Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1606

“Wow…”

Jo Mi-hye and Han Jin-sung, who came to inspect the new building as representatives of the children, stared in awe.

“Wow, the facilities are incredible…”

“Seriously, I thought our place was good, but this is on a whole other level.”

Han Jin-sung turned his head this way and that, taking it all in.

At this point, it felt more like a luxury apartment than an orphanage.

“Are all the rooms for two people?”

“Wow, we still all sleep together in one big room.”

Kang Jin-ho, who was listening to their comments, smiled wryly.

“Don’t worry. We’re building a new building for you too. It’ll be finished soon.”

“Really, hyung?”

“Why are you so happy, oppa?”

“…No, I can live there too, can’t I?”

Jo Mi-hye’s eyes flashed with a hint of mischief.

“Hey, you! Are you going to try for college again?”

“Ah, no! Of course not! But, even if I get into college, there’s time until I move into the dorm. I could live there for a bit in the meantime.”

Jo Mi-hye shook her head, a look of exasperation on her face.

“There’s no hope for you, oppa. Absolutely no hope.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled wryly.

When moving from the old building to the new building of Seongsim Orphanage, Kang Jin-ho had made a simple oversight.

He had been too focused on the traditional concept of an orphanage.

He had only thought about expanding the amenities and replacing the old facilities with new ones, but he hadn’t given much consideration to the actual living space.

‘It needs to change.’

However, just like how you might want a slightly bigger house after moving into a big house, living in the new orphanage created various new needs.

The biggest problem was that all the children at the orphanage were still living in one large room.

It wasn’t a big issue for the younger children. It might even be preferable for them. But now, even elementary school students in the upper grades were starting to crave privacy and wanted their own rooms.

In response to this changing situation, the new orphanages being built this time were all designed so that everyone could live in at least a two-person room.

“Wow, the living room is huge.”

“Everywhere else feels a bit unfamiliar, but seeing the living room makes me feel a bit more at home. Oppa, you’re going to put a TV here, right?”

“Of course.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled.

At the same time, one thing he couldn’t overlook was this large living room. It had always been Seongsim’s tradition for all the children to gather and play in the living room.

“It must have cost a lot of money?”

“…It didn’t cost that much.”

“Tsk.”

Jo Mi-hye clicked her tongue, as if she didn’t believe him.

“Oppa, it’s good to do good things, but don’t get too carried away with it.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ve seen a lot of cases like that. If you get too caught up in volunteering, it becomes a problem. There were many people who ended up having trouble with their families because they would come every weekend to volunteer, and later they regretted it because they had financial difficulties.”

‘No, even if there are such cases, why are you the one saying that?’

“Save your money. Don’t make our unnie [older sister] suffer later.”

“Aww, aww!”

Upon hearing those words, Choi Yeon-ha ran over and hugged Jo Mi-hye from behind.

“Aww, who did our Mi-hye take after to be so pretty?”

“Unnie, this isn’t the time for that. You know that oppa has no sense of money.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Mi-hye, everything is good, but there’s one thing you’re mistaken about.”

“…What is it?”

“Unnie is…”

“Yes.”

Choi Yeon-ha grinned.

“Rich.”

“I don’t need to be supported by an old man like that. I’m already thinking that I might have to support that useless human being. So, you don’t have to worry.”

“That sounds like a big problem?”

“Whether it’s a man or a woman, the one with the ability supports the other, what does it matter? And…”

Choi Yeon-ha, who was looking at Jo Mi-hye, pretended to wipe away tears.

“You need to think about this in advance. You never know what might happen, but right now, things aren’t looking good…”

“Unnie!”

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled and released her arm from Jo Mi-hye’s neck.

“So, does it seem okay to live here?”

“Yes. At this level, it’s like a hotel.”

“That’s too much of an exaggeration.”

“It’s true. It’ll look like a hotel to them. It’ll take some time to adjust because the environment has changed so much. Hmm, but there’s one thing I’m worried about…”

“What is it?”

“I’m not sure if it’ll be manageable since the private rooms are too closed off.”

Jo Mi-hye said with a slightly serious face.

“If they’re alone together, problems can arise. As you know, the kids at the orphanage are a bit…”

Kang Jin-ho narrowed his brow slightly.

She couldn’t say it outright, but she seemed to be implying that the children at the orphanage often cause problems because they have a lack of affection.

In fact, Seongsim has an overly family-like atmosphere, but even in orphanages, bullying or one child harassing another often happens.

“It’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“That’s not a problem with two-person rooms. It’s a problem with the atmosphere where they can’t talk to the childcare teacher when a problem arises. I won’t let it become that kind of orphanage.”

“Hmm, if oppa says so, then it must be so.”

Han Jin-sung clicked his tongue.

“This little one keeps acting like she knows everything. Hyung will take care of it, won’t he?”

“Shut your mouth. Before I sew it shut.”

Han Jin-sung lowered his head, defeated.

Kang Jin-ho shook his head at the sight.

‘That one’s hopeless.’

There’s no hope.

“Then when will the kids move in?”

“They’ll move in about two days.”

“And that’s when the teachers will start working?”

“Yes.”

“…I’ll make sure you pay the price for taking all our teachers away someday.”

Kang Jin-ho laughed it off.

Fortunately, after various adjustments, the teachers who were at Seongsim Orphanage decided to transfer to each new orphanage. No, it would be more accurate to call it a transfer rather than a job change.

Other childcare teachers had also been hired.

“It won’t be easy, oppa. The teachers will have a very hard time.”

“I know.”

“Oppa has to help a lot.”

“I know.”

Jo Mi-hye smiled brightly.

“Well, he’ll take care of it.”

It was then.

“Is this the right place?”

A person who opened the door from behind peeked their head in.

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes widened when he saw her.

“Yoo Min-ah?”

“Yeah, Jin-ho. It’s been a while.”

“How did you know to come here?”

“The kids told me. Unlike you, I’m good at finding my way.”

Park Yoo-min waved her hand with a bright smile.

“Yoo Min-ssi, it’s been a while.”

“Choi Yeon-ha-ssi, you’re here too. Has Jin-ho been causing trouble lately?”

“Oh my, our Yoo Min-ssi has become a bit sly? You can even say things like that.”

“Hehe, was I sly?”

Park Yoo-min smiled awkwardly.

Seeing her fidgeting made Kang Jin-ho feel strangely at ease.

“What brings you here?”

“Nothing much.”

Park Yoo-min turned her head this way and that, checking out the facilities.

“Wow, it’s really nice. You put a lot of effort into it.”

Jo Mi-hye whispered quietly.

“Oppa, it’s not effort, it’s money. Money, money.”

“You kid…”

When Park Yoo-min looked at her with a slightly scolding gaze, Jo Mi-hye flinched and shrank her neck.

Kang Jin-ho looked at Park Yoo-min with respectful eyes.

She could subdue Jo Mi-hye, who neither Han Jin-sung nor Kang Jin-ho could handle, with just a look.

‘Is this what experience is?’

“I know you spent money. But if you say it like that, what does it make all the effort Jin-ho put into this?”

“Sorry, oppa.”

‘Ah…’ That’s how you do it.

Jo Mi-hye, who had met her match, kept glancing at Kang Jin-ho. It was a look that said, ‘Do something about this person who doesn’t understand jokes.’ Kang Jin-ho smiled and opened his mouth.

“Did you come to see this place?”

“No. What would I do looking at this place? I came to see you.”

“Huh?”

“I think it’s been too long since we’ve seen each other, whether it’s because I’m busy or you’re busy. I came to see you after a long time.”

“Isn’t it almost time for the season to start?”

“I got a vacation.”

“Really?”

“People need to rest when they need to… The coach told me not to come out for a week.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly.

If the coach said that, it meant she must have been practicing like crazy again.

“Well, then…”

Park Yoo-min turned to Choi Yeon-ha.

“Would it be okay if I borrow Jin-ho for today?”

“Oh my, that’s funny. It seems like I’m the one borrowing him right now, but if the owner wants to take him, I should give him to you. Do I need to pay a usage fee?”

Choi Yeon-ha skillfully played along with the joke, and Park Yoo-min couldn’t find the right words to respond and just stammered.

Seeing that, Choi Yeon-ha burst into laughter.

“When I see you two, Jin-ho-ssi and Yoo Min-ssi, you seem so different yet so similar.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“No way, we’re very different.”

The two of them said at the same time with serious faces.

“Take him. He hasn’t rested in a long time, so he needs to clear his head. Get him drunk and passed out. If he sleeps on the street, call the police.”

“Jin-ho doesn’t usually get drunk easily…” Park Yoo-min scratched the back of her head and nodded.

“Anyway, I’ll try. Jin-ho, let’s go.”

‘Wait a minute, my friend.’

‘I have a schedule too. If you just come and ask me to go with you like this, I’ll be very…’

“Let’s go!”

Kang Jin-ho strode over and put his arm around Park Yoo-min’s shoulder.

“Ouch, that hurts.”

“Choi Yeon-ha-ssi, please take the kids to the orphanage.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled and went outside with Park Yoo-min.

The three people watching them chuckled.

“Are they that happy?”

“Let them be. They’re dating.”

“Oppa, please shut your mouth! Please!”

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

It looked like Park Yoo-min had stolen Kang Jin-ho, but she didn’t feel bad.

She knew that Kang Jin-ho and Park Yoo-min were indispensable to each other.

“There should be days like this once in a while.”

“Look how caring unnie is.”

“Let’s go, kids. Let’s order chicken today too!”

“Yes!”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled gently.

Bang!

“Where’s the boss!”

“…Those crazy bastards.”

Joo Young-gi’s face turned pale when he saw Park Yoo-min and Kang Jin-ho bursting through the door.

Kang Jin-ho walked straight over and grabbed his shoulder.

“What, what, you bastard! What are you trying to do!”

“Let’s go!”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go drink!”

“Hey, you crazy bastards! I haven’t finished my business yet… Aagh! You crazy bastard, why are you so strong?! Hey, let go! Won’t you let go?”

Kang Jin-ho picked up Joo Young-gi and tucked him under his arm, then trudged out of the store.

“Hey! You crazy bastard! Hey! No, are you out of your mind? You! Won’t you let go? Won’t… Jung-ho-ya! Close up the shop well! I might not be able to come in tomorrow morning either! Tell the opening crew!”

As the door closed, the employees in the hall sighed deeply.

“Is it the boss who’s weird, or are the boss’s friends weird?”

“Maybe both?”

“Who was that person who came in earlier? The boss isn’t small, but he carried him under his arm.”

“…Maybe he’s an athlete.”

A loud voice came to them as they stared blankly at the entrance.

“Please give me more cola here.”

“Yes, sir! Coming right now!”

Whether the boss was there or not, the store had to keep running. The pizza place quickly began to bustle with people taking orders and people ordering.