Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 793

“You didn’t kill him, did you?”

“Of course not, Master. I’m not that thoughtless.”

“…Then?”

“I only half-killed him.”

Kang Jin-ho’s face slightly stiffened. If someone else had said that, he could have brushed it off as a joke. But Bator was someone who could actually carry out those words.

“Does that mean he’s still alive?”

Kang Jin-ho’s rear end lifted slightly off his seat. Seeing this, Bator chuckled.

“Don’t worry. I’m not that thoughtless. I know how much you care about that guy. Why would I hurt him? I just gave him a good enough shock to wake him up.”

It was meant to be reassuring, but Kang Jin-ho wasn’t reassured at all. He had no idea what Bator meant by ‘a good enough shock’.

“Haa…”

Kang Jin-ho let out a short sigh, and Bator grinned as he spoke.

“If you were so worried, you shouldn’t have stopped me.”

“I couldn’t do that.”

It wasn’t for Lee Hyun-soo. Nor was it for Bator.

Kang Jin-ho knew why Bator had been turning things upside down lately.

Realistically, no human can continuously move forward. No matter what goal they have, after a certain amount of time, the goal becomes blurry, and their steps become sluggish.

It wasn’t a matter of will. Humans are inherently like that. So, after a certain amount of time, the atmosphere must be refreshed and tightened.

In the past, Kang Jin-ho had played that role.

He had turned the General Assembly upside down, which had fallen into a rut, and forcibly dragged them out. But as they became accustomed to Kang Jin-ho’s presence, some people began to lose their focus again.

There was only one way. They had to be tightened up again.

But for Kang Jin-ho to do it himself was no small task. Unlike in the past, Kang Jin-ho had many things to do now. And it was also a problem for the head of the Assembly to personally manage so many people.

That’s why Bator was stepping in instead.

“You made him play the villain.”

“Don’t worry about it, Master. Actually, I know that I’m the most free out of all of us. It’s only natural for the one who’s doing nothing to move around a bit more. And…”

Bator grinned.

“I’m suited for this kind of thing. Even if I were busy, it would have ended up like this anyway. I can’t stand by and watch someone be so unrestrained.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“By the way, what’s going on?”

“Master, I’ve been thinking.”

“Hmm?”

Bator spoke, sounding a little awkward.

“That… the martial art you originally wanted me to learn. That Iron Blood? What was it called again?”

“Iron Blood Demonic Martial Art.”

“Right, that one.”

“Why? Are you having second thoughts now? It’s difficult for you to learn the Iron Blood Demonic Martial Art now that you’ve already mastered the Demonic Flame Blood Energy.”

“No. I have no regrets. I’m not stupid enough to go back on my word so easily. But, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to teach that martial art to my children.”

“Your children?”

“The ones I’m teaching. It’s not quite right to call them disciples, but anyway, those guys.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho narrowed his brows.

“Demonic martial arts are dangerous.”

“I know, Master.”

“I tried to spread demonic martial arts to many people in the past.”

Bator silently looked at Kang Jin-ho. He was waiting for his next words.

“But looking back, it was a hasty thing to do. And a foolish one too. I thought that giving everyone a chance would lead to better results. But I overlooked the danger that came with that opportunity. It was something I deserved to die for.”

Kang Jin-ho paused slightly before continuing.

“It’s not that I’m reluctant to spread demonic martial arts. Demonic martial arts are a double-edged sword. If it’s spread carelessly, many people will get seriously hurt. Haven’t we already experienced that?”

Bator nodded. It was something he couldn’t deny. Bator, who had fully realized the danger himself while accepting demonic martial arts, agreed with the word ‘dangerous’.

“But Master.”

Bator said in a firm voice.

“I know what you’re worried about. And I half agree with what you’re saying. But that’s not the whole picture, is it?”

There was conviction in Bator’s voice.

“It would be difficult if there was no one to guide them. But I’ll be watching them by their side. And you can help too, can’t you?”

Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth.

It was something that needed consideration, but Bator didn’t give him time to think.

“Master!”

“Ugh…”

“I won’t rush it. I know it’s not something to be dealt with hastily. But I think it’s worth considering. Demonic martial arts are dangerous. But from our perspective, it’s also the most efficient means. You know that we have to accept a certain level of risk.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Bator was right.

Now that they had decided to trust others and move forward aggressively, there was no point in worrying.

“I’ll consider it.”

“Then…”

“However, not like this.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his head roughly. It was something that didn’t suit his style, but it was something he had to try.

“Passing on the Iron Blood Demonic Martial Art as it is would be like jumping into a fire with firewood. Even if it means lowering its power, we need to make it more stable.”

“Didn’t you use the original version when you were going to pass it on to me?”

“It’s different with you.”

It was also because he trusted Bator’s abilities, but Bator was someone who pursued power anyway. If he had lowered the power in exchange for increasing stability, wouldn’t Bator have been the first to get angry?

“We’ll have to compromise to some extent. We can’t always expect the best.”

“That doesn’t sound like you, Master.”

“Is that so…”

Kang Jin-ho sighed slightly and got up from his seat.

“I’ll think about it and tell you again. It seems like it’ll take some time.”

“Do you have somewhere to go?”

“Ah.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded lightly.

“There’s someone I need to meet.”

* * *

Condensation formed on the cold coffee cup.

Kang Jin-ho quietly stared at it. Kang Jin-ho didn’t usually enjoy iced coffee. He didn’t need to distinguish between coolness and heat.

He didn’t feel the heat even in the middle of summer when the sun seemed to be burning people, so there was no need to look for a cold drink.

If he wasn’t affected by temperature, warm coffee was better. After all, regular coffee had a slightly better aroma than iced coffee.

Yet, the fact that he ordered iced coffee meant that Kang Jin-ho was feeling a little frustrated, didn’t it?

‘Maybe not.’

It could just be a whim.

At that moment, the sound of a chime bell rang. Kang Jin-ho raised his head and looked at the man who was entering through the door. The man who entered scanned the surroundings, and when he found Kang Jin-ho, he smiled brightly.

Kang Jin-ho also smiled back at the sight.

It was a good thing when someone smiled brightly without pretense when they saw him. It made people feel good.

The man walked over, waving his hand.

“I’m a little late.”

“It’s alright. I just got here myself.”

“It feels like it’s been a long time since we last met. No, it has actually been quite a while, hasn’t it?”

Seeing the man sitting down while joking around, Kang Jin-ho couldn’t help but smile.

‘It’s comfortable.’

It was an emotion he hadn’t felt much lately.

“Did things go well in China?”

“I think you would have heard about it from Lee Hyun-soo.”

“He was reluctant to mention that side of things.”

The man, Jo Gyu-min, wore a subtle smile.

“That guy is not good. He tries to extract information from this side, but he doesn’t want to reveal his own information. He said he would cooperate, but he’s only looking out for his own interests. He’s not a good person. I got ripped off.”

“Haha.”

It seemed that the evaluations of Lee Hyun-soo were generally the same.

“But what brings you here?”

“Let’s order coffee first.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy lately.”

“When weren’t you?”

“…You got me there.”

Jo Gyu-min smiled wryly and went to the counter to order coffee. Kang Jin-ho quietly waited for Jo Gyu-min to bring the coffee. Jo Gyu-min, who didn’t return to his seat and waited for his coffee, took his coffee and sat down again across from Kang Jin-ho.

“You don’t look… good.”

“It’s because I’m busy.”

“Being busy is a good thing. It’s better to be busy than to be idle with nothing to do.”

“Are you being sincere?”

“…What is it about money?”

Jo Gyu-min scratched his head roughly.

“To be honest, I’ve been thinking that I’d like to rest for a week without thinking about anything since about two years ago.”

“Are you so busy that you can’t even take a week off?”

“No. I did try to take a week off, but I couldn’t get away from work.”

Jo Gyu-min said with a sigh.

“Humans are strange. When I was being tormented by work, there were so many things I wanted to do. Because I didn’t have enough time to do the things I used to enjoy, I vowed to take a vacation later and do them all. But when I actually took a vacation and did them, it wasn’t fun. I just kept thinking about work.”

“…It’s your nature.”

“I admit it.”

Jo Gyu-min was now so addicted to work that he had become one with it.

“It would be fun if you came to the General Assembly. There are many people like you.”

“What’s fun about living with a horde of zombies? I’ll pass.”

The original zombie was criticizing the other zombies.

“More than that…”

Jo Gyu-min looked intently at Kang Jin-ho and said.

“Seeing that you, who don’t look for me unless you need something, have deliberately sought me out, it seems like there must be something going on?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled bitterly.

He doesn’t look for me unless he needs something… He wanted to argue, but it was true, so he had nothing to say.

He might be able to make excuses that his intentions weren’t like that. But what did intentions matter? In the end, the world was judged by actions and results.

“I’ve been out of it.”

“Of course, I know. I’m not blaming you, so don’t be so flustered. You’re not usually like that.”

Jo Gyu-min smiled lightly.

“I’m just curious about what you need. If it was about company matters, you would have come to the office, but it’s strange that you wanted to meet outside. Do you have something personal to discuss with me?”

“Yes.”

“…Really?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“No, it’s not that, but…”

Jo Gyu-min looked intently at Kang Jin-ho before opening his mouth.

“I’m very curious. Kang Jin-ho has something personal to discuss with me… Let’s not waste any time. Tell me.”

Kang Jin-ho took a slight deep breath.

Kang Jin-ho, who seemed to be pondering for a moment as he stared at Jo Gyu-min, quietly opened his mouth.

“I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing.”

At those words, Jo Gyu-min’s face became slightly serious.

Jo Gyu-min, who had put down the coffee cup he was holding, pulled his knees up with his hands clasped together.

“It seems like it’s going to be a serious conversation. We have plenty of time, so let’s take it slow.”