Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2112

“He’s putting on a show.”

With his arms crossed, Chaikechang scoffed as he watched Kang Jin-ho on the screen.

“The Demon King must be in a hurry.”

He didn’t like it.

He understood the intention. The world was like a pot of water about to boil. The calm was just a temporary period of adjustment.

Ironically, it was Kang Jin-ho’s absence that created this situation.

The Murim [martial arts world] people were individual entities, but also a massive collective. The emotions they shared were far more intense than outsiders could imagine.

Those oppressed by something huge tend to unite beyond religion, ideology, race, and nation.

The moment Kang Jin-ho defeated the Black King, the Murim world had no choice but to wait for his move. Unless he decided on a course of action, no one dared to move first.

And the outside world, which had to deal with such Murim people, couldn’t even think of contacting them unless Kang Jin-ho stepped forward.

In other words, this world, like a boiling furnace that could explode at any moment, had been maintained without exploding until now because of Kang Jin-ho’s seclusion.

‘But that can’t last forever.’

Those who had adapted to the situation would eventually start to move.

He understood why Kang Jin-ho was stepping forward. From his perspective, he would want to resolve this situation somehow before the world burst into flames.

Even though he understood everything, there was only one reason why Chaikechang didn’t like Kang Jin-ho’s current actions.

“But that’s their way.”

In the ordinary world, it was not unusual for someone in power to appear in the media and bow their head to those they represented. But the world of Murim was different.

The representation Kang Jin-ho had now was maintained by his power and charisma. The more he bowed his head in front of the public like this, the more Murim people would begin to doubt his power and authority.

“…To incite division to prevent conflict, is that really the Demon King I know?”

As someone who was once Kang Jin-ho’s enemy, he knew. He knew how terrifying Kang Jin-ho was when he became an enemy. And the reason he was terrifying wasn’t just because he was strong or his forces were strong.

‘It’s because he’s like a bomb that could do anything at any time.’

The fact that Kang Jin-ho and the General Assembly were right next to China was a huge burden for them. Chaikechang clearly remembered the fear he felt back then, so he couldn’t understand the series of actions Kang Jin-ho was taking now.

He couldn’t bring himself to say that the Black King’s way was right. He was an enemy of the Red King. But he could at least say that there was some logic to that method, couldn’t he?

What makes humans kind is none other than fear. Kindness will always show its limits someday.

The moment someone who should be armed and standing on the edge of a cliff throws away their weapons and surrenders, all that’s left is to beg for the enemy’s mercy.

“What a foolish thing to do…”

“I wonder.”

Chaikechang was startled by the voice behind him and jumped up from his seat. Then, he quickly bowed his head.

“I greet the Red King!”

“Hmm.”

Cold sweat broke out on Chaikechang’s forehead. He must have been so engrossed in the TV that he didn’t even notice the Red King coming.

“Indeed…”

But the Red King didn’t seem to care, his eyes fixed on the TV as he stroked his chin.

“It’s different from my way.”

“Yes.”

Chaikechang straightened his back and nodded.

“I don’t think it’s a good move. It might help to patch things up for a while, but ultimately, it opens the possibility for them to look down on the Murim people.”

“Those who bow their heads first with just a little pressure. How easy would it be to deal with such people?”

“That’s not wrong.”

The Red King slowly nodded.

But his eyes seemed to be saying something different.

“But Chaikechang.”

“Yes, Red King.”

“Do you really think the Demon King is doing that because he doesn’t know any better?”

“That is…”

Chaikechang closed his mouth.

It was a question he had a hard time answering. He knew, too, that Kang Jin-ho was surprisingly very smart, unlike the devilish appearance he showed when fighting.

“I think very highly of you. That’s a fact that I don’t need to say out loud anymore.”

“It’s an honor.”

“So, I hope you’ll listen without misunderstanding.”

“…What?”

The Red King slowly shook his head.

“The position of someone who has to take responsibility is different from that of someone who doesn’t.”

“What a strategist should offer is the best solution. The role of a strategist is to suggest the most correct path.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But those at the top shouldn’t do that.”

“What those at the top should do is prevent the worst. Even if there’s a possibility of gaining more, they shouldn’t choose a path that worsens the situation.”

“That is…”

Chaikechang looked unconvinced. Seeing his expression, the Red King chuckled.

It would be difficult to understand.

Chaikechang had fought from a position where he only had to take responsibility for the strategies he had set. He had never experienced the burden of having to take responsibility for things he didn’t even do himself.

“As you said, if we create a confrontation, the Murim people’s position might rise.”

“Yes.”

“But will that last forever?”

“…I believe there is sustainability.”

“Ten years?”

“Or a hundred years?”

Chaikechang couldn’t say anything.

It was difficult to estimate the exact time.

“Remember one thing, Chaikechang.”

“Yes.”

“This is a fight we will eventually lose.”

“…Yes?”

The Red King shook his head.

“We can’t beat them. We might be able to gain a strategic advantage right now, but we will eventually be defeated. Hasn’t history already proven that fact?”

“…That’s true.”

There was no way to refute that.

“If we threaten them with the power we have now and get our rights, it will be easier for us for now. But… in the end, we will remain their enemies.”

“Humans do not tolerate enemies. Especially enemies who are different from them. Wolves are tamed into dogs, and tigers are all killed and made into leather so that they dare not come near where humans live.”

“But wolves and tigers survived. They can live in places where humans don’t live. But we can’t do that. Because we are also human.”

Chaikechang closed his eyes.

“There are only two options left. Either we mix in with them and live in fear of when they will gain the power to overwhelm us, or we secure our own world that doesn’t mix with them and pretend not to know until the moment we are all annihilated.”

The Red King shook his head.

“Either way, it’s just fake peace.”

A long sigh escaped Chaikechang’s lips.

He still thought his idea wasn’t wrong. But he also had to admit that, as the Red King said, it was something that would eventually hit a limit.

“Those at the top shouldn’t pass on that responsibility to future generations. That’s why the Demon King is stepping forward like that.”

“But Red King.”

Even so, there was one reason why Chaikechang still had a hard time understanding the current situation.

“Isn’t the Demon King’s current method only accelerating the destruction you’re talking about?”

“That might be true.”

This time, the Red King also nodded.

“I don’t understand it.”

“Even if that’s the case…”

The Red King stared intently at Kang Jin-ho on the screen.

“The Demon King I know is not someone who would ignore a certain defeat and enjoy the current comfort. If he were, I would have won.”

“He has to do something. Because it’s a losing battle, he has to find a way to win. Or at least, he has to find a way not to lose. That must be the Demon King’s thinking.”

“That method is…”

“We’ll see.”

The Red King pointed to the TV with his chin.

“Of course, it wouldn’t be easy for even the Demon King to come up with something great this time. But what’s the problem with that? It’s only foolish people who criticize others for not being able to do what they can’t do themselves.”

“We just have to wait and see. The Demon King I know is not someone who will give up.”

“…Yes.”

The Red King quietly looked at Kang Jin-ho.

‘It’s a funny thing.’

To think that he would leave his fate to someone else. It was something he couldn’t have imagined even just a year ago.

He was a loser.

He was someone who had to take everything on himself to be satisfied.

But…

‘That depends on the person, I guess.’

The Red King looked at Kang Jin-ho with a meaningful gaze.

Even the Red King, the greatest of all, wanted to believe in the Demon King if the opponent was the Demon King.

“Remember, Chaikechang.”

“Yes, Red King.”

“The one who least wanted to be in that position, no matter what anyone says, is Kang Jin-ho.”

“He has already obtained everything he could. Even if he did as you said, or followed what they wanted, or… if he didn’t make enemies, his remaining life would have been no different from that of an emperor.”

Chaikechang closed his mouth.

There was no way to deny that.

“The Demon King gave up all of that and stood in that position. Now that he has completely exposed himself, all the things the Murim people do will be the Demon King’s responsibility. He knows all of that, yet he walked into that thorny path himself.”

“Will you still laugh at him for being different from your way of thinking?”

“…My thoughts were short-sighted.”

The Red King chuckled.

“Once you get to that level, there’s nothing I can do. I would never be able to do something like that. The size of our vessels is different.”

“…It’s just a difference in tendencies.”

“Do you really think so?”

Chaikechang lowered his head. Seeing that, the Red King, who had laughed heartily, stared intently at Kang Jin-ho, who was standing with a slightly nervous expression.

“Chaikechang.”

“Yes, Red King.”

“No matter what choice the Demon King makes, the Red King faction will fully support the Demon King.”

“…Yes.”

“And if there’s something that the Demon King has difficulty doing himself, don’t wait for orders and take the initiative to handle it.”

“Does that mean…”

The Red King nodded.

“That’s how the world works. Someone has to get their hands dirty. We can’t ask the one who’s standing at the very front and taking the most arrows to do that kind of work.”

He turned his head and looked at Chaikechang.

“Even for my pride.”

“I will do so.”

The Red King turned his gaze back to Kang Jin-ho.

The weight on his shoulders seemed visible in his eyes.

‘Demon King.’

The Red King quietly closed his eyes.