Descent of the Demon Master

Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!

The noise of the helicopter rotor spinning raucously could really get on a person's nerves.

It was already so noisy inside the vehicle, so how much louder would it be on the outside? That seemed easy enough to guess.

If such a racket went off in a nearby area, most people would complain bitterly or move to somewhere where they wouldn't get bothered by the noise.

Unfortunately, Kang Jin-Ho couldn't do any of those. Although, that story applied to pretty much everyone in the world.

The only way to escape from an already in-flight helicopter would be to strap on a parachute and jump off, after all! And that would be a highly unlikely solution, now wasn't it!

However, what if that helicopter was flying over the middle of a vast ocean? Obviously, that parachute idea would have to be thrown outside the window. Even a top-tier martial artist would be rendered helpless in that kind of situation!

Especially in an ocean with zero islands nearby; in that kind of scenario, one would have to swim hundreds of kilometers to reach the nearest shore. However, what if one picked the wrong direction?

No matter how high one’s cultivation was, only death waited for them.

Kang Jin-Ho wryly chuckled as this thought entered his mind. Wasn’t this ironic, in a way?

As a martial artist, Kang Jin-Ho lived constantly under death's shadow. His battlefields were always filled with blood and death.

But this moment right now? It could very well be the closest Kang Jin-Ho had gotten to death after starting his third life. After all, if this helicopter fell into the vast ocean below, he'd find himself standing at the crossroads between life and death!

That realization made Kang Jin-Ho chuckle. He slightly turned his head away from the window to glance at the familiar faces.

Lee Hyeon-Su's voice registered in Kang Jin-Ho's hearing through the headphones. “Sir, we're approaching our target!”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded back. “I didn’t expect you to have a helicopter on hand, though…”

“Oh. It's not like that, sir. I simply thought it might be necessary to hire one.” Lee Hyeon-Su replied without too much concern. “I've been thinking for a while that a helicopter would be an excellent mode of transport when you need to get somewhere quickly. Two of the most important aspects in modern warfare are information and mobility, after all.”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho scratched his head.

‘I know I should be praising Lee Hyeon-Su, but… Uh…’

Why did it feel like something was a bit off here?

The helicopter's interior was unexpectedly spacious. If all the jump seats were folded away, around twenty people might fit in here without a problem. As such, even Vator and his humongous frame could find enough room.

Of course, he did run into a slight issue while trying to pass through the doorway, but…

Vator eventually managed to squeeze through, so everything was more or less fine on that front.

However, the real problem was something else. And it’d be…

Kang Jin-Ho grimaced a little. “This helicopter is quite large, isn’t it?”

“It's a reconnaissance helicopter that doubles as a cargo transport, sir. That necessitates its impressive interior space. Although this thing drinks fuel like crazy, considering its size and utility, I think we can overlook that inconvenience, wouldn't you agree?”

“Sure. But, uh…”

Before Kang Jin-Ho could say something, Vator butted in with a roar. “When you said we’d get a ride in a helicopter, I figured it’d be like a Chinook or something… So what the hell is this thing?! Why does it have to be so damn colorful on the outside?! We’re supposed to be heading to a battlefield, but this thing is killing the vibe!”

Lee Hyeon-Su could only smile bitterly. “The kind of helicopter you’re thinking of belongs to the army or the air force, sir. Approaching a civilian cruise ship with a military aircraft can lead to diplomatic issues.”

“What diplomatic issues are you even talking about?! It’s not like we’re going to blow the ship away with rockets, anyway!”

“If the scene of a military helicopter landing on a cruise ship and unloading people is filmed by someone, this matter will balloon beyond our ability to control.”

“And who would do that in the middle of the night?!”

“Yes, I agree with you on that, but…” Lee Hyeon-Su casually shrugged. “What I’m worried about isn’t the eyewitnesses but the Japanese themselves.”

“Huh? Why?” Vator tilted his head.

“If someone among them happens to possess a functioning brain, they probably could guess that we might utilize the army against them. And so, they could’ve prepared a countermeasure for that.”

“...Tsk!” Vator frowned deeply.

“The presence of soldiers could force the ship back to Japan, but they'd get framed for threatening civilians. Such a thing would be a welcome result for the Japanese but possibly the worst for us. Sure, it'd be a good thing to prevent the invasion, but dumping the consequences on the non-martial artists just so that we could keep our necks is a bit…”

“Looks like you’re way too laidback for your own good. To think you’d even worry about such things,” Vator gruffly muttered. “Those bastards entering the country would lead to the deaths of who knows how many, yet we’re supposed to consider stuff like that, too?”

Lee Hyeon-Su agreed with Vator. They needed to utilize every means at their disposal. This invasion was dangerous enough to warrant such a response, after all.

“Truth be told… the Navy refused to cooperate,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

“Mm? They didn’t? Why?”

“Precisely because of the reasons I've told you just now. I already had a hunch that the Navy would say no, but I still crossed my fingers and called them anyway. And… their answer was unsurprising, really.”

“Hah. How laughable,” Vator grumbled unhappily.

From his point of view, this whole thing was utterly laughable for all the wrong reasons. Everyone knew who was riding on that cruise ship, including the military bigwigs. Maybe even the high-ranking Japanese government officials were also aware of what was going on here.

Even then, they all decided to look the other way. Even though a combat force several times more dangerous than the equivalent size of the army’s black ops special force was about to enter South Korea!

Such dangerous warriors still had to be treated like innocent and powerless civilians. It certainly was a laughable notion. And rather flabbergast-inducing, too.

Kang Jin-Ho used the lull in the conversation to ask Lee Hyeon-Su, “How long until we reach the ship?”

“We’re almost there, sir.”

“I see…”

The mood inside the helicopter wasn’t exactly tense. Things like a tense mood heavily depended on the overall atmosphere. And when there was such a banter going on… Tension wouldn’t have a chance to build itself.

“My lord?” Wiggins sneaked closer to Kang Jin-Ho.

“Mm?”

“What will you do to the Japanese?”

“I’m not quite sure what you’re asking me here, Wiggins.”

A somewhat strange smile floated up on Wiggins's face. “Even if we're dealing with an invasion… Our enemies' numbers are nothing to scoff at. Are you thinking of killing them all?”

Even though he asked that, Wiggins believed Kang Jin-Ho wouldn't kill every single Japanese on that ship. This wasn't a question of determination but more like the limits of one's abilities.

Regardless of what Wiggins thought, though, he still needed to confirm something first. And that would be Kang Jin-Ho’s plan, his ultimate aim. Only then would Wiggins be able to match his lord’s pace, too.

‘I'm sure my lord's thinking of driving the Japanese out…’

That seemed the most logical way of handling this situation. However, Kang Jin-Ho's response missed Wiggins' expectations by a wide margin.

“Why? Am I not supposed to kill them all?”

“...M-my lord?” Wiggins muttered in a fluster. Today might be his first time asking back like this to Kang Jin-Ho. That was how badly he was taken aback.

“Listen, Wiggins.”

“My lord.”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something here. Let me remind you that we’re currently being invaded,” said Kang Jin-Ho, his voice cold and monotone. “I’ve never heard of a situation where the invaded took pity on the circumstances of the invaders.”

“Of course. That wouldn’t make sense.”

“Also… My stance will always remain the same regardless of the situation.”

Wiggins carefully listened to Kang Jin-Ho. Even though this conversation didn't seem grave in nature, it'd not be too far-fetched to think what Kang Jin-Ho said right now could decide the future direction of the Martial Assembly.

“I have no desire to pursue those who wish to flee. However, I will not spare anyone who dares attack me.”

“How simple… And crystal-clear, my lord.” Wiggins smiled airily back at Kang Jin-Ho.

‘So… My lord is thinking of killing them all, then.’

Although Kang Jin-Ho had clarified his position, who would be able to flee from him when surrounded by the endless ocean on all sides? To Wiggins' ears, it sounded like Kang Jin-Ho wanted to kill every single enemy. Unless the other side was willing to flop on the floor and expose their bellies while begging for mercy!

...Even if that wasn't Kang Jin-Ho's original intention.

“We’re almost there!” Lee Hyeon-Su urgently called out to everyone.

“Lee Hyeon-Su…!”

“Sir!”

Kang Jin-Ho used his chin to point at the cockpit. “I’ll leave them to you.”

“No need to worry, sir. I’ll take care of that situation.”

Unfortunately, no one among the Assembly members knew how to fly a helicopter. As such, the pilots on duty this time were affiliated with the Coast Guard. What Kang Jin-Ho wanted Lee Hyeon-Su to do was ensure that no unnecessary rumors circulated in the surface world.

Kang Jin-Ho leisurely got up from his seat and glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su. "How do we exit once we get there?”

“Of course, you can slide open that door, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. Obviously, the helicopter wouldn’t be landing on the cruise ship, so…

“Please take this,” said Lee Hyeon-Su while pulling something out from beneath the jump seat. Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head at that backpack-looking thing, prompting Lee Hyeon-Su to quickly explain, “It's a parachute, sir.”

A parachute? Kang Jin-Ho stared weirdly at the bag. “I had no idea you were allowed to use parachutes while flying in a helicopter.”

“Yes, you can, sir.”

“...Isn’t this something you use when in an airplane?”

“You can still use it during a helicopter ride, sir.”

“Really now?”

“Of course,” Lee Hyeon-Su responded as if he was talking about common sense.

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. Since Lee Hyeon-Su knew more about him in stuff like this, it must be… true.

“Put on this parachute and jump out of the helicopter, sir. Usually, using a parachute while infiltrating enemy positions will only make you a sitting duck for the enemy snipers, but I'm certain the Japanese don't carry firearms… Wait a minute, surely they wouldn't have guns on board?”

Kang Jin-Ho stared in flabbergast at Lee Hyeon-Su.

‘Why are you asking me that?’

Lee Hyeon-Su sheepishly scratched the back of his head after noticing the look on Kang Jin-Ho’s face. “Well, uh… I thought they wouldn’t carry guns around, but I also heard the Japanese Yakuza sometimes use firearms, so, uh…”

“…Huh.” Kang Jin-Ho helplessly chuckled. Despite being one of the most meticulous people in the world, Lee Hyeon-Su had a tendency to do something weird every now and then. Kang Jin-Ho shook his head. “I don't need it.”

“Sorry?”

Kang Jin-Ho pushed the parachute back to Lee Hyeon-Su. “It’ll only get in the way.”

“B-but, sir! We're considerably high up in the air. Because we couldn't get too close to the ship, so…”

“It’s okay,” Kang Jin-Ho chuckled while turning around. He could see the cruise ship in the distance through the helicopter’s small window. “There it is.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Then, it’s fine.”

Grab!

Kang Jin-Ho grabbed the helicopter’s doorknob and coolly smiled back at Lee Hyeon-Su. “Get the helicopter near the ship. We will take care of the rest.”

That smile looked oh-so-cool to Lee Hyeon-Su. In moments like this, no one in this world would seem as dependable as Kang Jin-Ho. What a timely reminder of just who Lee Hyeon-Su chose to serve as his…

Clack. Clank. Clunk…

“…?”

“…?”

A bout of strange silence suddenly descended inside the helicopter after Kang Jin-Ho failed to open the door.

Kang Jin-Ho sheepishly glanced back at Lee Hyeon-Su. “How am I supposed to open this?”

“...Allow me, sir.” Lee Hyeon-Su stepped forward and unlocked the door while thinking, ‘Cool and dependable, my ass!’ When he slid the door open, rough winds rushed inside the interior. He could see the distance to the cruise ship narrowing quickly.

‘I’m sure that side must’ve noticed our approach by now.’

What would they be feeling right about now? Lee Hyeon-Su's side believed they were basically reenacting a scene from a Hollywood action movie. However, wouldn't the situation look even more extreme from the other side's point of view?

‘Which isn’t necessarily good news, though.’

‘Extreme’ could also be interpreted as reckless, after all. And Lee Hyeon-Su would’ve loved to avoid doing reckless things if he could.

The only reason why he failed to stop this reckless plan from going ahead was because Kang Jin-Ho said the idea of those Japanese invaders stepping foot on Korean soil again irritated him to no end… And Lee Hyeon-Su agreed with him on that one.

“Okay, we’re off,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“S-so soon, sir?” Lee Hyeon-Su was taken aback.

The helicopter was traveling much faster than Lee Hyeon-Su expected. He couldn't sense it due to traveling over the open sea, but now that he had a fixed waypoint, the cruise ship, to estimate the speed with, Lee Hyeon-Su finally realized how fast they were moving. The helicopter was approaching that ship in the figurative blink of an eye.

“Lee Hyeon-Su,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Understood!”

Even before Lee Hyeon-Su could finish his reply, Kang Jin-Ho lightly threw himself outside the helicopter. Lee Hyeon-Su could only clench his teeth at how fearless and unhesitant that was.

Something about it seemed heroic, and…

Vator suddenly roared, “Hey, get out of the way!”

Lee Hyeon-Su sobered up instantly. “I-I’m sorry?”

“Urgh! This damn… Puny… exit! Bloody hell! Groooar!”

Vator ungainly struggled to squeeze his massive frame past the helicopter's doorway. Normal-sized people would've had no trouble walking through that opening, yet Vator had to half-lie down and crawl! Once he somehow managed to push his torso past the opening, Vator's whole body unceremoniously fell out of the helicopter.

“U-uwaaaaaah?!”

As that scream echoed in the air, Lee Hyeon-Su quietly groaned to himself.

‘… Gimme back that heroic moment!’

You big-bodied dumbass of a man!

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