Descent of the Demon Master

nt wants the reporting to the board of education to be hassle-free, they won’t have a choice but to treat this as you willingly dropping out.
Unlike expulsion, you dropping out will make the transfer process that much simpler for you.
So, all you have to do is find another school.”

“Oh? And who said he'll be reported as a dropout?” the Chief Director snorted derisively.

Kim Seong-Ju's puzzled but hostile glare landed on the old man.

Choi Myeong-Gil growled, “You think I'm scared of the board of education? It seems that you have been underestimating me!”

Kim Seong-Ju's expression hardened.

“Why don't you go ahead and try transferring to another school? If they accept you, that is! However, you better forget about private schools, boy.
Even then, I wonder how many public schools would want you? If you get lucky, you might find a school on the outskirts of a city or somewhere in the sticks.
Well, I guess that's better than not going to school, no? However, would your parents be able to find work in such areas?”

A creepy grin slowly formed on Choi Myeong-Gil's face and his eyes burned in pure malice.
Those eyes resembled a cat's eyes toying around with a dying rat.

Kang Jin-Ho was familiar with such expressions.
He had plenty of chances to witness people making such expressions after his 'rebirth' in Zhongyuan. Moreover, he also had to sometimes endure those leering gazes as a paraplegic in the past.

Unsurprisingly, Kang Jin-Ho detested expressions like the one the old man was making.

“…Are you done?”

“Huh?” Choi Myeong-Gil could only chuckle hollowly at the surprisingly composed Kang Jin-Ho.

“In that case, I'll be on my way, then.”

“You…
You bastard…!” Choi Myeong-Gil deeply furrowed his brow and glared at Kang Jin-Ho, but the latter didn't even glance at the old man.

If he could help it, Kang Jin-Ho wanted to live a quiet life.
However, his situation somehow devolved into this current state even though he hadn't done anything to deserve it.
Then again, he was the trigger, so maybe this result was inevitable.

If he had acted blind, deaf, and dumb back then, he would have still been attending school without too many issues and enjoying the ordinary life.
But…
But that would be the wrong way to live for Kang Jin-Ho.

Turning a blind eye to bad things happening in front of him just for a chance to maintain his current lifestyle—what was the point of living like that? Kang Jin-Ho's 'ordinary life' was about finding happiness in this world.

A peaceful life with no conflicts to worry about—that was what he wanted.
He yearned for some kind of peace and stability, these two things that had been missing from his life for the longest time.
However, what good was the 'stability' acquired through ignoring bad things he had the power to correct?

Kang Jin-Ho would have done the same thing again if a similar situation presented itself before him. Moreover…

'If I have to give up.
I'll just do that, then.'

He would always repay favors, but more importantly, he would never forget his grudges. This was his way of life.
If this world was going to stop him from living a peaceful life, then Kang Jin-Ho was prepared to resort to his old methods to make the world pay.

'You will regret this, old man.
You’ll regret provoking me, that is.'

Just as Kang Jin-Ho resolved himself, the classroom door opened, and a student slowly stepped outside with a limp.
It was Park Yu-Min, and he had a stiff but determined face.

“Park Yu-Min? Go back inside!” Kim Seong-Ju hurriedly yelled at the boy.

But Park Yu-Min didn't pay any heed and walked over to Kang Jin-Ho's side before glaring at the Chief Director.
“Please, stop this, sir!”

“And who are you supposed to be, boy?”

“I'm the one you threatened not too long ago, coercing me to testify that Jin-Ho had struck Yeong-Su first.”

“What nonsense are you spewing, you punk! When did I ever threaten you?!” The Chief Director yelled while scanning his surroundings.
He realized that students from the nearby classes had come to the windows and doorways to spectate.[1]

The principal also showed up just then and began yelling at the curious students, “All of you, go back inside your classrooms, now!”

Park Yu-Min was unfazed and continued with his testimony.
“Jin-Ho didn't hit Yeong-Su for no reason, sir.
It only happened when he stepped in to stop Yeong-Su from hitting me and making me drink the dirty mop water.
And the truth is, Yeong-Su has been physically and mentally tormenting me for over a year now, sir.”

The principal faltered but he still continued to yell, “What nonsense are you talking about?!”

“Everyone here has witnessed it, sir.” Park Yu-Min pointed at his surroundings, prompting the students to sheepishly nod in unison.
“If you expel Jin-Ho, then I will report this matter to the Ministry of Education, including the fact that the Chief Director has threatened me. I'll alert the media, too.
If you try to gag the media, then I'll just upload everything online.
That alone will be enough to make you the topic of the town, sir!”

The Chief Director's expression gradually crumpled.
“And you have proof? Do you?!”

“We have plenty of proofs.
There must be more than a few video clips saved on the phones, for instance.
I've seen other kids taking them before.
And my own phone still has all the threatening messages Yeong-Su had sent me!”

Choi Myeong-Gil chuckled in dismay.
“Are you threatening me, punk?”

“Threatening you?” Park Yu-Min uncharacteristically smirked just then.
His previous cowered expression was nowhere to be found now, making him nearly unrecognizable from what he had been in the past.
“No, sir.
I'm desperately fighting back.”

“Fighting back?!”

“Even worms squirm when you step on them, but I couldn't even do that until now.
If I squirmed, Yeong-Su would've hit me even more.
However, this can't go on anymore.
I'll regret it for the rest of my life if I don't try to squirm now.”

A voice suddenly came from beyond one of the classroom windows.
“Let's be serious here, everyone.
Aren't you guys going overboard, sirs?”

“Who said that?!” the principal roared urgently, causing the murmurs of discontent in the classrooms to die down temporarily.
He looked around, trying to locate the owner of that rude voice, but finding the culprit among these many witnesses wouldn't be that easy.

That was the story only for the principal, of course.
Kang Jin-Ho had already recognized that voice, and it belonged to none other than Jeong In-Gyu.

Kang Jin-Ho's initial evaluation of that kid was…
Jeong In-Gyu was an opportunist who didn't have much courage to speak of.
A man who only maintained superficial relationships; a man who had ruthlessly abandoned his so-called friends if they were no longer useful to him.

But now, someone like that had summoned all the courage he could muster to raise his voice—that was unusual for someone like Jeong In-Gyu.

His words had effectively opened the floodgates, and more discontent voices began rising up from the crowd.

“He's right.
Aren't they going overboard here?”

“Yeah, they are being totally unreasonable.”

“Hey, hey! Get your phones out and record this.
It might get real entertaining later on if you do.”

The students murmured and whispered their opinions on this situation to each other.
After realizing that this matter was heading in an unfavorable direction, the complexions of both the principal and the Chief Director began to turn red in fury.

1.
Korean schools usually have large windows on the walls separating classrooms and corridors. ☜