimum amount of sleep. Physical strength is important, but if you don’t get enough sleep, your mental stress won’t be relieved.”

“Oh.”

“Yes.”

“Even the National Training Center trains early in the morning, but they don’t train until late at night. Isn’t it important to work harder and more diligently when you need to?”

Kang Jin-ho looked like he was contemplating.

Then, the trainees looked at Jo Gyu-min with faces full of fervor. They looked like they would clap if they could.

“Besides, this isn’t exercise, it’s studying. No matter how hard you try with a foggy head, you won’t be able to study properly! Wouldn’t it be better to give them enough rest and prepare a more efficient process?”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

“My grades always improved even when I studied while sleeping for three hours?”

That’s because it’s you, you idiot!

Not everyone can be like you!

“Anyway, I don’t think this is a good method. Why don’t you work with me to create a perfect training program again?”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho seemed to be considering it, so Jo Gyu-min pulled out his trump card.

“If you’re still worried, why don’t you ask them?”

“Yes?”

“You said you treat your employees like family, right? Family isn’t a one-way street. Isn’t it the role of family to support them so they can study and be educated in the way they think is best? You studied on your own, Kang Jin-ho. Your family just helped you.”

“Hmm, that’s true…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded as if he thought Jo Gyu-min’s words made sense.

Then he turned his head and looked at everyone.

“Anyone want to go home?”

“Is there anyone who wants to go home?”

How can they answer if you ask like that!

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

“I don’t think you understand, don’t feel pressured and answer. If you think it’s better to go home and sleep than to study with me here, you can go.”

It was a gentle voice, completely devoid of emotion.

But wasn’t it the fate of subordinates that that gentle voice never sounded gentle?

Bae Jae-min opened his mouth, holding back the tears that were flowing.

“…I will study.”

“I don’t need to sleep.”

“I will work hard.”

Kang Jin-ho turned to Jo Gyu-min with a sulky face.

“They said they’re okay?”

Like family.

They’re very much like family.