Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1843

“……Trying hard.”

“Pardon?”

Kang Jin-ho, as if he hadn’t heard properly, asked back, startled.

Choi Yeon-ha sighed deeply at the sight.

‘Trying hard, trying so hard.’

It’s absurd that someone who can hear a pin drop a hundred meters away can’t hear what she’s saying. It means his mind is elsewhere right now.

However, Kang Jin-ho is desperately trying to act nonchalant, as if he wouldn’t show any sign of it. As if he has no worries at all.

“Oh, what a life I have.”

They say a woman with bad luck has no luck with her husband.

How did I end up meeting such a tumultuous man…

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled gently.

“Wait here.”

“Yes?”

Choi Yeon-ha got up from her seat without a word. A moment later, she returned with a cold iced coffee and a piece of cake in her hands.

“Here you go.”

“……Is this for me?”

“Yes, have it. And don’t start tormenting the ice left in the empty cup as soon as you get it.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled awkwardly.

‘She’s surprisingly thoughtful.’

This pleasant feeling doesn’t come from Choi Yeon-ha doing something for him. It comes from her gaze being directed at him, always checking on his condition.

Not that they want something from each other, but simply watching over the other.

Isn’t that the beginning of goodwill?

“Have it.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho picked up the americano placed in front of him and took a long sip.

‘This won’t help much.’

Humans are so strange.

His body perfectly breaks down most substances that enter it. Whether it’s caffeine or nicotine, even if he consumes an amount that would be lethal to ordinary people, his physical condition doesn’t change.

Whether he drinks coffee or chain-smokes, nothing changes.

Yet, every time Kang Jin-ho drinks coffee, he feels his anxious heart calm down. Perhaps people find solace not in the substance itself, but in the act.

“Who’s the problem this time?”

“Yes?”

“Your expression says it all.”

“I have a question…”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho asked with a genuinely serious face.

“Can you really see all that in my expression?”

“Pffft!”

Choi Yeon-ha, who had been holding water in her mouth, burst out laughing and bent over.

Kang Jin-ho, being a martial artist, was able to dodge it, but ordinary people would have been soaked like drowned rats by now.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Choi Yeon-ha quickly wiped her mouth with a tissue and looked at Kang Jin-ho with a bewildered expression.

“Was it really that surprising that you had to spit it out like that?”

“No, your face was just too serious!”

“……Because I asked seriously.”

Kang Jin-ho felt somewhat wronged, but there was nowhere to vent this injustice.

“That’s just a figure of speech. How can you tell just by looking at someone’s expression? If someone could do that, they’d become an actor and win Best Actor for ten consecutive years!”

“Then how…”

“It’s because Jin-ho, you rarely fret over your own problems in the first place.”

Oh?

Is that so?

“I don’t think I’m the type to think about others that much.”

“Ah, that’s a misunderstanding. Please listen properly.”

“Yes?”

“It doesn’t mean that Jin-ho is a nice person who cares about others. You seem to be a bit self-absorbed lately… That’s not a good habit, so please be careful.”

“Jin-ho, you’re not kind to others, but you’re too harsh on yourself. I don’t know what’s making you so depressed right now, but if the same thing happened to you, you’d just brush it off as nothing, wouldn’t you?”

“Uh…”

That’s true.

Kang Jin-ho scratched the back of his head.

If he were the one in a demonic trance right now, he would have just accepted it. He’s confident he can overcome it anyway, and even if he wasn’t, he’s sure he’d find another way.

“So…”

Choi Yeon-ha was about to say something but then shrugged her shoulders.

“Never mind.”

“Why did you stop talking…”

“No. Well, it feels like I’m just nagging whenever I meet Jin-ho these days.”

“Actually, even if you just nag, just sitting across from you and looking at your face is healing.”

Kang Jin-ho’s face turned sour.

It’s not that he’s sour because he heard those words, but that he can’t refute them.

“What’s with that face? Did I say something wrong?”

“It’s not that it’s wrong…”

“Is it okay or not?”

“……It’s okay.”

No, but it’s not that Choi Yeon-ha is pretty and that’s why it’s healing.

“That’s right.”

However, Choi Yeon-ha didn’t seem to have any intention of listening to Kang Jin-ho’s words. Looking at Choi Yeon-ha, who was puffing up her cheeks triumphantly, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hmm, your words and expression seem a bit different…”

“Yes?”

“Shall we go home?”

“Yes? Why home all of a sudden?”

“It seems like just looking at my face isn’t healing enough, so maybe something else…”

“No. It’s enough!”

Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes narrowed.

“What? Are you rejecting me?”

“Wh-what am I rejecting?”

“Tsk, tsk, how are you ever going to get married like this.”

It’s getting harder and harder to handle Choi Yeon-ha’s advances.

Choi Yeon-ha, who had eased the atmosphere, looked at Kang Jin-ho with gentle eyes.

‘It’s strange.’

It doesn’t seem like there have been many times when I’ve just felt good being with this person. If liking someone means accumulating only good memories with them, then their relationship could never be called good.

But…

‘This is also a charm.’

I didn’t think I was the type to be greatly attracted to someone who was solely focused on their own work, but it seems that it depends on the person. Or maybe, once I see someone in a good light, all aspects of them look good.

‘I guess I’m still wearing rose-colored glasses.’

It was something I couldn’t have imagined before. For a man who dared to think about other things in front of me.

If there was even a hint of that, I would have gotten up from my seat without saying another word. There’s no need to talk to someone who doesn’t value me.

But instead of feeling bad, I’m worried about what Kang Jin-ho is worrying about again…

‘I’m done for.’

Choi Yeon-ha, who had chuckled, looked at Kang Jin-ho with a fresh gaze.

I want to know more.

I want to understand more.

Every time I get to know and understand Kang Jin-ho, it’s not Kang Jin-ho, but she who changes. Thinking about her from just a year ago, it’s hard to understand what she was thinking back then.

Perhaps when people meet, form relationships, and live together, it means they are carving themselves to fit the other’s mold.

Each becoming suitable for the other. The old Choi Yeon-ha wanted Kang Jin-ho to feel excited while being with her. She wanted him to think about her more, and for her to occupy a larger part of his heart.

But now, that doesn’t matter much.

At least, if this person is a little more comfortable when he’s in front of her than at other times, that’s enough.

“……No. It doesn’t seem like it’s enough.”

“Yes?”

“Hmm.”

Choi Yeon-ha crossed her legs.

“I’ve been considerate enough, so now it’s my turn. You need to adjust to me a bit.”

“……What consideration?”

“You’re saying I haven’t been?”

“I-I’ve received plenty.”

I have no idea what it is, but if you say so, then it must be so.

Looking at Kang Jin-ho, who seemed a bit nervous, Choi Yeon-ha burst into laughter.

This person seems to be losing his mind more and more each day. No, maybe he’s just becoming more human. Just as she has changed, Kang Jin-ho has also changed. People change without changing. They change little by little, so they don’t realize it themselves.

“Now, tell me why you have that expression.”

Kang Jin-ho let out a sigh and put down his fork.

“……You should go to the smoking room quickly.”

“……Are you a ghost?”

“Even a three-year-old could guess that.”

‘Did a ghost who couldn’t smoke attach itself to him? I should find every tobacco field and set them on fire,’ Choi Yeon-ha muttered, causing beads of sweat to form on Kang Jin-ho’s forehead.

“It’s not really anything big…”

“Yes.”

“It’s just that…”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his head.

“There are people doing dangerous things… I can’t really help them, and I can only watch, and that bothers me.”

“It bothers you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“……As I said, it’s not something I can directly help with.”

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

“According to what you’re saying, I haven’t helped you at all, Jin-ho.”

“That’s absolutely not true.”

“Why? I haven’t helped you directly, have I? All I’ve done is make a few bucks, and that’s just pocket change for you, Jin-ho.”

“Money isn’t the issue.”

“Right?”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled gently.

“It’s not just about doing something to help. Sometimes, just watching over someone can provide comfort, and sometimes, just believing in them can give them strength.”

“I don’t think you have to think that you have to do something. For example… um, like a fan.”

“A fan?”

“Yes. My fans.”

Choi Yeon-ha shrugged her shoulders and said.

“Fans are such mysterious beings. Especially the fans of actors, who can’t directly buy anything for them, they’re really mysterious.”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand.

“Why?”

“It’s like… it’s like they’re helpful in some ways, but when it comes to actually being helpful, they’re not really.”

“They say they’ll definitely watch the movies I’m in, but if only 10 percent of my followers went to the theater, no movie would ever flop, but if the movie isn’t good, they absolutely won’t watch it.”

That’s… really subtle.

“It’s like, it’s good to have them, but if you ask if they’re really helpful, I don’t know. Rather, when those fans post a picture, they’re always nagging, ‘Don’t do this,’ ‘Don’t do that.'”

Choi Yeon-ha, you’ve become quite full of complaints.

“But even so…”

“Hmm?”

Choi Yeon-ha gave a strange smile.

“Those fans, who are nothing, can sometimes give people strength. It means that somewhere in the world, there are people who like me and want me to succeed.”

“That’s right.”

“There are many cases where even families don’t get along, but to receive love from people you’ve never even met is such a happy thing. I didn’t know how precious it was before.”

Choi Yeon-ha, who had been nodding quietly, looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“Just believing in someone and wanting them to succeed can give them strength.”

Upon hearing those words, Kang Jin-ho subtly turned his head to look out the window.

‘Believing in them, huh…’

I thought I already believed in them enough.

In front of Lee Hyun-soo and others, he speaks with conviction, but only in front of Choi Yeon-ha does his hidden weakness show.

“It’s difficult.”

“What in the world is easy?”

“That’s true.”

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

“Don’t worry. You’ve already overcome the biggest mountain.”

“The biggest mountain?”

“No matter how many difficulties there are in Jin-ho’s life, there won’t be anything more difficult than seducing me.”

“You can be confident. I acknowledge it.”

“……Thank you.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had let out a hollow laugh, leaned back on the sofa with a slightly relaxed posture.

The tension in his muscles seemed to ease a bit.

‘I want to…’

Just talk, share worries, and look at each other…

I want to protect this ordinary daily life.

This ordinary daily life.