Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 380

“Why did you gather us?”

“Isn’t it because of that investigation we did last time?”

“…Ah, seriously.”

Han Jin-sung, with a face full of annoyance, looked around at the children gathered nearby.

“That’s why I told you not to do useless things, right?”

At Han Jin-sung’s voice, some of the children flinched.

“Is Yoo-min your dad? Can’t you see that Yoo-min can’t even get a girlfriend because he’s busy taking care of you guys while he’s struggling to make a living?”

At that moment, someone raised their hand.

“What?”

“I think the reason he can’t get a girlfriend isn’t *just* that.”

“…I admit that.”

Han Jin-sung cleared his throat.

“If you have even a little bit of conscience, you should make sure Yoo-min doesn’t have other worries. Honestly, isn’t it pitiful that Yoo-min isn’t even our guardian, and he’s always cleaning up after us?”

At Han Jin-sung’s words, the atmosphere in the room immediately sank.

“It’s not like he doesn’t have money, or that he has nothing to do. You guys know that he’s not living and sleeping in the orphanage because he has nowhere else to go or because he doesn’t have money.”

Han Jin-sung said, annoyed.

“Then we should show him that we can take care of ourselves so he can live his own life, but instead, you guys couldn’t hold back and snitched? Huh?”

The children’s faces darkened even more.

Especially Jong-soo, who had been beaten and was the starting point of this whole thing, looked as gloomy as could be.

“And what’s going to change if Yoo-min finds out about this? If it was something that could be solved by telling him, I would have told you to go and tell him first. But you guys know, is this something that can be solved by talking?”

“No…”

Han Jin-sung looked at the children with glaring eyes and said.

“This is just going to make us worry together and suffer together. Yoo-min is already having a hard time and suffering enough even without this. You little brats, who are you to tell Yoo-min, ‘Worry about our problems and solve them for us’? Do you pay Yoo-min for room and board? Do you give him living expenses? You think that if you keep receiving favors, it’s your right, and now you’re trying to take advantage of him. People should have some shame.”

Everyone avoided his gaze.

Han Jin-sung’s words were all true. If they needed to ask for help about what was happening at school, it should be the orphanage that they should ask, not Park Yoo-min.

Park Yoo-min was already doing more than enough for them. To ask him for even more effort was too shameless.

However…

The reason they ended up having to tell Park Yoo-min was… because Park Yoo-min was the only person they could trust. It didn’t seem like anything would change if they told anyone else.

Even if they were clueless, they could tell the difference between someone who genuinely cared about them and someone who was just doing their job.

There were childcare teachers and the director at the orphanage, but no one trusted or relied on them more than Park Yoo-min.

“…Sorry, hyung.”

But they knew that this trust was putting a burden on Park Yoo-min.

Han Jin-sung sighed and said.

“Yoo-min is going to ask about solutions, but don’t just agree with him, and say you’ll try to handle it. And from now on, never talk about what happened at school here. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Within the orphanage, there were often situations where a coercive atmosphere was formed between older and younger students, but the children, who had been cared for with love by the head nun since childhood, trusted and relied on each other like siblings.

“It’s because there’s no point in talking. You guys know that this isn’t something that can be solved by adults. Let’s not make Yoo-min feel bad for no reason. It’s just going to make Yoo-min suffer. Got it?”

The moment everyone nodded, the door burst open with a bang, and Park Yoo-min entered.

“You were all gathered here.”

“Yes, hyung.”

The children, who were trying to compose themselves after seeing Park Yoo-min, widened their eyes when they saw Kang Jin-ho following behind him.

‘Why is that hyung here?’

The plan was going wrong.

Park Yoo-min was a good person, so if they all stuck together and repeated ‘It’s okay, it’s not a big deal’ like parrots, he would eventually sigh and back down. Because he was a kind and good hyung [older brother].

But Kang Jin-ho was a little different.

‘What do we do?’

‘How should I know!’

If the children trusted and followed Park Yoo-min like a real brother, what should they call Kang Jin-ho…?

Should they call him the strict older brother who occasionally visits home?

They felt like they could lie to Park Yoo-min, but they didn’t dare to lie to Kang Jin-ho. It didn’t seem like it would work, and more than anything, Kang Jin-ho had a slightly prickly side.

‘It’s not prickly, it’s scary.’

They knew that Kang Jin-ho cared about them as much as Park Yoo-min did. Even a mere puppy could recognize someone who liked them, so there was no way they, as humans, wouldn’t know that Kang Jin-ho’s gruffness hid genuine care.

However, being liked and being a good person was a separate issue from being strict and scary.

The atmosphere became strange when Kang Jin-ho entered.

They were exchanging glances, but there wasn’t really a solution for this situation.

Han Jin-sung sighed deeply.

At the same time, he couldn’t deny that he felt a subtle sense of anticipation. He felt sorry to Park Yoo-min for saying this, but he thought that Kang Jin-ho could do something that Park Yoo-min couldn’t.

Of course, if Han Jin-sung was asked who he liked more between Park Yoo-min and Kang Jin-ho, he would shout Park Yoo-min’s name without a second thought. If he was asked who he trusted more, he would naturally choose Park Yoo-min.

But this was a separate issue.

Even if you trust, like, and believe in your father the most in the world, taking a broken computer to your father is… just bothering him.

The ability to trust is a separate issue. People have different areas of expertise.

“So…”

Kang Jin-ho quietly opened his mouth.

“I’ve heard how things are going. As for the details…”

Kang Jin-ho looked around at the children and made eye contact. The children flinched at Kang Jin-ho’s gaze.

“I don’t think I need to hear them.”

Kang Jin-ho didn’t think he needed to hear anything from them. He had already heard enough from Park Yoo-min, and bringing up the story again now was just a waste of time.

Besides, it didn’t seem like they would say the right things.

“Let’s just figure out the numbers. Even a little is fine. Anyone who feels they’re being treated unfairly, raise your hand.”

Han Jin-sung let out a soft sigh.

‘That hyung really doesn’t know how to handle people.’

Who would raise their hand in front of all these people if he said that? Even if he took them one by one and asked, he didn’t know if they would talk…

‘That brat… why is he raising his hand?’

Contrary to Han Jin-sung’s thoughts, as soon as Kang Jin-ho finished speaking, hands went up here and there.

“Wow.”

Han Jin-sung looked around in disbelief. Everyone was slightly turning their heads to avoid eye contact with him, but they didn’t lower their outstretched hands.

‘Is this charisma?’

Kang Jin-ho, who had finished figuring out the numbers just by asking without saying much, opened his mouth.

“So, the kids who didn’t raise their hands don’t have any problems?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to change your situation. But if you’re just embarrassed and don’t raise your hand, there’s nothing I can do.”

Whispering sounds were heard here and there.

“What is he saying?”

“He’s saying don’t be ashamed and raise your hand honestly.”

As soon as that answer came out, a few more hands went up.

‘Ha, these brats, really.’

Han Jin-sung looked around with a face full of annoyance.

That’s why these guys are…

Then, Han Jin-sung quietly raised his hand.

Instantly, the children’s gazes all turned towards him, but Han Jin-sung desperately deflected their accusing looks, repeating, ‘Why? What?’

“Who’s the oldest?”

“Me, I am?”

“High school senior?”

“No. The older hyungs are busy studying. It seems like the high school seniors don’t have those kinds of problems because of their college entrance exams.”

“Is that so?”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his chin.

It didn’t seem like the kids who were bullying others would change just because they were high school seniors. Since they said so, he would have to set aside some time to ask them separately.

“Okay. Lower your hands.”

As the children lowered their hands, Kang Jin-ho pulled out a chair and sat down.

“There’s one thing I want to say…”

Kang Jin-ho looked around at the children and opened his mouth.

“It’s not your fault.”

The children’s eyes flickered slightly.

“You don’t need to think that it’s your fault just because you’re being targeted. You don’t need to think that this is something you have to endure. It’s not your fault. If there’s a fault, it’s those guys who are wrong.”

“…Yes.”

“I know it’s an obvious thing to say. I know it’s not helpful. The reason I’m saying this is because I want to make it clear that what you’re going to do from now on isn’t because you did something wrong. To be honest…”

Kang Jin-ho hesitated, looking like he was pondering for a moment, then reluctantly opened his mouth.

“Sometimes, being weak is also a sin.”

“I’m not saying it’s your fault. But the fact that I’m not at fault doesn’t compensate for the harm I’m experiencing. Just like the fact that those guys are bad doesn’t comfort you when you’re being targeted.”

At Kang Jin-ho’s words, some of them lowered their heads.

“It’s ridiculous, but that’s how the world is. The things you experience because you’re weak are so dirty and sad that they’re treated as nothing. No one will tell you that. So I’m telling you. That’s how the world is. It’s a sad, heartbreaking, and difficult place if you’re weak.” Kang Jin-ho sighed.

He didn’t feel good about having to say these things in front of the children.

“So, there’s only one conclusion. If you don’t want to be sad, wronged, or resentful, you have no choice but to become stronger. You have to become so strong that no one can touch you. I’m sorry that I’m a pathetic guy who can only come to this conclusion… I’m not an educator, and I don’t know any ways to resolve this situation smoothly. I’m just looking for a way to solve it cleanly.”

Han Jin-sung raised his hand.

“Speak.”

“Hyung, I’m sorry, but what’s that clean way to solve it?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded as if it was a good question.

“First of all, there’s the easiest way for guys.”

“What is it?”

Kang Jin-ho turned to Jong-soo and asked.

“How many guys were there who beat you up this time?”

“F-five, sir.”

“Hmm, that was the problem.”

Han Jin-sung nodded.

If they come as a group, the way to deal with it is…