Descent of the Demon Master

There were many inalienable truths in life.

Some of these truths were hidden and not easily noticeable during one's daily life. However, when the right opportunity comes around... They would inevitably rear their ugly heads!

As for the truth Jo Gyu-Min was learning right now? It’d be that every action had a reaction!

“...Hyung-nim?”

Lee Hyeon-Su sourly grunted. “Keep it down.”

“...Hang on a second, hyung-nim.”

“I said, keep it down, Gyu-Min.”

“I just wanted to let you know that it’s almost the time of departure.”

“Tsk!” Lee Hyeon-Su tutted loudly while glancing at Jo Gyu-Min standing at attention by the corner of the room. “I swear, if only I had more time…!”

“You get your ass kicked every single time, so why do you keep pushing your luck, man?”

“Hyung-nim.”

“Yeah?”

Jo Gyu-Min replied gravely. “Aren’t I a man, too?”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“…?”

“A man finds meaning in his life by constantly challenging stuff.”

“Oh, really? And you won’t feel short-changed if one of your challenges gets you killed?”

“...Well, I will.”

Lee Hyeon-Su helplessly shook his head.

‘And here I thought this fool had all his screws in the right place…’

Then again, when Lee Hyeon-Su thought about it some more… Didn’t he become acquaintances with Jo Gyu-Min through Kang Jin-Ho? There was no way someone like that would be sane, then!

“Anyways… What’s the arrangement?” Lee Hyeon-Su casually asked.

“We've emptied out about half of the cargo plane. You could cram as many as three hundred people in there. However, too many people will make it harder to slip in and out of a country.”

“Nah. We aren’t planning to send that many, to begin with.” Lee Hyeon-Su grunted again while glancing at the cargo plane not too far away from him.

They were currently inside the airport. Or, more accurately, a hangar. Since they weren’t dealing with a passenger plane, it was easy enough to avoid the eyes of other people.

Jo Gyu-Min curiously asked, “Why are you guys going to the UK, though? And so covertly, too.”

“Sorry, but a full day of explanation still won’t be enough. Besides, what powers do I have, anyway? They tell me to jump, and I ask how high. That’s about it.”

“Well, you do have a point there.”

The two men groaned in unison. Jo Gyu-Min didn’t need to hear to know who was behind this sudden sojourn to the other side of the world. Without a doubt, Kang Jin-Ho must be the culprit!

As far as that was concerned, he fully sympathized with Lee Hyeon-Su. After all, Jo Gyu-Min knew only too well how unstoppable Kang Jin-Ho would get once he became fixated on something! He had experienced such a thing far too many times to count by now!

“Hyung-nim, will this trip be dangerous?”

“Everything we do is kinda dangerous, Gyu-Min.”

“...Well, I guess you’re right,” Jo Gyu-Min helplessly shrugged before frowning a little. “This is what I don’t understand, though. Isn’t it okay not to do something this dangerous? Mister Jin-Ho’s got plenty of money, and he can get any status in society if he wants to, so why does he have to go out of his way to live his life on the edge? While committing crimes like this?”

Lee Hyeon-Su could only grin wryly at that. He had to admit that Jo Gyu-Min had a point.

There could have been a way for the Assembly to maintain the status quo and give everyone a comfortable-enough life. However, the Assembly and its people didn't even bother to stop and think about this alternative.

‘I mean, that’s par for the course, isn’t it? When we’re all martial artists here?’

This was their way of life. And this was how they would continue to live.

“Forget it, man. Just focus on the job at hand, okay? Have you spoken to the pilots yet?”

“I have. But they are not Jaegyeong employees, so I’m not sure how effective my talking-to will be. If things go sideways, they might sing like canaries.”

“...That's the risk we'll have to take on.”

Jaegyeong might be a large corporation, but even it didn't own cargo planes. Hwang Jeong-Hu could utilize his considerable power in the industry to sweep most things under the carpet, but the plane and the pilots still belonged to a different company. The odds of the stories about this event leaking out were not zero. However, they had no choice but to risk it this time.

“Still, try to gag them as much as you can, okay?”

“Don't worry about that, hyung-nim. I mean, we'll also be troubled if the rumors start floating around, after all.”

“Yeah…” Lee Hyeon-Su nodded, then glanced at the distance, where a large group of people had gathered. That group consisted of Kang Jin-Ho at the lead, the Assembly’s directors, the Demon Flames, the elites of the demon cult, and even the Chevaliers. In total, there were over a hundred people present.

Seeing such a fighting force should have given Lee Hyeon-Su a warm, fuzzy feeling, but not this time. The impression he got this time was anything but fuzzy.

A combat force of this size could utterly destroy most organizations. As a matter of fact, Kang Jin-Ho and the directors alone should only need a few minutes to totally wipe out a sect.

However, they were heading to Great Britain. Their opponent wasn't some sect or a clan. No, they were about to face a country and its might. Maybe even the entirety of Europe if things didn't go as planned!

‘I hope we’re not doing something completely crazy here…’

If what Wiggins said was to be believed, this venture should be eminently doable for this group of people. However, Lee Hyeon-Su knew that life rarely worked out as planned. Worse still, an event as history-making as this one would always be accompanied by variables of all shapes and sizes.

In that case, one of the deciding factors of this “expedition” would be how well they managed to minimize the variables.

Lee Hyeon-Su glanced at Jo Gyu-Min. “I’m gonna go over there and report.”

“Got it, hyung-nim. I’ll go inside the plane and inspect things one more time.”

“Okay. Later.” Lee Hyeon-Su lightly patted Jo Gyu-Min on the shoulder.

Although Jo Gyu-Min could be incredibly annoying at times, no one was more trustworthy than him in taking care of things like this.

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su

once the latter had finished walking up to him. “How are the preparations going?”

“We’re almost finished, sir.”

“Mm…”

“As long as there aren’t any issues, you should arrive at the destination in twelve hours or so,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

“That’s long.”

“Well, Britain is on the other side of the planet, you know.”

Kang Jin-Ho silently nodded away.

Lee Hyeon-Su couldn't help but think the Assembly Master seemed unruffled. There was no sign of tension in Kang Jin-Ho's expression, even though they were about to slip into enemy territory.

Then again, when did Kang Jin-Ho ever look tense or jittery before a battle?

“Is everyone else ready to depart?” Lee Hyeon-Su asked while scanning the group.

“Not much to get ready for, Mister Lee,” said Wiggins in a jokey tone. “It’s not like we need to get our passports ready, anyway. We just have to sit tight inside that plane for a few hours, and that will be all. On that subject, I should’ve gotten some cushions for my poor buttocks. I didn’t think about cargo planes not having any seats inside…”

“…Master, sir. Aren’t you a little too laidback about this?”

“How can I not be? Others might be going to a strange country, but I’m going home. What is there to be nervous about?”

After saying that, Wiggins smirked deeply.

‘Life can really be unpredictable. Now isn’t it?’

Wiggins knew he’d return home to England one day. But not like this. The sudden visit from the Master of the Round Table had set Wiggins’ wheel of fate in motion. And it seemed to be spinning rather vigorously, too!

“Well, then. Master, please have a safe trip,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

“Have a what now?”

“Sorry? Is there a… problem?” Lee Hyeon-Su cautiously asked as dread began building inside him.

Wiggins smirked deeply while glancing at Kang Jin-Ho. “My lord, it seems this brat is mistaken about something.”

“Yes, it seems that way,” Kang Jin-Ho replied flatly.

Lee Hyeon-Su began grimacing. “...What do you mean, sirs?”

“Isn't it obvious? You're coming with us.”

“…!” Lee Hyeon-Su’s eyes powerfully quaked just then. “H-hold on! Wait a minute! I’m not a frontline fighter, so why?! I will only be a burden if I tag along, you know! In that case, I might as well stay here to uncover more information and get it over to you ASAP…”

“Really now? Then, how will you acquire information on the UK from here?”

The heavy fist of Lord Facts ruthlessly slammed into Lee Hyeon-Su’s gut. “B-b-but, at least I can gather info from the... Uh, outside of the UK…”

“Mm?” Wiggins playfully tilted his head. “This is my first time hearing about the Assembly’s spies in Europe. When did you do this, Mister Lee?”

“...No, sir. I haven’t done anything.”

“Then, how will you do what you claimed?”

Lee Hyeon-Su clamped his mouth shut.

Honestly? He had no way of doing it. At least he had people in China and Japan, allowing him to collect some information. But the Assembly's influence couldn't reach somewhere as far away as Europe.

This situation couldn’t be helped, though. Before the Round Table’s sudden interest in South Korea, Lee Hyeon-Su never imagined he’d be dealing with the Europeans, after all!

Even after Wiggins joined the team, the Number One target to keep an eye on always had been China, followed closely by Japan. Europe wasn't even on the list of threats until recently.

That had been the situation, so why would Lee Hyeon-Su even think about collecting intel from Europe in the first place?

“Mister Lee, I get that you wish to enjoy a little me time while everyone’s off to the other side of the world, going through who knows what.”

“...Master, are you seriously gonna guilt-trip me?”

“Lamentably, though, a dream must remain as a dream. We need more interpreters. Get on the plane.”

“…” Lee Hyeon-Su’s shoulders grandly slumped. Since Wiggins openly said so, and Kang Jin-Ho also nodded to express his approval… Lee Hyeon-Su’s fate was as good as sealed now!

‘Even though this is my first-ever trip to Europe…’

Other people's Euro Trip would be a journey of a lifetime filled with romance and fun, but to think Lee Hyeon-Su's trip would be like this!

Just as Lee Hyeon-Su began wallowing in despair…

“You can come on board now, everyone!” Jo Gyu-Min loudly shouted from the plane's loading bay.

The Assembly's warriors nodded, then strode toward the plane in fearless steps.

Jo Gyu-Min approached Kang Jin-Ho. “Have a safe trip, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“Mm, I will. Thank you for your hard work.”

“No need to mention it,” Jo Gyu-Min grinned cheerily back, then glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su lifelessly shuffling toward the plane. Just one look at Lee Hyeon-Su’s crumpled expression was all Jo Gyu-Min needed to figure out the situation. Naturally, the corners of Jo Gyu-Min’s lips began twitching into a smirk. “Hyung-nim? I didn’t know you’d be going, too.”

“...Stop smirking, will you?”

“Eiii, I would never dare. I was worried about you, that’s all.”

Lee Hyeon-Su's innards started burning like fierce flames after noticing Jo Gyu-Min's expression. That was an expression of a man who had finally gotten rid of a decades-long heartburn!

‘I swear to God, Imma wreck you one of these days!’

Unfortunately, now wasn’t one of those days!

Jo Gyu-Min gleefully urged Lee Hyeon-Su on. “We don't have time to waste, hyung. Please hurry.”

“...We'll continue this talk when I get back. Got that?” Lee Hyeon-Su slowly shook his head while entering the cargo plane.

Since their ride wasn’t built to carry passengers, entering it was a little more cumbersome than usual, but such a thing was not a hindrance to the people in this place.

Once everyone had entered the plane, the loading bay slowly closed shut.

Jo Gyu-Min nodded at this sight. And now, it was impossible to know people were riding in that cargo plane from the outside. His job was almost finished now.

‘Why does it feel like the scale of my job’s been growing larger and larger lately?’

Way back in the past, Jo Gyu-Min’s job entailed cleaning up after Kang Jin-Ho’s mess or giving the latter a ride to Seoul from his military base. That was the extent of his duties, but things gradually ballooned to the point of going global now.

At least Jo Gyu-Min still felt the events remained in the realm of reality while covertly smuggling a handful of people into China. But now, he was part of a team arranging a covert infiltration into the UK by over one hundred people!

“Gee whiz. It’s like I’m in a bloody movie…”

Jo Gyu-Min helplessly shook his head, then turned around to leave the hangar. His job this time would end after watching the plane safely take off.

***

“It’s more spacious than I thought,” Lee Hyeon-Su muttered.

“Mm…!” Kang Jin-Ho nodded in agreement.

Since it was called a cargo plane, Kang Jin-Ho was under the impression that it'd be as cramped as a storage unit. Now that he was inside one, though, the interior turned out to be surprisingly spacious and pleasant enough to be in.

Then again, a cargo plane was just a passenger plane, only with its seats ripped out and its interior hollowed out to load goods. Being spacious shouldn't come as a surprise, in that case.

Despite a sizable portion of the interior being taken up by the tightly sealed cargo, Kang Jin-Ho's group still enjoyed more than enough room. As a matter of fact, they could even lie down if they wanted to. Of course, no one would want to do that in this situation.

“We’ll be taking off soon,” said Lee Hyeon-Su. He had regained his usual complexion by now.

Getting dragged to somewhere in the British Isles pained him to no end, but that didn't mean he should continue to mope about like a loser.

Now that things had come this far, he should readjust his goal to finishing this adventure as quickly and perfectly as possible and coming home.

“I didn't think I'd travel to Europe like this,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Me too, sir. If you don't mind me making a small wish, please let this be my one and only trip to Europe, sir. I don't want to go there if I can help it.”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked deeply. “Don't say that. Because, if things work out, you probably will be traveling quite often to Europe.”

“...Sir, I was thinking about the same thing just now.”

That was when the plane began to slowly move.

“I think we're about to take off, sir.”

“Mm…”

Regular people would’ve been urgently trying to find something to hold on to or belts to strap themselves into. However, a plane taking off wouldn’t trouble the martial artists. They could maintain their balance with only one finger and not worry about falling down, after all!

That was probably why the plane continued to taxi toward the runaway without any announcement. And then, Kang Jin-Ho felt a moment of weightlessness and a subtle shuddering below his feet.

Lee Hyeon-Su walked up to the nearby window and glanced outside. The blue skies were the first things to greet him. And then, he could see the airport growing into a small dot way below him.

‘...Damn. I’m really going, huh?’

Whether he wanted to or not… The plane was already in the air. Turning it around now didn’t seem feasible anymore!

This was the start of the Martial Assembly’s first overseas deployment.