Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1032

“Director Jo Kyu-min?”

Jeon Byeong-su’s eyes widened slightly.

‘Why is the Chief of Staff here?’

If you think about it, there isn’t much age difference between Jo Kyu-min and Jeon Byeong-su. In terms of age alone, Jeon Byeong-su is slightly older.

However, the status that Jo Kyu-min and Jeon Byeong-su held within the group was vastly different.

While Jeon Byeong-su was just one of many ordinary team leaders, Jo Kyu-min was a powerful figure who held real power within the group.

Despite being young, he was trusted enough to have private meetings with Chairman Hwang Jeong-hu.

Considering that only a handful of people, including the presidents and board members, were granted this privilege, Jo Kyu-min’s power was enormous for his age.

A key figure in the regime.

That was an understatement for describing Jo Kyu-min.

When he first appeared on the scene, gaining Chairman Hwang Jeong-hu’s trust, many predicted that he would soon fall due to a lack of ability. However, now no one doubted Jo Kyu-min’s capabilities.

And that Jo Kyu-min had suddenly appeared here.

Jo Kyu-min scurried over and stood in front of Kang Jin-ho.

Jo Kyu-min looked Kang Jin-ho up and down and grinned.

‘I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen you dressed like this. You look radiant.’

‘I’m uncomfortable.’

‘That’s how it is. You’ll get used to it.’

‘I hope so.’

Kang Jin-ho gave a wry smile.

Jo Kyu-min looked at Jeon Byeong-su and said,

‘There’s still some time before the training starts, isn’t there?’

‘Yes? Ah, yes. About 30 minutes left.’

‘Would it be okay if we just sit down until then?’

‘Of course.’

‘Yes, thank you.’

Jo Kyu-min grinned and pulled Kang Jin-ho away.

‘Let’s have a smoke, just one.’

‘……Just a moment.’

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and said to Bae Jae-min,

‘Tell the guys inside not to make a fuss.’

‘Yes! Lord Chief!’

‘Not Lord Chief.’

‘Ah, I understand, Mr. Kang Jin-ho!’

No sooner had he finished speaking than Jo Kyu-min grabbed Kang Jin-ho and went outside. Those left behind stared blankly, feeling as if a storm had passed.

‘What’s going on?’

Someone’s mutterings expressed everyone’s feelings.

Click.

A cigarette is lit.

Kang Jin-ho slowly exhaled the cigarette smoke.

‘Hoo-ooh.’

Jo Kyu-min, who had lit Kang Jin-ho’s cigarette, smiled subtly and lit his own cigarette.

‘How do you feel?’

Kang Jin-ho frowned slightly and looked at Jo Kyu-min.

Looking at his face, which seemed to be enjoying this, made him feel strangely twisted inside.

‘You seem to be having fun.’

‘I guess so. Isn’t it strange?’

Jo Kyu-min chuckled.

‘When I think about it, I’ve known Mr. Kang Jin-ho since you were a student. Considering that, it shouldn’t seem strange for you to be learning something from someone, but it’s strangely fun.’

Kang Jin-ho agreed with that.

Since coming to this world, Kang Jin-ho had spent most of his time as a student. He hadn’t studied properly since enlisting in the military, but before that, it was very natural for him to learn something from someone.

But now, it felt awkward.

The sages emphasized that learning continues throughout life, but that’s something only sages can say. It’s a teaching because it’s something that cannot be kept while living an ordinary life.

Once someone has strayed from the path of learning, it’s difficult to seek it again.

Should he be grateful for having the opportunity to learn again in this situation?

Kang Jin-ho sighed deeply.

He hadn’t really thought about anything until he came here, but the moment he met Jo Kyu-min, he suddenly felt exhausted.

‘The Chairman will be very pleased to see this.’

‘……Is he coming?’

‘Yes. He said he would stop by when the training starts. The purpose is obvious.’

‘He’s coming to tease me.’

The thought of Hwang Jeong-hu’s sly face made his head ache.

‘The kids are more unruly than I thought.’

‘Ah, yes……’

As the topic changed, Kang Jin-ho nodded with a more relaxed expression.

‘I guess so.’

‘If Mr. Kang Jin-ho hadn’t joined, it would have been a headache. Of course, you would have come up with a solution, but even a day or two is precious.’

‘Is the schedule very tight?’

‘Yes, it is.’

Jo Kyu-min gave a wry smile.

‘The time has been cut in half, but there’s more to learn.’

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

He had come because he was told to, but Kang Jin-ho had no idea what he was supposed to learn in the new employee training.

Jo Kyu-min chuckled, as if he had read Kang Jin-ho’s expression.

‘It’s not ordinary training. Director Lee wants people who can be put into the field right away, not new employees. To have that level of practical skills, there’s a lot to learn.’

Jo Kyu-min gave a subtle smile.

‘Did you see the training team earlier?’

‘Yes.’

‘It seems like the training team was in chaos. It’s their first time teaching outsiders, and they have to create a new curriculum. It seems like they haven’t even properly planned the second half of the training yet.’

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

‘It’s ironic.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The client is separate, but the client isn’t here.’

‘That’s true. They’re probably relaxing comfortably in a cool office right now.’

‘No.’

Kang Jin-ho shook his hand.

‘I don’t think that’s the case?’

‘Huh?’

‘They’re probably seeing hell right now too.’

***

‘……Save me.’

Lee Hyun-soo was dying from the endless flood of work.

‘You have to endure it, Director.’

‘No, this……’

Lee Hyun-soo, who had raised his head to say something, couldn’t say anything and buried his head back into the monitor.

Lee Hyun-joo’s appearance was also a mess.

Her hair was a mess, and there were dark circles under her eyes. In just two days, she had completely lost her original appearance.

‘It’s something you volunteered for.’

‘……You made me do it!’

There were so many things he wanted to say, but Lee Hyun-soo was well aware that saying everything that came to mind would not be helpful in his life.

So, he could only keep his mouth shut.

‘I didn’t think it would be this bad……’

The work was endless.

Lee Hyun-soo’s judgment was correct. The General Assembly followed a very old system. To put it nicely, it was old, and to put it badly, it was haphazard.

Even if they tried to reorganize the system now, the office workers lacked the capacity to operate the system, so they couldn’t carry out a proper reform. Therefore, in order to reform the General Assembly, it was necessary to improve the abilities of the office workers.

How much Lee Hyun-soo had suffered because of those haphazardly written reports and proposals that made people lose their minds.

But……

‘How many people have gone now?’

‘Three hundred.’

‘……Three hundred people.’

He was about to cry.

Even if they were incompetent, if about three hundred people were working, the amount of work they handled was not small. They had managed to distribute the workload, but even then, the important tasks were all piled up on Lee Hyun-soo.

As a result, the workload instantly doubled.

Lee Hyun-soo had already been handling a murderous workload. With even more work added on top of that, going home was now out of the question.

‘Wh, when does the training end?’

‘They said 45 days.’

‘Ha, a month and a half?’

‘Yes.’

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes widened as much as they could.

He was dying after just two days, and he had to do this for another forty days?

‘Deputy Director Lee.’

‘Yes, Director.’

‘Don’t you think we should try to find another way?’

‘There’s no other way.’

Lee Hyun-joo took her hands off the keyboard and pushed up her glasses.

‘Even if there was another way, it wouldn’t be approved. The Lord Chief is away.’

‘……That’s right.’

‘So, stop complaining and work. If you can just endure for forty days, you’ll be able to work much more easily from then on.’

‘Easy for you to say.’

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head.

‘But did we have that many office workers? Enough to send three hundred people to training?’

‘They didn’t just go from here. We also received support from the branches.’

Most of the General Assembly was concentrated in the headquarters, but since there were business sites all over the country, branches were set up in each city. However, the branches did not have martial artists who focused on learning martial arts, only office workers, so they were rarely mentioned.

‘The actual number of people who left is about two hundred. We also took in new people who will be switching to office work this time and sent them to training.’

‘……But why is there so much work?’

‘Even small hands are still hands. We’ve been making up for inefficient work with manpower, and now that manpower is gone, it’s natural that the work is piling up. So, stop complaining and……’

Bang!

At that moment, the door was violently opened.

‘Lee Hyun-soo!’

‘Huh?’

Lee Hyun-soo jumped up from his seat.

‘Yes, Bator-nim. Is there a problem?’

‘It’s hot.’

‘……Yes?’

‘It’s hot!’

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes trembled.

No, what do you want me to do?

It’s hot because it’s summer.

‘Install air conditioners in the training grounds. The kids are dying.’

‘Th……’

‘I wouldn’t say this if I could help it. If martial artists are panting just because it’s a little hot, they should be beaten. But this is too much. Is Korea always like this?’

‘……It’s a bit excessively hot these days.’

‘They’re about to collapse from dehydration during training. Even if the outside can’t be helped, we need to install air conditioners in the lecture hall and indoors.’

‘I, I’ll take care of it right away.’

Just as Bator was about to nod, Jang Min pushed past Bator and came in from behind.

‘Get out of the way!’

‘What is it, old man!’

‘Director Lee! Director Lee! The kids are about to get heatstroke in the dorms. Please do something!’

Then, another person rushed in.

‘Director Lee! Wiggins-nim says he urgently needs some supplies to set up the magic circle. Here’s the list. Where should I put it?’

‘……Put it there.’

‘And Director Bang says the video lectures are cutting out, so he wants you to expand the server. He also said to tell you to stop wasting money.’

‘He said he’ll come directly if it’s not resolved immediately. Oh, and Wiggins-nim……’

‘Get out of here, you! My side is more urgent!’

‘You don’t even know the order of seniority! The kids are half dead right now. They’re already crammed into small rooms, and there’s not even one air conditioner in the room!’

Lee Hyun-soo turned to Lee Hyun-joo with a blank look. But Lee Hyun-joo didn’t even look at Lee Hyun-soo, as if it wasn’t her problem.

‘I, I know you’re in a hurry, but I have so much work to do right now……’

‘So what?’

‘I’ll take care of everything soon.’

‘Hurry up and take care of it. You’re just making excuses, working in a cool office.’

Just as Lee Hyun-soo was about to get up in anger, Bator said firmly.

‘It’s all because your martial arts are weak and your stamina is low! If you feel tired and exhausted, tell me! I’ll train you myself! Then it’ll be much easier to work!’

Lee Hyun-soo immediately lowered his body.

‘No! I’m not tired at all right now. Thank you for your concern, Bator-nim!’

‘Really?’

‘Of course!’

Bator looked at Lee Hyun-soo suspiciously and then nodded.

‘Okay, that’s the spirit! Take care of it quickly!’

‘……Yes.’

Lee Hyun-soo slumped in his chair.

‘Kill me.’

Just kill me, you guys!