Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 560

Jang Da-jing frowned, looking at the house before him.

‘Are you telling me to house Bator-nim in a place like this?’

It wasn’t that the place was particularly bad. After all, a two-story Western-style house with a yard could hardly be called a bad place.

However, considering Bator’s status and position, this place couldn’t help but look shabby. Just yesterday, he had been staying in the presidential suite of the best hotel in South Korea.

“Hmm…”

Bator scratched his cheek as he looked at the house.

“Bator-nim, this is an act of disrespect towards you. I should go right now and…”

“The gate needs some remodeling, doesn’t it? I have to bend over too much to get in.”

“Bator-nim!”

Jang Da-jing couldn’t help but shout at Bator’s nonchalant reaction. Then, realizing his rudeness, he covered his mouth.

“Why are you angry?”

“…I’m sorry, Bator-nim. I was out of my mind.”

“It’s alright, tell me why you were angry.”

Jang Da-jing hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Bator-nim, this is disrespectful to you. To give Bator-nim such a lodging…”

“Jang Da-jing.”

“Yes, Bator-nim.”

“I am a warrior of the plains. How could a house like this be bad for me, when I used to sleep in a yurt [a portable, round tent traditionally used by nomads]?”

“Still…”

Bator scratched his chin.

“This is the outskirts. Looking around, there isn’t a better house than this. Lee Hyun-soo said that this is a temporary place to stay until a place for him is prepared, so this isn’t bad. Honestly, I’m grateful.”

Jang Da-jing sighed.

‘This man thinks too little of his own worth.’

“And if I really don’t like it, it’s not like I don’t have the money to build one. Why do I have to accept lodging from them?”

“Even when recruiting sports players, they provide a house and a car. Bator-nim’s worth cannot be less than that of a mere sports player.”

“Well, that’s true. But this is a new team, and they’ve just started investing. If I’ve decided to restart my career in such a place, I shouldn’t expect the same treatment as a prestigious team.”

Jang Da-jing looked at Bator with an ‘Oh!’ expression.

He never expected such a counterargument.

“I like American football too.”

“…It suits you very well.” It wasn’t just that it suited him; just looking at his body, he seemed like someone born for American football. It was as if he was wearing protective gear even without it.

“So, don’t make unnecessary complaints. That’s not what’s important.”

“Yes, Bator-nim.”

Jang Da-jing clicked his tongue.

In fact, although he was complaining, he had already received an apology from Lee Hyun-soo.

He was told to stay temporarily until proper accommodation was prepared, and that any inconveniences would be resolved as quickly as possible.

Even so, the reason for his dissatisfaction was that Jang Da-jing didn’t like this situation at all.

“Let’s go inside.”

“Yes, Bator-nim.”

As he watched Bator enter the gate, Jang Da-jing couldn’t help but speak.

“But Bator-nim.”

Bator, who had passed through the gate, straightened his back and turned around.

“Is it really possible?”

“Be a little more specific about what you’re asking.”

“…I mean, for them to compete against Japan and China.”

Bator scratched his chin with a slightly stiff face. He had to answer, but his face showed that he was not happy with the answer.

“Logically speaking, it’s impossible.”

“Right? I thought so.”

Anxiety appeared on Jang Da-jing’s face.

They knew how strong the Hongwang Group was. [A fictional powerful organization]

Even the Hongwang Group alone was not a force that the General Assembly could dare to confront. In addition, there were two more forces in China that were comparable to the Hongwang Group.

‘It’s like throwing an egg at a rock.’

He didn’t want to underestimate the Korean martial arts world.

If Korea’s military power were brought to Europe, they could claim to be a regional leader. If the countries of the world were ranked, Korea would surely be in the top tier.

However, just because a wolf is a somewhat scary wild animal, if you release it into a safari where tigers, lions, and bears are playing, it will only become a tasty meal.

So, could you feed and train that wolf to make it equal to those lions?

Jang Da-jing was doubtful.

It wasn’t something that one strong person could solve.

“Even if the master is the world’s greatest martial artist, it is impossible for Korea to fight against other countries.”

“I guess so.”

Bator’s opinion didn’t seem much different from Jang Da-jing’s.

“Then why did you decide to support them?”

Jang Da-jing asked with questioning eyes.

It was inevitable that Bator would follow what Kang Jin-ho was doing. However, it was a separate matter for him to take the initiative in what Kang Jin-ho was trying to do.

“Because I see potential.”

“Yes?”

Bator gave a subtle smile.

“There are two reasons. One is that it would be boring to just wait for the master’s orders and spend time, and… as I said, I don’t think it’s impossible.”

“But a moment ago…”

Bator cut off Jang Da-jing’s words and jumped in.

“Of course, a martial artist named Kang Jin-ho cannot change this place alone. But the master is not just a simple martial artist.”

Bator looked at the distant sky.

“He is a demon. And a demon that has never appeared before.”

“…That’s right.”

“A demon that only existed in legends has appeared in this world. Moreover… looking at what he did to me, we have to assume that there are things in his head that we cannot imagine.”

Bator’s face was a little complex.

He seemed to be expecting something, but he also seemed a little scared. It meant that his feelings for Kang Jin-ho were that complicated.

‘Certainly.’

Jang Da-jing had no choice but to agree with Bator’s words. Even if everything else was set aside, just the fact that he had subdued Bator like this meant that Kang Jin-ho was not someone who could be described as just a strong martial artist.

No one knew how many more bizarre things were in his head.

“If I have to stay here for a certain period of time anyway, I will choose to become stronger. Whether it’s the strength of the organization or my own personal strength. Isn’t that what you said?”

“That’s right.”

“I can’t beat the master as I am.”

Jang Da-jing looked at Bator with questioning eyes.

“But Bator-nim, wasn’t that match just a paper-thin difference?”

“A paper-thin difference?”

Bator chuckled.

“It may look like that to you. But that was a paper-thin difference that could never be narrowed. Even if we fought again not ten times, but a thousand or ten thousand times, I could not beat the master.”

Jang Da-jing sighed.

He didn’t know if this statement was the result of Bator’s cold judgment, or if his consciousness, suppressed by Kang Jin-ho, was suffering from the obsession that he could never beat the master.

“Bator-nim…”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Bator spoke sharply.

“I respect the master. I have no choice but to respect him. But that respect is not for the master’s strength. It is respect for the master himself. Even if I were objectively stronger than the master, my heart would not waver in the slightest.”

Jang Da-jing’s face darkened.

This was worse than simply succumbing to Kang Jin-ho’s power.

“Therefore, I am confident that my current assessment is unbiased. I cannot beat the master.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the master’s speed of getting stronger is faster than mine.”

Bator bit his lip and said.

“Of course, I understand why you saw it that way. It’s not like the master was holding back when he fought me. The difference between his power and mine wasn’t that great. It was a difference that could be overcome depending on the condition and compatibility of the day. However…”

Bator declared.

“That’s the story when the battle started.”

“It’s hard to understand.”

“It’s simple. By the end of the battle, the difference between the master and me had widened to the point where it could no longer be caught up.”

“I-Is that possible?”

“It’s possible. Because I saw it with my own eyes and felt it with my own body.”

Bator clenched his fist. As if he was reliving that feeling of that day.

“The master didn’t develop, but became stronger as if he was regaining what he had lost. And he will become even stronger based on his match with me. I don’t know how strong he will become, but his growth rate will be incomparable to anyone else’s.”

“Hmm…”

Bator’s eyes became firm.

“So, I can’t beat the master. I can’t beat him as I am. Don’t misunderstand, Jang Da-jing. My loyalty to the master has not suppressed my competitive spirit.

I will be loyal to him. If he tells me to jump, I will jump into a fire pit. But so what? Is there any reason why I can’t be loyal to the master just because I’m stronger than him? Did the vassals who were loyal to the king offer their loyalty because they were inferior to the king?”

“No, Bator-nim. You are second to none.”

“Not now, but I want to be. Then I have to become stronger too. But it won’t work like this. I felt my limits keenly. To be on par with the master, I need to dismantle my martial arts and look back from the beginning.”

Only then could Jang Da-jing understand Bator’s intentions.

“And the best way to look back at your martial arts is to teach someone. Because you will have to reorganize the basics from the beginning.”

Bator smiled.

“That’s why I like you. I don’t need to say much.”

“Please forgive me for not having guessed Bator-nim’s intentions.”

“There’s nothing to forgive.”

Bator walked into the house as if the explanation was over.

“Jang Da-jing, I am now a body that has submitted to the master. But just because I have submitted to the master doesn’t mean I’m going to be satisfied with the current situation. I will become stronger. For myself, and for the master. I will become stronger than anyone else. There is nothing I can’t do to achieve that. I will reorganize my martial arts and, if necessary, even accept the master’s demonic arts.”

“…Bator-nim.”

“The strong take everything. I’ve learned that anew. I’ve been too soft all this time.”

Jang Da-jing rubbed his face as he watched Bator enter the house without looking back.

‘Yeah, he hasn’t changed.’

Even though he was subordinate to Kang Jin-ho, Bator was still Bator. That great martial spirit had not disappeared.

He couldn’t guarantee what would happen in the future, but he would be with Bator until the end….

“Jang Da-jing!”

“Yes?”

Jang Da-jing’s face, which had suddenly lifted, contorted.

Bator, whose shoulders were too wide and had gotten stuck in the doorway, came into his view.

“…Go get some oil or something.”

“Yes…”