Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 96

What is this I’m hearing?

He told Chairman Hwang not to even come near?

The division commander was stunned for two reasons. First, despite him saying he would personally take care of it, Kang Jin-ho was showing blatant displeasure as if he were receiving some kind of dirty favor. Second, he was referring to the giant that is Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo as if he were just the friendly neighbor next door.

“Do you know Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo well?”

“We’ve only met.”

‘That can’t be.’

Everyone knows that Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo isn’t someone who just idles around; he’s one of the busiest people in South Korea.

There’s no reason for such a person to take time out of his schedule to look after a fresh-faced young man.

“Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo isn’t asking for anything special. He just asked that you not be put at a disadvantage. You know that Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo isn’t that kind of person, right?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“That is a special favor.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Shouldn’t everyone be free from disadvantages?”

“I’ve heard about the military culture. Of course, if there’s something wrong, it should be corrected, and if something is wrong, you should protest. I’m not saying that you should silently endure disadvantages.”

Kang Jin-ho cleared his throat.

It felt like it had been a long time since he had talked so much and had a conversation with someone like this.

“But no one comes to the military expecting to receive special treatment. Everyone knows that things are unreasonable, but they think of it as a duty and come to the military. If that’s the case, it’s unfair for me to be the only one receiving special treatment.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

The division commander clicked his tongue.

“The military isn’t an easy place. Of course, most people complete their service without any issues, but sometimes you find yourself in situations where you really can’t do anything about it.”

“Then that’s something I have to endure.”

Kang Jin-ho said with an unchanging expression.

“Even if I encounter something I can’t handle alone, it’s up to the military system and myself to resolve it. Receiving outside help goes against the rules.”

Kang Jin-ho stood up from his seat.

“Neither Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo nor anyone else has the right to twist the duty that all the soldiers of South Korea are enduring. I mentioned it once before, but it seems my opinion wasn’t properly conveyed. I will make sure to state it clearly separately. So, please stop paying attention to me.”

With those words, Kang Jin-ho walked out.

“Th-that!”

The battalion commander’s face turned bright red.

Even if what he said was right, it wasn’t appropriate to speak so boldly in front of the division commander. It was not only disrespectful to a superior rank but also to an elder.

“That rascal!”

“Enough.”

“But, sir.”

“Hey, I said enough.”

As the battalion commander huffed and closed his mouth, the division commander took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

“That’s right. No one has the right to twist his duty.”

The division commander started laughing heartily.

“Ha, that guy is bold, so bold.”

“He seems too arrogant.”

“No, that’s not arrogance, that’s boldness.”

“Arrogance is a word we can use when we haven’t done anything wrong. But let’s be honest, isn’t this a favor?”

“It’s just a little consideration out of personal friendship.”

“That’s a favor.”

The battalion commander closed his mouth.

“The only reason other soldiers don’t receive such treatment is because they don’t have a personal connection with me. If that’s the case, then it’s unfair. The opportunity wasn’t equal.”

At the division commander’s words, the battalion commander slowly nodded. If he were to witness battalion commanders of similar rank getting promoted before him due to their connections, he would inevitably be furious.

“But it’s not like he asked for the favor himself. Someone else asked for it, and he could have just closed his eyes and had an easy military life, but he flatly refused it. That’s not something easy to do.”

“That’s right.”

“And he didn’t just refuse, he even lectured us. Yes, what he said is right. Who dares to manipulate the sacred duty of national defense? It’s something that no member of South Korea should ever do.”

The division commander lit his cigarette and smiled.

“I got one over on by a young kid, but strangely, I feel good. After reaching this position, all I’ve heard is people asking for favors, but to have someone tell me to stop paying attention to them.”

“Still, he seems too arrogant. I’ve never seen a new recruit like that.”

“That’s why Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo is asking for special attention. He’s so strong that he seems like he’ll break.”

The division commander’s aged eyes traced the back of Kang Jin-ho, who had just left.

‘He’s tough.’

There were people like that among his seniors.

People who didn’t know how to compromise, didn’t know how to bow their heads, and only walked the righteous path.

That’s why they broke, fell, and were eliminated.

The thought that he had reached this position perhaps because he hadn’t been as upright as them and had avoided the passing winds made him feel a pang of regret.

“Do not give Private Kang Jin-ho any special treatment.”

“…Are you sure that’s okay?”

“If that’s what he wants, we have to do it.”

“But now that we know, I don’t know if it will be easy…”

From the battalion commander’s expression, the division commander could once again feel the military’s position, unable to be free from external pressure.

If Hwang Jeong-hoo set his mind to it, it wouldn’t be a big deal to have the division commander’s head chopped off. So, how much more would it be for a lieutenant colonel, a mere battalion commander?

It was a lieutenant colonel who could have his head chopped off just by being near and getting caught in the crossfire.

“I’ll take responsibility for that part.”

“Thank you.”

“And Chairman Hwang said he would visit the base once a month, so we can talk to him then. That guy also said he would contact him separately.”

“If a kid speaks carelessly, he might just incur his wrath.”

“Is there anything else we can do but hope he doesn’t?”

The division commander clicked his tongue.

“Kang Jin-ho!”

Ha Jin-nam, who had followed Kang Jin-ho outside, shouted in alarm.

“Hey, you crazy bastard. Where do you get off leaving the division commander’s office first! Do you want to see the company commander get his head chopped off?”

“I didn’t think about that part. I’m sorry.”

“…Just wait here.”

Ha Jin-nam didn’t know what to do.

He had scolded Kang Jin-ho, but the afterglow of Hwang Jeong-hoo was starting to appear like a shadow behind Kang Jin-ho. So, he couldn’t scold him, but he couldn’t just leave him like this either.

What made him even more flustered was that there was no reaction from inside the battalion commander’s office. As things stood, he had to wait until the battalion commander came out.

“Can I make a phone call?”

Kang Jin-ho pointed to the phone booth in the distance.

“Huh?”

Ha Jin-nam was suddenly scared.

Considering what this guy had said inside, he seemed like he was about to call Hwang Jeong-hoo right now and start nagging him. But if that happened, would he be able to handle the aftermath?

“Ah, no. Just wait here.”

“It’ll only be for a moment.”

“If the company commander tells you to wait, you wait.”

“Yes, I understand.”

When Kang Jin-ho stood there without saying another word, Ha Jin-nam secretly sighed.

‘Looking at this, he’s not someone without common sense.’

Since he had heard the words of Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo directly, even if he acted a little rude, Ha Jin-nam wouldn’t be able to touch him. Kang Jin-ho probably knew that as well.

Yet, Kang Jin-ho was still treating Ha Jin-nam with respect.

“What’s your relationship with Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo?”

“We have no relationship.”

“Tell me honestly. I won’t tell anyone.”

“We really have no relationship.”

“…But he’s going out of his way to look after you like this?”

“We have a slight personal acquaintance.”

“Really?”

He couldn’t believe it, but he couldn’t not believe it either.

When he looked at the records, there was definitely no blood relation with Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo, so what he said was probably true. But looking at Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo’s reaction, it was ambiguous to say that there was no connection.

“It’s taking a long time.”

Ha Jin-nam sighed as he looked at the battalion commander’s office door that wouldn’t open.

“You’re going to call Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am.”

“…Even if I don’t let you now, you’ll do it when you get back to the unit, right?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Okay, go ahead. Do it over there and come back here.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kang Jin-ho saluted and headed towards the phone booth. Ha Jin-nam shuddered as he watched him.

‘Why is something like this happening in my unit?’

Why was something that only happened in dramas happening in the unit he was in? His only dream was to manage the unit well and succeed in his first promotion.

The obstacle that his smooth sailing had encountered was supposed to be a reef, but it felt like a kraken had suddenly burst through the bottom of the ship.

“I’m not Captain Jack.”

Ha Jin-nam sighed deeply and looked at Kang Jin-ho, who was holding the phone.

‘What are they talking about?’

Even though he was a soldier, he knew that eavesdropping on a personal phone call was impolite.

But wasn’t he curious?

A new recruit talking on the phone with Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of conversation they were having. Moreover, if he could find a clue about their relationship, it might be helpful not only to himself but also to the battalion commander and the division commander.

‘Should I listen in a little?’

He reassured himself that this was not out of personal interest but out of loyalty to his superiors. Ha Jin-nam slowly approached the phone booth.

Ha Jin-nam, who had approached without making a sound behind Kang Jin-ho, slowly leaned in to listen.

‘What is he saying?’

The conversation wasn’t clear. Ha Jin-nam moved closer and listened more carefully.

“So… I did it.”

A very small voice began to be heard.

“Chairman!”

When he focused more, he could hear the words clearly. Judging by the fact that he was saying “Chairman,” it seemed like he was indeed talking to Hwang Jeong-hoo.

‘Is it really Chairman Hwang Jeong-hoo?’

It was amazing that someone he had only seen on TV was talking on the phone with the soldier in front of him. Perhaps because he hadn’t fully grasped the reality yet, he couldn’t quite understand what was going on.

Ha Jin-nam, who had been in a daze as if he were dreaming, had no choice but to come back to reality at Kang Jin-ho’s next words.

“That’s why I told you, I don’t need anything. If the same thing happens again, I won’t stand idly by either. I’m telling you clearly, stop paying attention to my military life. This isn’t a request.”

Ha Jin-nam, who had understood the reality too much, clutched his chest and collapsed on the spot.