Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1707

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing in particular?”

“Hmm.”

Han Jin-sung looked at Kang Jin-ho, who was sitting in the orphanage living room, with a strange glint in his eyes.

“Rest comfortably, traveler.”

“Are you playing games?”

“Ah, no. How can a re-taker [someone who has returned to the past] play games? Absolutely not.”

When Kang Jin-ho’s eyes narrowed, Han Jin-sung flinched and shrank back.

“…A little. I’m just playing a little bit whenever I have some free time.”

“A re-taker?”

“…Aren’t re-takers people too?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

Jo Mi-hye came out with a tray of fruit and clicked her tongue.

“Don’t push him too hard, Oppa [older brother or a term of endearment for a male], It’s understandable.”

“Oppa?”

Han Jin-sung looked at Jo Mi-hye with a delighted expression. Why was she suddenly taking his side?

“He’s going to fail anyway, so what difference does it make if he plays a few more games?”

Han Jin-sung’s eyes died like a rotten fish.

“Fail?!”

“Oh? Then did you think you would succeed? How bold. You’re the boldest person I’ve ever seen.”

Kang Jin-ho leaned against the wall, watching the two bickering.

“Here, Oppa.”

“Huh?”

“Have some fruit.”

“I’m okay.”

“It’s from a donation. Have some.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho subtly leaned forward to look at the plate.

‘There were neatly cut, fresh-looking apples arranged beautifully.’

“You should make Jin-sung do this.”

“…That guy destroys everything he touches.”

Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth.

“He needs to be useful somehow, I’m worried.”

Jo Mi-hye sighed deeply.

Han Jin-sung huffed at her words, but he didn’t argue, probably because he knew she wasn’t wrong.

“By the way…”

“Yeah?”

“…No, never mind.”

The children at the orphanage were quick-witted.

Having grown up watching other people’s expressions, they were quite sensitive to changes in others. Because of this, Jo Mi-hye knew to some extent that Kang Jin-ho visited the orphanage whenever he was upset or had worries.

‘There’s no need to say it out loud.’

Sometimes, not saying anything can be more comforting.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Eat this.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho reached out and put a piece of apple in his mouth. Then, he leaned back against the wall.

‘Do I look that depressed?’

It was hard to say it was a misunderstanding, but Kang Jin-ho wasn’t particularly depressed or deep in thought right now.

He just needed time to sort out the recent events.

Lee Sung-hwi’s death was definitely something that couldn’t be ignored, but Kang Jin-ho wasn’t the kind of person to get sentimental over the death of someone he wasn’t that close to.

‘Lee Hyun-joo and Lee Hyun-soo are the real problems.’

Lee Hyun-soo still didn’t seem to understand why Lee Sung-hwi had saved him and died. But Kang Jin-ho thought it wasn’t something he needed to worry about.

People are like that.

Everyone has a duality that is different from what they show on the surface, and every human being makes choices that are different from the path they have walked.

Someone who has ruthlessly trampled on people might suddenly donate a large sum of money, and someone who has lived a virtuous life might suddenly commit murder.

That’s just how people are.

That’s why Kang Jin-ho didn’t think deeply about Lee Sung-hwi. Getting sentimental wasn’t his style.

What was bothering Kang Jin-ho was his hatred for Chang Wang.

Kang Jin-ho had hated and killed countless others, but the animosity he felt towards Chang Wang was different from any hatred he had ever felt in his life.

He had never felt such hatred, even towards the Blue Demon or the masters of the Righteous Sect who had killed him.

‘I need to be rational.’

But Chang Wang was not someone he could deal with through hatred.

The moment he charged at Chang Wang with hostility, Chang Wang would use that situation to drive Kang Jin-ho into a corner.

As he was pondering this, he had arrived at the orphanage.

It was the place he knew that was furthest from hatred.

“Do you want some coffee?”

“Huh?”

Han Jin-sung asked sullenly.

“No, I mean, you like coffee, hyung [older brother or a term of endearment for a male].”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled, looking at Han Jin-sung.

They all seemed to be worried about Kang Jin-ho, even though they tried to hide it. Jo Mi-hye was able to be considerate, but Han Jin-sung was clearly awkward.

“Want some?”

“Yeah.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded lightly, and Han Jin-sung jumped up from his seat and headed to the kitchen.

As Kang Jin-ho glanced at Han Jin-sung’s back, Jo Mi-hye gave a subtle smile.

“He’s doing that because he’s worried. Jin-sung Oppa likes you a lot too.”

It was still awkward to hear such words directly. No, it would be the same even if it wasn’t Kang Jin-ho.

“I feel like I’m making you worry for no reason.”

“Don’t say that.”

Jo Mi-hye said firmly.

“Don’t worry about it and just rest. Everyone likes it when you’re here because the atmosphere brightens up.”

“…Thanks.”

“Oh, and Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“The swing in the yard is broken, and the kids are sad about it. It’ll take a while to get it fixed.”

“It’ll take a while…”

“I’ll fix it.”

“Oh, really?”

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes tightly, looking at the smiling Jo Mi-hye.

* * *

“Really?”

Lee Hyun-soo leaned back in his chair while on the phone.

[I don’t see anything particularly different from usual. She’s handling her work as usual. Her expressions and actions are no different.]

“…Okay, I understand. Call me if you notice anything strange.”

[Yes, Chief. But… it feels a bit awkward, like a subordinate is monitoring their superior. We’re not even in the same department, so this is…]

“I’ll prepare a bonus for you.”

[I will be loyal to you.]

“Hang up…”

Lee Hyun-soo hung up the phone, tossed it lightly onto the desk, and leaned back in his chair as if he was collapsing.

‘She’s pushing herself.’

Click.

The cigarette in his mouth was lit. He seemed to be smoking more often lately, but he didn’t consciously want to cut back.

It probably meant his stress had increased.

He had advised her to rest for another day, but Lee Hyun-joo had refused Lee Hyun-soo’s suggestion and went to work as usual.

‘It’s not that different from losing a family member.’

Lee Hyun-joo didn’t have any family.

Her parents had died when she was young, and Lee Joong-geol was a strict teacher and a kind grandfather to her, but he couldn’t have filled all those roles.

To Lee Hyun-joo, Lee Sung-hwi was like a brother and a close relative.

‘Family…’

That’s why it was hard to comfort her.

To Lee Hyun-soo, family was a distant concept. He could only vaguely guess what kind of despair those who had lost family felt, and what Lee Hyun-joo was feeling right now.

“Haa…”

Even if this incident hadn’t happened, the relationship between Lee Hyun-joo and Lee Sung-hwi would have inevitably reached a breaking point. Once paths have diverged too much, they can never be rejoined, no matter what you do.

Even so….

“This feels like shit.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face contorted.

He had been careless.

He should have considered that Chang Wang was capable of targeting him. Even if everyone in the Assembly missed that fact, Lee Hyun-soo should not have.

He was so focused on how to attack the enemy that he failed to consider that the enemy could attack him.

He had survived thanks to Lee Sung-hwi’s intervention, but this battle was still a one-sided beating for Lee Hyun-soo.

That fact made Lee Hyun-soo writhe in humiliation.

“Haa…”

Lee Hyun-soo took a rough drag of his cigarette and got up from his chair with the cigarette still in his mouth.

‘It’s all about the difference in information.’

The difference in intellect comes next.

Chang Wang knew how to attack the Assembly. He knew who held what position in the Assembly, and which screws to loosen to make the giant machine that was the Assembly start to collapse.

On the other hand, what did Lee Hyun-soo know?

He only had a rough idea of Chang Wang and the Chang Wang faction, and he knew almost nothing about them.

How could he fight like that?

Lee Hyun-soo slowly moved his feet.

Lee Hyun-soo opened the door and walked out, cigarette in his mouth. Those who passed by saw Lee Hyun-soo and pressed themselves against the end of the hallway, bowing deeply.

“Good day!”

Lee Hyun-soo went down the stairs without answering.

And those who watched his back only took a deep breath when Lee Hyun-soo was completely out of sight.

“…Why does he look so terrifying?”

“I know.”

Those who had witnessed Lee Hyun-soo’s expression, which they had never seen before, exchanged glances.

“We should tell people to be careful.”

“Yeah. To avoid any trouble.”

Their gazes lingered on the stairs where Lee Hyun-soo had gone down.

“Welcome!”

“Has anyone come in?”

“No one yet!”

“Has anyone come looking for him?”

“No one!”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded lightly.

“Open it.”

“Yes!”

The guard, who was on duty, swallowed hard and opened the door. The heavy iron door opened with a twist, creating a loud noise.

“I will escort you.”

“It’s okay.”

“…The Chairman said that I must escort you when Chief Lee arrives.”

“Then say you escorted me.”

“But…”

Lee Hyun-soo glanced at the guard, and the guard, who had been trailing off, swallowed hard and nodded vigorously.

“Please go in.”

“Report later. I don’t want to disturb him while he’s resting.”

“Yes!”

Lee Hyun-soo walked into the dark hallway.

Step.

Step.

Every time he walked down this hallway, Lee Hyun-soo felt a strange sensation.

‘It feels like time is distorted.’

It was a style that was rarely seen in modern times. Well, this building was built decades ago, so it was natural.

The incandescent bulbs hanging from the dangling wires swayed as if dancing every time Lee Hyun-soo took a step.

One floor.

Another floor.

Lee Hyun-soo went down to the basement and took a deep breath, feeling the air getting stuffy.

“No abnormalities during patrol!”

“No abnormalities during patrol!”

The two people guarding the door at the lowest level, the deepest part, found Lee Hyun-soo and saluted loudly. Their voices echoed through the narrow hallway.

“How is he?”

“The same.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

“Open it.”

“Yes!”

The guards began to open the door with their keys.

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled at the sight.

‘I don’t know what the point of that is.’

Triple iron doors.

In the past, the Assembly, those doors might have had some meaning. Most martial artists wouldn’t have been able to break through those doors. But did those iron doors mean anything to the prisoners they were dealing with now?

‘The building can’t keep up with the times.’

Anything that doesn’t change and evolve will eventually become outdated.

Squeak.

Squeak.

Only after all three iron doors were opened did Lee Hyun-soo step into the room.

Lee Hyun-soo, who had stepped into the room, opened his arms and spoke.

“I hope you like the meal, Wang Yan-hong.”

The person who was lying on the floor slowly raised his head. Lee Hyun-soo, who received the sharp, knife-like gaze from his eyes, smiled wryly.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

Lee Hyun-soo bared his teeth.

“I might actually kill you with how I’m feeling right now.”

Lee Hyun-soo pulled a chair from the side, sat down, and bared his teeth.