Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 464

“Okay then.”

As Kang Jin-ho stood up, Bang Jin-hoon also rose to see him off.

“Please drive carefully.”

“Yes.”

“And don’t speed.”

“…”

Kang Jin-ho made a displeased face, and Bang Jin-hoon grinned wryly.

“It seems like the commute is causing you some trouble since it’s so far. How about moving closer? There are some studio apartments down the road that aren’t too bad.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho looked like he was considering it.

In fact, recently, everything revolved around the General Assembly, and since the General Assembly was so far out in the suburbs, he was indeed spending a lot of time commuting.

“I’ll think about it. But I don’t know if my parents will allow it…”

“…You still need your parents’ permission?”

“I’m a student…”

Bang Jin-hoon closed his mouth as if he was suffocating.

‘The disconnect is real.’

When he thought about it, this guy was barely in his twenties, having just finished his military service. There were many times when that fact clashed with the fact that he was a returnee who had lived for decades in the past.

‘He must feel it too.’

He seemed to be doing a good job of positioning himself, but there must be a burden of having to live a different life from others.

“Drive carefully.”

“Yes.”

As Kang Jin-ho went outside, Lee Hyun-soo also left the room.

“Hey, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Hmm?”

“Can we talk for a bit?”

Lee Hyun-soo gave a meaningful smile.

* * *

Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo, having come down from the mountain, bought drinks at a convenience store and sat at a table.

“You don’t seem to like alcohol very much?”

“I have to drive.”

“Ah, so you do drink sometimes?”

“No. I don’t.”

Talking to this person required a lot of mental effort. Lee Hyun-soo had met many people, but he could swear that this was the first person he had ever had such a hard time talking to.

In the past, the most difficult person he had to deal with was definitely Kim Seok-il. He was sharp and cruel. That’s why he had to think about every single word he said. He was the kind of person who could seize on any weakness and exploit it.

But Kang Jin-ho was different.

This person was a bit indifferent to others. No matter what Lee Hyun-soo said, he didn’t seem to care much. There was no need to be careful with his words.

He wasn’t the type to hold onto a single mistake.

But talking to this person was even more mentally draining.

What would be the right thing to say?

‘He’s like a tiger in a tuxedo.’

It felt like sitting across from a beast dressed in a suit, speaking human words. He knew that he wouldn’t attack him unless something happened, but he couldn’t shake the instinctive fear.

After all, Lee Hyun-soo was the one who had witnessed Kang Jin-ho’s beastly nature up close.

“What is it?”

“Ah…”

Lee Hyun-soo, snapping out of his thoughts, rubbed his face. It wasn’t polite to be thinking like this while sitting in front of someone. Lee Hyun-soo usually didn’t make such mistakes, but it was hard to keep his composure when Kang Jin-ho was in front of him.

“You seem to have had a change of heart recently.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Well, I’m someone who analyzes people and gathers information. The old Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t have taught someone like this.”

“Yeah.”

“Please speak casually.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his head.

“It’s not easy. I’ll just do what’s comfortable for me for now.”

“If you insist.”

He didn’t want to nitpick. Besides, strangely, that way of speaking suited the current Kang Jin-ho better.

“The old Kang Jin-ho seemed like someone who believed he could solve everything if he was strong. But recently, you seem to have acknowledged the role of the General Assembly.”

“I don’t have ten bodies.”

“…”

“It’s not hard to solve problems where I am. But since I can’t be everywhere at once, there will always be gaps. Moreover, now that the area to cover has increased, there will be things I can’t do.”

It was an experience he had gained in his past life.

That he couldn’t solve everything just because he was strong.

“That’s a good way of thinking.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled brightly.

“It’s good that you think that way, Kang Jin-ho. It means we have work to do.”

“The General Assembly’s work is the General Assembly’s work. You should be doing your own thing, even if it has nothing to do with me.”

“In principle, yes, but no one thinks that way.”

“In the end, the current General Assembly is being maintained by your presence, Kang Jin-ho. If you were to step away from the General Assembly, it would instantly become a mess. The directors who are trying to secure their own shares would run wild, and the conflict between the General Assembly and the Yeongnam faction would come to light.”

Kang Jin-ho frowned.

“Directors?”

“Yes. You shouldn’t ignore them. They’re like snakes. They’re the ones who secured their shares during the era when Lee Joong-geol and Kim Seok-il were in conflict. They’re the ones who are most against the current integration of the General Assembly and the Yeongnam faction, with Bang Jin-hoon as the sole head.”

He had never thought about it in that way.

‘This place is no different.’

Similar things had happened in the Demonic Cult in the past. It seemed that wherever people lived, it was all the same. Back then, Cheongma had simply killed those who needed to be killed and made those who needed to submit submit…

‘How did he do that?’

The more he thought about it, the more he rediscovered Cheongma’s majesty.

Cheongma had solved all the headaches while sitting down. And he had led that Kang Jin-ho and easily integrated the Demonic Cult.

‘And I’m amazing for making that guy betray me.’

Kang Jin-ho had never once thought that Cheongma might betray him until that day came. At the time, he was furious with betrayal, but looking back now, he should have just downed the poisoned tea that Cheongma offered him without a word.

In a game, Cheongma was the one who carried the team, soothing and coaxing the troll who was drawing all the aggro and dragging the team down.

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Lee Hyun-soo.

It was something that Bang Jin-hoon couldn’t do. He was, if anything, a benevolent leader. He thought he was full of spirit, but in Kang Jin-ho’s eyes, he was someone who had limitations in this kind of situation.

They needed someone else to take care of this.

“So, what do you want me to do?” Kang Jin-ho decided to test Lee Hyun-soo.

The answer he gave would determine his evaluation of him.

Lee Hyun-soo’s answer came immediately. But it was different from anything Kang Jin-ho had expected.

“Ignore them.”

“…”

Kang Jin-ho’s brow furrowed.

“Ignore?”

“Yes. Now is not the time to deal with them.”

“Why?”

“There’s no justification, and the timing isn’t right. Just because they have such intentions doesn’t mean we can start eliminating their forces. It will cause a backlash.”

‘Fail.’

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes turned a little cold.

When carrying out a task, it was important to consider the timing and justification. But more important than that was understanding the nature of the person you were working with.

It was disappointing that Lee Hyun-soo, who knew Kang Jin-ho’s nature to some extent, was saying such things. If you were obsessed with justification, you would miss the timing. Kang Jin-ho was someone who could bear any infamy.

“However, that’s not the only reason.”

As if sensing Kang Jin-ho’s mood, Lee Hyun-soo continued to explain with a smile.

“We couldn’t confirm it with our current intelligence, but if my prediction is correct, Japan has already made a move. Definitely.”

“Japan?”

“Yes. I’m willing to bet everything on it. Those guys will never stay still. They’re definitely targeting you right now, Kang Jin-ho. They might be closer than I expect.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-soo with interest.

“Creating internal strife in a situation where Japan’s provocation is expected is not a good idea. And… if my guess is right, we can use this opportunity to build justification. If that happens, we’ll be in the best possible situation.”

‘Hold.’

Kang Jin-ho revised his evaluation.

He couldn’t trust him as much as Cheongma, but there was conviction in his words. He was confident in himself.

It seemed worth listening to for now.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“Kang Jin-ho, haven’t you just been taking hits until now?”

“…What?”

“You get attacked, and then you retaliate. That’s been your basic pattern of behavior. I understand that the General Assembly and the Yeongnam faction are similarly entangled with you. So, they probably think the same way. They’re sure that you won’t make the first move.”

“Hmm…”

“But this time, the situation is different. The enemy is clear, and we’ve already crossed the point of no return with them. In that case, striking first is also an option.”

“Strike first?”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled lightly.

“If we create a variable, something interesting will happen. Are you willing to trust me and make a move?”

Looking at Lee Hyun-soo, who asked resolutely, Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth.

‘This is going to be interesting.’

Thinking that this man might change a lot of things, Kang Jin-ho reached out his hand. Lee Hyun-soo reached out and grasped Kang Jin-ho’s hand.

* * *

“…”

There were countless problems in the world.

From what to eat for dinner to when to sleep, everything was a problem.

But right now, Park Yu-min was suffering from a more serious and extreme problem.

“…Why are you here? You must be busy.”

“I’m not busy.”

“Oh, you’re not busy.”

It would have been better if he was busy.

“I came to check if you’re doing well.”

“Oh, I see.”

I would have been doing great if you hadn’t come.

Park Yu-min reflected on himself for having such thoughts. It was unimaginable for the old him to be annoyed by his friend who had changed his life.

“Want to play together?”

“Okay.”

PC Bang [Korean internet cafe].

In that place where the dreams and hopes of young Koreans were realized, Park Yu-min was in the middle of preparing for a test. The new season was about to start, and before the season, there would be a recruitment of personnel. Professional teams would contact ranked players and ask them to take tests.

Park Yu-min had to take two tests next week. He was in the middle of furiously clicking his mouse…

‘I appreciate you being worried and coming to see me, Jin-ho… but you’re Bronze.’

I’m Challenger…

If you and I duo, the world will be destroyed.

Why?

Why couldn’t he show the skills he had in Galaxy here? Games were all different, but there should be some class, shouldn’t there?

“Aren’t you starting?”

“Yeah… I will.”

As Park Yu-min sat down with a sullen face, Kang Jin-ho smiled and sat next to him.