Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1216

[Those who came today must be so happy! Being able to watch a match like this live is truly a great fortune, isn’t it? This is what E-sports is all about! This is passion! Both teams are not backing down an inch.]

[The score is 2:2, and the next match will decide this year’s loser! I’m getting nervous myself. How much more nervous must the players be?]

[Only those who overcome that tension can sit on the throne. The players must be at their physical and mental limits right now! They have to squeeze out their last bit of energy! Because there’s only one winning team!]

“They’re good.”

Choi Yeon-ha nodded, watching the commentators. She had seen many announcers while attending various events, but it was rare to see someone so skilled at building up the atmosphere.

Thanks to them, the stadium was still full of energy. After watching a match that had lasted nearly three hours, even the spectators would usually get tired, but the atmosphere was as if the finals had just begun.

[Ah, the final match is being slightly delayed due to a setup issue. We ask for the understanding of our viewers. We would also like to take this time to thank the audience who have filled the stadium. So many people came today, didn’t they?]

[It’s a sell-out, a sell-out! This huge stadium is sold out! I heard it’s unprecedented.]

[It’s because it’s a match between the king and the strongest challenger! And it’s probably because many fans of Park Yu-min, who has become a new challenger, have come.]

[It’s strange, isn’t it? Usually, players are called by their nicknames, but strangely, Park Yu-min is not called by his nickname. I think it’s because his name was shouted so much in the past.]

[The caster has also left behind many famous videos, right? There are many famous ones. Park Yu-min! Park Yu-min! Park Yu-min… He caused a stir by calling his name 29 times in a row.]

[How can you do that when you can’t even speak? That player was truly someone who made it impossible to speak.]

[And he’s showing off his skills in the changed genre without any reservation. Amazing, Park Yu-min! He’s becoming a role model for many pro gamers.]

[And he shouldn’t just remain a role model. He needs to climb back onto the throne once again. He’s challenging an unprecedented feat of conquering two genres. Now, just one match until the result!]

[Ah, on the screen now… Is that Park Yu-min’s family? They’re holding up a cheer for Park Yu-min.]

The large screen in the middle of the stadium showed a woman holding a sign that read ‘Park Yu-min Fighting’ and a man holding a sign that read ‘If you lose, you die.’

Everyone’s eyes widened slightly.

[Wait a minute. Isn’t that Choi Yeon-ha?]

[It looks like it! Everyone, Choi Yeon-ha has visited the stadium to cheer for Park Yu-min!]

In an instant, the stadium was filled with cheers. As soon as Choi Yeon-ha confirmed that her face was on the screen, she smiled brightly and waved her hand. The cheers grew even louder.

[It’s definitely Choi Yeon-ha! Yes! She’s waving her hand! Everyone, E-sports has developed to the point where a big star like Choi Yeon-ha comes to watch it live. It’s a touching moment.]

[Personally, I would like to express my infinite gratitude to Choi Yeon-ha. Recently, Choi Yeon-ha and Park Yu-min filmed a commercial together, didn’t they? It seems like she came because of that connection, but anyway! Many players have filmed commercials, but no player has escaped their dark history. But! Everyone! With the commercial that Choi Yeon-ha and Park Yu-min filmed, our E-sports has finally found the light after a long, dark period!]

[It turned out great! Oh! It turned out great. I’ve watched that commercial a hundred times!]

[I would like to take this opportunity to thank Choi Yeon-ha and the commercial director once again. And there are many good-looking players among our players! Park Yu-min is good, but please cast other players as well!]

[The person sitting next to her seems to be Park Yu-min’s friend. Ah, he’s handsome! He’s handsome!]

Kang Jin-ho covered his mouth and coughed dryly.

[He’s really handsome, isn’t he? At first, I thought there were two actors who came. According to the team staff, he’s Park Yu-min’s best friend.]

[Park Yu-min must be energized by having people like them cheering him on! Of course, other players must also be energized! The only way to repay the fans who came and the fans who are watching is with the best play! As I’m speaking, the setup is complete! Now, let’s watch the match!]

As the screen switched, Kang Jin-ho sighed.

“I should have told them not to film us.”

“There’s no way they wouldn’t film us when I came. It’s obvious.”

“Did you know?”

“It’s obvious.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled softly.

The fact that he sat in this seat knowing he would be filmed meant that he intended to be on screen with Kang Jin-ho. Thinking that Choi Yeon-ha was becoming bolder recently, Kang Jin-ho looked up at Park Yu-min.

Park Yu-min, who was inside the booth, was staring intently at the monitor with serious eyes.

‘He looks good.’

More than looking good, he looked impressive.

The usual goofy Park Yu-min wasn’t bad, but Park Yu-min was the most handsome when he was so focused.

“He’ll win, right?”

“Probably.”

“If he loses, I won’t let him off the hook.”

In fact, the sign that read ‘Park Yu-min Fighting’ was written by Kang Jin-ho, and the one that read ‘If you lose, you die’ was written by Choi Yeon-ha.

They switched signs, and it seemed like they had planned to be on screen.

Choi Yeon-ha put her hands together and took a praying pose.

She didn’t know the rules.

Something was moving on the screen, but the game was an incomprehensible world for Choi Yeon-ha. Especially the AOS [Arena of Strategy] genre, which was not intuitive and complex.

However, as she shouted with the audience and clapped without knowing anything, she became more and more nervous. Choi Yeon-ha didn’t know that she would get so nervous in a place she came to with a light heart.

“Yu-min is amazing. He’s playing a match in front of so many people. My legs would be shaking, and I wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

“Don’t you act in front of even more people?”

“I only look at the camera. It’s shown in theaters or on TV. It’s a different world.”

Even for an actress like Choi Yeon-ha, this sight was amazing. Kang Jin-ho chuckled lightly and looked at Park Yu-min.

‘Win.’

It’s not wrong to lose.

It’s not like they’re fighting for their lives, and even if they lose this time, they can win next time. Compared to the world Kang Jin-ho was in, this world was a bit softer and gentler.

But that doesn’t mean that the passion within it is lacking.

Because every man fights his best in his own world.

The match begins.

Choi Yeon-ha looked at the screen with earnest eyes.

However, Kang Jin-ho’s gaze was not directed at the screen. His gaze was fixed on Park Yu-min, who was staring intently at the monitor and talking non-stop.

Kang Jin-ho smiled without realizing it.

‘He’s changed a lot.’

Compared to the beginning.

He, Park Yu-min, and everyone else… They’ve all changed so much.

The clumsy Park Yu-min had now become a gamer representing South Korea and was receiving cheers. The sound of the cheers shouting Park Yu-min’s name was so loud that it was deafening, regardless of the match’s content.

“Jin-ho, I…”

The old image of Park Yu-min, who couldn’t make eye contact and spoke weakly while looking at his feet, made him laugh.

Who could imagine such a 모습 [moseup – appearance] from the current Park Yu-min?

Park Yu-min had changed.

But it wasn’t because Park Yu-min was strong.

Everyone is strong. Anyone can become strong. It’s just that they haven’t confirmed their potential, so they live in submission to reality.

Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t believe that he could live in a brighter place.

Jang Min didn’t have the confidence that he could lead the cult and just waited.

Bator didn’t know that there was another world besides fighting strong opponents, and Bang Jin-hoon didn’t have the hope that he could become stronger in terms of power.

They just realized it.

That they could go further.

Kang Jin-ho was the same.

‘I wanted to live an ordinary life.’

But he thought it was a dream. He always longed to be ordinary. But conversely, that was a desire he could have because he knew he wasn’t ordinary.

But now?

‘It was meaningless.’

The stereotype that Kang Jin-ho had was simple.

He couldn’t be happy unless he was ordinary.

When he lived as the Heavenly Demon Lord, he was the most extraordinary person in the Central Plains. Therefore, he was not allowed to have small happiness. In order to regain the happiness that he had in the past, which was like a fantasy, he thought he had to become ordinary.

But not anymore.

Why?

‘Because I’m happy now.’

Busy and hectic days. Perhaps even more hectic than the days of the past Heavenly Demon Lord.

But there is happiness and joy in this life.

It’s okay not to be ordinary. There are people to talk to, people who provide a place to rest, and people to run towards the same goal with.

That’s enough.

He didn’t know how long these days would last, but if Kang Jin-ho didn’t get lost and wander, the path he would walk would be a little warmer than the path he had walked so far.

[Park Yu-min! Park Yu-min, he’s pushing forward!]

[He’s telling them to give up the throne! Park Yu-min is on fire today! He’s a monster, a monster! Who can stop that monster!]

[It has meaning! This has meaning! A gamer who has passed his prime cannot recover! He can never find his original form again! Isn’t that the saying in this industry? Park Yu-min is saying it now! I don’t have that! That doesn’t apply to me! I’m the king here too!]

[The king is returning! The king of E-sports is returning! It’s a touching moment!]

[Park Yu-min’s fans must feel like they have the whole world right now! I’m getting emotional too! Park Yu-min is finally regaining the throne. He’s making this year the year of Park Yu-min!]

[As I’m speaking, Park Yu-min! He’s charging towards the enemy’s nexus [core structure in the game]. There’s no one to stop him! They’re all dead!]

[If they revive, they’ll die again! Because he’s a monster! That monster!]

The moment Park Yu-min’s champion broke the enemy’s nexus, a roar that seemed to tear the ears erupted. Everyone in their seats stood up and jumped, chanting Park Yu-min’s name.

Choi Yeon-ha also clasped her hands together and jumped up from her seat.

Confetti flew, and a deafening roar erupted. In that fantastic scene, Park Yu-min was seen running out of the booth. His eyes were full of tears.

Kang Jin-ho smiled at the sight.

‘Congratulations.’

It was a sincere congratulations.

One page of Park Yu-min’s life was turning.

And one page of Kang Jin-ho’s life was also turning.

On the stage full of cheers, Park Yu-min shouted something towards Kang Jin-ho.

Even if he couldn’t hear it, he knew.

“You’re crying.”

Kang Jin-ho’s face was full of smiles.

A joyful day.