Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 668

Adjusting (5)

‘This is Lee Hyun-joo…’

Lee Hyun-soo frowned as he looked at the woman before him.

Yes, of course, he knew. He knew who this woman was and what kind of person she was. He might even know more about her than Lee Hyun-joo herself.

Even so, this was unexpected.

“So…”

Lee Hyun-soo let out a low sigh.

Lethargy, and a slight sense of unease.

It seemed this awkwardness was unavoidable.

Lee Hyun-soo was one of those who had trampled on Lee Hyun-joo’s life. No, to say he was just one of them was an understatement, considering the pivotal role he played.

It was understandable if Lee Hyun-joo considered him an enemy.

Whether what he did was justified was irrelevant. Emotions were inherently irrational.

Yes.

This was a feeling that could be called awkwardness.

Lee Hyun-soo felt a bit unfamiliar with the awkwardness that welled up from within.

Of course, he was human, so he could feel awkward towards someone, but if his memory was correct, this was a feeling he hadn’t experienced in recent years.

Lee Hyun-soo, who could even brush off the hateful glares of those he tortured, was feeling awkward.

Lee Hyun-soo realized anew how much he had changed. Just half a year ago, he wouldn’t have felt awkward at all in an encounter with Lee Hyun-joo.

“What did you say you came here for?”

He wouldn’t mind enjoying this unfamiliar feeling a bit more, but unfortunately, Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t afford to spend much time on this encounter with this woman.

Lee Hyun-joo’s eyes, looking at Lee Hyun-soo, held complex emotions.

It was understandable.

Just a few months ago, they were enemies. The granddaughter of Lee Joong-gul and the right-hand man of Kim Seok-il were incompatible. Yet, here they were, facing each other and having a conversation.

And this was after a change in their positions that could be called a sea change.

It was only natural that she felt strange. Especially considering that Lee Hyun-soo played a decisive role in killing Lee Joong-gul.

However, Lee Hyun-joo controlled her emotions with a deep breath.

“I came because I have something to say about Kang Jin-ho.”

“You said you have something to say about the Guild Leader?”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Lee Hyun-joo with interest.

It felt strange to hear Kang Jin-ho’s name from this person’s mouth.

‘What does the Guild Leader mean to this person?’

A hateful enemy?

Or an insurmountable evil?

One thing was certain, it couldn’t be anything friendly. After all, Kang Jin-ho was the one who had ended Lee Joong-gul’s life. Yet, Lee Hyun-joo had come all the way to him and was mentioning Kang Jin-ho’s name.

“Tell me.”

If so, he should listen.

“Before that…”

Lee Hyun-joo raised her head and looked straight at Lee Hyun-soo.

“How long do you plan to keep me under surveillance?”

“Hmm…”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his cheek.

It was indeed awkward to talk to this woman.

“I won’t ask you to understand the situation here. But…”

“No.”

Lee Hyun-joo cut off Lee Hyun-soo’s words firmly.

“It’s not a matter of understanding or not. What I want to know is, how long will this surveillance continue?”

“Well, it’s hard to give you a definite answer. If I had to say, it would be the moment when the suspicion towards you is cleared.”

“The moment it’s revealed that I no longer pose a threat to the Guild, right?”

“You could say that.”

Lee Hyun-joo quietly looked at Lee Hyun-soo and said,

“Who decides that?”

“Um…”

“I’m not trying to nitpick or ignore you. I’m just saying, isn’t it overstepping your authority for you to decide that?”

“That’s a valid point.”

Lee Hyun-soo had no choice but to nod. He wasn’t stupid enough to blindly say ‘no’ to a logical point.

‘It is a bit of a problem.’

In the past, during Lee Joong-gul’s time, there was a middle class. Lee Joong-gul was a dictator, but he knew how to take care of his loyalists, and there was a clear hierarchy among them.

Over time, guidelines were established for resolving certain matters. But now, the Guild didn’t have that. All authority was concentrated in Kang Jin-ho. And there wasn’t anyone who could be called a second-in-command.

Bator and Knight Wiggins couldn’t yet be considered members of the Guild. They could make judgments, but to turn those judgments into orders, they had to go through someone. And Lee Hyun-soo, by his nature, couldn’t be a perfect second-in-command.

In the end, the only person who could act as Kang Jin-ho’s proxy in the Guild right now was Bang Jin-hoon, but Bang Jin-hoon was refraining from activity to create a buffer zone by relinquishing power.

Lee Hyun-joo had sharply pierced that sore spot.

Indeed, it was ambiguous who should handle matters related to Lee Hyun-joo. Lee Hyun-soo didn’t have enough authority to handle it, and it was too trivial for Kang Jin-ho to handle.

Besides…

‘Even if I told Kang Jin-ho, I’d get the same obvious answer.’

Leave it be.

He wasn’t the type to worry about trivial matters. He was the type to think that even if something went wrong, he could just smash through it with force. Of course, Lee Hyun-soo respected Kang Jin-ho’s judgment 1000%. Kang Jin-ho was capable enough to do that.

The problem was one thing.

‘I’m the one who has to clean up the mess!’

It wasn’t over just because it was resolved.

Kang Jin-ho would just smash through the problem and go on his way, but it was Lee Hyun-soo who had to clean up the scene and deal with the aftermath. From experience, Lee Hyun-soo knew that preventing a problem before it happened was a hundred times easier than dealing with it after it occurred.

“It might be overstepping my authority. But the only person who can judge whether I’m overstepping my authority is one person.”

“In the end, it’s Kang Jin-ho, isn’t it?”

“You could say that.”

Lee Hyun-joo nodded.

“Okay. Then I have only one request. Let me meet Kang Jin-ho.”

“I refuse.”

“Do you have the right to refuse?”

“I think I have that much right.”

Lee Hyun-joo gritted her teeth quietly as she looked at Lee Hyun-soo, who was grinning slyly.

She wanted to crush that unbearably smug face.

“Don’t you think you’re being excessive?”

“Excessive?”

“Yes, it’s excessive. What do you think I am? Do you think I’m some princess of a fallen nation? Do you think someone will try to enthrone me to revive my grandfather’s glory? You’ve been reading too many novels. I’m just a fallen noble. I have no power.”

“Of course, I know that too. It’s unfortunate, but I don’t place much value on you. From my perspective, you’re like a white elephant.”

“You’re quite bold, saying that in front of the person herself.”

“Sometimes, it’s necessary to be direct.”

“Do you know?”

Lee Hyun-joo smiled brightly as Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes filled with question.

“You’re really annoying.”

“…It’s been a while since I’ve heard that. I’m aware of it to some extent.”

Lee Hyun-soo shrugged.

“But that’s not why you came here, is it? There’s no need to confirm what we already know. Unlike you, I’m quite busy, so if you don’t have any business, I’d like you to leave?”

Lee Hyun-joo bit her lip and said,

“That wasn’t what I was going to say, but I’ve found a problem here. Hey, Lee Hyun-soo.”

“Yes.”

“Since you pride yourself on being smart, you must know the answer to my question. Tell me. What do I have to do to get out of my current situation?”

“No. You don’t have to do anything.”

Lee Hyun-joo silently glared at Lee Hyun-soo.

“Just endure it. If a few years, no, even a few months pass and the interest in you completely disappears, we’ll let you go peacefully.”

“Not kill me peacefully?”

“If we were going to kill you, we would have done it already. You don’t think we’d hesitate to do that, do you?”

“That’s a good answer. But it’s not an answer to my question. Tell me. What do I have to do to live as one of you?”

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyebrows twitched.

“Did you say ‘one of us’?”

“Yes. One of us, a member, a subordinate. Whatever you want to call it. The method you’re suggesting ultimately leads to the conclusion that I have to leave the Guild.”

“Isn’t that good for you too?”

Lee Hyun-joo chuckled.

“Good? Yes, it’s great. If I leave the Guild, should I look for a part-time job at a convenience store in some remote place? Or maybe I should go work in a factory. I’m strong enough to outdo any man.”

Lee Hyun-joo’s expression turned venomous.

“I don’t know if you can understand this, but I’m a martial artist. And to maintain my identity as a martial artist in Korea, I can never leave the Guild. I know it’s ridiculous for me to say this, but I have no choice. So!”

Lee Hyun-joo quietly glared at Lee Hyun-soo before opening her mouth.

“You just have to do one of two things. Either tell me how to stay in the Guild, or stop me from running to Kang Jin-ho and crying and begging.”

“That’s a chilling threat.”

Although he answered as if it was nothing, Lee Hyun-soo’s mind was quite complicated right now.

Who was Lee Hyun-joo?

The granddaughter of Lee Joong-gul.

It was ridiculous to consider bloodlines in this day and age, but if the Guild was described as a dynasty, Lee Hyun-joo was the most direct descendant. Bang Jin-hoon, who grew up in the Guild, would be a noble, and Kang Jin-ho would be,

‘More like a barbarian.’

A bitter smile formed on his lips.

She had the limitation of being a woman. And the Lee Joong-gul faction that should have supported her was completely dismantled and was just watching.

Even so, her position as Lee Joong-gul’s granddaughter had its own symbolism. That’s why he was so wary of her.

But she wanted to stay in the Guild?

In the Guild ruled by Kang Jin-ho?

“Are you thinking of sharpening your sword under your enemy?”

“If I sharpen my sword, will I even be able to scratch that person’s skin?”

“It would be impossible.”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head.

“Then why bother?”

“Stop acting like an idiot. I’m a martial artist, and no matter who my grandfather was, I have to live my life. Just as a fish can’t live out of water, a martial artist can’t live outside the martial arts world.”

“Hmm…”

“You know it too. It’s better to openly use me than to let me be forgotten like this. If I submit to Kang Jin-ho and join his ranks, it would mean complete surrender. Even those who still have lingering feelings for my grandfather would give up.”

“Hmm…”

It was a tempting offer.

“So, use me. I’ll let you use me as much as you want. But in return, get rid of those damn guards. If you can’t do that, at least let me go out.”

“Heh.”

Lee Hyun-soo laughed.

‘She’s bold.’

It had been a long time since he had seen someone so confidently express their opinion in front of him.

“But you know what?”

Lee Hyun-soo quietly looked at Lee Hyun-joo and opened his mouth.

“It doesn’t seem like that’s all, does it?”

His mouth was smiling, but Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes weren’t smiling at all.

His eyes, as emotionless as those of a reptile, were enough to make anyone who looked at them feel a chill.