Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2122

The world was changing rapidly.

But in some ways, it hadn’t changed at all.

Thoughts might have changed, perspectives might have shifted, and the way people treated each other and their gazes might have been different.

But the streets where people walked right now looked no different from the past.

That was reassuring, but on the other hand…

“Why are you so sulky?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“No, really…”

“Hey, Jin-ho.”

“Yes?”

Choi Yeon-ha turned to Kang Jin-ho and said listlessly.

“At this point, wouldn’t I know your condition better than you do?”

Kang Jin-ho shut his mouth.

It was a ridiculous statement, but somehow, it was hard to argue against.

“So, our little Jin-ho, tell me what you’re so dissatisfied with.”

“Well, it’s not that I’m dissatisfied, but…”

“What is it?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked around. The sight of a bustling street filled with colorful signs came into his view.

“It feels like we’ve been going around in circles for a while now.”

“Yes. So?”

“Why are we doing this…”

Choi Yeon-ha stared at Kang Jin-ho before letting out a deep sigh.

“The simplicity of a human who doesn’t move without a purpose.”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

No, she definitely just said something insulting.

“So, you don’t like it?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it…”

“Then it’s fine, isn’t it?”

He supposed she had a point.

“It’s not that there’s a problem… but why, specifically?”

“Just because.”

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled and said.

“Do you know what we’re doing right now?”

“…What?”

“A date.”

“It’s a normal date. We just walk around without anything specific to do, go into a cafe for a cup of coffee if we see a nice one, and maybe even go to the movie theater, which you hate the most.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

“But I was considerate enough not to suggest going to the movies, right? And I didn’t suggest going to a cafe where you’d be itching to leave.”

“I felt like we’ve been just driving around lately, so I wanted to walk together. Is there a problem?”

“Problem…”

“So, movie theater? Deal?”

“No problem at all.”

“Are you happy?”

“I’m ecstatic.”

“Then that’s that.”

Choi Yeon-ha burst into laughter. Watching her, Kang Jin-ho let out a deep sigh.

The moment Choi Yeon-ha’s gaze fell on him again, Kang Jin-ho reflexively tried to wave his hand, wanting to say that he didn’t sigh because he disliked it. But Choi Yeon-ha spoke before he could.

“Just try it this way.”

“…Yes?”

“It’s not like we have to do something specific. Just walk around without thinking, Jin-ho.”

“From now on, you might have to see things like this with your own eyes, right?”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Choi Yeon-ha without a word.

“Your world is too big, but also too narrow. There’s no middle ground. You’ve never lived a normal life like other people.”

“…That’s true.”

“You said you want to live with those people, right? You want them to understand you, right? Then you need to understand their lives too. Not just watching from afar, but like this, first.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had been staring blankly at Choi Yeon-ha, nodded his head without realizing it.

“I guess so.”

“It’s all because your older sister had a deep meaning when she brought you out here.”

It would be nice if she didn’t add that extra comment.

“It’s not a bad idea.”

“Yes.”

“…Is it really okay?”

Kang Jin-ho looked around. Every passerby was glancing at Choi Yeon-ha and Kang Jin-ho. It felt like they all recognized who they were.

If it were the past, they would have already been surrounded by countless people, but…

“Well, we should use this good shield while we have it.”

“…Shield?”

“No one can come near you because they’re scared of you, Jin-ho.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed deeply, and Choi Yeon-ha laughed, linking her arm with his.

“Well, thanks to that, I get to have a normal date, so it’s good.”

“Is it really good?”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“…Yes?”

“Both those people and you, Jin-ho.”

Kang Jin-ho, not understanding Choi Yeon-ha’s words, tilted his head slightly.

“It’ll be strange. And awkward. It’ll be uncomfortable too.”

“It is a little.”

“Not just you, but those people too. But… if one day becomes two, two becomes three, and those three days become a month, a year, everyone will become indifferent.”

Hearing those words, Kang Jin-ho looked at the passersby with a new perspective.

Would that day really come?

“When that time comes, both you and I will become truly normal. Or rather, we’ll become familiar people.”

“So…”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled brightly.

“So, let’s walk. It’s a bit embarrassing, but… we’ll get used to that too.”

Kang Jin-ho looked into Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes. Choi Yeon-ha’s hand, which was linked with his arm, was also trembling slightly.

Come to think of it, this situation couldn’t be entirely comfortable for Choi Yeon-ha either. Perhaps Choi Yeon-ha was twice as uncomfortable as Kang Jin-ho. Yet, Choi Yeon-ha had dragged Kang Jin-ho out here. And that was definitely not for her sake, as she had said.

Thinking that, the suddenly cold air no longer felt cold.

He took a step forward.

Matching his pace, matching the speed of the person walking with him.

He still felt countless gazes. Glances that looked at him, and glances that looked at the person next to him.

It was awkward and burdensome.

Or perhaps, it wasn’t the gazes, but the crowded night streets that he usually didn’t pay attention to that felt awkward.

But…

As he took a step, walked, and walked again, even those gazes gradually became a little familiar. Little by little, very little by little.

“What are you thinking about?”

A cautious voice.

A faint smile appeared on Kang Jin-ho’s lips.

“I think… it’s not as bad as I thought.”

“Hmm?”

“And…”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at Choi Yeon-ha. His eyes met hers as she looked up at him.

“I want to walk a little more.”

“Really?”

“No.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly shook his head.

“Not exactly.”

“Then what? What is it exactly?”

“I want to…”

Kang Jin-ho smiled faintly. It was a little embarrassing to say these words out loud.

“…walk with you.”

After a small hesitation, Kang Jin-ho’s true feelings flowed from his lips.

Choi Yeon-ha stared blankly at Kang Jin-ho before slightly lowering her gaze.

“One more lap, maybe a few more laps. Or…”

Even so, there were words that had to be said.

“Like this, forever.”

Choi Yeon-ha’s hand, which was holding Kang Jin-ho’s arm, trembled lightly.

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked down at Choi Yeon-ha. He didn’t rush her, he just waited quietly. Because he knew that was what he had to do now.

How much time had passed?

“…You really have terrible timing.”

“And there are too many people around.” Choi Yeon-ha’s voice trembled.

Unlike her, or perhaps, like her.

“Still…”

Choi Yeon-ha raised her head slightly. Her eyes, slightly teary, were smiling brightly.

“I’m glad. I’m glad I could hear those words before I die.”

“I guess I was a little late.”

“Very late, very. Too late…”

Choi Yeon-ha’s hand pulled Kang Jin-ho’s arm strongly.

“Then let’s walk. Until sunrise today.”

“…Your feet will hurt.”

“Don’t underestimate an actress’s stamina.”

Choi Yeon-ha, with a flushed face, pulled Kang Jin-ho forward. Kang Jin-ho chuckled softly and walked as she led him.

It was strange.

The gazes that had been so awkward just a moment ago no longer bothered him.

There were countless people in the world, but in his world, only Choi Yeon-ha existed right now.

Yes. Only she was here.

“What’s the answer?”

“…Why do you need to hear an answer?”

“So, what’s the answer?”

“I’m not going to tell you.”

“…Huh?”

Choi Yeon-ha laughed as if she had gotten her revenge.

“When I was urging you to answer, you pretended not to know until the end.”

“I really didn’t know.”

“Anyway. So now it’s your turn to wait, Jin-ho. I’ll answer when I want to. Wait patiently.”

“How long?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’ll be forever.”

“…You’re cruel.”

“Didn’t you know I was that kind of woman?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head. Then, Choi Yeon-ha said in a slightly smaller voice.

“I don’t know. But maybe I’ll answer after about thirty years.”

“…Thirty years?”

“Or maybe even later.”

A sulky voice. But it didn’t sound just sulky. Hearing that voice, Kang Jin-ho laughed.

“I guess I’ll have to come here again in thirty years.”

“Then you’re not going to come?”

“Then it’s fine.”

He didn’t get an answer. But he heard it.

That was enough for now. It wasn’t like them to share more directly or talk about something more definite.

He just believed.

That even in the distant future, they would still be awkward, still clumsy, still pathetic, but still walking together like this.

Even if the world changed, the streets changed, the people passing by changed. Even if they themselves aged and were no longer the same as they were now… they would still be walking together like this.

Yes.

That was enough for now.

Kang Jin-ho looked up at the sky.

It wasn’t snowing. It wasn’t raining either. All he could see was the gloomy black sky of Seoul.

But that was good.

Because it wasn’t special, because this time with Choi Yeon-ha by his side didn’t have to be a special time for him.

Just like he had created meaning in that ordinary black sky.

Now, he would create meaning in this ordinary time.

Kang Jin-ho slightly raised his hand and held Choi Yeon-ha’s hand that was on his arm. Choi Yeon-ha, who had given in as if she couldn’t win, smiled a little shyly.

“Jin-ho.”

“Yes?”

“Are you happy?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at Choi Yeon-ha.

This time, Choi Yeon-ha didn’t avoid his gaze either. His eyes and her eyes looked at each other softly.

Well, what was it like?

In the past, the answer to this question was set. When he returned here, to this world, the answer to that was too clear.

But now… yes, even now, the answer to this question was set.

“Yes.”

A handsome smile appeared on Kang Jin-ho’s lips.

“I’m happy.”

Perhaps he had come a long way to give this answer.