Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 313

“Who is it?”

Who would be visiting this early in the morning?

Hwang Jung-hoo’s brow furrowed. Lately, only two people had visited his home: his executive secretary and Director Baek Young-gi.

The executive secretary wouldn’t be here for a while yet, and Baek Young-gi wasn’t one to visit him in the morning. Then who could it be?

While Hwang Jung-hoo was lost in thought, the housekeeper acted first. She picked up the intercom and asked,

“Who is it?”

Hwang Jung-hoo quietly waited for the answer.

“Chairman, it’s someone named Kang Jin-ho.”

“Jin-ho?”

Hwang Jung-hoo tilted his head, surprised, then slapped his thigh.

“Ah, that’s right.”

Jo Gyu-min had mentioned that Kang Jin-ho wanted to visit sometime soon. He had thought it was unusual, but…

“I’m getting old; my memory is failing me.”

His memory was hazy, but he thought he would have scheduled a visit for later. The Kang Jin-ho he knew wasn’t someone who acted so decisively. He was like a rock, hard to move even when asked to do something.

“Tell him to come in.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

He waited a moment by the entrance, and then Kang Jin-ho entered.

“Hello.”

“Can’t say I’m doing well.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled faintly.

“Did you have trouble sleeping?”

“It’s your fault. Who visits someone’s house this early in the morning?”

“I figured you’d be awake.”

Hwang Jung-hoo frowned, looking at Kang Jin-ho’s empty hands.

“Didn’t even bring a gift?”

“I didn’t think you were someone who needed a gift.”

“Tsk, tsk, you should always bring a gift when visiting someone’s home. At least some juice. I have so much to teach you.”

The housekeeper quietly covered her mouth and laughed.

It had been a while since Hwang Jung-hoo had shown such vitality. Even though he was complaining, it was clear he was very happy to have a visitor this morning.

‘That’s strange?’

Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo wasn’t one to connect with young people. To an old man with such a firm worldview, young people would seem immature. So, she had never imagined Hwang Jung-hoo would be so casual with a young man who was young enough to be his son.

“May I come in?”

“If I told you not to, would you not come in?”

Kang Jin-ho quietly took a step back and glanced towards the door.

“Shall I go?”

“Tsk, tsk, don’t you know it’s rude to visit someone’s house and leave without even having a glass of water!”

The housekeeper desperately covered her mouth.

Hwang Jung-hoo’s face was flushed, slightly flustered that Kang Jin-ho might actually leave.

“Since I’m already here, why not welcome me a bit more warmly?”

“You’ve become quite slick, haven’t you?”

“I suppose I have.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded as if acknowledging it.

Hwang Jung-hoo looked at Kang Jin-ho with a complex expression.

When he first saw him, he thought he was a demon trying to drag him to hell, but now he looked like an ordinary young man.

Hwang Jung-hoo couldn’t help but smile.

‘He’s adapted well.’

It felt like watching an alien who had fallen into this world adapt to it. He felt a sense of pride, but at the same time, a sense of loss washed over him.

‘I’m not really needed anymore.’

Kang Jin-ho might not know it, but Hwang Jung-hoo had done a lot for him. He had helped him financially, investigated and supported his endeavors.

But what Hwang Jung-hoo had focused on the most was helping Kang Jin-ho, who was so out of touch with society, to integrate into it. That’s why he had assigned Jo Gyu-min to his side, and even made sure there were no internal issues when he went to the military.

All of it was for Kang Jin-ho, but now that Kang Jin-ho was wearing the clothes of normalcy, he felt that he, the tailor, was no longer needed.

‘One by one, they’re leaving.’

More than a sense of accomplishment, he felt a great sense of loss, as if he was becoming increasingly unnecessary in the world.

“May I come in?”

“Come in. Have you eaten?”

“It’s a bit early, isn’t it?”

“Let’s eat together.”

“It’s alright.”

“If it’s alright, then you shouldn’t have come at this hour. How can I eat alone with you sitting here? The housekeeper makes so much food, it’s easy to add one more spoon, so come and sit down.”

“Oh my, Chairman. Are you making fun of me?”

“…Well, it’s true, how can I eat all this alone?”

“Still, you’re the Chairman, you should keep up appearances.”

“Appearances be damned.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled lightly, watching Hwang Jung-hoo bicker with the housekeeper.

‘He’s softened.’

While Kang Jin-ho had felt fear and alienation from Hwang Jung-hoo, Kang Jin-ho had felt a sharp, knife-like aura from Hwang Jung-hoo. He might be stronger, and he might have achieved more, but Hwang Jung-hoo was someone who had such a firm sense of self that even Kang Jin-ho couldn’t treat him carelessly.

When he had just gotten out of bed, he was full of a sharpness that felt like it could cut you, but now he had become quite gentle.

It wasn’t necessarily a good thing, though.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Feeling it would be rude to refuse any longer, he sat across from Hwang Jung-hoo. Even though it was a table for one, it looked twice as big as the table his family of four used at home.

“The table is big.”

“It’s unnecessarily big. The house is so big, if I don’t have big things like this, it looks desolate. That’s why I’m trying to sell the house and move to a smaller place… but Young-gi, that guy, keeps saying no!”

“You mean Director?”

“Yes. He says I can’t sell the house I’ve lived in for so long. Frankly, I live alone, what do I need this big house for? It’s a waste!”

“It is a bit excessively big.”

“I think I need to talk to him again. The house is so big, it feels cold.”

“Isn’t that because there’s no one here?”

“That’s why I need to move.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly, and then the stew was brought out. Kang Jin-ho received a set of utensils and quietly waited for Hwang Jung-hoo to start eating.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“The elder should eat first.”

“Hahahaha.”

Hwang Jung-hoo held his stomach and laughed.

“In all my life, I’ve never heard such a funny joke. An elder!”

Hwang Jung-hoo quietly looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Who is the elder?”

Kang Jin-ho fell into thought.

“Your age?”

“I’m over seventy.”

“Well, then…”

As Kang Jin-ho seemed to be pondering, Hwang Jung-hoo waved his hand.

“That’s enough. Let’s stop here.”

“Yes?”

“Hearing it won’t benefit me much. I’ve already lived longer, so I don’t want to suddenly have to treat you like a brother. Let’s just stay as we are.”

“Well, that’s fine with me.”

“…Still, it feels a bit awkward, so if you want to speak informally, go ahead.”

“It’s alright.”

“You were fine with it when we first met, but it seems you’ve developed some manners.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled quietly.

It wasn’t just him who had changed since they first met. Hwang Jung-hoo was also very different from how he had been. People change, after all.

“Let’s eat.”

Hwang Jung-hoo picked up his spoon, and Kang Jin-ho quietly picked up his as well.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I didn’t come for any particular reason…”

“You haven’t gotten any better at lying.”

Hwang Jung-hoo took a sip of his coffee and put it down again.

“What reason would you have to visit me? I’m not needed anymore.”

“…”

“You must have a reason. You’re not someone who usually hangs out with me.”

“Do I entertain you?”

“Enough! If I hang out with you, all my bones will break.”

“I can be considerate about that.”

“Enough, enough. Just tell me what you need.”

“Well…”

Kang Jin-ho also took a sip of his coffee. Then, he quietly looked at Hwang Jung-hoo.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…You asked about my age earlier, didn’t you?”

“If you’re going to ask me to treat you like a brother now, I’m in trouble.”

“It’s not that. However, please consider what I’m about to say as the words of a senior in life, not just me.”

Hwang Jung-hoo’s face hardened slightly.

“Speak.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Hwang Jung-hoo and opened his mouth.

“Aren’t you lonely?”

Hwang Jung-hoo’s face flushed, momentarily flustered by Kang Jin-ho’s blunt approach. It felt like a secret he didn’t want anyone to know was being displayed on a main street.

“Lonely? That’s something young people feel. What reason would I have to feel lonely at my age?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“You may become numb as you get older, but that doesn’t mean your emotions disappear. In some ways, you become more sensitive than when you were young. Loneliness, nostalgia, and…”

“That’s enough.”

Hwang Jung-hoo cut Kang Jin-ho off.

“Those are things you should talk about with a psychiatrist, not me. It’s not like I’m depressed, so don’t worry.”

Kang Jin-ho didn’t answer.

“Tsk.”

Seeing that Kang Jin-ho seemed to be pondering something, Hwang Jung-hoo took out a cigarette from his front pocket and offered it to him.

“What?”

“Smoke. It’s my house, so what does it matter?”

“It’s alright.”

“Why? Do I have to say, ‘Brother, have a smoke’ for you to smoke?”

“…I’ll smoke.”

Kang Jin-ho took the cigarette from Hwang Jung-hoo and put it in his mouth. Then, he lit it. As Kang Jin-ho lit his cigarette, Hwang Jung-hoo lit his as well.

In an instant, the entire living room was filled with thick smoke.

“Loneliness, huh…”

Hwang Jung-hoo smiled a little bitterly.

“It’s more like regret than loneliness.”

“Regret?”

“Yes, regret.”

Hwang Jung-hoo nodded quietly.

“I’ve been running non-stop my whole life. I’m not boasting about my success. But there’s one thing I can be proud of. I’ve lived my life very diligently.”

Kang Jin-ho also nodded.

It wasn’t enough to simply achieve success to earn the respect of the world.

Hwang Jung-hoo was someone who had deliberately chosen the difficult path when others had taken the easy one. He had been criticized and ridiculed at times, but he had steadfastly walked the right path.

That’s why Jaekyung was what it was today.

There were several companies bigger than Jaekyung in Korea, but none were as respected as Jaekyung.

“But recently, I’ve come to realize that I can’t run anymore.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s not just that my physical strength is declining. My thinking is becoming outdated. Things don’t move in the direction I think they should. And when I followed the opinions of the younger guys, those parts were fixed.

I don’t want to admit it, but it’s time.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“I don’t want to deny it. But… it’s a shame. I’ve dedicated my whole life to this place, and it’s a shame that I’m becoming unnecessary here, so very much a shame…”

Hwang Jung-hoo trailed off.

“There’s no such thing as an honorable retirement in this world. If you could still be active, who would retire? Being pushed out is just a nice way of saying retirement.”

Hwang Jung-hoo’s bitter words echoed quietly in the living room.

In Kang Jin-ho’s eyes, Hwang Jung-hoo looked incredibly small. The giant who had shaken the world had become so small in just a few years.

And with that, Kang Jin-ho made up his mind.

“A while ago…”

“…Huh?”

“I met your son.”

Hwang Jung-hoo’s face hardened like stone.