Descent of the Demon Master

"Was that all you wanted to ask me?" Kang Jin-Ho casually asked.

"...For now, yes," the Master replied coldly.

"I see. That means you made up your mind, right?"

Kang Jin-Ho rested his chin on his fist and stared in amusement at the Master. His posture was as disrespectful as it could be, but the story remained the same as before. He seemed so natural at it that it didn't matter to the Master.

"So? What will you do now? Will you try to kill me?" Kang Jin-Ho asked.

To be able to ask something like that without concern… Indeed, he couldn't be normal in the head!

However, the Master had gotten somewhat used to Kang Jin-Ho's antics by now. He coldly shot back with, "I'm still deciding."

Kang Jin-Ho began chuckling loudly. However, that was when Wiggins suddenly said something. "Master?"

The Master of the Round Table turned his head slightly to stare at Wiggins.

"Do you still remember what I told you?"

"What you told me? Can you clarify?"

"I believe my lord's assertions are on point, Master. That's because he's only speaking the facts. As such, it's fruitless to try to find a hole in his arguments. However, I'm sure you don't care about such things. Am I wrong?"

The Master couldn't respond. He wasn't even sure what to say to refute Wiggins.

"Master… Everyone in this world has their beliefs. Some of those beliefs could be wrong. And they could be right, too. However, the Round Table never differentiated them from the get-go. What it wants to know isn't whether the belief is right or wrong, but whether the belief holder is dangerous or not. Unfortunately, even the yardstick to determine that has been one-sidedly dreamed up by the Round Table."

The Master reflexively bit his lower lip. Because he… He realized he couldn't argue back. After all, didn't he just think Kang Jin-Ho was dangerous?

What Kang Jin-Ho said was not wrong. But the Master didn't care about the logic or justifications in the argument as his only focus was on figuring out how dangerous it would be for East Asia for someone like Kang Jin-Ho to exist in Korea.

'However… There is nothing wrong with that.'

It was impossible to know what was in a person's heart.

Considering everyone's feelings and stances every time the Round Table wanted to do something would get them nowhere. The Round Table had to make many decisions that could affect the entire world, so being considerate toward everyone would simply be too inefficient to get the job done.

"What are you trying to say, Wiggins? That I'm wrong?"

"No, Master. You might not be. However…" Wiggins slowly shook his head. "The Round Table is in the wrong. It claims to be the mediator, but when was the last time it mediated something? No, the Round Table is an oppressor. It suppresses, coerces, and forces others. Not through dialogue, but through sheer violence."

"Maybe," the Master abruptly cut Wiggins off. "Maybe you're right. The Round Table's methods might not be as good as we've believed them to be. However!"

The Master's voice was firm. Unwavering. Unshakable in his conviction.

"However, no such thing as a perfect and completely right method exists in life, Wiggins. The Round Table is not callously ignoring people's opinions and beliefs. No, we are simply choosing the way that we think will save the most number of souls. After all, it's impossible to satisfy everyone under the heavens."

"What a nice-sounding notion that is," Kang Jin-Ho responded instead of Wiggins. "In that case, how about this?"

He then leisurely got up. However, that was when the sheer pressure suddenly crushed down on the Round Table's side.

Kang Jin-Ho wasn't emitting more aura than before. And he certainly hadn't done anything threatening either. All he did was stand up, and that was all.

Even then, the Master and his entourage were placed under indescribably dreadful pressure that forbade them from even moving a muscle.

The pressure was worse for the one with higher martial prowess. The members of the Master's entourage, who weren't even noticeable in Kang Jin-Ho's view, were only subjected to an invisible force crushing down on their bodies. However, to the Master, it felt like his heart was being squeezed to the bursting point by this incredible pressure.

This phenomenon wasn't simply a product of Kang Jin-Ho's stupendous strength.

Of course, one had to be strong enough before they could even think about exerting such incredible pressure on the others. Even so, the Master was convinced that someone on par with Kang Jin-Ho's strength still wouldn't be able to produce a level of pressure that could rival this phenomenon.

"You're right about how it's impossible to satisfy everyone. So, yeah. It's not wrong to sacrifice a few to keep the majority happy."

Demonic qi began trickling out of Kang Jin-Ho's figure like a living fog.

"However, that's something only a man who's prepared to sacrifice himself is allowed to say. So, how about it? If I promise to stop creating problems with everyone else for the price of killing you here right now… Will you gladly offer yourself up?"

"…!" The Master's brows rose sharply.

"Answer me."

While listening to Kang Jin-Ho, Lee Hyeon-Su reflexively swallowed his saliva in nervousness. He could clearly sense Kang Jin-Ho's anger now. Although, things hadn't escalated past the point of no return just yet.

After all, if Kang Jin-Ho were genuinely furious, he wouldn't be talking like this!

'What should I say to stop things from getting worse?'

Lee Hyeon-Su knew he had to say something, but what could he even say here to de-escalate the situation?

"Offer myself up, you say?" The Master asked back, his expression cramped and cold.

"Yeah, I said that. So?" Kang Jin-Ho cocked his head to the side.

"Unfortunately, my life is not mine to offer. Far too many lives depend on me, you see…!"

The demonic qi vanished instantly. Even the crushing pressure disappeared without a trace.

When the pressure he had been fighting back against instantly disappeared, the Master's body stumbled forward, and he was forced to hurriedly regain his balance.

"...Is that right?" Kang Jin-Ho muttered while sitting down again. He then picked up the cigarette temporarily left behind in the ashtray and mouthed it. "So, that's your story. Many lives depend on you."

The Master slowly nodded. "...That's correct."

"However, are you trying to say the people you decided to kill… don't have anyone depending on them?"

"…"

Kang Jin-Ho no longer made an angry expression. However, that didn't mean he had calmed down. No, it was more like a kid who had lost interest in a toy.

"How disappointing. I wondered how amazing a person you'd be since Wiggins has been saying a lot of good things about you. But you turned out to be yet another fool who talks whatever to make him feel superior."

Wiggins apologetically lowered his head in Kang Jin-Ho's direction. "My apologies, my lord. It seems my eyes for my colleagues have been affected somewhat after spending so much time in the Round Table's company."

"Don't worry about it. I wasn't criticizing you," said Kang Jin-Ho while leisurely exhaling the gray cigarette smoke.

However, his gaze locked on the Master was one of utter disappointment.

That man was supposed to be the leader of Europe. So, even Kang Jin-Ho was looking forward to this meeting. He didn't know much about the West's idea of martial arts, but Wiggins helped him confirm that the Western martial artists were nothing to scoff at.

Kang Jin-Ho wasn't only talking about Wiggins' martial prowess. The latter also came equipped with the kind of versatility and rationality many in the Eastern martial society sorely lacked. Not as a martial artist, but as a human being, Wiggins deserved all the high praise thrown in his way.

...And the Master of the Round Table was someone Wiggins had served for who knows how long. Not just Wiggins, but many other Knights as good as him also served the Master.

How could Kang Jin-Ho not look forward to this meeting after hearing about that?

Unfortunately, the Master grandly betrayed Kang Jin-Ho's expectations. This old fart before his eyes was no different from countless fools Kang Jin-Ho had dealt with in the past.

In short, the Master was cut from the same cloth as those from the orthodox factions. People who lorded over massive sects and clans and yelled obnoxiously about how only they represented true justice and righteousness!

Of course, it wasn't as if they were technically wrong. Compared to demonic cultivators who had murdered countless people, their actions were more righteous. And it was hard to deny their ideals were more just.

It was just that…

'How tedious.'

Kang Jin-Ho found dealing with them tedious. After all, such people's mindset was unchanging. They left little to no room for negotiations or a rethink.

This idea of justice and righteousness could be surprisingly terrifying in that regard. After all, justice would never compromise or negotiate.

The complete and perfect justice did not allow any contrasting opinions, after all! Kang Jin-Ho had dealt with so many of these so-called warriors of justice before, and not a single one of them changed their minds. Not even once.

That was why there was no point in wasting time talking to this guy. He'd only get more confirmation of their opposing stances, after all.

Kang Jin-Ho wasn't interested in listening to textbook-like replies from a man who wasn't willing to change.

Kang Jin-Ho glanced to his side. "Wiggins?"

"Yes, my lord?"

"I'm leaving you in charge of this… meeting."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You have my full permission. Do what you want."

"But, uh…" Wiggins stammered in flabbergast.

However, Kang Jin-Ho didn't wait for anyone's response and got up to leave. To him, this meeting was meaningless.

People like the Master of the Round Table didn't "make decisions." What Kang Jin-Ho meant by that was this: even in things they could decide on, those people would rather continue wasting time observing and studying the other side.

They would go around in circles and beat around the bush until… Until they went back to the start of the conversation and reiterated the same old obvious nonsense.

And Kang Jin-Ho had no desire to participate in such a tedious and mind-numbing process.

"It sounds like you don't even need me here. Well, later." Kang Jin-Ho turned around and headed to the exit, leaving the flustered Wiggins and Lee Hyeon-Su to stare at his back in stunned silence.

However, that was when…

"Stop right there!"

The Master's anger-tinged voice stopped Kang Jin-Ho in his tracks.

"Should I take your current action as… insulting the honor of the Round Table?"

For the first time during this meeting, the Master displayed his rage. Even though he shrugged aside Kang Jin-Ho's slights aimed at him with a dismissive smile!

In other words, the Master was genuinely angry now.

Kang Jin-Ho turned his head to look, the corners of his lips already curled up into a smirk. "What if it is?"

"...That I cannot turn a blind eye on!"

"And if you can't? Then what?"

The Master's cold, cracking voice boomed inside the conference venue. "The Round Table will not forgive anyone insulting it!"

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled hollowly. "It sounds like you have no awareness of what you are yapping about."

What a hypocrisy this was. A man or an organization meant to serve as a mediator must not boast about his authority. Especially when that boasting came with violence and oppression!

But now, the Master was trying to remind Kang Jin-Ho about the Round Table's authority despite the organization's entire reason for existence being the mediator working toward world peace.

With that, it was now certain. This organization was no mediator.

"You call yourself the Master, right?" Kang Jin-Ho chuckled dismissively.

The Master didn't shy away and glared straight at Kang Jin-Ho.

"Listen, Mister Master. I've held back as much as I could."

"…"

"You said something about wanting to know about me, didn't you?" Kang Jin-Ho slowly bared his fangs. "In that case, stop being a coward and fight me. I've never heard about martial artists learning about each other by yapping on and on, after all! You'll know all there is to know about me once I stick my sword in your throat."

A clear, naked provocation! So cold and clear was Kang Jin-Ho's provocation that one could even detect a hint of blood stench in it!

...And the cunning mask-wearing martial artist finally reacted to that provocation.

"It's been confirmed, then," The Master quietly muttered while subtly pushing the mask up his face just a little. "Now I know that words cannot get through to you."

"So? What are you going to do about it?"

"We shall naturally move on to the next part of the confirmation."

Creeeak…!

The Master's nail scratched against the mask's surface to produce a chilling metallic noise.

The Master coldly chewed his words out. "Shall we confirm if you are qualified enough to be so arrogant?"

Kang Jin-Ho coolly turned around and headed to the doorway again. A toothy grin revealing his pearly whites was etched on his face. "Looks like you finally understand."

"It seems this was a waste of time. We should've done this from the beginning."

Lee Hyeon-Su watched this rapidly souring situation in stupefaction before whispering urgently into Wiggins' ear. "D-Did you know things will turn out this way?"

Wiggins grimaced a little. "...I had a hunch my lord could respond this way, yes."

"But, what about that Master fella, then?"

"The Master, well…" Wiggins sighed, unable to continue.

The Master he knew was not the type to choose extreme methods from the get-go. So, Wiggins honestly believed this meeting wouldn't produce an outcome of two sides getting into a physical conflict.

But, to think the event would unfold this way!

"At least we now know one thing for sure," said Wiggins.

"Sorry?" Lee Hyeon-Su tilted his head.

"Looking back on how we ended up in this situation, it seems my lord's talent in rubbing people the wrong way is at the level of genius. Wouldn't you agree?"

"…?"

What on Earth was Wiggins relaxedly yapping on about?! When the leader of the Korean Martial Assembly was about to clash violently against the Master of the Round Table?!

Wiggins continued to speak. "Regardless of what… It's not a bad outcome from our point of view, wouldn't you say? Let's look at it this way. We can now look forward to an incredible spectacle happening soon."

Lee Hyeon-Su tutted slightly. "...Sir, it sounds like you've given up."

"In that case, how about you step up and talk my lord out of it?"

Talk who out of what? Talk Kang Jin-Ho into backing down?

Lee Hyeon-Su sneakily glanced at Kang Jin-Ho before chuckling helplessly. Because he could see that a truly chilling smirk had completely taken over Kang Jin-Ho's face!

When Kang Jin-Ho was in that state, no one could change his mind, never mind stop him!

"...Please delay the Assembly Master and the Master for as long as you can, sir. At least until I can find a suitable arena for their showdown. We definitely can't hold that near here."

Eventually, even Lee Hyeon-Su had to throw his hands up in surrender.