Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1235

[Are you saying those thugs are going around doing that kind of thing?]

“Yes.”

[Did you get their personal information?]

“I did, but why?”

[We need to take care of them.]

Lee Hyun-soo’s voice was sharp. He sounded quite agitated.

[The Guild Leader probably handled it well enough, but we can’t just let it end there. Dealing with those kinds of guys isn’t something you can solve with just a beating.]

“Then what?”

[We need to call their boss. The best way to deal with a problem is to go up the chain. When dealing with local thugs, you call their gang leader, give him a dressing down, and slap him around a few times. The next day, they won’t even be able to walk.]

“They probably can’t walk already, though?”

[That’s not enough. Seriously, do those crazy bastards have nothing better to do than pick fights with our people?]

Kang Jin-ho nodded. This was something that shouldn’t have happened.

“We were a bit complacent.”

[That’s definitely true. I never even considered that this kind of problem could arise. We need to identify and protect those who are starting businesses or getting jobs outside. Honestly, even I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t use my inner energy [a martial art concept referring to internal power] if some thugs picked a fight with me.]

“That’s because you can’t win without using your inner energy.”

[That’s not the point right now!]

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“Anyway, I’ll text you the IDs. Check them and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

[Yes, Guild Leader. I’ll manage things so that this never happens again. I’m sorry.]

“It’s okay. Anyway, got it.”

[Yes.]

Kang Jin-ho hung up and glanced into the alley. He had roughed them up a bit, but they were tough guys, so they should be fine.

What if they weren’t?

Well, there was nothing he could do. He had already beaten them up.

Kang Jin-ho shrugged and started walking again.

After walking for a while, Kang Jin-ho arrived at the cafe, opened the door, and went inside.

“Welcome, Guild Leader!”

Sung Joo-chan came out from behind the counter, looking delighted.

“That?”

“Sorry. I accidentally spilled it on the way, so I think I have to throw this away.”

“Ah… I’m sorry, Guild Leader. It’s all because of me.”

“No, it was my mistake. I must have been out of it. I usually don’t do things like that.”

Kang Jin-ho tossed the bag of coffee beans into the trash without a second thought.

“You don’t have to bring me coffee beans every time. This isn’t cheap, and I feel bad if you keep giving them to me.”

“Hmm…”

“Instead, why don’t you just order the beans?”

“Huh?”

Sung Joo-chan smiled and said,

“Right now, there are a lot of people who want to open cafes among those who have left the guild. Why don’t you just have them order from you? Then you can just send it by delivery.”

“Hmm, that might be a good idea…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded as he sat down.

If it worked out well, it could be a win-win situation. His father was very proud of making high-quality coffee beans, and those opening cafes could get a good supply of beans.

However, if the number of cafes increased, there would be the problem of whether his father could handle making that many beans.

“I’ll talk to him about it.”

“Yes. That would be better. So please don’t bring this next time. It’s already an honor for me to go and pay for it, but if you keep coming like this, I’ll feel too bad…”

Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth indifferently.

“Then make good coffee.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Sung Joo-chan scratched his cheek.

In the early days of the cafe, business was terrible. Even the regulars who used to visit the store would frown if the coffee tasted different. Then, out of the blue, Kang Jin-ho came to the store, ordered a coffee, took a sip, and then got up and left.

‘I wondered why he was angry…’

Kang Jin-ho returned with a large bag, and the bag contained coffee beans roasted by Kang Jin-ho’s father.

“If you don’t have the skill, at least the ingredients should be good.”

It was a harsh statement, but it wasn’t wrong. Thanks to that, the customers’ reviews improved, and sales started to rise again.

“Are there any other problems?”

“Everything’s fine, Guild Leader. I don’t know why you’re so concerned about me…”

Sung Joo-chan glanced at Kang Jin-ho with an embarrassed look.

When they were in the Guild, Kang Jin-ho was someone he couldn’t even dare to make eye contact with. But since leaving the Guild, he seemed to see Kang Jin-ho more often.

‘I’m just a dropout…’

He never imagined that Kang Jin-ho would care about him after he left the Guild.

Kang Jin-ho had no reason to do that.

Kang Jin-ho was busy leading those who remained. If Sung Joo-chan were in Kang Jin-ho’s position, he would never have been able to care about those who had left.

Well…

That’s why Kang Jin-ho was the Guild Leader, and Sung Joo-chan was just an ordinary member.

“I can handle things well now, Guild Leader. You’re very busy, so I’d be too burdened if you keep coming here like this.”

“Handle things well?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not that easy.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

The martial artists tended to think too lightly about living in society. In the first place, the training of a martial artist easily surpasses the efforts that ordinary people put into their lives. They think that those who have made such efforts can live anywhere.

At first glance, that’s true.

However, what they miss is that society is not a world where effort equals ability and is rewarded, like the world of martial artists. Just because you try hard doesn’t mean you’ll succeed.

What is often needed to succeed in society is not effort but a good sense of timing and wit. And martial artists are hopelessly lacking in this sense.

To put it simply, if Bang Jin-hoon and Lee Hyun-soo were to start a business, who would be more successful?

Lee Hyun-soo is hopeless as a martial artist, but if he were released into society, he would go wild like a madman. Neither Wiggins nor Bartor could dare to compete with Lee Hyun-soo.

Martial artists generally lacked this kind of smartness.

“Are there any others who are starting something?”

“Everyone is preparing…”

Sung Joo-chan scratched his head.

“In my case, I got a barista license in advance, so I didn’t even think about looking for anything else. That’s why I was able to start a bit faster. But in the case of the others, they didn’t really think about what to do in society, so it seems like there’s a bit of a problem.”

“…”

“Well, they’ll start something soon.”

“What about those who are getting jobs?”

“There are almost none. Actually, we don’t have any academic background, we’re not used to organizational life, and we’re also a bit older, so companies don’t really accept us. So, most of them are trying to start their own businesses with the money they’ve saved up.”

“Hmm…”

“But the franchise fees are so high that they can’t easily start.”

“I guess so.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

“Half of them are living like semi-unemployed, and the other half are running around trying to do something.”

Kang Jin-ho looked out the window with a slightly troubled look.

‘This is a problem.’

It’s not easy for these people to adapt to society. But if they jump into the business world right away, there will inevitably be various troubles.

Moreover, if those who have little to no concept of economics start their own businesses, the outcome is all too obvious. Even Sung Joo-chan would have gone bankrupt in no time if Kang Jin-ho hadn’t taken care of him.

“There are some crazy ones, and there are some amazing ones.”

“Amazing?”

“Yes. They say that all they have from the Guild is a great body, so they’re going to open a fitness center. They say that if they work out shirtless, people will have no choice but to sign up for three months.”

“And some others are going to open a mixed martial arts gym, using their aptitude.”

“…Teaching martial arts?”

“Oh, no way. They’d get beaten to death. They’re just going to teach some basic techniques and how to fight. They say that if they spar to the death and beat each other up, they’ll get stronger.”

“They’re going to fail.”

“Probably?”

Kang Jin-ho sighed deeply.

From the perspective of using their strengths, they could get a passing grade, but their direction is very wrong.

“Okay, I understand.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Then he stared at Sung Joo-chan.

“I need to test you.”

“…Again today?”

“Of course?”

Sung Joo-chan got up from his seat with a very nervous look. Then he went into the kitchen and started making coffee.

Sweat was beading on his forehead.

Sung Joo-chan carefully brewed a cup of Americano, put the cup on a tray with trembling hands, and returned to Kang Jin-ho.

“Here you go.”

Kang Jin-ho picked up the cup and brought it to his lips.

The aroma of the coffee was quite good.

Kang Jin-ho took a light sip and nodded.

“It’s gotten much better.”

“Wow, does that mean I passed?”

Kang Jin-ho glanced at the kitchen.

There is a limit to the taste of coffee made with a coffee machine. But making coffee by hand is not recommended either. There is a limit to the turnover rate.

This is coffee that is worth paying for.

“It’s good enough. When you get a part-timer, teach them well.”

“Yes, Guild Leader. I’ll do my best.”

“I’ll bring the beans tomorrow.”

“No, you don’t have to. Just tell me the address. I’ll go.”

“Hmm, okay. Let’s do that then.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and opened his mouth.

“Oh, and…”

“Yes.”

“I think I’ll have to come to the Guild once in the near future. There’s something I want to do.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

Sung Joo-chan nodded blankly.

He didn’t know what he could do at the Guild, but he had to go since Kang Jin-ho was calling him.

“Okay. Then I’ll be going.”

“Yes, Guild Leader! Please be careful!” Sung Joo-chan bowed ninety degrees. Kang Jin-ho, who was about to open the door, stopped in his tracks and opened his mouth without looking back.

“And earlier…”

“…Yes?”

“You held back well.”

“That won’t happen again.”

Kang Jin-ho opened the door and went outside. Sung Joo-chan couldn’t take his eyes off Kang Jin-ho’s back until he completely disappeared from view.

“Geez, how sentimental.”

His eyes were getting red for no reason.

It wasn’t because Kang Jin-ho was watching him. It was because even though he had left the Guild, the Guild Leader was still taking care of him like family.

When he left the Guild, he thought he would never see the people from the Guild again, and he felt foolish for thinking that.

‘I need to work hard.’

Their paths had diverged, but that didn’t mean their relationship was over. There were many ways to help the Guild even while living in the outside world.

That was the only way he could repay even a little of the favor he had received from the Guild and Kang Jin-ho.

Clang.

As the door opened and a customer came in, Sung Joo-chan wiped his eyes and shouted with a bright face.

“Welcome!”