Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 95

“The, the division commander, sir?”

Ha Jin-nam felt his vision blur.

The division commander.

To a mere soldier, the division commander was a figure so high up that it was dizzying to even think about.

Then, what about an officer?

To an officer, the division commander was practically a god.

To an average soldier, the division commander was just someone with a high rank. No matter how much power they had to reshape mountains with a single word, the authority of the division commander wouldn’t really resonate with a soldier who would be saying goodbye after just two years of mandatory service. [In South Korea, most men are required to serve in the military for a period of time.]

But it was different for officers.

They had to continue their military life with the division commander. The moment they fell out of favor with the division commander, their promotions would be out of the question, and they would be stuck rotating through the least desirable positions.

It was the same as having their life as a soldier in the palm of his hand.

— Yes! The division commander is visiting, so bring the documents and come back right away.

“Wh, why is the division commander coming, sir?”

— It’s because of Kang Jin-ho!

“What relationship does Kang Jin-ho have with the division commander, sir?”

— How would I know, you idiot! Ha Jin-nam felt a sudden jolt of clarity. He realized he couldn’t afford to be standing around like this.

“But he’s a new recruit, so the only documents we have are from the training center, sir?”

— Just bring those for now!

“Yes, sir. I’ll go immediately.”

Ha Jin-nam hung up the phone and jumped up, rushing outside.

“Cheol-seung! Get the car ready! Quick! We need to go back to the battalion!”

Ha Jin-nam ran at full speed towards the administration office.

“What in the world is going on?”

The battalion commander was dumbfounded, staring at Ha Jin-nam who was rushing in, panting.

If it hadn’t been for the sudden phone call, they would have been caught completely unprepared for the division commander’s visit.

“Battalion Commander, sir!”

Ha Jin-nam handed the file he was holding to the battalion commander.

“Let me see.”

The battalion commander frowned slightly as he looked at the documents, then handed them back to Ha Jin-nam.

“It doesn’t seem like a blood relation.”

He already knew the division commander’s family connections inside and out. But neither Kang Jin-ho nor his parents seemed to have any family ties with the division commander. There was no way he wouldn’t know, considering he knew even the most distant relatives of the division commander.

“Then what is it?”

He couldn’t understand why the division commander was visiting because of Kang Jin-ho.

Before his questions could be answered, a sharp voice was heard.

“The division commander has passed the guard post.”

“Hey! Stand at attention!”

The officers who were waiting all stood at attention, facing forward. The imposing presence of the No. 1 vehicle approaching from afar made them tense up instantly.

“He’s coming.”

Soon, the No. 1 vehicle slowly stopped in front of them.

Click.

The door opened, and the division commander, with two stars on his forehead, stepped out of the car. [In the South Korean military, a two-star general is a major general.]

“Victory!”

The battalion commander saluted with a loud voice, and the division commander acknowledged the salute with a slight nod of the baton he was holding.

“When did you get the call and come out here?”

“I was informed that you had arrived at the guard post, sir.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

The division commander clicked his tongue as if he was not amused and pointed at the battalion commander.

“Let’s go inside.”

“Yes, sir, Division Commander!”

Ha Jin-nam was almost out of his mind.

The battalion commander, who was usually a model of chic and composed behavior, was now shouting and saluting like a newly transferred recruit. It was so awkward to watch.

“Charlie Company Commander!”

“Captain Ha Jin-nam!”

“Follow me.”

“Yes, sir! Understood!”

Ha Jin-nam, also shouting like a new recruit, followed the battalion commander and the division commander into the battalion commander’s office with a face full of military discipline.

“It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

The division commander, sitting at the head of the table, took a sip of his coffee.

“It’s been difficult to see you, sir, as you are so busy with official duties.”

“It’s true that I haven’t been able to pay much attention. Firepower comes from the company, after all.”

“Thank you for your consideration, sir.”

“Hmm, well… the reason I’m here is… a new recruit named Kang Jin-ho has recently joined the battalion, right?”

“Yes, sir, that’s correct!”

“It’s a bit embarrassing for me to say this myself, but how is that new recruit doing?”

As soon as the division commander finished speaking, the battalion commander turned his head to look at Ha Jin-nam.

Ha Jin-nam began to panic.

What was he supposed to say?

He was a company commander, so it wasn’t like he could keep track of how a new recruit who had arrived a few days ago was doing.

“He’s, he’s doing well, sir.”

So, there was only one thing he could say.

“No trouble?”

“No, sir!”

“Good. Then, can I see him?”

Cold sweat began to trickle down Ha Jin-nam’s forehead.

“Private Kang Jin-ho is currently at the company, sir.”

“Company?”

The battalion commander elaborated.

“Private Kang Jin-ho is currently assigned to Charlie Company, sir.”

“Ah, Charlie is an independent company.”

The division commander clicked his tongue as if he had forgotten.

“So, he’s not here right now?”

“That’s correct, sir.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

The division commander grabbed his baton.

“Then, there’s no other choice. Shall we go over to Charlie?”

Ha Jin-nam shouted with all his might.

“I’ll send a car right away to bring Private Kang Jin-ho here, sir!”

“Well, is there really a need for that? I can go there myself.”

“No, sir, Division Commander! It’s more appropriate for the soldier to come here, sir!”

“Is that so?”

At Ha Jin-nam’s desperate persuasion, the division commander sat back down.

“Alright. Then call him.”

“Yes, sir! Understood!”

As Ha Jin-nam rushed out of the room, the battalion commander wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked.

“But Division Commander, sir.”

“Speak.”

“It’s presumptuous of me to ask, but what is your relationship with that soldier, Kang Jin-ho? We need to know at least that much to determine our future course of action.”

“I have no relationship with him.”

“I said I have no relationship with him.”

The division commander clicked his tongue and then picked up the coffee cup in front of him and drank it in one gulp.

“Coffee tastes best when it’s a bit cold.”

The division commander put down the cup and smiled at the battalion commander.

“I really have no relationship with him. Do I look like the kind of person who would go out of my way to find and care for someone I’m related to?”

“No, sir. I know that’s not the case.”

“Right. If he were someone I was related to, I wouldn’t have brought him to this division. If I had found out about him, I would have transferred him out.”

“Yes, sir. I respect that aspect of your character.”

The battalion commander couldn’t bring himself to say the rest.

“Then why are you bothering people by coming all the way here to see one new recruit, is that what you’re saying?”

“D, Division Commander, sir!”

The division commander laughed heartily and pointed at the battalion commander with his baton.

“Listen here.”

“…Yes, sir.”

“I have no intention of allowing any special treatment for my relatives, and I will never tolerate it. The problem is that this new recruit is not my relative.”

“I can’t tell you the exact details, but this new recruit is related to a very important person. Don’t think about it. You’ll find out soon enough. But let me tell you one thing in advance, he’s someone who is being protected by someone who is beyond comparison to anyone you might be thinking of.”

The battalion commander swallowed hard.

“So, pay attention to him. I’m not saying to give him special treatment. Just make sure he doesn’t get caught up in any unfairness.”

“I will keep that in mind, sir.”

The battalion commander watched the division commander, who had closed his mouth after that, and then cautiously asked.

“But Division Commander, sir.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry, but who is that important person you mentioned?”

The division commander looked at the battalion commander with a sullen face and sighed. According to that person, it seemed like he was planning to visit this place about once a month, so he thought he should tell him in advance.

“It’s Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo.”

“Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo… What? What did you say?”

The battalion commander was so shocked that he jumped up from his seat, using a tone that should never be used in the military.

“Ch, Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo, you mean?”

The battalion commander felt like his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo.

He had expected a current politician or a minister’s son, at most, based on the division commander’s attitude. But Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo?

It would have been less burdensome if they had said that the president’s hidden son had joined.

Why was the name of a living giant in the business world coming up here?

“Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo said that he will visit the unit about once a month to see Private Kang Jin-ho, so please prepare well.”

The battalion commander slumped down in his seat with a blank look on his face.

“Get a grip, man.”

“…Is he his hidden son or something? Or a grandson?”

“That’s the strange part.”

The division commander frowned as if he had a headache.

“Everyone knows Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo’s character, right? He’s not the kind of person who would give special treatment to his own flesh and blood. Isn’t he the one who kicked out all his children for messing up the company when he returned?”

“Y, yes, sir.”

Hwang Jeong-hoo’s return and the resignation of the previous management had caused a huge stir in the business world. Even the battalion commander, who wasn’t very interested in social conflicts due to his military position, couldn’t help but know about it because it was all over the news every day.

“My senior said that his actual personality is no different. He said he doesn’t understand why such a person would try to take care of a young kid.”

“Is that so?”

The battalion commander could gather two things from the division commander’s words.

The first was that Hwang Jeong-hoo’s personality was no different from what they knew. And the important second thing was that this request, if it could be called that, was an order that had come down from above, not just from the division commander level.

‘Well, it’s Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo.’

The division commander was like a god to him, but compared to Hwang Jeong-hoo, he was just a greenhorn.

Wasn’t he the giant of the business world who was said to be able to win the presidency without a fight before he fell ill?

Knock, knock.

A knock on the door was followed by a voice from outside.

“Battalion Commander, sir, this is the Charlie Company Commander.”

“Yes, come in.”

The door opened, and the Charlie Company Commander entered. And behind him, a tall, handsome young man followed him in.

“Victory!”

The Charlie Company Commander saluted loudly, and the young man behind him also lightly returned the salute with a hand gesture.

“Are you Kang Jin-ho?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Alright, have a seat.”

But Kang Jin-ho didn’t move.

“You can sit over here. Go ahead and sit.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at the division commander, then slowly walked over and sat in the seat the division commander had indicated.

“Is there anything uncomfortable about your life here?”

“I just transferred here, sir. I’m not uncomfortable at all.”

“Are your seniors treating you well?”

“Yes, sir.”

The division commander, thinking that Kang Jin-ho’s stiff answers were due to nervousness, said with a gentle smile.

“If you have any discomfort in your life here, feel free to contact me anytime. I may not know much else, but I will help you so that you don’t receive any disadvantages.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at the division commander with a stern face.

“Did Chairman Hwang say that?”

“Hmm…”

The division commander was a little embarrassed by the direct question.

“Let’s just say that’s the case.”

“Then there’s no need for you to worry about it.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth with a firm voice towards the division commander who was tilting his head.

“I will not accept any special treatment or attention related to my military life. Whatever Chairman Hwang said, please forget it all and forget that I am even in the military. I did not enlist to receive special treatment.

If I had known this would happen, I would have made sure that Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo wouldn’t even come near the base.”

The division commander’s mouth slowly opened.

“Uh, uh?”