Descent of the Demon Master

Goosebumps covered Nakata Yuji's entire body after he witnessed Kang Jin-Ho's smirk shrouded in darkness.

‘This… This is Kang Jin-Ho?’

Nakata Yuji never looked down on Kang Jin-Ho. Anyone with even a modicum of knowledge of Kang Jin-Ho would never do that. Especially when looking at all the things he managed to achieve in such a short time. He definitely was worthy of respect and awe, even from the Japanese.

Besides, Nakata Yuji believed he had acknowledged Kang Jin-Ho far more than anyone else on his side. That was because he knew.

Kang Jin-Ho had achieved something big, therefore he shouldn't be underestimated… People who thought this way had no idea. They didn't know what exactly Kang Jin-Ho had managed to pull off. They simply could not appreciate the enormous implications behind what he had done!

Nakata Yuji wasn’t one of them. He knew. After all, he was the leader of a gumi back home.

From the day Nakata Yuji became the leader of the Yamakawa-kai to now, just how much of himself did he sacrifice to grow his organization? All of his actions, his schemes, and efforts… It'd not be an exaggeration to say all those things were for growing and improving Yamakawa-kai.

Even then, Yamakawa-kai still lacked in too many areas to be called one of the largest organizations in Japan. Even though Nakata Yuji had dedicated nearly two decades of his life to this cause!

This was also the reason why Nakata Yuji acknowledged the Iemoto. Even if the Iemoto’s luck was good, even if he had inherited so much… Growing a clan to the point of becoming Kansai’s strongest was not something one could solely attribute to Lady Luck’s favor.

To the eyes of casual bystanders, such a thing might not seem all that impressive. However, to someone like Nakata Yuji who had tried to do the same thing? They knew. They knew how significant this achievement was.

The Iemoto spent his whole life building the Shinichi-kai into Kansai's strongest clan. That made him a great leader, a man worthy of acknowledgment and respect. In that case, what about Kang Jin-Ho?

If the Iemoto was worthy of respect for turning his organization into the best in the region through several decades of hard work... How should Kang Jin-Ho be evaluated for needing only a few years to take over the Martial Assembly and uniting South Korea under his banner?

‘Kang… Jin-Ho!’

Nakata Yuji might have a personal score to settle with Kang Jin-Ho, but this grudge was not the basis for his decision to invade South Korea and kill the latter.

Kang Jin-Ho genuinely presented a clear threat to Japan. The obvious thing to do in that case would be to eliminate the threat. This expeditionary force's goal was nominally to invade and conquer South Korea's martial society, but the truth was… It was trying to kill Kang Jin-Ho. However…!

‘Why is the game balance so broken?’

Indeed, the game had only just begun, but the players had to deal with the final boss for the first encounter? Not only that but the boss that showed up all alone?

Nakata Yuji would usually remain composed regardless of the situation, but not this time. The inside of his brain blanked out, and he…

“Uwaaaaaaah?!”

“...Mm?” Nakata Yuji hurriedly looked up when he heard a loud scream coming from above. A man with a physique so humongous that Nakata Yuji momentarily doubted his own eyesight was falling from the heavens.

However, rather than landing on the ship's deck… The giant fell straight into the ocean!

Splaaaash!

After a loud explosion noise resounded out, a large water sprout gushed up from the ocean and splashed all over the ship's deck. Everyone stared at that scene in stupefaction.

“…?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

That was when Nakata Yuji heard the distinctive sound of a person clicking their tongue. His head snapped toward where that noise came from.

‘…?! Since when?’

Someone else had also appeared on the ship's deck without anyone noticing him. This man, an old Caucasian gentleman with a head full of white hair, stood on Kang Jin-Ho's left side while slowly shaking his head.

He leisurely muttered, “It seems Sir Vator still has some ways to go before mastering delicate and subtle movements.”

“Hmm,” Kang Jin-Ho chuckled back at that observation.

Nakata Yuji immediately sobered up after witnessing this exchange. Meanwhile, other Japanese warriors inside the cabins began flooding on to the ship's deck, perhaps due to the loud commotion on the outside.

‘I need to get a grip!’

Nakata Yuji tightly clenched his fists. He slipped up because of how flabbergast-inducing this situation was. That was all!

This cruise ship was practically a den of tigers. And two little rats had brazenly waltzed inside here. Even if the rats had gotten a little stronger, their fate still wouldn't change for the better!

‘What a lunatic!’

What did Kang Jin-Ho think this place was for him to show up like this? No matter how hard Nakata Yuji thought about it, he couldn't comprehend this decision.

They were on a ship. Not just any ship, but one filled to the brim with Japan’s elite warriors meant to conquer South Korea!

In other words, Japan believed these warriors were more than strong enough to utterly destroy the South Korean martial artists. So, for Kang Jin-Ho to waltz into a ship full of such elites?

The king of the enemy forces did what now?

“Although I'd like to praise you for your courage, Kang Jin-Ho…” Nakata Yuji coldly muttered, having regained his composure. “...Too much courage is no better than reckless bravado. And such bravado always results in the demise of the overconfident. It seems you've done something you should not have… Kang Jin-Ho!”

The smirk etched on Kang Jin-Ho's lips deepened as he listened.

Nakata Yuji reflexively stepped back after peering into that strange smirk.

It wasn't as if Kang Jin-Ho had threatened the Japanese. He hadn't even done anything in particular either, other than curl the corners of his lips into a creepy smirk. So why… Why did Nakata Yuji feel this dreadful chill run down his spine just then?

While smirking like a creepy devil, Kang Jin-Ho leisurely asked Wiggins. “What is he saying?”

“...I'm not sure, my lord,” Wiggins casually shrugged. “I'm not fluent in Japanese, unfortunately.”

“...Really?” Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Wiggins before sighing softly. He realized he had made a small mistake just now.

‘Damn. I forgot to bring an interpreter along.’

Kang Jin-Ho failed to consider that point as his mind was focused on eliminating the overflowing enemy on this ship. Wiping out everyone onboard would certainly make everyone's life easier… But humans tended to get curious if others tried to talk to them in foreign languages, now didn't they?

Kang Jin-Ho regretted not bringing Lee Hyeon-Su along, but it seemed a bit too late for that now. His eyes scanned the crowd before him, then spotted a somewhat-familiar face.

“Hmm?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. Hadn’t he seen that man before somewhere? “Could it be…?”

Lee Song-Hwi bared his fangs in a ferocious smirk. It was as if he was barely reining in his anger ever since Kang Jin-Ho appeared here. He growled menacingly back. “It’s been a while, Kang Jin-Ho!”

However, Kang Jin-Ho's response was rather underwhelming. “Are you a Korean?”

“What?! You…!” Lee Seong-Hwi’s expression distorted hideously.

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “I know you, don’t I?”

“You! You son of a b*tch!” Lee Seong-Hwi loudly roared. But his roar clearly contained indescribably intense despair and sorrow.

How could he not despair, though? He did everything in his power just for a chance to destroy Kang Jin-Ho. He didn't care what he had to do and gladly took on all the humiliation and shame. He didn't hesitate to offer his soul to the devil and sold out his own country without stopping for a moment to think.

But… But Kang Jin-Ho didn't even remember who Lee Seong-Hwi was? How was Lee Seong-Hwi supposed to even accept this situation, then?!

“Kang, Jin, Hooooo!”

Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly when that roar hit his eardrums. That noise jolted his memories, however.

“...Ah! You were Lee Jung-Geol's disciple, weren't you?” Kang Jin-Ho asked, the smirk on his lips deepening. He normally wouldn't have bothered to remember such an individual, but this one had left a bit of an impression on him. “So, this was where you escaped to?”

Back during the theme park incident, Kang Jin-Ho beat Lee Seong-Hwi up and locked the latter up in the Martial Assembly's holding cell.

However, Lee Seong-Hwi somehow managed to escape. Of course Kang Jin-Ho would remember

the one who slipped out of his grasp. After all, he never forgot his grudges and favors.

A bastard who targeted the Seongsim Orphanage kids escaped without receiving due punishment. So, Kang Jin-Ho had been thinking of one day catching the bastard and beating the living daylights out of him… But to think the guilty party would show up on his own accord!

Lee Seong-Hwi continued to roar. “You…! You bastard!”

Kang Jin-Ho dismissively waved his hand. “Don’t know why you’re here, but this is good. Looks like you can communicate with these people, so you will be my interpreter from now on. What did that bastard say just now?”

Lee Seong-Hwi loudly gritted his teeth. However, he couldn’t bring himself to pounce on Kang Jin-Ho. He was still a martial artist, after all. Not just any, but one with an accurate evaluation of his own strength.

If he had been strong enough to pounce in anger and defeat Kang Jin-Ho, he would have done so already instead of scheming behind the scenes like this!

Lee Seong-Hwi growled at Nakata Yuji. “You. Speak Korean.”

Nakata Yuji nodded slowly. “Ah. My apologies. It seems I was taken aback just now and talked to you in Japanese.”

Wiggins looked impressed as he scanned Nakata Yuji from top to bottom. “Hoh-oh… My lord. I think that man can speak Korean.”

“Yeah. He sure can,” Kang Jin-Ho briefly nodded.

“Mm… Well, this is… a little inconvenient, now isn't it? How about speaking in English, fella?”

Just as Wiggins said that…

“English, my foot!”

Slam!

A massive hand suddenly rose up from the side of the ship before clutching on to the deck. And then, a massive torso of a giant soaked in seawater broke through the darkness and crawled on board.

Wiggins tutted slightly. “...Well, now there's a scene straight out of a horror movie.”

“You want me to show you what real horror is?!” Vator roared after appearing like a monster from a horror movie. He then began shaking off all the water from his figure. “Bloody hell! It’s all because that helicopter’s exit was so tiny!”

Wiggins tutted again. “No, Sir Vator. You’re simply too large.”

“Yes, I know!” Vator yelled unhappily, then sharply turned his head to glare at Nakata Yuji, Lee Seong-Hwi, and the rest of the Japanese. “Hmph! It’s my pleasure to make your…”

Unfortunately for Vator, his greetings had to stop as the landing situation wasn’t over yet.

“E-excuse me! Assembly Master! Assembly Master! Help!”

Everyone’s attention snapped in the direction of that voice. They could see Bang Jin-Hun descending toward the ship with a white parachute over his head.

“A-Assembly Master! Please help! C-can you grab me? Help!”

The winds blowing in the middle of the ocean were quite stiff. Unsurprisingly, such winds would blow the parachute off course. And Bang Jin-Hun was gradually drifting further and further away from the ship.

“…”

“…”

Everyone groaned loudly at this… spectacle. Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Wiggins. “Wiggins. Please.”

“Yes, my lord. On my way,” said Wiggins before his figure vanished from the spot with a poof! But then, he reappeared a mere second later, this time with Bang Jin-Hun by his side.

“Urgh… I nearly pissed myself just now,” Bang Jin-Hun whined while taking the parachute off.

Wiggins frowned slightly at this sight. “That was rather unbecoming of you, Mister Bang.”

“I've never used a parachute before, you know! Don't you think I deserve some praise for correctly deploying this dang parachute on my first try!”

“But I heard all Korean men serve in the army?”

“What the heck? Mister, do you think the Korean army is the French Foreign Legion or something?”

Nakata Yuji gnashed his teeth when the newest arrival, Bang Jin-Hun, began grumbling without a care in the world.

These people were all so… relaxed. Laidback. Someone unaware of the situation might see this scene and think they were back in their living room in South Korea!

‘You dare pretend to be relaxed?’

Even now, Japanese warriors were rushing up to the ship’s deck. The Koreans should have functioning eyes, so they must be witnessing this scene of Japanese warriors flooding out of the ship’s interior, too.

Such a scene should be more than enough to rouse terror in the enemy’s heart, so… What was the matter with these four?

Unless the whole group had lost their minds, how could they be this relaxed in front of inescapable danger?

Nakata Yuji barely managed to suppress his boiling anger. Getting too emotional didn’t help anyone. It was the ice-cold rational mind, not blind rage, that could control the situation.

Nakata Yuji sucked in a deep breath, then addressed his guests in a still voice. “You are all rather relaxed, aren’t you?”

The first one to react was Bang Jin-Hun. “Huh. Assembly Master, did you hear that? I think that bastard can speak Korean.”

Kang Jin-Ho casually nodded. “Yeah, it seems that way.”

“Wow. That's so weird. A Jap bastard who can speak Korean? Wait a minute, maybe you're one of those? A Korean descent? Whatchamacallit, the Korean wave? Are you that thing?”[1]

“...That’s enough. Stop,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“But, sir. Don’t you find it weird, too?”

“Please, stop…” Kang Jin-Ho weakly pleaded with Bang Jin-Hun. However, he didn't do that for Nakata Yuji's sake. No, it was because Bang Jin-Hun was embarrassing everyone here!

Nakata Yuji’s face distorted hideously. “Looks like you’re mistaken about something, Kang Jin-Ho…!”

“Hmm?” Kang Jin-Ho glanced back at the Japanese.

“You made a fatal error in judgment. Did you think we’d say yes to a negotiation if the Assembly’s higher-ups all showed up together? If so, you made a mistake. We have no desire to spare any of you!”

“…?”

“So, die. Die while regretting your terrible decision, Kang Jin-Ho! You might be someone worthy of my respect, but this move was terribly stupid of you. And so, the consequences of your…”

“Wait. Did you say negotiations?” Kang Jin-Ho abruptly cut Nakata Yuji off. Negotiations, was it? To negotiate with the Japanese… Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. “It seems my idea of negotiations is slightly different from yours.”

Nakata Yuji frowned even more. “...Say what?”

“Negotiations, you say…?” Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but chuckle.

That Japanese man acted like the smartest person in the room, but he had completely failed to read the room he was in. It was safe to say he had no grasp on the situation at all.

However, what did that matter, anyway? Nothing would change by knowing the truth, after all. Besides, if the Japanese didn’t know…

...Kang Jin-Ho should just show them what was what. That would be all.

“Very well. Then, I’ll humor you and negotiate,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“…?”

“Now… Abandon this ship.”

For a moment there, Nakata Yuji doubted his own hearing. What was this insane Korean bastard saying now?

“Anyone who jumps into the ocean now… We won't come after you.”

“What? You…!”

“Translate this message to everyone,” said Kang Jin-Ho, his voice cold and still. “From this moment on… Everyone remaining on this ship will die. And I do mean every. Single. One.”

The bone-chilling freezing air suddenly descended on the ship’s deck.

1. I believe the author was trying his hand at deploying Korean puns here. Hallyu, aka the Korean wave, can also be read as “Korean kind,” you see... ☜