Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1303

Seong Ju-chan stared blankly around the cafe.

The cafe, which was usually hard to even get into, was now packed to the brim.

Even those who couldn’t find a seat were crammed between the tables, and some were even squatting on the floor as if they couldn’t be bothered to stand.

“Hey! Aren’t you going to give us coffee here?”

“If a customer comes, you should bring coffee! You’re slacking off!”

“That’s why your business isn’t doing well!”

You bastards are like enemies.

Seong Ju-chan, with veins popping on his forehead, shouted.

“You have to order to get coffee!”

“Order my ass! A colleague came, so isn’t it polite to offer a cup of coffee? When did the Land of Courtesy [a reference to Korea’s historical reputation for politeness] become so heartless!”

“I’ll have a caramel macchiato, no whipped cream.”

“I’ll have an iced Americano, hot!”

What the hell, you crazy bastard! How can an iced drink be hot?

“Hurry up and make the coffee, you punk! I can see your hands moving!”

“That bastard is slacking off!”

“Love your colleagues, love your country, man!” Seong Ju-chan smiled contentedly.

‘I wish they would all die.’

Can’t a meteor just fall?

“But why did you tell us to gather here?”

‘That’s what I’m saying!’

Seong Ju-chan clutched his head.

It could have been nice to meet his seniors, juniors, and colleagues after a long time. If only the meeting place wasn’t his cafe.

“I don’t know the reason, but the Guild Leader told us to gather, so we have to.”

“Hey, but we’re not part of the Assembly anymore. Do we still have to gather if the Guild Leader tells us to?”

“Then go if you want.”

“Are you crazy?”

“…What kind of bastard is this?” The atmosphere wasn’t too bad.

In fact, the atmosphere at such gatherings can’t be bad. Even if former soldiers who have escaped the hell of injustice gather, the atmosphere is bound to be friendly.

When you think about it, these are people who have endured more injustice and training than the military. Naturally, they are bound to be close. Even those who weren’t on good terms with each other when they were in the Assembly were now laughing and chatting.

But there was one thing…

“So, is life treating you well?”

Someone’s tactless remark instantly cooled the atmosphere.

‘I’d rather you guys just make noise, you crazy bastards.’

Seong Ju-chan’s heart was turning black.

What are they doing, occupying a cafe that’s open for business and creating a funeral home atmosphere? Of course, the place was so full that other customers couldn’t come in, but seeing the customers outside glance at the atmosphere inside and turn away made his stomach churn.

“…I wish life was treating me well.”

“It’s not easy.”

Sighs that sounded like the earth was collapsing came from all over.

“Why are you sighing in someone else’s store! You’ll bring bad luck!”

He shouted, and all heads turned to Seong Ju-chan.

“Come to think of it, that bastard is a decent cafe owner.”

“Yeah. Look at him wearing an apron. He looks like a mountain bandit.”

“He’s so cute. I want to bite him to death.”

“Cafe owner or not, one stab with a spear…”

Seong Ju-chan desperately lowered his head.

Seong Ju-chan wasn’t originally someone with a strong backbone, but even the toughest person would shut their mouth and become polite if they saw those murderous eyes.

“Does that bastard not understand the atmosphere?”

“Maybe he’ll come to his senses if he gets ground up instead of coffee.”

Seong Ju-chan quietly started making coffee. He had learned from experience that the way to calm a ferocious beast is to give it food.

“…I should have gotten a barista license in advance.”

“People would never pay for the coffee you make.”

“Why? I’m pretty good with my hands.”

“It’s a pity. If that talent had gone to your face instead of your hands, maybe a few people would have bought it.”

“…Come out here, you bastard.”

“Don’t. I don’t even have the strength to fight.”

“That’s true.”

Another sigh followed.

Seong Ju-chan opened his mouth with a strange expression.

“Is it that hard?”

“The owner wouldn’t know.”

“You dirty capitalist.”

“No, you bastards.”

Seong Ju-chan’s face flushed.

“Did I get paid double? We all left with the same amount of money, so why are you talking nonsense!”

Everyone stared at Seong Ju-chan with blank eyes.

“What’s the point of having money if there’s nowhere to spend it?”

“Even if we try to work, no one hires us… They did like me at the construction site. They said I was fast and good at my job.”

“Then go work there.”

“The company went bankrupt. They say the economy is a mess.”

A brief silence fell.

“So what are you doing these days?”

“Just playing at home.”

“I’ve been going to the arcade.”

“I’ve been going to the labor market, but it’s not fun. The only thing I got out of it was getting close to the Chinese Koreans there…”

Seong Ju-chan shuddered.

If he hadn’t gotten his barista license in advance and taken over his senior’s store, he would have ended up like them.

‘No, these hopeless bastards.’

He wanted to say something, but he didn’t have anything to say.

He knew that they didn’t end up like this by their own choice. In fact, the Assembly’s welfare was on par with any major corporation. In the past, it was run haphazardly, but since Kang Jin-ho came, they were second to none when it came to welfare.

Moreover, everyone was aware that their treatment was getting better day by day, so who would leave just because they didn’t like it?

Dropouts.

This was the only word that could best describe those gathered here.

“Why don’t you try to get a decent job?”

“Man, I have nothing to write on my resume!”

“You graduated high school, didn’t you?”

“…Have you ever seen your high school record?”

“No.”

“Take a look sometime. It’s going to be terrible. I was shocked when I saw it myself.”

“Why? Is there something weird written on it?”

“No… The teacher tried to make it sound as good as possible, but seeing that this was the best they could do, I felt guilty.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

After all, everyone here had always thought they would live as martial artists in the Assembly since they were young, and they never even considered entering society. What would they have prepared?

“Do you know what I realized after entering society?”

“What?”

“When I was in the Assembly, I was half a cripple, right?”

“And?”

“When I came out into society, I was just a cripple.”

“I want to be a sea anemone in my next life.”

Why are they so depressed?

But the reactions of the others weren’t much different. Seeing so many people acting so miserable made him feel uneasy.

“You must have had some plans, right?”

“You bastard, if things went according to plan, I’d be the president by now!”

“Oh… right.”

“That’s how life is. Plans are always good, but life never goes as planned!”

It seems like things went a little too wrong, though.

But it’s not wrong.

“These days, I really want to go back to the Assembly. Those were the good old days.”

“Me too. I thought I could do anything if I didn’t have to train, but it was easier when I could just train. I didn’t have to worry about anything else.”

“The salary came on time, there were bonuses in between, and there was a dormitory.”

“And the pay wasn’t bad.”

“Ha~ The bastards inside probably don’t know what it’s like out here.”

Seong Ju-chan chuckled.

“Still, you don’t have to fight in a war since you left.”

“Hey, you bastard! Society is a war! This is hell, man! Just because we’re not holding swords and spilling blood doesn’t mean it’s okay? Making a living in society is a real war.”

Seong Ju-chan nodded without realizing it.

While running the cafe, he had also experienced many difficult customers. Providing service to them and worrying about monthly sales was no better than the burden he felt inside the Assembly.

If he was in this situation, how much worse would it be for the others?

“Enough, my stomach hurts, so go get me a cup of coffee. What are you doing?”

“…You have to pay.”

“Ha, you bastard. So heartless.”

“Do you think I’m digging up the ground to do business! I have to make a living too! No, I’m selling that! Don’t just take the cookies… Hey, you bastard! No cake! That’s really not allowed, man!”

A mess broke out.

Clang.

At that moment, the sound of the door opening was heard, and two people walked in.

The cafe became quiet at once.

Lee Hyun-soo, who was in front, began to twitch his eyes.

He slowly opened his mouth.

“You guys are really.”

“Making a ruckus.”

Instantly, a space was created in the front.

As soon as Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo occupied the front table, warm coffee, cookies, and cakes were quickly served, but no one complained about it.

No, even if they had complaints, they wouldn’t be able to open their mouths if they saw Lee Hyun-soo’s veins popping on his forehead.

“No, these bastards are slacking off.”

“You knew the Guild Leader was coming, so why did you make this place like a market? Are you elementary school students waiting for your teacher to come?”

It was quiet.

Everyone had their heads down and their mouths shut.

“Hey, Choi Sang-gil.”

“Yes!”

“You, you bastard. You’re still one of the older ones here, so you should have at least told them to be quiet! Seong Ju-chan, you too.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Does it end with ‘I’m sorry’? Why? Try calling me ‘hyung’ [older brother or senior] ?”

“But, Chief.”

“What?”

“I’m older than the Guild Leader.”

Lee Hyun-soo slowly got up from his seat.

“Come out here.”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant! I’m just saying that’s the truth, the truth.”

“Do you know why adults with big heads have short lives?”

“…I don’t know.”

“It’s because they only say what’s right. I’ll tell you why, so… come out here, you bastard!”

“P-Please calm down.”

Lee Hyun-soo covered his face with both hands.

Ah, if he could, he would like to wipe them all out. He had to do business with these guys.

“Sit down. From now on, don’t make a peep. Before I pour a double shot of boiling hot Americano down your throat.”

The atmosphere was settled.

Lee Hyun-soo sighed and opened his mouth.

“That’s why you guys can’t become human, you bastards! You have to live like humans, like humans! Whether it’s the Assembly or society, you have to act like humans to be treated like humans!”

The nagging continued.

“It’s not like someone else called you, if the Guild Leader called you, you should know that the Guild Leader will be coming soon, but you’re still acting like this? Don’t you guys have any sense? People should have basic sense…”

“Stop it.”

“What do you mean stop, you… Guild Leader?” Lee Hyun-soo was horrified and turned his head. He was too caught up in the moment to recognize Kang Jin-ho’s voice.

“Guild Leader, that’s not it, I…”

“…Come out for a moment.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho went outside without saying anything.

Lee Hyun-soo looked back at everyone with teary eyes. But no one made eye contact with Lee Hyun-soo.

“Be quiet.”

Lee Hyun-soo walked out like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

Clang.

As soon as the door closed, a sigh escaped from everyone at once.

“Man, hasn’t anything changed over there?” Someone’s words represented the feelings of everyone in the cafe.