Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 172

“What, what’s going on here? How did things turn out like this?” Hwang Jung-hoo, who had been peeking at Cho Kyu-min’s phone, asked, completely bewildered.

“It seems like we’ve ended up going head-on, but we’ll have to wait and see how the reactions are.”

It would have been great if this scene had aired on public or cable television, but since it was a personal broadcast, not many people would have seen it.

‘No. Considering it hit number one in real-time searches, wouldn’t more people have seen it than I thought?’

With a pounding heart, Cho Kyu-min checked the SNS reactions and began to chuckle.

– Kang Se-ah’s brother is amazing. It’s the first time I’ve seen reporters look so defeated. With someone like that managing her, no ordinary guy would even dare to approach her, seriously.

– Mom! That family has a beautiful daughter, and the son is even more handsome! Why am I like this! Mom!

– There were rumors that Kang Se-ah had a strong personality… seems like a rumor. She couldn’t even make eye contact with her brother properly.

– In my opinion, they’re just trying to bury the dating scandal with media play. I wonder if people who fall for that kind of thing even have brains.

– Wow, they’re skipping a public music broadcast for media play. Does she not know what happens to a singer who gets on the wrong side of the PDs [Program Directors]? Do the people who think this is media play not have any social experience? What would unemployed people know?

– Kang Se-ah’s brother. If the dating scandal is true, then retirement. Scandal!

‘It seems a bit favorable?’

Despite causing a huge incident, those who watched the personal broadcast weren’t very hostile towards Kang Se-ah and Kang Jin-ho.

‘I, I have to use this!’

Cho Kyu-min jumped up from his seat.

“Chairman.”

“Hmm?”

“I think we need to release some funds. Approval!”

“If you just say that out of the blue, how am I supposed to know what you’re talking about, you know? You have to explain it to me.”

“I think we need to deploy a comment team. There are places that specialize in comment work. If we produce a video of this and release it, it will help to resolve the situation.”

“Wh, what are you talking about now?”

Cho Kyu-min looked at Hwang Jung-hoo, who didn’t understand the situation, and felt a strange emotion.

‘This is normal, though.’

It seems like he’s still suffering from the aftereffects of seeing a 180-year-old early adopter in China. The more he thought about it…

“I’ll explain it to you.”

After listening to Cho Kyu-min’s explanation, Hwang Jung-hoo asked with a dubious expression.

“But isn’t that… manipulating public opinion?”

“If you call it manipulation, then it is manipulation.”

“Hmm, that’s a bit…”

“If it were a matter related to finance, I wouldn’t try to use this method. But the entertainment industry is different from the financial world. Even if you create a product of excellent quality, you can be ruined by just one bad image. Please reconsider.”

“If you say so, then I guess that’s how it is. Do as you see fit.”

Cho Kyu-min’s eyes wavered. He felt a sense of trust in Hwang Jung-hoo’s words. The trust that Hwang Jung-hoo had only shown to a few people, including Director Baek Young-ki, had finally reached Cho Kyu-min.

So, it should have been a very moving situation…

‘Why here of all places!’

Wouldn’t it have been better if it had been a story related to financial affairs! To gain the chairman’s trust while dealing with idol’s messes!

Cho Kyu-min’s face contorted in a situation where he couldn’t be happy or sad.

“Th, thank you.”

Strangely, anger surged within him.

Cho Kyu-min realized that he had someone to vent this anger on and quickly raised his head.

“Then, I have some urgent business to attend to.”

“Y, yes, go ahead.”

Hwang Jung-hoo shook his head, watching Cho Kyu-min rush out.

‘Can anyone understand what he’s saying?’

Hwang Jung-hoo, who was still young, was falling behind the times.

“Sit up straight.”

“Yes, sir.”

An emergency family meeting was called.

Kang Eun-young, facing the three powerhouses—her mom, dad, and brother—knelt on the floor with a frozen expression.

‘Someone save me…’

The aura emanating from her family made her toes tingle.

“Alright, explain yourself.”

At Kang Ji-hwan’s words, Baek Hyun-jung immediately started to breathe fire.

“What is there to listen to! She’s still young, but she’s already acting so brazenly!”

“Still, shouldn’t we hear her out?”

“That’s why I was against it from the start! She’s not old enough to handle something like this on her own!”

Kang Eun-young began to shrink little by little.

Unfortunately, the family that Kang Eun-young loved was a very rational yet irrational and bizarre group.

Her brother and father didn’t even seem interested in the truth of the incident; they seemed very angry just because Kang Eun-young was involved in such a thing.

“It happened because…”

Kang Eun-young explained everything, from how she first met Jun-young from The Voice to what happened afterward.

Her father, who had been listening to her excuses quietly, nodded.

“So, according to you, you didn’t do anything wrong, but that guy kept hitting on you and then caused this whole thing, is that right?”

“Yes! Dad!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!”

Kang Eun-young nodded frantically. She had to get at least one person on her side. Otherwise, she might really have to retire from the entertainment industry.

‘I’m convinced…’

Kang Eun-young glanced at Kang Jin-ho’s expression and felt like the world was collapsing, and she lowered her head. Her brother was still glaring at her with a face that looked like he had something to chew on.

‘Goodbye, my life.’

Goodbye to my idol life, which was tough but still enjoyable.

“I understand what you’re saying, but…”

Those words could be interpreted as, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

“If your schedule is over, you should either study, practice, or go home, wash your feet, and go to sleep!”

Her brother’s voice began to get louder.

“If not that, you could watch TV or a drama. But you went out to play with your older colleagues after your schedule? To a bar? Aren’t you a student?”

Kang Eun-young shrank even more.

“You went to a drinking party because you liked it, and then you caught a guy’s eye, and that’s how this happened, right? And now you’re saying you didn’t do anything wrong?”

“I was wrong. I was wrong!”

“Yeah, you were wrong, right?”

“Yes!”

“They say that if a person commits a sin, they should be punished.”

“O, oppa…” [Oppa is a Korean term used by females to refer to an older brother or male friend.]

Kang Eun-young was terrified and looked at Kang Jin-ho. Feeling the unwavering determination in her brother’s eyes, Kang Eun-young was horrified and turned her head to Baek Hyun-jung.

Her mother had turned into a demon.

“D, Dad!”

Now, Kang Ji-hwan was the only one she could rely on.

“Hmm…”

Kang Ji-hwan hummed and seemed to be contemplating before opening his mouth.

“If what Eun-young said is true, then we should see that Eun-young’s fault isn’t that big.”

“A student went to a drinking party.”

“That’s right.”

“But how can you say her fault isn’t big?” Kang Ji-hwan looked at Kang Jin-ho and smiled.

“So, does that mean that if a student goes to a drinking party, they can’t go to school?”

Kang Jin-ho, who had nothing to say, glared at Kang Eun-young. Kang Eun-young boarded the outstretched hand of salvation and cheered for her father.

“Y, you’re right!”

“It’s definitely a mistake, but I don’t think it’s a mistake that warrants retirement, as you said. I think she’s been punished enough just by this incident spreading.”

“Yes! Dad!”

“However.”

Kang Ji-hwan continued.

“If something like this happens again, I won’t let it slide. Our whole family has been supporting and caring for you because you’re chasing your dream, but you’ve been doing such things in your free time. I’m very disappointed in you.”

Kang Eun-young, who had become sullen, lowered her head.

“I was wrong.”

“Of course, it’s a place you might go to out of curiosity once or twice. But I can’t understand the person who took you, a minor, to such a place, nor can I understand the guy who tried to hit on a kid who came to such a place.”

Kang Eun-young had nothing to say, even if she had ten mouths.

“And the most incomprehensible thing is you. You’re old enough to know better, but you dated such a person, hung out with such people, and went to such a place?”

“I’m sorry.”

As her father began to scold her seriously, Kang Eun-young began to shed tears.

“The fact that there’s a dating scandal isn’t important. What’s important is that you betrayed our trust. Until now, if you came home late, we naturally thought it was because your schedule was busy, but from now on, we’ll wonder if you’re out drinking somewhere, won’t we?”

“…I’m sorry, Dad.”

“That’s why trust is so important. You think it’s nothing and easily hurt it, but once trust is broken, it’s hard to repair. You need to think about what you need to do to make us trust you again in the future.”

“…Yes.”

It seemed like he was forgiving her, but in reality, Kang Ji-hwan was saying that he wouldn’t be able to trust her in the future.

Kang Eun-young seemed to understand those words as well, and she couldn’t say anything more and just shed tears.

“So, what about the punishment?” Kang Ji-hwan frowned and said as Kang Jin-ho, who had no tact, interjected.

“It doesn’t seem like there’s a need to give a separate punishment.”

“Father, rewards and punishments must be clear.”

Kang Ji-hwan frowned as he looked at his son.

‘That heartless bastard.’

He’s talking about punishment while looking at his crying sister!

“Ahem. Well, it seems to me that this whole thing happened because Eun-young lacks social experience. She went straight into the entertainment industry after school, so it seems difficult for her to deal with people or understand situations, that’s what I’m saying.”

“…Hmm, that makes sense.”

“So, how about we let her experience some social life?”

“Social life?”

“When else would she experience a normal social life if not now? It’s perfect timing. Eun-young, you’ll come work at your father’s cafe as soon as your activities are over.”

“…What?”

“You can serve customers there and do some chores, and learn how the world works.”

“L, learn?”

“Not that kind of learning!”

Kang Ji-hwan made up his mind as he watched Kang Eun-young, who was disgusted by the word ‘learning’.

‘Even if you’re my son, I can’t cut off my daughter’s livelihood.’

Kang Ji-hwan couldn’t imagine Kang Eun-young going to college and studying now. If Kang Jin-ho heard that, he would surely spout nonsense like, ‘If you try hard, you can do anything.’

He couldn’t let his daughter, who should be walking on a flower path, roll in the mud.

“So, let’s not discuss this matter any further.”

Kang Ji-hwan preempted Kang Jin-ho, who was about to open his mouth as if he didn’t like it.

“It’s the same for you.”

“…What?”

“If you stay like this, you won’t be able to experience what ordinary people do. You’ll get a part-time job too.”

“…What?”

And that’s how Kang Jin-ho’s part-time job was decided.