Descent of the Demon Master

A man’s footsteps echoed within the corridor.

The owner of that sound leisurely entered the main hall. And when the Knights of the Round Table finally clapped their eyes on this man, they all reflexively held their breaths.

On the surface, he was a young Asian man in a black business suit. And there didn't seem anything remarkable about him. Other than his facial features that crossed racial boundaries and made others appreciate his good looks, his appearance seemed as ordinary as a tourist in a famous local hotspot.

However, none of the Knights here thought of the young man as “ordinary.”

One could “see” as much as they knew.

The meaning of that time-worn phrase differed somewhat between the surface world and the martial world. It actually meant… One could “see” as far as their strength allowed it!

The stronger a martial artist, the easier it was for them to analyze the other party.

Every Knight here was a warrior powerful enough to represent their respective nation. As such, they could sense the extraordinary aura barely hidden under the surface of Kang Jin-Ho’s unassuming appearance!

“…!”

Their mouths were clamped shut. They finally understood how the legendary Elder Knights tasted bitter defeat at the hands of one man! And they also figured out why the usually proud Master spoke with such powerlessness.

...And why Wiggins chose to throw away the lofty title of the Knight of the Round Table and joined the Korean Martial Assembly!

That one man’s existence alone explained everything so perfectly.

Kang Jin-Ho casually asked Wiggins. “Did I interrupt anything?”

“No, my lord. We were waiting for your arrival.”

We? Even though this occasion was supposed to be a Round Table’s conference?

It should have been unthinkable for outsiders to participate. Although there was no specific law forbidding it, everyone here would’ve readily agreed that such a thing was highly irregular.

However, no one voiced their thoughts. Or, more correctly, they did not dare to.

Wiggins got up, then carefully offered his chair to Kang Jin-Ho. Then, he briefly went away to fetch his own chair. This series of events signified so, so many things.

Wiggins was a rather arrogant man. He might view himself as a humble, modest person, but not a single Knight of the Round Table thought of him that way.

Truth be told, Wiggins was as arrogant as a man could get without crossing the line. However, no one here thought of that as a character flaw. That was because Wiggins was qualified to be that arrogant.

But that arrogant man readily gave up his seat to show his respect to Kang Jin-Ho and his authority. And Wiggins did that as cautiously and politely as possible!

Wiggins’ actions might not seem like much, but the Knights witnessing this scene felt it burn deeply into their memories. What Wiggins did easily enhanced Kang Jin-Ho’s prestige in these people’s view.

Even Kang Jin-Ho acted a little differently from everyone's expectations. He reached out to the offered chair, then pulled it back. The chair was pulled back from its original spot, which was next to the Master, to somewhere behind. However, it wasn't exactly behind, but slightly off to the side.

Almost instantly, the Knights assessed this situation in one of two ways.

One camp saw it as Kang Jin-Ho silently indicating to everyone that “I will participate in this meeting, but I’m just an observer, so I won’t try to present myself as your equal.”

However, the other camp saw the position of the chair as Kang Jin-Ho's intention to monitor the proceedings!

Only Kang Jin-Ho would know the truth, however.

Wiggins quickly showed up with a new chair. He saw where Kang Jin-Ho had moved, then placed his chair next to the latter before wordlessly sitting down.

The Master glanced back at the Knights. “Shall we continue?”

“Of course.”

After getting the Knights’ consent, the Master nodded slightly. “The issue of alliance is secondary.”

The Master was business as usual. Even if Kang Jin-Ho was watching, it seemed he wanted to emphasize to everyone here that this was a formal conference of the Round Table.

“The crucial agenda we must discuss is whether you are ready to trust me as your Master once more. If you trust me, you will also trust the policies I pursue. If you are unwilling, then you will constantly doubt my ideas and opinions.”

“Mm…”

The Knights’ thoughts grew complicated after realizing that the Master wanted to clear up the air regarding trust toward his policies.

“Master…” Knight Negri cautiously raised his voice. He sneakily gauged Kang Jin-Ho's reaction before stiffening his expression in determination. “Before we vote on anything, there is something I must ask you.”

“Very well. Go ahead, Sir Negri.”

“...Why do you believe we must form an alliance with the Martial Assembly?”

That was a rather provocative question, indeed!

The Master gravely stared at Knight Negri.

Despite Kang Jin-Ho's presence, he still chose to ask that. It could only mean he'd openly rebel depending on the situation. The Master could sense Negri's determination to uphold the Round Table's honor even if doing so meant his death.

Perhaps that was why the one who answered Negri wasn’t the Master.

“I'll respond if you don't mind,” Kang Jin-Ho calmly raised his voice. That prompted the Knights to focus their attention on him. “I heard your arguments while entering the hall. You asked if it's for survival or for this organization's future prosperity.”

Knight Negri slowly nodded. “...Yes, that I did.”

“Unfortunately, that’s a dumb question.” Kang Jin-Ho disinterestedly replied. “You can worry about prosperity or whatever when you’re still alive. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. Live first so you can be prosperous. And that’s why one should prioritize survival above all else.”

“Sir, that sounds to me…” Knight Negri bit down hard on his lip. “...A threat to eliminate the Round Table if we decide not to enter an alliance with you.”

“Yeah. So? What if it is a threat?”

“...I beg your pardon?”

“What will you do if it is a threat?”

Knight Negri clamped his mouth shut. That was when he realized something.

‘This man… He's not the type of ruler that I'm used to!’

The position maketh the man.

To explain that phrase… No matter who you were, you had to follow certain rules and assume a certain attitude after reaching a high-enough position in the hierarchy.

However, Kang Jin-Ho seemed to have completely abandoned that idea.

No leader in any of the martial arts organizations found around the world would speak or respond the way Kang Jin-Ho did just now. After all, openly threatening the other side went against the etiquette and the norms of a meeting like this.

However, Kang Jin-Ho didn’t even bother to act like the top representative of the Korean Martial Assembly. No, it was as if he wanted to be the biggest villain in the room!

“You think I wouldn't dare?” Kang Jin-Ho smirked ominously.

That crooked smile stabbed sharply into Knight Negri's eyes, sending deathly chills down his spine.

Kang Jin-Ho wasn't finished with his threat, however. “I prefer solutions like that, you see? I won't stop you if you wish to experience it yourself.”

“…!”

“However…” Kang Jin-Ho stopped leaning forward slightly, then relaxedly sank deeper into the chair. “I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t need to do anything. Because the Round Table will crumble sooner rather than later on its own. There’s a big difference between someone who wielded great power only to lose it, and those who never had the power in the first place.”

Knight Negri’s eyes powerfully quaked. He instinctively understood what Kang Jin-Ho said just then.

The Round Table had lost far too many things this time. Almost half of the Knights were dead. Even worse, the Elder Knights were gone, too. But something even more crucial had been lost.

Negri falteringly scanned his surroundings, at his fellow Knights. There were over ten Knights here, yet none of them dared to meet Kang Jin-Ho’s gaze.

The Round Table’s pride… had been trampled on and crushed.

With how things were, the Round Table would rot from the inside even without Kang Jin-Ho’s interference.

“…!” Knight Negri sat there, stupefied and lost.

That was when the Master calmly raised his voice. “Sir Negri.”

“Y-yes, Master…?”

“Do you mind if I ask you a simple question?”

“N-no. Please go ahead.”

“Do you see me as that stupid?”

Negri hurriedly shook his head. His body had reacted before his brain could process the answer. Then again, the Master was the last person in Negri’s circle of acquaintances deserving of that evaluation, anyway.

“I considered and agonized over the best outcome for the Round Table. And that’s why I believe this is the best option for this organization. I can’t explain everything in minute detail at this stage, but I must still ask you for your trust. After all, I have not disappointed you in the past, have I? At least, not enough for you to distrust me.”

Negri silently nodded again. And his response roused the subtle nodding from the other Knights, too. They were all in agreement.

Then again, these Knights knew. They knew they had no choice in the matter. Their presence was here to fill the headcount to rubber-stamp the selection.

Another description would be tools. They were tools to uphold the Round Table's law of selecting the Master only through the Knights' votes.

What would happen if they refused?

‘...That man will never quietly walk away.’

The Knights knew the moment they laid their eyes on Kang Jin-Ho. That man was not the type to swallow the loss and politely back off. Even if Kang Jin-Ho did back off, Wiggins would definitely not.

Every Knight would be executed the moment they said no. And then, new Knights would be selected from their respective countries. Although it might take some time to reach this point, the new Knights would go through this process again.

What would happen if they refused, like this bunch?

They would obviously die, too!

This whole thing was rigged from the start. Only the Martial Assembly could emerge victorious from this so-called battle!

Since that was the case, the Knights here must never say no. Throwing their lives away now would only be satisfying their egos!

The replacement Knights coming in after them would be no better than puppets controlled by the Martial Assembly, and the Round Table would become the enemy’s plaything!

The Knights had to survive this encounter if they were to offer some level of checks and balances in this so-called alliance.

The Master scanned the Knights. “Any questions?”

“No, Master.”

“I see. Very well. Let us proceed with the voting. I, Tony Ballad, re-nominate myself as the candidate for the next Master of the Round Table. My dear Knights. Follow the tradition and the sacred law of the Round Table by expressing your stance with your sword.”

The Knights all got up and unsheathed their swords. And then, they quietly pressed the flat side of the blade against their forehead before squeezing their eyes shut.

Unfortunately, there was no round table for them to place their swords down. The Knights suddenly felt that its absence mirrored their own lack of choice in this matter.

Clack…

One of the Knights put his sword on the floor, its tip pointing toward the center of the hall. That opened the proverbial floodgate.

Other Knights emulated this act and began putting their swords down one by one.

The center of the hall was where the stairwell heading to the Elder Knights' temple was located. With the tips of all the swords pointing that way, it was as if these Knights were targeting the Elder Knights, their former source of pride.

Once all the swords rested on the floor, the Master slowly nodded away. “Per the tradition of the Round Table, I hereby declare that I, Tony Ballad, have been selected as the new Master.”

The atmosphere grew somber. Heavier.

“Knights, I ask all of you to remain within the Round Table's grounds and get some much-deserved rest. We must continue with our conference later on.”

“Yes, Master.”

The Knights sheathed their swords and turned around to slip out of the hall. Not long afterward, the hall became eerily silent once more, with only the Master, Wiggins, and Kang Jin-Ho remaining. The three men glanced at each other.

The Master, Tony Ballad, broke the silence first. “You got what you wanted, Assembly Master Kang.”

Kang Jin-Ho casually shrugged. “Really? I thought this was what you wanted?”

The Master groaned softly. “Things might have worked out in our favor, but please, do not think we've resolved the dissatisfaction within the Knights. It would eventually bubble up to the surface. And when their dissatisfaction inevitably erupts, their pushback could be more extreme than we have bargained for.”

“That’s a stupid worry to have, don’t you think?”

“I… don’t follow?”

“Stopping them is your job, isn’t it?”

“…!”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled unhurriedly. “Besides, I don’t think that’s gonna be a bad deal for me. Honestly? I recommend that you fan the flames. So I can clean house in one go.”

The Master felt all the hair on his body stand.

Indeed, what Kang Jin-Ho proposed would be the fastest way to clean the so-called house. Killing every single person daring to rebel would serve as a stark warning, after all!

“...I'll ensure that will never happen,” said the Master.

“Good. I’ll leave it to you,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered before slowly standing up.

With this, Kang Jin-Ho had finished everything he set out to achieve with the Round Table. The rest would be up to the Master and Wiggins to resolve. Kang Jin-Ho glanced at the two men. “I’m heading back to Korea.”

“...Already?”

“Mm? I don't mind staying a bit longer if that's what you want.”

“Let us organize you a plane, Assembly Master. It'll be done as soon as possible.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled at the Master’s attempt at cracking a joke. “Sure. Discuss the rest with Wiggins.”

“Of course. Good day to you, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho coolly turned around and headed toward the exit. However, his steps suddenly lurched to a halt.

“…?”

Just as the confused Master stared at the frozen figure in the middle of the exit, Kang Jin-Ho stiffly turned around. His expression was hard and deeply furrowed. So much so that the Master had to flinch nastily.

Could there be another problem?

Kang Jin-Ho quietly muttered. “What do you…”

“...Y-yes?”

“What do you recommend I buy as a souvenir? One that says I was in England?”

“…”

This had to be the most worried Kang Jin-Ho had been in the last few days.