Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1133. Getting Some Rest (3)

“...”

Ju Yeong-Gi silently stared at his friends.

Human relationships were built on ‘trust.’

That trust was about people in front of your eyes not behaving abnormally or outrageously.

When that trust was broken, people’s relationships would also come to an abrupt end.

That was what human relationships were like, though.

Why would you want the stress of dealing with other people's abnormal behavior just so that you could maintain your relationships? When people in relationships should be prioritizing themselves? Indeed, there was no need to carry on in such a situation.

However, what if things were a bit ‘more’ than that? As in, even if other people in the relationship behaved irrationally and gave you an unhealthy level of stress, you still resolutely carried on regardless.

Once a relationship entered such a phase, the world would call that 'friendship.'

“Okay, so...” Ju Yeong-Gi patted the pizza boxes he had brought along while frowning deeply. “You want to play video games for two days straight?”

Kang Jin-Ho and Park Yu-Min nodded in sync. “Yeah.”

“...In here?”

“Yeah.”

Ju Yeong-Gi slowly scanned his surroundings.

What a pleasant place this was. Which made sense, since modern PC Rooms were all designed to be as pleasing to be as possible, after all. And most even had dedicated smoking areas, too.

But the problem here was that... Yes, this was a PC Room!

“Brothers!” Ju Yeong-Gi raised his voice which contained noticeable hints of ire. “You two are supposed to be well-adjusted adults, so how could you even think about spending two nights in a PC Room to play some bloody video games! What about your parents praying diligently for your success in life, dudes! I ask you, where's your shame!”

Kang Jin-Ho tutted. “I’ve already gotten their permission.”

As for Park Yu-Min, he cocked an eyebrow. “Did you forget I don’t have parents?”

Ju Yeong-Gi nearly tripped on his feet. “M-my bad, Yu-Min. That was not what I meant! I... God dang it, this stupid piehole of mine!”

“C-calm down, Yeong-Gi!”

After unintentionally using his friend’s family situation in his skit, Ju Yeong-Gi began trembling powerfully from guilt. Such was the intensity of the vibrations that the pizza boxes began rocking precariously in his hands!

“I’m sorry, man! I forgot about that, you see!”

Park Yu-Min tried to calm the freaked-out Ju Yeong-Gi down. “Please stop and calm down, Yeong-Gi! You’re making me uncomfortable here.”

Ju Yeong-Gi hyperventilated deeply several times before finally calming down sufficiently enough.

“In any case... What are you two up to this time?”

Park Yu-Min pointed at the computers behind him. “I wanted to practice with Jin-Ho.”

“Why here, though? Can’t you use your team’s practice area or something?”

“Other players will get in our way, though. That’s why a PC Room like this is better for us.”

Ju Yeong-Gi furrowed his brow.

‘What a pair of weirdos.’

With Kang Jin-Ho's financial muscle, he could've booked a fancy hotel room and turned it into a mock PC Room in no time at all. That was why Ju Yeong-Gi couldn't understand why they insisted on coming to an actual PC Room, with strangers coming and going constantly, to play some games.

Besides all that...!

“Aren't you all supposed to be adults?! Why are you planning to stay up the whole night just to play some games?!”

“What does being adults have to do with us playing games? Besides, I’m a pro gamer, you know?” Park Yu-Min tutted.

“Euh...!” Ju Yeong-Gi flinched after he couldn’t think of a comeback.

Obviously, a pro gamer like Park Yu-Min staying up all night to play games wouldn’t be a problem!

Ju Yeong-Gi quickly tore his gaze away from Park Yu-Min and tried to target the new victim.

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “What?”

Ju Yeong-Gi faltered slightly at that forthright attitude. “Y-you, why are you...”

“Me?” Kang Jin-Ho sat upright while speaking in a forthright attitude. “Ever since I got discharged from the army, I never took time out to enjoy my hobbies or anything like that. I worked hard as a soldier, which means I’ve been working nonstop for the past three years.”

“...”

“In that case, two days won’t be an issue, right?”

“Y-yes, sir. Do carry on, sir...”

Eventually, Ju Yeong-Gi raised his white flag.

Park Yu-Min chuckled at the sight of his friend sinking like a ship. “Don’t stress out too much, Yeong-Gi. I mean, think about it. Go to a park, and you’ll see grandpas busy playing chess and go with each other.”

“What about them?”

“People must've criticized them for playing around like that when they were young, too.”

“...Huh?”

“I’m trying to say that playing video games won’t be a phase we go through as youngsters, okay? I’m pretty sure we’ll still be playing games well into our twilight years.”

That sounded rather plausible, indeed.

Ju Yeong-Gi finally gave up, then threw his head back a little, his expression more somber than before. “Fine, fine. Let’s drop it. But, aren’t you supposed to be competing in the finals next week? Is it okay for you to be playing around like this? Don’t tell me you gave up winning the finals?”

“Of course not!” Park Yu-Min firmly shook his head. “I’m here with Jin-Ho because of the finals, okay? This is necessary for me.”

“Hah...?”

Ju Yeong-Gi’s common sense wasn’t quite good enough to understand this situation. He tilted his head in confusion. “Playing games with this dude will help you?”

“Yeah.”

“Why him?” Ju Yeong-Gi scratched his head in confusion. Wasn’t Kang Jin-Ho a total noob in stuff like this?

Of course he acknowledged that Kang Jin-Ho excelled in so, so many things he got involved in. Kang Jin-Ho was so amazing during his military service days that anyone witnessing his feat would have thought he was a freak of nature. Or something like that.

However, that was when viewed from the perspective of an ordinary plebeian.

Why was a professional respected as a pro? That was because, to become a professional, one had to rise above folks who displayed undeniable excellence in one specific field to the point of leaving the plebeians agog in shock.

Worse still, being a pro in esports was not the end of the story. The only pros who left a lasting impression in the public’s consciousness were those competing in the major leagues.

To become a part of the first team competing in the big leagues, countless geniuses must be working their butts off in the reserve teams or in minor leagues, and also as prospective trainees practicing nonstop like machines right this moment.

Playing ‘well’ in the eyes of ordinary people meant little to nothing in the world of professional gamers.

One also shouldn’t forget that Park Yu-Min wasn’t just another pro gamer, but a top-ranked one, someone under constant spotlight.

Kang Jin-Ho might not lose against Park Yu-Min as a human being, but in the world of esports? He wouldn't even be seen as a dust particle in comparison!

So, for someone like Park Yu-Min to ‘practice’ with Kang Jin-Ho?

Ju Yeong-Gi frowned slightly. “Yu-Min, I really, really didn’t want to say this, but I gotta be honest with you, man. You sound like you've lost your bloody mind right now.”

“Yeah, I get why you’d think that way.”

“Really? Your face says otherwise, though!”

Park Yu-Min could only smile wryly.

Ju Yeong-Gi was reacting ‘correctly’ to this situation. After all, Park Yu-Min’s teammates and director would have reacted exactly the same to this news!

Even Park Yu-Min had to admit that what he was trying to do was not logical at all.

Common sense said he should be taking a break to recharge his batteries or practicing with his teammates.

However, Park Yu-Min was certain... Nay, confident, that he had made the right choice.

‘What I need right now is not those things.’

Indeed, what he was searching for was ‘stimulation’, a trigger. Also, aggressiveness.

Two days weren’t enough to change one’s play style.

That was how a professional operated, though. Adjusting a baseball pitcher’s pitching form by just one millimeter could easily take several days. And a professional soccer player would spend an entire season trying to change how they kicked the ball.

Sometimes, diligently training until one became proficient at something could become a hindrance that made it difficult for a pro to change their play style.

Logic said that changing how one played a game in two days was next to impossible. However, Park Yu-Min was determined to make it happen.

Trying to change it by himself without anyone's help might have been difficult, but Kang Jin-Ho was with him. This guy could easily dwarf any pro gamer with his sheer menacing presence alone.

If Park Yu-Min could actively copy that and make it his own...!

“I have to do this, Yeong-Gi.”

“...Urgh.” Ju Yeong-Gi groaned before backing down.

Park Yu-Min’s lips subtly quivered.

‘Thanks, Yeong-Gi.’

He knew Ju Yeong-Gi wasn’t trying to be a smart-ass here. No, his friend was desperately worried about him, and this was the only way he knew how to express it.

That was why he rushed to this PC Room as soon as he heard about what Park Yu-Min and Kang Jin-Ho were planning to do while carrying delicious pizzas no one had asked for!

Ju Yeong-Gi must be concerned about Park Yu-Min not getting enough practice ahead of the final match.

‘Geez...’

Park Yu-Min felt his heart getting warmer for some reason.

Living in a world where one’s achievements were everything and everyone constantly competed against each other made him forget that he had such great friends.

Also, judging from what they said, it sounded like both of them had been secretly following Park Yu-Min's career until now!

The corners of Park Yu-Min’s lips gradually curled up in happiness.

‘Now I feel even more motivated.’

He recently learned how important it was to have people watching and cheering him on.

‘And I feel a bit guilty, too.’

The truth was that Park Yu-Min had been searching for the cause of his slump in some other places. He had a pretty good idea what it was, and if he was right, the cause might be something he couldn't do anything about.

That was why he had halfway given up. So, to think he’d find an opportunity to overcome his slump in such an unexpected place...!

‘That’s why I feel guilty, though.’

And ashamed, too.

“Well, since you said this will help you... I guess it will. What do I know, anyway? You should know more than I do in games, right?” Ju Yeong-Gi chuckled helplessly before frowning at Kang Jin-Ho. “As for you, you better not slack off! Give it your all, okay!”

Kang Jin-Ho frowned and replied testily, “Huh? When did I ever slack off?”

“Way too many times to count, you brat. So many that I don’t even know where to start! Didn’t you promise to come around every once in a while and help out in the kitchen?!”

“...!”

“And you also said you’d help with developing new dishes! What about your promise of helping us with the quality control, too?!”

“...!”

Kang Jin-Ho instantly clamped his mouth shut like a timid mouse. Even if he had ten mouths, he still wouldn’t have any excuses to offer!

“You’re supposed to be the co-owner, so why aren’t you pulling your own weight? You think you’re some kinda stock investor or something? You wanna live off the dividends without lifting a single finger? Is that it?”

“I’m sorry,” Kang Jin-Ho quickly apologized as cold sweat began trickling down his spine. Stupidly opening his mouth only got him in even deeper trouble, it seemed!

Ju Yeong-Gi tutted loudly. “You! You better do your job properly, got that?”

“Yes, sir!” Kang Jin-Ho loudly replied before sneakily glancing at the pizza boxes. “By the way, the pizzas might get cold at this rate, so can I eat them before we start?”

“Hell no! You can have a slice when you’re done.”

Park Yu-Min tilted his head. “Huh? I’m hungry, though?”

“Oh, not you, Yu-Min. You can eat as much as you want. Here, I also brought you pickles and sauces.”

“...”

It seemed Kang Jin-Ho's family members weren't the only ones treating him with contempt.

***

‘Video games, is it?'

It sure had been a long time since Kang Jin-Ho last played a game.

Once upon a time, he used to play lots of games as a hobby. For instance, when he was still in high school.

Didn’t he spend many hours playing games after coming home from school?

However, was it because he found computer games fun? That certainly played a part in his ‘addiction’.

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't find any pastime he could enjoy in Zhongyuan. So, playing video games was something he could finally do to have fun after nearly a century of boring himself to death.

However, as time passed, Kang Jin-Ho drifted away from video games. Rather than losing interest, though, it was more like he no longer had spare time to mess around with games.

Park Yu-Min glanced at Kang Jin-Ho. “You’re logged in now, right?”

“Mm!” Kang Jin-Ho nodded while staring intently at the monitor.

Looking at the game screen again after so long was weirding him out a little.

‘What was so fun about this that I spent the whole day playing games?’

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't understand it. After all, make-believe was just that, make-believe. A game was nothing more than a game at the end of the day.

‘I feel a little sorry about this...’

It looked like Park Yu-Min was expecting something from him, but Kang Jin-Ho was worried that he might not be able to satisfy that expectation today.

He no longer had the same level of passion for video games, after all!

Park Yu-Min leaned closer to the screen. “For now, let’s just play a game or two, see where you’re at.”

“Got it,” Kang Jin-Ho nodded, then connected to a server while looking a little disinterested.

Soon, the game matched him against an opponent. While remaining expressionless, Kang Jin-Ho began playing.

‘Characters moving inside a world created through computer graphics...’

A player was supposed to control their in-game avatar via mouse clicks and keyboard taps to kill the opponent’s avatar. Simple rules like that must be the source of ‘fun’ in this case.

Even if Kang Jin-Ho had lost interest in games, he was trying to help Park Yu-Min, so he'd obviously do his best to...

Park Yu-Min tilted his head. “Huh? You’re dead already?”

“...!”

That was a small error in judgment, nothing more. Kang Jin-Ho got ready to play more seriously, but then...

“Eh? You’re dead again?”

“...!”

Less than a minute after his avatar’s respawn, the screen grayed out again. Watching his avatar collapsed on the street like discarded trash suddenly made Kang Jin-Ho a bit sentimental.

It seemed he got rusty after not playing for a while.

‘However, this is fine. Of course it is. This match is me trying to get up to speed, after all.’

“What the... You’re dead again?”

Kang Jin-Ho grew stupefied just then. In less than five minutes since the start, he had died three times! That meant it was impossible to overturn the match in his favor now.

Park Yu-Min hurriedly spoke, “J-Jin-Ho? Take it easy, okay? Calm down.”

“No worries, I’m fine.”

Kang Jin-Ho thought Park Yu-Min’s reactions were rather amusing.

This was nothing more than some video game, after all. It was fine to suck at it, no? And it was inevitable that his skill level would suffer from not playing for so long.

So, losing like this made sense. Losing his cool just because his in-game avatar got killed a few times would be very weird, no?

Ju Yeong-Gi suddenly scowled while pointing at the screen. “Hey, that punk is trying to say something to you.”

“Huh?” Kang Jin-Ho shifted his attention to the chat window.

[Hey, WTF? Are you subbing for someone or something? Why is a punk who can’t do sh*t messing around in this server? I can’t be bothered to humor you, so give up already and go somewhere that suits your pathetic level, okay?]

Kang Jin-Ho’s eyes grew bloodshot just then.

The mouse in his grip couldn’t withstand his strength and began creaking and distorting.