Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1658

Surrounded (3)

“It seems you don’t understand the situation.”

All emotion vanished from Changwang’s voice.

It was just that.

But at that moment, Lee Hyun-soo felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

“No, that’s not it.”

Changwang lightly shook his head.

“The Demon Lord I know wouldn’t be so foolish, would he?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and said,

“You speak as if you know me very well.”

“I do know you well.”

Changwang said coldly.

“Perhaps even better than you know yourself. I’m not foolish enough to do a sloppy investigation of a strong person who doesn’t try to hide themselves.”

“Then it’s strange that you don’t understand.”

Kang Jin-ho took a deep drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled the smoke.

“Is there any reason not to accept the offer?”

“There is.”

“Surely it’s not because of the Hong King.”

Kang Jin-ho glanced at the Hong King.

“I don’t have that kind of loyalty.”

“…Then may I ask the reason?”

“It’s simple.”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged and answered calmly.

“I don’t make deals with snakes.”

“Even if it’s a rational and beneficial deal.”

Changwang looked at Kang Jin-ho with a blank face and said,

“Do you know how foolish that sounds?”

“It might seem foolish.”

Kang Jin-ho threw his cigarette on the ground and took out a new one, putting it in his mouth.

“But if you have your rationality, I have mine. I know one thing. A guy like you never takes a loss. There’s no way the benefits a guy like you talks about are real benefits.”

“And…”

Kang Jin-ho grinned, showing his teeth.

“You talk a good game, but there’s one thing missing from your rationality. For the balance you talk about to be maintained, we always have to have the power to be a threat to you. The moment you think that taking the land of Korea is more beneficial than harmful, peace is over.”

Changwang wore a strange smile.

“You’re an interesting person. Usually, someone who is confident in themselves would think that their mere existence is a threat.”

“You’re not a martial artist.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“But in that respect, I might be similar. I don’t have that kind of pride.”

Changwang let out a low sigh and narrowed his eyes at Kang Jin-ho.

“You’re more difficult to deal with than I thought.”

Changwang lightly snapped his fingers.

*Snap.*

“Impulsive…”

*Snap.*

“Capricious…”

*Snap.*

“And even foolish.”

The last word sounded almost like a growl.

“But you instinctively grasp the core.”

Changwang smiled thinly.

“You’re better off dying here after all.”

Upon hearing those words, Bang Jin-hoon sighed deeply.

“We’re supposed to be negotiating, there’s no need to push it this far…”

“Foolish words.”

Bator responded to Bang Jin-hoon’s words.

“There’s no way a negotiation with a guy like that is a real negotiation. The moment you fall for his sweet words, a knife will be at your throat.”

“No, I know that, but…”

Bang Jin-hoon looked around and said,

“Anyway, isn’t this something we can go home and think about?”

“It’s meaningless if we lose the Hong King.”

Wiggins answered instead.

“Honestly, Changwang’s words make sense to me…”

Wiggins’ gaze turned to Kang Jin-ho.

‘It’s meaningless.’

All he could do was offer advice and suggestions.

But the decision always belonged to Kang Jin-ho. And Wiggins was ready to blindly trust Kang Jin-ho’s decision.

‘He didn’t even hesitate.’

One of the things Changwang said was definitely wrong.

Kang Jin-ho might be capricious, but he wasn’t impulsive. Rather, he was someone who was excessively cautious. Something that others wouldn’t even think twice about. He was someone who would think and think again before making a decision, even about something that didn’t suit his status.

For such a person to reject Changwang’s offer outright meant that there was something that Kang Jin-ho could see that they couldn’t.

“All of you, shut your mouths.”

Jang Min spat out the words.

“It’s the Demon Lord’s decision. There’s no room for disagreement.”

“Well, I agree with that.”

Bang Jin-hoon also nodded slightly and let his arms hang down. Ready to face any enemy that might rush at them.

“However…”

Bang Jin-hoon glanced around, his eyes catching the endless rows of Changwang’s martial artists.

“I’d rather not die here.”

Bang Jin-hoon licked his lips with his tongue.

The number of enemies was endless. And here was none other than Changwang.

‘There’s never been a time.’

To see the Three Kings fight with their full power.

It was a very interesting thing, but the only unfortunate thing was that the target of that battle was the dozen or so people here.

“My blood is boiling.”

Bator gritted his teeth.

The directors began to gather their energy. Now that the negotiations had broken down, battle was inevitable. And perhaps the battle they were about to face would be a hellish battle unlike any they had ever experienced in their lives.

“…Crazy.”

Chai Ke-chang bit his lip as he watched the directors of the General Assembly gathering their fighting spirit.

He couldn’t understand.

Changwang, who tried to negotiate with Kang Jin-ho even after creating this situation, and Kang Jin-ho, who rejected that offer outright even after being driven into this situation.

He couldn’t understand.

But at this moment, Chai Ke-chang was able to realize one thing.

‘Is this it?’

The question that always followed him.

Why doesn’t history move at the hands of the wise?

The people who create the great currents that shake the world are usually not the strategists or writers who represent that era. The people who shake history are the tyrants who, from the perspective of ordinary people, are close to madmen.

Irrational.

Impulsive.

Trampling on existing common sense.

They surround themselves with countless people who are called wise, yet they crush all their opinions and manipulate the world as they please.

Why does that happen?

Why can’t it be stopped?

The answer is right there.

‘I can’t interfere.’

From the moment Changwang and Kang Jin-ho started talking, Chai Ke-chang had been looking for an opportunity to jump into the conversation.

His goal was to save the Hong King. He would do anything to achieve that goal.

But in the end, he couldn’t say a single word.

Only then did Chai Ke-chang realize.

That there was no place for ordinary humans in a place where monsters like them clashed.

But what came to Chai Ke-chang, who had realized that fact, was not a sense of powerlessness or futility, but a great excitement.

Changwang, who mobilized almost the entire army to capture just ten people.

And Kang Jin-ho, who, despite being only ten people, ignored Changwang’s offer and chose war.

And….

The directors who were preparing for battle without questioning Kang Jin-ho’s choice.

‘Madmen.’

This was a clash of madness and madness.

Chai Ke-chang’s gaze turned to Kang Jin-ho and Changwang, who were still facing each other.

Changwang glared at Kang Jin-ho with cold eyes and opened his mouth.

“A head that cannot think has no value. I’ll take it off for you.”

“Go ahead and try.”

Kang Jin-ho grinned, showing his teeth.

He had been feeling nauseous since earlier.

Strangely, his temperature rose whenever he looked at Changwang’s face.

What should he call it?

‘It’s disgust, this is.’

The emotion he felt when he saw the Hong King was closer to a martial artist’s competitive spirit.

He acknowledged the Hong King, and the Hong King also acknowledged him. They were fighting because they walked different paths, but they didn’t hate or despise each other.

But Changwang was different.

Just looking at him made him feel a sense of disgust that made his stomach churn.

Changwang, perhaps feeling something similar to Kang Jin-ho, glared at Kang Jin-ho with cold, sunken eyes.

Then….

Changwang’s stiff face slowly began to relax. Soon, Changwang, who had a perfect soft smile, shrugged his shoulders.

“If that’s your choice, then there’s nothing I can do. Then…”

He stretched one hand out to the side, drew a soft circle, brought it to his chest, and bowed his head.

“May you rest in peace.”

Then, as if he had no more regrets, he turned and began to walk away.

Kang Jin-ho frowned as he watched him.

“Are you running away?”

Changwang didn’t stop walking, but turned his head to look at Kang Jin-ho.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not foolish enough to raise my subordinates and then solve things with my own hands. Try to survive. Then I’ll deal with you.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled deeply.

Strategically, Changwang’s choice was rational. With the advantage in numbers, it was right to push with numbers. Even if they couldn’t overwhelm them with numbers, it wouldn’t be difficult to weaken Kang Jin-ho and his group.

However….

‘I don’t like it.’

That guy wasn’t a martial artist.

A martial artist wouldn’t retreat like that. They wouldn’t throw away the chance to face a strong opponent they might only meet a few times in their life.

Kang Jin-ho threw the cigarette he had in his mouth onto the ground.

At the same time, Changwang’s figure disappeared into the ranks of the Changwang faction’s martial artists wearing blue uniforms.

“Demon Lord.”

The Hong King’s voice came from behind him.

“You’ve done something foolish.”

“A defeated dog should shut up.”

“Hehehehe.”

The Hong King chuckled lowly and walked forward, standing next to Kang Jin-ho.

“If we survive, I’ll buy you a drink.”

“A good one.”

“As much as you want. Yes, as much as you want.”

Bator strode forward, filling Kang Jin-ho’s left side.

“If you’re going to buy me an expensive drink, you’ll have to be prepared to go broke… are you okay with that, Hong King?”

“…Can I cancel it?”

“It’s too late.”

Wiggins stood next to Bator.

“I’m fine with just a bottle of wine. It would be even better if I could specify the vintage.”

Jang Min chuckled and stood next to the Hong King.

“A drink bought by a righteous sect dog. That’s going to be special.”

“…Are you a member of the Demonic Cult?”

“There are no eternal enemies or eternal friends in this world, but I never thought the day would come when I would fight alongside the Hong King.”

“Same here, you dirty Demonic Cultist.”

“Hehehehe.”

Bang Jin-hoon sighed and walked forward.

“Drinks and all that…”

He said, grumbling.

“We can only drink them if we survive. Damn it.”

Everyone wore a bitter smile at Bang Jin-hoon’s words.

And….

After waiting a little while, when things didn’t seem to be wrapping up, everyone turned their heads slightly to look behind them.

“…Me?”

“No, me?”

Lee Hyun-soo raised a finger and pointed at himself.

“I think I’ll be in the way…”

“Get a grip on the situation.”

“I don’t know why he’s like that.”

Lee Hyun-soo sighed deeply.

‘No, how am I going to be of any help….’

They were like heartless people.

Lee Hyun-soo trudged forward and squeezed between the Hong King and Kang Jin-ho. Then, he turned his head sharply and glared at the person left behind.

“You, hurry up and come out, you bastard.”

“…You, if you get out of here, I’m going to rip your mouth apart.”

“Whatever.”

Chai Ke-chang smiled bitterly and stood next to Lee Hyun-soo.

‘This is a truly ridiculous combination.’

There are no eternal enemies, and there are no eternal friends in this world.

Chai Ke-chang was once again realizing that.

Soon….

Kang Jin-ho stared ahead quietly, then grinned, showing his teeth.

“Let’s go wild.”

It was the moment a long night began.

The webtoon of Demon Lord’s Rebirth is launching today.