Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1815

“A small elite force, huh…”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled after receiving Lee Hyun-soo’s report.

‘I guess that’s just like him.’

The more he thought about it, the more he found himself laughing in disbelief.

Seeing Kang Jin-ho’s reaction, Lee Hyun-soo continued,

“I’m not sure if this is even possible. Of course… theoretically, it’s the most correct method.”

His face was aghast.

It was an expression rarely seen on Lee Hyun-soo. As if understanding Lee Hyun-soo’s feelings, Kang Jin-ho nodded slowly.

“Theoretically, you say…”

Indeed, theoretically, it was true.

A small number meant there were no maintenance costs. The General Assembly was also spending enormous amounts of money and manpower to maintain this large number of people.

However, as was clearly revealed in the battle against the Creation King, as the scale of the battle grew and the quality of the experts participating in the battle increased, the forces that made up the General Assembly became less effective.

It was a funny thing to say, but it was the truth.

The reason was very simple.

It was impossible to overwhelm an expert who had transcended human limits by reaching the pinnacle with numbers. No matter how many people gathered, the number of people who could attack simultaneously would not exceed ten.

Even if they jumped into the air and dug into the ground, they wouldn’t even reach twenty.

In other words, the moment they couldn’t overcome the difference in power to face twenty people at once, numbers became meaningless.

Even if ten million ants gathered, they were still just ants. Of course, if they didn’t consider sacrifices and endlessly threw in ten million ants, a tired human might be bitten to death by the ants…

‘That’s only if they fight until they die.’

If their stamina ran out, they could just create some distance and rest. The moment someone with an absolute difference in power also had the advantage of mobility, the troops lost their meaning.

To put it bluntly, these many members existed to secure even one more absolute expert who had reached the pinnacle. If even a few more experts emerged from among them, the General Assembly’s power would surely skyrocket.

Of course, it couldn’t be said that the Flame Demons or other martial forces had no value…

“It’s much better to operate a small, reliable force than to manage a large number that can’t catch the most important opponent. Putting aside the costs, the larger the scale, the more inefficient it becomes.”

“Yes. I think so too. Of course, there’s the premise that the small force must be incredibly strong, possessing power greater than the majority. If that premise is established, there can be no stronger force.”

“That’s right. But…”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“It’s not like people don’t do it because they don’t know that.”

“Yes. Experts aren’t something you can create just because you want to. Not everyone with talent can break through the wall, and no one knows where that limit is.”

“That’s right.”

Click.

Kang Jin-ho lit a cigarette and slowly exhaled the smoke.

“It’s something that’s impossible to even attempt. But that guy has the elements to make it possible.”

“Time and experience.”

It was impossible for an ordinary person. To raise someone to the level of an extreme expert, one had to possess martial knowledge that surpassed their level.

Even the most talented person would have to spend their entire life to barely reach that level. And by the time they reached that level, they wouldn’t have much time left.

That’s why those who reached that level created secret manuals to pass on their martial arts, and passed them down through their sects.

Believing that someday someone would reach the same level as them.

But…

‘Cheongma is different.’

From the beginning of his life, he had perfectly internalized the knowledge of martial arts that could lead to ascension.

Just like Kang Jin-ho now.

If such a person returned to the modern world and nurtured his confidants with the goal of this time, it wouldn’t be strange at all if they had grown into warriors of the Three Kings level in a hundred years.

What if Kang Jin-ho selected a few people, including the Flame Demons, from the General Assembly and trained them for a hundred years, passing on his insights? Would their martial prowess not reach the Three Kings level after a hundred years?

‘At least the possibility is high.’

And in terms of teaching and leading people, the Creation King was better than Kang Jin-ho, if not equal.

“It is possible.”

As if reading Kang Jin-ho’s thoughts, Lee Hyun-soo took the lead.

“The problem isn’t whether it’s possible or not. Even if it’s a second life, it’s not something a person can do, enduring a hundred years while looking at the possibility of the future.”

“…That’s right.”

Lee Hyun-soo shook his head.

It was something that even Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t even dare to imagine. If this was true, Cheongma’s patience was beyond human.

“That crazy bastard…”

From the start, ordinary humans couldn’t reach that level. In other words, warriors at or beyond the Three Kings level were missing something as humans.

Kang Jin-ho was like that, the Red King was like that, and the Creation King was like that.

But Cheongma’s tenacity was enough to make the other Three Kings look ordinary.

“I can’t even understand how this was possible.”

“It’s not important whether you understand it or not.”

“Yes?”

“In the past, Cheongma used me and the demons of the Demonic Cult to almost conquer the Central Plains.”

“Cheongma could have revived the Demonic Cult at any time. The Demonic Cult existed in this world too. Before me, if he had found them and given them suitable demonic arts, everyone would have pledged their loyalty. He could have revived the Demonic Cult at a level incomparable to mine.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face hardened.

“What I did, he could have done just as well. Twenty years would have been enough to create the Demonic Cult he commanded in the past in this world. But he didn’t even bother with the Demonic Cult.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled bitterly.

“That means that wasn’t enough to achieve what he wanted.”

“That…”

“In other words…”

Kang Jin-ho spat out the words.

“The guy who led the Demonic Cult in its prime wasn’t satisfied with that and created the current system. I don’t know how we’re supposed to handle that.”

Think about it.

The Three Kings level experts moving in perfect unison under Cheongma’s command.

No. You don’t even need Three Kings level.

Even if there were just six or so experts of that level, it would be impossible for the General Assembly, let alone the Demonic Cult of the past, to fight them. Unless Kang Jin-ho had ten bodies, he couldn’t possibly face experts who were attacking and retreating from all directions.

In the past, it was Cheongma who made tens of thousands of members of the Demonic Cult move as one. What would happen if that guy focused on commanding a small number?

“Thinking about it, it’s really something Cheongma would do.”

If it were an ordinary person, they would have learned from their past failures and gathered forces more quickly and surely. But Cheongma twisted the very foundation itself.

“It’s because of the Guild Leader.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not that a few thousand or tens of thousands of nobodies were no match for the Guild Leader. That’s why he mass-produced minor copies of the Guild Leader.”

“Whether it’s the past life or this life, there’s nothing helpful. Really…”

Kang Jin-ho carefully tapped off the ash from his cigarette.

Seeing this, Lee Hyun-soo sighed and opened his mouth.

“First, Chai Ke-chang said he would investigate further, focusing on those who had contact with them.”

“It’s meaningless.”

Kang Jin-ho leaned back on the sofa.

“Nothing will come of it. There’s no way he would handle things so carelessly.”

“We have to grab at straws, don’t we? Grabbing one straw is a waste of time, but if you gather hundreds of straws, it can be helpful.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

He had no intention of belittling Chai Ke-chang or Lee Hyun-soo’s methods. After all, Kang Jin-ho was also unable to find a solution against Cheongma.

“I’ll leave that to you.”

“Yes.”

“Instead…”

“Yes?”

“Strengthen the defenses.”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Kang Jin-ho with questioning eyes.

Strengthen the defenses?

“There’s a high chance that problems will arise.”

“It’s a bit strange for me to say this, but didn’t that Cheongma declare that he wouldn’t touch the General Assembly?”

“He did.”

“And he’s not someone who breaks his word, right?”

“That’s also true.”

“…Then why?”

Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth with a stern face.

“Cheongma is someone who can completely control himself. He can endure his desires for the sake of his goals, and he can smile even while rolling through a thorny path.”

“That’s what it seems like.”

“But what about the others?”

Kang Jin-ho’s subdued voice pierced Lee Hyun-soo’s ears.

“No matter how much they’re under Cheongma’s control, experts are basically people with a screw loose. You can’t reach that level without being that crazy.”

This was the thought Lee Hyun-soo had earlier when thinking about the Three Kings.

So he had no choice but to agree.

“If Cheongma really raised such people, it’s impossible for even Cheongma to completely control them. It wouldn’t be strange if any of them caused an accident.”

“Ah, no, wait a minute. That’s a bit strange. If they were going to cause an accident, they would have done it already. It’s strange that they would wait until now…”

“They’ve probably already caused a few.”

“Yes?”

“That’s why the name Black King was created.”

“Ah…”

Lee Hyun-soo closed his mouth as if he understood.

“It was common in the past. I also became the Red Demon because someone called me the Red Demon, and I became the Red Heavenly Demon Lord because someone called me the Red Heavenly Demon Lord. It’s no problem for him to use the name of a king that was created because of something he didn’t do.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face stiffened.

“I’ll issue a warning immediately.”

“Tell them to be careful. They’re not ordinary madmen.”

“Yes.”

Watching Lee Hyun-soo rush out, Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes.

‘It’s difficult.’

No matter how much he thought about it, it was difficult for him to face three or more Three Kings level experts at the same time. He could guarantee a fight against two, but he would definitely lose against three or more.

Then what about Cheongma?

If Cheongma had anticipated Kang Jin-ho’s return to this world, how much preparation would he have made?

‘Five, probably.’

That’s why he confidently showed himself in front of Kang Jin-ho. Because he was sure that no matter what Kang Jin-ho did, he could never stop him.

Kang Jin-ho quietly clenched and unclenched his fist.

‘I smell blood.’

The smell of war, which he thought he had escaped, pricked his nose.

While shuddering at the scent, he found himself strangely excited.

“I’m hopeless.”

Kang Jin-ho grinned, revealing his teeth.

The moment the beings he had to overcome became clear, it felt like the fog in his head was clearing.

Kang Jin-ho slowly rose from his seat.