Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 123

“…How did he do that?”

A person simply lifted their leg and slammed it down, and the log snapped in half as if it had been cut, falling to the ground.

“Whoaaaaaa!”

“Wow, the special effects are awesome!”

“Did they pre-saw it?”

“Even so, it looks so real? They prepared well.”

Jo Won-gu awkwardly smiled, listening to the voices from below.

‘Special effects, my ass.’

They say the extreme of entertainment is reality.

He had merely kicked a perfectly good log and split it in half, but to the people watching from below, it seemed like some kind of special effect.

‘Well, even I, who know what happened, can’t believe it.’

Seong Tae-ho’s idea was spot on.

Everyone was trying to be funny, but there’s a limit to the average person’s sense of humor. If they were that funny, they would have joined the military band or become an entertainment soldier; why would they be here as regular soldiers?

Real feats of strength worked well on those who were tired of watching unfunny jokes. Fortunately, being placed later in the order also worked in their favor.

“J-Jin-ho! This isn’t going to hurt, right?”

“Just stay still.”

“I know! I know, but still!”

“Just stay still, sir. You’ve already done it once.”

“That’s why I know!”

Jeon Hyeok-soo, lying on the ground with a large rock on his stomach, screamed in terror.

“Uwaaaah! Squad leader, I can’t do this!”

“Stay still, you idiot!”

“I’ll die if something goes wrong!”

The onlookers seemed to think it was a well-rehearsed act, laughing and enjoying themselves, but Jeon Hyeok-soo was sweating bullets.

‘This is real! You crazy bastards!’

The rock on his stomach was a 100% real, unmanipulated rock.

And Kang Jin-ho was about to smash it with his bare hands.

What would happen to Jeon Hyeok-soo underneath?

This was a guaranteed case of bowel rupture.

As much as he wanted a leave pass, a visit to the medical unit was not his cup of tea. If he was lucky, he’d end up in the medical unit, but if things went wrong, he’d get a special tour of the Capital Armed Forces Hospital, and if things went really bad, he’d get a great opportunity to see what the inside of a coffin looks like!

“Uwaaaah! Squad leadeeeer!”

“Stay still, I said!”

The squad members rushed over and pinned down the struggling Jeon Hyeok-soo.

“This is hazing! I’m going to write about this in my grievance letter!”

“Write it, write it! You can write it later, just stay still for now!”

Kang Jin-ho, with a blank expression, struck the rock on Jeon Hyeok-soo’s stomach, and the rock cracked with a loud sound, splitting in half and rolling onto the floor.

“Wow, listen to that sound!”

“How does he do that? Did they put glue on it? They really prepared well!”

‘Prepared, my ass, you bastards.’

Jeon Hyeok-soo, half-foaming at the mouth, crawled on the floor, exhausted.

Fortunately, his stomach was fine, but he felt like he had visited the underworld for a moment.

“…My leave pass.”

What was it about a leave pass that made people suffer so much?

After that, Kang Jin-ho successfully completed breaking chains, bending steel bars, and breaking wooden planks with his body before finally leaving the stage.

“It seems like it went well, sir?”

“This is a guaranteed win.”

If it were a humor competition, it would be different, but since it was a talent show, there was no way another squad could surpass them. Especially since the eight-man hang that Jo Won-gu had painstakingly perfected was a success, there was no doubt that they were unbeatable.

In reality, it was just Kang Jin-ho standing there while the rest of the squad hung onto his body, but it wasn’t easy for eight people to hang onto one person’s body. It was a carefully planned, ultimate move that they had managed to pull off.

Even those who had thought it was all a trick until now had no choice but to gape at that moment. Eight people may not sound like much, but eight men weighing 60kg each is 500kg [approximately 1100 pounds].

Who wouldn’t know how incredible it is for someone to stand while supporting that much weight?

Moreover, they had seen the company commander and battalion commander, who had come to watch the talent show, stand up and applaud, so there was no need to worry.

“Victory! Charlie Squad 3!”

“That’s right!”

Jo Won-gu, with his mouth wide open at the announcement of their victory, jumped onto the stage.

Jeon Hyeok-soo, watching the scene, put his hand on Kang Jin-ho’s shoulder.

“Jin-ho.”

“Private Kang Jin-ho.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Tell me everything you want. I’ll buy it for you.”

Kang Jin-ho was busy collecting the leave passes.

“Agh, damn it! I have to do this again!”

The last day of the field training exercise.

Seok Woong-cheol gritted his teeth, looking at the gas chamber.

The gas chamber was the thing he could never get used to in his military life. He had heard that some units didn’t do gas chamber training during field training, but this division seemed to have a grudge against gas, as they never skipped the gas chamber during training.

“Kuaaaak!”

“I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die! Ack!”

Seok Woong-cheol shuddered, watching the squad in front of them burst out of the gas chamber.

The pain of the gas was not something one could get used to.

“Ha, this is driving me crazy.”

Turning his head, he saw that Jo Won-gu already had a resigned expression, and Jeon Hyeok-soo was glaring at the gas chamber with a face full of annoyance.

“You haven’t done the gas chamber in a while, have you?”

“Yes, sir.”

However, Kang Jin-ho was just calm.

“Did you stay in there long last time?”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head, recalling the gas training he had received in the recruit training center.

“I don’t think I was in there for very long.”

“Really? Then you’re going to have a hard time this time. It’s nothing like the recruit training center.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seok Woong-cheol clicked his tongue at Kang Jin-ho’s indifferent expression. He seemed to be thinking about the sample gas chamber practice they had in the recruit training center.

“You’re really going to suffer.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seok Woong-cheol shook his head.

On the one hand, he understood. No matter how much you explained it, it wasn’t something you could understand. You had to experience it yourself to know.

At that moment, Jo Won-gu opened his mouth.

“Hey, guys.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You know we’re in the lead, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t go crazy and get points deducted, just grit your teeth and endure it. Got it?”

“Yes, sir, understood.”

“Especially you, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Private Kang Jin-ho.”

“If you start acting up, even the instructors can’t stop you. Then we’ll definitely get points deducted. Do whatever it takes to endure it! Got it?”

“Yes, sir, understood.”

But soon, he realized that it was an unnecessary worry.

“Uwaaaaaaa!”

A scream came out involuntarily. He couldn’t think straight with the gas seeping into his eyes and nose.

Jo Won-gu, with tears streaming down his face and his vision blurred, looked back at his squad members. He wanted to stop anyone who might try to act out.

‘What the hell is that?’

But… even though the gas was so thick that it was hard to breathe, Kang Jin-ho, with a calm face, was pressing down on the struggling Jeon Hyeok-soo with one hand.

“Let go! Let go of me!”

“It’ll be over soon. Just stay still, sir.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at him calmly and then gently wiped Jeon Hyeok-soo’s face with one hand.

“Ugh! I’m gonna… huh?”

Jeon Hyeok-soo touched his face with a bewildered expression.

‘What’s going on?’

He couldn’t grasp the situation anymore due to the overwhelming pain, but thanks to that, he was able to get out of the gas chamber without any problems.

“…Ugh, it’s over.”

He thought he couldn’t do it twice, but it was already the third time. He felt much better thinking that he wouldn’t have to go into that dreadful place again.

“It’s all over now, sir.”

Seok Woong-cheol was wiping his face next to him.

“Those bastards will have to do it again next year.”

“Agh, I’d kill myself if I were them.”

Jo Won-gu joked around while keeping an eye on Kang Jin-ho and Jeon Hyeok-soo. Jeon Hyeok-soo had a slightly dumbfounded look on his face, while Kang Jin-ho was as calm as ever.

‘What did I just see?’

He was curious, but strangely, he didn’t dare ask.

‘Let’s just ignore it.’

Jo Won-gu was instinctively realizing that it was better not to get involved with Kang Jin-ho.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did you pack all your gear?”

“Yes, sir, I did.”

“Okay… this is the last thing we have to do.”

Jo Won-gu looked at the field training grounds with a weary expression.

This year felt both harder and easier at the same time. It was physically exhausting, but mentally, it felt less stressful, perhaps because of Kang Jin-ho.

“Jin-ho.”

“Private Kang Jin-ho.”

“Go easy on us next year.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jo Won-gu, watching Kang Jin-ho nod, put a cigarette in his mouth.

‘The instructors must have been shocked too.’

Field training is a place where you have to do what you’re told, but there’s no one who actually does everything they’re told. There’s a limit to a person’s physical strength.

But then, a guy appeared who did everything he was told, so it was no wonder the instructors were flustered.

What’s the point of training for a human who climbs cliffs like they’re flat ground and crosses ropes like they’re bridges?

‘This will be legendary.’

The stories about Kang Jin-ho would probably become legends among the field training instructors. Maybe next year, the new recruits who think the seniors are exaggerating will be shocked once again.

“They’re calling for assembly!”

“Alright, let’s go!”

Now, all that was left was the 40km march.

Once they finished this, this year’s field training would truly be over.

The march, which started with a simple roll call, began by climbing a mountain. Field training grounds are usually located in the mountains, so the field training march usually starts by heading towards the mountain peak.

“Hey! You bastard, I told you not to drink water yet!”

“…Sorry, sir.”

“Ha, here we go again.”

Surprisingly, the most problems during the field training march occurred within the first two hours.

After five days of field training, people were exhausted, and when they suddenly started climbing a mountain, some would collapse from exhaustion.

Jo Won-gu, who had already experienced a senior collapsing and being left behind during the last field training, had repeatedly warned them, but Seong Tae-ho’s complexion was not good. Seeing his legs trembling, the outcome was already obvious.

“Squad leader, this bastard is out of it, sir?”

“Ha, this is driving me crazy.”

Normally, he would have sent him back without hesitation. Military training wasn’t meant to kill people.

But before they had even started, the company commander had told him that if no one in his squad dropped out, they were guaranteed to win.

What was a leave pass worth that he would risk someone’s life? But if Seong Tae-ho dropped out and they lost the leave pass, Seong Tae-ho’s remaining military service would be hell.

The seniors, blinded by the leave pass, would try to devour Seong Tae-ho until the moment they were discharged.

“What should I do?”

But Seong Tae-ho’s condition was too poor to force him to continue.

As Jo Won-gu was struggling to make a decision, Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth.

“Wouldn’t he be able to go if he didn’t carry his gear?”

“Double gear? Who would carry it?”

Field training wasn’t called field training for nothing.

They were excited now that it was almost over, but it was only the beginning of the march, and no one could endure carrying two 40kg [approximately 88 pounds] packs.

“I will carry it.”

“Huh?”

No, there was someone.

Jo Won-gu stared at Kang Jin-ho and opened his mouth.

“…Can you do it?”

He already knew that there was no need to ask.