Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 799

“He’s sleeping.”

“He is sleeping.”

“He’s definitely sleeping.”

…He’s not sleeping.

Kang Jin-ho was in a state akin to a zoo monkey. It was true that Kang Jin-ho hadn’t been visiting the orphanage much lately, and even before, he rarely slept there.

Meals at the table, sleep at home.

Kang Jin-ho believed that if he could walk home on his own two feet, there was no reason to sleep outside. Though recently, he found himself unable to go home more often.

“We need to eat…”

“The food’s ready…”

“Yeah. We need to eat.”

How much time has passed?

Sunlight fell on his face. That meant the sun had already risen, and it was morning.

It was a natural thing, but not for Kang Jin-ho.

‘Is it morning?’

When was the last time he slept until this hour?

It might not be considered a late sleep by other people’s standards, but for Kang Jin-ho, it was definitely a late one. It felt like it had been years since he had woken up after the sun had risen.

Just as he was thinking he should slowly open his eyes, he sensed the children approaching.

“Are you asleep?”

Poke.

A finger poked his cheek. Kang Jin-ho chuckled at the touch.

“He’s awake!”

“He’s not sleeping!”

“Uwooo!”

As Kang Jin-ho chuckled and got up, a commotion could be heard from outside.

“I told you not to disturb the sleeping oppa [older brother]! You little brats!”

“Let’s run away!”

“The witch is chasing us!”

It was quite noisy.

Kang Jin-ho got up and neatly folded the blanket.

‘This is a strange feeling.’

Folding the blanket that still held warmth, he realized he had actually slept here. He didn’t think he had ever slept more than three hours at home, but here he had overslept. It was a strange thing.

“You’re awake?”

Jo Mi-hye, who had entered the room, looked at Kang Jin-ho and tapped her toes.

“Yeah.”

“Hurry up and wash, then eat, oppa.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly nodded.

Basically, outsiders weren’t allowed to sleep at the orphanage. But Kang Jin-ho was in an ambiguous position, so he could sleep in the boys’ room without any issues.

“How can you be lying down when all the kids are up! You need to set an example.”

“I’m sorry.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched the back of his head.

Of course, waking up early wasn’t a big deal. But this was an orphanage, and to live together with many children, it was important to keep a rhythm.

There was no excuse.

“But it’s strange. I didn’t think you would sleep in, oppa.”

“I usually don’t, but today was a bit different.”

“It must have been comfortable.”

“Huh?”

At Kang Jin-ho’s question, Jo Mi-hye answered casually.

“I said it must have been comfortable here.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded without realizing it.

‘Was it comfortable?’

It was a strange thing.

It was true that Kang Jin-ho had affection for this orphanage, but it wasn’t to the point where he felt more comfortable than at home. Yet today, Kang Jin-ho had completely let loose.

‘It seems I needed a rest.’

It could only be said that Jo Gyu-min’s diagnosis was accurate.

“Hurry up and wash, oppa.”

“Okay.”

Jo Mi-hye smiled and went to the next room.

‘Next room?’

Then, a sharp voice immediately erupted.

“The sun is high in the sky, the sun! You human! What did you do again last night that you’re still lying down and sleeping! Get up right now! Hey! Did you watch porn again last night!”

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

Han Jin-sung’s sorrowful scream echoed loudly.

Kang Jin-ho silently shook his head.

“Oppa.”

“…Yeah?”

“Oppa, I know you want to check everything since you’re eating here for the first time in a while.”

“Yeah.”

“The cooks are really nervous right now, you know?”

“Let’s just eat. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho smacked his lips and nodded. Then, he silently took his food on a tray.

In the past, the Sungsim Orphanage was run on a small scale. Back then, the childcare teachers also made the meals for the children. But after building a new building and moving, a cafeteria was created, and now they hire cooks to provide meals.

So, they couldn’t help but be on edge.

While others checked if the food was edible, Kang Jin-ho looked with hawk eyes to see if the ingredients were fresh and if they were used generously.

‘Good.’

As Kang Jin-ho nodded in satisfaction, a sigh escaped from the kitchen.

‘I feel a little sorry.’

It seemed that someone had told them to pay special attention to today’s meal while Kang Jin-ho was sleeping. He wished they hadn’t, but it was inevitable.

Wasn’t it the same when Kang Jin-ho was in the military? Even if a passing division commander stopped by to use the restroom, the whole unit would be turned upside down. Whether the division commander intended to inspect or not was irrelevant.

Kang Jin-ho, who had come to the table and sat down, asked Han Jin-sung.

“Is the food okay?”

“Hyung [older brother].”

“Yeah?”

“I have a favor to ask. Please talk to the director and tell them to stop experimenting with the food.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m satisfied with just normal food. Isn’t it a bit much to have paella for lunch? Sometimes I get confused whether this is an orphanage cafeteria or a world food expo.”

“It seems like they’re serving good food.”

“The food is really good. If I eat here and then go to school and eat the school lunch, I can’t swallow it. Ugh, I should be fulfilling my duty as a lunch-eater, but I’ve become spoiled.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

That was probably true.

The Sungsim Orphanage received support that was incomparable to other orphanages. First, Hwang Jung-hoo was providing support at the Jae Kyung Group level, and Kang Jin-ho was also pouring in his own money. There was no government support, so it was able to run without any problems.

Moreover, that money was 100% used for the operation of the orphanage. The fact that Kang Jin-ho was interested in the place made Jo Gyu-min nervous, and Jo Gyu-min’s nervousness led to thorough management.

The issue of how donations are used, which is a common occurrence, never happened here.

So, everything was a virtuous cycle. Ample funds were used for the children. The children could live in the best conditions without worrying about other things.

At first glance, it was all good. However….

‘Numbers and people….’

Perhaps because of his current situation, Kang Jin-ho couldn’t help but be sensitive to such facts. When Kang Jin-ho only operated this orphanage, such management was possible. But what if the number of orphanages increased in the future?

Would it be possible to maintain the same level of management and support while managing dozens of orphanages?

At that point, even the orphanages would have to be judged by numbers. If all those orphanages were managed like this, it would cost astronomical amounts of money.

In the end, the reason why the residents of the Sungsim Orphanage could enjoy a better life was because this orphanage was being run with extreme inefficiency. It was ironic, but inefficiency was creating happiness.

Kang Jin-ho put his spoon in the soup.

“Are you not hungry?”

“No.”

“You’re just picking at your food.”

Jo Mi-hye said with dissatisfaction, and Han Jin-sung sighed.

“Hey! Half of what’s on his plate is already gone, and you’re saying he’s picking at his food? What do you want him to do? Eat it with a ladle?”

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“I understand you’re showing off because Jin-ho oppa is here, but you’ll die if you keep doing that.”

“…Sorry.”

Han Jin-sung shrunk back.

Seeing Han Jin-sung, who couldn’t stand up to a girl two years younger than him, Kang Jin-ho felt somewhat sad.

‘Why are girls so strong these days?’

No, maybe it was just the women around Kang Jin-ho who were strong-willed.

Kang Jin-ho raised his head, looked at Han Jin-sung, and asked.

“How’s your studying going?”

“I’m dying, hyung.”

Han Jin-sung sighed deeply.

“I’m studying, but my grades aren’t improving. I don’t know what to do.”

At Han Jin-sung’s reaction, Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at Jo Mi-hye. Jo Mi-hye silently pointed her finger upwards. It meant his grades were improving.

“Which university are you aiming for?”

“Jae Kyung University.”

“…Huh?”

Han Jin-sung shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s not that I’m aiming for Jae Kyung University because I’m full of hot air, but Chief Jo said he’d give me a full scholarship if I go to Jae Kyung University. If I don’t want to be strangled by student loan debt, I have to go to Jae Kyung University.”

“Chief Jo said that?”

“Yeah. He said there’s nothing if I go anywhere else.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

The fact that Jo Gyu-min said that meant that there was a possibility that Han Jin-sung could go to Jae Kyung University. If there was no chance, he wouldn’t have even brought it up.

“What about the academy?”

“It’s amazing.”

Han Jin-sung looked at Kang Jin-ho with serious eyes.

“I didn’t know, but the instructors are really famous people.”

“Really?”

“To be exact… they’re becoming more famous. What was it? Top-tier?”

“Hmm.”

“Hyung, how much money did you spend?”

“…I don’t really know.”

It wasn’t an excuse, it was the truth. Jo Gyu-min was in charge of creating the academies for the kids to study. He probably spent a lot of money, perhaps too much.

‘He really went all out.’

Looking back, it was crazy. To create an academy here and bring in famous instructors just to teach a few kids. It was the epitome of inefficiency.

Until recently, Kang Jin-ho had been doing such things casually. Yet, he didn’t worry. After all, that inefficiency was happening within Kang Jin-ho’s financial means. How he spent his money was his choice.

But from now on, the situation was a bit different. The General Assembly wasn’t Kang Jin-ho’s personal property.

He couldn’t spend the Assembly’s money inefficiently in Kang Jin-ho’s way. He had to find a point where efficiency and inefficiency met appropriately. Kang Jin-ho didn’t have that standard right now.

‘What is the right thing to do?’

Kang Jin-ho stuck his spoon into his rice.

He was told to rest without thinking, but such worries wouldn’t leave his mind.

Because of that, he couldn’t eat well either.

As Kang Jin-ho ate his meal with a sullen expression, Jo Mi-hye, who saw him, opened her mouth.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“What are you going to do after eating?”

“What am I going to do…”

“Are you going home?”

Kang Jin-ho pondered slightly.

Jo Gyu-min had told him to rest without thinking for at least three days. So, he had told them in advance that he might not be able to go home for about three days.

So, going home was a bit….

“I don’t really have anything planned?”

“That’s good.”

“Huh?”

“Oppa, we’re going to clean the storage today, so please help us out.”

“Huh?”

“These days, the older oppas go to the academy to study every weekend, so we’re short on hands.”

“You’re short on manpower?”

Kang Jin-ho frowned slightly.

The children could clean the storage. Children who grew up in normal homes also helped with housework. So, the children here should also be able to share the work of the orphanage.

But if the orphanage couldn’t function properly just because a few older boys were gone, that was a problem. The children’s labor shouldn’t be a constant.

“We need to hire more people, why aren’t they hiring more?”

“It’s not because we’re short on people.”

“Then?”

“Anyway, you’ll know when you go.”

Jo Mi-hye smiled brightly.

Kang Jin-ho, not knowing anything, just nodded.