Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1056

“There are some things I need to report, but I don’t think now is the right time. I’ll tell you later.”

“Alright.”

“Oh, and besides that, I have a request.”

“Speak.”

Wiggins gave a wry smile.

“We’re running short on reagents and materials for teaching the children.”

“You don’t need to report something like that, do you?”

“They’re a bit expensive.”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

Of course, Wiggins wasn’t in a position to freely use the General Assembly’s funds. Originally, the directors weren’t given financial authority, but since Lee Hyun-joo took the lead and tightened the purse strings, even the smallest expenditure required approval.

But even so, it shouldn’t require Kang Jin-ho’s approval to purchase materials needed for training…

Kang Jin-ho glanced at Lee Hyun-joo. Lee Hyun-joo shrugged her shoulders.

“…How much is it?”

“Well…”

Wiggins fumbled and handed a report he had prepared to Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho’s fingertips trembled slightly as he looked at the report Wiggins had given him.

“That’s…”

“I know. It’s a huge amount.”

Wiggins laughed awkwardly.

“That’s how reagents are. Sometimes, we use things that seem useless to the outside world, but other times, we have to use really precious things like water.”

Wiggins scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.

“I didn’t know it would cost this much either. I can see why mages were a class exclusive to nobles, unlike knights.”

“Oh, um…”

Knights, whose physical abilities are important, don’t discriminate based on status. To be precise, commoners who could become excellent knights were often adopted into noble families to receive support.

But it’s not the same for mages. Mages are a class that only nobles can enter. Naturally, Wiggins, who was born a noble, thought the reason was the nobles’ sense of privilege.

However, once he was in a position to train a large number of mages, he realized the reason was completely different.

It was a profession that only those who had accumulated vast wealth could even consider.

Even training for the lower classes costs this much.

‘I see why the Master was always worried about money.’

Wiggins sighed.

“Will this amount of money be needed continuously?”

“I can’t say it will be continuous… but I also can’t say that the expenses will decrease significantly in the future…”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

It was the first time he had seen Wiggins so hesitant and unsure of himself. It was quite ironic that it was because of money, not because of a mistake or fault.

“For now, I’ll support it.”

“Yes, Lord. Thank you.”

Wiggins sighed and said,

“In the past, when the Round Table was training mages, they limited the number too much. I thought that led to the weakening of the Round Table, so I increased the number of people to train… I didn’t expect this situation.”

“What are your thoughts?”

“I’ve come to appreciate my parents’ love. I should have treated them better when they were alive. Thinking about how much money they spent to raise a son who couldn’t even become a proper mage makes my heart…”

“Let’s not go in a weird direction.”

“Yes, sorry.”

Wiggins gave a wry smile.

He wasn’t joking; he was serious.

‘I need to come up with a solution.’

Thanks to his relentless efforts to accumulate money, the General Assembly’s finances were more than sufficient, but he couldn’t pour all that money into training mages.

It wasn’t a matter of having money or not, but a matter of cost-effectiveness. If they poured tens of times more money into training a single ordinary martial artist and didn’t get more value out of it, who would try to train mages?

“If it’s something that can be done with money, we should do it. Money isn’t important right now, so I’ll support it for a while. But you need to come up with a solution on your own.”

“Yes, Lord.”

Wiggins sighed.

“And there’s one more minor thing…”

“Again?”

When Wiggins looked at him blankly, Kang Jin-ho laughed awkwardly. He tried to act cool, but it seemed Kang Jin-ho was also tired of the money the mages were guzzling. That’s why he reacted like that.

“It’s not that… the Chevaliers [French knights] have requested to transfer to the General Assembly.”

“Huh?”

Wiggins shrugged.

“Most of the Chevaliers, including Vincent and Mathieu, want to transfer their affiliation to the General Assembly.”

“Why?”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head, looking puzzled.

It didn’t really matter to Kang Jin-ho whether the Chevaliers returned to the General Assembly or stayed with the Round Table. But he couldn’t understand why they chose to return to the General Assembly.

They had been given the opportunity to return to their homeland.

Kang Jin-ho knew best what it felt like to be detained in a foreign country, unable to return home.

That’s why, since they agreed to cooperate, Kang Jin-ho had given them as much convenience as possible.

But now, the fish he had released were coming back to the net on their own?

“There could be several reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that France can no longer play a leading role in the Round Table, and they are being subtly ostracized.”

Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth in an “ah” sound.

Come to think of it, it was obvious. Since Knight Levo, who tried to oust the Master and seize control of the Round Table, was French, France itself would lose its voice and support for a while, even if it wasn’t excluded from the Round Table.

“Moreover, the situation within France isn’t very favorable either. No matter how foolish Knight Levo was, he is still a French knight. The Chevaliers, who should have followed Knight Levo’s orders, openly defied him and even fought against him, so their careers in France are over.”

“Hmm.”

Now he understood why they wanted to come to the General Assembly.

Kang Jin-ho would have worried in that situation too.

“And personally, they seem to like the General Assembly quite a bit. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have returned to the General Assembly, even if it meant seeking asylum in a third country.”

“Is it possible? To accept them?”

“It’s not difficult. The Master must protect them. Otherwise, he would be criticized for abandoning those who helped him in the worst situation. We can’t change their affiliation from the Round Table to the General Assembly, but we can send them to the General Assembly in the form of a dispatch. Of course, we need to ensure that they only follow the Master’s orders, not anyone else’s.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“What’s your opinion?”

“We should accept them.”

Wiggins said firmly, as if there was nothing to think about.

“The practical benefit is that training can only be done properly with them. The number of people in the General Assembly learning Western martial arts has increased more than expected. I can’t train them all by myself. Moreover, they are a powerful force.”

The Chevaliers proved in this battle that they had reached a different level than the other knight orders of the Round Table.

Even compared to the Gata Knights of England, the Chevaliers were clearly a step ahead. Although they might be a bit inferior to the elites of the General Assembly, they were incomparably stronger than the average martial artists of the General Assembly.

There was no reason to refuse such power.

“And there’s an even greater reason to accept them. The Round Table is still hostile to the General Assembly. Even though the Master is cooperating, he can’t even ease their fundamental hostility. In that situation, the transfer of the Chevaliers can be a great symbol.”

“Then let’s leave this matter to Wiggins to handle. I’ll give you full authority.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Hyun-soo flinched at the thought that the word “full authority” was being used so often today.

“Next, Director Bang?”

“I have nothing to report.”

“…Is it going smoothly?”

Bang Jin-hoon chuckled and said,

“Teaching the chicks is always difficult. In the process of teaching them, I keep having to learn more, so I’m a bit overwhelmed.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled slightly.

He could feel it.

The aura flowing within Bang Jin-hoon.

‘I didn’t expect this…’

Kang Jin-ho had always highly valued Bang Jin-hoon. He had never once looked down on him. But that was an evaluation of Bang Jin-hoon as a person, not as a martial artist.

Bang Jin-hoon as a martial artist was not even worth Kang Jin-ho’s evaluation.

But the power he felt from Bang Jin-hoon now was definitely piquing Kang Jin-ho’s interest.

‘Well…’

Bang Jin-hoon had grown to the point where he could threaten Lee Joong-gul with his own power even in the barren land of Korea. If he was given proper martial arts, a proper environment, and time to focus on martial arts, he could become much stronger. Bang Jin-hoon as a martial artist was still young.

“Anything else?”

“It’s fine.”

“Lee Hyun-soo.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Check the work that Director Bang is in charge of and delegate what you can. For a while, Director Bang will focus on himself and education.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded without hesitation.

Bang Jin-hoon’s eyes twitched, and then he lowered his head.

“Thank you, Chairman.”

“Instead, do your job properly. Education is important, but so is your own training.”

“I was wondering if I should bring this up…”

“Hmm?”

“I need a sandbag.”

Kang Jin-ho gave a strange smile.

He didn’t mean he needed a real sandbag. He meant he needed someone to test his martial arts on while establishing new martial arts. A sturdy sandbag that wouldn’t get hurt even if he attacked with all his might, and wouldn’t cause any problems.

“It seems like there are about three right now.”

“A big sandbag would be best, but that sandbag seems like it’s about to burst these days. So, I’m sorry, but…”

“I understand what you mean. If you tell me in advance, I’ll make time.”

“Thank you.”

Bator, who had been listening with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes.

“What? Are you talking about people? Then what? Am I that big sandbag?”

How clueless.

“No! What do you mean I’m unstable!”

“Well, you’re learning demonic arts. What if I accidentally hit you and you try to kill me!”

“Didn’t the Master learn demonic arts? Didn’t the old man learn demonic arts?”

“You two are experts, and Bator, you’re a beginner. It’s a matter of life and death.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Bator grinned, showing his teeth.

“Master! I also need someone to test my demonic arts on. But I can’t have someone strong. I need practice controlling it. It seems like there’s a perfect opponent. Someone who won’t die even if I make a mistake!”

“Huh? If you get hit wrong and fall on the floor, you’ll be too embarrassed to show your face.”

“Director Bang, you’ve got some nerve, haven’t you? I’ll put it back where it belongs.”

“You won’t be able to.”

“Come on. Let’s start now.”

“Well, don’t embarrass yourself.”

Kang Jin-ho covered his face with his hand.

‘Please, even if you fight, fight with some dignity.’

Seriously, you guys!