Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 273

“What’s left?” Kang Jin-ho tilted his head as he walked alongside Jo Gyu-min toward the Jae Kyung office building. They seemed to have wrapped up most of their discussion, so why was it necessary to come all the way to Jae Kyung? “Didn’t I tell you? You need to choose a car.” “I thought I delegated that last time…” “So, I was going to pick one based on my taste, but as a loyal secretary, I didn’t think that was the right thing to do.” “…Huh?” “My taste isn’t what’s important. You’ll understand when you see it.” At his firm statement, Kang Jin-ho didn’t argue further and quietly walked beside Jo Gyu-min. If there was a reason, he would have explained it. He said he’d understand when he saw it, so he just needed to follow along. Jo Gyu-min was one of the people he could trust without needing a specific explanation. Jo Gyu-min, heading towards the elevator, pressed the button. Then, unlike before, he pressed the button for the lowest basement level instead of the top floor. “The basement?” “Yes. It’s the parking lot. I’ve got the cars waiting there.” “Where are we going?” “Hehehe.” Jo Gyu-min chuckled ominously. “…” Feeling a strange sense of unease, Kang Jin-ho shivered slightly. ‘This guy does weird things sometimes.’ Usually, he was rather calm and composed, but sometimes Jo Gyu-min’s showmanship would flare up, and he’d do strange things. Kang Jin-ho was feeling quite anxious that something like that was about to happen again. *Ding* The elevator chimed and the doors opened. “Huh?” The lights were off. “Why are the lights off?” “Basement level 5 isn’t used much. It was originally designed to store cars that the chairman didn’t use, but as you know, the chairman doesn’t rotate through many cars, so it’s just used as a storage space.” “Hmm…” “Okay, lights on!” Jo Gyu-min fumbled for something on the wall. Then, the lights flickered on, illuminating the dark basement. “Ta-da!” Jo Gyu-min gestured dramatically with his arm, pointing to one side. “The candidates.” However, Kang Jin-ho’s eyes didn’t immediately register the three cars parked in the middle. What caught his attention were the lights arranged around the cars. “Those… I think I’ve seen them at a filming set…” “Well, a protagonist’s entrance needs lighting, doesn’t it?” “Is all this really necessary…” “Oh, it’s important.” Jo Gyu-min shook his head as if there was no hope, then grabbed Kang Jin-ho’s arm and pulled him forward. “Let’s take a closer look.” “…Okay.” His desire was being expressed in a rather strange way, but it was clear that he had put a lot of effort into preparing something for Kang Jin-ho. With a somewhat reluctant expression, Kang Jin-ho approached the cars, and three sports cars powerfully imprinted themselves on his vision. “Did you buy all of these?” “I wouldn’t waste money like that. I asked the owners in Korea for their understanding and borrowed them. I thought it would be better for you to see them in person. You don’t have time to go to each dealership, do you?” He was busy running a pizza place. It was absurd that he didn’t have time to go see a multi-million dollar sports car because he was running a pizza shop, but… well, what could he do? That was the reality. Moreover, some of these models didn’t even have display cars. Test drives were impossible. In the end, this was the best way to directly compare the cars. It would have been impossible without Hwang Jung-hoo’s connections and the name of Jae Kyung. They had told everyone that Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo wanted to see the models before buying a new car, and after paying a suitable usage fee, they had brought the cars here. ‘The usage fee was outrageous.’ Even for rentals, these cars would cost hundreds per day, so it wasn’t hard to understand… but… ‘I hope the accounting team doesn’t rain down fire and brimstone.’ Suppressing his slightly anxious feelings, Jo Gyu-min smiled gently. “Do any of them catch your eye?” “This one?” Kang Jin-ho pointed to a red car in the corner. “Is it the same as my car?” “The model is the latest, and the detailed specifications have been slightly changed, but it’s not much different from what you used to drive. The exterior has changed a bit from the model you drove before you went to the military. The performance has also improved appropriately.” “Hmm…” Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly. It did feel familiar, but… “This car is good, but…” “Yes.” “It’s too hard to drive in the city.” “Ah, there is that aspect.” Kang Jin-ho’s gaze snapped to the side. “No…” You didn’t say that last time! If you had told me that beforehand, I wouldn’t have had this car arranged! “What about this one?” “Hehehe, you’ve got a good eye. This car is the fastest car in existence…” “It probably can’t go over speed bumps either.” His criteria for choosing a supercar was speed bumps. He felt like protesting to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for installing such merciless speed bumps all over the country. Kang Jin-ho’s gaze turned to the last car. What about this one? An all-black body. Shining headlights and a sleek, streamlined figure. “Hehehe, a German masterpiece. This car is the one and only! Por…” “A frog?” “No, it’s not!” Of course! He had heard that a little! But this beauty couldn’t be described with the word ‘frog’! “It’s not a toy, why is the car like this?” “Ah…” If those who were proud of this car heard him, they would sigh. Kang Jin-ho was speaking without hesitation. ‘This was a mistake.’ It seemed like a good idea to let him choose a car by seeing them in person, since their tastes were different, but he hadn’t considered that Kang Jin-ho’s taste was at a very terrible level. “How about the car in the middle?” “Speed bumps…” “You have to put up with that much when you drive a car like this!” Kang Jin-ho looked at the blue car in the middle as if he wasn’t very fond of it. “It’s a bit round.” It’s because the car you used to drive was angular. This isn’t even that round. Of course, the grill is a bit round, so it might look that way. “This car is the Bugatti Veyron! It’s the fastest mass-produced car in existence. Unless you’re talking about limited editions or specially tuned products, there aren’t many cars that can surpass this car’s speed.” “Hmm…” Kang Jin-ho nodded. “But…” “Yes!” “I don’t have any reason to go at top speed.” What, man? I know you drove 300 km/h in the wrong direction on the highway last time, where are you getting this from? His lips trembled, but Jo Gyu-min clenched his teeth with desperate patience. Today was a good day, a good day. There was no need to ruin the mood by getting angry on a day like today. “And when I speed up a lot, I can see the fuel gauge moving. It’s annoying to refuel.” “…Huh?” “Isn’t there a car that can go fast and far even with less fuel?” He might as well ask for an airplane. “Huh?” There was such a car. A recently popular hybrid supercar might be able to meet Kang Jin-ho’s needs. Especially with the acceleration of an electric car, which can exert maximum torque from the start, it would be a perfect fit for Kang Jin-ho’s taste. But… “There is such a car, but it might be a bit lacking for Kang Jin-ho. It might be okay for acceleration, but it’s still lacking in terms of responsiveness.” “Hmm…” “Choose from these. I carefully selected these cars. There might be similar cars, but I’m confident that there are no better cars than these.” Kang Jin-ho looked at the cars with a very troubled expression, so Jo Gyu-min smiled lightly and patted Kang Jin-ho’s shoulder. “You don’t choose a car like that. Sit inside and try driving them. That’s why I borrowed them. Once you’ve tried all three, you’ll make up your mind.” “Jo Secretary.” “Yes, Kang Jin-ho.” “Which car is the least noticeable?” Everyone had different criteria for choosing a car, but Jo Gyu-min couldn’t stand Kang Jin-ho’s criteria, and he finally couldn’t help but shout. “Then just get a sedan! A sedan!” “The trunk is too small when I go grocery shopping with my mother.” Then just drive a truck… “It’s also a bit much that people seem to know where I am wherever I go.” Then drive a car that’s like a Sonata. No one will know where you are. “So…” Jo Gyu-min sighed as he watched Kang Jin-ho spout nonsense with a serious face. “Isn’t there a car that’s responsive and fun to drive, but also practical…?” “Kang Jin-ho.” “Yes.” “Can you bake me a pizza that’s delicious like a pizza, but not too greasy even if you eat a lot, doesn’t taste like cheese, and can be eaten with stew?” “…Where would you find a pizza like that?” “Then why are you asking me to find a car like that! Why!” “Ah, is that what you meant? I thought there would be one.” Seeing Kang Jin-ho speak so nonchalantly made his stomach churn. He wanted to flip the table, but Jo Gyu-min was Kang Jin-ho’s loyal aide. Just shouting a moment ago was already a demerit. He shouldn’t ignore Kang Jin-ho any further. “Ugh.” Seeing Jo Gyu-min holding his head, Kang Jin-ho said apologetically. “I don’t know much about cars. I’m sorry.” “It’s been years since you’ve been driving your own car, how can you be so indifferent to cars?” “I don’t need to pay attention to it.” “Ha…” Jo Gyu-min sighed and showed off the strange skill of looking proud. ‘He can’t do anything without me.’ “So, about that…” “Yes?” “I think you’re the best at these things.” “Haha. Ha.” Jo Gyu-min’s neck began to rise vertically. It felt like his bones would break if he raised his neck any further. “I’m so relieved that you’ll be with me in everything I do from now on.” “Hehe, I should be the one asking for your help.” “So, about that…” “…Yes?” “No matter how I think about it, I think there must be one in the world. A car that’s comfortable, practical, and doesn’t require you to go to the gas station multiple times.” “No, wait a minute.” That’s like a giraffe. It’s an imaginary animal. You know, like something that only appears in myths or legends. “I believe in you, Jo Secretary.” “That’s like a giraffe, Kang Jin-ho. Are you telling me to go out and catch a giraffe right now?” “Giraffes are in the zoo.” “Not that giraffe! I mean like a dragon!” Kang Jin-ho looked at Jo Gyu-min with a determined face and said. “I don’t know how difficult it will be…” “Yes?” “But I believe that you can even catch a dragon. So, how can you not find just one car?” “Then I’ll trust you and go. I’ll wait for good news.” “Kang Jin-ho? Kang Jin-ho?” Jo Gyu-min’s hand, which was trying to grab Kang Jin-ho as he strode out, grasped at the air. Jo Gyu-min, who was blankly reaching out, slumped onto the sofa. Jo Gyu-min, who was staring at the ceiling, took out his phone and made a call. “Yes, Mr. Choi. I called because I wanted to ask you something. Is it possible to order a four-seater Aventador with a large trunk from headquarters?” Jo Gyu-min, who was quietly waiting for an answer, said with a sad face. “…No, I haven’t been drinking. No, I’m not joking. Yes… Yes, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Jo Gyu-min, who had quietly hung up the phone, buried his face between his knees. This is why humans shouldn’t go on adventures. Jo Gyu-min, who had realized how good a comfortable path to success was, slowly began to heave his shoulders.