Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1330

“Something feels off, like we’re lacking energy?”

“What do you mean?”

“Hmm…”

Kong Young-gil raised his hand and stroked his chin. His biceps bulged as if they were about to burst.

“Ugh, that’s disgusting.”

“What’s with this guy’s body? Did you take steroids or something?”

“Steroids, my ass. You guys, this is all natural.”

“He doesn’t look like he has Korean genes, no matter how you look at him.”

Kong Young-gil was naturally large.

That’s how he caught Bator’s eye and became his disciple. The problem was that his already large body had bulked up even more under Bator’s training.

Of course, he couldn’t dare to compare himself to Bator. Bator was a head taller than Kong Young-gil, and his shoulders were so broad that another person could fit between them.

However, it was also true that, excluding Bator, no one in the Assembly was bigger than Kong Young-gil.

“Tell me honestly. You’re Bator’s secret son, aren’t you?”

“Man, you shouldn’t say things like that carelessly.”

“Hmm, was my joke a bit too much? Sorry, Young-gil.”

“It’s not that, but Bator-nim might feel bad. Look at that face. Where does it look like…”

“…Ah, you’re right.”

“You bastards!”

Kong Young-gil snorted. He looked exactly like an angry bear.

“And that guy is talking about energy.”

“It’s not that, you guys!”

Kong Young-gil tried to say something but sighed instead.

“No, really, doesn’t it feel like we’re lacking energy?”

“…It kind of does.”

“It’s strangely draining. It feels like my training isn’t going well either. Come to think of it, we haven’t seen Master much either, have we?”

The master they were talking about was, of course, Bator.

“That’s true.”

Kong Young-gil frowned.

“Is it because the Assembly Head isn’t here? I don’t feel motivated.”

“Hmm, that could be it.”

It was actually a strange thing to say.

It was true that Kang Jin-ho came to the Assembly almost every day, but it wasn’t like he had much interaction with Kong Young-gil and the others. Kang Jin-ho went to the Assembly Head’s office, and they went to the training grounds.

Even if they came to work every day of the week, they might not see each other for even a full day.

But to say that they lacked motivation because Kang Jin-ho wasn’t there was very illogical.

But what could they do?

That’s how they felt.

“Ugh, I need to train…”

Kong Young-gil couldn’t hide his impatience.

“You’re addicted to training.”

“You guys, even while we’re wasting time like this, those Ma-Yeom bastards are gaining real combat experience in Japan.”

At those words, everyone’s faces hardened.

“That’s right, that’s right…”

“Ah, thinking about it makes me angry. Honestly, there’s not much difference between us and those guys now. So why are they the only ones going to the field while we’re stuck here?”

“Well, what can we do? Their performance is different.”

All the martial artists within the Assembly were equal.

No martial artist had any special privileges.

The Assembly was a place where the strong and the weak had equal rights and obligations.

But that didn’t mean there were no differences. The strong being favored was like a law of the martial arts world. Even if others didn’t discriminate, they knew. This world was a place where you would eventually be pushed out if you didn’t get stronger.

In that sense, the ones who were currently leading the way were, without a doubt, the Ma-Yeom.

The special nature of being Kang Jin-ho’s handpicked guard, and the results they had achieved so far.

None of that was something that Kong Young-gil and the others could currently match.

‘It’s also funny to say that our skills are not that different.’

It was not something to say carelessly unless they had actually exchanged blows. After all, skill was always relative.

Due to the nature of demonic martial arts, its power would be greater when facing it than when watching it. Perhaps the Ma-Yeom’s skills were greater than Kong Young-gil and the others thought.

“I wish another war would break out.”

“…Don’t say such unlucky things.”

“Skills improve in real combat.”

“Where did you pick up such strange words and start talking nonsense? You idiot, why would skills improve in real combat? They improve through training.”

“You don’t know anything.”

Kong Young-gil was slightly annoyed.

The reason he was so impatient was because one person wouldn’t leave his mind.

‘Lee Myung-hwan, that bastard is probably getting stronger even now.’

The starting line was the same.

Neither Lee Myung-hwan nor Kong Young-gil were particularly outstanding martial artists in the Assembly. To be blunt, they were in a slightly lagging position. They had only attracted attention because they were good talkers and liked to be in the spotlight.

But what about now?

‘The gap has widened.’

Kong Young-gil had also become stronger. Among Bator’s disciples, Kong Young-gil was the strongest. Compared to his past self, it was a world of difference.

But Lee Myung-hwan had gone much further.

He was the leader of the Ma-Yeom and the closest person to Kang Jin-ho.

While he couldn’t be called a disciple, no one except Lee Myung-hwan could dare to claim to have inherited Kang Jin-ho’s essence.

He didn’t want to admit it, but the one who represented the young martial artists now was not Kong Young-gil, but Lee Myung-hwan. That meant…

‘Lee Myung-hwan is the closest to becoming the next Assembly Head.’

At first, it was a position held by Lee Sung-chan. That position had passed to Chun Tae-hoon, and now it had returned to Lee Myung-hwan.

Unless Kang Jin-ho had a child… No, even if Kang Jin-ho had a child, it didn’t seem like he would pass the Assembly to his child, so even in that situation, Lee Myung-hwan should be seen as the closest to the position of the next Assembly Head.

Kong Young-gil’s face slightly distorted.

It wasn’t jealousy.

He still liked Lee Myung-hwan as a friend. If Lee Myung-hwan was in danger, he would rush to his aid without hesitation.

But that was separate from competition.

He didn’t want to lose.

As a friend, as a martial artist, he refused to be pushed back by a martial artist of the same age. He honestly wanted to climb up and take that position no matter what.

“I should be doing that, but here I am…”

“What?”

“…What would you guys know, you carefree bastards.”

“Wow, the bear is talking. Wow!”

Kong Young-gil scratched his head.

Trying to have a conversation with these guys whose heads were full of muscles made him feel frustrated.

“Hey, come over here for a second.”

“Huh?”

“Come out here.”

“What is it?”

Kong Young-gil looked at the man in front of him with a questioning expression.

Jo Hyung-shik.

Among Bator’s round-faced disciples, he was the only one with a sharp jawline. He smirked and said,

“I’m not trying to pick a fight, so come here. Somewhere the others can’t hear.”

Kong Young-gil followed Jo Hyung-shik to a corner with a suspicious look. Once they were far enough away, Jo Hyung-shik opened his mouth.

“Hey. Take it easy, man.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t act like you’re the only one who’s impatient. Everyone else feels what you’re feeling.”

“Life is long. What’s going to change in just a month or two? This is a battle that will last at least several decades. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

“What happens if a marathon runner starts sprinting right away? They won’t even make it 10km before collapsing on the ground, gasping for an ambulance.”

“That’s true, but…”

“I know you’re impatient, but enduring it is also a skill. Don’t be prickly with those around you and lose their support. Don’t think that the Assembly Head position is something you can get with just force. How many people support you is also important. If you really want to become the Assembly Head, manage your popularity first.”

“No, I’m not trying to become the Assembly Head…”

“It’s written all over your face, you idiot.”

Kong Young-gil scratched his face awkwardly.

Jo Hyung-shik, who had been staring at Kong Young-gil, lowered his voice slightly.

“Well, it’s not like it’s impossible. First of all, the Ma-Yeom guys don’t interact with the others.”

“Don’t act like you’re better than everyone else just because you’re learning from Bator-nim. The moment the others feel the same way about you as you feel about the Ma-Yeom, you’re done.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“Force isn’t everything. Even though this is the Assembly, it’s still a place where people live. Do you think people are only drawn to those who are good at fighting? Don’t overdo it and pace yourself.”

Kong Young-gil slowly nodded his head.

It felt like he had been hit in the chest.

“Training like crazy is meaningless if you get your ass kicked by Lee Myung-hwan.”

“That won’t happen.”

“I hope so too.”

Just as Kong Young-gil was about to say something, someone walked towards them from the front.

“Huh?”

Kong Young-gil straightened his posture as he noticed the approaching person.

“Everyone, gather around.”

“Yes.”

Jang Da-jing.

Jang Da-jing, Bator’s adjutant, was beckoning them with his hand. Kong Young-gil quickly ran towards Jang Da-jing.

Jang Da-jing was almost not a martial artist, even more so than Lee Hyun-soo, but that didn’t matter. As long as Bator recognized him, Jang Da-jing was Kong Young-gil’s superior.

“Did you call for us?”

“Yes.”

Jang Da-jing smiled gently.

His position was similar to Lee Hyun-soo’s, but Lee Hyun-soo and Jang Da-jing were completely different people. If Lee Hyun-soo was a monster who crushed people with words and power, Jang Da-jing was a reasonable and humane superior.

That’s why everyone liked Jang Da-jing.

“Bator-nim is calling for you. It seems like we need to select some people to go on a business trip.”

“A business trip?”

“Yes. I can’t say the details here, but…”

Jang Da-jing pushed up his glasses.

“There’s a possibility that you might be deployed in real combat. Please select about twenty people who are good at improvisation and have good execution skills.”

Kong Young-gil clenched his fist tightly.

He didn’t know what was going on, but just hearing the words ‘real combat’ made his heart race.

“Understood. I’ll select them quickly and go.”

“Yes. Then.”

Jang Da-jing slightly bowed his head and turned around.

Watching his back, Kong Young-gil’s eyes lit up.

‘It seems like we’re going to China?’

The only places where real combat was likely to occur now were there and Japan. But Japan wouldn’t need additional manpower.

“Twenty! First come, first served!”

“Hey, you crazy bastard! He said to select them!”

“It’s okay! It’s okay! I’m going! What’s the problem when I’m here! First come, first served!”

“That crazy bastard!”

Even while saying that, everyone ran towards Kong Young-gil at full speed.

“What a mess.”

Jo Hyung-shik sighed and said,

“I’ll make the list.”

“Who do you think you are, you bastard!”

“Or do you want to do it?”

The ones who were complaining became quiet.

In fact, it wasn’t easy to create a list that would satisfy these muscle-headed guys. If they made a list carelessly, there was a high chance that they would have to have a heated conversation with their bodies.

“Kong Young-gil and I will discuss it and decide, so don’t complain and do as we say, you bear bastards.”

As Jo Hyung-shik walked away with Kong Young-gil, the ones who were left behind tilted their heads.

“But why is that guy suddenly acting like he’s our superior?”

“How would I know?”

Jo Hyung-shik had subtly established a hierarchy.