Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1532

“There’s nothing for you to worry about, Master.”

As Wiggins walked down the corridor, he smiled faintly.

“It’s true that the United States and the General Assembly have formed an alliance, but the United States is different from other places. Their relationship won’t affect the relationship between the General Assembly and the Round Table.”

Wiggins raised his hand slightly and pointed to himself.

“Besides, I’m here at the General Assembly, aren’t I?”

Seeing his playful attitude, the Master frowned.

“I’d rather trust a turtle than trust you.”

“Oh, that’s hurtful.”

The Master narrowed his eyes at Wiggins.

“You’ve been living in Korea for a long time, and it seems your personality has changed a bit. Where did you learn to be so slick?”

“Ah…”

Wiggins touched his cheek, looking awkward.

“It’s hard to control even when I try. I guess I’m picking it up from teaching such a slick guy.”

“Hmm…”

The Master looked at Wiggins with a strange expression.

“Isn’t that your real personality?”

“Surely not?”

“People’s true nature comes out when they are free from oppression. Maybe this is your true nature.”

“Haha…”

“No, that seems more likely. You’ve always been dark inside.”

“Don’t tease me.”

Wiggins became serious, and the Master chuckled softly.

What else could he do when he was told he was teasing even when he was just stating the truth?

The Master subtly changed the subject.

“It’s not that I’m worried about the alliance between the United States and the General Assembly. It’s natural that more places are reaching out as the General Assembly grows stronger day by day.”

“Even so, the Round Table will always be the General Assembly’s most steadfast ally. Isn’t that why I’m here?”

“Hmm.”

“There’s no need to doubt it. The Lord doesn’t treat any alliance like he treats the Round Table.”

“Hmm?”

“If there’s a problem in the United States or somewhere else, would the Lord go directly to the United States? He only comes directly because it’s the Round Table.”

“That’s just flattery.”

“Oh, are you ignoring the Lord’s sincerity right now?”

“That’s why I say you’ve changed a lot. You’re so slick. I feel like punching you.”

“Master, you didn’t use to talk like that either.”

“I was also being suppressed.”

Under the huge system of the Round Table.

‘Knight or Master.’

It was more like a big role-playing game. Each position had its required traits and capabilities, and those who held the positions adapted to what was required of them.

There was no place for humans in that huge system.

Isn’t it ironic?

The system that humans had built over the years was actually oppressing them.

Perhaps the predecessors of the Round Table realized the absolute truth that the most untrustworthy thing in the world is people.

Click.

The Master opened the door and pointed to the table in front.

“Sit down.”

“Okay.”

Wiggins looked around the room.

It wasn’t the office the Master used in the past. It was simply decorated, but…

‘It’s much bigger and grander than before.’

The Master’s power within the Round Table seemed to be reflected even in this place.

“Don’t make that face. I just moved my office to a more central location where I can communicate faster because I have more work to do. This was the only empty space.”

“No. Not really.”

“Not really?”

“Yes. I don’t think it’s a bad change. I’m not the same as I used to be either.”

Being easygoing is good.

But those who lead need the authority that comes with it. Kang Jin-ho’s excessive easygoingness had caused him more than a few headaches.

“If you think so, that makes it easier for me. Coffee, or tea?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to England, so I’d like tea.”

“I’ll make it myself.”

“Thank you.”

The Master brewed two cups of tea and sat across from Wiggins.

“It smells nice.”

“You can have the same thing in Korea, can’t you?”

“Well, I don’t know. It doesn’t taste the same in other places. I don’t know if it’s because of the water or just my mood.”

Wiggins shrugged.

“But it’s not bad. When I drink tea in England, it feels like I’ve come home.”

“How romantic.”

The two shared a soft laugh.

Wiggins, who had been quietly savoring his tea, spoke first.

“How is the Round Table?”

“It’s safe to say that it’s completely settled now.”

“Oh, already?”

“Don’t say it like that. I almost died because of it. I’ve lost 10 pounds.”

“…How did that happen?”

“I almost died. I didn’t know a person could die buried under paperwork.”

The Master joked.

“Not everything can be done just by trying.”

“That’s true too.”

The Master smiled wryly.

“Actually, it’s a bit absurd.”

“What do you mean?”

“The things I’ve been trying to achieve for so long by dedicating myself to the Round Table… once the situation changed, they were easily resolved in less than half a year.”

A sense of weight settled on the Master’s face.

“I understand why those in power eventually become dictators. Gathering people’s opinions, choosing the best option, and implementing it takes too much effort.”

“Manpower, time, effort, and emotional labor.”

“Exactly.”

The Master sighed.

To maintain democratic procedures, one must not be afraid of the cost. That was the principle the Round Table had adhered to until now.

But after experiencing the reorganized Round Table with Kang Jin-ho’s appearance, he couldn’t help but wonder what he had been doing all this time.

“Isn’t that obvious? A great dictator brings much better results than a foolish council.”

“That’s right.”

“Nevertheless, the reason history has rejected dictatorships is that dictatorships eventually become corrupt, and there’s no guarantee that the next dictator will be great. Isn’t it because avoiding the worst outcome of an incompetent dictator is better for progress?”

The Master nodded quietly.

In other words, if a capable dictator uses their power properly, no democratic procedure can match its efficiency.

“You seemed to be a believer in the system in the past?”

“Because I believed in it, I had to see its limitations clearly.”

“And the result was choosing the General Assembly?”

Wiggins smiled wryly.

“Let’s leave the old stories behind.”

“It’s already become an old story.”

The Master nodded.

‘Old stories…’

Thinking about it, it felt so distant.

It seemed that the time after Kang Jin-ho appeared was much longer than the time he had lived before Kang Jin-ho appeared.

‘That means it was that dense.’

So many things that were hard to experience twice in a lifetime had happened in that short amount of time, so it was natural that they would leave a strong impression.

“So, the system has been reorganized.”

“There’s still resistance.”

“Of course. But isn’t that something you have to accept? No matter what system you adopt, there will always be those who reject it.”

“In the past, I tried to embrace them.”

The Master sighed.

“But now that it’s becoming too much for me, I guess I’m getting old.”

Wiggins didn’t particularly disagree with that statement.

But his inner thoughts were completely different.

‘It’s not that you’re getting old, it’s that you’ve become comfortable.’

Why do dictators tighten their grip on the masses more and more?

It’s simple. It’s more comfortable.

Humans are bound to move towards what they feel is more comfortable. No one deliberately chooses discomfort.

Even if going through one more step doesn’t seem like much at first, it inevitably becomes a hassle later on. Dictators eliminate this step and create a system where their every word is immediately implemented.

Just like the Master now.

‘In that sense, the Lord is truly amazing.’

Kang Jin-ho could create such a system right now if he wanted to.

But he doesn’t.

Instead, he strengthens the authority of the directors and looks for ways to keep himself in check. He doesn’t ignore what ordinary members say, and he accepts all the complaints of the directors.

Isn’t that obvious?

‘If that were obvious, dictators wouldn’t exist in the world. Humans wouldn’t have created such a system to prevent the emergence of dictators.’

It’s not that difficult for someone without power to live in accordance with the system. But it’s really difficult for someone with the power to overturn the system to suppress their own power and conform to the system.

But Kang Jin-ho does it without any fuss.

He says it’s because he failed once in his past life, but not everyone who has had the same experience would act like Kang Jin-ho.

On the other hand…

‘Is it because their vessels are different?’

The Master, who had shown strong resistance to this system, had now adapted to the system and was strengthening his own power. The Master’s initial resistance and attempts to maintain the Round Table’s principles were nowhere to be found.

Was it regrettable?

Well…

It might have been regrettable in the past. But now, Wiggins doesn’t react to every change in the Master. He had changed as much as the Master had.

“Thanks to the Lord eliminating those who resisted, things have been easy.”

“Are they still in the underground prison?”

“Yes.”

Wiggins’ eyes flickered slightly.

“That’s unexpected. I thought that given your nature, you would have released them and used them as manpower.”

“It’s not that easy.”

The Master sighed.

“It’s hard to neutralize animosity. If I release them, would they be cooperative with me? They would pretend to cooperate in front of me but would be plotting behind my back. It’s a headache.”

If it were you in the past, you would have said that all of that was part of the process of development.

Wiggins smiled faintly. The Master had become tainted by power.

He says he’s maintaining this position because there’s no one else to take over, but that’s just a repertoire that all dictators who refuse to retire use.

There are always replacements.

Once someone is tainted by power, they tend to think that it can’t be done without them.

“The Lord might visit sometime.”

“Hmm, really? When is he coming?”

The Master’s eyes lit up.

‘He’s cooperative.’

That means he knows that his power comes from Kang Jin-ho.

‘That’s enough.’

Then there will be no betrayal.

The Master will appropriately suppress the Round Table to maintain his position, and he won’t hesitate to provide the power that comes from that suppression to Kang Jin-ho.

It’s a completely different form from Japan, but the result is not that different.

‘The Round Table is perfect now.’

A smile appeared on Wiggins’ lips.

“It won’t be long. If I poke him a couple of times, that is. Maintaining a strong relationship between the Round Table and the General Assembly is the most important thing, isn’t it?”

“Of course, it is.”

The two smiled at each other.

With different intentions.