Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 905

Returning (3)

The Leader quietly gazed at the brightening sun.

Sunrise.

Watching the sunrise wasn’t particularly special in his life. As a martial artist who didn’t need much sleep compared to ordinary people, seeing the rising sun was quite common.

However, even though it was a sight he had seen countless times, today’s sunrise felt a little different.

‘Is it about now?’

It was almost the scheduled time.

By now, the ship should have reached Korea.

“The Peninsula…”

The Leader felt a slight tremor in his chest.

The Peninsula was a truly strange place for Japan. Although they had surpassed them in many ways a long time ago,

strangely, the Peninsula was a place they couldn’t seem to get their hands on.

The Archipelago.

The Japanese archipelago might be a sufficient place for the Japanese to live. Perhaps living content within Japan’s territory might be a happier path.

However, those who lived in Japan suffered from a subtle thirst, whether big or small.

The limits of the archipelago.

The pressure of having to live with only a limited territory, no matter how much they developed and grew stronger, had tormented Japan’s rulers for a long time. That’s why Japan always sought to take the Peninsula whenever they had the chance.

The Peninsula was like a key that would lead Japan to the vast continent.

However, the result was always the same.

Even if they won the war, even if they succeeded in annexing them, after time passed, Japan had to give up the Peninsula and return to this narrow island again.

Again and again, and again.

At one time, the Leader also thought that such a series of attempts was utterly foolish.

The current era is not an era of acquiring territory. If one has enough power, one can dominate other countries economically and politically without having to aim for their territory.

So why bother risking sacrifices to target other countries?

It was an era where wars were fought with money and diplomacy, not with swords and guns. He had certainly thought so.

‘I don’t think differently now, but…’

It’s a little different.

After gaining the vast world of Kansai [a region in Japan], what the Leader felt was not a sense of fulfillment but a slight frustration.

At that moment, the Leader realized.

The difference between a place where there is more to expand to and a place where there isn’t.

On the continent, numerous countries were struggling to survive, drawing borders on each other’s territories. From the perspective of Japan, which was relatively safe from foreign invasion, their lives were extremely harsh.

But…

They had potential.

The Leader knew.

That the current borders were not permanent. They might be devoured by another country, or they might swallow another country and grow even larger.

What was certain was that they had the potential to expand their borders and grow into a great power.

But what about Japan?

If they were content with the island, could Japan really expand further?

Be satisfied with the land and power they have now?

‘What a joke.’

Now he knew.

Only after there was nowhere else to expand did the Leader realize that expansion, pioneering, and invasion were human nature.

Why did Rome try to acquire so much land? Even though what they had was already the center of the world, why did they start continuous wars and greedily invade other countries?

Why doesn’t the United States stop its wars?

Even though they hold the title of the world’s greatest power and practical benefits at the same time. Even though they could enjoy peace with that power without having to intervene in distant places, why don’t they stop reaching out to the whole world?

Because they cannot be satisfied.

Managing a country is ultimately done by humans.

Even if it’s a group, not an individual, it’s the same. The fact that the root of all decisions comes from humans does not change.

And humans are the most greedy creatures on Earth.

They don’t know satisfaction, they don’t know complacency.

They always try to have more than what they have.

And the Leader was just a mere human.

“Ugh…”

A low groan escaped.

In the end, his ancestors must have thought the same thing. When there was more to gain within Japan, they didn’t bother to turn their eyes to the Peninsula. But if they couldn’t be satisfied within Japan, then they had no choice but to look at the Peninsula.

Not because they were Japanese, but because they were human.

The Leader quietly closed his eyes.

He was trying hard to maintain his composure, but it wasn’t easy to find peace.

He thought there was nothing hot left in his heart, but perhaps he just hadn’t found anything worth getting heated up about.

‘I regret it a little.’

If he had known he would feel like this, he would have gone himself.

Perhaps he might never experience such excitement again in his lifetime.

He had always thought that he would have to punish that arrogant China someday, but realistically, he knew it was impossible.

Considering his age, this might have been the last chance for battle given to him.

A slight regret came over him at the thought that he might have missed that opportunity.

‘Composure.’

The Leader quietly picked up the hemp cloth placed beside him. Then, he began to polish his beloved sword, which he had placed on his lap.

It was a Japanese sword that was already so polished that it didn’t need any particular care, but his actions now were closer to polishing his mind than polishing the sword.

Swoosh, swoosh.

Only the sound of the hemp cloth brushing against the blade flowed quietly. The sound of birds chirping somewhere, the sound of insects crying, the sound of a millstone turning in the small pond in the garden…

The sounds symbolizing peace began to blend together.

How much time had passed?

The Leader stopped polishing the sword.

The Leader, who had quietly placed the sword back into its scabbard, put it on the shelf.

“Come in.”

Then, he spoke calmly.

Soon, the door opened carefully, and a person in a classic traditional outfit entered on their knees.

“I greet the Leader.”

“Has there been any contact?”

The Leader usually valued etiquette. Nevertheless, the fact that he ignored all formalities and went straight to the point was proof that his heart had not found complete peace despite this long ritual.

“Yes. However…”

The Leader’s brow furrowed slightly.

The fact that the answer didn’t come immediately meant that something bad had happened.

The Leader took a deep breath.

‘That’s how the world works.’

Man proposes, God disposes…

No matter how perfectly prepared a person is, not everything will go as planned. In the end, all human affairs must be accompanied by luck and fate.

Losses are inevitable.

“It seems they noticed us.”

“I am sorry, but yes.”

“They must have suffered losses. It can’t be helped. So, how much damage did they say? Even if they noticed, it shouldn’t have been difficult to land. They must have landed to contact us.”

Hesitation.

An unpleasant hesitation was felt.

The Leader’s eyes twitched slightly as he felt that subtle emotion.

“Baiken.”

“Yes, Leader.”

“Answer me. What happened to the expedition?”

The one called Baiken closed his eyes tightly. No matter how difficult it was to report, it was something he couldn’t avoid. Baiken took a deep breath and opened his mouth with difficulty.

“The exact situation is still being investigated. However…”

“However?”

A heavy voice flowed from Baiken’s mouth.

“A little while ago, we received a message from someone claiming to be the head of the Korean General Assembly.”

Twitch.

The Leader’s eyebrows twitched greatly.

“The General Assembly contacted us?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“What did they say?”

“That is…”

Baiken bit his lip and said,

“It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but according to the person claiming to be the head of the General Assembly, the expedition is currently adrift in the middle of the Sea of Japan…”

“A…drift?”

“Yes. The ship has sunk, and they are adrift in the sea with life jackets. If we don’t send a rescue team right away, they will all become fish food…”

The Leader didn’t say anything.

However, Baiken could tell how much rage the Leader was feeling right now. Even just by looking at his slightly trembling fingertips, it was all too obvious.

“You said it hasn’t been confirmed?”

“…That is correct.”

“Then…”

The Leader’s voice grew colder.

“Are you reporting unconfirmed information to me based solely on the enemy’s words?”

Baiken bowed his head deeply.

“Please forgive my incompetence. However, I was not completely without thought.”

“Speak.”

“First of all, the report did not arrive on time. And the expedition has not contacted us by this time. By now, they should have reached the coast of the Peninsula. It is clear evidence that something has gone wrong.”

“And?”

“And it bothers me that the enemy clearly recognized the existence of the expedition and knows the route. These are pieces of information that cannot be confirmed simply by obtaining intelligence.”

“And?”

Baiken swallowed hard.

“The area they mentioned is the territorial waters of Joseon [historical name for Korea]. We have no way to confirm it. We are currently seeking cooperation from the authorities to obtain satellite images, but…”

“Slow.”

“Yes! When judging everything comprehensively, the conclusion is that the expedition encountered the enemy at sea and was defeated. To be precise, annihilated…”

Crack.

The Leader’s hand dug into the tatami floor. The Leader’s face, with his lips tightly clenched, was filled with unparalleled rage.

“Th…this…”

The Leader couldn’t speak due to his rage. Defeated?

Without even setting foot on Joseon soil?

“Did they fire a torpedo or something?”

“It could not be confirmed.”

“Then what can be confirmed!”

“L, Leader, please allow us to send a ship for confirmation and rescue. We need to secure the survivors there to investigate what happened.”

“Didn’t you say it was Korean territorial waters!”

“There will be no problem as they have allowed the rescue.”

“This!”

Kwaaaang!

Finally, the Leader’s fist slammed into the floor. His face was already flushed beyond red.

“Immediately! Send a ship immediately! Bring those stupid bastards who are not even dead back here right now! Hurry!”

“Yes!”

Baiken quickly bowed his head and ran out, and the Leader stood up abruptly.

“Those stupid bastards!”

Chaaang!

The sword was drawn from the scabbard in his hand.

The blue aura emanating from the sword carelessly split the well-maintained garden.

“To be defeated without even setting foot on the land! Without even setting foot!”

His anger soared to the top of his head.

“Nakata Yuji, what the hell did that guy do! Even Kazeichi…”

The Leader bit his lip. His lower lip split, and bright red blood flowed down his chin.

‘Kazeichi was defeated?’

Nakata Yuji could be defeated.

But Kazeichi being defeated was beyond his expectations.

The name of one person came to the Leader’s mind.

‘Kang Jin-ho.’

That guy must have done something.

“…I won’t let him live.”

He will kill him.

No matter what it takes!

The Leader’s cold rage froze the garden.