Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1430

Kang Jin-ho watched the scene unfolding in front of him with a rather uncomfortable expression.

‘You can’t come in here.’

‘Step back!’

‘Seriously, those crazy bastards.’

A line, like a police line, was being set up on the path to the attraction. And men in black suits were organizing the line, pushing tourists to the left and right.

‘Okay, this way, please.’

Then, Willie Reese greeted Kang Jin-ho and Choi Yeon-ha with a bright smile.

The people who had been waiting in the long line looked at Kang Jin-ho with faces full of dissatisfaction. Kang Jin-ho lowered his head without realizing it, avoiding their gazes.

Choi Yeon-ha had already taken out sunglasses and a mask, covering her face like a criminal.

‘Kang Jin-ho.’

‘…Yes.’

‘I’m so embarrassed, I could die.’

He usually thought they got along well, but at this moment, Kang Jin-ho deeply sympathized with Choi Yeon-ha.

‘No, it doesn’t have to be this much!’

They could have just given him a ticket, and he could have found his way in.

After all, this place, like other amusement parks in Korea, had fast passes. If they had just given him a few more fast passes, which were limited per day, there would have been no problem with his visit.

‘Please move aside. Official business.’

‘What official business at an amusement park…’

‘We ask for your cooperation.’

The people in line looked displeased, but eventually moved aside without saying much.

If this were Korea, there would probably be a huge uproar right now, but it seemed that the saying about the strong public authority in the United States was true.

The problem was that while the public authority was strong, people didn’t change.

The people who had been pushed aside glared at Kang Jin-ho and Choi Yeon-ha as if they wanted to eat them alive.

Kang Jin-ho, who was being resented for no reason, lowered his gaze without realizing it.

Since returning to this world, had he ever been this embarrassed?

‘What kind of official business is this…’

‘Arrest them!’

‘Ah, no, I’ll move aside right now.’

Stop it, you crazy bastards!

Kang Jin-ho could only open and close his mouth without doing anything.

Then, Willie Reese, noticing Kang Jin-ho’s expression, apologized with a stiff face.

‘I’m sorry. I should have secured everything in advance, but I couldn’t secure all the rides since I didn’t know which ones you would ride.’

‘…Why are you securing them?’

‘For a pleasant viewing experience, of course.’

Doesn’t it occur to you that you’re making us uncomfortable right now?

Huh?

Do Americans have a different standard of thinking than I do?

‘…You don’t have to do this kind of thing.’

‘Haha, it’s okay. It’s a simple task. Actually, I desperately want to do more for you, but we also have to be mindful of the situation…’

Mindful?

What are you being mindful of?

Is this how people who are being mindful act?

Right now, the people around us are looking at us like we’re aliens.

Is this being mindful?

‘Don’t take pictures! Anyone taking pictures will be taken into custody!’

‘Hey! Put your phone down!’

It’s humiliating.

At this moment, he was even envious of the monkeys in the zoo.

Choi Yeon-ha mumbled in a daze.

‘…It was good until we got on the helicopter.’

It was the best that a helicopter was waiting for them as soon as they arrived at the Grand Canyon, even though they hadn’t made a reservation. The view of the Grand Canyon from the helicopter was truly spectacular.

The rest was good too.

It was also great to switch to another helicopter and fly straight here, passing through the complex city. Even Kang Jin-ho, the great, was slightly moved by their consideration.

‘It would have been nice if it had stopped there.’

Don’t these guys know what moderation is?

It felt like he had praised someone who didn’t know how to have fun for being good at it, and now they were going overboard without knowing the limits.

Doing this in a place with so many people.

‘Maybe we should have rented the whole place at night.’

Don’t do it!

Please!

‘Ah, the path is open. Let’s go in.’

Kang Jin-ho glanced around and casually asked Choi Yeon-ha.

‘What should we do?’

‘It’s more noticeable if we turn back now. Let’s pretend nothing’s wrong and go in quickly. Come on.’

‘…Okay.’

Kang Jin-ho walked inside with the most nonchalant expression he could muster. Gazes, half-filled with dissatisfaction and curiosity, were fixed on Kang Jin-ho and Choi Yeon-ha.

Whenever he noticed people who looked like they were from East Asia, Kang Jin-ho couldn’t help but turn his head away.

‘Amusement parks and I don’t mix well.’

Come to think of it, didn’t a major accident happen when he went to an amusement park before?

Now, this crazy bastard has deployed military forces around him to protect him, so such an accident wouldn’t happen…

‘Is this large-scale, or are they just clueless?’

Or are they just ignorant?

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t understand their way of thinking at all.

‘You look awkward.’

Kang Jin-ho looked at Willie Reese with a sullen gaze.

Then, Willie Reese smiled gently.

‘I feel this every time, but it seems like you are very modest, Lord.’

‘…Modest?’

‘Yes. Compared to your status and power, you tend to humble yourself a lot. Some Middle Eastern power figures who visit the United States demand that the entire amusement park be emptied while their families use it.’

Are they crazy?

I feel like my language is getting rough today.

‘There are really people who make such demands? And they actually listen to them?’

‘Of course, we can’t listen to them. Most of the time, that is. Emptying this place isn’t something that can be done simply with power. This place isn’t owned by the state.’

‘…It’s obvious, but the phrase ‘most of the time’ is bothering me.’

Willie smiled wryly.

‘We have actually emptied it a couple of times. If the profit is big enough, there’s nothing we can do about it, right?’

‘That’s true.’

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

There was no fault in those who did as they were told. The problem was the mental state of those who made such requests.

‘Are there many people who make such requests?’

‘More than you think. And those who don’t make such requests tend to ask for something else extraordinary in other areas.’

Willie Reese smiled knowingly.

‘But that’s only natural.’

‘…Natural?’

‘Yes. Isn’t it the same for you, Lord?’

‘I…’

‘If there’s a sharp sword in its sheath, people want to draw it. Even if they don’t actually swing it at others.’

Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth.

He couldn’t refute that.

That’s how people are.

‘It’s the same with power. Power that isn’t used is as good as not having it. Among those who have that much power, there’s no one who doesn’t know that using power recklessly will tighten their own noose. However, even knowing that, they want to try using it.’

Willie Reese grinned.

‘Who would want a sword that will never be drawn?’

‘…Indeed.’

His analogy made it clear.

People criticize those in power for using it recklessly. But as human beings, it’s not easy to just hold onto the power they have.

People tend to want to use even the smallest amount of power they have.

Considering that, it might be cute that those with the power to move countries are only asking to empty an amusement park.

‘So, that’s why you’re strange, Lord.’

Kang Jin-ho glanced back, and Willie Reese shrugged.

‘You have immense power, but you don’t think about wielding it. To be honest, if you had asked us to empty this place today, we would have emptied it.’

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

‘Not that I would ever ask for such a thing, but you seem to be overestimating me.’

‘Not at all.’

Willie shook his head.

‘Power isn’t always fixed. Those who can fulfill what someone needs gain power. At this moment, you are the most powerful person to us.’

The key was what ‘us’ meant.

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and replied.

‘Is it okay to tell me that? There’s no good in me knowing that I have power, is there?’

‘If it were a temporary relationship, that would be true. But we want to build a lasting and eternal friendship with you. If someone like that doesn’t realize their position and makes a losing deal, it might be beneficial in the short term, but it’s a big loss in the long run.’

Kang Jin-ho looked at Willie Reese with a strange gaze.

‘He’s quite forward-thinking.’

Just listening to his words, it seemed like they really had a great liking for Kang Jin-ho. Of course, since they were the kind of people who did these things, those words couldn’t all be their true feelings, but it was clear that they were trying to make Kang Jin-ho like them.

‘So, are you not going to ride?’

‘I will.’

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly and walked into the building.

‘They’re probably analyzing me even at this moment.’

Just by showing a flustered face earlier, he had given them the information that he didn’t like this kind of approach.

Not that there was any reason to hide it.

‘Interesting.’

Those who had dealt with Kang Jin-ho so far had always tried to suppress him with force.

And even if they pretended to be nice in front of him, most of them had ulterior motives behind his back.

But their approach was a style that Kang Jin-ho was experiencing for the first time.

It was quite fun to experience. Of course, the thoughts Kang Jin-ho was having right now might also be what they intended.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Kang Jin-ho put on a light smile.

Not wielding power, huh….

Willie Reese’s words had accurately pierced one aspect of Kang Jin-ho.

But was it a correct assessment of Kang Jin-ho?

No, it was completely wrong.

Because Kang Jin-ho wasn’t someone who held back to avoid wielding power. Kang Jin-ho had no interest in wielding power itself.

Because he was already addicted to wielding something even greater.

The important power for Kang Jin-ho wasn’t something like authority.

What was important was violence.

The satisfaction that came from having power was nothing compared to the pleasure of becoming stronger.

‘They should know.’

That Kang Jin-ho also possessed the characteristics of a powerful person that Willie Reese had mentioned earlier.

However, while those in power always looked for opportunities to use their power, Kang Jin-ho was simply looking for opportunities to use his strength.

If they understood that fact, there wouldn’t be any problems, but what if they didn’t?

‘They’ll find out.’

How thirsty Kang Jin-ho was to wield his own power.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Ah, I’m coming.’

Kang Jin-ho followed Choi Yeon-ha inside.

For now, he would just enjoy it….

‘What are those things?’

Kang Jin-ho coughed and raised his collar to cover his face.