Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 89

“Sir!”

Kang Jin-ho saluted Sergeant Choi, who was approaching him.

Sergeant Choi returned the salute crisply.

“At ease.”

As Kang Jin-ho relaxed his posture, Sergeant Choi smiled and spoke.

“Do you smoke?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let’s go over there for a smoke.”

“Yes, sir, I understand.”

They went behind the building, out of sight of others, and Sergeant Choi handed Kang Jin-ho a cigarette.

“Here, have one. It might not suit your taste since it’s a military cigarette, but it’s funny to be picky about that here, right?”

“That’s right, sir.”

Kang Jin-ho accepted the cigarette without a word.

‘Hmm…’

It’s been a long time since he’s seen a cigarette. He doesn’t know how long it’s been since he smoked the one the assistant instructor gave him at the beginning of training.

“In the past, it was nice to share a smoke with the trainees, but these days, the regulations are so strict that I’d get busted if I got caught giving out cigarettes. I’m giving this to you with a heavy heart, so you should be grateful, okay?”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I’m just kidding, man.”

Sergeant Choi smiled and lit the cigarette Kang Jin-ho had put in his mouth.

“Can’t I give a cigarette to the man who saved my life? If they want to cut me, let them. Haha, now that I think about it, if I had died back then, I would have become a person of national merit [a person who has made significant contributions to the nation].”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Would I be serious?”

Sergeant Choi clicked his tongue and patted Kang Jin-ho’s shoulder.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing, sir.”

“This class had a lot of accidents. If it weren’t for you, things could have been really bad.”

“It’s nothing, sir.”

Kang Jin-ho replied and took a long drag of his cigarette before exhaling.

“During the graduation ceremony, other guys had their parents come, but did no one come for you, Jin-ho?”

“I told them not to come.”

“Why?”

“It’s not like I’m getting a leave, and it’s just a short visit. There’s no need for them to come all the way here. It’s not a place they can get to quickly, and it’s far away. I thought it would be better to see them when I get my 100-day leave.”

“Hey, a hundred days here doesn’t go by as quickly as you think.”

Kang Jin-ho just smiled awkwardly without replying.

“You’re a dull one.”

Sergeant Choi patted Kang Jin-ho’s shoulder silently.

Since that day, he had been watching Kang Jin-ho. He didn’t talk much and just quietly did his own thing, so he thought he might be a cold type, but seeing him smile like this, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

He was just a bit taciturn.

“Kang Jin-ho.”

“Trainee number 100, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Your assigned unit is a completely different place from here. You know that, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. I believe you’ll do well. But the military isn’t a place where you can survive just by doing your assigned tasks well. You have to do your job, of course, but you also have to consider your relationships with people. That’s what the military is like.”

“Yes, sir.”

Sergeant Choi hoped that Kang Jin-ho understood what he was saying. Even though he knew that it was unlikely.

‘It’s going to be tough.’

A person like Kang Jin-ho is the type who doesn’t adapt well to his assigned unit. That’s why he was worried, but on the other hand, he was also curious whether Kang Jin-ho would even find the life in the unit difficult.

“Anyway…”

Just as he was about to say something more, someone peeked out from the front of the building.

“Sir!”

“Oh, what is it?”

“Third Platoon Leader, they’re looking for Kang Jin-ho in the battalion commander’s office.”

“The battalion commander’s office?”

Sergeant Choi’s face hardened slightly.

The awards ceremony was already over, so why would they be looking for a trainee?

“Is the battalion commander looking for him personally?”

“I’m not sure about that, sir.”

“Kang Jin-ho.”

“Trainee number 100, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Go quickly. If they’re looking for you in the battalion commander’s office, something must be up.”

“Yes, sir, I understand.”

Kang Jin-ho followed the assistant instructor, who was leading the way, toward the battalion commander’s office.

Sergeant Choi took a long drag of his cigarette and watched Kang Jin-ho’s back as he walked away.

‘He’ll do well.’

He knew that a tough military life awaited him, but he believed that he would do well.

Knock knock.

“Battalion Commander, Kang Jin-ho is here.”

“Let him in.”

Kang Jin-ho entered through the open door and saluted.

“Trainee number 100, Kang Jin-ho. I’m here because I was summoned to the battalion commander’s office.”

“Oh, okay.”

Kang Jin-ho lowered his hand and frowned when he saw a familiar face sitting on the sofa.

“Why are you here?”

“Goodness.”

Hwang Jung-hoo, looking dumbfounded at Kang Jin-ho, gestured to the battalion commander.

“Yes. Then, I hope you have a good time.”

“Thank you.”

As the battalion commander left the office, Hwang Jung-hoo pointed forward.

“What are you doing? Don’t just stand there, sit down.”

Kang Jin-ho sat on the sofa that Hwang Jung-hoo had indicated.

“Drink up.”

There was already coffee in front of him. Kang Jin-ho picked up the cup, took a sip, and then put the coffee down.

“What’s going on?”

“What do you mean, what’s going on? It’s been over a month, hasn’t it? I’ve been waiting all this time, how worried do you think I was?”

“Ah…”

“You shouldn’t treat other people’s lives so carelessly.”

“I was out of it.”

“It’s natural for someone in a hurry to come looking for you… but to forget about it, that’s shocking. Am I only worth that much to you?”

Kang Jin-ho laughed.

It was nice to see a familiar face after a long time.

“Are you even allowed to come in here?”

“They let me in when I said I was here to see my grandson.”

“Even though you’re not related by blood?”

“If I say I’m going to do it, would they even check?”

“No matter how good your power is, this seems out of line.”

“Just let it slide.”

Hwang Jung-hoo chuckled. When a life was at stake, laws and morals didn’t matter.

“Instead, I made a large donation to the military, so it should be fine.”

“Isn’t that called bribery?”

“If it goes to the generals, it’s bribery, but if it goes to the soldiers, it’s a donation. I’ve made sure to keep a close watch, so no one will be able to embezzle the money.”

If it was used for good, then it was fine.

“Still, it must have been difficult…”

“Who do you think I am?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded at those words.

He didn’t know the ins and outs of the Korean business and political world, but he could guess how much power Hwang Jung-hoo wielded in those circles.

As a man called a giant of the era, there wouldn’t be many people who could ignore his words.

“I have some connections in the military too. Actually, I didn’t even need to make a donation to come, but I was worried you might be upset, so I took a beating in advance.”

“I’m not upset.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Hwang Jung-hoo laughed heartily and said,

“Then, won’t you do what you need to do?”

“Yes, sir.”

Kang Jin-ho got up from his seat and walked behind the sofa where Hwang Jung-hoo was sitting. Then, he placed his hand on Hwang Jung-hoo’s head.

“Hah!”

Hwang Jung-hoo took a deep breath, looking a little nervous.

The energy emanating from Kang Jin-ho’s hand flowed through Hwang Jung-hoo’s head.

For a moment, Hwang Jung-hoo felt like his head was being bleached, and he groaned.

“Huuuugh!”

But the pain was brief, and soon, he felt a refreshing sensation in his head. After Kang Jin-ho removed his hand, Hwang Jung-hoo silently took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

“Will this be enough for a month?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Every time, I feel like… I don’t know if I should be grateful or resentful.”

“As I said, it’s not a complete cure.”

“I want to believe that.”

Hwang Jung-hoo left it open-ended. And Kang Jin-ho didn’t argue.

Belief was a personal matter.

“The problem is that I have to come here every month to get treatment.”

“Have you ever thought about getting an exemption?”

“No, sir.”

“If not that, then how about something like the military police? At least if you were in the Capital Defense Command, you could live near Seoul.”

“Listen, Jin-ho. I’m the kind of person who sent all my sons to the Special Forces.

I have no intention of avoiding the duty assigned to me by the country. But if something happens to you in the military, not only me but also the recovering Jae-kyung will collapse. I can’t bear to see that.”

Kang Jin-ho silently shook his head.

“I’m not the type to get into an accident in a place like this.”

“Why are you so fixated on the military?”

“I’ve never been fixated on it.”

“Then?”

“I just thought it was something I had to do. I thought the military was a place I had to go to live as an ordinary person in Korea, so that’s why I came.”

“Do you think you can live an ordinary life?”

“Even if it’s not possible, I have to try.”

“Haa…”

Hwang Jung-hoo exhaled a long stream of cigarette smoke. He didn’t think he could persuade Kang Jin-ho in the first place. He was someone who couldn’t be persuaded.

“Then, I guess I have no choice but to come here in the future. That’s okay, right?”

“It’s unavoidable. If I go on leave, I’ll contact you that month.”

“Do that. And this.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head, looking at the envelope Hwang Jung-hoo had handed him.

“What is this?”

“It’s money.”

“Why money?”

Hwang Jung-hoo smiled lightly and replied,

“It’s a mistake to think that you don’t need money just because you’re in the military. At least in Korea, there’s no place to escape capitalism.”

“Hmm.”

“You’ll have a use for it in your unit. Use this money. Your mother didn’t come either, so you wouldn’t have had a place to receive money.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head and pushed the envelope back to Hwang Jung-hoo.

Hwang Jung-hoo frowned at the sight.

“It’s just pocket money. Compared to the amount you’re being paid, it’s not even a pittance. Why don’t you want to accept it?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then?”

“Please send it to my account.”

“…Huh?”

“These days, the military puts everyone’s salary into their accounts. What era are you living in, bringing cash? I’ll write down my account number, so please send it there.”

“…”

As Hwang Jung-hoo was stammering, Kang Jin-ho got up from his seat.

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

As Kang Jin-ho closed the door and left, Hwang Jung-hoo burst into laughter.

“I’ve been had.”

Hwang Jung-hoo, who was laughing heartily, was about to take a sip of his half-cold coffee when the battalion commander, who had left the room, came back in.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes, thank you for your trouble.”

Hwang Jung-hoo got up from his seat.

“Are you leaving already?”

“There’s no point in me staying here any longer, it’ll just make you uncomfortable. I’ve done what I needed to do, so don’t worry about me.”

“Still, why don’t you rest a little longer?”

“No need. Tell Seok-chan that I was grateful.”

“The division commander said he would call you separately.”

“That would be convenient for me.”

“But…”

“Hmm?”

“What is your relationship with the trainee who just left?”

The battalion commander asked, filled with suspicion.

Hwang Jung-hoo was famous for not giving special treatment to his children or grandchildren. He had sent all his children to the military, and he wouldn’t even acknowledge his grandchildren unless they served in the active duty. Thanks to that, Jae-kyung was called the cleanest conglomerate when it came to military issues, and they were respected by the public. For Hwang Jung-hoo to personally visit a trainee was a surprising event.

“That kid?”

Hwang Jung-hoo laughed heartily and replied,

“He’s like my own life.”

Hwang Jung-hoo himself had no idea what kind of impact these words would have.