Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1098. Taking Care of Things (3)

That question was as ordinary as it could get. And the people sitting around this table could have replied without much care or thought... at least, if it was in the past, that was!

But to Park Yu-Min, that question was like a loaded gun. One that was packed full of all sorts of hidden meanings and intentions!

Perhaps unsurprisingly, though, Kang Jin-Ho didn’t seem to share his friend’s sentiment.

“I’m doing okay. Nothing major to report,” said Kang Jin-Ho with a calm attitude. His voice was flat, indicating he was his usual self. Or maybe he was a little gloomier than usual?

‘That’s weird?’

Park Yu-Min sneakily gauged Kang Jin-Ho's vibe. If it had only been two of them, he might have started wondering if Kang Jin-Ho was in a bad mood. This tone of voice or vibe wasn't something Park Yu-Min had seen from his friend in a long, long time, after all.

However, that was for him. What about Han Se-Yeon, though? Maybe Kang Jin-Ho speaking this way was what she remembered about him.

Han Se-Yeon chuckled in dismay. “Come on, Jin-Ho. Really? You must’ve done something interesting, right?”

“Well, I finished my military service, then...” Kang Jin-Ho looked up briefly at the ceiling while frowning a little. “Mm... I haven’t done anything of note after that...”

Of course, that was not true. He had done many things of note, but telling Han Se-Yeon was out of the question.

“Okay, fine. What about Eun-Yeong, though? Is your little sister doing well?”

“Mm...?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.

‘What is she doing exactly these days?’

Since Kang Eun-Yeong seemed to have switched her job to a housesitter lately, Kang Jin-Ho couldn't think of a good way to describe his little sister's current situation. Between working nonstop as an idol and kicking back and relaxing at home, which one would qualify more as “doing well”?

Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t quite sure. So, the best answer he could come up with was...

“I think so?”

“Really? You don't even know how your own sister is doing?”

“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho frowned a little and groaned.

Han Se-Yeon chuckled again. “You haven’t changed at all, have you?”

Memories were coming back to her in full force.

Kang Jin-Ho was like this back in the past, too. Common sense wasn’t so common with him. Things that should have been obvious and ordinary didn’t seem that way around him.

...And that was why Han Se-Yeon couldn’t help but get interested in him. And that was why she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Park Yu-Min couldn’t endure the pressure from the extended silence and tried to say something. “S-so, Se-Yeon! Are you thinking of resuming your studies?”

“Yeah, I am,” Han Se-Yeon nodded.

“Wow, that means you’ll be in the same lectures as Jin-Ho.”

“I guess so? We share majors, after all. And our year is the same, too.”

While Kang Jin-Ho was serving in the Korean military, Han Se-Yeon went to study abroad. Which meant they would be attending the same lectures when they resumed their studies in Jaegyeong University.

However, it seemed Kang Jin-Ho had other plans.

“No, I’m thinking of dropping out,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

Han Se-Yeon and Park Yu-Min stared at him incredulously. “Dropping out? Seriously?”

“Mm...”

“But... What about your diplomas? You don’t want them?”

“Yeah, I’m not interested.”

“Huh?? Then, what about your future? What will you do?”

Kang Jin-Ho remained expressionless as he stated his thoughts. “I’m not sure how to explain what I’m planning to do, but one thing is for certain. I am dropping out.”

“Don’t you know how important your resume is these days? It’s not for nothing that so many people spend tens of millions of Won trying to get those diplomas, you know? Do you have a job lined up somewhere?”

“Mm,” Kang Jin-Ho briefly nodded.

“Really? In Jaegyeong?”

“No,” Kang Jin-Ho waved his hand. “It’s not Jaegyeong. And it’s not exactly me getting a job somewhere. But this work doesn’t need a diploma, so it’s not worth going back to university.”

“Is that so?” Han Se-Yeon replied, her expression stiffening a little. “What did your parents say?”

“I haven’t discussed it with them yet. Not sure what they will say.”

“I’m pretty sure they won’t be happy about this.”

“You might be right,” Kang Jin-Ho shook his head as if it didn’t concern him. “But this is something that must be done. I’ll persuade them somehow.”

“Oh.” Han Se-Yeon clamped her mouth shut.

It felt like she was getting shut out. And this feeling instantly led to unfamiliar awkwardness.

What changed for them to be like this?

They used to have fun by simply hanging out together, didn’t they? They had so many things to talk about. They could spend hours sharing banters and jokes no one else would’ve found funny or even tolerable. But now...

Now, their relationship was something else, something weird, that required her to hide her awkwardness from the other two.

Was it because Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t talkative? No, it wasn’t.

Kang Jin-Ho never had been a talkative person. Back then, it didn’t matter how energetically and enthusiastically people engaged him as he’d reply with brief “Mm” and “Sure” to instantly deflate the other party.

The awkwardness wasn’t because of Kang Jin-Ho’s lack of reaction. No, it was the fault of all the time they had spent away from each other.

Yet another bout of unbearable silence descended on the trio.

Park Yu-Min urgently alternated his gaze between his two friends.

Ju Yeong-Gi was bringing out a plate of pickles when he saw the panicked look on Park Yu-Min’s face and groaned deeply to himself.

‘Tsk, tsk. You poor thing...’

That was why he told that idiot not to get in the way!

A man should know when to butt in and when to stay in the background. If Ju Yeong-Gi had been the one setting this meeting up, he’d have fled the scene of this carnage the moment Kang Jin-Ho showed his face here.

After putting the empty plates and pickles on the table, Ju Yeong-Gi glanced at Han Se-Yeon before turning around to leave.

‘Yup, I better not pay attention to this tragedy.’

Why? Because this tragedy was taking place within the Purgatory! Amateurishly getting involved would only lead to Ju Yeong-Gi’s innards getting boiled alive from frustration!

Sure enough...

Han Se-Yeon raised her voice. “How could you not call me once while I was in the UK?”

Kang Jin-Ho replied flatly. “I was serving in the military at the time.”

“That... is true. You probably couldn’t call someone overseas when you’re in the army.”

Ju Yeong-Gi reflexively face-palmed while walking away.

‘You... You dense motherf*cker of a chick magnet!’

What a way to kill the mood! That woman was trying her best to change the mood of this Hell by speaking a little more energetically and maybe even high-handedly, yet Kang Jin-Ho only needed to utter one sentence to bury her attempt six feet under. How was he so good at doing that!

Ju Yeong-Gi felt so bad for Park Yu-Min caught in the middle that he almost teared up right there and then.

Han Se-Yeon valiantly tried again. “Then, why didn’t you call me after your discharge?”

“I didn’t know your new phone number.”

“Ah!”

Ju Yeong-Gi hurriedly headed to the counter in a vain attempt to reach a spot in this pizzeria where he couldn't hear that conversation. He feared for his life at that moment. The awkwardness from that table might give him a heart attack if he lingered there any longer!

He settled on the stool behind the counter. That was when his gaze landed on Park Yu-Min’s face.

‘Wow. He’s completely pale. Completely.’

That’s why I told you to stay out of it, didn’t I! You dumbass! Why are you willingly putting yourself through this crap?

“Well, now that you have my number, will you start calling me again?”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head at Han Se-Yeon’s question. “Call you?”

“Yeah.”

“I will if it’s necessary.”

“What if it’s not necessary?”

“In that case, I probably won’t.”

“Yes, I guess you won’t.”

Park Yu-Min hurriedly reached out for a cup of Coke and chugged the carbonated drink down in one go. If his hand had been shaking any harder, his face, not his throat, would have been soaked in the soda instead!

However, Han Se-Yeon’s gaze remained fixed on Kang Jin-Ho and no one else.

“Jin-Ho?”

“Mm?”

“Let’s try to stay in touch, okay?”

“...?”

Han Se-Yeon sighed deeply. “I mean... Isn’t this too awkward? Maybe it’s because we haven’t seen each other in a while, but I don’t know what to say to you. But we weren’t like this before, right? If we talk and hang out together more often, I’m sure we can go back to how things were like.”

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow ever so slightly. “How things were like, you say?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Eh?”

Clear hints of fluster filled Han Se-Yeon’s expression.

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head while wondering out loud. “Things have changed a lot for all of us. In that case, why should we go back to how things were like in the past?”

“What are you even saying? Staying as friends is a good thing, you know.”

“Mm...”

Staying as friends was good? Han Se-Yeon might be right.

The problem, though, was that it was nothing more than a nice-sounding sentiment at this point in their lives.

Things had changed for them. Kang Jin-Ho was too busy to make time for others as freely as he used to. Even Park Yu-Min had professional commitments, too. Both of them were fully throwing themselves into places they should be to live their lives.

That was the case now, so could they possibly go back to how things were like?

“Well, if we have time, sure,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

Han Se-Yeon backed off slightly at that reply.

‘He hasn’t changed at all.’

Kang Jin-Ho was different now, but not so different, either.

Even in the past, it was Han Se-Yeon who had to call first if she wanted to hang out with Kang Jin-Ho. She could probably count on one hand how many times he called her first.

Actually, that wasn't quite right. If she was being brutally honest with herself... She couldn't remember that happening. Not even once.

That seemed like a good example of what their relationship back then was like.

Although they had fun hanging out together, looking back at those memories made her realize something wasn't quite normal about their relationship.

But that was what the casual reminiscence of the past was like. It might seem like the past had been all fun and no hardship to speak of, but take the rose-tinted glasses off, and you'd soon realize not everything had been as enjoyable as you thought.

“What’s wrong? Is it tricky to talk to me?” Han Se-Yeon cautiously asked.

“No, it’s not,” Kang Jin-Ho shook his head.

“Is it because of your girlfriend?”

Clunk!

The moment Han Se-Yeon said that G-word out loud, Park Yu-Min's chair noisily creaked to announce its presence.

Park Yu-Min hurriedly looked at the counter and yelled at Ju Yeong-Gi. “Come on, dude! Where is our pizza!”

Ju Yeong-Gi yelled back. “You ordered it like a couple of minutes ago! This ain’t a fast food joint, okay!”

“J-just hurry up, will you?”

Ju Yeong-Gi slowly shook his head.

He knew Park Yu-Min was being unreasonable. But he had no desire to criticize his friend. That idiot must be willing to do anything to survive this deadly awkwardness, including chewing on those empty plates!

How pitiful was that? So, so pitiful, indeed!

Kang Jin-Ho coolly shook his head. “No, it’s not because of her.”

“Really?” Han Se-Yeon murmured while fidgeting slightly.

Ju Yeong-Gi could tell she was trying to keep a straight face, but her expression betrayed her intentions as it had already changed several times since Kang Jin-Ho's arrival.

“I heard your girlfriend is Choi Yeon-Ha. Is that true?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Yu-Min told me. But don’t chew him out later, okay? I forced him to tell me.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Why do what?”

“Why would I chew Yu-Min out?”

“N-no, I mean, that’s not...” Han Se-Yeon faltered again. Watching Kang Jin-Ho tilt his head in confusion instantly filled her chest with even more frustration. “You know...! It’s uncool to talk about someone’s love life behind their backs, right?”

Kang Jin-Ho coolly shrugged. “I don’t mind.”

“O-okay...”

That was when Park Yu-Min hurriedly chimed in. “By the way, Se-Yeon? Don’t tell anyone about it, please. Miss Choi is a celebrity, after all.”

“I won’t do that,” Han Se-Yeon replied sharply before locking her gaze on Kang Jin-Ho. “So?”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head again. “Mm? What is it?”

“Miss Choi Yeon-Ha. Is she a good person?”

“A... good person?”

Kang Jin-Ho’s expressionless face finally broke, and his facial muscles began distorting ever so slightly.

Park Yu-Min knew why Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t answer that question.

‘You shouldn’t ask him like that, you know...’

That question about Choi Yeon-Ha being a good person was formulated wrongly, so to speak. If Han Se-Yeon had asked whether that woman had been good to Kang Jin-Ho or not, he’d have replied in the affirmative.

However, if the question was about Choi Yeon-Ha being a good human being? Then, well...

“A good person?” Kang Jin-Ho continued to falter.

Park Yu-Min inwardly sighed.

‘Yup, I understand your plight on this one, my friend.’

Even if super-thick rose-tinted glasses of affection were applied to Choi Yeon-Ha’s evaluation, Kang Jin-Ho probably couldn’t say “Yes” in good conscience.

Park Yu-Min urgently came to his friend’s assistance. “J-Jin-Ho, that question was about whether Miss Yeon-Ha has been good to you or not.”

“Oh...! Yes, she’s a good person.”

“Oh, really?” Han Se-Yeon muttered while scratching her empty plate with a fork. “That’s a relief, though. I was worried, you know? I heard top celebrities can be really egotistical, you see?”

“Why were you worried”

“What do you mean, why? Aren’t we friends? Isn’t it good to know that my friend’s girlfriend is nice to him?”

“Mm, I guess you’re right,” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.

Han Se-Yeon didn’t say anything else and stared at him. And Ju Yeong-Gi dazedly observed this scene before grimacing and turning his head away.

‘Nope, I can’t bear to watch anymore!’

No other place on Earth right this moment should be as awkward as that table. Merely spectating from far away was already sapping all the energy out of Ju Yeong-Gi.

The blame for this catastrophe should be placed on the shoulders of the person responsible for dragging Kang Jin-Ho out here. That idiot was already a master at killing people with sheer frustration alone, so to have him “converse” with someone clearly uncomfortable about the...

Just as Ju Yeong-Gi's thoughts reached that far, his eyes abruptly shot open wide. That was because he could see through the front windows a large van coming to an urgent stop right in front of the pizzeria!

‘H-hang on a minute. Isn’t that...?!’

The van's passenger side sliding door opened, and an all-too-familiar figure of a certain woman gallantly emerged from the opening.

‘Holy sh*t! No! Don’t come in here! No!’

Things were already hellish enough in here, so why?! Why was the Witch trying to invade this disaster, too?! Just how much worse could this situation get!

The woman emerging from the van, Choi Yeon-Ha, approached the pizzeria's entrance in sharp, determined steps. Ju Yeong-Gi thought he could hear her high heels clicking against the sidewalk!

Her eyes met Ju Yeong-Gi’s through the glass. And then... she smiled radiantly at him.

‘Run, Yu-Min. Run away as quickly as you can!’

If you want to keep your life, escape right now!

This place is about to become a war zone!

Clink~!

The entrance was energetically yanked open, and Choi Yeon-Ha stepped inside as the door chime went off. Almost at the same time, every patron in the pizzeria focused their attention on her.

“Oh, my? What~ a~ coincidence!” said Choi Yeon-Ha.

Ju Yeong-Gi squeezed his eyes shut. For some reason, he briefly thought that maybe Choi Yeon-Ha’s acting prowess wasn’t as good as people made it out to be!