Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1568

Clang!

Screeeech!

The metal bars opened wide with a grating sound.

Following the guard’s lead, Go Han-bong slowly walked inside.

An unpleasant odor.

The stench of metal, an indescribable scent, and the smell of bleach mixed haphazardly, assaulting his nose.

It wasn’t his first time here, but the smell of this prison always made Go Han-bong uncomfortable. Perhaps his past experience of being imprisoned had left him traumatized.

‘A scar of glory…’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Back then, I thought so. I thought going to prison was a natural thing to do in order to resist, fight, and finally achieve victory.’

‘Well.’

‘What did that memory, that scar, leave for Go Han-bong?’

‘Did he achieve what he sought? With his own hands?’

‘Well.’

‘Well.’

Go Han-bong lightly shook his head, brushing off the lingering remnants of memory that were creeping up. He took a deep breath.

He had to get used to this unpleasant smell that was invading his nostrils.

But even if his nose became numb, the unpleasantness never disappeared. Perhaps it was because the person he had to face now was denying so much of what he stood for.

“Here it is.”

Go Han-bong narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Open it.”

“Prime Minister, that’s…”

“Open it.”

“…Yes.”

The warden gestured, and a guard took out a key and unlocked the door. Then, he slowly opened it.

“Going in with a guard is…”

“No one comes in. You all go back to your posts. Make sure no one is listening.”

“Understood.”

The warden quickly nodded. Seeing his quick-witted actions, Go Han-bong briefly turned his gaze before entering through the open door.

Scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape.

An unpleasant smell.

And a sound that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

Inside, a small old man was sitting at a table, continuously writing something.

Scrape, scrape, scrape, scrape.

A steady, rhythmic sound.

The stacks of documents piled high next to the table caught Go Han-bong’s eye.

No.

His gaze, which had been on the stacks of documents, soon turned to the old man’s back.

Small.

Too small.

Once, Go Han-bong had thought that back was the broadest in the world. That back had always led him, led them, and led the country.

A beacon of democracy.

A person so radiant that just following him was overwhelming.

A person who left a debt to everyone in this country.

But the end of that person’s life was so shabby and sad.

He had never asked for anything in return.

But wasn’t this too heartbreaking for the end of a person who had led South Korea to this point?

“Senior.”

Former Prime Minister Kim Myung-chan didn’t turn his head at Go Han-bong’s words. He was just diligently writing something.

Go Han-bong wasn’t interested in what Kim Myung-chan was writing. No, he couldn’t be interested.

The moment he confirmed with his own eyes what he was writing, he felt like he would collapse.

“Senior, it’s me. Han-bong.”

Kim Myung-chan’s hand stopped.

Then, he slowly turned his head.

The moment he saw Kim Myung-chan’s eyes, Go Han-bong bit his lip.

A man said to have become a madman.

A man said to have gone insane.

Kim Myung-chan’s eyes were too clear and transparent to belong to the protagonist of those rumors. They weren’t the passionate eyes he had once admired, but with time, Kim Myung-chan’s eyes had become even deeper.

“What brings you here?”

“…Do I need a reason to visit you, Senior?”

“That’s right. Yes, that’s right.”

Kim Myung-chan pushed the table aside. The stacks of documents crashed down, but Kim Myung-chan casually kicked them away as if they were a nuisance.

He had been writing something, but he showed no interest in what he had written.

It was hard to understand.

Then and now.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, Senior.”

Go Han-bong sat down opposite Kim Myung-chan, who was leaning against the wall.

“…I heard you’re refusing the transfer.”

“Is there a need to?”

“People aren’t paying attention anymore. We can move you to a better facility.”

“Then what will change?”

At Kim Myung-chan’s words, Go Han-bong bit his lip.

It wasn’t bluntness.

He was just stating the facts.

“Even if the facility is better, it’s still a prison. What does it matter whether it’s comfortable or not here?”

“Senior.”

“I appreciate the consideration. But…”

Kim Myung-chan quietly shook his head.

“I don’t need that kind of consideration right now.”

Go Han-bong lowered his head.

He should have come sooner.

But he couldn’t. He didn’t want to see Kim Myung-chan locked up in this place.

He didn’t want to see the man who had survived the harsh military regime fall behind and collapse in this era.

“…Senior.”

“I heard you became Prime Minister?”

“…Yes. If you were there, Senior, I wouldn’t dare to reach this position.”

“That’s too humble. I wouldn’t be in that position forever. And as Prime Minister, you’re much better than me. I wasn’t cut out for it.”

“That’s not true.”

Kim Myung-chan shook his head.

“I don’t want to drag this out with useless talk. The Prime Minister is a difficult position. It’s even more difficult now. Your burden must be heavy.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Alright. That’s enough with the well-wishes. Why did you come?”

“I came to see you, Senior…”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Is the Prime Minister such a leisurely position? If so, then you’re not doing your job well.”

Go Han-bong lowered his head.

After letting out a deep sigh, Go Han-bong raised his head and looked at Kim Myung-chan.

“I came to ask for advice.”

“Advice?”

“Yes, Senior. It’s a more difficult position than I thought…”

“Kang Jin-ho.”

Go Han-bong couldn’t answer and bit his lip slightly.

But that silence itself meant that Kim Myung-chan was right.

“It’s a difficult matter, a difficult matter.”

“I don’t know what to do, Senior.”

Go Han-bong sighed deeply.

“We risked our lives to build this nation. But that man is beyond the control of this nation. Of course, as you know, Senior, I’m not an imperialist or a statist who believes that the power of the state should subjugate individuals. I’m closer to a libertarian. But he…”

“Is beyond the pale.”

“Yes.”

Go Han-bong shook his head.

“While you’ve been here, Senior, the situation has worsened. Those who were trading with China on their own during your time are now making deals with the United States and increasing the number of US troops stationed here. The US is threatening our government to provide land for a new US military division.”

“Hmm.”

Kim Myung-chan closed his eyes slightly.

This was news that couldn’t be found in the news or newspapers.

“I know I shouldn’t think like this, but now I don’t know what to do as Prime Minister. The people of Korea are trying to do things with other countries on their own, and we can’t mediate or interfere.”

“Are you powerless?”

“…Yes. I’m powerless.”

Kim Myung-chan chuckled softly.

Seeing that smile, Go Han-bong looked at Kim Myung-chan with a puzzled expression.

What was so funny?

“I’m sorry. It’s just a little funny.”

“…I don’t understand what’s so funny.”

“As you said, you’re not an imperialist or a statist. We risked our lives to oppose the military regime that tried to control people as they pleased.”

“Yes.”

“But now you’re saying it’s difficult because the people aren’t following the state’s control. Isn’t that funny? They say that when your position changes, your thoughts change too. The old saying is right.”

“Senior, it’s not like that.”

Go Han-bong shook his head.

“He’s no longer a person. He’s not even a citizen. He’s like the head of a puppet state, living within the system of South Korea but establishing a different country.”

“That’s right. That’s not wrong.”

“Are you saying that as the Prime Minister of South Korea, I should acknowledge that fact? That I should keep quiet and desperately shut my mouth so that other citizens don’t know?”

“Listen, Han-bong.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Don’t whine.”

Go Han-bong stared blankly at Kim Myung-chan.

“What you’re saying now is something a natural person would say. It’s not something the Prime Minister of South Korea should say. Whether you’re the Prime Minister or the President, those who are responsible for running the country are allowed to worry, but not to whine. You must always try to make the best choice, regardless of your emotions.”

“Do I have to say with my own mouth what happens to those who fail to do that? You’re seeing it with your own eyes right now.”

“Don’t make excuses. You just don’t like it. It’s just annoying. The fact that there’s someone I can’t suppress with my own power, even after climbing this high, and that I can’t take that position, is just annoying and frustrating.”

“Senior!”

“That’s how I was.”

Kim Myung-chan said coldly.

“That’s how I was. I made all sorts of excuses, but being stuck here, I realized why I did it. I just didn’t like it.”

Go Han-bong’s shoulders trembled slightly.

“Senior, what on earth…”

“What was different back then?”

“Yes?”

“A national cause, a passion for the future. Tsk, tsk, tsk, that’s ridiculous. I just hated those military regime bastards.”

“People sacrificing their lives for the future? Of course, there would be some. But not me. I just wanted to throw shit in their faces. As I was doing that, I somehow became a symbol of democracy. It’s ridiculous.”

“Senior, what are you talking about?”

“I’m telling you not to sugarcoat it.”

“Don’t sugarcoat yourself and make yourself believe you’re a great person. Don’t hypnotize yourself. You and I are just pathetic humans who get angry when we’re angry and harass people for trivial reasons.”

Go Han-bong couldn’t say anything.

Was it because Kim Myung-chan’s words were shocking?

No.

It was because Kim Myung-chan’s words were piercing him too painfully somewhere.

“I’ll give you a simple conclusion.”

Kim Myung-chan said with a smile.

“Don’t resist.”

“Don’t resist, don’t fight. Just lie low and wait for the storm to pass. He’s that kind of person. If you don’t bother him, he won’t attack first. There’s no reason for you to resent him. What did he do to you?”

“Senior, but…”

“Do you want to know?”

“Yes?”

Kim Myung-chan’s face slowly changed.

Shaking eyes.

A pale complexion.

Fingertips trembling without knowing where to go.

“Do you want to know? Do you want to know? Do you want to know what happens to those who oppose him without knowing anything? Do you want to know what hell is like while you’re alive? Do you have to end up like me to understand? Do you know what I’m seeing right now?”

“Se, Senior?”

“What does a little brat who doesn’t know anything think he’s doing?! You moron! Aaaaaaaah!”

Kim Myung-chan suddenly lunged at Go Han-bong.