Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 12

Where have I drifted to?

The memories fade, even the scents are unfamiliar.

The times that have been forgotten and disappeared, now not even a trace remains. Has time truly flowed?

The pain fades, even the memories are unfamiliar.

The times I cannot return to,

Now they are fading into the distance. In those times, I loved, and in those times, I walked the world. If I could return again,

If I could return again.

It wasn’t that he was singing exceptionally well. It wasn’t like he had professional-level skills or a great voice that made the song easily understandable.

But strangely, it was impossible to take one’s eyes off Kang Jin-ho as he sang.

Each and every lyric touched the heart.

It felt like they understood what it meant to sing from the heart.

Where have I drifted to?

Time doesn’t stop, even the pain fades away. The times that have been forgotten and disappeared,

Now not even a trace remains. In those times,

I loved, and in those times,

I walked the world.

If I could return again,

If I could return again.

Only after everything has passed,

Do I look back on those times.

Only after losing everything,

Did I realize its preciousness.

In those times, I loved,

In those times, I walked the world.

If I could return again,

If I could return again.

The song ended, and the score appeared, but even then, no one opened their mouths.

A strange lingering feeling lingered in the karaoke room.

“…Wow!” Han Se-yeon took a deep breath.

“You’re really good at singing,” Tae-ho said, shaking his head.

“No, he wasn’t this good at singing before.”

“I know this song… The pitch and rhythm were all off. But strangely, it sounds good.”

They couldn’t possibly know.

This one song contained all the resentment Kang Jin-ho had felt during his time wandering the Central Plains [a fictional, often lawless, region in martial arts stories].

That’s why it resonated even without technique.

He had been singing it for decades without even hearing the original, so many parts had changed.

“It doesn’t seem like a sad song, but I almost cried…”

“Me too.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled bitterly.

If they felt sadness, it meant that Kang Jin-ho himself hadn’t let go of those memories.

Even though he had returned to this world, the years he had spent wandering the Central Plains still remained strongly in his heart.

‘I should forget it now.’

There was no need to hold onto the past. If he could forget, it would be better to forget quickly to help him live in this world.

It was true that life in the Central Plains had changed Kang Jin-ho, but that change couldn’t be said to be positive for living in this world.

A life always filled with blood and death would be a burden, not a help, in modern life.

“Sing another one.”

“I don’t know any other songs.”

“Then sing that one again.”

“No, what again…”

Kang Jin-ho waved his hand and put down the microphone.

The kids looked at Kang Jin-ho with regret, but they didn’t urge him any further.

Han Se-yeon quietly approached and sat next to Kang Jin-ho.

“Can’t you sing it just one more time?”

“Next time.”

“Then we’re coming to karaoke together again next time?”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded at Han Se-yeon’s words.

Although the lingering feeling remained for a while, it disappeared as if washed away when the next song started.

They were a lighthearted generation.

But that was good.

There was no need to be heavy, and there was no need to empathize with others’ emotions so much. The important thing was to enjoy the present and live happily.

That was what was important.

After singing and enjoying themselves for a while, the kids cleaned up and went outside when their time was up.

“They didn’t even give us extra time.”

“It’s because it’s an expensive place.”

“If it’s expensive, they should give us more!” Tae-ho grumbled repeatedly.

Kang Jin-ho went outside and looked at the night sky.

‘There are no stars.’

The sky was just black.

That dark sky, which ordinary people would say was polluted and ugly, felt more welcoming to Kang Jin-ho than anything else.

Others would not easily understand the fact that a dark sky without stars gave him a sense of stability.

But for Kang Jin-ho, that was what the night sky was like.

A clear sky with stars that seemed like they would fall at any moment was associated with memories he wanted to forget. Looking at that star-filled sky, Kang Jin-ho always longed for this kind of sky.

The night sky here was different from the sky he saw in the Central Plains. So, life here would be different from life in the Central Plains.

“Are you going home?” Han Se-yeon approached and spoke to him.

“What else?”

“Want to go to a cafe or something?”

“No.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head. He had already done what he came to do. Anything more was unnecessary. He had come to sing, and he had stayed to keep the mood going, so Kang Jin-ho had done all he could.

“Then I’ll go home too.”

As soon as Han Se-yeon finished speaking, a slight sigh of disappointment escaped.

“Oh, really?”

When Han Se-yeon said she was going home, the other boys couldn’t hide their disappointment.

Even though they didn’t say it, it seemed like all the other boys had feelings for Han Se-yeon. Tae-ho was the least obvious about it, but even he looked disappointed.

‘Is this some kind of awkward friendship?’

Since they knew Kang Jin-ho liked Han Se-yeon, they couldn’t show it out of loyalty, but it seemed like Lee Tae-ho also liked her.

It seemed like the old Kang Jin-ho was so oblivious that he couldn’t even notice these things.

It was admirable that they were trying to keep their loyalty, but in Kang Jin-ho’s eyes, it was unnecessary consideration.

Did the person who confessed first have priority?

No. What was important was who liked each other.

They were still young, so their thoughts might be a little different.

He wanted to tell them that there was no need to do that at all, but it was also ridiculous to bring it up first.

“Then I’m going.”

“Let’s go together!”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Han Se-yeon approaching him.

“Is this the way you’re going?”

“Just to the subway station. It’s scary to go alone here.”

“It’s so bright here?”

“It’s not the darkness that’s scary, it’s the people. They keep glancing at me, and some people even follow me.”

“I see.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded lightly.

He didn’t understand, but since she said so, it wasn’t Kang Jin-ho’s place to question it. It was her own business.

Since they were going the same way anyway, it wasn’t difficult to go together.

“You’re really good at singing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. I’ve never seen anyone sing so well.”

“That’s the only song I can sing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s a bit of a shame. I was going to tell you to become a singer.”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head as Han Se-yeon spoke as if she was really disappointed.

“Isn’t being a singer what you wanted to do?”

“I don’t think so. I’m not good at singing, and I probably wouldn’t make it anyway.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

‘That’s unexpected.’

According to what the kids were saying, it seemed like Han Se-yeon was interested in being a celebrity, but from the way she spoke, she seemed to have a good grasp of herself.

If people around her were praising her like that, she could have been mistaken or had some lingering hope, but she didn’t.

She was more determined than he thought.

“Come to think of it, your younger sibling is in an entertainment agency, right?”

That’s right.

It suddenly came to mind. Come to think of it, for Han Se-yeon, Kang Jin-ho’s younger sibling was someone who had already achieved her goal.

“Yeah.”

“Talent does exist. If you sing as well as you do, your sibling will debut soon.”

“It’ll be difficult.”

“Why?”

“It’s not that easy. And my sibling is completely different from me.”

“Really? Putting your sibling aside, wouldn’t you be able to do it if you practiced other songs?”

“No.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head firmly.

“Why?”

“It’s hard to practice, and I’m not handsome enough, so it’s difficult.”

Han Se-yeon looked very troubled.

It was hard to agree, but it was also ambiguous to say no.

It was the truth, but it was a word that wouldn’t normally come out of her mouth. And it was also a difficult topic that no one around her had a good answer for.

“Wouldn’t plastic surgery help?”

After saying it, Han Se-yeon covered her mouth with her hand as if she had made a mistake.

“There are limits.”

But when Kang Jin-ho accepted it as if it was nothing, Han Se-yeon looked at Kang Jin-ho with a strange expression.

“You’re very cool.”

“Cool?”

“No, it’s just that.”

“Hmm…”

While they were talking about this and that, the two arrived at the subway station.

“Aren’t you taking the subway?”

“I’m going to walk.”

“Really? Okay, then. It was fun. See you at school tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“Then goodbye.”

Han Se-yeon smiled and waved her hand before going down the stairs.

Kang Jin-ho turned around and walked towards home.

He felt a little strange.

‘Was I normal today?’

He had returned to this world, gone to school, taken tests, hung out with the kids, and even gone to karaoke…

It felt like he had experienced a bit of a normal life, something that had been unrelated to him for a long time.

Hanging out with friends.

Computer games.

And conversations without any hidden agendas, which might be hidden deep in his heart.

A distance he could walk without worrying about attacks that could come from anywhere.

And a home to return to.

The life he had dreamed of.

Although it was precarious, Kang Jin-ho was now in the middle of the life he had dreamed of.

Kang Jin-ho lifted his head.

The black sky.

The dark black sky that didn’t show any stars was looking down at him.

‘Finally…’

Kang Jin-ho realized that he had returned to the modern world. And he realized that he was living the life he had dreamed of so much.

It had taken so long, but he had finally returned here.

He no longer had to continue that fierce life in the Central Plains.

The barbaric era that had dominated him for so long no longer existed.

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes for a while, feeling a strange sensation that shook his whole body.

Soon, Kang Jin-ho opened his eyes and chuckled.

“I should go home.”

Now he really had to go home. He had to go home before his mother worried, which was what a normal student should do.

But…

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho discovered a serious problem.

He remembered the way to school, but he had no idea how to get home from here.

“Where should I go?”

There was no one to answer him.

“Ugh…”

Kang Jin-ho sighed and turned around.

He could ask for directions and find his way somehow, but that would take longer.

Without a word, Kang Jin-ho headed towards the school.

It seemed like he had to go to school first and then go home. It was unavoidable until he became familiar with the surrounding area.

“A normal life is difficult.”

His adaptation was still rough.

But he was quickly blending into the modern world. If things continued like this, he would soon be able to live normally like the other kids.

If a few more years passed like this, the Demonic Heavenly Sovereign of the Central Plains would disappear without a trace, and only Kang Jin-ho, living in the modern world, would remain.

Perhaps that was what Kang Jin-ho wanted most.

To just… live like this.

But as always.

Crisis always came silently.