Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1150

“You’re saying it’s difficult to complete?”

“Why?”

Seeing Kang Jin-ho tilt his head, Wiggins felt a surge of murderous intent for a moment.

That wasn’t a gesture to mock Wiggins.

It was an unconscious action, truly not understanding why Wiggins couldn’t master the ‘Yang Heart Technique’.

His insides were boiling with anger.

But that fire quickly died down.

“Is it that difficult?”

Suddenly, a sense of déjà vu flashed through Wiggins’ mind.

This situation, it felt like he’d experienced it somewhere before…

“Is it that difficult?”

“It shouldn’t be hard to understand, right?”

“Explain it in simpler terms? What more is there to simplify? Should I explain each word again? It might be better to just look it up in a dictionary?”

Wiggins squeezed his eyes shut. Of course, Wiggins had never heard such words from others.

However…

‘I said it.’

Wiggins himself had said those exact words to those who sometimes couldn’t understand his teachings or asked how such an interpretation was even possible.

At that time, Wiggins truly couldn’t comprehend the question itself. What would you think if someone asked why one plus one equals two? And if you explained it as simply as possible, and they still didn’t understand?

There was only one thing to say.

“Why can’t you do this?”

And Wiggins tended to just say it.

The expressions of those who heard his words were still vivid in his mind. Perhaps Wiggins’ expression was the same as theirs now.

That’s why he felt like he understood how Kang Jin-ho was feeling.

It was probably like looking at a monkey. It must feel like seeing someone who doesn’t know the shape of a ‘ㄱ’ [Korean letter similar to a ‘L’ shape] when a sickle is placed in front of them.

“Lord.”

Wiggins said, as if gritting his teeth.

“Everyone has areas they are good at and areas they are not. Of course, it might be hard for you to understand why I’m struggling with something like this, but…”

Wiggins realized something anew.

‘Come to think of it, this guy is a genius too.’

Within the council, Wiggins and Lee Hyun-soo were classified as the brains, while Bator and Jang Min were seen as having slightly less intelligence but superior martial prowess. But, looking at it objectively, that was wrong.

To master martial arts to the level of Bator or Jang Min required a brain far surpassing that of an average person. It’s true in all fields, but those who achieve outstanding results are fundamentally intelligent.

Surpassing a genius through persistent effort despite being dull?

It’s not as easy as it sounds.

The period when a genius can be called a genius solely based on talent is only during childhood. A genius who has become an adult can no longer shine with just that talent.

Why?

Because there are already geniuses who were born and lived before them. The moment they become adults, those who could advance with talent alone must fight against the achievements of those who were born earlier.

And the geniuses who have built achievements are, of course, those who have also put in the effort. No matter how naturally gifted a genius is, they cannot remain a genius without constant effort.

In the end, the geniuses that the dullards must catch up to through effort are mostly still working themselves to the bone. If they put in the same effort, there’s no way a dullard can catch up to a genius.

Simply put…

Saying that you can catch up to a genius through effort is very easy to say. Those who hear it know it’s difficult, but the ambiguity of the words makes it sound plausible.

But what if you make it a little more clear?

If you tell a physics student who dreams of becoming a physicist to achieve something that surpasses Einstein through effort, would that sound realistic?

The same goes for martial arts.

To master martial arts beyond a certain level and become strong, you absolutely need an excellent brain and understanding.

In other words, Kang Jin-ho is also an unbelievable genius, even if it doesn’t show.

Wiggins, who had been called a genius since he came to his senses, was in a place where even he became an ordinary dullard. Thanks to this, Wiggins could deeply feel how much he had hurt so many people without realizing it.

If he could, he wanted to go and apologize to each and every one of them. Of course, they wouldn’t accept it.

“Understanding the concept of Heart Technique is a bit…”

“Difficult?”

Wiggins nodded silently.

Then, Kang Jin-ho slightly frowned.

‘Ah, so this is how it feels.’

He used to think his former colleagues were exaggerating when they said their hearts would drop whenever instructors or teachers showed a slightly displeased expression. Now, he understood what they meant.

Wiggins was learning things anew at this age that others had already known decades ago.

“In the first place, concepts like Heart Technique and meditation are Eastern concepts. They might be easy for Easterners to understand, but for a Westerner like me…”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

“Didn’t mind control and psychology develop more in the West? It’s not like the West completely ignores the inner self, right?”

“Of course, that’s true, but the concepts are a bit…”

“Besides, aren’t you constantly doing something very close to meditation?”

“Yes?”

“Prayer.”

Wiggins frowned without realizing it.

He understood what Kang Jin-ho was saying. Prayer is a time to face the absolute being alone. In that it allows one to reflect on oneself, it certainly had aspects in common with meditation.

“But isn’t that a conversation?”

Even if they had common aspects, they weren’t exactly the same.

“It’s not that different.”

Kang Jin-ho answered nonchalantly.

“Even if it’s a conversation, you don’t get an answer back anyway.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Prayer is something you say to someone, but in the end, it’s something you say to yourself. Meditation and Heart Technique aren’t that different either. If prayer is something you say to an external absolute being, meditation and Heart Technique are just about observing your inner self.”

It was like he understood, but also didn’t.

Kang Jin-ho glanced at Bator.

“It’s difficult because you’re thinking too hard. There’s no way you can’t do what Bator can do.”

“Hearing you say that makes me feel a bit more confident…”

“What, you punk?”

Bator, who had been hit by shrapnel while standing still, flared up.

“Don’t try to interpret it.”

“…Yes?”

“It seems like that’s the difference between the West and the East. You guys try to interpret everything and completely accept its meaning. Isn’t it the same with learning the Bible? You read and interpret it. And sects are divided based on those interpretations.”

“Isn’t that natural?”

“Eastern martial arts are not like that. Just because there are formulas doesn’t mean you have to perfectly interpret them to learn them. You just learn them, and you gradually understand more. A perfect interpretation is only visible when you reach a certain level yourself.”

“I see…”

Wiggins scratched the back of his head.

It was like he understood, and also didn’t.

But it was true that he had grasped something a little more.

“I can be one, but I might not be one. Just keep that in mind.”

“I will try my best.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

‘That should be enough.’

He could explain it in more detail, but that wouldn’t be good for Wiggins either. Although they are both learning and mastering the same thing, there is a clear difference between reaching a point based on what others tell you and realizing it yourself.

Moreover, Wiggins might have to accept more Eastern martial arts in the future. To avoid hitting a wall every time, he had to completely break the fixed ideas he had this time.

It wasn’t an easy task, but…

‘Wiggins should be able to do it.’

In fact, considering Wiggins’ abilities, this was taking a long time. That meant there was a wall between Eastern and Western martial arts, more so than Kang Jin-ho had thought.

“Any other problems?”

“All those who were receiving magic training have reached the level of using mana. I can say that the mass production of basic mages has been successful.”

Kang Jin-ho made a subtle sound and asked.

“It seems like good news, but honestly, I don’t really understand. What level does ‘basic mage’ mean?”

“They are completely useless.”

Kang Jin-ho stared at Wiggins with a blank look.

“Then?”

“On their own, that is.”

Wiggins shrugged.

“But it’s different when they’re in a group. Being able to gather mana means they can play a role in imbuing magic circles with mana, and that means they can be used as batteries.”

“Batteries?”

“Yes. It means I can activate magic even if I’m not there. This will be a great help.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded with a reluctant expression.

It seemed like a big deal, but he didn’t really know what was so great about it. In the first place, even when Kang Jin-ho faced the Round Table, he had never been held back by mages.

Kang Jin-ho was a bit surprised by the firepower of the high-ranking mage who belonged to the Elder Knights, but that was only possible because that mage was an irregular. Even Wiggins couldn’t inflict damage on Kang Jin-ho with magic.

So, what good would it do to be able to use basic magic…

“I know what you’re thinking. But mages are originally that kind of class. They are not very useful in one-on-one combat. It’s hard for them to beat knights. The battlefield where mages show their true value is in large-scale battles.”

Wiggins smiled slightly wickedly.

“On the battlefield.”

“Hmm…”

“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it now, so you’ll see it for yourself later. It will be more helpful than you can imagine.”

“Okay. But are there any among them who show promise?”

“Do you mean talent to rise to the level of a high-ranking mage?”

“I guess that would be necessary.”

“They were originally martial artists. There are limits to them as mages. If they completely decide on this path, I will have them expel all the energy they have gathered in the previous way and convert them into mages, but most of them are reluctant.”

“…I guess so.”

It wouldn’t be easy to give up everything they had learned to learn a new field. Moreover, if they removed all the energy accumulated in their dantian [an energy center in the body], it meant they could never return to being a normal martial artist.

It wasn’t something he could force them to do.

“But soon, everyone will choose their own path. Among those who are already showing promise, there are those who have decided to become complete mages.”

“Lee Hyun-soo?”

“No, that guy…”

Wiggins’ face contorted.

“That guy, who has no talent in that area, refused to convert to a mage. He says his identity is that of a martial artist?”

“…That’s a shame.”

That identity, it seems like it’s wrong.

“Anyway, we have met the minimum requirements to be deployed in actual combat. With a magic unit of 300 men under my direct command, we can use strategies that were impossible in the past.”

“Good work.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“By the way…”

“Yes.”

“Is Lee Hyun-soo really that clueless?”

Kang Jin-ho and Wiggins looked at each other and sighed.