Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 774

Why can’t I improve?

Why do I keep repeating the same mistakes, even though I clearly knew I should have called beforehand?

Kang Jin-ho was momentarily consumed by self-loathing.

Clearly! Just a moment ago!

He had thought he should call Choi Yeon-ha before she called him, so why did he make this mistake?

A regrettable mistake.

A bone-chilling mistake.

Kang Jin-ho’s hand, reaching for the phone screen, hesitated, unlike usual.

‘Should I just answer it tomorrow?’

Even when facing an army of a hundred thousand, even when single-handedly confronting the combined attacks of the righteous sects, the Demon Lord, who had never retreated and never known fear, was now hesitating in front of a phone call.

It was inevitable.

He wasn’t afraid of things he could fight against. No matter how strong the force that tried to invade him, if he could resist and fight… a path would always open. But this was not something he could resist.

Kang Jin-ho took a light breath and carefully pressed the call button.

The call connected.

But even after waiting for some time, no voice came. Kang Jin-ho swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

“…Choi Yeon-ha?”

He cautiously spoke first, but there was no reply.

Silence.

A low silence came from the other end of the line.

Kang Jin-ho’s body creaked like a machine that had run out of oil.

He realized, ‘A simple silence can drive a person this far.’ He thought he should use this tactic if he ever needed to torment someone in the future, and then Kang Jin-ho cleared his throat.

“I answered the phone?”

Even so, the silence did not break. Just as Kang Jin-ho was wondering if he should speak again, a chilling voice came from the other end of the phone.

[Do you know the difference between a human and an animal?]

“I do, but it’s hard to put it into words exactly.”

[What do you think it is?]

“…Reason?”

The format was a question and answer, but he didn’t know why he felt like he was being whipped.

[Reason, my foot!]

The genre suddenly shifted from hard-boiled to action. Choi Yeon-ha’s tone of voice rose sharply, and her words began to speed up.

In sync with that fast tempo, Kang Jin-ho’s heart began to bounce.

[A person with reason, why can’t you understand what I’m saying? Why? I told you to contact me, why can’t you contact me? Even Ppoppi at my mom’s house understands after being scolded three times, but why can’t you understand even after hearing it so many times? Why? Why?]

“…I’m sorry.”

[Are you really going to be like this?]

“No, that’s…”

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t make excuses. He could say that many things had happened, but not contacting her after so many things had happened was an inexcusable mistake.

[People need to have some changes in their patterns. I was counting how long it would take you to contact me this time. You’re going to set a new record, a new record!]

“Ugh…”

There was nothing he could say, this was the kind of situation where you could have ten mouths and still not have anything to say. Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes, realizing once again that the old sayings were never wrong.

You have to take the rain as it comes. Trying to avoid it might bring even bigger trouble.

[I’ve never seen anyone so specialized in being a ‘goose dad’ [a father who lives apart from his family for their education] in my life. If his wife takes the kids overseas, he’d probably live without even knowing he has a wife.]

Choi Yeon-ha’s diss skills were also improving day by day. He had never experienced such a strange attack before. It was such a strange attack that Kang Jin-ho almost replied, ‘I had that strength in me.’

[Is everything okay?]

“Huh?”

[So, has everything been okay?]

“Uh… well, it has been?”

Kang Jin-ho’s speech skills had not yet reached the point where he could distinguish between what he should and shouldn’t say.

“But… is it over?”

[Over?]

Why do humans regret saying things only after they’ve spoken them?

Kang Jin-ho reflected deeply on the structure of the human brain and tried to salvage the situation.

“Ah, no, I didn’t mean it like that…”

[Yes, it’s over. The nagging time.]

That’s strange?

It couldn’t end like this?

If it was the Choi Yeon-ha that Kang Jin-ho knew, she would have to vent her pent-up frustration for at least another 10 minutes. Wasn’t Choi Yeon-ha someone who surpassed even his mother in terms of nagging?

But it’s already over?

“Really?”

[……]

From the other side, a sigh and a sound of disbelief could be heard at the same time.

‘I should keep my mouth shut.’

It was also a talent to make things worse every time he opened his mouth. Kang Jin-ho decided that he should keep his words to a minimum.

[Yes, really.]

But surprisingly, Choi Yeon-ha didn’t get angry.

Then Kang Jin-ho couldn’t help but wonder.

Kang Jin-ho knew that if he was forgiven this easily, the smart thing to do was to rejoice and move on. He had that much sense.

But didn’t he want to ask?

Wasn’t he curious why things were turning out this way?

Humans are rational animals, but they are also animals driven by curiosity. And now, that curiosity had surpassed Kang Jin-ho’s reason.

“Why…”

Still, a sliver of reason remained, so his voice trailed off.

[What’s the point of holding onto something that won’t work? No matter how much I say it, it won’t change, and it’s not like I’m going to leave you because you don’t fix it. So, it’s better for me to understand and move on, rather than just getting upset every time.]

“Ah…”

[Don’t misunderstand. It doesn’t mean I’ve given up on you because you’re hopeless. It’s just like that. People can’t only have strengths. It’s natural to have weaknesses too. If I try to fix it and it doesn’t work, I should understand and embrace that weakness. It’s enough if I contact you first.]

Kang Jin-ho’s heart felt a little lighter.

He didn’t know why, but Choi Yeon-ha’s words were comforting him.

[It’s a bit of a pride issue, but that’s the truth. It’s strange to even think about pride. We’re not at the point where we should be worried about who contacts who first, right?]

“Right.”

[So, I decided to understand. Because that’s who you are. I know that you’re accommodating me a lot. So, I should accommodate you too. If I can’t understand this one thing and keep calling and nagging, then I’m too much of a bad woman.]

Don’t you think there have been too many such cases to say that now?

Fortunately, Kang Jin-ho’s mind regained its reason, and he didn’t say those terrifying words out loud. Instead, Kang Jin-ho said something else.

“Because it’s me, you understand?”

[Yes.]

“Understand…”

It was nothing special. But those words were bringing a strange feeling to Kang Jin-ho.

“You understand me?”

[Kang Jin-ho.]

“…Yes.”

[Is something wrong?]

“No, it’s nothing. It’s just… yes, it’s nothing.”

[Hmm.]

A low silence flowed from the other end of the phone. But it was different from the silence before. It wasn’t a sign of dissatisfaction, but of concern.

[Kang Jin-ho.]

“Yes.”

[I don’t know what’s going on, and you don’t have to talk to me about it, but remember this.]

“Yes?”

[Whatever decision you make, I believe in you.]

[Even if that decision causes a big problem. I’ll just laugh and say, ‘You idiot.’]

“Even if the problem is serious?”

[This person is strange.]

“Yes?”

[What’s the problem if I say I’ll do that? Just close your eyes and do it.]

[I wanted to call and complain a lot, but you’re not even letting me complain. I’ll stop here for today. But if you call me tomorrow, I’ll hold you and complain all day, so be prepared.]

“Ah, no…”

Don’t hang up.

Not yet.

Kang Jin-ho paused.

He wanted to continue talking to someone. He wanted to stay on the phone with someone longer.

It was a feeling he had never felt before.

He thought he was leaning on her. He thought they were back-to-back. But now, Kang Jin-ho realized that he had never properly leaned on her.

If you can maintain your posture even when the person you’re leaning on moves away, then you’re not leaning on them. Kang Jin-ho wasn’t leaning on her. He had only thought that he had to support the back of the person who was leaning on him.

He believed that they were connected, that there was a bond between them. But that bond was just a one-way relationship.

Now, Kang Jin-ho was giving his back to others.

“Just a little more…”

Choi Yeon-ha didn’t say anything. After a long time, Choi Yeon-ha opened her mouth.

[This person, something really is wrong.]

[Are you going to Korea?]

“Yes?”

[I’m asking if I should go to Korea now.]

“How?”

[Just say it. Don’t worry about the movie or anything. You worry too much. You have to worry about my schedule, the people around you, your work… Your head is full of useless things every day. How can a person live like that?

If you’re going to worry about others, you should also complain sometimes. Tell me. If you just tell me to come to Korea now, I’ll throw away the movie and everything and come right now.]

“…Is that okay?”

[Yes. You can do that. At least to me, you’re someone who deserves to do that. Complain as much as you want. I’ll accept it.]

Kang Jin-ho laughed.

That was enough.

Yes, that was enough.

When walking alone feels too heavy and difficult, it’s enough to know that there’s someone who will catch him when he falls back.

In the end, he has to walk alone.

They can’t walk together.

But…

“I feel a little better.”

[No, does this person think I’m joking? I’m going now. Wait there. Hey, Eun-sol! Book a plane ticket! Right now!]

“Ah, no, please calm down first!”

Kang Jin-ho had to argue with Choi Yeon-ha for a long time. Calming down Choi Yeon-ha, who was about to leave immediately with her head steaming, was no easy task, but he managed to calm her down somehow.

“I’ll tell you if there’s a real problem.”

[No. That’s not it.]

“Yes?”

[It’s not that you should tell me if there’s a real problem, but you should tell me even if there’s a small problem. If you don’t tell me because you’re afraid I’ll do this again, that’s a bigger problem! Do you understand what I mean?]

“…Yes.”

[You’re really someone who needs a lot of care. Well, that’s who you are. It’s kind of cute, I guess.]

[You seem to be thinking a lot, so I’ll hang up here. But don’t forget one thing. Do what you want, Kang Jin-ho. That’s what I really want. Who’s going to say anything if you complain about your life? It’s time for me to accept it, so just do it. Okay?]

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

[Then good night.]

The call ended.

Kang Jin-ho held the disconnected phone in his hand and looked up at the sky.

Warmth was transmitted from the phone. The warmth felt from the heated phone. And…

After looking at the sky for a long time, Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes.

‘Do what I want…’

Choi Yeon-ha tells him to do what he wants.

Park Yoo-min asked what Kang Jin-ho really wanted to do.

In the end, there was only one answer.

What was it?

What kind of life did Kang Jin-ho want?