Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1400

Kang Jin-ho stared at Choi Yeon-ha for a while without saying anything.

It wasn’t a particularly difficult question to answer. Yet, Kang Jin-ho hesitated because Choi Yeon-ha’s voice carried an emotion he had never heard before.

Fortunately, before he could open his mouth, Choi Yeon-ha spoke first.

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not like I have any particular complaints about the current Kang Jin-ho. It’s just that you act like an international mafia, and the fact that the country is trying to catch you is a bit concerning.”

‘A bit’ concerning? It sounds like a lot.

No, in the first place, that assessment is very strange. It feels like something is off, but when you think about it, there’s nothing really wrong with what she said.

“Because that’s who Kang Jin-ho is.”

Choi Yeon-ha sighed softly and spoke.

“Honestly, it’s not like I’m so great that I can tell other people what to do. It’s more appropriate for me to fix my own personality with that mindset.”

“But, Jin-ho.”

Choi Yeon-ha quietly looked at Kang Jin-ho and said,

“Since I first met you, Jin-ho, there have been many incidents. I’ve been buried, met strange guys overseas, and then there’s this incident.”

“…That’s right.”

Come to think of it, Choi Yeon-ha has suffered a lot because of Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho was newly aware of that fact.

“But… I realized something while thinking about it this time. The things happening around you, Jin-ho, are getting bigger and bigger. And more dangerous.”

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes slightly.

She was right.

“I don’t want to judge whether what you’re doing is right or wrong. That’s something I have to accept. But to me, it seems like you’re becoming less and less able to handle what you’re doing.”

“That’s…”

“You were imprisoned.”

“I know, I know that this won’t happen again. But even if it’s not this, similar things will keep happening. You might have a big accident, or you might even die. Can you guarantee that such things won’t keep happening?”

He couldn’t guarantee it.

Because it would definitely happen.

Now, even if Kang Jin-ho tried to stop, the world wouldn’t just leave him alone.

“Jin-ho, I… I get scared sometimes.”

“I…”

“I’m scared that you might disappear one day, that you might die.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed softly.

“That won’t…”

“…happen?”

“Really won’t happen?”

He couldn’t answer.

Kang Jin-ho knew it too. His life was like a precarious tightrope walk that could collapse at any moment.

He had just slipped once and managed to get back up, but someday, something truly irreversible might happen. There was only one way to resolve this situation.

Either grit his teeth and go all the way, or lie down here and wait for rescue.

Kang Jin-ho’s choice was always the first one, always.

“I’m not trying to push you. I’m not saying we should break up if you don’t stop.”

“I know.”

“It’s just… well, I just thought I had to talk about it. It looks too dangerous.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded.

“The reason you’re doing well now isn’t because you’re living a dangerous life. You can be happy even if you just let it go. You have family, friends, and me. It’s not too late now. Can’t you just let it all go and live a normal life?”

Something…

His chest felt a little sore.

It wasn’t because Choi Yeon-ha was sad, but because the word ‘normal’ that Choi Yeon-ha was saying resonated so deeply.

That was the word Kang Jin-ho had been trying to grasp ever since he returned to this world.

A normal life.

A life no different from others.

He wanted to have that life.

But hearing those words from Choi Yeon-ha, he realized anew how far Kang Jin-ho was from a normal life.

‘Normal, huh…’

At first, he fought to live a normal life.

Because he had learned that the world was not so easy and always tried to destroy his life. Those who do not fight cannot protect. So he fought and shed blood.

But at some point, the thought of a normal life disappeared from his mind. Because he knew he couldn’t do that anymore.

“Jin-ho, can I say one more thing?”

“It’s okay. As much as you want.”

“This might be a bit presumptuous…”

Choi Yeon-ha seemed to hesitate for a moment before opening her mouth.

“In this world…”

“Yes.”

“There’s nothing that only you can do.”

Choi Yeon-ha sighed.

“A busybody isn’t someone who wants to help others, but someone who thinks they have to do it. They think everything will collapse if they’re not there.”

“But the world isn’t like that. It finds a way to keep going even without you. It’s just that they don’t think that way.”

It was an undeniable statement.

But it was a bit uncomfortable to admit it all.

“There will be losses. Because people like you are rare. But it’s not like everything will collapse just because things get a little worse.”

“I know.”

“So…”

Choi Yeon-ha bit her lip and said,

“I wish you would think about it at least once. Whether you are truly living your own life right now, and whether you will really be happy living like this. I don’t want to imagine you being gone from my life anymore. But I’m scared that it might happen someday, regardless of your will.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded.

Then, he raised his head and looked at Choi Yeon-ha.

“I don’t know where to start explaining…”

Because it wasn’t well organized.

But first, he had to say this.

“I was thinking that the situation was getting out of hand.”

Kang Jin-ho’s voice lowered slightly.

This was Kang Jin-ho’s true feeling that he had not told anyone.

“From some point on, even if I didn’t do anything, bigger things started to happen.”

He fought Hong Wang, waged war with Japan, and now he was fighting the government.

The enemies he had to face were getting stronger every day. Even though Kang Jin-ho hadn’t done anything in particular.

And the enemies Kang Jin-ho had to face would become even stronger in the future. Someday, he would have to settle things with Hong Wang, and the Three Kings would not just watch Kang Jin-ho.

It was already a fait accompli [an accomplished fact; something that is already done and cannot be changed].

Even if Kang Jin-ho tried to stop, they wouldn’t stop. Because they wouldn’t allow Kang Jin-ho to exist in this world. To fight against them, Kang Jin-ho and the General Assembly had no choice but to keep getting stronger.

Endless struggle and endless fighting.

He wasn’t afraid.

What Kang Jin-ho feared was not his own death. It was that all the people who had a connection with him would be left behind without him after he died.

Choi Yeon-ha, his family, his friends, and his colleagues in the General Assembly.

They would be left behind without him.

That was the only thing Kang Jin-ho feared. The things he couldn’t handle would eventually come back to his people, not him.

“It’s not like I haven’t thought about it.”

“What kind of thoughts?”

“Whether I could let go of everything and just return to a normal life, as you said.”

“Apart from whether it’s realistically possible, I’ve thought about whether I would be a little better if I could.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled slightly.

“But I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because they’re not separate.”

Kang Jin-ho said calmly.

“It might have been possible in the past. But not now. At first, that was enough. I was happy just living happily with my family. But now…”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Choi Yeon-ha with warm eyes and said,

“Who should I let go of and who should I not let go of to be happy?”

“If I didn’t see the children at the orphanage anymore, I might have a little more time and be more comfortable. But could I do that? What about my friends? What about my colleagues in the General Assembly?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“They’re not separate. In the past, my family was enough. But that wasn’t because my family was the most important, but because the only people I cherished were my family.”

“Not anymore?”

“No.”

He could answer that with certainty.

“Now there are many. My family is important. But my friends are important, and the children at the orphanage are important. And although they’re a bit of a headache, the people in the General Assembly are important too. And…”

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze settled on Choi Yeon-ha.

“You are precious too, Choi Yeon-ha.”

“Ugh, so cheesy.”

“Okay, I got it. I won’t make any more jokes. Keep going.”

“I don’t really have anything else to say…”

Kang Jin-ho hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“It’s because I can’t decide. As you said, if I let go of what I should let go of, I might be a little more comfortable. But I don’t know what I should let go of and what I should protect.”

“So you’re going to carry it all?”

“It’s not easy, but…”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“It’s more comfortable for me than letting go halfway.”

“…I don’t know if I should call you stupid or greedy.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled faintly.

Both were undeniable.

“Really…”

Choi Yeon-ha hesitated as if she was about to say something, then sighed deeply.

“You’re so like you, Jin-ho.”

“It’s strange how people are sometimes. I didn’t want you to answer that way, but I also think I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t answered that way… I used to hate women who were so ambiguous, but I’m doing the same thing.”

Choi Yeon-ha nodded, looking a little relieved.

“Okay. I won’t talk about this anymore. Instead, promise me one thing.”

“What…?”

“Don’t die.”

Kang Jin-ho blinked, looking dumbfounded.

“It’s okay if you cause trouble. It’s okay if you get locked up in jail, or even in a space station. But don’t go somewhere and die. Can you promise me that?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled and nodded.

“I will.”

“Don’t smile, I’m getting attached. I’m honestly a little angry right now.”

“Maybe you’ll feel better if we eat something delicious.”

“You’re hilarious!”

Choi Yeon-ha turned her body and started walking towards the car.

“Let’s go together.”

Choi Yeon-ha, who completely ignored Kang Jin-ho’s words from behind, glanced back at the red sunset.

‘Anyway, he’s a consistent person.’

That’s why Kang Jin-ho is good, though.

Choi Yeon-ha didn’t expect that Kang Jin-ho would change his mind overnight just because she said these things. But at least she wanted Kang Jin-ho to know.

That what the people who were eager to do something for him wanted was not something from him, but just his happiness.

Choi Yeon-ha, seeing Kang Jin-ho smiling next to her, poked him in the side with her elbow.

“At least pretend it hurts!”

“Ouch.”

“Ugh, really!”

Choi Yeon-ha, pulling Kang Jin-ho’s arm and linking it with hers, smiled without realizing it.

‘This is enough for now.’

For now, that is.