Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 802

“I know it too. Kang Jin-ho, you’re capable. If you ask exactly what kind of ability… well, um…”

It felt like a slight jab. Flustered, Choi Yeon-ha quickly changed the subject.

“I don’t know exactly, but anyway, you’re capable. I know that too. And I also know that your ability is higher than I can even imagine. But, you know.”

“Yes.”

“One of the most common traps that capable people fall into is thinking that they’re the only ones who can do it.”

“It’s like they have to interfere and solve everything, and they have to create the perfect direction… and then the work they have to do keeps increasing. And in the beginning, they actually get results. Because they’re capable. But one person can never do the work of ten people.”

Kang Jin-ho listened to Choi Yeon-ha’s words silently.

It felt like something was piercing his bones.

“It’s so obvious why you’re like this right now. It’s like you feel you have to do even the things you don’t know well, and then you have too much to do, and the results are hard to guarantee, so you rethink that area, and then your workload increases again…”

It was dizzying.

Just listening to it made him feel nauseous.

“To cut to the chase…”

“Yes.”

“Have you heard of the Superman complex?”

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t answer. It wasn’t because he hadn’t heard the term before. The moment he heard the words “Superman complex,” he became aware of where he stood.

“I’ve felt this for a while now…”

Choi Yeon-ha hesitated slightly before speaking.

“Honestly, I’m a bit cautious about saying this. I wonder if it’s okay for me to talk about my superficial impressions of you, and I also wonder if I know so much that I can just talk about other people so carelessly.”

“It’s okay. No, I want to hear it. Please, tell me.”

Choi Yeon-ha was silent for a moment at Kang Jin-ho’s firm voice. Those few seconds of silence felt incredibly long.

Choi Yeon-ha sighed and opened her mouth.

“It’s just my impression, so you don’t have to think too deeply about it.”

“Yes.”

“From my perspective, it seems like you’re a bit too obsessed with being strong.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyebrows twitched.

He couldn’t speak.

He had been hit right on the mark countless times in his life, but had he ever heard words that pierced his heart like this?

“Strength?”

What was wrong with that?

“Well… the word ‘strength’ might be a bit strange, but it’s like I feel a kind of obsession that you can’t fall behind, or something?”

Kang Jin-ho frowned.

What was wrong with not falling behind? Wasn’t that how everyone lived?

“Of course, there are many people like that. Even in my industry, it’s common for people to stay up for three days and nights to get a single role. But even among those people, you’re a bit strange.”

“In what way?”

“It’s like you’re being chased.”

“It’s like if you don’t accomplish this right now, if you don’t use your time efficiently, if you don’t get better than yesterday quickly, if you don’t build more ability, it’s like someone will come from behind and grab you, or something?”

At this point, he should just plant a bamboo stick and start fortune-telling [a humorous way of saying she’s accurately predicting his thoughts].

“It’s not just ‘hurry.’ It’s like you have to do everything well, you have to be amazing at everything, and if you don’t lead people like that, something terrible will happen. You weren’t like that before. Ah, of course, I’m not saying ‘the old you was better,’ but anyway…”

Choi Yeon-ha seemed a bit at a loss for words and stalled for time.

“When I first saw you, you had a kind of composure. But now, it seems like you don’t have that composure anymore. I sometimes miss that… that Kang Jin-ho who seemed like he would never fall for any kind of trick, that relaxed and sly Kang Jin-ho.”

“…Sly?”

“You know I didn’t mean it in a bad way, right?”

“Haha…”

Kang Jin-ho laughed awkwardly. It wasn’t just because of that one word. It was because he couldn’t refute anything Choi Yeon-ha was saying.

Of course, Choi Yeon-ha wouldn’t understand.

How much Kang Jin-ho was being chased, and why he had to be like that.

But it was also true that Choi Yeon-ha’s words accurately pointed out Kang Jin-ho’s changes.

He had returned from China.

Without resting even a little, he had immediately jumped into the reform of the General Assembly. And now, he was being forced to rest.

Because he was in a hurry.

Because he was impatient.

Because the anxiety that the Three Kings of the Central Plains [a reference to powerful figures or factions] could invade at any time wouldn’t go away unless he became stronger as soon as possible, unless he reformed the General Assembly and gained power as soon as possible.

‘I was anxious.’

He understood.

The stuffiness that had been pressing on his chest, the fear of the results, the burden of possibly influencing other people’s lives, all of it ultimately stemmed from this anxiety.

Was he afraid that other people’s lives would go wrong?

No, that was hypocrisy.

He was afraid that the choices he made wouldn’t bring out their best. He was anxious that there was a way to become stronger, a way to make more people into perfect fighting forces, but he couldn’t see that path and would miss it.

Time was limited, and choices had to be made. He was anxious that he wouldn’t make the best choices within that limited time.

“Are you listening?”

“Yes.”

Of course, he was listening. He wasn’t missing a single word.

“Kang Jin-ho, I told you, in the end, actors can only act.”

“…Yes.”

“In the end, it all comes back to acting. Even if that damn director is terrible at directing, even if the editing is done with feet, even if the cinematographer has no sense and makes people’s heads look like balloons…”

She took a rough breath.

“Even if you want to tear up the revised script, in the end, what the actor has to do is act. You can say something to try to change it a little. But an actor can’t write the script alone, cast the actors, hold the camera, and take selfies just to make a good film.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So, you act. With the mindset of dragging the whole team along, even if they’re holding you back. When that’s done properly, a proper work comes out. So, put down that camera that doesn’t suit your hand.”

“Let’s act. Let’s do what we’re best at. So what if the other staff mess up a bit? The result is all that matters. If a perfect work comes out, does that mean everything was perfect from the start of filming? Absolutely not. The process would have been a constant repetition of setbacks and failures. But because they push forward with momentum, the result comes out. Do you understand what I mean?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded silently.

She couldn’t see his nod, but it seemed like Choi Yeon-ha had already heard his answer.

“Sometimes, you’re such a fool.”

Choi Yeon-ha giggled.

“You can take off that Superman t-shirt you’re wearing. You’re already Superman to me, even without it.”

“Huh?”

“…Never mind if you didn’t hear it. Anyway!”

Choi Yeon-ha’s cheerful voice could be heard.

“Don’t forget what I said last time. It’s okay to make mistakes. The others will cover for you. They can’t cover for you? It’s okay. If you break down a movie, there are always flaws. But those flaws don’t devalue the work. Don’t try to erase every single one of them as you go. Got it?”

Kang Jin-ho thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“It feels like I learn something every time.”

“If you know, then buy me a meal.”

“But there’s one thing I’m curious about, how do you talk like you’ve been watching me from the side?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“…Yes. I’m asking because I don’t know. Is there something wrong with that?”

A sigh could be heard.

He didn’t know what he had done wrong, but he had a feeling that he had done something wrong.

Should he apologize first?

“Kang Jin-ho.”

“Yes.”

“It’s because I’m interested.”

“Huh?”

“Who would care if a random guy scratched his head? But if you scratch your head in front of me, I think, ‘Is his head itchy? Why is it itchy? Maybe he didn’t wash his hair today? Does he have bad skin? Is it dry today?’”

“I think and think again. I worry and worry again. Things that other people would just pass over, I think about them again and again.”

He didn’t need to ask why. He had that much sense.

Kang Jin-ho smiled without realizing it.

“I think about you too.”

“Once in a while?”

“After finishing all my work, when I have some time to use my phone, and even then, when I have nothing to do and I have to kill time, or when I lie down before bed and can’t fall asleep?”

It was piercing.

Cold sweat formed on Kang Jin-ho’s forehead.

“It’s not quite that bad.”

“Well, it’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“What’s important isn’t how much you think about me. It’s just that the proportion I take up in your thoughts shouldn’t be comparable to other girls. Right?”

“…I can confidently say that’s the case.”

“Then that’s enough.”

Laughter could be heard. Kang Jin-ho smiled without realizing it as he listened to the laughter.

It felt like he had been endlessly scolded on the phone, but he felt good.

It was a strange thing. If Lee Hyun-soo had seen this scene, he would have suspected that Kang Jin-ho had some strange hobby.

“I’m working hard too. I’m putting my soul into my acting. Later, when you see it, I’m working so hard that you’ll clap.”

“Don’t hurt yourself.”

“Hmm, I don’t know if you’re the one to say that. But well, I’ll keep it in mind.”

She tried to react a bit sharply, but the laughter in Choi Yeon-ha’s voice couldn’t be hidden.

“You used to be a simple man, but you’re becoming more complicated every day. It’s not attractive. Let’s live a little easier. Do what you can, and let go of what you can’t. Put in the effort, but rest when you need to. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Yes. That’s all that matters. It’s not like my words will solve your problems, but call me anytime. I can listen and talk with you.”

“Even during filming?”

“Your call is more important to me, isn’t it?”

Kang Jin-ho’s face turned slightly red.

“I appreciate the thought, even if it’s just words.”

“You think I’m joking. I wonder if you’ll come to your senses if I buy a plane ticket and fly over there, you man.”

“…No, I understand perfectly.”

Kang Jin-ho laughed lightly.

“It’s too late. I should go in now.”

“Home, I have so much to say… Well, it seems like you have a lot on your mind too, so I’ll stop here.”

“Go to sleep soon.”

“Who are you to say that? Go to sleep soon.”

“Yes. Then.”

Kang Jin-ho hung up the phone and quietly looked up at the sky.

‘It’s not wrong to worry.’

As a human, he couldn’t help but worry. He wasn’t falling behind. He was just looking for a shortcut to move forward.

But maybe he could let go of some of the burden.

Because there were people who said they were grateful, people who said they believed in him. And… because there were people who said it was okay.

The sky.

The black sky hadn’t changed.

But the sky he was looking up at now seemed deeper than the sky from before.

Just like his world was getting deeper day by day.