Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 51

“Did you pass?”

“No.”

Cho Kyu-min, the acting chairman of the Dongmyeong Foundation, barely suppressed a laugh at Kang Jin-ho’s blunt reply as he poured him a cup of coffee. Kang Jin-ho trudged over and plopped down on the sofa. “Did you fail again?”

“Yes.”

‘He’s in a bad mood.’

Kang Jin-ho’s face looked expressionless.

However, Cho Kyu-min had become somewhat adept at reading Kang Jin-ho’s mood through his expressions.

“What does it matter if you’re not good at driving?”

“What do you mean?”

“You can just hire a chauffeur. Why don’t you hire one?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“They say I need a license.”

“Well, yes, but….”

Who!

Is going to let Kang Jin-ho!

Pass!

Cho Kyu-min had once ridden in Kang Jin-ho’s car when he went out for road practice after passing the written exam.

And after that day, Cho Kyu-min never again set foot in a car driven by Kang Jin-ho.

He’d rather die a clean death than experience the past flashing before his eyes non-stop. He had seen so much of his past that Cho Kyu-min experienced the miracle of regaining many old memories he had forgotten.

“These days, it’s okay to not have a license.”

“Are you telling me to give up?”

“…No.”

Kang Jin-ho picked up his coffee and took a sip.

“So, when’s the next test?”

“I’ve already registered. It’s in three days.”

“Yes, I see.”

Cho Kyu-min once again offered his condolences to the examiner who would have to ride in Kang Jin-ho’s car.

“Is that why you came?”

Kang Jin-ho put down his coffee cup and cleared his throat.

“I have a matter to discuss.”

“A matter?”

Cho Kyu-min’s voice involuntarily rose at this strange situation.

Cho Kyu-min had always been the one to ask something of Kang Jin-ho, but Kang Jin-ho had never asked anything of Cho Kyu-min.

Since the issues with the Sungsim Orphanage building and the bicycle, Kang Jin-ho had never once asked Cho Kyu-min for anything.

Come to think of it, he had spoken to Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo about the orphanage and the bicycle, not to Cho Kyu-min.

Thanks to that, Cho Kyu-min, who had been ordered to assist Kang Jin-ho, was in the bizarre situation of not actually being able to help him at all.

‘Is it time for me to earn my keep?’ Cho Kyu-min rejoiced.

He had been embarrassed to give the same old report of ‘There were no special instructions’ every time he went to report.

This was his chance to properly show his worth.

With his superior work processing skills and the power of the Jaekyung Group, which would spare no support for Kang Jin-ho, there was little he couldn’t do in this world.

He was confident he could handle things thoroughly and perfectly!

“Please, tell me!”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“It’s about Jaekyung University.”

“Yes? Jaekyung University?”

“Yes.”

“Why Jaekyung University all of a sudden?”

Kang Jin-ho spoke lightly, as if it were nothing.

“Is there something like a special admission? Or, I think there was a special talent admission.” [Special talent admissions are for students with exceptional skills in areas like sports or arts.] Special talent admissions were common in most universities.

Although he wasn’t exactly sure, Jaekyung University definitely had a special talent admission.

“Yes, there is.”

“Can you look into it?”

Cho Kyu-min tilted his head.

Special talent admission?

What need did he have for that? Kang Jin-ho already had a free pass to any university.

If he wanted, he could freely go to any university in Korea.

Why would someone like that need a special talent admission?

“What kind of talent are you talking about? If you wanted, you could easily get a scholarship and enter through the regular admission.”

“Not for me.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled.

“I was wondering if Yumin could get in.”

“…Are you talking about Park Yumin?”

“Yes.”

Cho Kyu-min’s mind began to race. Information about Park Yumin began to surface in his mind.

“But Park Yumin is already planning to become a pro gamer and not go to university…”

“His lifespan is short.”

“Are you talking about pro gamers?”

“It’s a job with a limit of five years at most, so if he gives up on his studies, there’s a problem afterward.”

“That’s true.”

Pro gamer.

It looks glamorous on the outside, but in reality, only a very small number of people receive that spotlight. And among that small number, even fewer remain in the public eye for a long time.

Most of them, the moment they quit being a pro gamer, realize their situation of being unable to do anything other than gaming, along with financial difficulties.

“In that situation, having a decent university degree would be helpful.”

“But even without such a troublesome method, you could just….”

Give him money, right?

Money was overflowing for Hwang Jung-hoo, and Kang Jin-ho was the one who could use Hwang Jung-hoo’s money as he pleased.

If Kang Jin-ho wanted, Park Yumin could live a luxurious life without lifting a finger.

So why would he support his life through such a troublesome method?

“Things you don’t do yourself are meaningless.”

“Hmm…”

“What you receive is only good at the time.” Cho Kyu-min nodded.

Kang Jin-ho was right.

Things you don’t earn through your own efforts seem natural, and it’s hard to know their value. That’s why it would be difficult to find happiness no matter how luxurious a life you live.

Especially for Park Yumin, who has lived positively despite his difficult life in the orphanage.

It wouldn’t be good to taint such a person with the power of money.

Because money can corrupt people.

‘In that regard….’

Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo and Kang Jin-ho in front of him were amazing people.

Hwang Jung-hoo was someone who didn’t show much attachment to the vast amount of money he earned, and Kang Jin-ho in front of him also didn’t seem very interested in money.

If he were able to handle billions of dollars at Kang Jin-ho’s age, he wouldn’t worry about the future.

What’s there to worry about when you can solve everything with money?

But Kang Jin-ho didn’t do that.

He didn’t seem interested in anything other than buying a sturdy bicycle. The only place he spent money was to support the Sungsim Orphanage.

Even the new house, which could be considered his only recent expenditure, was bought with money that Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo gave to his father, not to Kang Jin-ho.

‘Is he amazing, or just naive?’

Hwang Jung-hoo, who was older, might be indifferent to money. But for Kang Jin-ho to be indifferent to money at his age was amazing.

It was something that even Cho Kyu-min couldn’t even imagine doing.

Cho Kyu-min returned to the main topic.

“So, you’re saying you want to get Park Yumin into Jaekyung University as a special talent student?”

“Yes.”

“What about Park Yumin’s grades?”

Cho Kyu-min sighed. He didn’t even need to hear the answer.

“Well, if his grades were good, he would have gotten in through regular admission. Are they that bad?”

“Yes…”

Cho Kyu-min was lost in thought.

To get a student with bad grades into the university, there had to be a clear achievement that others could accept.

For example, a promising entertainer or a sports star.

The money earned from promotion and the increase in recognition had to be enough for that student to become a member of the university despite their lack of grades. Otherwise, there would be strong opposition.

A university wasn’t something that the foundation could move as it pleased.

They had to make decisions considering social opposition, the general alumni association, and the student council.

“It’s not going to be easy.”

However, Park Yumin’s achievements were insignificant. At best, he had reached the semi-finals in a tournament.

Not even a championship, and he wants to get in through special admission for reaching the semi-finals in a single game tournament?

Even with the increased recognition of pro gamers, it was hard to accept.

Even a winner would have a hard time….”

“I’ll look into it, but…”

“Is it difficult?”

“First of all, the admissions process has already been decided, so it’s too late to create a special admission just for Park Yumin. We have to determine if there’s a place within the existing admissions process where Park Yumin would be competitive, and there would be controversy over whether to recognize a pro gamer as a computer science talent.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“Not that.”

“Then?”

“There’s a disabled student admission, right?”

“…Ah?”

Cho Kyu-min’s mouth fell open.

There was.

A special admission for disabled students.

Due to the Ministry of Education’s policy, universities with four-year programs or more were required to have a special admission for disabled students. It was a type of admission that people generally didn’t think about, so he hadn’t considered it, but it definitely existed.

“There is.”

“His grades are a bit lacking, but his circumstances are so bad, and he’s been living diligently, so wouldn’t that make up for it? Plus, he has a tournament record in that situation.”

Cho Kyu-min covered his mouth and fell into thought.

He felt like he was onto something.

It was definitely not enough with just the disabled student admission. But if he used his talent as a pro gamer, he could create a plausible situation.

“I think I can do it.”

“Are you sure?”

“If we approach it from what you said, it should work. A student who has not lost hope despite difficult circumstances and has balanced his studies and livelihood. And he has also achieved some results….”

Cho Kyu-min’s face brightened.

If he used this situation well, he could make it a win-win situation where he could get Park Yumin into the school and also improve the image of the university and the foundation.

“It’s not something I can decide on my own. I need the judgment of the chairman, the university president, and the faculty. I can only convey what Kang Jin-ho said to the chairman and give my opinion.”

“However.”

Kang Jin-ho made it clear.

“It shouldn’t harm anyone else. If Park Yumin, who doesn’t qualify, gets in and prevents someone else from passing, it’s better if he doesn’t get in at all.”

“I understand what you mean.” He was meticulous.

In a way, he was almost obsessive.

Yet, it didn’t feel harsh because his principles were firm.

Even if it was his friend, he wouldn’t help him if it meant harming others.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

At Cho Kyu-min’s words, Kang Jin-ho nodded and got up from his seat.

“Then, let’s go now.”

“Yes?”

Cho Kyu-min stared blankly at Kang Jin-ho.

Go?

“Where are you saying we’re going?” Kang Jin-ho answered indifferently, as if it were obvious.

“I failed, remember?”

“…So?”

“I need to practice.”

“Aren’t you going to help me?”

“Ha… haha…. I’m busy right now….”

“I know you have nothing to do.”

Cho Kyu-min’s face turned pale.

“Aren’t you going to help me?”

“I… I have to help you.”

Cho Kyu-min followed behind Kang Jin-ho like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

‘God, please let me return safely today.’

Cho Kyu-min sought God for the first time in years.