Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1539

“The speed at which we’re gaining new Plus Friends is incredible!” Lee Hyun-joo wore a delighted smile. This single event wouldn’t dramatically boost sales, but it would certainly help raise awareness of Cafe Ruogo. They had been featured in the news a few times, but that only helped people remember the name. What was important was the image Ruogo projected. “It might be a good idea to increase the prizes a bit.” “Since we’ve already made back the advertising costs, right?” “Exactly.” Hwang Min-soo smiled contentedly. ‘Good thing it’s working so well.’ This was Hwang Min-soo’s idea. He had seen other companies using celebrity faces to create emoticons for promotions and thought, ‘That guy’s uglier than our chairman, and he’s getting paid to advertise.’ That’s how it started. That’s right. MK had a model they could use for free, unlike others who had to pay. And not just any model, but a top-tier one who wouldn’t even work for money. As a businessman, he couldn’t pass up such an opportunity. And as expected, the response was great. ‘Not yet.’ Awareness was still lacking, so not many people wanted the emoticons yet. Hwang Min-soo’s plan wasn’t just this. Tomorrow, when the press releases went out and the news spread that Choi Yeon-ha’s boyfriend’s face, which had been hidden, was now available as an emoticon, everyone would have to register as a Plus Friend out of curiosity. “Heh heh heh heh heh, this coffee-drinking one is really well done.” “We put the most effort into that one.” “Kuh, the boss is buying! I like the title too.” “Isn’t it ‘Chairman’?” “It doesn’t resonate, it doesn’t resonate! ‘Boss’ is perfect.” Hwang Min-soo chuckled. What did actual titles matter? What was important was how well it rolled off the tongue. “Boss, I’m checking the chatroom…” “Oh, really?” “The number of customers has increased significantly.” “Already?” “Surprisingly, this ad is having a sales boost effect. Instead of just recouping the ad costs with the image, we might even be able to recoup them with sales.” “Good, very good.” Hwang Min-soo wore a pleased smile. ‘If only every day could be like today.’ The best news for anyone in business is that sales are doing well. With the business sailing smoothly, his mind felt at ease. “Hahaha, I feel like I can forgive almost anything.” “Really?” “That’s how relaxed I am.” “Then, I’m the one who scratched your car last time, boss.” “Hey, you!” Hwang Min-soo yelled. “I’m already broke!” “You make a lot of money.” “It’s been months! How can I fix it with that when I’m still in debt? I’m still living off cup noodles!” “Oh, really?” The response came from elsewhere. The door slowly opened. And then…. Gulp. Kang Jin-ho, with a ghostly expression, stood at the door. “C-Chairman! You’ve arrived?” “Oh, I forgot I had some paperwork to do.” “I had to finish the sales report from yesterday.” “……Everyone, sit down?” “Sit down.” Everyone quietly sat on the sofa. Kang Jin-ho glared at them all as he walked inside. Hwang Min-soo quickly got up from the head seat and moved to the side. Thud. Kang Jin-ho sat down and reached out his hand. Lee Hyun-soo, who had come with him, quickly took out a cigarette and placed it in Kang Jin-ho’s hand. Click. Kang Jin-ho lit the cigarette and slowly exhaled smoke. “……Is your salary not enough?” “No, Chairman! I am satisfied with my salary!” “Really?” Kang Jin-ho glared. “Then why did you do this?” “Have sales increased?” “Yes… uh… they say the store is packed right now. It seems to be quite effective!” “Really? Then should I give you a bonus?” “……No, it’s okay.” Instead, please spare my life. I have a wife and children at home. No one could meet Kang Jin-ho’s eyes. Even Lee Hyun-joo had turned her head away, pretending to be oblivious, as if she had done nothing wrong. “They turned out well.” “Right?” “They turned out so well that I want to throw away my phone.” Am I really going to die? Are we all really going to get crushed? “Sales are good, sales are good. Making money is a good thing.” “Hahaha… that’s right. It’s all for the greater good…” “But…” “We already have plenty of money!” Kang Jin-ho’s hand, gripping his phone, trembled. “I want to know what you were thinking when you did this. Who started it?” “Huh?” They need to feel it. The great disaster of everyone in Kang Jin-ho’s short network using his face! I’ll make sure they feel what it’s like to experience that disaster! I’ll definitely make them feel it. As Kang Jin-ho gritted his teeth, cold sweat dripped from Hwang Min-soo’s forehead. “Haha… Chairman, it was just… uh, like a joke…” At that moment. Bzzzzzz. Kang Jin-ho’s phone vibrated. In front of everyone, Kang Jin-ho unlocked his phone and opened the chat window. – You’re doing all sorts of weird things. – But this is kind of fun. And funny. Hwang Min-soo quietly stared at the name at the top of the chat window. Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo. ……Father. If you still have feelings, say it with words. Why do you have to send a message at this moment, like you’re going to beat your son to death? The emoticons that were appearing one by one in Kang Jin-ho’s chat… it was kind of sad and pitiful…. “Are you proud that your father is using them well?” Now there was no room for excuses. “Now, tell me.” Kang Jin-ho glared and said. “How are you going to resolve this situation, and who is going to take responsibility?” Lee Hyun-joo sighed softly. “Chairman.” “Speak.” “The word ‘responsibility’ doesn’t fit here. This is the result of doing our best to increase the company’s sales.” “Hmm?” “But if someone has to take responsibility, I think it’s right for the boss to do it.” No, that person? Hwang Min-soo’s eyes widened. Were you not on my side? Then the other directors quickly chimed in with their agreement. “Well, ‘responsibility’ is a bit strange. But if someone has to take it…” “Hmm, there was someone who always said that the higher-ups take responsibility…” “That’s right. I’ve heard that often too.” You dirty bastards! How can you push someone into a death trap like this? “Hwang is taking responsibility?” Hwang Min-soo closed his eyes. ‘Please kill me gently.’ There was no way to escape now. All he could do was wait for his neck to be cut. But even when the sky falls, there’s a hole to escape through, and at that moment, a lifeline was lowered to Hwang Min-soo. Bang! The door burst open, and a person walked in. Then, she laughed with a cheerful voice. “Kyahahahahahaha! Who is this! It’s our chat star!” Choi Yeon-ha, who had suddenly barged in, laughed while clutching her stomach. “Agh! This is amazing! Seriously, who made this? Who is it?” Hwang Min-soo reluctantly raised his hand. He had already given up on his life anyway. “……It was my idea.” “Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Wow! I didn’t think so, but you have a great sense, boss. I really couldn’t have imagined it!” “T-Thank you.” Choi Yeon-ha ran to Kang Jin-ho and held out her phone. “Jin-ho, look at this. This one. Isn’t it cute? The way they made it into a two-headed figure is especially clever, don’t you think?” It’s not two-headed, it’s more like I’ve become a fool? “My friends are going crazy over how cute it is!” “……You had friends?” “•…What?” The atmosphere turned cold. Kang Jin-ho, realizing he had made a mistake, quickly made an excuse. “Ah, no, it’s just that I haven’t met anyone…” “I hate introducing my friends one by one.” “Ah, yes. That’s right.” Kang Jin-ho quickly nodded. Now was the time to agree with her. “Anyway, our stylists are going crazy over how cute it is! This is going to be a hit, right?” “Hahaha… well, that’s good, then.” Hwang Min-soo said awkwardly, glancing at Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho, who had been full of anger just a moment ago, now had a slightly resigned look on his face. ‘There really are natural enemies in this world.’ If Choi Yeon-ha says it’s cute, he can’t get angry and say he doesn’t like it. I’m alive! “Are you not going to make more of these?” “Huh?” “I want to do this too?” “Ah, should we try to make one for the director too?” “No, no. Instead of just me, it would be better if Jin-ho and I came out together. Both of us!” Kang Jin-ho’s eyes trembled. Again? He’s going to do this again? This thing again? What is this? A demon? Kang Jin-ho’s face was a mess, but Choi Yeon-ha’s tension didn’t drop. “We filmed the ad together, so it would be okay if the emoticons had a similar concept, right? Hmm, will we get hate for acting lovey-dovey in the ad?” “No.” Lee Hyun-joo quickly took Choi Yeon-ha’s words. “I think it would be fine. Rather than just the chairman, it would be more varied, and the influx would increase.” “Right?” “Yes. We’ve already gone public with our relationship, so there’s nothing to worry about.” “Yes, yes. I think so too.” Choi Yeon-ha turned her head sharply. “What do you think, Jin-ho?” “Is it not good? Is it awkward to go out with me?” “Ah, no. It would be good to go out together.” “Right? Right?” Choi Yeon-ha smiled brightly. Then Kang Jin-ho quietly got up from his seat. “Where are you going?” “I’m just going to the restroom…” Kang Jin-ho walked out of the conference room with a soulless look. Then, Choi Yeon-ha, who had been making a fuss, leaned back on the sofa and crossed her legs. Lee Hyun-soo quietly approached Choi Yeon-ha and whispered. “Thank you.” “Well, we help each other out.” Choi Yeon-ha, with a subtle expression, chuckled. “Anyway, it’s cute. Look at how shy he is.” That? Is that cute? Director? Choi Yeon-ha looked at everyone once and said. “I helped you out once.” “……Did you know about this before coming?” “Director Lee sent me a Kakao message [a popular Korean messaging app]. He asked me to come quickly.” Everyone turned to look at Lee Hyun-soo. Wow! That guy is amazing. He thought of that in the middle of all this. As everyone’s gaze focused on him, Lee Hyun-soo smiled awkwardly. “I was a bit too harsh with my teasing, so I cleaned it up.” “Oh!” Hwang Min-soo nodded repeatedly. “So, the emoticon story was an improvisation?” Choi Yeon-ha shook her head. “No. Please release it.” “And not as a limited-time thing, but as a regular release.” Ah, that wasn’t a joke. “You like this kind of thing.” “No. I don’t use these emoticons much. Of course, Jin-ho’s emoticon is cute, so I like it.” “Then why?” Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes flashed coldly. “If you’re going to release them, please release emoticons of the two of us being lovey-dovey. Later, if, just if, that guy ever meets another woman, I’m going to send her a hundred of them a day.” “Got it?” Yes, ma’am. As you command. As you command.