Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2071

The screen had turned black.

It had been a while since the broadcast had been cut off, but no one could even think about turning the screen back on.

They could only clench their fists tightly…

Unable to cope with the bewilderment and desperation, the sorrow and frustration.

It was inevitable.

Because standing on the edge of that desperate, miserable fight visible on the screen was none other than their family.

Kang Yu-hwan’s trembling hand covered his face.

Perhaps to steady his swaying body, or perhaps to hide his reddened eyes from the family beside him.

‘Damn it…’

He knew that Kang Jin-ho was living a different life from them.

He was Kang Jin-ho’s father.

Unless he was someone who could lie skillfully, Kang Jin-ho was not that kind of person. He couldn’t have not known that Kang Jin-ho always evaded the question whenever he asked about what he was doing.

He had just chosen to believe him.

Because he didn’t want Kang Jin-ho to talk about it.

And because he had faith that his son would never do anything wrong.

But the moment he witnessed what kind of life his son was living, self-loathing washed over him like a tidal wave.

Why couldn’t he have asked sooner?

Why had he neglected his son with indifference in the name of consideration? If he had asked a little sooner, if he had shown a little more interest, he could have helped ease the burden Kang Jin-ho was carrying.

The sight that made his body tremble, the terrifying power that was beyond his comprehension, none of it registered in Kang Yu-hwan’s eyes.

All he could see was the blood of those fighting and the sight of those dying as a result of the battle.

A tremor was transmitted from over his shoulder.

Only then did Kang Yu-hwan come to his senses. Because he realized that the tremor was not coming from his own shoulder.

“Honey.”

Kang Yu-hwan reached out and wrapped his arm around Baek Hyun-jung’s shoulder.

Baek Hyun-jung was trembling so pitifully that the shock he had received felt insignificant. Seeing Baek Hyun-jung trembling as if in prayer with both hands in front of her face, he realized that he needed to get a grip on himself first.

“It’ll be alright.”

“Honey… Jin-ho…”

Her voice sounded rather calm.

But Kang Yu-hwan knew that the reason her voice sounded calm was not because Baek Hyun-jung was trying to stay composed. The shock was so great that her voice was devoid of emotion.

“He’ll be alright. He’s our son.”

“Jin-ho…”

How many words were hidden behind that one word?

Parents lose sleep and their hearts ache even if their child goes to a normal battlefield. How much more would Baek Hyun-jung’s heart ache when her son had to fight in a place like that?

“He should have at least… at least told us beforehand. At least…”

Kang Yu-hwan quietly shook his head.

“He probably couldn’t have said it.”

It was hard to understand.

But he had no choice but to understand.

Even if Kang Yu-hwan were in that position, he wouldn’t have been able to bring himself to say it.

What was he supposed to say?

That he was going to fight terrorists at the risk of his life?

But that he would come back safe, so don’t worry and wait?

He couldn’t do it.

As a human, he couldn’t say those words.

“Let’s understand. It’s not like Jin-ho went there with a light heart.”

Kang Jin-ho’s heart must have been aching too.

“The one who’s having the hardest time isn’t us. It’s not us, it’s Jin-ho. So… even if everyone else blames Jin-ho, we shouldn’t blame him. That’s what parents are for.”

“But…”

Baek Hyun-jung’s hands trembled pitifully.

Kang Yu-hwan sighed deeply as he watched her.

‘Careless boy.’

Kang Jin-ho had grown too big to be called a child. Too big for him to embrace. So he thought it was enough to silently support him rather than meddling unnecessarily.

But seeing Kang Jin-ho standing there, he realized how wrong he had been.

No matter how great he was, he was still just a human.

How hard it must have been to carry such a burden alone.

If only he had approached Kang Jin-ho a little more, if only he could have shared his burden.

“Honey, our Jin-ho will be okay, right? We…”

“He’ll be alright.”

Kang Yu-hwan nodded, holding Baek Hyun-jung’s hand.

“It’s Jin-ho. It’s our Jin-ho. So he’ll be alright. It’s our son, not someone else.”

Baek Hyun-jung lowered her head without a word.

Baek Hyun-jung was someone who couldn’t even watch movies where people died. Yet, she hadn’t taken her eyes off the desperate fight on the screen for even a single moment.

The battlefield where her son was standing.

She couldn’t take her eyes off it. Because she was a mother.

Only when the screen was stained with black and her son was no longer visible on the screen did she lower her head. As if the strength she had barely held onto had collapsed all at once.

At that moment, Kang Eun-young, who had been silent until now, jumped up from her seat.

“Eun-young.”

Kang Eun-young bit her lip.

As if she had too much to say but couldn’t bring herself to say it. But in the end, unable to hold back, her voice burst out fiercely.

“That crazy bastard!”

Her fingertips trembled.

“Who does he think he is, going there and doing that! Why! What’s so great about him!”

“Eun-young!”

“He’s crazy. Is he out of his mind? What if he dies? Is anyone going to clap for him? Who does he think he is, doing that! Why!”

It was more of a scream than a shout.

Kang Yu-hwan, unable to bear the sight of Kang Eun-young yelling with her eyes bloodshot, closed his eyes.

“What if something bad happens…”

“Jin-ho…”

Kang Yu-hwan let out a deep sigh.

“He must have had his reasons. He didn’t go there for himself.”

“That’s why he’s even crazier! Why is he going, why him! Are the police just playing around? Is the military just for show? Why is he making such a fuss about solving it himself! Does anyone even care!”

Tears welled up in her eyes, unable to contain her anger.

Kang Eun-young, her face a mess of frustration, resentment, and anger, spoke as if she was spitting out the words.

“He’s always like that, always!”

“Eun-young…”

“Crazy bastard.”

She was angry at Kang Jin-ho standing there.

She couldn’t understand why he had to be there.

But what made her even more unbearable was the criticism against them that was being posted on numerous online communities and social media.

Those who were screaming and cursing out of fear, those who were calling him a monster or a devil without even knowing who Kang Jin-ho was.

Did they know Kang Jin-ho?

Kang Eun-young knew why Kang Jin-ho was standing there. That foolish man was someone who didn’t know how to fight for himself.

For such a person to be standing in a place like that, it was obvious that it was for others, not for himself. But people were not curious about the details. They were just mocking, cursing, and getting angry.

And…

Kang Jin-ho was fighting there for those people.

That fact made Kang Eun-young unable to bear it.

“Why isn’t it coming on again!”

Kang Eun-young shouted, looking at the black screen.

It felt like her insides would rot if she looked at it, but now that she couldn’t see it, she felt like she was going to burst.

“This…”

In the end, Kang Eun-young covered her face with both hands.

If he were in front of her, she would have bitten him to stop him. If he had said even a word beforehand, she would have grabbed his pant leg and begged him not to go.

Nuclear weapons? Terrorists?

Why should she care about that?

There were others who should be solving those things. It was not something that ordinary people should be involved in. But why was her brother foolishly standing there?

Who did he think he was?

What made it the hardest for her was that she could do nothing while watching all of this.

Unlike the people who were watching the screen with superficial feelings, she couldn’t bear the fact that she could do nothing even though she was family.

“Bad bastard! Stupid bastard! Crazy…”

Kang Eun-young’s lips trembled.

“Crazy…”

“Stop it, Eun-young.”

Kang Yu-hwan took her hand. Her hand was trembling like an aspen. He was worried that she might collapse.

“Dad…”

“Yes.”

Kang Yu-hwan reached out and hugged Kang Eun-young.

At this moment, even Kang Yu-hwan couldn’t help but feel resentment towards Kang Jin-ho.

He should have said something.

Even just one word…

“Maybe it’s our fault.”

“We could have known if we had tried… Maybe Jin-ho also wanted us to ask him first. Because it’s a story he couldn’t tell on his own.”

Kang Eun-young’s shoulders trembled.

“It’s my fault. I should have asked first. When I felt that Jin-ho wasn’t his usual self, I should have forced him to tell me.”

Kang Yu-hwan closed his eyes.

It was faith in his son.

But that faith was now piercing his heart. There was no perfect person in the world. Even those who seemed perfect were hiding their own pain and weaknesses.

How could his son be any different?

The more someone had to bear, the more they had to pretend to be brave on the outside. No matter how rotten they were on the inside.

And the family should be the ones who recognized and embraced that.

Kang Yu-hwan was filled with regret at the thought that he had not been able to embrace his son as a father, and that he had been relying on him instead.

“…He’ll come back, right?”

Probably.

What Kang Eun-young really wanted to say was, ‘He’ll come back alive, right?’ She just couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.

“Of course.”

“He’s always said it would take a day or two and then come back safe and sound. He’ll be the same this time, too.”

“…When he comes back, I’m going to kill him.”

Kang Yu-hwan patted Kang Eun-young’s back without a word.

“Okay. I won’t stop you.”

Just as he was trying to comfort the trembling Kang Eun-young and Baek Hyun-jung.

Ding dong.

The sound of someone ringing the doorbell was heard.

Kang Yu-hwan didn’t turn his head.

He didn’t want to meet anyone, no matter who came. Now was not the time for him to share a casual daily life. It was a time when he was too busy worrying about Kang Jin-ho.

But the bell didn’t stop with just one ring.

It rang continuously, persistently, as if it had to deliver something.

Kang Yu-hwan’s face contorted.

Realizing that he couldn’t avoid the situation with silence and ignorance, Kang Yu-hwan patted Kang Eun-young’s shoulder and headed towards the intercom. To reclaim the time that should be filled only with their family.

“Who is it?”

A hint of annoyance was in his voice.

But the moment he heard the voice from the intercom, the annoyance disappeared from Kang Yu-hwan’s face.

“Wh-who did you say you were?”

Kang Yu-hwan, looking dazed, checked the face of the person visible on the small intercom screen several times.