Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2101

“I’m home.”

The moment he opened the door and stepped inside, a sharp, almost beast-like roar echoed.

“Woof! Woof!”

Dong-dong, sensing Kang Jin-ho’s presence, charged at him with incredible speed.

“Careful, you’ll get hurt.”

Kang Jin-ho quickly reached out and scooped up Dong-dong, who was leaping towards his knees. Dong-dong then wagged his tail like a propeller and began licking Kang Jin-ho’s face.

Kang Jin-ho gently pulled Dong-dong away and put on a serious expression, but seeing the dog panting happily, he couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s been a while.”

He was reminded that this was why people kept dogs—for the simple, unconditional joy they brought.

“You’re back?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho took off his shoes and went inside. As he entered the living room, Baek Hyun-jung came out and patted him on the back.

“If you were discharged, you should have come straight home! Where were you wandering around? The hospital said you were discharged yesterday!”

“…I had a place to stop by.”

“Were you at Choi Yeon-ha’s house?”

“No. I, uh, went to the company for a bit…”

Instantly, Baek Hyun-jung’s eyes narrowed.

“…What’s so great about that company? Why are you so eager to go there, even though you’re still recovering?”

“I had some urgent things to do.”

“Always busy, always! You’re not fully recovered even after being discharged; you should take care of yourself first! What if you collapse!”

“I’ll be careful…”

Baek Hyun-jung glared at Kang Jin-ho with narrowed eyes before chuckling.

“Let’s eat first.”

“I’ll shower first.”

“The side dishes will get cold. Eat first.”

“…Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho didn’t argue further and sat at the table. Then, he looked around.

“Where are Father and Eun-young?”

“Your father will be late today. He said there’s some repair work at the store.”

“I should go check…”

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Baek Hyun-jung turned on the gas stove to heat up the soup.

“Eun-young seems to have practice today.”

“Practice?”

“Yes. She’s preparing for her comeback, so she’s busy. She couldn’t practice properly for a while because of someone.”

An awkward expression appeared on Kang Jin-ho’s face.

Who else could it be? It was obviously him. He had clearly seen Kang Eun-young sleeping on the sofa with Choi Yeon-ha when he woke up.

Kang Jin-ho quietly got up from his seat.

“I’ll serve the rice.”

“Sit down.”

“…Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly sat back down.

Baek Hyun-jung placed the rice and soup she brought in front of Kang Jin-ho. The side dishes that were already set out were quite elaborate.

“Isn’t it rude for a son to sit and wait while his mother prepares the meal?”

“A little…”

“It’s okay.”

Baek Hyun-jung pulled out a chair and sat across from Kang Jin-ho, smiling gently.

“Our son can be a little rude.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not because you’re great. It’s okay because you’re my son.”

Baek Hyun-jung continued with a smile.

“Of course, you shouldn’t do that to other adults. But it’s okay with your mom. That’s what a mom is for.”

“Still, I should…”

“Uh-huh.”

Baek Hyun-jung narrowed her eyes again.

“I’m uncomfortable. Filial piety isn’t a big deal. Making your parents comfortable is filial piety. Isn’t that right?”

Kang Jin-ho finally nodded.

“There won’t be many days left for me to prepare your meals.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“When you get married, you’ll have to prepare your own meals. It seems like it’ll be soon.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t it?”

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t answer.

It wasn’t a matter of right or wrong. In the first place, because of what he had done this time, all authority over these decisions had been handed over to Choi Yeon-ha. Kang Jin-ho was in a position where he had to be led by Choi Yeon-ha like a dog on a leash.

So, it was difficult to answer.

“…Jin-ho.”

“Yes.”

“Our son is smart and good at everything, but…”

Baek Hyun-jung sighed deeply.

“In this aspect, you’re so hopeless.”

“No, I…”

“Of course, it’s good. Being family-oriented is good, being a devoted husband is good, making your girlfriend feel good is good, everything is good, but…”

Baek Hyun-jung’s face turned a little sour.

“From a mother’s perspective, it’s a bit complicated? I have to say it’s good that my son, whom I raised so well, is being ‘mistreated’ by someone else’s child.”

“I’m not being mistreated…”

“Yeah, right.”

Baek Hyun-jung looked at Kang Jin-ho with eyes that saw him as the most hopeless person in the world.

“Anyway, that’s how your mom feels. My son, who will soon be someone else’s husband, I want to serve him a meal even now.”

Kang Jin-ho, unsure of what to say, quickly changed the subject.

“Then Eun-young must be very busy right now.”

“Huh? Yes, she’s busy… She seems to have a lot of worries too.”

“Why?”

“The atmosphere these days is so ominous…”

Baek Hyun-jung, who was speaking, closed her mouth and glanced at Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho smiled awkwardly at her gaze.

“It’s okay.”

Baek Hyun-jung sighed deeply.

“I guess I’m getting old. I didn’t used to say things like this.”

Baek Hyun-jung, looking apologetic, urged Kang Jin-ho.

“I’ve been talking too much. Eat your meal quickly.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho picked up his spoon.

“Jin-ho.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t worry too much.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Baek Hyun-jung without a word.

“No matter what kind of person you are, you’re just my son to me. Right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Right. And other people will feel the same way.”

Kang Jin-ho, not understanding Baek Hyun-jung’s words, tilted his head.

“What do you…”

“If Jin-ho wasn’t that… that Murim [martial arts world] person or whatever, I would have thought the same thing while watching the news. Scary. Frightening. What if our kids accidentally run into them and get hurt?”

“Yes, I would have definitely worried like that. I can’t deny that. But you’re my son.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“So, I understand. Our kid wouldn’t go around harming other people.”

“But I’m not the only one with a mother. Those Murim people also have families, and there will be many people who are trying to understand. Ah, of course, I don’t mean that I’m trying to understand.”

“I know what you mean.”

“Right, isn’t it?”

Baek Hyun-jung smiled gently.

“So, don’t worry too much. People can’t live so separately. Even if it seems like you can divide them, you can’t.”

“…Yes.”

“So, always remember. This isn’t a fight just for you.”

Kang Jin-ho’s head slowly nodded.

“Yes. I’ll always remember.”

“Good. Now, eat your meal.”

“Yes.”

After finishing his meal, Kang Jin-ho went into the bathroom. Kang Jin-ho, having taken off his clothes, lightly washed his body and then stepped into the bathtub that had been filled with water.

“Hoo…”

It had been a long time since his body stopped accumulating waste even without washing, but soaking in this warm water wasn’t just for cleanliness.

There was a sense of stability that came from the feeling of his body relaxing.

Kang Jin-ho, having submerged himself up to his neck, tilted his head back and looked at the bathroom ceiling.

“…This is nice.”

His head had been filled with various thoughts, but soaking in the tub made him feel a little less stressed.

Kang Jin-ho splashed some hot water on his face and rubbed it a little roughly.

“Just do what I’ve been doing…”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled softly.

“That’s a comforting thing to say.”

There was a lot contained in those words.

The certainty that the path he had walked so far was not wrong, and the trust that Kang Jin-ho would not walk down the wrong path in the future.

Feeling that, Kang Jin-ho was able to gain a little confidence in himself. Kang Jin-ho was someone who didn’t trust himself well, but he could trust those around him.

“It’s not a fight just for us…”

Those words were also comforting.

The fact that there were people who would take his side no matter what happened gave Kang Jin-ho a little more strength. Family was the most precious and reliable presence that would never abandon him.

If it weren’t for that boundless warmth, Kang Jin-ho would have already collapsed countless times.

However…

“Hoo.”

They were good words. Yes, they were good words.

But listening to those good words made him realize anew just how difficult the task he was about to undertake was, and how arduous the path he had to walk was.

Coordinating with each other wasn’t that difficult.

But that was just a temporary measure. The important thing was that someday, they would understand each other.

‘Is it possible?’

Understanding was an enemy that was more difficult and immense than any enemy Kang Jin-ho had fought so far.

Especially for Kang Jin-ho.

“It’s ridiculous, Cheongma.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled softly.

“We spent so many years together, and yet we couldn’t understand each other, leading to extremes. We’re just not talented at understanding.”

It felt like he could hear Cheongma laughing.

“And now… I have to make other people understand each other. This is a bit of an excessive joke.”

Kang Jin-ho leaned his head against the edge of the tub.

“…An excessive joke.”

The people of the world didn’t understand each other. They repeated, doubted, and fought each other over the slightest differences. So, was there really a way to bridge the extreme gap between Murim and ordinary people?

This was too difficult for him.

But… the sad truth was that there was no way to escape.

Because he was the only one who could do it. Now, it had become something only he could do.

This was a great gift and a terrible shackle that Cheongma had left him.

“That bastard…”

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes.

‘You said that you only needed yourself to dominate… but you needed me to govern?’

At the time, he had just taken it for granted. But now, thinking about those words again, one assumption naturally came to mind.

“…If you were here now, I would ask you, did you know that this would happen?”

If he said he knew?

He would have punched him in the face.

If he didn’t know?

It would have been the same.

“That’s why I always said.”

Kang Jin-ho raised a hand and covered his face.

“You always overestimate me. I’m not as great as you think I am.”

Reconciliation for Kang Jin-ho?

How ridiculous was that? He was someone who only knew how to defeat and kill the enemy in front of him.

“Everyone… sees me as too great.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had chuckled softly, closed his eyes.

‘Understanding…’

Would that day really come?

Would there really be a day when Murim and ordinary people understood each other, acknowledged each other, and ultimately respected each other?

Kang Jin-ho’s head slowly sank into the water.

Deeply, and deeper.

Until he reached a place where the chaotic sounds of the world could not be heard.