Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 604

Choi Sang-mu was completely out of it.

His body was too old to withstand Knight Wiggins’s sword strikes. Even in his prime, he wouldn’t have been able to block such attacks, let alone now. It was impossible.

His body was shattered, as if it had been crushed into pieces.

“Ugh…”

He couldn’t even move a finger. The pain was so intense that it felt natural to die. He felt the grim reaper approaching from behind.

‘I’ve lived a long time.’

Yes, he had lived a long time. Among those he was close to, only the people here were still alive. So, he could accept death calmly. He had transcended any attachment to life…

‘What a joke.’

What madman could calmly accept death?

Who is truly indifferent to dying?

Just because he had lived long enough, it was okay?

That was utter nonsense.

He was only accepting it because he couldn’t avoid it. If death could be avoided, who would accept it?

Even rolling in a dung heap was better than death.

Just because he was old, it was okay?

Just because he had lived longer than a child, he could be calm about death?

What would you say if you asked a young person if they could be calm about death because they had lived longer than a child?

The idea that death isn’t scary when you get old is an illusion. Death is equally terrifying to everyone.

‘I want to live.’

He didn’t want to die.

He still wanted to live longer.

It was only now that he realized it.

Honor? Power?

In the face of life, those things were meaningless.

You had to be alive to have power and honor.

If he hadn’t opposed Kang Jin-ho, he wouldn’t have to tremble in fear of death right now.

Then, someone approached Choi Sang-mu from behind.

‘Is it the grim reaper?’

No, it couldn’t be.

The presence was too clear for a grim reaper. His life hadn’t been cut short yet.

“Get up.”

Choi Sang-mu’s voice trembled.

Was it really the grim reaper?

It couldn’t be. But how could anyone have such a cold voice if not the grim reaper?

“Get up.”

Choi Sang-mu struggled to turn his head. Just doing that made him feel like all the energy left in his body was being sucked away. But he had to see who was speaking to him with that voice. He felt he absolutely had to.

“Ah…”

A groan escaped Choi Sang-mu’s lips as he saw Knight Wiggins’s face looking at him.

Knight Wiggins.

It was definitely Knight Wiggins.

But…

‘Is it really the same person?’

It was the same face. And the same clothes. His eyes told him that the person he was seeing was definitely Knight Wiggins. But his senses felt a sense of incongruity.

It wasn’t the same person he had faced just moments ago.

“Get up.”

The same words were repeated for the third time. But Knight Wiggins didn’t rush him at all. He simply repeated the same words, as if to say that since he was saying them, he would naturally have to get up.

And that thought was correct.

“Ugh…”

Choi Sang-mu pushed himself off the ground with trembling hands. Just doing that sent a wave of pain through him, as if his head was being bleached white, but he didn’t stop moving.

He knew.

If he didn’t listen to those words now, he would really die. That was what the voice was saying.

Choi Sang-mu, who had barely managed to get up, faced Knight Wiggins.

His legs were shaking, and he was gasping for breath. The relentless pain that was coming from every direction was now almost familiar.

“Now, we should begin.”

A sly smile appeared on Knight Wiggins’s lips.

He gestured, and the translator, who was the only one standing, trembled and translated for Choi Sang-mu to understand. After hearing Knight Wiggins’s words, Choi Sang-mu opened his mouth with difficulty.

“What… what do you mean by ‘begin’?”

“You ask the obvious. You’d better give me all the information you have. I’m not a very nice person.”

“I don’t know anything.”

“No. You know.”

Knight Wiggins’s voice was very calm. It was as if he was doing something very familiar, something that didn’t require any emotional fluctuation.

“Choi Sang-mu, was it? It would be nice to know your name, but it’s probably fine. I probably wouldn’t be able to pronounce it properly anyway. It’s not like I want to be close enough to know your name. Yes, Mr. Choi. That’s good enough. Mr. Choi, listen carefully.”

Knight Wiggins spoke in a monotone voice.

“I’m used to this kind of thing. Probably more than you think. Information doesn’t just come out of nowhere. Getting information requires a pretty rough process. In the past, we used to infiltrate spies into the side that had the information, but that’s very inefficient. We could lose our precious agents, right? So, we prefer a very simple method. We ask the person who knows.”

Choi Sang-mu looked at Knight Wiggins with trembling eyes.

“‘I won’t answer,’ ‘I don’t know anything,’ ‘It’s no use asking me’… I hear that a lot. But do you know what?”

Knight Wiggins bared his teeth.

“Not a single person who has said those words in front of me hasn’t changed their tune. Strangely enough, those who said they didn’t know anything suddenly knew something, and those who said it was no use asking them made themselves valuable. Do I really need to explain what happened to those who said they wouldn’t answer?”

Knight Wiggins reached out and tapped Choi Sang-mu’s cheek.

“Now, let’s think about it, friend.

In the end, there’s only one thing you can get. Freedom. That’s right. You can get the freedom to be released from me. If you cooperate with me, I can give you freedom. Although you won’t be able to regain your power, I’ll let you go home, heal your body, and go fishing in peace. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Choi Sang-mu nodded silently.

“But if you don’t want that, I’ll have to do it my way.

And the result will be the same. You’ll go home. However, it will be a little more uncomfortable to heal your body, and it will be a little more uncomfortable to go fishing. You might even lose the freedom to go fishing. Do you understand?”

Knight Wiggins continued without waiting for Choi Sang-mu’s answer.

“I don’t think anyone would choose a different path in this obvious choice. The result is the same anyway, so why go through a useless and annoying process in the middle? So, let’s keep it clean.

If you just answer that you’ll tell me everything you know, I won’t bother you anymore. How about it?”

Choi Sang-mu’s eyes wavered.

What Knight Wiggins was saying was clear. No one who had heard this much explanation would not understand. And Choi Sang-mu now had no need to keep his loyalty to anyone.

Then, wasn’t the decision too easy?

In the midst of the pain that was crushing his body, Choi Sang-mu smirked.

Then…

*Ptoo!*

The spit that Choi Sang-mu spat flew towards Knight Wiggins’s face. And it hit Knight Wiggins’s face precisely. Choi Sang-mu growled as he watched Knight Wiggins, who could have easily avoided it but didn’t.

“You talk a good game. You’re mistaken if you think I’m like those guys.”

“Hmm…”

“Freedom? You’re spouting a bunch of bullshit.

Go ahead and try. Do you think I’ll say a word? I’ll never submit to the likes of you. They say a man without integrity is not a man. I’ll die a man, even if I die.”

*Clap, clap, clap.*

Knight Wiggins clapped as if he was impressed by Choi Sang-mu’s integrity. Clearly and slowly.

“Excellent, very excellent. I like people with willpower. Actually, it’s easier if they just tell me the story, but for some reason, I don’t like that.”

Knight Wiggins whispered softly.

“But Mr. Choi, there’s something you need to know. There’s good news and bad news for you. I’ll tell you without delay. The very good news for you is that my daughter was here. All fathers want to be romantics, at least in front of their daughters. I’m no exception. So, now, guess what the bad news is for you? Huh?”

Knight Wiggins slowly approached Choi Sang-mu and grabbed his face.

“My condolences that Elena’s blessing wasn’t with you.”

Choi Sang-mu’s head was slammed into the ground.

“Hmm.”

Knight Wiggins got up and called the translator.

“Here, here. Come over here.”

“Y-you mean me?”

“As far as I can see, you and I are the only ones standing here? Should I call someone else?”

“Ah, no!”

“Good. If you understand me, could you take a handkerchief out of my back pocket?”

“Yes!”

The translator ran like crazy towards Knight Wiggins’s back. Then, he reached into his back pocket and took out a handkerchief and handed it to him.

“Here you go.”

“You’re fast, I like that.”

Grabbing a warrior’s back was a great opportunity, but the translator didn’t think anything of it. It was like a puppy grabbing a tiger’s back, not thinking of attacking.

“It’s a strange thing.”

“People always have to experience things for themselves, even if the outcome is obvious. They always walk towards their own doom, thinking they’re different from others. Like the fools in the gambling hall or those who throw their entire fortune into stocks, hoping to make a fortune. Isn’t that right?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Is that so?”

The translator froze.

‘This crazy bastard.’

A person couldn’t be like this. Knight Wiggins had literally trampled on Choi Sang-mu. No one with a human heart could treat an injured person like that.

“Hey, you.”

“Yes? Yes! Yes!”

“Why do you think I left you unharmed?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“People will be coming soon to clean up. Tell them who these people are one by one and make sure they get caught. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

“Good. What you saw today…”

“I-I will never tell anyone.”

“No, my friend. Spread it around a bit.”

“Huh?”

“I’m already stressed out because I’m being treated like a foreign worker. So, let people know that I’m this kind of guy. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes!”

Knight Wiggins patted the translator on the shoulder and turned around.

“Then, shall we go before Elena gets angry?”

It was a simple battle. Well, if the first battle he faced in Korea was difficult, that would be more of a problem.

‘Things will get quite interesting from now on.’

Knight Wiggins looked up at the sky. A sky with no stars. It was like the sky in London.

“It’s a good night for the Lord to rampage.” After all, the night was his world.