Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 623

Since returning to this world, Kang Jin-ho had never once longed for his past life.

His life in the Central Plains had brought him wealth and glory, but it had taken away even more. The price he had to pay for that unwanted wealth and glory was far too harsh.

That was why Kang Jin-ho knew very well how precious his current life was.

Even if he were given a thousand choices, he would never choose to return to his old life.

However, now, for the first time since he had begun living this life, Kang Jin-ho was slightly, just very slightly, longing for his past life.

“No! I mean!”

An outburst was erupting.

If he was just going to swear, he could just swear, but why did he always start with that ‘No’?

That fundamental question arose, but he didn’t have the courage to ask it. He didn’t have the confidence to ask such a question to Jo Gyu-min, who was red-faced and heated, not even noticing that his tie was askew.

“Knowing how important this time is, how can you even mention going to China! There’s an order to things, isn’t there? The Kang Jin-ho I know, even if he’s a bit indifferent, is someone who clearly distinguishes the order of things, so how can you now!”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at the distant sky.

‘I used to be like that.’

It was embarrassing for him to say it himself, but there was a time when all things in the world were mindful of his mood. If Kang Jin-ho’s expression wasn’t good in the morning, the entire Demonic Cult would tremble in fear, and the world would hold its breath.

Even Cheongma, the undisputed second-in-command of the Demonic Cult, was careful with his words and actions when Kang Jin-ho seemed to be in a bad mood.

Reprimand for wrongdoing?

That was impossible.

Wrongdoing referred to actions and thoughts that went against the rules, laws, and principles. But in the Central Plains, Kang Jin-ho was the one who set those rules and laws.

Even if something was red, if Kang Jin-ho said it was blue, it became blue. So who would dare to argue with him about right and wrong?

‘It was like that…’

“Are you listening, Mr. Kang Jin-ho?”

“…Yes, I’m listening.”

“I’m explaining all this to you!”

Ah, the old days.

Regret clouded Kang Jin-ho’s face.

Of course, it wasn’t that he longed for his past life. But that’s how things are in the world, aren’t they? Just as there is light, there is darkness. Choosing one side one hundred percent doesn’t mean that the other side is one hundred percent wrong.

Just a little!

Just a little respect!

“Are you listening? Huh?”

“…Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho silently nodded.

He understood.

Since Chairman Hwang Jeong-hu had joined, the foundation was moving at a rapid pace. Things were progressing faster than expected. It was a good thing, but the fact that the plan was progressing quickly wasn’t always a good thing.

Especially in a situation like now, where they hadn’t secured enough reliable personnel, the fact that things were progressing quickly meant that the existing personnel were being excessively burdened with work.

And that existing personnel was

“I’m going to die!”

This person.

Just by looking at the dark circles that had reached his chin and his rough skin, it was clear how much Jo Gyu-min was suffering.

“I don’t even have time to be doing this right now!”

Then he shouldn’t do it.

“What did you say?”

“…I didn’t say anything.”

Can he read minds?

Kang Jin-ho rubbed his eyes.

Normally, Kang Jin-ho would have been able to accept such complaints with a smile. Not that he was annoyed now, though.

‘I feel like I’m going to die.’

The damage he had received yesterday was too severe.

His clumsy attempt at seriousness was worse than doing nothing. His mother and sister, who had attempted a tactical retreat, pounced on Kang Jin-ho like hungry piranhas as soon as he made a mistake. With words, of course.

Kang Jin-ho, who had been thoroughly torn apart until dawn, escaped to his room while the two, exhausted from talking, were trying to recover. In the midst of that, he made eye contact with his father, who was going to the bathroom, but his father coldly averted his gaze.

‘Betrayal.’

It was the moment when the bonds of family affection crumbled.

In any case, after experiencing such a thing, his mental state was in tatters. It was the moment he realized that his own spirit, which he had believed to be steadfast, was very fragile against a barrage of minor attacks.

“A colleague is!”

And this person.

Kang Jin-ho discovered Jo Gyu-min’s hidden talent.

He had gotten that feeling when this person was the acting director before, but it seemed that this person was more suited for the role of lecturing and scolding people rather than being a working-level employee.

He should have gone to the military academy instead.

It felt like he was about to say, ‘The company commander is disappointed in you’ at any moment.

“Of course, I know that just because Mr. Kang Jin-ho is here doesn’t mean that my work will be reduced. Whether practically or nominally, this isn’t Mr. Kang Jin-ho’s job.

I also know that if we divide the work, it could lead to a situation where the work increases. Yes, I know.”

“But there’s a saying, isn’t there! That joy doubles when shared, and sorrow halves when shared. If a person is suffering like this, shouldn’t you at least pretend to be suffering with them? But China? Chiiiiiina?”

It seemed that relations between Korea and China were quite strained.

Jo Gyu-min, his mother, and Kang Eun-young all reacted so seriously just at the mention of China.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Ugh.”

Jo Gyu-min slumped into his chair as if collapsing.

He hadn’t really tormented him, but seeing him look like a defeated soldier made his conscience prick.

‘It would have been nice if I could have sent Lee Hyun-soo to help.’

Kang Jin-ho was realizing anew that there were few reliable office workers around him.

If he could have sent Lee Hyun-soo, Jo Gyu-min’s burden would have been halved, but… It was unfortunate, but Lee Hyun-soo was in a situation that wasn’t much different from Jo Gyu-min’s right now.

Thanks to the purge of the elders, all the work they had been doing was now piled on Lee Hyun-soo. The work the elders did was like adding one more cat’s paw, but when the number of those cat’s paws piled up, it was a formidable amount.

Moreover, while reorganizing the organization, Lee Hyun-soo was also in charge of recovering the assets that the elders had accumulated both officially and unofficially. In terms of workload, he was being overworked to the point where Jo Gyu-min should call him ‘hyungnim’ [older brother, a term of respect].

Fortunately, Knight Wiggins, who had nothing to do until the training personnel gathered, and Elena, who had been caught up in it, lent a hand, so it didn’t lead to death by overwork.

‘Come to think of it, what should I say?’ The timing is a bit strange.

He was going to China to do something he had been putting off… But because the timing was like this, it looked like he was pushing a mountain of work onto the people around him and going on vacation.

It wouldn’t be much different if Kang Jin-ho was in Korea, but still, people have feelings, don’t they?

“I won’t ask why you’re going, but…”

Jo Gyu-min’s eyes were saying.

I know what you’re going to do in China!

It was almost like a horror movie.

Kang Jin-ho, who had flinched for no reason, subtly avoided Jo Gyu-min’s gaze.

“…Since you have to go, I’ll send you off. Here!”

Jo Gyu-min took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Kang Jin-ho.

“It’s your plane ticket. When you go there, our branch will send a guide again this time.”

“No, you don’t have to do that. I can book the plane ticket myself.”

He felt guilty for unnecessarily making a busy person do extra work by bringing it up.

“No. Well…”

Jo Gyu-min chuckled.

“I was just putting on an act. Actually, Mr. Kang Jin-ho has been running non-stop all this time too. You haven’t had any days off since you were discharged, so I understand that you want to take a break after finishing a big task.”

That’s not it.

I’m going because I’m afraid I’ll get beaten to death if I don’t.

A break? What are you saying without knowing how I feel!

He wanted to make excuses, but what excuse could he make now? It would just be teasing him.

“Is the work going well?” Kang Jin-ho subtly changed the subject. Jo Gyu-min, as if playing along while knowing Kang Jin-ho’s intentions, wore a light smile.

“There’s nothing to say about it going well or not. It’s not like there will be any big changes if it goes well, and it’s not like anything will go wrong if it doesn’t. It’s just…”

Jo Gyu-min turned his head and looked somewhere with a dissatisfied expression.

Kang Jin-ho knew that the place Jo Gyu-min was looking at was the chairman’s office, which was several walls away.

“A bulldozer, a bulldozer… There’s a limit to how much you can do. Did old bulldozers not have brakes?”

“Huh?”

“How much does she torment people every day… I think I’m going to die first. Wow, there were many times when I was dissatisfied because it seemed like the directors were being treated without doing any work, but when I think that those people were the ones who endured all this when the chairman was young, my respect just grows and grows.”

Jo Gyu-min shuddered.

“It’s good that she’s regained her passion, but I’m going to be burned to death by that passion.”

“It’s good news that she’s regained her passion.”

“Are you making fun of me right now?”

“No…”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“Anyway.”

Jo Gyu-min cleared his throat. It seemed like he was about to wrap things up.

“I’ve prepared everything so that you won’t have any inconveniences on your way. Originally, I should have accompanied you, but I’m sorry that I can’t go this time. As soon as I finish dealing with the immediate tasks, I’ll follow you quickly.”

“…Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho said in a flustered voice.

“I don’t think you need to come.”

“I can’t do that. It’s not my duty as a person who serves you to send Mr. Kang Jin-ho overseas alone.”

“No, you don’t have to…”

“Mr. Kang Jin-ho.”

“Yes?”

“…Please take me with you.”

Tears welled up in Jo Gyu-min’s eyes.

“I just want to be away from the chairman for just one week. It’s not a matter of being busy or anything, but I’m really going to wither away like this. Isn’t it a bit too much to scold me this morning for not completing the task she ordered yesterday? Isn’t it a bit too much? The department in charge hasn’t even started, so what am I supposed to do?”

“Cheer up.”

“That’s why! Please! Please tell the chairman that I have to go with you!”

“…Yes.”

He couldn’t ignore the hot tears of a man.

“Then, I’ll try to finish it as quickly as possible.”

“But…”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at Jo Gyu-min’s desk. Chairman Hwang Jeong-hu, who had regained her motivation, was printing out documents and checking them in her own way, and those documents were being sent back to Jo Gyu-min as they were.

Kang Jin-ho, seeing the tower of documents that was piled up as if on purpose, opened his mouth with a pitiful look.

“Will the work ever end?”

“…”

“Before you come back?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head as he watched Jo Gyu-min take off his glasses and pinch the bridge of his nose.

‘I should give him a vacation later.’

If he could.