Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 487

“This is way too much, even for a large scale,” Han Jin-sung sighed, looking at the bus parked in front of the school.

Being quick with work was something to be praised anywhere in the world. Especially if the work was done quickly and accurately, it was something everyone would welcome.

Except for him.

“You should at least do things at a pace that people can keep up with, so we can prepare ourselves mentally.”

When was it that this conversation even came up? And now they’ve already prepared a bus to pick up the kids after school.

He had often seen kids who attend academies [private after-school learning centers] take the academy bus right after school, but that was an academy.

They didn’t even start an academy, so what was this….

“Hey, bro! Get on quickly!”

The kids, sticking their heads out of the window, urged Han Jin-sung. It seemed they had already picked up the kids from other schools.

“…Damn it.”

He felt like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

‘Goodbye, PC room. Goodbye, my beloved games.’

The thought that he really had to give up everything and focus only on studying made him sigh involuntarily.

But wasn’t he Han Jin-sung, a man? It was a path he had chosen. Not a single regret….

“Yeah, right, my ass.”

Annoyed as much as he could be, Han Jin-sung got on the bus.

“Why is there only this many?”

“You’re the last one, bro.”

“Huh?”

“The other kids were picked up by other buses. They said it would take too long if only one bus went around, so they’re using three buses.”

“They’re insane, seriously.”

If that was the case, they should have at least reduced the size of the bus. Using a limousine bus to carry only six people… There was a limit to how big the scale could be.

“Doesn’t it feel like we’re some rich kids?”

“What are you talking about? We’re beggars.”

“Let’s at least enjoy the feeling, the feeling!”

Han Jin-sung chuckled and sat down. Come to think of it, even rich kids wouldn’t experience something like this.

“We don’t have a rich dad, but we have a rich brother.”

Honestly, that brother was more reliable than his own father.

“…They rented a building?”

“I guess so.”

“No, seriously…”

Han Jin-sung looked like he didn’t want to say anything more.

How could he describe this situation?

It was like asking his brother to make a doghouse after buying a puppy, and he ended up buying an apartment instead.

They could have just made a small place for a few kids to study together, but instead, they chartered buses to pick up the kids, and rented a building to make a study room….

“You know, I sometimes think…”

“Yeah.”

“Isn’t Jin-ho hyung’s [older brother or male friend] mind a little different from ours?”

“Are you stating the obvious? Compared to Jin-ho hyung, our brains are like udon noodles.”

“No, that’s not what I mean…”

Han Jin-sung sighed.

‘We need to get him married off.’

Since he didn’t have any children or family to take care of, he didn’t know the value of money and was doing these ‘reckless’ things. He needed to know how scary it was for money to disappear from his bank account.

Han Jin-sung decided that he needed to have a serious conversation about this someday.

“Even so…”

At that moment, Jo Mi-hye poked her head out of the window on the upper floor and shouted.

“Oppa, why aren’t you coming up!”

“Everyone’s waiting!”

“…Yeah, it’s all my fault.” Han Jin-sung sighed deeply and went inside. The inside of the entrance was still not fully remodeled, with plastic sheets here and there.

‘No, why are they even remodeling?!’

Would studying not work if the study place was a bit gloomy? How could they study with such a rotten mindset, that’s what he meant.

If they needed space, they could just rent a small office, but what was this money-wasting nonsense?

But soon, Han Jin-sung realized that this was not just a simple waste of money.

“…What is this?”

“The schedule.”

Han Jin-sung trembled as he looked at the schedule in front of him.

‘A schedule?’

So, this was a moving class? Moving to different classrooms according to the schedule and taking classes….

“That’s a good method.”

It was a very advanced method. Especially since the children in the orphanage had different levels and ages….

“…Yeah, right! What the hell is this!”

Han Jin-sung jumped up from his seat.

There were only about 20 kids here, and if they were divided again, how many people would be in one class?

“Jin-sung, be quiet.”

At Park Yu-min’s warning, Han Jin-sung plopped back down in his seat.

“I don’t even know anymore.”

At this point, he was confused whether he was not normal, or if the people around him were not normal.

“Okay, let’s move quickly.”

“Yes.”

Han Jin-sung picked up the schedule and got up from his seat.

“Where is A-4?”

“Oppa, are you in A-4?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s strange.”

“Why?”

Jo Mi-hye said, looking puzzled.

“I’m also in A-4.”

“Huh?”

Disbelief appeared on Han Jin-sung’s face. He was a second-year high school student, and Jo Mi-hye was a first-year high school student… There was no way they would be in the same class.

“Hyung! Yu-min hyung!”

“Yeah?”

“This schedule is wrong. Mi-hye and I are in the same class? Did you give me the wrong one?”

“Oh, that’s…”

Park Yu-min looked back, looking troubled. Jo Gyu-min, who had been watching the situation, smiled brightly and helped Park Yu-min.

“No, it’s correct.”

“Yes? No… She’s a first-year, and I’m a second-year… We shouldn’t be in the same class.”

“Grade doesn’t matter. Level is what matters.”

“Yes?”

Jo Gyu-min smiled… or rather, he smiled in a very annoying way, and explained.

“To get the best results, level-based learning is important. So, we divided the levels based on certain criteria and assigned classes. We’ll keep evaluating and changing the classes. So, work hard.”

“So, you’re saying that she and I are at a similar level right now?”

“That’s right.”

Han Jin-sung couldn’t accept this situation.

“No! I’ve studied for a year longer, how can I be at the same level as her? What’s the basis for that?”

“Just a moment.”

Jo Gyu-min took out a file folder that was on the desk behind him.

“Here are all the report cards you’ve received so far. Do you want me to make them public?”

“I’m sorry.”

Han Jin-sung, who quickly gave up, sat back down in his seat, feeling defeated.

“You shouldn’t be sitting, you should be moving.”

“…Yes.”

As Han Jin-sung trudged out of the classroom, Jo Gyu-min put his arm around his shoulder.

“Jin-sung.”

“Yes?”

“Originally, you should have been placed lower, but I adjusted it to that level because I still have some respect for you. Work hard so that I don’t regret my decision. Got it?”

This was hell. This place was hell.

Han Jin-sung’s hell didn’t end there.

Throughout the walk to the same classroom, Jo Mi-hye wore a relaxed smile. And every time he saw that smile, he felt like he was taking damage to his abdomen.

“I feel a little bad that we’re at the same level.”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“Well, you’ve studied for a year longer, so I guess I should acknowledge that much.”

“I’m really going to kill you.”

When they entered the classroom, textbooks were placed on the desks.

“Huh?”

Jo Mi-hye’s eyes widened as she looked at the textbook.

“T-this is Instructor Min Hong-gi’s textbook.”

“Who’s that?”

“I took his online lectures. He’s a very well-known Korean language instructor.”

“The textbook must be good. They’re using it here too.”

“Yes. I had a hard time making the textbook.”

Jo Mi-hye screamed when she saw Min Hong-gi entering the room.

“H-he’s the real teacher!”

“There are many people in the world, but there aren’t many fakes who can follow me.”

“Wow! Even his annoying attitude! He’s real! He’s real!”

Min Hong-gi realized that the uniqueness he had been searching for was already within him.

‘Ah, I’m… annoying.’

He didn’t know if his soul was pure or if his brain was clear, but thanks to that kid, he learned a good fact. The price for that would have to be paid through studying.

Min Hong-gi, gritting his teeth, immediately opened the textbook.

“There’s a lot I want to say, but let’s start by checking your skills. Is there a student named Han Jin-sung here?”

“…Yes.”

“I’d appreciate it if you could answer my questions from now on. Let’s begin.”

“…Yes.”

He could already hear the sound of his soul flying away.

The first day wasn’t really a class.

Most of the classes ended at the level of simply exploring the level and tendencies of the students they were in charge of. After taking several classes until late at night, the kids got on a bus and returned to the orphanage.

“…Let’s die.”

“We can’t just die. We’re non-recyclable waste, so it’ll cost money for the garbage bags.”

Sigh.

The joy of having famous instructors from the academy district come and teach them directly didn’t last long.

Soon, the instructors began to dissect their skills one by one, and those who faced their exact level for the first time in their lives fell into despair.

The road ahead was long.

“Still, isn’t it amazing?”

“What is?”

“How did he gather those people? Even I, who wasn’t interested in studying, have heard of those people’s names.”

“…He’s crazy.”

That person was definitely suffering from a scale disorder.

“Watch your mouth.”

Jo Mi-hye glared at him.

“Jin-ho oppa is doing this for us, spending money on purpose, so you shouldn’t talk like that.”

“…I know, I know.”

Han Jin-sung also knew that.

However, what bothered him was the fact that he knew there wouldn’t be much to show for the investment.

How successful would they have to be, and how much would they have to help Kang Jin-ho to repay this much kindness?

‘That brother puts too much pressure on people.’

Han Jin-sung quietly put his hand into his bag. Han Jin-sung, who pulled out the heavy textbook from his bag, sighed softly.

‘Okay, I’ll try.’

It wasn’t that he was going to meet their expectations. However, he was also a human being, and he had a sense of shame, so he couldn’t not try when they were doing this much for him.

He was old enough to know that what Kang Jin-ho was doing was not something that could be done just because he had money.

Even if he received 300,000 won as allowance, he would hate to give away even 1,000 won. There was no way he wouldn’t feel like this much money was a waste. Even if Kang Jin-ho didn’t think this money was a waste, it didn’t mean that he didn’t have to be grateful.

A debt of the heart that could not be repaid.

Han Jin-sung felt his chest tighten as it seemed to keep piling up.

‘At least trying is the way to repay him.’

Even if the results were not guaranteed. The best he could do now was to try. Han Jin-sung quietly ignited his fighting spirit.

And Jo Mi-hye, who saw him burning with fighting spirit, smiled contentedly and said.

“You brought your textbook? There’s no homework.”

“Huh?”

“Everyone else put them in their lockers. You brought it to study, right? Our oppa has grown up.”

“T-there were lockers?”

“…”

Jo Mi-hye’s face suddenly turned cold.

“Oppa.”