Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 75

“I’m back.”

“You’re late.”

“I’m sorry.”

Baek Hyun-jung scolded Kang Jin-ho, her face slightly displeased.

“Son!”

“Yes?”

“Could you please stop saying ‘I’m sorry’ every time I say something?”

“I’m sor…”

Kang Jin-ho was about to say ‘I’m sorry’ again but stopped himself, realizing his mistake.

Baek Hyun-jung watched him quietly, and Kang Jin-ho smiled sheepishly before speaking.

“I’m going to the military soon, so I guess I’m a bit out of it.”

“I see.”

Baek Hyun-jung approached and patted Kang Jin-ho’s shoulder.

“But son.”

“Yes?”

“I wish you would discuss big things like going to the military with me.”

Kang Jin-ho listened to Baek Hyun-jung’s words without any reply.

“I trust you because you always handle things well on your own, but sometimes I feel left out, and it makes me sad.”

“That’s not it.”

“I know. I know you’re not like that. It’s just how I feel.”

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t find the right words to say. Understanding other people’s emotions was still difficult for him.

It wasn’t as if he had lived in a world without people, or without human interaction, but even so, Kang Jin-ho still found it hard to understand others’ feelings.

‘Is it because of the Demonic Cult?’

He had entered the Demonic Cult with the mind of an adult, so he thought he was different from the other demonic beings who had their humanity stripped away. But it seemed that the influence was not entirely absent.

Besides, even when he lived in the modern world, Kang Jin-ho couldn’t say he had lived a normal life.

“I think you should have told your mother first. Am I wrong?”

Kang Jin-ho pondered for a moment before nodding.

“I was short-sighted.”

If family meant more than just people living in the same house, then it was right to think and decide together on matters that could bring significant changes to one’s life.

He had to admit that he had lacked consideration in that regard.

“Okay, my son. Come here.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly approached Baek Hyun-jung.

Baek Hyun-jung hugged Kang Jin-ho without a word and stroked his back.

“That little guy is already going to the military. It makes me feel a bit sad. It’s something everyone goes through…”

Baek Hyun-jung’s last words were blurred with tears.

“It’s not like I’m leaving tomorrow, though.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Baek Hyun-jung released Kang Jin-ho from her embrace and wiped her eyes.

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Okay. Go in and rest. Your father is sleeping, so be careful with the door.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho bowed his head and headed to his room.

After entering his room and placing his bag on the desk, Kang Jin-ho lay down on the bed without even taking off his clothes.

He knew he should shower, but his complicated thoughts wouldn’t allow him to do anything else.

“Did you think you were the only one who crossed the past to return here?”

The words the strange man had left behind were messing with Kang Jin-ho’s head.

‘It wasn’t just me?’

He was confused.

He thought it was a unique experience that no one else could have. That’s why he never thought of confiding in someone or seeking understanding.

They would think he was drunk, delusional, or mentally ill.

And even if someone believed him, nothing would change. He had already learned through his life that humans thoroughly reject those who are different from them.

That’s why he thought he couldn’t find empathy from anyone.

But now, other returners had appeared.

‘How much should I believe?’

He couldn’t believe everything they said.

Kang Jin-ho raised his hands and rubbed his face. If he had known this would happen, he should have tried to get more information instead of letting them go so easily. He was too shocked by their words at the time to think straight.

‘No, that’s not right.’

If what they said was true, they would appear before Kang Jin-ho again someday. Whether it was to persuade him or eliminate him, they would come to him again.

Then it wouldn’t be too late to respond.

Having sorted out his thoughts, Kang Jin-ho turned his head to look out the window.

Looking at the dark night sky without a single star, Kang Jin-ho clenched his fist without realizing it.

‘It’s not that I don’t understand.’

He was wavering too.

If the fact that there were people in the world who could share and understand his terrible experience, which he thought no one could understand, could shake him this much, then it was understandable that they would seek each other out and build a force.

Perhaps they could become Kang Jin-ho’s true understanders, surpassing even family and friends.

Kang Jin-ho got up and picked up his phone.

He turned on a song he had saved on his phone, placed it by his pillow, and closed his eyes, listening to the melody.

‘Don’t waver.’

Whether they existed or not, whether there was someone who could understand him or not… it didn’t matter.

The important thing was that he was always Kang Jin-ho, and Kang Jin-ho’s life was something he had to decide for himself. If he didn’t lose his identity, nothing would change.

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep, but he couldn’t sleep a wink until dawn broke outside the window.

“Military service?”

Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo, who had been visited by Jo Gyu-min in the morning, was shocked to hear about Kang Jin-ho’s enlistment.

“He’s enlisting? Enlisting?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“How could you report this to me now?!”

Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo roared in anger, and Jo Gyu-min flinched and lowered his head.

It wasn’t that he didn’t feel resentful that he was being blamed for something the person himself had applied for without saying a word, but it was actually Jo Gyu-min’s job to figure it out, so he had no excuse.

“I’m sorry.”

“Enlisting…”

It was something he had never expected.

Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo was lost in thought with a very serious expression. Military service was something that every healthy man in South Korea had to go through. Hwang Jung-hoo had also served in the military.

All of his sons had also served without exception.

But now, Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo was having serious doubts about something he had always taken for granted.

“Is there no other way?”

“What other way are you talking about?”

“A way to avoid military service.”

Jo Gyu-min was confused.

Hwang Jung-hoo was a man who valued principles above all else. Unlike typical chaebols [large family-owned business conglomerates] who received various privileges and cleverly used illegal and legal loopholes to gain profits, Hwang Jung-hoo hated such privileges.

He was also a man who had risen from the bottom, the son of a poor family.

Having competed with those who were protected by privileges and having experienced all sorts of injustices, he had no choice but to hate privileges and illegal acts.

That was why he was respected by others.

But now, such words as ‘another way’ were coming from Hwang Jung-hoo’s mouth.

Hwang Jung-hoo, perhaps understanding Jo Gyu-min’s feelings, continued awkwardly.

“If it were my child, my grandchild, or even myself, I would have enlisted without a second thought.”

“I believe you would.”

And he actually had.

“But he’s a special case.”

Jo Gyu-min had no choice but to nod.

“My personal matters are also an issue. I need him. To be honest, I want to keep him by my side and monitor him 24/7 to make sure nothing happens.”

For Jo Gyu-min, who didn’t know the relationship between Hwang Jung-hoo and Kang Jin-ho, it was an incomprehensible statement.

“But I know that’s just greed. What I’m really worried about is whether he can adapt to a place like the military.”

“Ah!”

Jo Gyu-min finally understood what Hwang Jung-hoo was worried about.

Kang Jin-ho was, in a way, a very free person, and in another way, he was closer to a troublemaker.

He hated injustice and couldn’t tolerate force or pressure.

If you thought about whether such a person could adapt to an organization like the military, which was the epitome of injustice, the conclusion was obvious.

“It’s a big problem.”

“Indeed.”

Hwang Jung-hoo took out a cigarette and lit it.

“It’s not an easy thing, not an easy problem.”

If you thought about what would happen when a person like Kang Jin-ho met the South Korean military, it might be a problem that had to be stopped.

“But he seems to be doing quite well in society?”

“That’s because there’s no one trying to suppress him with force.”

“Hmm…”

“I haven’t grasped everything about Kang Jin-ho either.”

“But you’ve experienced it, so you can guess. Such a person is someone who will bounce back even harder if you try to suppress him.”

“That’s right.”

“But the military is a place where there are too many people who try to solve everything by suppressing others.”

Jo Gyu-min nodded.

He had also experienced the military, so he could understand.

“It’s always too late to try to solve a problem after it has happened. The most important thing is to prevent the problem from happening in the first place.”

“You are absolutely right.”

“So, I need you to do some work.”

“Yes?”

Jo Gyu-min asked, bewildered, and Hwang Jung-hoo exhaled a long puff of smoke before continuing.

“Find a way. Come up with an alternative. At the very least, we need to set up a safety net so that he can finish his military service without any major trouble.”

“I will look into it.”

“Use all the resources you need. I give you my permission.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Jo Gyu-min bowed his head, and Hwang Jung-hoo waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

As Jo Gyu-min left the chairman’s office, Hwang Jung-hoo sighed deeply.

“It would be better if people were a little more opportunistic…”

If he had contacted him and said he didn’t want to go to the military, Hwang Jung-hoo would have used any means to exempt him. There were plenty of ways to exempt him without breaking the law.

He could get him American citizenship or have him do alternative service.

But considering Kang Jin-ho’s personality, Hwang Jung-hoo knew that was impossible.

“What should I do…”

Hwang Jung-hoo needed to receive treatment from Kang Jin-ho once a month. He could just visit him once a month, but there were other things to worry about.

“Hmm, it would be good to have an inside helper…”

Hwang Jung-hoo’s old eyes flashed for a moment.

“There was that way. Hehehe.”

Hwang Jung-hoo leaned back in his chair with a pleased expression.

At that moment, Jo Gyu-min, who was heading to the secretary’s office, felt an unknown anxiety and trembled.