Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 88

“Man, this is truly unbearable.”

“Are they trying to kill us? I thought I was going to throw up halfway through.”

“I did throw up.”

The barracks were filled with stifling heat and grumbling.

Those taking off their socks all cried out in pain.

The pus from the blisters on their feet had stuck to their socks. Trying to peel them off felt like tearing away at raw flesh.

“I’m going to kill every last one of those bastards who said the march was manageable.”

“I really thought I was going to collapse.”

*Bang!*

At that moment, the door was flung open roughly, and Joo Young-gi limped inside.

“Young-gi, you’ve worked hard.”

“Wow, you finished the whole thing.”

Joo Young-gi’s eyes twitched before he spoke.

“A man’s gotta have pride. How embarrassing.”

Seeing the empty spots here and there, Joo Young-gi snorted.

“It’s all about willpower, willpower. What’s so hard for you guys that you’re collapsing like that! How are you going to get anything done?”

The trainees burst into laughter at Joo Young-gi’s boastful words. He had been the one struggling the most during the march, with a face full of agony.

“Move.”

Kang Jin-ho entered and nudged Joo Young-gi’s pack, causing Joo Young-gi to shriek.

“Ah, my feet hurt! Don’t touch it!”

“I said move.”

“Okay!”

Joo Young-gi slumped down in his spot, and Kang Jin-ho walked past him to place his pack in his own spot.

The heavy thud of the pack being dropped drew everyone’s attention to Kang Jin-ho.

“He’s not even sweating.”

“Did you see him walking? I thought a Terminator was walking. His stride never changed.”

“The seniors who get him are going to be under a lot of pressure.”

By now, everyone was making excuses for Kang Jin-ho. Comparing themselves to him was pointless, so they just treated him like he was from a different species and moved on.

During this march, Kang Jin-ho had shown more stamina than even the instructors, helping others with their packs and pulling along those who fell behind.

“I really hope I don’t get assigned to the same unit as Jin-ho.”

“Why?”

“Honestly, it’s intimidating. The comparison will be huge.”

“That’s true.”

Kang Jin-ho unpacked his gear.

‘The military is an interesting place.’

Compared to the Central Plains he knew in the past, it had become very modern. It wasn’t just about the equipment; it was about the mindset. He could feel the scientific analysis of how to train soldiers.

However, even with that, there were irrationalities that he couldn’t understand.

A place where modern technology and old-fashioned absurdities coexisted.

That was Kang Jin-ho’s assessment of the new recruit training camp. Among them, the element of collective responsibility was something he couldn’t comprehend at all.

‘This is just the beginning.’

He had heard that the actual units were much more irrational than the new recruit training camp.

Moreover, there would be seniors, who didn’t exist here, who would clash with him.

“This will be interesting.”

“What will?”

“No, nothing.”

Joo Young-gi began to grumble as he watched Kang Jin-ho silently unpack his gear.

“Hey! You’re too inhuman.”

“Is that so?”

“You need to mingle with people. You can’t just do your own thing like that.”

“What do you want to say?”

“Can’t you unpack my gear for me? I’m so tired, I can’t do anything. Huh, Jin-ho?”

“It’s all about willpower.”

Thanks to Kang Jin-ho throwing back the words he had said earlier, Joo Young-gi was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“I’ll give you a Matstar [a popular Korean snack].”

“It’s okay.”

“How could I not eat this? I’m giving it to you, you know?”

“I said it’s okay.”

“Wow, you heartless bastard.”

Joo Young-gi cursed as he began to unpack his gear. Kang Jin-ho watched the scene with a light smile.

Kang Jin-ho was surrounded by his fellow trainees as he returned from the administration office.

“Where are you going?”

“…I don’t know.”

As soon as the unit assignments were announced, the trainees flocked to Kang Jin-ho.

“Didn’t you see the unit name?”

“It’s some kind of artillery unit.”

The trainees trembled as they looked at the unit name Kang Jin-ho held out.

“Isn’t that the 155mm?”

“Looks like it.”

“Going to artillery is tough enough, but that’s the 155. And it’s towed artillery, not self-propelled.”

“…We’re screwed.”

“But doesn’t it suit Jin-ho?”

“Is there any unit that doesn’t suit him? Whether he goes to the Special Forces or anywhere else, he’ll handle it all.”

“That’s true.”

Meanwhile, Kang Jin-ho was tilting his head, looking at the unit name in his hand.

‘Towed artillery? 155mm?’

He couldn’t understand what any of it meant.

It was Joo Young-gi, not him, who cleared up his confusion.

“Why is it here?”

Joo Young-gi asked with a glare, and one of the trainees quickly answered.

“Don’t you know about the 155mm towed howitzer?”

“No.”

“It’s one of the four easiest army positions, along with the 90mm recoilless rifle, the 81mm mortar, and the pontoon bridge assembly.”

“Easy position? Then isn’t that good?”

“It’s so good that a guy who was a pig when he enlisted comes out as a bodybuilder when he’s discharged.”

“What does that mean?”

When Joo Young-gi tilted his head, not understanding, the trainees who were laughing next to him told him the truth.

“It’s the most hellish position in the army.”

“Really? Then it’s not good?”

“Of course, it’s not good.”

“I see.”

“But why is he going there? I thought he would definitely go to the Special Forces or something?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Isn’t sending him there a waste of talent? It looks like he should be sent to North Korea to take out Kim Jong-un.”

“It’s random assignment.”

“It’s called random, but it seems like they decide everything behind the scenes.”

“Who knows?”

“So, is that unit easy or hard?”

Other trainees got annoyed at Joo Young-gi for repeating the same question.

“It’s a disaster!”

“It’s famous for ruining your back!”

“It’s one of the four positions you don’t want to go to! Okay?”

“O-okay?”

Joo Young-gi’s lips twitched as he held a piece of paper with the same unit as Kang Jin-ho written on it.

“…Then why am I going there?”

The trainees who had checked Joo Young-gi’s unit smiled and put their hands on his shoulders.

“Well, it happens.”

“You’ll do well. You’re so strong.”

“You’ve found your calling.”

“You bastards, you’re saying different things!”

As Joo Young-gi began to fume, people slowly distanced themselves from him.

“Now that it’s come to this, take it easy.”

“How can I take it easy when the unit is a disaster!”

“Same unit?”

“Yeah.”

“I see.”

Joo Young-gi sighed.

“Oh man, I thought I wouldn’t have to see this guy anymore.”

“Wow, now that I think about it, Young-gi is in trouble.”

“Why?”

Joo Young-gi asked, not knowing why.

“If you go to the same unit as Jin-ho, the comparison will be huge.”

“…Oh.”

“I really didn’t want to go to the same unit as him, no matter where I went. Young-gi, what are you going to do? I’ll pray for you in advance.”

“You’re making fun of me, you bastards!”

As Joo Young-gi charged like a bull, the trainees laughed and scattered in all directions.

Kang Jin-ho found this side of Joo Young-gi amusing.

He might be able to connect with certain individuals, but he couldn’t easily become close with many people.

Joo Young-gi was the type who wouldn’t easily become close with others, either in appearance or in other ways, but he was friendly with all his fellow trainees thanks to his unique sociability.

He was a type that didn’t exist around Kang Jin-ho.

“But… why did you go to the administration office?”

“They told me to.”

Joo Young-gi frowned.

“You never make any sense. You have to tell me why they told you to go.”

“Really?”

“Oh, my goodness! Oh, how frustrating!”

Joo Young-gi thumped his chest. If someone else did it, it would just be an expression of emotion, but when Joo Young-gi did it, he looked like King Kong.

“Wow, Young-gi, don’t do that. It’s scary.”

Ignoring the reactions around him, Joo Young-gi shouted.

“Why did they tell you to go to the administration office!”

Kang Jin-ho answered simply.

“They’re giving me leave.”

“…Huh?”

“They said I’d get a leave pass for being an outstanding graduate… they told me to be aware of it.”

“…”

A vein popped out on Joo Young-gi’s forehead.

“Why don’t I get one! Why do you get one?”

Kang Jin-ho didn’t answer, but there were plenty of people around to answer for him.

“Honestly, Jin-ho deserves it.”

“And you did well in the things you were good at, but you were terrible at everything else. You couldn’t even run.”

“If you’re hoping for a leave pass after dropping out during the individual combat training, you have no conscience.”

“Did you guys plan this?”

When Joo Young-gi glared at them, everyone waved their hands.

“Hey, that’s just how it is.”

“Ugh.”

“Anyway, now only the hardest part is left.”

“What? We’ve already done the march, and there’s still something hard left? Isn’t the training over? What else is there?”

The person who spoke smirked.

“Don’t you know? The hardest part of the new recruit training camp?”

“What?”

“The graduation ceremony.”

“Damn it.”

Joo Young-gi was sweating profusely. Standing still in the middle of the parade ground in this heat and scorching sun was no easy task.

Just standing there was hard enough, but seeing Kang Jin-ho steal the leave pass that should have been his made his stomach churn.

– Trainee number 100, Kang Jin-ho.

Along with the predictable words of commendation, Kang Jin-ho was receiving an award on the platform. Along with that award came a 4-night, 5-day leave pass as a prize.

“Damn it.”

If he had known he would get a leave pass, he should have worked harder from the start.

Joo Young-gi sniffed as he watched Kang Jin-ho receive the award and come down from the platform.

‘Well, he deserves it.’

Whether they liked him or not, no one was dissatisfied with Kang Jin-ho receiving the award. Kang Jin-ho had been so by-the-book that it seemed like he was born to be a soldier.

Even the instructor who had turned his locker upside down to find fault had to back down without saying a word. He had shown perfect organization and perfect scores that made people wonder if he was a cyborg, not a human. If not him, then who would receive the award?

“It stings a little, but whatever.”

Still, the fact that he felt a little happy meant that a bond with Kang Jin-ho had formed somewhere along the way.

“Good job, everyone.”

After the graduation ceremony, the trainees in the barracks gathered in front of the vending machine to celebrate with vending machine coffee.

“Hey, you bastards. Who told you to come out here on your own?”

“Ah, Instructor. Have you eaten?”

“Have you eaten? You bastards are acting like you’re about to leave the training camp, but look at the way you’re talking? Anyone would think you’re about to be discharged.”

“Aren’t we at the end of our training camp?”

“Ha, these guys.”

The atmosphere was relaxed enough that they could joke around with the instructors.

Once the new recruit training was over, the trainees felt a sense of accomplishment as if they were being discharged, and the instructors also felt a sense of freedom from the tiresome trainees.

“Do well in your units, you bastards. If you act like you did here, you’ll get beaten to death.”

“Hey, the seniors in the units are much more human.”

“You want to die.”

In the friendly atmosphere, one of the instructors came over and took out a cigarette.

“Wow.”

“Let’s go to that corner.”

“Yes, Instructor!”

“Look at the way they change their attitude? These guys are hopeless.”

Everyone chuckled and went into a secluded spot, while a voice called out to Kang Jin-ho.

“Kang Jin-ho.”

“Trainee number 100, Kang Jin-ho.”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head and was surprised that the person who called him was someone he had not expected at all.