Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 170

“Why them again…”

Lee Mi-hye checked the first-class passenger list again, feeling like she was going crazy.

The same Jae-kyung Group secretary and the unidentified VIP who had completely ruined the atmosphere of first class before were on the plane to Korea again, and during her shift no less.

‘I should ask to be transferred to a domestic flight.’

Her job as a first-class flight attendant was already extremely stressful, and if she kept getting these kinds of customers, she might develop a stomach ulcer.

Even now, a gloomy aura that she couldn’t do anything about was emanating from where those two were sitting.

“…Purser.”

“Yes?”

“How’s the atmosphere over there?”

“They asked for strong liquor first thing.”

“…Can I have a drink too?”

“Get a grip, Mi-hye.”

“…Yes.”

Lee Mi-hye sighed and looked out the window.

‘I should just get married.’

It seemed like it was time for her to quit this job.

‘Isn’t this practically an admission of a relationship?’

Jo Gyu-min’s eyes twitched as he looked at his phone.

Isn’t it common for celebrities to use the phrase ‘close brother and sister’ before announcing a relationship? Then, one day, a marriage announcement suddenly pops up, and a baby comes out in seven months, that’s the basic routine.

Jo Gyu-min glanced at Kang Jin-ho.

Of course, Kang Jin-ho didn’t often look at the entertainment section, so he wouldn’t know what this wording meant, but it was best to keep it out of Kang Jin-ho’s sight for now.

“Are we there yet?”

Seriously, Mr. Kang Jin-ho…

There’s a screen in front of you, and the remaining time is displayed on the screen, isn’t it?

Jo Gyu-min wanted to tell him to look at the screen, but he didn’t have the courage to provoke Kang Jin-ho right now.

“It’ll be an hour and a half.”

“…That’s a long time. It felt like we got here quickly.”

Jo Gyu-min sighed quietly, so Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t see.

He couldn’t even go shopping before returning.

‘I’m going to kill him!’

He would let that brat, whether he was from The Voice or The Punch, know that there are people in this world you shouldn’t mess with.

“Weren’t you saying that their private life was being managed perfectly?”

“That’s what I heard?”

Jo Gyu-min began to sink into his seat like a coward.

“I, I was perfect when I was doing it myself. But lately, I’ve been busy, so I delegated some of it to the code team, and it seems like there was a leak.”

“I see.”

Kang Jin-ho didn’t say anything more. But that fact was even more pressure for Jo Gyu-min.

‘Just, just criticize me!’

What was he supposed to do if he just said that and then shut his mouth?

Jo Gyu-min couldn’t help but fidget under the unspoken pressure he felt from the next seat.

‘That pretty boy!’

Jo Gyu-min’s eyes began to burn.

How much effort had gone into raising Kang Se-ah?

Jo Gyu-min, who had stayed up late researching choreography and studying domestic and international singers to come up with concepts, had created a hit!

And now, someone was trying to swallow her whole before she had even fully bloomed!

‘I’m going to kill him! I’m going to kill him!’

“Sir.”

A flight attendant approached them with a bright smile.

“Your wine is ready. Is there anything else you need?”

Seeing the flight attendant bringing the plated cheese and wine, Jo Gyu-min shouted firmly.

“Cold water!”

“Same here.”

“…Yes.”

Lee Mi-hye sighed inwardly.

‘I should just get married soon.’

With Lee Mi-hye’s sigh, the plane flew towards Korea.

Bang!

“Oh my!”

Kang Ji-hwan was startled and turned his head as the door was opened roughly. Standing in the doorway was his proud son, carrying a bunch of luggage in both hands and emitting a strange aura.

“Did you get scammed in China or something?”

“…Where’s Eun-young?”

“She didn’t come home yesterday?”

“Is that so?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and walked into the pantry inside, starting to put down his luggage. Then, as soon as he put down his luggage, he turned around and went outside.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to bring Eun-young.”

“She’s probably busy with her schedule right now, are you going to bring her?”

“Yes.”

Kang Ji-hwan tilted his head at his son’s firm and resolute voice.

Why was his son acting like this?

“Jin-ho, why are you…”

Just as Kang Ji-hwan was about to ask for an explanation, Kang Jin-ho took out his phone from his pocket and abruptly held it out to Kang Ji-hwan.

Kang Ji-hwan’s eyebrows twitched as he saw the dating rumor article on the main screen.

“Son.”

“Yes.”

“Bring her back within an hour.”

“Roger.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and went outside. Soon, with a roaring engine sound, a bright red Lamborghini sped off like the wind.

“Good grief.”

Kang Ji-hwan shook his head.

He had supported him because he wanted to achieve his dreams, but he hadn’t even gone to college yet and was already making dating rumors…

How could he not sigh?

After pondering for a moment, Kang Ji-hwan picked up the phone.

“Hey, Jin-ho. Can you bring that guy too?”

The father was even more extreme than Kang Jin-ho.

Bwoooom-

“Gapyeong? Understood.”

Kang Jin-ho, having received information from the agency that Kang Eun-young was at an event in Gapyeong [a city in South Korea], stepped hard on the accelerator.

The 12-cylinder engine, excited to be able to run for the first time in a while, kept roaring and pushing the car endlessly.

“Wh, what’s that?”

Those who saw the car disappear into the distance as a dot, right after it had passed by them, screamed in terror.

“Wow, an Aventador.”

“…Must be a gold spoon [a term for someone born into wealth]. I’m jealous.”

“Even if it’s an Aventador, aren’t they scared? If they drive like that and get into an accident, they’ll be gone in an instant?”

“Didn’t you see them cutting in earlier? They were driving like a pro?”

“I guess so.”

What was being said behind him was not of interest to Kang Jin-ho.

Bwoooooom!

Kang Jin-ho drove with his eyes blazing, to the point where the navigation system seemed to be speaking faster in panic.

“Kang Eun-young!”

“Se-ah.”

“Yes!”

“Are you ready for the next stage?”

“Of course.”

Kang Eun-young smiled brightly.

“Okay. Please do your best. It’s an outdoor stage, so the sound might not be good. Make sure to check your in-ear monitors.”

“Don’t worry.”

Kang Eun-young answered with a bright smile, and the FD [Floor Director] smiled back and left the waiting room.

“Eeeek!”

As soon as the FD disappeared, Kang Eun-young threw the cushion next to her at the door.

“That smirking jerk!”

She had already seen the article.

“Aaaargh! That crazy bastard!”

It was a mistake to meet that psycho at a gathering she had gone to with her older sisters. After that, he had been persistently following her, and now this had happened.

Kang Eun-young took out her phone with trembling hands.

The agency was calling her non-stop, but she didn’t care about that.

‘It’s a relief that my brother is in China.’

If her brother found out, it wouldn’t end with just having her hair grabbed.

He might even take her away and shave her head, saying she was just a kid who was full of hot air.

‘I have to somehow resolve this situation before my brother returns from China.’

Bzzzz!

Kang Eun-young answered the phone without hesitation when it vibrated.

“Hello?”

[Se-ah, how’s the broadcast going? Byung-hoon said he’s going in soon.]

“Yes, I’m preparing now.”

[Are you okay? With this happening, wouldn’t a live broadcast be a bit much? If you feel like you’re wavering, tell me now. I’ll pull you out right away.]

“No, manager! I can do it. If I cancel my schedule at a time like this, people will be more suspicious. Is the press release ready?”

[I’m preparing to release it as soon as the live broadcast is over. But are you really okay?]

“I told you I’m okay. That’s not the problem right now. I have to resolve this situation before my brother in China comes back. Or I’ll really be in trouble.”

[Se-ah, I have something to say about that…]

“Se-ah, please get ready.”

“Manager, I’m going on air now! I’ll call you back later.”

[Oh, Se-ah?]

Kang Eun-young hung up the phone and checked her in-ear monitors again.

“How did I get to this point!”

She had gone through so much hardship at Starwiz and finally debuted. And now that she was gaining recognition and on a smooth path, she wasn’t going to be discouraged by just this one obstacle.

“Ugh, that stalker.”

If someone says no, they should know when to back off. A man should know his limits when it comes to obsession.

Kang Eun-young went to the waiting area and waited for the previous act to finish. It was her turn right after this. The backup dancers were nervously clearing their throats, and the road manager ran over to calm the team.

“It’s a live broadcast. Don’t make any mistakes! But don’t be too nervous either!”

“Are you telling us to be nervous or not?”

“I’m telling you to be moderately nervous. So that it doesn’t affect your condition.”

Kang Eun-young snorted.

It had already been two years since her debut. It would soon be three years. There was no way she would be nervous just because it was a live broadcast.

“It’s starting! Let’s go up!”

“Fighting!”

“Do well without any mistakes!”

Kang Eun-young encouraged the backup dancers and went up on stage. The camera wasn’t on yet, but cheers erupted from all directions at her appearance.

‘It would have been better if it was an indoor stage.’

If it was an indoor stage, the audience wouldn’t have been visible because of the lighting. But since it was an outdoor stage, she could see the audience whispering through the lights.

She felt a surge of emotion, but Kang Eun-young bit her lip.

People encounter many obstacles in life. If you just sit down and cry every time, you can never move forward. It was something her brother had told her, and now it was her motto in life.

‘Do you think I’d be fazed by something like this?’

The intro began to play, and she slowly grabbed the microphone and moved her body to the rhythm.

If she finished this stage perfectly and explained the scandal, people would soon forget that there was even a dating rumor.

So…

Bzzzz.

Suddenly, her body, which had been perfectly executing the choreography, trembled as if struck by lightning.

‘N, no.’

She thought it wasn’t, no, she wanted to think it wasn’t, but unfortunately, the figure of a man slowly approaching the stage through the crowd was too clear in her eyes.

“Oh, no.”

Kang Eun-young, who had taken off her microphone, muttered without realizing it.

She didn’t want to believe it, but what she saw was definitely her brother, whom she had known for twenty years.

Kang Jin-ho, with a stern face, approached the front of the stage and looked at her with a blank expression.

‘It’s, it’s a live broadcast…’

But she knew.

Which would cause more serious damage to her career, ruining one live broadcast or upsetting her brother.

Kang Jin-ho raised his hand and gestured for her to come over. Kang Eun-young, with her shoulders slumped, jumped off the stage.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

Kang Eun-young, grabbing Kang Jin-ho’s outstretched hand, began to walk through the cheering crowd like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

“Th, th…! What is that!”