Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 286

Kwak Jae-myung looked at Bang Jin-hoon with uneasy eyes.

‘I must have misheard something, right?’

Of course, that couldn’t be the case.

Unlike his seemingly simple exterior, Bang Jin-hoon was quite a meticulous person.

If he weren’t, he wouldn’t have been able to create a force within the General Assembly capable of opposing the Assembly Head.

However, what he had just heard was enough to make him doubt if this person was really the Bang Jin-hoon he knew.

“Did you say you’re going to attack the Assembly Head with this number of people?”

Bang Jin-hoon shook his head, denying it.

“It’s not this number. One more person will be added here.”

“…One person?”

Kwak Jae-myung couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

The people here, including Bang Jin-hoon, totaled nine. And he was saying that they would attack the General Assembly with just nine people to take down the Assembly Head?

‘This isn’t a joke.’

Of course, each of those nine was a master among masters, not inferior to anyone in the General Assembly. But just as one hand cannot defeat ten, it was impossible for these nine to break through the General Assembly’s defenses and take down the Assembly Head.

Absolutely!

Even if each of them could do the work of two people, the General Assembly had hundreds, if not thousands, of martial artists stationed there. Even if half of them were just average, there were at least ten times more people protecting the Assembly Head.

‘But with this number of people, you’re going to attack the Assembly Head?’

It was blasphemous to think, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Bang Jin-hoon was suffering from dementia and was not in his right mind. He had fought in numerous battles in his youth, so it wouldn’t be strange if he had some brain damage from being punch-drunk.

It would be more comforting to think that way…

‘But why isn’t that bastard saying anything either?’

Chun Tae-hoon, who should have been the first to jump up and down, was keeping his mouth shut and agreeing with Bang Jin-hoon. Anyone could see that it was like carrying firewood into a fire, but Chun Tae-hoon, who valued his life more than anyone, was not objecting.

It felt like he was possessed by a ghost.

But he couldn’t just be possessed by a ghost. If he stayed like this, his head would be the next to go.

“…Just a moment, Director.”

Kwak Jae-myung took a few deep breaths and looked straight at Bang Jin-hoon.

“Did you say you’re going to target the Assembly Head with this number of people?”

“Yes.”

“Where is the Assembly Head right now?”

“At his residence.”

Kwak Jae-myung’s face twisted terribly. The Assembly Head’s residence was located behind the main building of the General Assembly. In other words, the residence was inside the General Assembly. And he was saying that they would infiltrate the residence with only ten people?

“…We are martial artists, not ninjas.”

“I know.”

“Do you know what you’re saying? Sneaking in and taking someone’s head is something that happens in games or novels. You know that it’s impossible in reality.”

If that were possible, history would have changed long ago. Why would anyone wage war if they could just assassinate someone when needed?

Bang Jin-hoon glared at Kwak Jae-myung with a mix of annoyance.

Kwak Jae-myung turned his gaze to ask for help, but Chun Tae-hoon seemed completely uninterested.

‘But why is that bastard like that?’

It wasn’t just that he was uninterested. It seemed like he didn’t have the energy to pay attention. Seeing Chun Tae-hoon sweating profusely made Kwak Jae-myung feel even more uneasy.

‘He’s trembling?’

It wasn’t that cold, but he was shivering as if he had a chill. Kwak Jae-myung couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of unease, seeing Chun Tae-hoon’s incomprehensible reaction and Bang Jin-hoon, who was acting completely irrationally.

‘No way, right?’

Were they really going to storm the General Assembly with this number of people?

And with Chun Tae-hoon, who didn’t seem to be in his right mind?

He wanted to shout that it was a joke.

He was a staunch supporter of Bang Jin-hoon, but he had no desire to die with a madman. If Bang Jin-hoon really intended to subdue the Assembly Head with this number of people, he would run away without looking back.

This wasn’t betrayal.

He couldn’t follow an order to jump into a fire with oil poured on him. They had to show at least a minimum chance of success before attempting it.

It seemed like the others were thinking similarly.

Their gazes and gestures were filled with dissatisfaction. Bang Jin-hoon, who would normally have noticed such things like a ghost, was completely oblivious today, as if his mind was somewhere else.

Kwak Jae-myung sighed deeply and spoke.

‘What should I do?’

He might have to run away at the right time, or even subdue Bang Jin-hoon. Judging by the rumors that he had failed to eliminate the Assembly Head, he must have lost his reason due to impatience.

Just as Kwak Jae-myung was about to try to dissuade him again, Bang Jin-hoon opened his mouth.

“I know you’re confused.”

“Of course, we’re confused. But don’t forget who I am. Do you think I’m the kind of person who would start something without thinking?”

Kwak Jae-myung bit his lip.

He knew better than anyone that he wasn’t. If he were, he wouldn’t have sided with Bang Jin-hoon in the first place. But the fact that someone who wouldn’t do such a thing was doing something incomprehensible made him even more uneasy.

“I know I need to explain. But this isn’t something you can understand just by explaining it. Just trust me and wait a little longer. Then you’ll understand.”

“…Yes.”

He felt relieved.

Bang Jin-hoon was not strange at all. He was exuding charisma as usual.

‘Then that means he really has something to rely on…’

It meant that there was a way to make the impossible possible.

‘Is it an internal ally?’

If they had recruited a close aide of Lee Joong-geol, they might be able to enter the residence without much conflict.

It wasn’t very likely, but he couldn’t think of any other way right now.

‘Damn it.’

He was getting more and more impatient.

What annoyed him even more was Chun Tae-hoon, who had been trembling like an aspen tree since earlier.

‘What the hell is wrong with that bastard?’

Chun Tae-hoon was always so confident that he was almost obnoxious. Seeing such a guy trembling like a puppy in front of a tiger, how could he not find it strange?

Looking at his appearance, it was a wonder he hadn’t wet himself.

Just as Kwak Jae-myung was about to say something, filled with rising annoyance.

“He’s coming.”

“…Yes?”

Following Bang Jin-hoon’s gaze, who didn’t answer, he turned his head and saw headlights in the distance.

‘A car?’

A car was rapidly approaching them from afar.

‘Is there an additional person?’

If they had chartered a bus to bring people, it would be understandable. But the car that was approaching now was too low for a bus.

It wasn’t a situation that could be changed by adding four or five people who could fit in a sedan.

‘What the hell is he trying to do?’

As Kwak Jae-myung’s questions deepened, the car that was approaching them stopped in front of them.

‘A sports car?’

What difference would it make if a car that could only fit two people arrived?

The first to react was Chun Tae-hoon. Chun Tae-hoon, who was looking into the car, took a step back, as if he had seen a ghost.

Bang Jin-hoon looked at Chun Tae-hoon and spoke calmly.

“Don’t act so pathetic.”

“What would that person think of you acting like that? You wouldn’t want to become a useless person, would you?”

Chun Tae-hoon reacted fiercely to Bang Jin-hoon’s words. His dazed eyes instantly regained their light.

But what caught Kwak Jae-myung’s attention was not Chun Tae-hoon’s reaction.

‘That person?’

It meant that someone had arrived who even the great Bang Jin-hoon had to address with respect. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t think of anyone who would fit that description. Unless the Assembly Head of the Yeongnam Assembly had come.

Ziiing.

With a low mechanical sound, the door of the red sports car opened. And then, a person slowly emerged from inside.

‘What the?’

The person who came out was, contrary to Kwak Jae-myung’s expectations, a young man who looked like he had just turned twenty.

Was this the person they had been waiting for?

An uncontrollable disappointment washed over Kwak Jae-myung.

‘How would things change with this kid coming?’

But Kwak Jae-myung’s disappointment didn’t last long.

The kid who got out of the sports car went to the passenger seat, picked up two long, stick-like objects, and slowly started walking towards them.

Without rushing, with slow steps. At first, he just looked like a kid.

He was dressed in black training clothes, which was unlike a martial artist, and his long hair didn’t sit well with him.

‘I’ve never seen him before?’

If there was such a guy, he would have known right away, but since he had never seen him before, he didn’t seem to be from the General Assembly.

Then why is he…

Twitch.

At that moment, he felt a strange sensation.

‘What is it?’

Kwak Jae-myung looked down with dazed eyes.

He could see his two feet.

There was nothing strange about it. Everyone has two feet.

What was strange was not his feet, but where they were located. He thought he was stepping forward side by side, but his right foot was far behind without him knowing.

‘Did I step back?’

Why?

How?

Kwak Jae-myung couldn’t understand why he had stepped back. There was only one situation when a human would step back without being aware of it.

When faced with danger.

When he instinctively felt that he had to run away from this situation.

But what threat had been made to Kwak Jae-myung that he would step back without even realizing it?

The only thing that had changed was…

Kwak Jae-myung looked ahead with trembling eyes.

‘Is it because of that guy?’

Was it because of the fact that this kid, who looked like he hadn’t even finished growing up, was approaching that he had stepped back so pathetically?

‘That’s ridiculous!’

He was someone who had gone through all sorts of hardships in the martial arts world. He was now quietly acting as Bang Jin-hoon’s right-hand man, but that was only when the opponent was someone like Bang Jin-hoon.

Was he, of all people, intimidated by such a kid?

A sense of rebellion surged from deep within his stomach. He gritted his teeth and looked straight at the kid.

Thud.

At the same time, Kwak Jae-myung collapsed on the spot.

The moment he saw the kid’s eyes through his long bangs, his legs lost their strength as if they were made of paper.

“Ah, ah…”

His mouth opened pathetically, and a groan escaped without him realizing it.

How could such a being exist in this world?

Kwak Jae-myung, who prided himself on having lived in an extremely harsh world that ordinary people could never know, felt that the killing intent emanating from this person’s body was on a different level.

Just making eye contact made his whole body lose strength and tremble.

He understood where Chun Tae-hoon’s incomprehensible reaction had come from.

Kang Jin-ho, who glanced at Kwak Jae-myung, who was sitting on the ground blankly staring at him, slowly opened his mouth.

“Are you ready?”