Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 865

Lee Hyun-soo stared at Kang Jin-ho, dumbfounded.

‘If you talk like that, of course they’d be angry.’

‘…Why?’

‘That’s just how business is.’

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled.

At least in South Korea, the phrase ‘starting a business’ is often seen as synonymous with ‘ruining the family.’

After the IMF crisis [1997-98 financial crisis in Asia], when mass layoffs occurred, people who were forced to start businesses suffered even more. People who weren’t prepared started businesses, and, to make matters worse, competitors flooded the market at the same time.

The result was mutual destruction.

It was never easy for those without business experience to enter the market and establish themselves.

As a result, a flood of startups failed.

And those who didn’t just fail quietly, but instead took out loans and even borrowed money from relatives to try and save their businesses, ended up with nothing but debt.

After the venture startup boom swept through once more, the perception of business in South Korea had fallen to the level of a gamble where you could lose everything.

Even at this very moment, countless people who quit their jobs and plan to start businesses eventually give up their dreams, unable to withstand their wives’ nagging and complaints.

Of course, perceptions have improved a lot compared to the past, but…

‘Not for the Lord.’

Kang Jin-ho is different from others.

Because Kang Jin-ho is someone who doesn’t need to start a business.

In his parents’ eyes, Kang Jin-ho is someone who doesn’t have to worry about making a living for the rest of his life. His parents already know that a huge amount of money is in his bank account.

Although he stopped showing them his bank account after a certain point because the amount became too large, the amount he had accumulated up to that point was enough for an ordinary person to live comfortably for the rest of their life… no, for several hundred years.

And such a person is going to start a business?

‘They’d be anxious.’

They can’t help but be anxious.

Business is about losing money. It requires capital and investment. And there’s a chance that the capital and investment won’t be recovered.

If someone who can live comfortably for the rest of their life without doing anything is suddenly going to take risks, what family would just sit back and watch?

It’s not like they’re in a situation where they have to start a business because they’re struggling to make ends meet. They can live comfortably even if they just sit around, so why would they take such a risk?

‘They wouldn’t just sit back and watch.’

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled.

Besides, Kang Jin-ho isn’t someone who does things on a small scale.

He usually pursues minimalism, but when he feels like he needs to do something properly, he doesn’t hold back on investment.

No, to be precise, he’s someone who pours money in… like crazy. The accounting department has already groaned several times because of Kang Jin-ho.

Even Lee Hyun-soo, who hasn’t known Kang Jin-ho for long, is aware of this, so there’s no way his family wouldn’t know. They probably already suspect that he’ll pour all the money in his bank account into the business if he starts one.

So what should they do?

They have to stop him.

Of course, his family probably recognizes Kang Jin-ho’s abilities. Lee Hyun-soo doesn’t know as much as the Murim Alliance members [a fictional martial arts organization], but even from what’s visible, Kang Jin-ho is a very capable person.

But the success or failure of a business isn’t determined solely by ability. A business succeeds when the timing is right.

‘From the family’s perspective, it’s natural for them to oppose it.’

‘Why?’

‘Because they don’t trust you.’

‘Me?’

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head as if he didn’t understand. From his perspective, it might be natural.

He has done a few things recently that might have caused them to lose trust, but that was because Kang Jin-ho didn’t handle things well. He has never given anyone reason to distrust his abilities.

‘That’s what family is like.’

‘Hmm?’

‘That’s just how family is. Family members trust each other more than anyone else, but they also distrust each other more than anyone else.’

‘Isn’t that a contradiction?’

‘They trust each other emotionally, but they don’t trust each other’s abilities. That’s what family is like.’

‘I don’t really understand.’

‘Why don’t you understand? You’re the same way.’

‘…Huh?’

‘I’m talking about Se-ah.’

‘Eun-young?’

‘Yes.’

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled.

‘Se-ah is an adult. And she’s a successful celebrity. If someone like her came from a different family, she would have already taken the lead and be running the household. Her parents would be running around supporting her.’

Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth. What he said was true.

In fact, Kang Jin-ho knows it too. Kang Eun-young’s ability to manage her life easily surpasses that of an average office worker. Her income alone is probably ten times that of an average office worker.

Usually, for trainees who debut, the agency delays the settlement period as much as possible under various pretexts, such as recovering the investment, but Kang Eun-young, who was scouted through Jae-kyung, doesn’t have that problem.

She gets paid her share as soon as she earns it. Even without Kang Jin-ho, Kang Eun-young’s income alone would be enough for her family to live comfortably.

And how is Kang Eun-young treated at home?

‘I think we treat her pretty well.’

‘From what I’ve heard, it seems like she’s treated like a jobless swan who just lazes around at home all day?’

‘Isn’t that what being a celebrity is like? When the tide comes in, you row like crazy, and when the tide goes out, you recharge. Isn’t that right?’

‘Hmm.’

‘But it doesn’t seem right to treat someone who’s recharging like that.’

That’s right.

‘That’s true.’

‘Actually, it’s not about whether Se-ah earns a lot of money or not. If someone is an adult, you should acknowledge their autonomy to some extent, whether they’re your child or your sibling. The problem is that the way you treat your sister hasn’t changed at all since she was a middle schooler, Mr. Kang Jin-ho.’

Kang Jin-ho nodded repeatedly at the continuous stream of correct statements.

‘That’s what happens with family. If Se-ah wasn’t your sister, you would have acknowledged and treated her much better. Right?’

‘…I guess I would have.’

‘That’s what family is like. They trust each other more than anyone else, but they also distrust each other more than anyone else. The way you look at Se-ah is similar to how your family looks at you. It’s not a bad thing. That worry and distrust ultimately stem from affection.’

‘Affection?’

‘Yes. That’s right. Be careful of cars. The probability of someone dying in a traffic accident between leaving home and returning is very low. You wouldn’t say that to a stranger. But to your family, even that small probability seems dangerous. Because you care about them.’

‘It’s subtle.’

Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly.

‘This is still difficult.’

When he hears it, he understands, and when he thinks about it, it makes sense. But accepting and internalizing such concepts on a daily basis was still difficult.

‘It’s not just because I lived in the Murim world.’

Perhaps Kang Jin-ho is fundamentally a bit lacking. He lacked empathy for others. It was perhaps natural that he failed in his first life and was not accepted even in his second life.

The price he paid was too high, but it was because of all that he went through that he can now live with others, laughing.

‘Then what should I do?’

And he was able to ask for help.

Even in his second life, Kang Jin-ho couldn’t ask anyone for help. Even as he was starving to death in the dirty back alleys, he couldn’t bring himself to grab someone’s pant leg.

But it’s not like that anymore.

Humans are not perfect. No human can be perfect on their own.

But they can become perfect.

If you lack something, you can find someone else who has it. And you can reach out and ask for help. In return, you can give what you have.

Only now…

After living for nearly a hundred years, Kang Jin-ho was able to reach this ordinary yet perfect truth.

‘First, you need to reassure your family.’

‘How?’

How can he reassure his family when they don’t trust him?

‘When my authority doesn’t reach, I can borrow the authority of others.’

‘Huh?’

It was difficult for Kang Jin-ho to understand.

‘Say it’s a company created by Chairman Hwang.’

‘…Ah!’

Kang Jin-ho nodded without realizing it.

That would definitely work.

The trust that Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo has is not something that Kang Jin-ho can even dare to approach.

In the Murim world, and in terms of the actual influence he has on the world, Kang Jin-ho can be said to have already surpassed Hwang Jung-hoo, but in the visible world, he can’t even reach Hwang Jung-hoo’s feet.

‘Say that Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo is creating a separate startup, and you’re going there as CEO.’

‘Would that be okay?’

‘It’s not difficult. Then the explanation for the rapid growth will also be resolved.’

Lee Hyun-soo grinned.

‘You’re not going to reveal the financial aspects of the Murim Alliance or the amount you’re taking from the Murim Alliance to your family, are you?’

‘I don’t think there’s any need to hide it?’

He didn’t want to hide it if possible.

The reason he doesn’t reveal that he’s involved in the Murim world is because it wouldn’t be good for his family. Ordinary people shouldn’t get caught up in this world.

Because misfortune will come in some way.

But if that’s not the case, he didn’t want to hide himself. It’s not good for secrets to grow between family members.

‘I wouldn’t stop you if you really want to reveal it, but I wouldn’t recommend it.’

‘Why?’

‘If ordinary people are given too much money, their lives will eventually fall apart.’

Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-soo with slightly lowered eyes.

‘They’re not like that.’

Lee Hyun-soo took a step back.

‘I was short-sighted. Now that I think about it, they’re people whose lives haven’t been shaken even though Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo gave them a huge amount of money.’

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

It wasn’t because they were his parents. His parents really weren’t the type of people to be swayed by such things.

‘I’ll try to set up the situation.’

‘Hmm.’

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to just bring Chairman Hwang?’

‘…Where to?’

‘Home.’

Lee Hyun-soo stared blankly at Kang Jin-ho.

‘Home? Hwang Jung-hoo?’

‘I think it would be faster for Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo to explain it himself rather than me, right?’

‘Y-yes, that’s right.’

‘Then let’s do that.’

Of course, that’s right. Of course, that’s…

‘It’s not like Hwang Jung-hoo is some dog’s name.’

Is he saying that he’s going to summon the head of one of the top five conglomerates in South Korea just to tell such a lie?

‘I really don’t know what this guy is thinking sometimes.’

He was shocked when he called in a university professor to teach him, but he uses Hwang Jung-hoo without any hesitation.

Something in his head was definitely wrong.

‘But can Hwang Jung-hoo lie well?’

‘…Don’t worry.’

‘Huh?’

‘It’s probably his specialty.’

Kang Jin-ho didn’t know that entrepreneurs have a skill stat for fluent lying.