Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 546

The engine rumbled softly. Kang Jin-ho drove slowly, with Park Yu-min in the passenger seat.

“Aren’t you busy these days?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled at Park Yu-min’s question.

“If I were busy, would I be hanging out with you like this?”

“You’d probably still do it even if you were busy, though?”

“Hmm….”

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t deny it. Even if he were swamped, he probably wouldn’t refuse if Park Yu-min asked him for something.

“In conclusion, I’m not that busy.”

“Just a lot of things to keep track of?”

“…How did you know?”

“It’s obvious.”

Park Yu-min smiled knowingly.

This oblivious friend of his didn’t realize he couldn’t hide his expressions. By normal standards, Kang Jin-ho was expressionless. But those who were close to him wouldn’t think so at all.

Because there were subtle expressions hidden within that blank face. After spending a long time together, everyone came to realize it.

“You also have to prepare for going back to school.”

“What’s there to prepare? I’m going anyway.”

“Still, it’s been a while since you’ve studied.”

“I’m also thinking about whether I should even go back to school.”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho answered nonchalantly.

“I already have a lot on my plate, and if I have to spend time on that, I’ll really lose my mind. So, I’m thinking about it, but if I quit school, my family will probably be strongly against it, which is annoying.”

“Hey. Why would you quit school? It’s not just any university, it’s Jae Kyung University.”

“It’s not like I’m going to get a job.”

“…Oh.”

Park Yu-min was momentarily speechless.

Now that he thought about it, it was impossible to imagine Kang Jin-ho working a normal job at a normal company.

“Well, wouldn’t you still need a degree?”

“Why?”

“…They say you need one.”

“That’s not a reason.”

“True. But…”

After a moment of thought, Park Yu-min spoke.

“It’s about opportunity, I think.”

“Opportunity?”

“Yeah. Just by having a degree, the number of jobs I can choose from increases. Wouldn’t it be a shame to give up that possibility?”

“I told you, I’m not going to get a job.”

“You never know what might happen. Who knows? Maybe you’ll have to do something related to that.”

“Hmm….”

“And you’re going to run the foundation anyway, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Of course, there will be people helping you, but you’re a business major anyway. Wouldn’t what you learn at school be helpful? There’s a clear difference between having other people do things you don’t know about and having them do things you do know about.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

Kang Jin-ho had to nod. This was why people needed to talk to each other. You could revisit things you had missed on your own.

“I’ll have to think about that again. But I don’t think you should be worrying about me right now? I know you’re always like this, but focus on yourself right now. It seems like a crucial time for you.”

“I will.”

Park Yu-min was determined.

Kang Jin-ho was right. Right now, Park Yu-min needed to take care of himself first. A huge obstacle had appeared on the roadmap of his life. He needed to take care of himself before he could worry about others.

“I’ll work hard.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled.

He liked this side of Park Yu-min.

He never stopped worrying about and caring for others, but at the same time, he never lost his passion for his own work. Maintaining that delicate balance was not an easy thing to do.

Park Yu-min had been doing that difficult thing naturally since a long time ago.

He was still doing it now.

While steadily working on his own things, he was always concerned about whether the kids were having a hard time, and on top of that, he was even worrying about his friends. Each of those things was a difficult task, yet he never complained.

“You can drop me off here.”

“Aren’t you going up?”

“I have to stop somewhere in the middle. I’m going to the supermarket. I need to buy some snacks for the kids.”

“Then you can go to the supermarket and then get back in the car.”

“I need to get some exercise. My legs are going to atrophy if I keep this up.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled at Park Yu-min’s jest.

“Then do as you please.”

Kang Jin-ho parked the car in front of the supermarket and saw Park Yu-min off. Kang Jin-ho smiled softly as he watched Park Yu-min wave and enter the supermarket.

Strangely, seeing Park Yu-min gave him strength.

‘I need to look at where I’m stepping.’

His father’s words had become his golden rule. He shouldn’t be so focused on moving forward. While moving forward, he needed to be sure to look around him and think about where he was stepping.

Kang Jin-ho slowly drove away.

“I’m going to die, seriously.”

Han Jin-sung hung his head low.

He didn’t know who created the college entrance exam system, but they were definitely a huge sadist. This person must have thought long and hard about how to make test-takers suffer more, and then created the college entrance exam system.

Otherwise, how could a person be so drained?

He thought he knew the problems, but they were different when he looked at them again, and things he was sure were right were obviously wrong.

“Are the problems tricky, or am I just stupid?”

“Probably the latter?”

“You’re dead, seriously.”

Han Jin-sung looked up to see Jo Mi-hye with a subtle smile.

“It’s quite a talent to keep getting the same problems wrong. Watching you, I can understand how humans evolved from monkeys.”

“It’s not monkeys, it’s apes?”

“You know that, so you’re human, but still…”

“You’re really asking for it!”

Han Jin-sung stood up abruptly, and Jo Mi-hye stuck out her tongue.

“Why? Gonna hit me? Gonna hit me?”

“Haa.”

Han Jin-sung shook his head.

“You’ve gotten a little better, though. Have hope.”

“Stop teasing me so much.”

“No. You’ve really gotten better, I’m telling you? Why don’t you believe me?”

“…Really?”

“Like a speck of dust?”

“You wanna die, seriously!”

Just as Han Jin-sung was striding towards Jo Mi-hye, the door opened and the instructor walked in.

“Han Jin-sung. I told you to do your homework, didn’t I? Don’t you think that’s why your grades aren’t improving?”

“B-but this is unfair. I really tried to study.”

“You’re always being wronged. That’s the problem.”

“No, I’m really being wronged this time?”

“Enough. Go to the career counseling room.”

“Huh?”

“I said, go to the career counseling room.”

Han Jin-sung’s eyes widened.

“Huh? Is my college path that difficult?”

“What are you talking about, you idiot?”

“Otherwise, there’s no reason to skip class and call me to the career counseling room. Should I just go work in a factory?”

“Kang Jin-ho is here.”

“Ah…”

Han Jin-sung nodded awkwardly and hesitantly headed towards the door.

“Then, teacher, I’ll be back.”

“Okay. If possible, don’t come back before class is over.”

“Huh.”

Han Jin-sung blinked, bowed his head, and went outside.

“…What’s wrong with him?”

Jo Mi-hye spoke at the instructor’s words.

“He’s been working hard lately. His grades have improved a lot.”

“Okay, okay. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have badmouthed Jin-sung in front of Mi-hye.”

“W-what did I do?”

“Okay, okay. Let’s start class. Oh my. I’m so sad, I should just get married soon.”

“It’s not like you can just get married because you want to, right?”

“…Let’s start class.”

Jo Mi-hye chuckled as she watched the instructor change the subject and quietly looked towards the door.

‘I hope he doesn’t whine again.’ Jo Mi-hye was worried.

“Oh. Hyung?” [Hyung is a Korean term used by males to address an older male, like an older brother or close male friend.]

“Yeah.”

Kang Jin-ho raised his hand as he saw Han Jin-sung enter.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, Hyung.”

Han Jin-sung smiled broadly at Kang Jin-ho.

He didn’t know if it was because he had started going to the academy or because Kang Jin-ho had been busy lately, but it felt like it had been a while since they had seen each other.

“What brings you here?”

“I just wanted to see your face. And I have something to ask you.”

“Ah, okay.”

Han Jin-sung carefully sat down in front of Kang Jin-ho.

‘It’s strangely nerve-wracking in this situation.’

When they were all together at the orphanage, he felt like a kind, easygoing hyung who was a bit out of it, but when it was just the two of them, the feeling was completely different.

It was strangely nerve-wracking when they were face to face.

Was it an aura that only Kang Jin-ho had? Even though he didn’t feel like he was being intimidated, Han Jin-sung felt a subtle pressure.

“How are you doing these days?”

“Huh?”

“Is your studying going well?”

Han Jin-sung looked at Kang Jin-ho with a subtle expression and nodded.

“Yes. It’s going well.”

“That’s unusual.”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought you’d start by complaining.”

“I’m not a three-year-old.”

“Hmm….”

Han Jin-sung’s face turned red.

“W-what? What’s with that reaction?”

“Nothing. Just…”

Kang Jin-ho smiled and said.

“I thought it would be better if you, as the oldest, said something, so I called you. How is it? Are there any inconveniences?”

“It’s inconvenient that they make us study too much, but there are no other problems.”

Kang Jin-ho opened Han Jin-sung’s educational evaluation form.

Surprisingly, he was evaluated as having a high desire to learn. It was still too early to expect great progress since he had only started studying recently, but Kang Jin-ho looked up at Han Jin-sung after seeing that he was quick to understand and could be expected to make great improvements.

“You’re working hard?”

“…Everyone is working hard. It’s not just me.”

“Okay. That’s a relief.”

When the conversation ended there, Han Jin-sung opened his mouth as if he was dissatisfied.

“And…”

“Yeah?”

“Honestly, I’m really grateful for this opportunity you’ve given us.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled awkwardly.

He wasn’t used to hearing these kinds of words. Especially since they were coming from Han Jin-sung, it felt even more awkward.

“Enough with the flattery.”

“It’s not flattery.”

Han Jin-sung looked directly at Kang Jin-ho and said.

“Honestly, it’s almost too much.”

“Too much?”

“Yes.”

Han Jin-sung said with a serious face.

“I’m still young, but I know that investments are made based on results. But honestly, if you look at it that way, this is a bad investment.”

“Why?”

“Because you won’t be able to recoup the money you put in.”

“Why can’t I recoup it? You guys just have to do well.”

“Come on, Hyung.”

Han Jin-sung shook his head.

“Honestly, the kids’ brains are obvious. What kind of amazing kids are going to come out of this?”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Han Jin-sung and said.

“I’m not doing this to make amazing kids.”

“Huh?”

“What I want is for you guys not to endure things. I want to make it so that you don’t have to put up with things just because you don’t have parents. That alone is a valuable thing to do.”

Han Jin-sung sighed deeply.

“But this is a burden.”

“Then pay me back when you make a lot of money later. I might be broke by then.”

“Come on, Hyung?”

“It could happen. You never know.”

Han Jin-sung looked at Kang Jin-ho in disbelief and then chuckled.

“Ha. Okay, fine. Then I’ll take care of you when that happens.”

“I’m grateful just hearing that. But to do that, you have to study hard and succeed, right?”

“…Can I cancel that?”

“No, you idiot.”

Kang Jin-ho and Han Jin-sung looked at each other and laughed.