Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 494

Mulling It Over (5)

As all eyes suddenly focused on him, Kang Jin-ho wore a slightly awkward expression.

“It’s not that big of a deal.”

“It’s rare for our son to say something like this.”

“That’s for sure.”

Kang Eun-young’s reaction was a bit different.

“Oppa, you didn’t get into trouble, did you?”

“You, take your bowl and go eat over there.”

“Mom! Did I say something wrong?”

“Mom bought a sewing machine. Before you start practicing with your mouth, shush.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Baek Hyun-jung neatly suppressed Kang Eun-young’s rebellion.

As Kang Eun-young and Kang Yu-hwan looked at him with subtle gazes, Kang Jin-ho scratched the back of his head.

“It might be a bit of an apologetic thing to say.”

“Don’t make us curious and just say it.”

“Um…”

Kang Jin-ho stirred his soup a couple of times with his spoon. It seemed that this was not an easy thing to say.

“It’s about… the money in my bank account.”

“Huh? Money?”

“Yes.”

Baek Hyun-jung’s eyes widened slightly.

How long had it been since Kang Jin-ho had mentioned money?

He was a son who, despite having enough money to indulge in all sorts of luxuries, still wore stretched-out tracksuits. If Baek Hyun-jung didn’t throw away his old clothes and buy him new ones, he would probably still be wearing the clothes he wore in high school.

At times, she wondered, ‘How did I raise him to be such a detached son?’ Kang Jin-ho was so indifferent to money. It was so awkward and strange to hear the word ‘money’ from his mouth.

“Alright, tell us.”

However, unlike Baek Hyun-jung, Kang Yu-hwan was calmly listening to Kang Jin-ho.

“I’m thinking of using some of that money.”

Kang Yu-hwan nodded.

“Looks like you have something to do.”

“Yes.”

“Okay. But is this something you really need to tell us about?”

“Well… the amount is a bit more than you might think. Using it on my own without consulting you…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Still…”

“I said it doesn’t matter.”

Kang Yu-hwan’s voice was firm.

“That’s your money. Who would say anything about you using your own money?”

“Still, I thought I should at least tell you where I’m going to use it.”

“Jin-ho.”

“Yes.”

“Be more independent.”

“…Excuse me?”

Kang Yu-hwan leaned back in his chair and spoke in a slightly bored tone.

“You’re old enough. How long are you going to have your father approve every time you spend money or do something?”

Kang Jin-ho had nothing to say, so he closed his mouth.

This wasn’t the usual reaction he would expect.

“Your dad had a great time going out with your mom yesterday, leaving you two behind.”

“Oh, you! You can’t say anything right!”

“What’s wrong with that? The kids need to know.”

Unlike Baek Hyun-jung, who was blushing, Kang Yu-hwan spoke confidently.

“I’ve been taking care of you guys for over twenty years, not living my own life properly. You should have some conscience by now and take care of yourselves, shouldn’t you?”

“…Y-yes, that’s right.”

Kang Jin-ho shrank back at the force of Kang Yu-hwan’s words, which were filled with genuine annoyance.

“And now, do I have to listen to where you’re spending your money and give you my opinion on it? Are you a kindergartener?”

“No.”

“Just do it yourself! Do it yourself!”

“…Yes.”

This wasn’t how he expected things to go…

He felt so deflated after spending all night preparing answers to anticipated questions.

“Son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“You know I’m saying all this because I trust you, right?”

“Yes.”

Kang Yu-hwan smiled gently.

“I believe that at your age, every choice you make should be correct without me having to oversee it. If not, then I’ve raised you wrong. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. So, hurry up and eat. I’m going to the movies with your mother today.”

“…Aren’t you opening the cafe?”

“Hey, you. What cafe owner in the world stays at the cafe all day? What are part-timers for?”

“But you were the one who insisted on making the coffee yourself and stayed at the cafe all the time…”

“Is that your way of talking back now that you’ve grown up?”

This was tyranny.

However, Kang Jin-ho had no power to resist the ruthless dictator. His mother, who should have been his strong ally, was just wearing a slightly sulky expression, probably because of what happened yesterday.

“Anyway, hurry up and eat. Both of you.”

“Huh? Dad, I don’t have any plans today.”

“You, please go out for a bit. Kids your age are all busy going out and meeting boyfriends, but why do you just stay home and roll around! Why!”

“The other kids are just wild, and I’m just being modest!”

“I don’t want a modest daughter.”

“Wow, seriously.”

“Anyway, go out! Both of you, go out!”

And so, Kang Jin-ho was forced out of the house.

Broom.

Kang Jin-ho, who had left the house, stepped on the accelerator forcefully.

‘He’s quite unique.’

In terms of actual time lived, Kang Jin-ho was older than Kang Yu-hwan. He had probably experienced much more and suffered much more than Kang Yu-hwan.

Nevertheless, Kang Jin-ho was still learning a lot from Kang Yu-hwan. The only thing Kang Jin-ho had over Kang Yu-hwan was that he was a little older. To Kang Jin-ho, who was not yet aware of himself as an adult capable of taking responsibility for his own life,

Kang Yu-hwan was, in the truest sense, a complete adult.

‘I didn’t know that before.’

In his first life, Kang Yu-hwan was just a father who was always cheerful but not particularly special. He remembered that he loved him and his sister dearly, but he didn’t have the impression that he was an adult he wanted to emulate, like he did now.

What had changed?

Kang Jin-ho didn’t think that Kang Yu-hwan had changed because of his influence. Perhaps Kang Yu-hwan was the same as he had always been. What had changed was his perspective.

In the past, he didn’t have the insight to recognize Kang Yu-hwan’s greatness. However, after experiencing two lives and living his current life, his view of the world had improved, and he was able to see Kang Yu-hwan’s special qualities.

Kang Jin-ho was once again grateful that he was Kang Yu-hwan’s son.

He was not ordinary.

Having an extraordinary father was difficult, but having an extraordinary child was also not an easy thing. However, Kang Yu-hwan respected Kang Jin-ho’s autonomy while also making sure to give him appropriate advice so that he wouldn’t go astray.

If Kang Jin-ho had ordinary parents, he would probably be dealing with a lot of trouble by now.

‘I’m grateful again.’

He couldn’t help but realize how grateful he was. Because now, he was going to a place where there was a family that distrusted each other despite having the best environment.

Kang Jin-ho let out a low sigh as he looked at the Jaekyung headquarters in the distance.

“Have you come?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had stopped by Jaekyung, didn’t look for Jo Gyu-min and went straight to visit Hwang Jung-hoo. Although his business was with Jo Gyu-min, he thought it was polite to show his face to Hwang Jung-hoo when he visited Jaekyung.

Since he had revealed his past lives and the time he had lived, Hwang Jung-hoo no longer treated Kang Jin-ho as a subordinate, but the habits he had developed were not easy to get rid of.

“Is everything alright?”

“…It’s a problem that everything is alright.”

“Excuse me?”

Hwang Jung-hoo sighed at Kang Jin-ho’s words.

“That’s how things are. If nothing happens, you lose influence.”

“Hmm…”

“If you just maintain your current position, competing companies will come up with new items, and latecomers who you didn’t even pay attention to will quickly rise up. That’s why companies always have to be fierce. Accidents happen, losses occur, and then you develop again, cut down… that’s what needs to be repeated, but…”

Hwang Jung-hoo shook his head.

“These days, it feels like there’s no drive.”

“You can’t always do your best. There should be times to rest.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Hwang Jung-hoo pointed to the sofa. Hwang Jung-hoo took out an ashtray and offered Kang Jin-ho a cigarette. As Kang Jin-ho accepted the cigarette and lit it, Hwang Jung-hoo also put a cigarette in his mouth and sighed.

“I know I need to try something new, but I can’t think of anything new. I guess I’m getting old.”

“You’re still in good health.”

“What’s the point of being healthy if my mind is old? In the past, my head was full of new ideas. I was so frustrated that I didn’t have enough time to use them all. But now… well, now I don’t know where to start.”

Hwang Jung-hoo sighed lowly.

“I guess I’m getting old now. Or maybe I’m just tired.”

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

He was always a dramatic person, but this time, he didn’t think it was just an act.

‘Hmm…’

Kang Jin-ho looked at Hwang Jung-hoo with a slightly serious expression. Then, Hwang Jung-hoo chuckled and said,

“Don’t look at me like that. Everyone has these kinds of worries. I just wanted to complain to someone who I could complain to after a long time.”

“Complain?”

“Yes, complain. Who else would I complain to? Everyone else just wants me to be a superman.”

He could understand Hwang Jung-hoo’s feelings. It must be incredibly stressful to have everyone expect something from him.

“Alright.”

Hwang Jung-hoo put out his cigarette in the ashtray.

“Gyu-min should be in the secretary’s office, so go see him quickly.”

“Excuse me?”

“Isn’t that why you came to see Jo Gyu-min?”

“…That’s right.”

“If you’ve already paid your respects to an old man in the back room, I should be the one thanking you. I don’t want to take up the time of a busy person, so go on.”

“I’m not that busy…”

“Go on.”

Kang Jin-ho put out his cigarette and stood up.

“Then, let’s have a meal together sometime.”

“Are you paying?”

“Yes.”

“Heh heh heh, then I should go. But be prepared, I’m going to eat something very expensive.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled and turned around.

As Kang Jin-ho opened the door and went outside, Hwang Jung-hoo took out another cigarette and put it in his mouth.

Click.

‘I was told to quit.’

The doctor told him to quit smoking immediately if he wanted to live longer. However, Hwang Jung-hoo had not quit smoking.