Descent of the Demon Master
Chapter 1111. Intimidating (1)

Chapter 1111. Intimidating (1)

It had to be a dream since this situation didn't feel real at all.

Knight Wellinger stared dazedly at the severed head of Knight Yankova. That was when he changed his mind. Forget 'dream,' this scene made him feel like he was stuck in a drunken stupor!

A man who was shouting in anger a few seconds ago was now on the floor, his head separated from the rest of his body. How surreal was that?

Splutter, splat...

Fresh blood continued to gush out from the neck while producing a series of sickeningly bizarre noises. The blood spurting out from his sliced-open arteries matched the timing of his still-beating heart. It was as if Yankova's body refused to accept his death.

But that didn’t last for long.

The spasms rocking Yankova's body gradually petered out until it stopped altogether.

That was... death.

‘Yes, that is death!’

Everyone sitting around the round table was rather familiar with death. After all, they had witnessed countless deaths in their lives. Not to forget, many had died from their hands, too.

As a matter of fact, all the 'murders' they had committed so far should be enough to earn them the label of a genocidal maniac. Or, at the very least, that of a diabolical serial killer.

That was why they should have been intimately familiar with the concept of death. However...!

Yankova’s death imparted a different kind of ‘feeling.’

Despite the supposed familiarity, ‘death’ was not a common occurrence to these Knights. It still roused this powerful disharmony that felt like they were forcibly yanked out of their daily lives and thrown into a deep end of the realm of the extraordinary.

This horrifying disharmony began twisting and crushing the hearts of all the Knights present.

‘But, when?!’

What Wellinger couldn’t bring himself to accept wasn’t Yankova’s demise, however. No, it was how his colleague had died!

After all, Wellinger hadn’t seen anything. He hadn’t heard a thing. Worse still, he had not sensed anything!

If it hadn't been for Yankova's sudden silence in the middle of his speech, Wellinger would've remained utterly clueless about his colleague's death until now. Which meant...

‘If Kang Jin-Ho’s target was me instead, I wouldn’t have realized I had died? Is that it?’

Wellinger was no fool and knew exactly what this development signified.

The choice between life or death should be left up to the person. Only they could decide whether to keep living or end everything there. Unless it was the inviolable law of nature called one’s lifespan, of course.

However, that rule didn’t apply in this place. The place where Kang Jin-Ho was. And where Wellinger was, too!

In this space, Wellinger was no longer in control of his life. No, it was now up to Kang Jin-Ho’s whims!

There could be nothing more humiliating to a martial artist than this realization.

Wellinger’s gaze shifted toward Kang Jin-Ho’s arm. That was when he noticed the longsword gripped in the Korean’s hand lazily extended to his side.

That man must’ve unsheathed that weapon, then chopped Yankova’s head off before anyone could notice it.

That much was easy enough to guess from Kang Jin-Ho, the sword in his hand, and the state of the victim. That didn’t change the fact that Wellinger had failed to witness the deed.

Just how big the gap between him and Kang Jin-Ho must be for Wellinger to completely miss the sight of a man getting beheaded right before his nose?!

“Who's next?” When Kang Jin-Ho muttered that question, everyone's attention snapped away from Yankova’s corpse to him.

The Knights had already been paying utmost attention to Kang Jin-Ho before the sudden interruption had made them look away.

But now, things had changed too much, too quickly, for them to stare at him in the same manner as before!

It felt like the sharp fangs of a predator had halfway dug into their throats. Just a little more push, and their arteries might get ripped out!

Kang Jin-Ho scanned the Knights before smirking derisively. “I like courageous people.”

“...”

“So? Who wants to go next?”

No one dared to reply. They even sneakily looked down at the floor, too! Because they knew that, in this kind of situation, looking right back at Kang Jin-Ho was no different from announcing how hostile they still were toward him.

Even though they were supposed to be Knights! People of highest honor who ruled over the Round Table!

Weren’t they the top warriors representing their respective nations? Such lofty people sat around this symbolic round table, yet not a single one dared to raise their head and lock eyes with Kang Jin-Ho.

‘Huh. Now I get it.’

The Master, a spectator to this development, was currently swept up in a bizarre mood.

His initial feeling after witnessing Yankova’s head falling off was extreme rage at Kang Jin-Ho the culprit.

After all, such a thing shouldn’t have been allowed in this hallowed hall.

Even if the person who committed the misdeed was Kang Jin-Ho, he should not be allowed to get away scot-free after murdering a Knight in the Round Table’s grand hall. That was no different from spitting on the sanctity of the Round Table itself!

Even though the Master was in cahoots with Kang Jin-Ho to suppress the Knights, at the end of the day, he was still a proud member of the Round Table, now wasn’t he!

Rather obviously, he couldn't applaud in delight at the sight of a Knight dying at Kang Jin-Ho's hands.

However, that rage cooled down almost instantly. Why? Because no one raised their voices of discontent.

Even though an outsider dared to murder a Knight within the sacred grand hall of the Round Table, which was something completely inconceivable, not a single person rebelled. They all hurriedly lowered their heads in a desperate attempt to avoid Kang Jin-Ho's gaze.

Only then did the Master finally understand what Lee Hyeon-Su meant earlier.

‘Authority comes from unreasonableness, he said...’

This spectacle had starkly demonstrated the true meaning behind that statement.

Something truly unreasonable had happened right before these Knights’ eyes. But not a single one raised objections. Instead, they were clearly scared out of their wits by the culprit responsible for the act of unreasonableness.

After witnessing this outcome, the Master couldn't help but question just what... What was the point of all the hard work he had put in toward the Round Table's prosperity?

What was the point of his desperate attempt to protect this place and its ideals? What about those things he tried to respect and uphold?!

Indescribable bitter emptiness began crushing down on the Master.

Meanwhile, Kang Jin-Ho continued to scan the Knights in silence, perhaps oblivious to the Master’s inner turmoil, before addressing his frightened audience. “Looks like no one wants to go next.”

Kang Jin-Ho casually tossed the cigarette on the floor and mouthed a fresh one. His movement remained leisurely as he lit this new cigarette.

Even as he did this, no one dared to move a muscle.

“You know... Words can be so empty and futile,” said Kang Jin-Ho while lazily exhaling the cigarette smoke into the air. He then shoved the Crimson Destiny back inside his subspace. “Master?”

“Yes, Assembly Master.”

“You can continue now.”

The Master of the Round Table nodded, his expression stiff.

The stench of blood continued to dig into his nostrils. As long as the Master was inside this hall, there was no way to avoid smelling it. To him, it was just a... smell that got on his nerves. However, it should mean something else entirely to the Knights.

“And now, anyone who wishes to raise objections to my decision, please say your piece now,” said the Master. His jaw seemed to creak, however. Like that of a puppet.

Even though he spoke those words out of his own volition, it felt like strings were attached to his entire body.

Was the Master speaking out of his free will? Or was he moving according to Kang Jin-Ho’s wishes? He couldn’t tell anymore.

After that incident, the meeting proceeded at a breakneck pace.

As if all the hoarse, intense arguments among them during the past meetings were all a figment of the Master's imagination, today's meeting didn't even need five minutes for all the agendas to be discussed and approved.

And when the Master confirmed that there were no more topics left to discuss, a puzzling sensation of loss began washing over him.

‘Is this it? Really?'

None of these topics would have been resolved had the Master tried to persuade the Knights through dialogue. Even ordinary topics would’ve required a full day’s discussion just to get an approval had he stuck to the Round Table’s way of doing things. Which was to listen to the Knights’ opinions and negotiate with them until everyone was more or less happy.

However, today... Such things were taken care of in the proverbial blink of an eye!

Even as the sense of loss burned a hole in his heart, the Master now clearly understood why humans were so desperate to seize power regardless of the cost.

Because power was ultimately “convenience.”

Items on the agenda that couldn’t have been approved were approved easily. Things that would’ve required some time were dealt with a mere breath later.

‘Yes, all these things might not be anything significant at the end of the day. Yes, things have gotten only a little more convenient for me. But...’

If an item on the agenda couldn't get the necessary approval, people involved could try to persuade each other until a compromise was reached. Even if no one was willing to compromise, there should still be other options available to explore.

What if the item on the agenda required time? Even though no one had infinite free time to play with, they should still have no problem investing as much of their time as possible as if the causes were deemed worthy enough.

In short... Topics discussed and approved during this meeting could have been dealt with one way or another eventually. It might have taken several months and so much effort to make that happen, but eventually?

Everyone would have found common ground.

What the Master earned by wielding the power called “Kang Jin-Ho” today was nothing but a little bit of convenience. But this convenience loomed over the Master like the shadow of a gigantic tower.

Humans couldn’t afford to let go of convenience.

Those who got used to the convenience of a car would soon forget about the usefulness of walking. Those who got used to the convenience of an elevator would become unwilling to use the stairs.

Certain situations might force humans to briefly deal with inconveniences, but nothing could stop them from relying on things that made their lives so convenient until now.

As such, the Master could never go back now. After personally experiencing how convenient it was to skip the time-consuming process of negotiating and mediating between the parties, he could never go back to how things were handled in the past!

He now understood how much was lost and wasted during that unnecessary process called negotiations, after all!

No one dared to object to his opinions. The Knights kept their mouths shut and sheepishly gauged his mood even when the Master asked them to offer their ideas and opinions.

People holding the lofty position of the Knights of the Round Table were desperate not to get on the Master's nerves!

While taking in on the spectacle, the Master sensed the hole in his heart gradually filling up with this bizarre emotion. And that emotion was pleasure. Not just any pleasure, but a contemptible and petty one, the kind humans would feel when they had trampled on their opponents to stand on top!

The one thing he had been most wary of, that one thing he repeatedly told himself never to feel, finally began ruling over him.

‘...Corruption!’

That word abruptly popped into the Master’s head. Unfortunately for him, though, it was too late to turn back.

“If we have no more items left to discuss, I’ll now end this meeting,” said the Master.

The Knights immediately glanced in Kang Jin-Ho’s direction, although as stealthily as possible. It was as if they needed his permission first to end this meeting, too!

The Master ignored that and asked, “Does anyone wish to speak before we end the proceedings?”

Unsurprisingly, no one said anything. The Knights merely continued to cautiously mind Kang Jin-Ho and the Master's moods.

Even though they were pushed to the precipice, not a single Knight tried to get Wellinger to make a move. As a matter of fact, they didn't even dare look in his way!

Their intentions of not being 'mistaken' as a part of Wellinger's faction by stupidly looking in his way were easy enough to decipher.

The Master had to work quite hard to suppress the bitter smile from forming on his face.

‘Even though you’re all supposed to be Knights!’

These people used to serve the Round Table with the Master. Once upon a time, he believed they were the dependable bulwark, the trustworthy companions, of this organization. The people who were supposed to be the strength of this noble place!

But now? Those qualities the Master had seen in them were completely absent now.

That was when he realized something new.

A person's view would change depending on where they stood.

When the Master viewed these Knights as equals, they seemed so dependable and strong. However, after seizing power and looking down at them from the ruler’s perspective...

Even these lofty Knights didn’t seem anything special now.

This moment painfully taught him that lesson.

The Master grimaced slightly. “Then, today’s meeting is...”

“Hold on,” Kang Jin-Ho suddenly cut the Master off.

“...Of course.”

After the Master obediently stopped talking, Kang Jin-Ho silently scanned the Knights before smirking derisively again. “You guys are pretty well-behaved, aren’t you?”

The faces of the Knights immediately reddened.

“I like well-behaved people. As long as you behave yourselves like today, you won’t see me again. However, remember this. If you do something to make me come over here again, I promise you, things won’t end as nicely as today.”

The smirk on Kang Jin-Ho’s lips deepened as he deliberately locked his glare on the Knights. They hurriedly lowered their heads as his glare swept past them.

“Very good,” Kang Jin-Ho tutted, then got up without saying anything else.

He leisurely walked past the round table and headed toward the dim corridor. Wiggins and Lee Hyeon-Su silently followed him as if to say they had no further business with this place.

The remaining people watched this scene in complete silence.

“...And now, I declare this meeting officially closed.”

Only the Master’s voice eerily echoed to break the dead-still silence pervading the hall.

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