Descent of the Demon Master

Han Jin-Seong enthusiastically cried out, “Hyung! Hyung! Take a look at this one!”

“Mm,” Kang Jin-Ho coolly nodded.

“All the fishes in here are so funny! Why do they all look like that? So ugly and all!”

‘All these fish might be thinking the same thing while looking at you, Jin-Seong.’

Kang Jin-Ho was now much wiser to the ways of the world. For example, he understood that not immediately blurting out what was in his mind was one of the key ingredients in leading a successful life.

Han Jin-Seong continued to pester Kang Jin-Ho. “Hyung, look! This guy is so freaking ugly!”

“...Kuh-hum.”

Thankfully, Jo Mi-Hye came to Kang Jin-Ho’s rescue.

“Jin-Seong oppa. Oppa?”

“Have you seen a mirror lately?”

Han Jin-Seong’s cheeks twitched ominously. “What are you trying to say here?! I’m perfectly passable, I’ll have you know!”

“I heard that every guy in the world thinks that way, but I never knew it was actually true!”

“I…! I’m not ugly, okay!”

Jo Mi-Hye wordlessly pointed at Kang Jin-Ho's face. Han Jin-Seong's trembling eyes followed her pointing finger to look at Kang Jin-Ho, and then his entire body began shuddering uncontrollably.

“Having a face like that is cheating! It’s unfair!”

Jo Mi-Hye tutted loudly. “Jin-Seong oppa?”

“What?!”

“You’ve been walking around with Jin-Ho oppa all this time, haven’t you?”

“...Y-yeah. So what?”

“Didn’t you notice all the people glancing in your way?”

“…?”

“They were all making the expressions of, ‘Why is this aquarium letting one of their squids waltz around outside the water tanks?’ Well, at least that's what it looked like to me.”

Han Jin-Seong gradually melted on the spot until he became a squishy mollusc.

‘No wonder… That's why people were staring at us like that?’

Han Jin-Seong figured those people were curiously staring at Kang Jin-Ho. A man with his looks was not easy to find, after all! And when he noticed people staring at him as well, he thought he was imagining things.

“Hyung! Get away from me!” Han Jin-Seong tearfully cried out.

Jo Mi-Hye tutted again. “You were the one sticking like glue to Jin-Ho oppa, so why are you getting angry at him?”

“It’s unfair, that’s why!”

“What’s unfair? Your face?”

“Kaaaaaahk!” Han Jin-Seong finally erupted in unstoppable fury and yelled at Jo Mi-Hye. “Isn't a face still a part of a human body?! Don't you think it's too unfair to treat me like a squid when this dude is dressed like that?! This world is too damn unfair! Unfair!”

Before anyone could counter him, Han Jin-Seong shoved his face real close to Kang Jin-Ho and distorted his expression like a thug.

“If you're gonna waste your face this way, let me have it, hyung! You… You who catch a black bream just to add it to your ramen!”[1]

Jo Mi-Hye hurriedly stepped in and began pounding on the back of Han Jin-Seong, who had clearly lost his mind.

‘Mm, well, this is…’

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't help but chuckle at this development. Although Jo Mi-Hye was slapping the boy's back, that gesture was more like her trying to pat Han Jin-Seong, not hurt him.

‘Everyone seems to be having a good time, though.’

More than a handful of kids were initially dissatisfied with the idea of visiting an aquarium. Their primary reason was that they weren't babies anymore. Now that they were here, though… Everyone seemed suitably impressed and entertained.

Especially Han Jin-Seong and Jo Mi-Hye… It was as if they were on a date!

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled and patted Han Jin-Seong on the shoulder. “Hey, Jin-Seong?”

“N-ng? Yes, hyung?” Han Jin-Seong blinked his eyes after rapidly regaining his senses.

“How are others doing? Any problems?”

“I’ll check. Please hold on, sir!” Han Jin-Seong stood at attention and saluted, then pulled out his phone to start messaging other groups.

Kang Jin-Ho could see replies instantly fill up the phone screen.

“Sir! No problems to report so far!”

“Really?”

This reporting system seemed rather well thought out. So much so that Kang Jin-Ho was tempted to adopt something similar for the Martial Assembly.

‘I’m not kidding, either.’

People who got a bit older and too familiar with the culture of an organization they worked for usually found it challenging to accept new things. Of course, there were various reasons for an organization's culture to have developed in a certain way.

The cold, hard truth was, though... People found it too challenging to accept changes because they had become too comfortable with the things of the past.

‘If I get a chance in the future… I should take one or two kids from the orphanage to the Assembly.’

Kang Jin-Ho was curious about what these kids would think of the Assembly's current systems. Someone like Han Jin-Seong, who seemed to have nothing to say other than complaints every time he opened his mouth, would probably point out all of the Assembly's problems.

“They have all arrived at their destinations without issues, hyung.”

“Mm. Good.” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.

‘I’m sure the caregivers are doing a far better job than me…’

When he thought about it, even Kang Jin-Ho had to admit that him chaperoning every Seongsim kid on a day out was completely unrealistic. Impossible, even. The 'old' Kang Jin-Ho could have possibly done it, but not this version. The odds of the current him losing his sanity while looking after three-year-olds were uncomfortably high.

‘I’m sure the story’s not much different with other people, though.’

No one would be pleased with the idea of leaving their home and looking after a large group of children on what was supposed to be their off day. It was human instinct to lounge around during one's vacation, after all!

These kids were as rowdy as little devils in the orphanage. So, imagine what they would be like outside! Their 'status' would instantly be upgraded to Big Devils!

Even then, caregiver aunties didn't complain once and kindly accompanied the children on their day out today. Kang Jin-Ho grew appreciative of their efforts once more.

“Hey, Jin-Seong?”

“Ng? What’s up, hyung?”

“What should I give to caregiver aunties as a token of my appreciation?”

“Money.”

Kang Jin-Ho and Jo Mi-Hye stared agog at Han Jin-Seong. Kang Jin-Ho looked a bit dazed, while Jo Mi-Hye’s stare contained a healthy dose of contempt.

“Wha?! I haven't said anything wrong, though!” Han Jin-Seong pulled off a magnificent superhero pose, but his belly poked out a little at the same time, too. “Who in their right mind doesn't like money?! Even that dude, Karl Marx, apparently was obsessed with money, you know! If you like people, that's great. You like money? That's also great!”

Han Jin-Seong stared haughtily at his two audience members and tutted loudly.

“I don't get why people in this country believe great humanitarians don't care about money. That's all rubbish, though! Those people are just putting on a facade to look good to the public, you know! A facade, I tell you!”

“…”

“So, the best gift in the world is cold hard cash, hyung. And I'm not talking about something intangible like money deposited directly to your bank account, but a bundle of actual, physical cash! That's the best.”

Kang Jin-Ho weightily nodded as Han Jin-Seong raised his thumb way up while grinning like a champ.

“I see. I think I get it,” Kang Jin-Ho quietly muttered.

“Hyung! What about me! How about some pocket money…!”

Slaaaaap!

Han Jin-Seong's unguarded back was slapped mercilessly by Jo Mi-Hye again, and he writhed in pain while leaning against the aquarium's transparent wall. And that earned him an earful from the aquarium's safety officer.

That boy needed to learn to rein himself in at the appropriate moment, as he always had to say one more unnecessary thing and invite disaster upon himself.

Jo Mi-Hye pulled at Han Jin-Seong’s arm. “Let’s hurry! We might miss it!”

Han Jin-Seong tearfully glared at her. “After you destroyed my back?!”

“I think another slap will fix you right up. What do you say?” Jo Mi-Hye asked coldly.

“I’m on my way, ma’am.”

Jo Mi-Hye and Han Jin-Seong walked away, but Kang Jin-Ho stayed behind, somewhat hesitant to leave.

The two kids stopped walking and looked back.

“Mm? Hyung?”

“Oppa? What’s the matter?”

Kang Jin-Ho noticed their gazes and briefly shook his head. “No, it’s… nothing.”

He started walking again and joined the two kids, but his subtle frown still remained.

‘What is going on?’

What was the source of this anxiety? To be more precise, rather than anxious, it felt more like something was getting on his nerves.

‘It’s not like uninvited guests are here, so…’

Just in case a group of people were here to target him or the children, Kang Jin-Ho had spread a layer of qi around and scanned his surroundings. However, he didn’t discover anyone suspicious. So, he spread his qi even wider to scan the entirety of the aquarium, but the result remained the same.

Targeting Kang Jin-Ho from a distance even further away was implausible. That meant he could safely assume that no one was planning to assault him at this particular time.

‘In that case, what could it be?’

Kang Jin-Ho's senses were supernaturally sharp. For instance, he could pick up the sound of a needle falling over ten meters away. Not only that, but the recent series of events, including his lucky escape from the heart demon, helped his perception to advance by leaps and bounds.

It was no longer possible for someone to fool Kang Jin-Ho's senses and sneak closer to him. Not even the Crimson King could do that now. Even then, Kang Jin-Ho's anxiety didn't want to leave him alone.

He continued to scan the area for the second and third time, but the result still remained the same.

“Oppa? Did something happen?”

“No, it’s nothing,” Kang Jin-Ho dismissively waved his hand and followed after Jo Mi-Hye.

‘For now… Let’s keep observing the situation.’

Since he hadn't identified the source of his uneasiness, Kang Jin-Ho chose not to make a mountain out of a potential molehill. His anxiety could be a side effect of escaping from the heart demon's clutches. Or, it could be the result of his senses getting sharper than before.

“Woah, look at this!”

Han Jin-Seong and Jo Mi-Hye looked up wondrously. A tunnel was waiting for them, seemingly in the middle of all the water. And when they stepped into this corridor constructed out of acrylic, all kinds of fish filled their view from top to bottom.

Watching these alien fish species boasting all sorts of colors lazily swimming around was enough for the kids to momentarily forget everything and stare in wonder.

“Wow!”

Even Kang Jin-Ho was rendered speechless and dazedly took in this sight. It felt like he was walking inside the ocean.

Han Jin-Seong gasped. “Holy cow. This is awesome.”

Jo Mi-Hye smiled at him. “It’s so pretty in here, right?”

“Oh? Will you look at that fish? It looks kinda like you, Mi-Hye.”

“Do you wanna swim with the fishes, then?”

Han Jin-Seong dodged Jo Mi-Hye's slap on his back and ran away… Only to get apprehended by another safety officer and receive a grand lecture for his troubles.

Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly. “...What’s the matter with him?”

“I don’t know, oppa. I think it’s not just his face, but even his brain is on the level of a squid.”

Kang Jin-Ho shook his head. Han Jin-Seong used to be an outgoing, bright little kid. But he grew up into a slightly more mature kid in his teens. And, after reaching the ripe old age of high school senior, he seemed to have become someone dependable who could keep himself in check, but…

‘I guess I was mistaken.’

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled slightly. A person's true colors never changed. Without the pressure of being a high school senior weighing down on him anymore, it seemed Han Jin-Seong had subconsciously decided to let his hair down and go berserk today.

After he was let go by the safety official, Han Jin-Seong returned to Kang Jin-Ho’s and Jo Mi-Hye’s side while pouting like a little kid.

“Can you imagine! Telling a man not to run! Isn't that the same thing as telling a bird not to fly?”

Jo Mi-Hye coldly glared at Jo Mi-Hye. “Oppa?”

“Yeah?”

“One more embarrassing gaff from you…! I swear I'll break your legs myself!”

“I’m sorry,” Han Jin-Seong’s pout grew even more as he took the lead.

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't help but chuckle again at this sight.

‘Yes, I’m having fun, too.’

All the fish and the aquarium’s design that mimicked the inside of an ocean could only rouse the feeling of, ‘Oh, that’s not bad,’ from Kang Jin-Ho. He wasn’t the type to get too excited by this kind of external stimulus, after all.

What made him happier, though… were the Seongsim kids genuinely having fun while roaming around the aquarium. Not everyone was as expressive of their excitement as Han Jin-Seong, but it was still obvious to Kang Jin-Ho that they were happy to be here.

‘I made the right call to bring them out.’

There wasn't a whole lot Kang Jin-Ho could do for these kids. He also knew that it was far, far better to steadily shower them with care and affection instead of showing off his wealth like this once every while.

Despite knowing all that, though, Kang Jin-Ho still wanted to do what he could to make these kids happy. With how things turned out, even he was getting rather excited about this field trip.

“Welcome, everyone, to the central water tank of Sea Paradise Aquarium, our pride and joy!”

While listening to the announcement of the aquarium's guide, Kang Jin-Ho walked past the adjoining corridor to enter a slightly larger hall. And he was immediately greeted by the sight of a massive aquarium completely filling up one of the walls.

Han Jin-Seong cried out. “Holy cow!”

“That’s really huge!” Even Jo Mi-Hye gasped out in surprise.

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.

‘Yeah, it’s large, alright.’

What he could see wasn't all there was to the aquarium. Beyond the acrylic wall was a spectacle that seemed directly transposed from an underwater kingdom somewhere.

Countless fish species and other marine creatures were lazily swimming around in the water. As soon as he saw this scene, Kang Jin-Ho tightly clenched his fists. “Sharks, where?”

“Well, hyung, there it is. That's the shark.”

“That’s really a shark?” Kang Jin-Ho instantly became deflated. Although that marine creature looked like a shark, something about it seemed a little different from what Kang Jin-Ho had been expecting to see.

“I told you, hyung. They don’t have great white sharks here!”

“Mm…!” Kang Jin-Ho ruefully turned his head away, only for his eyes to grow much larger. “Huh? Isn't that…?”

A massive shark, which seemed fairly similar to what he saw on TV, rapidly swam past him. Kang Jin-Ho flinched and reflexively stood in front of the kids.

“Wow, that’s a tiger shark.”

Kang Jin-Ho hurriedly looked at Han Jin-seong. “Tiger? A shark is named after a tiger?”

“Yeah, it’s something like that.”

“Ohh!” Kang Jin-Ho’s eyes sparkled brightly just then.

Han Jin-Seong hurriedly covered his mouth to stifle his laughter.

‘This dude…! I just can’t figure him out, like none at all!’

Kang Jin-Ho’s reaction after witnessing the shark was as innocent as an elementary school student. Other kids were obviously intrigued by what they saw, but not as much as Kang Jin-Ho.

This was one of his lovable quirks, though. Kang Jin-Ho could sometimes display a completely unexpected side to him like this.

“Hyung! I think we can find killer whales by going around that corner.”

“Mm!” Kang Jin-Ho hurriedly nodded. His reaction was slightly different from a few seconds ago. It seemed the appearance of a tiger shark had excited him.

Jo Mi-Hye narrowed her eyes and peered deeper into the tank. “I think there's a person inside the tank?”

Han Jin-Seong also looked closer. “Heol? You’re right. Is it okay for that person to swim in there? When there are sharks and all?”

“I’m sure that person is in there because it’s okay to. Oppa, not everyone is as thoughtless as you.”

“You’re still sucker-punching me in this situation?”

Just as Han Jin-Seong and Jo Mi-Hye began exchanging their unique banter…

CRACK!

Kang Jin-Ho’s head snapped toward the direction of where that strange noise came from.

1. I've no idea what this is supposed to reference. TLed as is. ☜