Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 72

Time flew by quickly. The festival, midterms, and final exams passed, and finally, Kang Jin-ho had his first school vacation. In the meantime, quite a few things had happened. Kang Eun-young was steadily preparing for her debut. Whether it was because of the sudden transfer or because creating another group was too much of a burden, it was decided that Kang Eun-young would make her solo debut. She was told that it wouldn’t be too difficult, given her skills.

“Solo?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re debuting alone?”

“That’s right! The CEO said I’m a jackpot talent he hasn’t seen in ages!”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“What is?”

“If it’s a lie, I feel sorry for the CEO who has to coax you like that…”

“And if it’s true?”

“If it’s true, I feel sorry for the reality of the music industry that has fallen so low.”

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s just do three hits [referring to a successful song].”

“Oh no, you shouldn’t back down. Like a man! Hey! Don’t stand there! Come here! Hey!”

Meanwhile, Jo Kyu-min had moved to Jae Kyung University. He was supposed to be assigned the position of head of the administrative office at Jae Kyung University, but having realized how comfortable it was to do nothing at the high school, Jo Kyu-min vehemently refused the position. In the end, Jo Kyu-min obtained the bizarre title of Deputy Head of the Administrative Office and settled down at Jae Kyung University.

“Deputy Head?”

“That’s right.”

“Is there even a Deputy Head in the administrative office?”

“If we create it, there is a position, isn’t it?”

“What do you do?”

“I solve Kang Jin-ho’s grievances, complaints, and difficulties.”

“So, you don’t do anything.”

“Well, that’s how it is for now.”

“You still get paid regularly, right?”

“Actually, I’m only telling this to you, Kang Jin-ho, but my annual salary is quite high even within Jae Kyung.”

“I see.”

“But… who are you calling?”

“The Chairman.”

“Why the Chairman all of a sudden?”

“It pains me to just watch the waste of manpower and funds.”

“Oh no! Why are you doing this! I make coffee for you every time! Put that phone down! I even fixed your bike! Think about it! Who bought Goldie [likely a pet or item]! Who, Kang Jin-ho!”

His mother quit her job and decided to help at his father’s store. They were short-handed, and since sales kept dropping, his mother, not trusting his father, started going to the store herself.

“Where did you go?”

“I just went to the front for a bit…”

“Isn’t it because the boss leaves his post when he’s bored that customers are leaving!”

“No, I really just went for a bit…”

“Ugh, I’m crazy. I entrusted the store to such a person!”

“No… I really just went for a bit.”

“If you have nothing to do, go to the kitchen and do the dishes!”

“Yes.”

The Seongsim Orphanage was not much different from the past. If there was one change, it was that, starting with what Kang Jin-ho had done, they began visiting the elderly in the neighborhood. Led by the orphanage director, the orphanage teachers gathered in small groups to visit the elderly living alone. It was possible because they had extra hands.

“Grandma, I’m here.”

“Why do you keep coming here, as if you’re going to get something to eat, when I told you not to come?”

“I didn’t come to get something to eat, I came to give you something. I made some side dishes, please have some.”

“Why do you keep bringing things that don’t taste good!”

“Should I take them back then?”

“If you brought them, just leave them, why would you take them back?”

“Then I’ll leave them here. Are the dishes done? Do you have rice?”

“Don’t worry about it and go.”

“No, Grandma.”

“Hey, go! I said go! Don’t keep coming to my house, go visit old man Park next door. That old man looks like he’s on his last legs.”

“Yes, I understand. Grandma, I’ll come again.”

“Don’t come! Please don’t come!”

“Yes, I’ll come again.”

“Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”

Jeong In-gyu was still retaking the college entrance exam. He had been a senior in high school for a year and a half, but unfortunately, his grades had not improved at all.

“Did your mock exam scores come out?”

“Hey… are you even my friend?”

“Why?”

“Why are you asking that? If they came out, so what? What’s the problem? Why are you concerned about that?”

“No, I was just…”

“Mock exams are just practice anyway. I’m strong in real battles. I’m a real-battle type, a real-battle type!”

“You, last year’s real battle…”

“Hey, you.”

“Did your scores drop, by any chance?”

“Go away, you! Go! Don’t come here!”

Han Se-yeon, influenced by the Seongsim Orphanage, was aiming for a double major in social welfare. When she was told that freshmen couldn’t double major, she seemed to have chosen a method that was typical of her.

“Student?”

“Yes.”

“Now, let’s answer the question?”

“I think it’s a psychological problem.”

“That’s correct. What year and who are you?”

“That’s…”

“I’ll give you points, so answer me.”

“I…”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry! I’m Han Se-yeon from the Business Administration Department! I just came in because I really wanted to take the class.”

“You could have applied.”

“I’m a freshman!”

“I’ll let it slide because you’re courageous.”

“Thank you!”

“But I’ll be taking attendance from next time, so make sure to come.”

“Wow, Professor.”

And there were also people who worked silently in places that others didn’t know about.

“Rookie.”

“Yes!”

“Did you do the document organization I asked you to do?”

“Yes, here it is.”

“…Who told you to organize the documents like this?”

“I’m sorry. I’ll do it again.”

“I’m just kidding. You did pretty well?”

“Thank you.”

“It’s good that you’re working hard, but you’re too stiff. If you don’t relax a bit, you’ll collapse? The more urgent it is, the more you have to take a step back.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You said you’re twenty now?”

“Yes.”

“At an age when other guys would be out having fun, it must be hard to do this kind of work?”

“It’s okay.”

“Even guys in their thirties run away from here because it’s too hard. It looks good on the outside, but when you look inside, the secretarial department is a catch-all department that has to do everything.”

“I like it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yes?”

“You’re at an age where you should be having fun. And it’s the right age to have fun. But why are you already doing this hard work? If you need money, there are many other jobs. And you didn’t even go to college? It’s funny that there was an order to have someone who didn’t go to college work here, but it’s even stranger that you’re doing it silently. Are you perhaps the hidden child of some CEO?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then why are you doing this here?”

“Because there’s something I have to do.”

“What is it?”

“It’s difficult to say.”

“Okay, okay! You’re no fun. The Chairman will be coming out soon, so get the report ready and prepare in advance.”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t do it properly this time, like last time, I won’t let it slide.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Ugh, you’re really amazing. I respect you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The biggest event was Park Yu-min’s advancement to the finals. Kang Jin-ho visited the stadium where a huge crowd had gathered.

“Hey, can you see Yu-min?”

“I can see him.”

“What, do you have hawk eyes? Can you see him from here?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t see him at all.”

“You should just watch the game.”

“Did we come to watch the game or to see Yu-min! Ah, that’s why I told you to come early!”

“Why?”

“You have to come early to get a front seat! That way you can see Yu-min.”

“You don’t have to come early.”

“Why!”

“The front seats are originally reserved for family.”

“Really?”

“We have seats too. Just go and sit down.”

“Wh-who said that?”

“Park Yu-min.”

Han Se-yeon puffed out her cheeks.

“You guys always talk without me?”

“Is that so?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled and went forward. The security guards tried to stop them, but after explaining their identities and submitting their IDs, they were guided to the front seats.

“Director, you’ve come?”

Han Se-yeon greeted the director of the Seongsim Orphanage with a smile.

“Se-yeon, you’ve come? Jin-ho, you’re here too. I’m too nervous to watch.”

“But Yu-min will feel relieved if the director is here. Let’s cheer together.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“Hey, Kang Jin-ho! You cheer too.”

“I don’t have to.”

“Why! Why not! Yu-min made it to the finals!”

“He’s going to win anyway.”

“Hey! The other side is good too. They’re the winners of the last tournament.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter. Park Yu-min will win anyway.”

“How do you know?”

“Of course.”

“What?”

“The only person who can beat Park Yu-min is me.”

“…You’re really sick, at that point.”

“Just watch.”

However, the game did not go as Kang Jin-ho had said. Best of five. The results of the first and second games were overwhelming defeats for Park Yu-min. A defeat where he couldn’t even try anything.

“Hey! It’s because of your nonsense!” Kang Jin-ho sighed. He could see Park Yu-min, who was frozen with tension inside the game capsule. Even though the game was over, he was just staring blankly at the monitor instead of coming out. It was obvious what state he was in.

“Hey, what do we do! Yu-min seems frozen! He can’t hear us even if we call him from here.”

“Really?”

Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth.

“Park Yu-min.”

Then, Park Yu-min inside the capsule was startled and raised his head.

“What are you doing, you idiot?”

Park Yu-min turned his head and looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“Are your hands all warmed up?”

Park Yu-min nodded.

“Have you played enough?”

Park Yu-min smiled. Telepathy. If Kang Jin-ho set his mind to it, no soundproof device could block Kang Jin-ho’s voice.

“Then win now. Don’t forget. If you lose, I lose too. I hate losing more than dying.”

Park Yu-min chuckled and mouthed.

“What did he say?”

“Arrogant words.”

“What did he say?”

“I. Will. Win. Then.”

Han Se-yeon laughed and pointed at Park Yu-min.

“Hey, Park Yu-min. You’ve grown a lot?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Yeah. So much that it’s hard to handle.”

From the third game, a completely different pattern unfolded. The listless appearance of the first and second games was gone, and he consistently and stably blocked the opponent’s attacks, then led the game to victory with a single attack. It was Park Yu-min as he usually was.

“Hey, Yu-min seems to have come to his senses.”

“It took him long enough.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled. Park Yu-min. A friend he had met through a strange connection was now fighting to become the best in Korea. Even though he was still a gamer who was not recognized by the world, the effort he had put in was by no means less than that of other sports. Now, Park Yu-min was trying to reach the top.

“When did that loser Park Yu-min become so cool?”

“Cool?”

“Isn’t he cool?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled lightly and looked at Park Yu-min. Park Yu-min, who had completely regained his confidence, cleanly won the fourth game with an early rush and entered the final game. The voices of the casters and commentators, as if about to burst, echoed throughout the stadium. They shouted fighting with half-broken voices and broadcasted the game. Tens of thousands of people had gathered here to cheer for them because of a simple game. A tense game. A wonderful match unfolded, so much so that anyone would nod in agreement no matter who won. Kang Jin-ho watched the scene. Park Yu-min, showing his best self in a place he could not reach, was there.

“He’s a little cool?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.