Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1964

“Please say something!” “Has the government been hiding this fact until now?” “Minister, you must say something.” Reporters surrounded the middle-aged man coming out of the building, thrusting microphones at him. The constant flashes of cameras turned the man’s face pale white. “I have nothing to say.” “This is not a situation where you can get away with such words!” “The public’s anger is soaring!” “You must have known, didn’t you?” “It’s on the news! Right now!” The middle-aged man, who had been pushing through the reporters with a stiff face, subtly grimaced. “It hasn’t been long since I became minister…” “Are you saying you didn’t know?” “If you didn’t know, isn’t that incompetence, incompetence!” “Please give us an answer that the public can accept! Avoiding this spot isn’t the solution.” The minister sighed deeply. “Listen, this issue isn’t just our problem.” Before the reporters could say anything, the minister quickly spoke. “It’s a global issue, and it’s not just our government’s problem but also the previous administration’s. Isn’t it too harsh to hold us responsible for such an issue?” As the minister spoke, the reporters, as if they had found an opening, began to ask questions even more fiercely. “Is that the government’s official position?” “So, are you admitting that the government has been hiding and condoning the existence of these so-called ‘Inhumans’?” “Why did you hide it! Don’t you think you should have informed the public sooner?” The minister’s face visibly contorted. It was true that they had nothing to say. The fact that they had hidden the truth from the public could not be excused with any words. This was something that not only they but also previous administrations and governments of various countries should be criticized for. However, they had no interest in the truth. They were just eager to hear another sensational statement and write an article about it to increase their views. “Please wait for the government’s official announcement for details!” “Minister! Minister!” Bodyguards surrounded the minister and pushed back the reporters. Then, as if breaking through a riotous crowd, they struggled forward and barely managed to get him into the car. “Minister, the truth will always come to light!” “This is not the time to bury your head in the sand, Minister!” The reporters clung to the car windows, thrusting microphones inside. But the car carrying the minister revved its engine as if ready to speed away, threatening the reporters blocking its path, and then quickly drove away along the opened road. “…What a mess.” Ha Gwang-shik clicked his tongue from behind the crowd of reporters. “…Instead of just standing there, shouldn’t we be filming something?” “Do you think filming that will make the news?” Ha Gwang-shik shook his head at Park Gyu-yeon’s words. “I’m not interested in sharing scraps of meat on the floor. As a reporter, I should be cutting the steak on my table.” “That’s why you’re just picking at grass!” “…Shut up, you brat.” Park Gyu-yeon shook his head and said, “What do you think will happen? The impact seems like it will be huge.” “Nothing much will happen.” “…Huh? The country is in chaos right now! It’s crazy both online and offline. They say it’s trendy these days to ask your acquaintances if they are human.” “Are you human?” “It means Inhumans aren’t human, I guess.” Ha Gwang-shik chuckled. “And you still think nothing much will happen? I think you’re wrong this time, senior.” “Nothing much will happen.” Ha Gwang-shik didn’t change his words despite Park Gyu-yeon’s rebuttal. “Why do you think so?” “That’s how human nature is. People get excited and question small things, but they just give up on really big issues.” “You’re a reporter, so you should know.” “…I guess so.” People get worked up over a celebrity’s minor slip-up, but they turn a blind eye to a powerful politician’s major flaws. Only when that politician’s power weakens and they become vulnerable do they dig up the past and attack them. “If it was just the existence of Inhumans that was revealed, it would have been more chaotic. But we can’t afford to worry about that right now. That madman is threatening the whole world.” “…That’s true.” Black King. The fact that he had occupied China’s nuclear missile launch site and was threatening various countries was no longer a secret. A secret that cannot be hidden can no longer be a secret. “In other words, the Inhumans are in trouble because of that madman, but on the other hand, they’ve also gotten a breather because of him?” “I don’t know. Whether the Inhumans got a breather, or we did.” “Huh?” Ha Gwang-shik gave a wry smile. Human madness is unpredictable. Especially those whose emotions are at their peak and who are convinced they are right tend to become incredibly cruel. If the situation had gone to the worst, it wouldn’t have been strange for public opinion to demand that all Inhumans be suppressed and imprisoned. ‘They wouldn’t be caught easily, so there would be chaos.’ If some were to die in the process, a civil war would truly break out. Right now, the great evil called Black King is holding both sides in check. “So, you’re saying it will pass quietly like this?” “…As long as there’s a suppressor.” In the end, there will inevitably be changes in some form. “It’s a funny thing.” “What is?” “According to that madman, we were living with those people from the beginning. Just without knowing anything.” “That’s right.” “That means it doesn’t really change anything even if those people exist.” “It’s not like people who didn’t exist suddenly appeared, it’s just that we learned something we didn’t know, so it’s funny that we’re making such a fuss.” “Hey, you shouldn’t think of it that way.” “Why?” “Imagine you’re living peacefully without seeing any cockroaches, but one day you lift a drawer and find a swarm of cockroaches underneath.” “Can you just put the drawer back and live like before? I can’t.” “…They’re not cockroaches.” “It’s worse. I’ve never heard of a cockroach killing a person, unless it’s a heart attack.” Ha Gwang-shik, at a loss for words, smacked his lips. There is definitely a difference between knowing and not knowing. He wasn’t trying to deny that fact. ‘But it’s too heated right now.’ It felt like the world had been thrown into a fire. “But, senior.” “Why?” “That Kang Jin-ho, the MK chairman.” “That guy must be an Inhuman, right?” “What’s the point of even saying it, damn it.” Ha Gwang-shik bit his lip as if annoyed. Such an illogical thing had happened that he had been tracking him so much to find out what kind of guy he was… Who would have thought the conclusion would be like this. If he held a high position among the Inhumans… no, even if he wasn’t in a high position, but just a figurehead put forward by the Inhumans to conduct external business, everything he had done so far would be explained. “What a strange conclusion. I thought he was a criminal, but he turned out to be a psychic.” “…That guy is done for now.” Ha Gwang-shik sighed. “This isn’t the time to be looking at that. More importantly, has the Blue House [South Korean Presidential Residence] responded yet?” “It’s not just the Blue House that hasn’t responded. No countries around the world have made a statement yet. When has our country ever taken the lead and made the first move? Once the US or Japan says something, we’ll just jump on the bandwagon.” “What about the Chinese?” “Those bastards are really!” “Hoo.” A sigh escaped from Ha Gwang-shik’s lips. He saw the reporters, looking annoyed, moving to find their next prey. ‘I don’t know.’ Whether the world is being distorted. Or if the distorted world is returning to normal. Either way, the shock is unavoidable. He could only hope that the world after all this was over wouldn’t be worse than it is now. “What a mess.” Crunch, crunch. Kang Eun-young sat on the sofa as if she was collapsing, munching on snacks. Yet, her eyes were fixed on the news on TV. The sight of politicians avoiding interviews, people giving interviews, and so-called experts from various fields giving their opinions on the situation. Just watching the continuous programs was enough to make a day fly by. “…Is it okay for you to eat that much?” “It’s not like the country isn’t a mess right now, so I can’t broadcast. No events are coming in, so whatever.” “And I don’t gain weight easily these days. Is it because of that breathing method you taught me before, oppa?” “…Your achievement has increased.” Unfortunately, that is. “Wow, there’s something I can benefit from my brother. Oh? Wait a minute. Then, am I also one of those Inhumans or something…” “Don’t even dream about it. If you’re an Inhuman, then a mosquito is an eagle.” “Then that’s a relief.” Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly. Relief…. Yes, maybe that was right. Kang Jin-ho had never thought positively about living as an Inhuman. If he thought that being an Inhuman was better than living a normal life, he would have taught his family martial arts. However, he did not pass on martial arts to his family except for the minimum necessary for health. If you are not already swept up in that fate, it is better to live a normal life. “But, oppa.” “Yeah?” “I understand why you had to say that to Mom and Dad. But do you really think this situation will pass smoothly?” “No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think so.” Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly. “We’ll have to wait and see.” His gaze returned to the screen. The faces of the people being interviewed were filled with anxiety. ‘The media…’ At first, the anxiety might not have been that great. But the continuous reports and the words of experts exaggerating the seriousness of the situation were stimulating people’s fear. The country must have tried to control those reports, and the guidelines for reporting probably went down that way. The fact that they were able to restrain it to that extent meant that was the limit. Just as Kang Jin-ho was about to get up from his seat, his phone started ringing. Kang Jin-ho’s face hardened as he saw the name on the screen. “Who is it?” “M-O.” Kang Jin-ho answered the phone, pressed the call button, and put it to his ear. [It’s the Prime Minister, Chairman.] “Yes. I thought you would contact me.” [I’m nearby. I’d like to meet you briefly, away from people’s eyes. I have a lot to say.] “Yes. Where should I go?” Kang Jin-ho, after confirming where he needed to go, nodded. “I’ll call you again when I get nearby.” Kang Jin-ho hung up the phone, got up from his seat, and headed to his room. “Are you going out?” “Yeah.” “You’re not going to stay out again, are you? If you stay out again, Mom is going to grind you up with the mixer.” “…I’ll be back before dinner.” “You should be careful when you need to be. Oppa, think carefully and don’t be late.” “…Yes. Thank you for your words.” A small sigh escaped from Kang Jin-ho’s lips as he entered his room and grabbed some clothes to change into. The flow is too rapid. Enough to sweep even him away.