Chapter 1075. Taking Action (5)

The devil’s hand tightened around Seok Dong-Su’s throat.

He couldn't sense any hints of human warmth from the hand gripping his neck. And this indescribable cold robbed him of any thoughts of resisting as it gradually squeezed his throat like a noose.

“

Keu-wuuk?!

”

A gasp of shock leaked out of Seok Dong-Su’s mouth. This was the moment the sensation he had forgotten for so long waking up! And that was... violence!

More specifically, the power to physically subdue others!

The first power humans felt and experienced after birth was neither financial nor political in nature. Even if a human was too young to understand the usefulness of money or the vastness of political power, they could still appreciate the unique strength of “violence.”

However, humans would forget “violence” as they grew older. That was because they would grow more distant with age from those activities where bodies clashed to inflict physical pain.

What remained after that was other types of power.

As for Seok Dong-Su, he became obsessed with political power. Or, more correctly, the power that allowed him to grow closer to the hidden truths of the world.

...And the power that granted him the authority to order others around with just a glance or a flick of his hand!

Not getting lost in such seductive power was practically impossible for a human being with a beating heart.

However, at this very moment... Seok Dong-Su was forced into having an epiphany. And that was how merciless and indiscriminate the power he had forgotten could be!

He was reminded of how the power he stopped caring altogether, thinking it would not matter in his life anymore, could reawaken a man’s primal fear!

Seok Dong-Su remembered it now. His body fully remembered the power of violence even if his brain had failed to. He knew that the supernatural power contained within the devil’s hand could snap his neck in half like a chalk by gripping a little tighter than before!

“

Kkeu-wuuk...?!

”

This was illogical. Violence shouldn't have any place in modern society! After all, in a society ruled by rational thinking, resorting to violence only proved that you were irrational and desperate!

If he could just talk! Seok Dong-Su thought he only needed a moment to speak. Then, he'd prove how ill-conceived this devil's plans were.

But then...!

Seok Dong-Su saw Kang Jin-Ho’s face and felt something inside him crumble.

‘It’s not... It’s not going to work!’

He had no choice but to accept it. How could he not, after taking a good look at the face of a man choking him? A man who looked as if he could barely contain himself?!

This devil, this man, was different. He did not fall under the category of “humans” Seok Dong-Su was familiar with.

“Sometimes...” Kang Jin-Ho quietly muttered, seemingly to no one in particular.

His voice didn't sound threatening. It sounded flat. As if he was reading a textbook.

Maybe that was why it burrowed even more painfully into Seok Dong-Su’s hearing.

“I keep forgetting this.”

“...?!”

“After all, I am surrounded by good people,” said Kang Jin-Ho, his expression distorting hideously.

That was supposed to be a smile. Seok Dong-Su was convinced by it. However, he had never met anyone capable of making such a twisted smile before. Even though he had to talk to all kinds of people due to the unique quirk of his job!

In terms of expression alone, he’d safely say that the serial killer he saw in prison looked more human than Kang Jin-Ho!

This crooked smile was terrifyingly inhumane. It was indescribably cruel!

“Being around such good people makes me forget,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“...!

Kuh-huk!

”

The grip on Seok Dong-Su’s throat tightened.

“I forget what kind of a man I am.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly lifted Seok Dong-Su in the air by the throat.

Crack, crack!

Seok Dong-Su’s neck began issuing noises akin to things cracking and breaking from the strain of supporting his body weight.

“

Keuk?! Kuh-wuk?! Kuk!

”

Humans always stood near the precipice of death. Even in a peaceful country like South Korea, nearly one thousand people died every day.

Death was fair and indiscriminate. It came for everyone. However, no one believed death could be around the corner, silently waiting for their arrival.

Why? Because it'd be impossible to carry on with their lives otherwise.

Being constantly reminded of death circling around them would make it impossible to continue living. After all, death was an absolute power that rendered things like dreams, hopes, and even one's will useless and meaningless.

How could anyone continue living when they knew death could suddenly come for them without a reason? And with a complete disregard for probability?

This was why people “forgot” about death. They might feel sorry for the passing of other people but never thought about how their own demise could happen right next second.

However, when in moments like this one...!

When a devil-like man choked his throat, when the throat screamed as if it’d break any second, when the arms and legs were too paralyzed to move...! This was when a human would

feel

the grim reaper approaching from behind and breathing heavily down his neck!

Reactions from humans facing such a situation were guaranteed to be the same no matter who you were.

“Spare...” Seok Dong-Su desperately squeezed his voice out, even as his throat failed to suck in enough air. “Spare... me... Don’t... kill...”

His prided intellect was gone. Only the primal desire to live remained in the void.

This was the power of violence.

“You must be dying to speak,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered while staring deep into Seok Dong-Su's eyes. “I thought about a lot of things on my way here. I was curious about what you'd say, too. Even though I couldn't understand why you'd do this, you might have a good justification for your decision. That's what I thought.”

Seok Dong-Su urgently nodded. He was extremely grateful that his head could move according to his will. As for the liquid streaming and pooling around his chin, he couldn’t tell if it was his drool or tears.

“So, I was planning to hear you out. But then...” Kang Jin-Ho’s smile deepened eerily. “I began wondering about something.”

“...?”

“Why should I do that?”

Kang Jin-Ho’s grip around Seok Dong-Su’s throat tightened even more.

“Whatever you were thinking of, whatever your reasons were... How will those things matter to me? After all, I only want to see one outcome regardless of what your justifications are, anyway.”

Craaack...!

Seok Dong-Su’s heart skipped a beat in dread every time he heard his neck bones grind against each other. Tears flooding out of his eyes blurred his vision, and he couldn’t see anything.

“When those thoughts hit me, I suddenly couldn't understand myself. I had no reason to hear you out, after all. So, I wondered. I wondered why I wanted to hear your side of the story.”

Seok Dong-Su finally realized something crucial. This devil, this Kang Jin-Ho, was a madman!

Not just a madman either, but a complete loon who had gone off the edge! That had to be it, or else how could anyone explain all his indecipherable rambling as he choked someone to death!

“And then, I finally got my answer.”

Kang Jin-Ho lifted Seok Dong-Su a little higher. That strengthened his grip on the throat even more. At this rate, Seok Dong-Su’s neck might really snap!

“As it turns out, I wanted to act like a good person.”

A low cackle registered in Seok Dong-Su’s hearing. Merely hearing it sent deathly chills down his spine. The laughter that twisted and bizarre couldn't have come from a sane-minded person!

‘Why! Why are you doing this to me! Why?!’

Seok Dong-Su cried out in his mind as it quickly blanked out of every other thought.

“It's funny,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered, his fangs now bared. “Somehow, I forgot my place.”

He became aware of something from a certain moment on. And that was how “stuttering” he had become. He noticed that he couldn’t move forward anymore.

Until now, he thought this was merely another part of the process. The process of acclimatizing to the modern era. After all, he couldn’t keep living like it was the past, now could he?

It was no longer possible to stick to his old mindset. So, he told himself to gladly accept this development as a part of the process.

However, this experience helped him see the errors of his ways.

As it turned out, he was wrong. He wasn’t acclimatizing to the modern era.

After emerging victorious against Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor, Kang Jin-Ho began seeing himself as “Kang Jin-Ho” and not “Crimson Demon.”

Such a change in how he perceived himself shouldn’t have been anything too major, yet it became the subconscious fetters restricting his actions.

He grew used to people expecting great things from him. And he grew just as used to satisfying people’s expectations, too. The more he got used to it, the harder he tried to make others happy.

If Kang Jin-Ho was being honest with himself... Yes, he tried a little too hard to become a nicer, more upstanding person.

The old “Kang Jin-Ho” wouldn’t have cared who Seok Dong-Su was. He certainly wouldn’t have wondered what the politician was thinking, either. No, his only concern would’ve been breaking the neck of a bastard hindering his path.

That was how Kang Jin-Ho used to operate. But the current “Kang Jin-Ho” was curious about the mindset of a total stranger like Seok Dong-Su.

Wasn’t that funny?

‘How dare I...’

Kang Jin-Ho was not delusional, so he knew. He knew winning against Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor didn't erase the life he had lived.

Did all those people who died at his hands view Kang Jin-Ho as a separate entity from Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor? Of course not.

Even if some of them did, it was still impossible to fool himself. Kang Jin-Ho was still a mass murderer responsible for killing countless human beings.

Even though he was in a different era, living a different life, the fact that he was one of the worst murderers in history did not change.

So, how did a bastard like him dare to think rationally and even judge someone’s wrongdoings? What right did he have?

How funny was this?

“Thanks, you helped me.”

This event really was something trivial. Yet it still led Kang Jin-Ho to realize what he was doing. Playing the part of a good guy didn't suit him.

After all, he knew that no one was more evil than him in this entire world.

In that case, what was there to hesitate? It didn’t matter what he did. All the blood staining his hand wouldn’t get washed away, anyway. No matter how much he pretended, his true nature would never change, so why...!

Kang Jin-Ho continued to chuckle while ruefully shaking his head. Wasn't this too much fun?

He just couldn't hide his true nature. Crushing others through sheer strength was when he felt alive the most. It was the most fun he could have!

This joy was different from the one he felt during a blood-soaked battle to the death.

As long as he couldn't overcome the pleasure such things gave him, Kang Jin-Ho had no right to say he had changed.

A mass murderer stained to the core with blood. That was Kang Jin-Ho’s true nature!

“And so...”

Kang Jin-Ho leisurely brought Seok Dong-Su’s face closer.

Although it was unintentional, getting entangled with Seok Dong-Su helped Kang Jin-Ho figure out his current status. This politician had no idea how this seemingly trivial encounter would affect Kang Jin-Ho's future direction.

One's grudge must be repaid in full. That meant favors should also be paid back appropriately. In that case, did this situation also qualify as a favor?

Kang Jin-Ho bared his fangs again in a ferocious smirk.

“No need to worry. I won’t kill you tonight.”

“...

Kuh-huk!

”

“Having said that...” Kang Jin-Ho muttered while staring directly into Seok Dong-Su’s eyes. “...You will pay for making me waste time like this.”

Kang Jin-Ho’s eyes rapidly dyed in a crimson hue.

“Now, look at me.”

“...?!”

“Look into my eyes!”

Seok Dong-Su, who had already half lost his mind to terror and anxiety, shuddered grandly before his entire body went limp. His eyes rolled back to show the whites, while subtle spasms continued to rock his limbs.

“

Kuk! Kuuuhuk?! Kuh-wuk!

”

Despite the grip on his throat easing, Seok Dong-Su couldn’t do anything.

“

Kkuuuuuwuk!

”

He continued to spasm. His eyelids quivered as his eyes rolled around. White foam bubbled out of his mouth. His pale face twitched nastily. He resembled a man having a seizure.

However, Kang Jin-Ho smiled at this sight. The politician’s body might be here, but his “soul” should be stuck in Hell right about now.

Even if Seok Dong-Su managed to crawl out of this Hell somehow, he'd never dare oppose Kang Jin-Ho ever again. After all, he was leaving behind an unmistakable brand on the politician's soul tonight.

Drop!

Kang Jin-Ho withdrew his hand, causing Seok Dong-Su to fall on the floor like a bundle of straw.

While glancing at the politician spasming pitifully on the floor, Kang Jin-Ho hid his face behind his palm.

‘Well, this is why...’

This was why he had no choice but to acknowledge the label the Crimson King called him with while vomiting blood... The Demon King!

He glanced outside the window. The night was deepening. The moonlight pouring through the glass felt so biting and cold. However, the smirk on Kang Jin-Ho’s lips was even colder.

His figure slowly melted into the darkness behind him.

Now left alone in the semi-dark room, Seok Dong-Su continued to spasm weakly on the floor.