Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1153

“The situation is stabilizing,” Master nodded slowly at Knight Vesley’s words. It was a bit ambiguous to call it a stroke of luck, but it was still good news. Even if this ‘stabilization’ was achieved through violence and coercion rather than harmony, the effect was ultimately the same. ‘I’ve changed a lot too,’ Master smiled wryly. In the past, he would never have thought this way. Even if the result was important, Master’s belief was that if the process was not justified, the same result could not be evaluated the same way. But now, it was too late to consider the process. Master had come too far. “How are the Knights?” “Most of them aren’t showing any particular movements.” “Most of them?” Master raised an eyebrow slightly. “That’s not what I meant,” Knight Vesley shook his head. “Some Knights want to step down from their positions. They say they want to appoint successors and retire.” “Hmm.” Normally, the retirement of a Knight was not something the Round Table [an international organization] could interfere with. The Round Table was a coalition. The appointment of Knights from each country was left to each country. They only had some control over the Knights selected from each country. It was like how the EU couldn’t interfere with the election of each country’s prime minister. However, after the recent series of events, the Round Table’s control had been strengthened beyond comparison to the past. As a result, even Knights who wanted to retire were seeking permission from the Round Table. “That’s not going to happen,” Master had no choice but to take advantage of this situation. “Master.” “Not yet. The Round Table isn’t stable yet. Tell them to stay in their positions until the Round Table is completely stable.” “Until when?” “That’s something I don’t know yet.” Knight Vesley stared at Master silently before sighing. “Master.” Master slightly raised his eyes. “Do you really have to go that far?” “Hmm?” “You’ve already almost taken control of the Round Table. Isn’t it unnecessary to pressure them so much?” “Knight Vesley.” “Yes, Master.” “Don’t speak so naively. Do you really think they’ve submitted to the Round Table?” Knight Vesley didn’t understand Master’s words. “Are you saying they haven’t?” “They might have, but they might not have.” “…I don’t quite understand what you mean.” “Listen, Knight Vesley. They’re not submitting to me or the Round Table. What’s making them submit is the fear they have of the Assembly Chairman [referring to Kang Jin-ho].” “Of course, that’s true, but…” What’s the problem with that? As long as they were practically exercising control, it didn’t matter what the means were. Whether it was kind words or a knife to the throat, as long as it could achieve the same result, it was fine. “Control based on fear will eventually show its limits. It would be different if the Chairman was stationed here, but that’s not possible, is it?” “Then…” “True control isn’t based on fear or favor. Think about the military.” “Hmm.” Knight Vesley frowned slightly. “The fact that they’re even thinking about the orders from above is proof that the Round Table’s control isn’t working properly. Soldiers don’t think. When an order is given, they don’t think about whether it’s right or wrong. They just follow it.” “So, you’re saying that not allowing their retirement is part of your plan to strengthen the Round Table’s control?” “Do you remember Lee Hyun-soo?” “…He’s not someone I can easily forget.” “Yes, I suppose not. He said something to me.” “May I ask what it was?” “He said that power is a measure of how much you can force things. He said that you can feel how strong someone’s power is when they can confidently enforce something that doesn’t make sense or is unreasonable.” Knight Vesley stared at Master, dumbfounded. But he didn’t really argue. Although it sounded absurd at first glance, it wasn’t wrong. Most of the eccentricities of those who were called tyrants throughout history were acts of showing off how unreasonable they could be in front of others. “And it’s not just about being unreasonable. Now is not the time to change the composition of the Knights.” “Is it because of the Chairman?” “You’re well aware.” Kang Jin-ho had completely crushed the Knights of the Round Table. The current Knights were those who had experienced Kang Jin-ho’s power and cruelty firsthand. No matter how much they conveyed the danger to their successors, their reactions couldn’t be the same as those who had seen it with their own eyes and experienced the terrible fear. In order to steadily change the Round Table in the way Master wanted, it was necessary to fill the Knights with those who were completely under Kang Jin-ho’s control. “I understand for now. I will reject their requests.” “I’m always sorry for giving you such troublesome tasks.” “If you feel that way, please allow the selection of new Knights soon. If a new Knight is selected for England, my workload will also decrease.” “That’s not an easy task.” Master smiled wryly. England hadn’t thought about Wiggins’ successor in advance. They thought there was enough time before Wiggins would take Master’s position. Who would have imagined that he would suddenly abandon his position as a Knight and defect to another country? And the successor they hastily selected was also lost along with Knight Levo’s rebellion. So, it was inevitable that selecting a successor would not be easy. “Anyway, I’m also urging them, so please bear with it a little longer.” “It’s not just England. There are other places where the Knight’s position is vacant. Please encourage the selection of Knights before the work is paralyzed.” “I understand.” Master looked at Knight Vesley and smiled. Although he was like a nag, Master’s workload had decreased a lot because of Knight Vesley. Moreover, he was also keeping Master in check appropriately. ‘Absolute power corrupts.’ Saying that he would gain complete power and saying that he would do whatever he wanted were not the same thing. Master wanted complete control over the Round Table, but he didn’t want the Round Table to rot because of that control. For Master, the existence of someone like Knight Vesley, who could speak frankly, was invaluable. “So… how is Knight Bellinger?” “…It’s hard to explain.” Knight Vesley frowned slightly. “He’s cooperating proactively. He’s so proactive that it’s hard to understand. If I had experienced what he did, I wouldn’t be able to let go of my hostility towards you or the Assembly Chairman.” “You said he’s proactive?” “Yes. He might be plotting something behind the scenes. I should monitor him…” “Leave him be.” “Yes?” Master shook his head slowly. “That won’t happen. Perhaps Knight Bellinger also expressed his intention to resign?” “That’s right.” “Those who have lost their will don’t resist. The current Knight Bellinger is not the Knight Bellinger you knew.” Master smiled wryly. Master was similar when he realized the wall of reality after meeting Kang Jin-ho and was purged by Knight Levo. He regained his will thanks to Kang Jin-ho, who came back and forcibly pulled him up. ‘Those who are devoured by the demon called reality can no longer dream.’ It wasn’t just relying on Knight Vesley’s report. Master wasn’t that carefree. Even at this moment, his informants were monitoring all of Europe. Fortunately, no suspicious movements had been detected yet. It was hard to say if it was a good or bad thing, but the Round Table was certainly stabilizing. The unreasonable things Master had done were also being passed smoothly one by one. If a little more time passed, he would be able to completely reverse the system of the Round Table that had been going on for thousands of years. ‘I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.’ It was certainly a good thing that Master’s authority was strengthened. But paradoxically, Master’s control over the Round Table meant that Kang Jin-ho’s control over the Round Table was also strengthened. It was frustrating, but Master’s current situation was no different from being Kang Jin-ho’s puppet. ‘It can’t be helped.’ In order to change the Round Table, Kang Jin-ho’s power and control were necessary. And this was definitely not a bad deal for the Round Table. Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t live for a thousand or ten thousand years. While Kang Jin-ho was alive, the Round Table would not be able to surpass him. Master also wouldn’t dare to challenge Kang Jin-ho’s power and authority. To put it nicely, they would become a subordinate organization, and to put it badly, they would become a colony. But… ‘A victory isn’t something that happens in a short period of time.’ How glorious the past was was not important now. What was important was how much they were enjoying now. In other words… ‘The humiliation of the present is nothing compared to the future.’ The important thing wasn’t that they had bowed their heads to the Assembly. The important thing was that the Round Table had gained an opportunity to reform itself. If they could properly build a system that was ahead of the times based on the fertile land of Europe, the Assembly, which was staying in that small land, would never be a match for them. The moment Kang Jin-ho left the Assembly in any way, the Round Table would be able to overwhelm the Assembly instead. ‘For that, I’ll gladly play the role of the Assembly’s puppet.’ Even if posterity remembered him as the worst Master and spat on him, Master could endure that humiliation. All for the glory of the Round Table. That was when it happened. Knock knock knock. Master raised his head. The sound of knocking on the door had a slight urgency. “Come in.” The door burst open, and a man came in and bowed his head. “Master, I have something to report.” “What is it?” “We received a call from the information department. It seems that Japan has started to move. I think you need to confirm it.” “Japan?” Master jumped up from his seat. The most important thing Wiggins had asked him to do was to monitor Japan’s movements. “First, contact the Assembly. Inform them of the situation and tell them that we will provide additional information after confirmation.” “Yes.” “No, wait. I’ll open a portal, tell them to come here!” “I will do it immediately.” Master nodded with a stiff face. ‘Another war?’ The smell of blood hadn’t even faded from the Round Table, and now there was another war. Master’s face hardened even more.