Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 152

Nam Tae-sik’s body trembled.

“Huuuuh.”

Nothing was forced upon him. But just the fact that Kang Jin-ho was nearby made his body scream involuntarily.

‘Could that person…?’

Could that person display such power?

‘I misjudged him.’

It wasn’t just about his abilities.

His personality was also misjudged.

This man was several times more dangerous than they thought.

Kang Jin-ho took his hand off Nam Tae-sik’s face and put a cigarette in his mouth.

“I enjoyed the interesting story, but it doesn’t seem to have much to do with me. The fact that you came to see me today means it’s difficult to contact me unless you’re from the military, right?”

Originally, he shouldn’t have admitted it. But Nam Tae-sik nodded his head without realizing it.

He didn’t even notice that Kang Jin-ho’s tone had returned to a polite one.

As Nam Tae-sik stared blankly at Kang Jin-ho, this time Kang Jin-ho took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in Nam Tae-sik’s mouth.

“Major.”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

Nam Tae-sik was startled and looked at Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho smiled calmly and continued.

“There’s no need to be afraid. You are not someone I need to trample on.”

Nam Tae-sik snapped back to his senses at Kang Jin-ho’s words.

He had never been so grateful that he wasn’t a returnee [a person who has returned to Earth with special abilities].

His words were gentle, but if you flipped them over, it was a threat that if he were a returnee or someone who had learned martial arts from a returnee, he wouldn’t be safe right now.

“I have no intention of getting involved in your game. I’m telling you that if you don’t bother me, I won’t be hostile to you either.”

“…I will convey that.”

“And one more thing.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho said without changing his expression.

“Do you know what happened to Kim Hak-cheol and Noh Su-bong?”

“…I don’t know the details.”

“Tell them that if they want to know, it might be a good idea to try and bother me.”

The word ‘yes’ wouldn’t come out of his mouth.

The sweat running down his back soaked his clothes and even seemed to be soaking the seat.

He just wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible.

Nam Tae-sik had to use a lot of mental strength to resist the urge to open the door and jump out.

“Hoo…”

Kang Jin-ho exhaled a long puff of cigarette smoke, stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray in the car, and leaned back in his seat.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Nam Tae-sik nodded his head frantically.

Kang Jin-ho looked out the window silently, watching Nam Tae-sik.

The car started roughly.

It seemed that Nam Tae-sik no longer wanted to be alone with Kang Jin-ho in this car.

The car quickly passed through the guard post and stopped in front of the living quarters.

Kang Jin-ho got out of the car and saluted the car.

“Victory!”

As the vehicle quickly drove down, barely acknowledging the salute, the company commander, who had been watching the situation from the administration office, ran out and asked.

“Jin-ho, why did that man come?”

“I’m not sure either.”

“What did he ask?”

“It didn’t seem like it was for thanks. He just asked about something personal.”

“Really? That’s a relief then.”

The company commander sighed. With three suicide attempts in the company, his heart felt like it would stop whenever someone from the Defense Security Command showed up.

“But Jin-ho.”

“Yes.”

“You’re being discharged tomorrow, right?”

“Yes.”

The company commander smiled slyly and said.

“You… when you go out into society, you won’t forget what your hyung [older brother or older male friend] has done for you, right?”

“I, I was joking last time, but now my situation is no longer a joke. What are you going to do for a living when you get discharged, hyung?”

“…Have a good one.”

“Jin-ho? Jin-ho?”

As Kang Jin-ho went into the living quarters, the company commander, left alone, sighed.

“Ah, damn it. I should have said something sooner.”

The last night in the military.

Kang Jin-ho covered himself with his sleeping bag and looked at the ceiling.

It was a sight he had seen every day for two years.

But he wouldn’t be able to see this sight anymore tomorrow.

“Sergeant Kang Jin-ho.”

“Huh?”

“No, Jin-ho. You’ve done well.”

“Hmm…”

Jang Jae-hwan, who was lying next to him, smiled.

“Everyone knows that you’ve been fighting with officers and seniors to take care of the guys, and everyone is grateful.”

“I didn’t exactly try to take care of them.”

“I know. But we had an easier time in the military thanks to you, so we’re grateful. You’ll do well even when you go out into society, but take care. Keep in touch. I’ll be out soon too.”

“Hmm.”

Jang Jae-hwan was a junior, but he was a year older than Kang Jin-ho.

“I know you don’t like this kind of praise. But we still have to do it.”

“Hmm?”

Just as Kang Jin-ho was about to say something, the door burst open and Joo Young-gi came in.

“Jino! Jino!”

“…What?”

“Come on, quickly. You have to say goodbye to the guys before they go to sleep.”

“Can’t I just not do it?”

“You have to do it!”

Kang Jin-ho sighed. He didn’t know why so many people were looking for things to do today.

Pulled by Joo Young-gi, who grabbed his shoulder, Kang Jin-ho got up from his spot. Then, scratching his head, he started walking towards the 1st living quarters.

As he opened the door and went inside, Joo Young-gi turned on the lights.

“Ah, what is it!”

“Mister, just go. Don’t make people angry.”

“Ah, that old man smell. Can’t you go without smelling like that?”

Criticism poured out.

Kang Jin-ho sighed. He didn’t know why he had to go around getting cursed like this.

Joo Young-gi joked around and greeted them first, and then Kang Jin-ho also shook hands with each of the soldiers who had gotten up from their spots.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“You’ve done well, Jin-ho.”

“You bastard, stop being so clean.”

Some were visibly sad.

“…Sergeant Kang Jin-ho!”

Kang Jin-ho looked dumbfounded at the guy who was almost in tears.

What had he done to get this kind of reaction?

“Are you that sad?”

“Yes. I feel like I’m going to die.”

“Why?”

The guy who was sobbing opened his mouth.

“If Sergeant Kang Jin-ho gets discharged, Ms. Se-ah won’t come to the company anymore. I’ve been living for that until now…”

Kang Jin-ho looked back at Lee Sang-yeop, who was now a squad leader, without saying anything.

Lee Sang-yeop nodded.

“I’ll take care of it for sure.”

As Lee Sang-yeop made a gesture of slitting his own throat with his thumb, Kang Jin-ho nodded silently.

‘This kind of guy needs to taste hell.’

He couldn’t help but hear similar words in other living quarters.

“What are you so proud of, coming in here to say goodbye while others are sleeping? Why don’t you get out of here?”

“You’ve worked hard, Sergeant Kang Jin-ho.”

“You know that if you fall on your way out, you have to come back in, right? I’ve oiled it well.”

“…You’re just like the transportation guys.”

In a way, they were obvious stories. Shaking hands with each person and exchanging a word of blessing. That was all.

It was the tradition of Charlie, where only 100 people had to live independently. After going around the 5th living quarters for the last time, time had passed quickly.

Kang Jin-ho went to the smoking area with Joo Young-gi and put a cigarette in his mouth.

“Hey, Jin-ho.”

“Yeah.”

“It feels a bit bittersweet.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled. But he couldn’t tease Joo Young-gi.

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked down at his hand.

He had just shaken hands with the people he had known, but Kang Jin-ho also felt something strange.

‘It’s over.’

He realized that this long military life was really over.

After tonight, no, even before tonight is over, Kang Jin-ho will leave this company.

And he would go back home.

It wasn’t like he wished for his military life to end because it was a bad place, but it was still a good thing that he had passed one stage.

“I’m a bit worried too. Should I say it’s bittersweet?”

“You don’t fit in the military.”

“…I admit that.”

Joo Young-gi had a complicated expression.

It seemed that Joo Young-gi had more thoughts than Kang Jin-ho, as he had gone through a big event. After all, Joo Young-gi had faced death twice in the military.

“Jin-ho.”

“Yeah.”

“They say that a man becomes a real man after serving in the military, right?”

“That’s bullshit.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

“But they say that something remains after serving in the military.”

Kang Jin-ho waited for Joo Young-gi’s words without answering.

“Did we leave something behind?”

“I don’t know.”

It was something that Kang Jin-ho couldn’t be sure of either. Kang Jin-ho had experienced too much in life to feel something just from living in the military.

“I don’t know.”

“…I don’t know either.”

Joo Young-gi slowly exhaled cigarette smoke and stubbed out the cigarette on the ground.

“Let’s go in. If we make noise while they’re sleeping, we’ll get hit again.”

‘You deserve to get hit.’

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and followed Joo Young-gi to the living quarters.

“Victory!”

“Yeah, everyone has worked hard. Take care of yourselves.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho and Joo Young-gi, who had finished reporting to the officer of the day, walked towards the entrance.

“…But what’s with your clothes?”

“Why?”

“What happened to your A-grade uniform? You’re wearing a C-grade one?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“Why would I wear a military uniform when I go outside? It’s better to give the good ones to the guys.”

Joo Young-gi looked at him as if he was dumbfounded.

But Kang Jin-ho’s thoughts were firm. He couldn’t understand the seniors who packed good clothes and even military supplies to take with them.

If there was something good, shouldn’t the people inside use it?

“What about the reserve forces?”

“Wow, there are hundreds of people wearing shiny A-grade uniforms, and you’re going to wear a C-grade one among them? You’ll be the center of attention.”

For a moment, Kang Jin-ho seriously considered turning back, but in the end, he couldn’t turn back. He had already given them all away last night. If he asked for them back now, he would only get cursed at.

As they went down to the guard post, Jang Jae-hwan came out of the guardhouse.

“Huh?”

Joo Young-gi looked at Jang Jae-hwan as if he was dumbfounded.

Why was Jang Jae-hwan, the squad leader, standing guard? He should be in the administration office as the duty sergeant.

“You bastard, why are you here?”

Jang Jae-hwan grinned.

“Bastard? Hey, I’m your hyung.”

“…Jae-hwan hyung, why are you here?”

Jang Jae-hwan burst out laughing at Joo Young-gi’s joking tone.

“I knew you would leave early in the morning without even saying goodbye. It’s our senior’s last day, so I had to see you off. The guys can sleep, but it’s not a big deal for us to sleep a little less, right?”

“Us?”

“That’s right.”

Lee Sang-yeop came out of the sub-guard post and smiled.

“Oh? You guys are all crazy?”

Joo Young-gi cursed, but he seemed happy as he kept laughing.

“Do you think anyone will be moved by this?”

“Ha, that guy is really something until the end.”

Lee Sang-yeop shook his head.

“Okay, let’s send them off. You guys, go and get yourselves together. We’ll follow you soon.”

“Ha, you guys are really…”

Joo Young-gi couldn’t help but laugh, and even Kang Jin-ho was showing a faint smile.

“Okay, attention.”

Jang Jae-hwan and Lee Sang-yeop stood at attention.

“Salute.”

“Victory!”

As Jang Jae-hwan and Lee Sang-yeop saluted, Kang Jin-ho and Joo Young-gi also saluted back.

“Now get out of here!”

“That bastard…”

“Bastard?”

“That hyung!”

The four of them hugged each other once.

But even at this moment, there was someone who couldn’t be moved.

The guard post leader came out and looked like he was about to die.

“Ah, please go. What are you doing here with all the company one, two, three, and four gathered here? You’re not letting people rest.”

“That bastard is missing.”

Joo Young-gi joked and looked back at the company with regret.

For a long time, Joo Young-gi didn’t move, looking at the company.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Joo Young-gi nodded and took a regretful step out of the guard post.

“…It’s really over.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m never going to pee in this direction again.”

He said that, but Joo Young-gi’s face was full of regret. Receiving the farewell from their juniors, Kang Jin-ho and Joo Young-gi trudged away.

The End

The end of a long military life.