Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1057. Interrogated (2)

“Are you listening, my liege?”

Kang Jin-Ho sobered up and glanced at his subordinate. “...Mm?”

A single crease formed on the forehead of the subordinate in question, Azure Demon. Considering he usually was expressionless, a frown like that could only mean the contents of this report had to be quite serious.

“My liege, you... weren’t listening.”

“Mm...”

Azure Demon sighed deeply. A little too deeply, in fact!

Sighing in front of the one and only demonic emperor, the leader of the demon cult, was a sign of disrespect punishable by an immediate beheading. If someone other than Azure Demon had done that, that individual would've already been dragged outside the audience hall even before Kang Jin-Ho could say anything.

Indeed, only Azure Demon was permitted to sigh in front of his liege’s presence.

“My liege?”

Kang Jin-Ho calmly but coolly responded. “Speak.”

“My liege, you are far too disinterested in worldly matters.”

Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes. “So what? Is that a problem?”

“Of course, as the demon emperor, you do not have any obligations to care about every little mundane thing in this world. I am here to deal with that, after all. And it's my sworn duty to assist you so that you can solely focus on leading the cult. Even so...”

Azure Demon ruefully shook his head.

“At times, I'm reminded of how unfortunate this is. This lowly servant cannot fathom if your lack of interest in the world is because you have no reason to pay attention or...”

“Or?”

Azure Demon’s expression was one of loneliness and pity. “Or, it’s the same as how a man does not care about ants below his feet, my liege.”

“That’s an exaggeration,” Kang Jin-Ho loudly tutted.

“It may be so, my liege. It may be so...”

Kang Jin-Ho silently studied Azure Demon's face before asking curiously. “Do you think I need to be more interested?”

“...This servant is too dull-witted to understand the intentions of your query, my liege.”

“It is as you suspect,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered, his voice cold and withdrawn. “I understand that the cult obeys me. However, that was never my intention. I simply did what needed to be done. Even then, you all still decided on your own to worship me and obey me. In that case... Am I duty-bound to care about you all?”

“That is not the case, my liege,” Azure Demon shook his head. “Even if you view everyone, including this lowly servant, as nothing more than ants, no one can criticize you for it. At the end of the day, you’re the one who assigns the values of the people you see, after all.”

Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes and studied Azure Demon’s face. Even though the latter said nothing was wrong here, his tone suggested otherwise.

“What is that you wish to say, Azure Demon?”

“My liege...” Azure Demon spread his arms open a little. “You have acquired everything any man could possibly desire. Not only are you the leader of a supreme and noble cult, but every faction under the sun and moon bow in awe before your feet. Although trifling pockets of resistance still remain, all will kneel before your majesty soon.”

“Hmm...!”

“However, this servant also can't help but think about something quite impudent. And that is... Does any of these things mean anything to you, my liege?”

“...!” Kang Jin-Ho silently stared at Azure Demon.

He knew that his subordinate was right. None of the things Azure Demon mentioned mattered to him all that much. Kang Jin-Ho’s situation would not change even if the entire world knelt before him and groveled on the ground, after all!

Azure Demon cautiously raised his voice. “My liege?”

“Speak, Azure Demon.”

“Regardless of what... It is people who build this world and keep it going.”

“...?”

“Even if others seem trifling and insignificant, not involving yourself with people means it will be extremely difficult to find joy in your life, my liege.”

“Joy, you say...?” Kang Jin-Ho smirked softly.

Azure Demon was genuinely worried about him, it seemed. Unfortunately for him, though, an unbreakable wall existed between Kang Jin-Ho and his loyal subordinate.

How would Azure Demon know, though? How would he know the reason for Kang Jin-Ho's disinterest in the people of this era? And why his liege could never see this era's people as humans?

Explaining that would be too difficult for someone like Kang Jin-Ho.

“I understand what you’re trying to say, Azure Demon,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“My liege...”

“However, such a thing will not be easy for me.”

“But...” Azure Demon grinned brightly. “I’m sure the day will come when you feel that joy of being with other people.”

“Joy... Joy, you say?” Kang Jin-Ho slowly raised his head to stare at the ceiling.

What a foolish notion that was. Such a day would never come for Kang Jin-Ho.

After all, the emotion of “joy” was something he had left behind in his previous world, now wasn't it? Since he could never go back, Kang Jin-Ho would most likely never feel joy till his final breath.

Kang Jin-Ho looked back at Azure Demon. “Do you truly believe such a day will come?”

“Of course, my liege. And when it does...”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow and silently waited for the rest of Azure Demon’s counsel.

“You will finally realize how joyful it is to form relationships with other people.”

The corners of Kang Jin-Ho’s lips curled up. “Very well. I give you my word that I’ll pay more attention to your reports. So, enough with this nagging.”

Azure Demon nodded, then resumed his report.

***

Azure Demon's prediction did come true.

Of course, he probably didn’t foresee Kang Jin-Ho’s return to the modern era. Results-wise, though? Here was Kang Jin-Ho, following through on what Azure Demon said about forming relationships with other people.

And he finally learned how to derive joy from these relationships. It was just that Kang Jin-Ho was currently facing a serious problem, and that was...

‘Why... Why didn’t you warn me about things like this, Azure Demon!’

Kang Jin-Ho nervously swallowed his saliva down his dried throat. Choi Yeon-Ha’s carefree smile felt like a dagger stabbing ruthlessly into his heart.

Being in a relationship was undoubtedly one of the most joyous things in life. However, Kang Jin-Ho would've still preferred to be warned ahead of time of hidden dangers such as this situation!

Kang Jin-Ho was about to smile awkwardly, only to hurriedly stop himself.

‘No! I must not smile!’

How long had it been since he returned to the modern era! Obviously, the time spent as a modern-era man should have been long enough for him to cultivate some ability to read the room.

And that ability was screaming at him right now. Even if Choi Yeon-Ha was smiling, he must never, EVER, smile back at her!

“Ah, uh, so...” Kang Jin-Ho muttered while sweat profusely poured down his spine.

When he tilted his head ever so slightly, Choi Yeon-Ha’s eyes, narrowed into moon-like crescents due to her smile, suddenly began gleaming dangerously.

‘Yup! I bloody knew it!’

Kang Jin-Ho cried out in his mind. The old adage of killing someone with only the glare seemed to apply in this situation.

Never before in his entire life did he feel terrified by an enemy's glare, but right in this moment? The burning light in Choi Yeon-Ha's eyes was enough to make the one and only leader of the demon cult flinch nastily.

However, Choi Yeon-Ha’s glare disappeared almost instantly, replaced by something much warmer. This whole thing happened so quickly that only someone as accomplished as Kang Jin-Ho would have caught it.

“Ah, well, that, uh...” Kang Jin-Ho forced his unwilling mouth to open. “Han Se-Yeon, you say?”

“Yes, her,” Choi Yeon-Ha calmly nodded.

Kang Jin-Ho saw her response and inwardly told himself to be as calm as her.

When he thought about it, why should he fret and sweat nervously like this? After all, he had done nothing wrong, now did he?

“She and I are from the same high school,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Aha. Is that so?”

“Yes. We were close friends back then,” Kang Jin-Ho nodded before hurriedly adding, “Along with Yu-Min, of course.”

“Aaaah...”

“But we stopped being in touch while I was serving in the military.”

“I see. I see...”

Kang Jin-Ho finally relaxed enough to smile. It should be safe now for him to smile, so...

Choi Yeon-Ha sharply asked, “But I heard you two used to date?”

Nope, Kang Jin-Ho was wrong. He hurriedly yanked the corners of his lips down before they curled up too much. One wrong smile here, and he might get a smack to the side of his head!

“...Yes, that is true.”

Although the deathly chills continued to torment Kang Jin-Ho’s spine, he knew now was not the time to make excuses or deny anything. A sloppy excuse, or even an attempt of one, could ruin everything in a delicate situation like this!

“Hmm...?” Choi Yeon-Ha continued to smile brightly while scanning Kang Jin-Ho from top to bottom. “What’s the matter, Mister Jin-Ho? Why are you so tense?”

“I’m sorry?”

“It’s not like I’m gonna bite your head off or anything, you know? Everyone has a history of their own, right?”

“Hahaha...?”

“Who cares about what happened in the past? As long as you don’t see her again, it’s all good, isn’t it?”

“...!”

This was the moment Kang Jin-Ho realized that he had screwed up.

‘I should’ve asked Yu-Min how much he told her!’

Kang Jin-Ho should've forced Park Yu-Min to confess to just how much he had blabbed his mouth to Choi Yeon-Ha!

Choi Yeon-Ha smirked, then leaned forward to coolly pat Kang Jin-Ho on the shoulder. “Don’t be so tense. Or you might get cramps, you know?”

“...Oh, of course.”

“No need to overreact so much, Mister Jin-Ho. I'm serious about not trying to bite your head off. It's just that I got curious. You know, about what you did and where you've been before I met you. That kinda stuff. When you think about it, you haven't told me anything about your past.”

“Mm...!” Kang Jin-Ho contemplatively nodded away.

When explained that way, Choi Yeon-Ha seemed to have a point there.

Kang Jin-Ho hadn’t told her much about himself. And when he did, the topic would always be what he was doing right now. He never shared what he did in his past.

“So,” Choi Yeon-Ha playfully smirked. “Please stop looking at me with the face of a henpecked hubby staring at his nagging wife.”

“...Oh.” Kang Jin-Ho awkwardly nodded.

Choi Yeon-Hu chuckled while leaning back against the couch. “I'm telling you, you don't have to be so tense. I thought it'd be a good idea to let you know ahead of time that I'm aware of this Miss Se-Yeon trying to get in touch with you again. Knowing it but not saying anything could make things awkward, after all. I mean... I know you can't not answer if she calls you. That's not how you operate, after all.”

Kang Jin-Ho briefly wondered whether to nod in agreement here or not. Or was he supposed to say he’d not answer that call?

This choice was far too tricky for him to make. Since he couldn’t find the correct answer, all he could do was stiffly sit there like a stone statue and smile awkwardly.

“So, don’t try to hide anything and be upfront about it, Mister Jin-Ho. Okay?”

“Okay. I’ll definitely do that,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Even so, your reaction’s been a bit surprising, you know? I figured you wouldn’t care all that much about it, but to see you sweat a bucket like this...?”

Sweated a bucket? Kang Jin-Ho reflexively wiped at his forehead. However, his hand remained dry. That was when he realized he had fallen for her trap.

Choi Yeon-Ha looked at him while making an unreadable face. “Aha. So you were nervous.”

“...”

“I’d like to tease you more with this, but nope! I’ll call it quits here. I won’t care too much about it, so you do the same, okay? Mister Jin-Ho?”

Kang Jin-Ho urgently nodded. “O-of course.”

“However...!”

“Yes? What is it?”

That was when Choi Yeon-Ha's expression changed subtly. The previous hints of playfulness were replaced by something more somber. “Your relationship with her. It is over, right?”

“Of course,” said Kang Jin-Ho. At least he could reply unhesitantly on this topic.

Choi Yeon-Ha nodded at how confident Kang Jin-Ho sounded. “Then, it’s all good. Okay, that’s enough of that!”

He survived!

Kang Jin-Ho sighed deeply, thinking that he had somehow navigated through a massive crisis. What a relief this was.

“Did you hear about Se-Yeon from Yu-Min?”

Choi Yeon-Ha coolly nodded. “Yes. I know Mister Yu-Min is a stand-up guy who will always be loyal to his friends, but the situation back then was a perfect storm of coincidences, you see? He didn't have a room to escape. Also...”

“Also?”

“He was really nervous about filming that commercial, too.”

“Oh...”

No wonder Park Yu-Min blabbed his mouth. Even with nothing going on around him, the mere mention of Han Se-Yeon's name would've sent the poor guy spiraling down into the hole of nervousness. But it just so happened during the filming of the commercial. Park Yu-Min wouldn't have had the strength to fight back and cope with the pressure.

“You know what’s funny, though?” Choi Yeon-Ha asked with a hint of bemusement. “I have no idea Mister Yu-Min was someone that famous.”

Compared to Choi Yeon-Ha, Park Yu-Min couldn't even be called a celebrity, but it was also true that he was famous in his own right.

Kang Jin-Ho casually shrugged. “It’s because Yu-Min has the abilities deserving of his fame.”

“Well, he is your friend, after all,” said Choi Yeon-Ha with a grin.

Kang Jin-Ho also reflexively smiled back at her. “Did the filming of that commercial go well?”

“Nope. It was the worst.”

“...”

Choi Yeon-Ha indifferently explained herself. “I only grinned and tolerated the whole thing just because he’s your friend, Mister Jin-Ho. If it was someone else forcing me to reshoot the same scene for the fiftieth time, I’d have kicked his butt already!”

Kang Jin-Ho’s smile was cramped, to say the least.

‘Yu-Min, it looks like you owe me one for saving you this time. You better not forget this...’

“Still, Mister Yu-Min pulled through in the end, so don't worry about it. After we dub his lines and fix some things in post-production, we should get something usable. Probably.”

“Well, that's a relief," Kang Jin-Ho nodded.

Introducing Park Yu-Min into the conversation turned out to be a good call as it helped ease the atmosphere somewhat.

“What about you? How is the training program?”

Kang Jin-Ho replied while sipping the coffee. “It's more or less doable.”

“Hnng...?” Choi Yeon-Ha scanned Kang Jin-Ho from top to bottom before smirking softly.

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‘You even showed up here in your business suit and all.’

It seemed Kang Jin-Ho's plan was to rush back to the 'office' as soon as his date with Choi Yeon-Ha ended. She would've loved to tease him a little bit longer but knew she shouldn't push her luck.

“Very well. Then, let’s call it a day here,” Choi Yeon-Ha smiled gently. “I wanted to treat you to lunch, but the company should come first, right?”

“Mm? Oh, no. It’s fine. I can...”

“You should leave when I'm letting you, okay? If you don't, I might lock you up in here.”

Kang Jin-Ho smiled awkwardly while getting up from the couch.