Descent of the Demon Master

past, that had been the only option on the table for his future, so he poured in all of his being into getting good grades.
But that was no longer true now.
Even if he didn't study hard, he still had various options to live a socially and financially abundant life.
Of course, this didn't mean he could entirely abandon studying, though.

It wouldn’t take a genius to realize that his falling grades would make his parents genuinely worried about him.
It would also create problems in his school life.
Kang Jin-Ho definitely didn't want that.

He emotionlessly replied to her, “No, I am still interested.”

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“Even though you doze off in class and wasted time playing all the time?”

“Hmm. It seems that the girl I saw in the karaoke lounge that day wasn't you.”

Han Se-Yeon poked her tongue out.
“I'll have you know, that was the only time I didn't study.”

Kang Jin-Ho looked back to his current life.
He realized that he hadn't exactly taken his time to study anything.
Sure, he did try to read through some of the textbooks, but that always happened during class.
Considering his current status, perhaps he should devote more of his time to studying…

“I'll be studying from now on.”

Han Se-Yeon tilted her head.
“Wait, does that mean you haven't been studying at all until now?”

“That's correct…”

“But, you still got a better test score than me?”

“I guess so?”

Han Se-Yeon began pouting deeply.
“You…
I'm gonna keep my eyes on you.
Let's see how well you’ll do during next week's mock exams!”

“Suit yourself.”

As they chatted, the classroom door suddenly flung open and the angry-looking homeroom teacher, Kim Seong-Ju, came outside.
“You two!”

“Yes, sir?”

“I told you to stand in the corridor, not chat up a girl and have a date!”

“But sir.
I didn't initiate this conversation.”

“You still answered her, didn't you?!”

“That's correct, sir.”

Kim Seong-Ju roared at him. “In that case, why are you even talking back to me as if you are in the right?!”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head in confusion.
He was simply replying to someone trying to talk to him, but he wasn't supposed to do that?

“Uh-whew, never mind! You, just come back inside!”

“Yes, sir.” Kang Jin-Ho obediently went back inside the classroom.

Han Se-Yeon made an expression akin to a scalded cat, then hurriedly bowed to Kim Seong-Ju before trotting away to her original destination.

“Seriously now, kids these days…” Kim Seong-Ju muttered while feeling wronged for some reason.

***

Jeong In-Gyu walked up to Kang Jin-Ho when school ended and tapped the latter on the shoulder.
“Hey, let's go to the PC Room!”

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Finally, the moment had come.
Kang Jin-Ho's heart began boiling in anticipation.
Yes! The day of redemption had finally arrived!

'I've waited long enough…'

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't pay much attention to his gaming while dealing with Choi Yeong-Su's matters. Now that chapter of his life was over, it was time to move on to the next task of repaying the humiliation he had suffered on that day.
Just how much effort did he pour in for this moment? Whenever he found free time, Kang Jin-Ho would pounce on his computer and game as much as possible.
So much so that the images of the game screens would appear even in his dreams.

“Alright, let's go,” Kang Jin-Ho replied with a snarky grin on his face.

Jeong In-Gyu cocked an eyebrow.
“Oh? You look pretty confident of yourself.”

“Obviously…”

“Don't be like the last time, though.”

“Discard all your worries,” said Kang Jin-Ho as the spirit of competition began taking over his expression.
It didn't matter whether he was playing computer games or something else, he had never been the type of person to accept defeat.
If he hadn't bothered to start anything, he wouldn't have cared, but after he had gotten involved, he simply had to win no matter what.

Just how angry and frustrated was he while trying to endure the ensuing days after his resounding defeat? He finally had the chance to wash away that humiliation and end it all with a beautiful victory.

“What about the others?” Kang Jin-Ho asked.

“Tae-Ho and Min-Jae are tagging along, obviously! How can we game without them, anyway?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded at that.
“Then, let's get going.”

Jeong In-Gyu whistled while watching Jin-Ho standing up urgently.
“Huh. I guess you're really confident, eh?”

“They’re small fries.”

“Wowsers! Dude, that's some amazing confidence, right there.”

Kang Jin-Ho turned around to leave, but then, his eyes caught the sight of another student packing up his bag.
It was Park Yu-Min.
The boy with a limp was finally done putting his textbooks in the bag and he slung it over his shoulder.

“…Park Yu-Min.”

“N-ng?” Park Yu-Min flinched a little and raised his head when his name was called.

Kang Jin-Ho silently stared at the boy before asking a question, “Do you know how to play Galaxy?”

“G-Galaxy? Oh… Y-yeah, a little.”

A little, was it? Kang Jin-Ho stared at Park Yu-Min for a little longer, then gestured with his chin.
“Follow me.”

“Follow you? Where?”

“To the PC Room,” Kang Jin-Ho replied.

But that reply sent a shockwave through Jeong In-Gyu, prompting him to cry out in alarm.
“You want him to come with us?!”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.
“What's wrong? It's not allowed?”

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“No, it's not that, but…
we don't have enough people to balance the teams, you know?”

“Then, call someone.”

“Who?”

Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders.
“I don't know.
Don't you have some other friend?”

Jeong In-Gyu groaned, then looked around the classroom.
“If I must find someone at a short notice…”

Park Yu-Min hurriedly shook his head.
“N-no, it's fine, Jin-Ho.
You don't really need me, right?”

“What, you don't want to play?”

“Uhm…”

“If you don't want to, then don't come.
I have no desire to force someone who's not willing.”

Park Yu-Min was visibly conflicted but he couldn't bring himself to say no.

Kang Jin-Ho smirked.
“Come.
Let's get going.”

Park Yu-Min's indecision didn't last long as he began nodding quickly.

Jeong In-Gyu watching this scene could only make a tearful face.
“Oh, come on! If we go there with this guy, we'll take too long to get there, and someone else will take our spots…”

Kang Jin-Ho dismissively replied, “It's fine.
I'll give him a ride on my bicycle.”

“No, hang on a minute…”

“Just get the extra player and meet us there.”

Jeong In-Gyu quietly tutted. 

'Urgh, just what has gotten into him?'

It hadn't been that long since Park Yu-Min lied to screw Kang Jin-Ho over.
Knowing that, why did Jin-Ho want to go to the PC Room with a liar? There had to be a limit to being a nice guy, no? Did Kang Jin-Ho lose his cojones or something?

Jeong In-Gyu wanted to say no, but he found it hard to say no to Kang Jin-Ho lately for some reason.

“Okay, fine.
Fine!” Jeong In-Gyu pouted, then began asking every kid leaving the school before finally finding a boy that might be able to pull his weight.
“I found someone.”

Jeong In-Gyu still sounded unhappy, but Kang Jin-Ho was too excited to notice that.

He had been waiting for this day for far too long, after all!

“Let's get going!” Kang Jin-Ho declared in a loud voice.

Today…

Today, he shall regain his once-trampled honor once and for all!