Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 342

“No problems?”

“Yes.”

“…That’s a relief. But why do you look so strange?”

“Me, sir?”

“Is there anyone else here besides you?” At Hwang Jung-hoo’s words, Jo Gyu-min’s lips slightly protruded.

“I was so worried, but he’s too fine, so putting aside being happy, I feel a bit wronged.”

“You have a nasty heart.”

“I didn’t know I was like this either.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Hwang Jung-hoo laughed as if it was amusing.

One achievement from this incident was seeing many new sides of Jo Gyu-min.

“You’re quite the softie, aren’t you?”

“…I want to deny it.” Jo Gyu-min’s face turned red.

‘To be weak in a crisis.’

He thought he was quite a bold person. People are usually full of unfounded confidence that they are strong in a crisis.

But after experiencing a real crisis this time, his thoughts changed. The reason Jo Gyu-min had been able to maintain his composure was because he was sure that neither he nor those around him would be harmed.

As soon as he thought Kang Jin-ho might die, his usual composure vanished, and he found himself flustered.

“Think of it as a good experience.”

“I guess I should.”

Jo Gyu-min scratched his head with an awkward expression.

“Go home early today.”

“I have a lot of work to do.”

“The only person you report to is me, and if I tell you to go home, isn’t that the end? Put off the reports and go get some sleep. As far as I know, you haven’t slept a wink for three days.”

Jo Gyu-min didn’t answer.

To say yes would be like bragging about working hard, which was embarrassing.

“Self-management is also part of the job. I don’t want someone who just works hard. I’m sure other employers feel the same way. I like people who work efficiently.”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Hwang Jung-hoo quietly took out a cigarette.

His face, as he slowly put the cigarette in his mouth and lit it, was filled with relief.

“I really feel like I’ve aged ten years.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“No joke, I feel like I could die tomorrow. I don’t know when I’ve been this tense.”

Jo Gyu-min nodded seriously.

Hwang Jung-hoo was genuinely furious about this incident. Despite the many years Jo Gyu-min had served Hwang Jung-hoo, it was the first time he had seen him so angry.

Even Director Baek Young-gi said it was the first time he had seen Hwang Jung-hoo so angry.

It was natural for Jo Gyu-min, who had bet his life on Kang Jin-ho, to be flustered and agitated, but Hwang Jung-hoo’s reaction was unexpected.

“Thanks to this, some things became clear, so it’s not like we gained nothing.”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s not something related to you.”

Hwang Jung-hoo trailed off.

Jo Gyu-min didn’t bother to delve into Hwang Jung-hoo’s words. It was natural for the chairman to have more things to think about and consider.

“More importantly, there will be a lot to do from now on, right?”

“Yes.”

Jo Gyu-min agreed with a resolute face.

“You know what Kang Jin-ho is up to, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I won’t ask you to report everything to me. As I said, I want to live in this world. I have no intention of sticking my face into that world.”

“Yes.”

“However…”

Hwang Jung-hoo opened his mouth with a stern face.

“You’re different. You must have realized from this incident that you could have lost Kang Jin-ho, right?”

Jo Gyu-min nodded without answering.

For Jo Gyu-min, Kang Jin-ho was like a religion.

It wasn’t that he absolutely believed in Kang Jin-ho, but that he believed Kang Jin-ho could handle anything on his own.

But this time, that belief was shattered.

Thanks to that, Jo Gyu-min was feeling conflicted. It was definitely heartbreaking that Kang Jin-ho was in danger, but for the first time, he realized that Kang Jin-ho needed him.

Until now, what he had done was more like running errands than helping Kang Jin-ho. His job was to clean up and make things neat.

But this time was different.

If Jo Gyu-min hadn’t stepped in properly, Kang Jin-ho would have been in danger. That fact made Jo Gyu-min feel strange.

It was heartbreaking that Kang Jin-ho wasn’t perfect and that he was in danger, but ironically, it proved that he himself was useful.

“It will get worse from now on.”

“Yes.”

Hwang Jung-hoo said, slowly exhaling the cigarette smoke he had deeply inhaled.

“The higher people go, the more they are checked. Whether that person is right or wrong doesn’t matter. People want to pull down those who rise. They cheer and applaud up to a certain point. But once they pass a certain point, they instantly turn into enemies.”

It was a story filled with experience.

If you think about it, there aren’t many people who have suffered as much slander as Hwang Jung-hoo.

Hwang Jung-hoo overcame all of that with his own strength. But it wouldn’t be easy for Kang Jin-ho.

Unlike Hwang Jung-hoo’s adversaries, who attacked with laws, conspiracies, and rumors, Kang Jin-ho had to face real threats.

“Kang Jin-ho will be more careful now. But there will be attacks that he can’t handle.”

“I think so too.”

“It’s your job to stop that. You know that, right?”

“Yes.”

Jo Gyu-min answered while subtly watching Hwang Jung-hoo’s expression.

Until now, Hwang Jung-hoo had shown no interest in the hidden world Kang Jin-ho belonged to. It wasn’t that he had no interest, but that he intentionally tried not to pay attention to it.

But now, Hwang Jung-hoo was telling Jo Gyu-min, who was under Jae-kyung’s payroll, to get involved in that world.

Should this be interpreted as Jae-kyung’s intention to support Kang Jin-ho, including the martial arts world?

‘He won’t give me an easy answer.’

A cunning fox digs many burrows. It wasn’t a bad thing. It was only natural for Hwang Jung-hoo, who had lived in an era where he couldn’t survive without doing so.

For Jo Gyu-min, just getting this much out of him was a great achievement.

“I will pay attention to those aspects from now on.”

“Yes, that’s a good thing.”

Hwang Jung-hoo’s gaze calmed down.

‘I need to make my stance clear too.’

Being half-in, half-out like this was not good for anyone.

Right now, Hwang Jung-hoo was healthy, but there was no telling when his mind might become clouded. What was even scarier was that the person himself wouldn’t realize when his mind started to cloud.

If Hwang Jung-hoo, who held absolute authority within Jae-kyung, started giving strange orders with a clouded mind, there would be no one to control him. Hwang Jung-hoo didn’t allow others to keep him in check.

Until now, Hwang Jung-hoo’s judgment and dictatorial power had been the foundation for Jae-kyung’s growth, but if the situation changed, it could become a fatal poison.

‘I need to start organizing things.’

Hwang Jung-hoo had seen many cases where the heads of conglomerates, who seemed like they would always be healthy, had their judgment clouded and developed mental problems, leading to the decline of their companies because no one could keep them in check.

He had thought that he would never be like that, but looking back, what if Hwang Jung-hoo’s mind went strange tomorrow?

That would be ruin.

Preparation isn’t about making resolutions, it’s about taking measures.

He had thought about Jae-kyung without him, but Hwang Jung-hoo hadn’t prepared for the possibility of himself going strange.

The fact that he had thought of that possibility because of this incident was a fortunate thing for Jae-kyung.

Hwang Jung-hoo, who had closed his eyes slightly and organized his thoughts, raised his head and looked at Jo Gyu-min.

“But…”

“Yes?”

Hwang Jung-hoo chuckled and said,

“You look quite good.”

Jo Gyu-min rubbed his face.

“You don’t look like someone who just escaped a crisis. You look like someone who has finished a big task? You have the face of someone who has successfully led a long-running project. Am I wrong?”

At Hwang Jung-hoo’s words, Jo Gyu-min smiled awkwardly.

“It’s similar. The situation is different, but the feeling is similar.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

Hwang Jung-hoo laughed lightly as if he understood.

And Jo Gyu-min recalled what Kang Jin-ho had said before coming here.

“Thank you.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for your efforts.”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”

“If it weren’t for Director Jo, I don’t know what would have happened. I won’t forget this. Thank you for saving me.”

‘Gratitude…’

It wasn’t the first time he had heard Kang Jin-ho say thank you. Rather, it was something he had heard often.

But Jo Gyu-min knew.

The ‘gratitude’ Kang Jin-ho had said until now and the ‘gratitude’ Kang Jin-ho had said this time were completely different in meaning.

The thought that his efforts had worked as a real help for Kang Jin-ho for the first time made Jo Gyu-min feel an unknown sense of pride.

And on the other hand, it was a time when he realized how important Kang Jin-ho had become in his life.

‘Perhaps Mr. Kang Jin-ho feels the same way.’

It was a moment he never wanted to experience again, but it was a meaningful time in terms of strengthening their bond.

Jo Gyu-min smiled softly and stood up from his seat.

This incident would further solidify their bond.

‘Incompetent.’

Kang Jin-ho was accepting the hardships that were coming at him with his whole body and a stiff face.

How to explain this incident to his mother and father was one of the biggest challenges for Kang Jin-ho. It was something he couldn’t solve on his own.

That’s why he had asked for Jo Gyu-min’s help, but…

‘Incompetent!’

Kang Jin-ho had never doubted Jo Gyu-min’s abilities, but now he was filled with a serious sense of self-doubt.

It was a solution that he had forced through by undergoing unnecessary tests, but the solution was so absurd. And he even felt that the situation was getting worse.

What on earth was this solution?

How could they come up with such a method!

He was doing as he was told because there was no other alternative, but the bewildered, embarrassed, and dumbfounded gazes that were pouring down on him were proving that the solution was not a good decision but a poison.

“So…”

Baek Hyun-jung glared at Kang Jin-ho with eyes that seemed to be spitting fire.

“So!”

Kang Jin-ho’s body flinched as Baek Hyun-jung’s voice rose.

His body, which had never trembled even when rocks fell and covered him in the dirt, was now cowering like a frog that had met a snake.

His mother opened her mouth in a tone as if she were chewing and spitting out each word.

“A trip? You went on a trip with Choi Yeon-ha, is that what you’re saying?”

Kang Jin-ho raised his head and looked at the ceiling.

‘Jo Gyu-min…’

I will definitely repay this grudge.