Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1139

“What the hell is he doing, seriously?”

“Good grief…”

Park Gyu-yeon clicked his tongue, watching Ha Gwang-shik scratch his head vigorously.

“Are you still at it?”

“What about it, you punk?”

“Please, just stop it already.”

“Hey, your head’s gotten big, hasn’t it? Talking like that to your senior?”

“Oh, come on, what’s the difference between ten years and twelve years? You’re still calling yourself a senior?”

“Once a senior, always a senior, you little brat.”

“Ugh.”

Park Gyu-yeon sighed deeply.

Several days had passed since they returned from MK’s opening ceremony, but Ha Gwang-shik was still acting like this.

He was saying his investigation was wrong and that he needed to get new information, so he spent all day investigating Kang Jin-ho.

“Senior.”

“What?”

“Are you even finding anything?”

Ha Gwang-shik couldn’t answer.

Of course, he wouldn’t be.

If he had found something, he wouldn’t be wearing that constipated look on his face.

“No matter how much you dig, are you really going to find anything?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“They’re not the kind of people to handle things so sloppily. You saw it yourself. If, as you suspect, the political and business worlds are all tangled up in this, do you think those people would be so careless that you could just dig it up?”

Ha Gwang-shik glared at Park Gyu-yeon with a mix of annoyance.

“You little punk, isn’t it a reporter’s job to break through that iron wall? Why be a reporter if you’re going to think like that?”

“Why else? To make a living.”

“What, is this guy for real?”

At that moment, a voice answered from another direction.

“Why? Is he wrong?”

Ha Gwang-shik turned his head and stood up from his seat.

“Team Leader Bae, you’re here?”

Team Leader Bae Woo-hyun clicked his tongue as he looked at him.

“Of course? Do reporters live on grass? You have to make money to live, make money!”

“…No. Well, I didn’t say he was wrong.”

“You know that, and you’re still doing this? Hey, what are you doing these days? Are you just taking your salary from the company and going out to play?”

Ha Gwang-shik gave a bitter smile.

“It’s not that… I’ve been tracking something recently. If I do this right, I think I can get a big scoop.”

“A big scoop?”

“Yes. A huge one. Maybe even something that will shake up the whole of Korea…”

“Hey, Ha Gwang-shik.”

“Yes?”

“When did the company tell you to bring back a big scoop?”

Bae Woo-hyun sighed deeply.

“Gwang-shik, Gwang-shik. Get a grip, man. You’re not some passionate newbie, you’ve been rolling around in this industry for over ten years, and you’re still saying things like that?”

“No, this time it’s really…”

“Yeah, a big scoop. A big scoop is good. But does bringing in one big scoop make up for the salary you’ve been stealing?”

Ha Gwang-shik bit his lip.

“What are you going to do if you find a big scoop and publish it? In less than five minutes, copycat articles will flood in, and major media outlets will add their analysis and nonsense, and they’ll take the top spot. What age are we living in that you’re still looking for big scoops?”

“Still, isn’t it because someone finds the first story that copycat articles even come out?”

“Why should we do that? There are plenty of reporters in Korea who get paid more and make more money. It’s not like we’re doing some kind of self-funded passion project. Why should we do what reporters who get paid big bucks don’t do? Huh?”

Bae Woo-hyun sighed, as if frustrated.

“Man, aren’t you embarrassed to be seen by the other juniors? You’re living off the money they earn. While you’re wasting time and playing around with your so-called reporter’s spirit, they’re making articles and typing away to earn money. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I understand.”

“Then why are you acting like this?”

Ha Gwang-shik moistened his dry lips.

Every time they had this kind of conversation, he felt frustrated. What was even more annoying was that he could fully understand Bae Woo-hyun’s position. If Bae Woo-hyun was wrong and he was on the right path, he wouldn’t feel this way. But Ha Gwang-shik also knew that reality wasn’t like that.

“Still, if we break a big story, the company’s image will change, won’t it? If we get a good one this time…”

“Gwang-shik.”

“Yes.”

“Come with me.”

“…Yes.”

Bae Woo-hyun walked ahead, and Ha Gwang-shik sighed and followed behind him.

Park Gyu-yeon, who was watching the scene, shook his head.

“Gwang-shik.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“How long are you going to keep this up?”

The steam rising from the coffee slightly obscured their vision.

It wasn’t very common for two men of their age to have a conversation over coffee, but Ha Gwang-shik was grateful that what was in front of him wasn’t alcohol.

If it were alcohol, more harsh words would have come out.

“There’s a limit to how much I can cover for you. Do you think the other desks don’t know about you acting like this? What about the bureau chief? Hey, his job is to approve articles all day. Why wouldn’t he know that articles under your name aren’t coming out?”

Ha Gwang-shik took a sip of his coffee without saying anything.

It was hot.

But it wasn’t as turbulent as Ha Gwang-shik’s insides.

“Do you know what they’re saying upstairs?”

“…I know.”

“You know, and you’re still doing this. Man, people our age get pushed out if they don’t get promoted. And where else can you go up now? Don’t you know that if you get promoted this time, you’ll have to take a desk?”

“And do you think they’ll give a desk to someone who works like you? A field job for life? Hey, you little brat. Does that even make sense? You’re getting older, your stamina is decreasing, your senses are dulling… Even I wouldn’t keep older guys in the field for the same money. And you’re getting paid more than the young guys to begin with.”

Ha Gwang-shik subtly turned his gaze to look out the window.

He felt uncomfortable making eye contact.

The most painful time for someone like Ha Gwang-shik wasn’t when he faced the contempt of others. It was when he felt the gaze of goodwill and concern directed at him.

“Gwang-shik.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“People live with dreams. Yeah, I know. You and I, when we first came into this industry, we were all passionate, weren’t we? We were overflowing with passion to change this rotten country with just a pen in our hands.”

“It’s not that that’s wrong. It might be right. No, it probably is right. But how can a person only do what’s right? We have to make a living right now. If I chase my dreams and fail, am I the only one who dies? If I were in a position to only take care of myself, I wouldn’t be here right now. I’d be digging up those bastards’ corruption.”

“Yes, you probably would. That’s the kind of person you are, Team Leader.”

Bae Woo-hyun contorted his face as if frustrated.

“But you and I have people we need to support. If I lose my job, who will feed my kids? My wife? My parents?”

“Am I the only one? What about you? Don’t you have a wife and kids, or parents?”

“Hey, why are you suddenly throwing out insults?”

“Are you joking, you little brat?”

Ha Gwang-shik smacked his lips.

The atmosphere wasn’t easing up.

“Stop it now. You’ve done enough. If you want to do that, get up to the desk. Or go higher. Do it when you have enough power to do something. Or you’ll get fired, you little brat.”

Bae Woo-hyun jumped up from his seat.

“No, Team Leader. Like this…”

“I’ve said all I need to say.”

“Team Leader.”

Ha Gwang-shik stood up and grabbed Bae Woo-hyun’s sleeve as he tried to leave.

“Aren’t you going to let go?”

“…How much time do I have left?”

“What?”

“How much time do I have left?”

Bae Woo-hyun’s eyes widened as he turned to look at Ha Gwang-shik. But Ha Gwang-shik didn’t avoid Bae Woo-hyun’s gaze.

“You crazy bastard.”

“You know I’m crazy.”

Ha Gwang-shik let go of his sleeve and chuckled.

“I know what you’re saying is right. I know that’s how you have to live in Korea to be considered a decent human being. But…”

Ha Gwang-shik scratched his head vigorously.

“What can I do? It’s my nature.”

“Is that your nature? You’re just irresponsible, you little brat. Don’t blame your irresponsibility on your nature. Do you think everyone is born obsessed with money?”

“Hey, that’s not what I meant.”

Ha Gwang-shik joked.

“Anyway, just answer me. How much time do I have left?”

“Ha, seriously…”

Bae Woo-hyun walked out without another word. Ha Gwang-shik also followed him, sauntering behind. Bae Woo-hyun, who had come out of the cafe and gone to a quiet corner, took out a cigarette.

Ha Gwang-shik silently lit his cigarette.

“Two months at most.”

“Two months? Isn’t that too short? I’ve done some things, you know…”

“What have you done?”

“…There must be something, anything.”

Bae Woo-hyun glared at him with the look of someone looking at a crazy person, and Ha Gwang-shik whistled and looked away.

“Forget two months, even one month is iffy. If you want to go up to two months, I’d have to put my own position on the line.”

“That’s going too far.”

“Then one month.”

“One month, huh…”

Ha Gwang-shik nodded.

“Then, since it’s come to this, let me go free for a month. And put Gyu-yeon with me.”

“…Are you out of your mind?”

“Well, if I get fired here, it’s not like I have nowhere else to go. If all else fails, I’ll just run a street stall. I’ve saved up enough for that.”

Ha Gwang-shik smiled, a cigarette in his mouth.

Bae Woo-hyun shook his head at his reckless attitude. From the start, this guy was someone you couldn’t reason with.

“Is it worth it?”

“I don’t know.”

“••••••What?”

Ha Gwang-shik shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s like a treasure chest. It’s certain that something is inside, but no one knows if it will be treasure or a goblin when you open it.”

“You’re betting your job on something like that?”

“Isn’t that what a reporter is supposed to do?”

“Hey, man.”

“I know, times have changed. But Team Leader, I don’t want to chase money with the name of a reporter, unless I’m making a living with a job that’s not a reporter. And how much do they even give us? Our salaries are already peanuts anyway.”

“What, you little brat?”

“So, this time, just let me do what I want. Considering what I’ve done, you can at least do that for me, right?”

Bae Woo-hyun stared at Ha Gwang-shik for a long time, then shook his head.

“Do whatever you want, you little punk. And if you don’t bring back something decent, come back with your resignation letter in a month.”

“Give me ten more days.”

“Do whatever you want, man.”

Bae Woo-hyun clicked his tongue and turned to walk away. Ha Gwang-shik took a deep drag of his cigarette, watching his back.

It felt like no one in the world was helping him. And the people he was dealing with were endlessly deep and endlessly dark.

But whatever.

Isn’t that what a reporter is?

He had no intention of whining. In the past, during the military regime, his seniors had faced threats to their lives and their families, yet they had closed their eyes and jumped towards the truth.

If he whined in this day and age, he wouldn’t even be a reporter.

“Damn it, fuck. I’m so fucking lonely.”

Ha Gwang-shik flicked away his cigarette and walked back to the office, his hands in his pockets.

The chilly wind pierced his clothes.