Descent of the Demon Master

etimes, you need to sort out what needs to be sorted out.
What's important isn't some old memories, but how we'll live in this new place.
You see, there might be some lingering regrets, but we can't keep them locked away in our hearts forever, don't you agree?”

“…Yes, ma'am.”

For some reason, the director's words seemed to be meant for Kang Jin-Ho.
She was obviously talking about herself, but it sounded more like she was advising him to let go of his old memories.

“Should I take them outside, Director?”

“Yes, Jin-Ho.
First of all…”

Kang Jin-Ho followed the director's instructions to sort out the stored items.
He took them out of the storage, then separated those deemed still useful from those unsalvagable so that they could be donated.
As for the appliances…

“I wonder, can they be sold for cash?” the director asked while tilting her head this way and that.

“Mmhm. You probably can, as scrap metal.”

“You think so?”

Kang Jin-Ho was right.
These appliances were only good for scrap metal as they had no value as second-hand goods.
Each device was so old that the idea of people using them seemed miraculous.
Perhaps selling them not as scrap metal but as antiques might bring in more money.

“…Yes, Director,” Kang Jin-Ho replied with a nod.

“Uhm… Jin-Ho?”

“Yes, please speak.”

“I'm really sorry about this, but can I ask you for a difficult favor? This will be really difficult, I'm afraid.
But I have a feeling that you can do it.”

“Can you tell me what it is first?”

“If you go around that street corner, you'll see a house with a red gate.”

“…And?”

“A grandma lives there all by herself.
She picks up scrap metal and discarded paper every dawn to survive, so I was thinking, wouldn't these appliances help her make some money?”

“How about we simply sell these things and give her the money, Director?”

The director shook her head as her complexion became gloomier.
“She won't accept money.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, she has many hidden scars, you see…”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded contemplatively.
“Alright, ma'am.
I'll do it.”

“Thank you.
But, there are a lot of things here, so… Ah, that's right! There should be a spare handcart behind our building.
That will make it easier to transport them.”

“Understood.” Kang Jin-Ho went behind the orphanage's building and located the handcart in question.
He brought it to the front and began loading it up with the refrigerator, the TV, and the other appliances.

That was when someone walked up to him and yelled, “Hey, you!”

“Mm?” Kang Jin-Ho stopped and turned his head to discover the pouting Han Se-Yeon.
“What brings you here, Se-Yeon?”

“Why do you even carry around a phone?!”

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“Well, that's because…” he mumbled a bit while taking out his phone.
Only then did he notice several missed calls.

“So? Why do you even have it?”

“…To make calls.”

“And not to answer any calls?”

“I didn't know,” Kang Jin-Ho replied, realizing that he had forgotten to switch the phone back to the ringtone mode.
He had muted it earlier as he didn't want to surprise or frighten the kids.

Now that he thought about it, Han Se-Yeon wouldn't have a way to contact him, so how on Earth did she know he was here? Now, that was quite the mystery.

“You're here, Se-Yeon?” The director welcomed Han Se-Yeon with a warm smile.

“Director~! It's been too long, ma'am!”

“It's not that long, though.
You were here last week, after all.”

The director and Han Se-Yeon exchanged some pleasantries while Kang Jin-Ho continued with his task.
He knew he couldn't imitate Han Se-Yeon's stunning sociability, so he didn't even bother.

The director grinned and spoke, “I didn't think you'd come this fast, though.
It hadn't been long since I called you, after all!”

“I was in the neighborhood, ma'am.”

“I see.
Thank you for coming.”

“By the way, what is Jin-Ho doing?”

The director quickly explained the situation, prompting Han Se-Yeon to burst out in laughter at Kang Jin-Ho.
“Is that why you're silently loading all these things?”

“That's right,” Kang Jin-Ho replied disinterestedly. 

“But that's so stupid, though.
You can call people to come and take them, you know?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Oh? Then why?”

“I need to deliver them myself,” Kang Jin-Ho replied while getting ready to push the handcart forward.

Han Se-Yeon watched him leave, then quickly chased after him.
She looked back and said to the director, “I'm gonna go with him and show him the way!”

“Okay, please do!”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at her and frowned slightly.
“Why are you coming with me?”

“Did the director tell you which house you must go to?”

“Yes.
It's the one with a red gate.”

Han Se-Yeon cocked an eyebrow and crossed her arms across her chest.
“Oh? And do you know where that house is?”

Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders.
“I'll find it eventually.”

“I noticed a lot of houses with red gates nearby while on my way here.
Were you thinking of knocking on every door and asking them if we've found the right house our director told us about?”

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Kang Jin-Ho faltered, realizing that he had nothing to say in his defense.

“I guess you'll have to ask the director to come with you, then.
But she has lots of things to do back at the orphanage, right? Too bad, she'll have to waste her valuable time now because of you.”

“…Fine.
Let's go.”

“Be more polite, will you?”

“…Please, let us get going, my lady.”

“Sure, sure.
I'll let it slide this time.
Follow me.”

Kang Jin-Ho groaned and silently followed after Han Se-Yeon had taken the lead.

Creak, creak…

The noises of the cart's wheels traveling the coarse streets echoed loudly.
It felt like the cart was having a hard time coping with all the load from the noises.
Whether that was caused by the cart's age or the combined weight of the appliances, no one could tell.

Kang Jin-Ho began pushing the cart uphill.
The newly-constructed orphanage was located at the foot of the same hill, in the same neighborhood, to respect the director's wishes.
Kang Jin-Ho would have liked the orphanage to be moved to a better environment but various circumstances, including the kids' schools, made it unfeasible for the time being.

Han Se-Yeon worriedly asked, “Isn't it heavy?”

“Not really.”

“You know, I get this feeling all the time, but…
Jin-Ho, you're really strong, aren't you? You must be the strongest in our school.”

“Probably?”

“That's amazing.
But that's not something to boast about, you know? Physically strong guys tend to be dumb, after all.”

“Really? By the way, what were your entrance exam scores, again?”

“I'm sorry…”

Kang Jin-Ho easily thwarted Han Se-Yeon's provocation this time and continued to pull the cart up the hill.
She searched here and there before discovering a red gate by the distant corner, then called out to Kang Jin-Ho.
“Over here!”

“Mmhm…” He stopped the cart in front of the gate and peeked his head beyond the open gap.
“Hmm…”

“Anyone home?” Han Se-Yeon knocked on the gate, but no one answered her.
“I don't think there's anyone inside.”

“We should put the stuff down here and leave.”

“You think so?”

But then…

“Who’s there?!”

A grandmother with a face full of deep wrinkles opened the living room door and cried out in a sharp voice while glaring at her unannounced visitors.
The open doorway revealed for a brief moment the sight of the interior.
It was just as dirty and run-down as the orphanage before it was relocated to the new building.

“Ah! Hello, grandma.
How are you?”