Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2000

“……Huh?””That’s how it is.””Huh?””It’s too much of a hassle to explain further, so let’s just go.”Questions swirled in Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes.”So, um….””Let’s go.”Wiggins waved his hand, looking annoyed.Of course, Lee Hyun-soo fully understood Wiggins’s annoyance. If he were in the same situation, having to come outside and take Lee Hyun-soo away, he would naturally be annoyed.Of course, that would be the case.But shouldn’t Wiggins also understand Lee Hyun-soo?”…We just had a very dramatic farewell a little while ago, you know?””Life is enjoyable because you never know what’s going to happen.””Stop talking and follow me.”The moment Wiggins tried to grab Lee Hyun-soo’s shoulder, Chai Ke-chang, who had been standing beside them with a face that seemed to say, ‘How am I supposed to react to this situation?’ rushed over.”P-please, take me with you too.””You too?””Yes. If Lee Hyun-soo is going, there’s no reason why I can’t go, right?””Hmm.”Wiggins seemed to ponder for a moment, then nodded.”That’s right. It’s not like we need their permission to take someone. Grab him.””Yes.”Wiggins, with Lee Hyun-soo and Chai Ke-chang in tow, teleported back into the base.Lee Hyun-soo looked around with a dazed expression.The first thing that caught his eye was the sight of the council directors standing with stiff faces, and next to them, Kang Jin-ho, casually sitting on a military cot, smoking a cigarette.What the….What kind of expression should he make in this situation?”Um… Chairman?”Lee Hyun-soo approached Kang Jin-ho with an awkward expression. Kang Jin-ho, seeing Lee Hyun-soo, gestured with his chin as if it were nothing.”You’re here?””…No, what on earth is going on?””They want to fight. One-on-one.””Why?””Ah, no….”Lee Hyun-soo stared at Kang Jin-ho with a blank face. He could swear that this was the first time Lee Hyun-soo had ever made such a dumbfounded expression since he was born.Of course. Yes, of course.The method of battle wasn’t set in stone. From the start, all they had agreed on was, ‘Those who win the fight will have all the authority,’ that one thing.Whether they all ganged up and fought until a decision was made, or whether they fought one-on-one, or whether Kang Jin-ho and the Black King fought in a duel, it was all up for negotiation.Ah, of course, that’s true, but….
‘What is this ridiculous situation!’ Even if they were considered enemies, they had gathered for the final showdown, but instead of fighting on the spot, they were….”…You’re saying you discussed how to fight while having a peaceful conversation?””Yeah.””What else could I do when he spoke so casually?”Good heavens.Lee Hyun-soo forcefully turned his trembling head to look at the Black King on the other side.
‘The Black King is truly the Black King.’Good heavens, he even managed to pull Kang Jin-ho into his pace.As far as he knew, the only person who had ever influenced this man’s pace, even slightly, was Choi Yeon-ha.”Ah, no, that’s….”Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head vigorously.”So… the rule is that nine people fight each other, and the side that wins five times first wins?”Kang Jin-ho nodded.”…And you’re okay with that?””Yeah.”There were so many things to object to. He just couldn’t even begin to figure out where to start objecting, so he couldn’t say anything.And as if understanding Lee Hyun-soo’s feelings, Kang Jin-ho made the first move.”It used to be common.””This?””That’s what I’m saying.”Kang Jin-ho chuckled.It was definitely a common occurrence.Two sects waging war, and then both sides being annihilated at the end.Unlike wars between countries for survival, wars between sects don’t guarantee survival. That meant that mutual destruction was a conclusion that no one wanted.What they wanted was to determine who was stronger.If that was the case, there was no need for everyone to risk their lives fighting. The strongest among them could simply prove who was stronger.Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head vigorously.”I really don’t understand.””It’s an old method, an extremely old one.” Kang Jin-ho twisted the corner of his mouth.Yes, this was an outdated method. But that was precisely why it was the perfect way to mark the end of Kang Jin-ho and the Black King. They were living in the present, but they were also bound by the past.”Good grief.”Lee Hyun-soo shook his head in disbelief.But the funny thing was, the more he thought about it, the more he understood this method.
‘This is a place to prove and persuade.’Certainly, how many people would be convinced if they just settled the score among themselves in this deep underground and announced the results?Because of the reputation of Kang Jin-ho and the Black King, they wouldn’t openly rebel, but they would inevitably harbor resentment in their hearts. That was a method that wouldn’t cause any problems in taking the top spot, but….
‘There’s a limit to leading.’If that was the case, they had no choice but to show them.Who Kang Jin-ho was, who the Black King was, and what kind of people followed them.”…How about going up above instead?””Hmm?””There are many martial artists gathered above, so they can be witnesses, right? There’s no need to make the whole world watch through a broadcast, is there?”Kang Jin-ho slowly exhaled cigarette smoke.”One thing is certain….””That guy isn’t someone who does things without thinking.”Lee Hyun-soo closed his mouth.”He and I are thinking the same thing. Why do you think the martial world was pushed all the way here?””…Because they couldn’t overcome weapons.””No.””…Then?”Kang Jin-ho chuckled.”Because they hid.””Because they ran away, hid, and acted like they didn’t exist. There’s no way to talk to someone who doesn’t exist.”Kang Jin-ho shrugged.”What brought us here was ultimately the way of the martial artists. Even without fighting, even without winning, no one could think of resolving the situation through dialogue and negotiation.””That’s only natural. No one can represent the entire martial world.””Yes, that’s right. But at this moment, that representative is being created.””If that’s the case, we need to start by revealing our existence. Understanding begins with knowing. And if we’re going to reveal ourselves, we need to make them understand properly, not just show them half-heartedly.”A dark look crossed Lee Hyun-soo’s face.”…They might become even more wary of us. Isn’t that why we’ve been hiding until now?””That might be the case. But… that method has already been proven wrong, hasn’t it?”Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t argue with that.”We have no choice but to believe.”Kang Jin-ho slowly closed his eyes.In the past, he couldn’t trust people.The world was too harsh and cold to him. No one was by his side when he died.But now, everything was different.Was it because he had become stronger?Was it because he had gained a different kind of power than in the past?
‘That can’t be it.’Even if Kang Jin-ho hadn’t learned martial arts and had returned to this world, his life would have been different from his past life.Because he had met them.Because he had met so many people and learned how to live with them.”There’s only one way to change things. I have to reach out first. It might be an irresponsible kind of trust. But… it’s always the crazy fools who change the world.””…Chairman.”Kang Jin-ho opened his eyes.”I’m going to reach out to the world.””I can’t guarantee that the result will be good. But this is the only way I know. And this is the only truth I believe in.”The head nun had told him to be someone who could reach out first. Now he knew that those words weren’t just about helping others.
‘It wasn’t about helping others because I’m strong.’The head nun knew. The solid wall that had been built in Kang Jin-ho’s heart.She worried about Kang Jin-ho until the very last moment.She advised him not to be like a lonely hedgehog, putting up his quills, trembling in fear of getting hurt, but to open his heart and reach out first.It might be a little different, but right now, Kang Jin-ho was reaching out to the world first. Whether the world would accept him was another matter.”…What if those guys gobble up all the good opportunities?””It can’t be helped.”Kang Jin-ho grinned.”Isn’t it a little better to lose like that than to just lose?””…You’re hopeless, really.””What can I do? So? Are you going to stop me?””Sigh.”Lee Hyun-soo laughed.But this wasn’t a laugh of frustration.
‘I can’t beat him.’In the past, Kang Jin-ho was also an amazing person. Lee Hyun-soo had never thought that he could face Kang Jin-ho with his strength as a human.But the current Kang Jin-ho was different from then.He was carrying all the heavy burdens that weighed on his shoulders, yet he was moving towards a better place. He was trying to lead not only those who believed in him and followed him, but also the martial artists of the world, and even his enemies, to a better place.He suddenly became curious.They had lived through the same time. But what was so different about the world that Kang Jin-ho saw and the world that he saw, that Kang Jin-ho had gone so far ahead alone?”If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have said anything about entrusting it to you.””You were crying earlier?””Who’s crying, who! You’re talking nonsense!””Are you crying?””No, this guy!”Lee Hyun-soo yelled.”Ugh, I really shouldn’t have come!” Lee Hyun-soo looked at the opposite side with a sullen gaze.”But what are they doing?””…They said it takes time to set up the cameras. It seems they’re also negotiating with China to broadcast it.”Lee Hyun-soo covered his face with both hands.
‘I’m going crazy.’It felt like the outside world, the martial world, the past, and the present were all mixed up in this place. He felt a sense of discomfort that he couldn’t explain, and his stomach churned.
‘To think that I would live to see the Twelve Flying Blades holding cameras and groaning.’It suddenly occurred to him that both sides were suffering because of their crazy leaders, and he even felt a strange sense of camaraderie with those Twelve Flying Blades.”…Come to think of it, why did you call me? It’s not like you called me to get you a soda, and there’s nothing for me to do here.””Ah, it’s nothing much.””Huh?”Kang Jin-ho shrugged.”They have nine people, and we have eight… They said that to have a match, there needs to be an odd number, so they told us to bring one more person.””I didn’t really have anyone in mind, and since it didn’t seem like it would make a difference to our strength no matter who we brought, I just called the person who was nearby.”Lee Hyun-soo stared at Kang Jin-ho with a blank face.”So….””Yeah.”Kang Jin-ho smiled brightly.”You’re going to participate.”Lee Hyun-soo’s head slowly tilted to the side.”Me?””Yeah.””Over there?””Yes.””Me?””That’s what I’m saying.””Why?””Why!”The one who carried the fate of the world… was being pushed back by the spirit of the weakest in the martial world.