Descent of the Demon Master

ople in our country.
I mean, those celebs who got caught smoking weed even escaped jail time, you know?”

“Mm…”

“Even though it ’s awkward to say this…
I ’m pretty sure that after you make two or three films, most actors and models would kill themselves for a chance to work with you!”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled softly.
“I see.
Sounds amazing, then.”

“Yes, it is.”

“After listening to you, now I know.” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.

“…What would that be?”

“Now I know why I ’m not interested in becoming an actor.”

A look of pure stupefaction washed over Choi Yeon-Ha ’s expression as she stared at him.

’This guy! What…
What is even on his mind?! ’

Did Kang Jin-Ho let her words enter one ear and go out the other one or something?!

The former seemed to have understood the meaning behind her stare, and to explain himself, he leisurely opened his lips.

“I ’m not trying to denigrate your profession, Miss Choi.
It ’s just that…” He stopped for a second to scratch his nose as if he was sheepish about something.
“Well, I ’m kind of sick and tired of pretending to be someone else, you see.”

“…I ’m sorry?” Choi Yeon-Ha blinked her eyes in confusion.

Even Kang Jin-Ho found what he said just now hard to fathom, so he quickly changed the topic.
“Besides, what would making movies get me, anyway? Wealth and… maybe a good movie as my legacy?”

“It ’ll also satisfy your desires for glory and fulfillment.”

“Miss Choi, I don ’t watch a lot of movies.
And I ’m not the biggest fan of them, either.
As such, I don ’t think I ’ll derive much of anything even after making a good movie, Miss Choi.”

’

“…”

“As for wealth, hmm…” Kang Jin-Ho rubbed his chin, wondering how he should explain this part.

Choi Yeon-Ha did that for him, though.
“From what Miss Se-Ah told me, you ’re apparently incredibly rich, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“Yes.
Although, it ’s a bit strange to say that wealth is actually mine…” Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders after conceding to the truth.

Choi Yeon-Ha almost blurted out, ’Do you even have any idea how much top actors make per movie?! ’ but she somehow managed to hold her tongue.

Kang Jin-Ho wouldn ’t know the asking prices for the top actors, but that was not true for his little sister, Kang Eun-Yeong.
Since the individual with the inside knowledge had declared that the wages of top actors wouldn ’t be enough to make a dent in her brother ’s bank account…
It was safe to assume that any talks of financial incentives would be useless in this situation.

Choi Yeon-Ha faltered despite her best efforts.
“H-hold on, Mister Jin-Ho.
I, uh, so—”

Unfortunately for her, Kang Jin-Ho abruptly cut her off and got ready to leave.
“We only have a limited time, Miss Choi.”

“…”

“Being an actor is a good job.
All jobs in this world are valuable in their own way.
However, different people will have different opinions on what jobs are truly worthy of them.
This isn ’t something I should say to an actor, but…
I believe that, instead of acting in a movie, I can use that time to do something more worthwhile.”

Choi Yeon-Ha quietly bit her lower lip.
What he said could be taken as a rude remark depending on how one interpreted it.
She chewed her next words out.
“In that case, what do you want to do instead?”

“Hmm.
I ’ll be looking after some kids.”

“…I ’m sorry?”

Kang Jin-Ho replied nonchalantly, “Helping out with their homework, teaching them sports, maybe even wiping their runny noses? That sort of thing?”

Choi Yeon-Ha ’s expression grew as cold as ice.
“Are you trying to make fun of me?”

Despite her icy tone, Kang Jin-Ho remained unperturbed.
“Different people will see different levels of value in any given matter.
It may sound laughable to you, but I feel that doing such things is a better use of my time than shooting a movie.”

Choi Yeon-Ha glared at Kang Jin-Ho ’s expressionless face.
“Tell me, then, what kind of ’value ’ is in that sort of thing?”

“Hmm, I wonder…” Kang Jin-Ho seriously pondered his answer.
“Mm, when you ask me like that, it ’s not easy to give you a straightforward answer, Miss Choi.”

“Look here, Mister Jin-Ho!”

“At the very least…” Kang Jin-Ho ’s voice became a little more serious as he cut her off.
“If I reach out and offer my help, wouldn ’t that be able to transform the fate of a child?”

“…?”

“A child ’s life that would have been stuck in a rut without my help could potentially become something better with my involvement.
That alone is worth my time, I think.”

’

Choi Yeon-Ha had no idea what Kang Jin-Ho was on about.
The only thing she managed to glean from his ’ramblings ’ was that no words would change Kang Jin-Ho ’s mind at this point.
“So, what you ’re saying is…
You ’re definitely not interested?”

“Yes…”

“However, I don ’t understand what you ’ve been trying to tell me.
In other words, do not think I ’ll accept that flimsy explanation and back off.”

“Nothing will change, though.”

“Yes, I can see that.
If you were the type of a man who would change his mind from a convincing argument, I wouldn ’t be like this.
That ’s why! You better steel yourself, Mister Jin-Ho.
You ’ll soon see how stubborn and driven I can be!”

Kang Jin-Ho sighed deeply, looking somewhat troubled.
Something was telling him that things were about to get rather annoying for him.

Choi Yeon-Ha shot up to her feet and headed to the counter.
She finished paying the tab and returned to the table to bow deeply at Kang Jin-Ho.
“Well, I ’ll be in your care from now on!”

“Hah…”

“See you next time.” Choi Yeon-Ha spun on her heels and exited the cafe.

Kang Jin-Ho silently raised his hands and began rubbing his face.

’I shouldn ’t have come… ’

It felt like his attempt to quell the fire only made it worse—much worse.

***

The manager sitting in the van and waiting noticed Choi Yeon-Ha and greeted her.
“Oh.
Noona, are you finished?”

Choi Yeon-Ha shoved the door open and entered the van before yelling, “Does he think that bullsh*t will work on me?!”

“I ’m sorry?” The manager shrunk in his seat in terror.

She threw her bag on the van ’s floor and even began stomping her feet after her frustration got the better of her.
“You think I ’ll give up and back off from some random excuse?! Never! This business taught me that crazy b*tches and gutsy b*tches always come on top! And I ’m gonna show you what a crazy and gutsy b*tch looks like! Let ’s see who ’s gonna win between you and me!”

The manager wordlessly observed Choi Yeon-Ha losing herself to rage and yelling at the top of her lungs, then stared outside the van ’s window.

’Yup, I better quit. ’

He was this close to throwing the towel and quitting his hellish and extreme job.
As it turned out, Jo Gyu-Min wasn ’t the only employee being tormented by their work.

Just like that, Kang Jin-Ho ended up producing yet another victim with his actions, albeit unintentionally this time.