Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 216

Chapter 216: Conclusion （3）

Sebastian instinctively knew.

‘Things have gone wrong.’

His past life.

Based on his experience of destroying the world with a cult every time, there was a certain look in the eyes of fanatics. The way they blindly looked at him. Those gazes, so vivid they seemed almost tangible, would readily stab their own hearts if commanded to in the name of God.

But now it was different.

Murmurs filled the air.

“Is that true?”

“We all saw it. What Peng Mujeong did!”

People were agitated.

Their wavering pupils had yet to accept the confusing reality.

Then it happened.

“Priest! Please explain! Kang San claims that the Rapture you speak of is a deception aimed at destroying the world for your personal gain. Evidence of collusion with Peng Mujeong. Can you explain that?”

“Please explain!”

“If you explain, we will believe you, Priest!”

He gritted his teeth.

He had to remain calm.

An explanation?

It would probably be impossible.

Seeing how Kang San had publicly mentioned the evidence of collusion with Peng Mujeong, he must have prepared perfectly, anticipating any explanation. The plan had already failed. Nothing would change even if he bought himself a day or two. Since he had no regrets in this life, Sebastian needed to make a bold decision.

Sebastian shouted.

“Explain? How dare you question God’s words!”

“But…”

“You fools. What you see on the screen is nothing but the devil’s whisper, a trap to deceive us. Those who fall for such tricks will not reach the utopia we desire. I will not explain. I will prove my blind faith in God and move forward.”

Swish.

He pulled out a gun.

He held it to his head.

What he intended now was massive chaos.

Some would follow his decision and pursue the Rapture, while others would rationally realize the reality and turn back. That was enough. Even if it wasn’t perfect, he had contributed to the destruction of this world. He had no intention of backing down, ensuring that the followers of the Sun God Church wouldn’t immediately turn into a force to protect humanity.

A gamble he could take because this life was meaningless.

Sebastian showed a crazed expression.

“For the Sun God Church━!”

Bang━!

“Aah!”

“Pr, Priest!”

A single gunshot.

Beneath the blood splattering on the screen, Sebastian’s body collapsed.

Thud!

The Sun Priest.

Finally, the moment when all three who remembered their past lives met their end arrived.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

That day.

Shocking news went out across the globe.

『It has been revealed that Sebastian, the priest of the Sun God Church who once caused a global uproar, was actually trying to destroy the world. Kang San released a ‘live video’ during the Sun God Church gathering, and upon verifying the evidence of collusion with Peng Mujeong mentioned at the time, it was proven to be true, causing the followers who had been praising the Sun God Church to change their minds. However, some who still believed in the Rapture ended their own lives…』

Kang San’s gamble had paid off.

By disclosing the details of the collusion between Peng Mujeong and Sebastian, he gave those who had lost their reason to madness a chance to return to reality. Thanks to this, the catastrophe of tens of millions of people taking their own lives was averted.

However.

It wasn’t entirely a happy ending.

As a result of Sebastian’s suicide while insisting on the Rapture, the number of people who denied the visible evidence and followed him was not insignificant. The estimated number worldwide was around several hundred thousand. Even that alone was a painful defeat for humanity. Moreover, those who had not yet recovered from the shock were not in a mental state to immediately counter the large-scale Links, even if they did not choose the Rapture.

It was still a chaotic reality.

As monsters continued to appear around the world, humanity had to make another choice.

『This is Kang San. As I have revealed myself, I killed Kim Mu-hyeok and others for attacking me. This is a clear crime. If you want punishment, I will humbly accept it in any way.』

Revolution.

This was a different issue from killing them.

While the war criminals could be dealt with as self-defense, the matter of dealing with Kim Mu-hyeok could be seen as excessive response, even if he had shown the intent to kill. He didn’t use being consumed by the murderous intent from his past life as an excuse. Like Eric Roberts, Kang San wanted to be completely honest. He put the possibility of problems on the table for everyone to judge.

The announcer on the broadcast aired worldwide said:

『We would like to reflect the opinions of our viewers regarding the disposition of Kang San. We will leave a link to a website where you can share your valuable thoughts.』

He handed over the authority of judgment.

From now on, it was not a matter for a few to decide, but for people all over the world to determine Kang San’s future.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The space where Kang San stayed.

It wasn’t a prison.

It was a well-furnished solitary cell, and since he hadn’t been designated as a criminal yet, the US government treated Kang San with the utmost respect. In fact, no one tried to detain Kang San. He could move freely, but Kang San himself expressed his intention to remain confined until the results were out.

Outside the window.

He could see the clear sky.

People were still dying and screams were echoing around the world, but the sky here was so clear.

‘I’ve been living a life driven by circumstances.’

The incident in Kitakyushu.

The incident in Pohang.

Every time he was in a life-or-death situation, he didn’t want to go into danger himself.

But he had to, and at some point, people started calling him a hero for his involuntarily accumulated good deeds. Their reactions had been quite uncomfortable. Just like Kim Chun-sik coming to him and calling him his benefactor, or people like Saito Shusuke expressing their willingness to risk their lives for him. He had fundamental doubts about whether he deserved such treatment.

Before the age of 25.

He was definitely an ordinary person.

Even if he repeated misfortunes, he hadn’t lived a life worthy of being called a hero by anyone.

‘What did Luca Bellino see in me to change her mind?’

She said.

Kang San’s choice.

She described Kang San as different because he didn’t waver in the face of temptation until the very end.

In fact, it was something Kang San couldn’t relate to.

In his life, where he stumbled through repeated misfortunes but always got back up, the cruelty of trials never turned him away, no matter how threatening they were. If he were someone who would give up weakly… He probably would have hanged himself in his musty single room the day he was assigned F-rank. For Kang San, it was a natural choice, and the decision to save the world was also a humanly common-sense judgment. At least, Kang San believed so.

That was the difference.

Thinking it was natural.

Kang San’s perspective on life in this world was different from that of ordinary people.

An unfortunate life doesn’t mean it’s meaningless.

His parents, who gave birth to him and raised him, couldn’t continue even that unfortunate life because of the monsters. Not only that, but countless cases like his occurred worldwide. People died from illness, from monsters, or by taking their own lives. Life itself is a blessing, so Kang San always thought he was living on behalf of his parents, even in the face of a bleak reality.

That’s why he didn’t give up on this life.

Neither the past life nor the afterlife.

Those things were meaningless.

He tried to live a life where he accepted even the painful past, even if it meant he existed in the present.

‘…So this is how President Eric Roberts felt. I feel much more at ease now.’

Once he revealed his last secret.

Kang San felt like he had regained a complete life.

If he felt like he was being swayed by his past life before, now he existed entirely as a single entity named Kang Shin.

That’s when it happened.

Creak━

“Kang San-nim.”

It was the chief of security.

As Kang San turned his head, he said.

“Everyone is waiting for you in the conference room. Let’s go.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The conference room.

Representatives from various countries were there.

Not only the Acting President of the United States, but also familiar faces like Walter Lehmann were present.

“Please have a seat.”

“Yes.”

The seat Kang San sat in.

It was a seat equal to the representatives.

From that point on, they didn’t treat Kang San as a criminal.

Walter Lehmann spoke as a representative.

“Based on the opinions gathered from people around the world, it has been decided by an overwhelming margin not to hold Kang San-nim accountable. While Kang San-nim killed Kim Mu-hyeok and his group, it has been recognized as self-defense since they initially showed intent to kill Kang San-nim. This is not a matter of leniency due to being consumed by Seo Munho’s murderous intent, but a judgment that there was no reason to consider it a wrongdoing in the first place. And, I would like to ask you something here, Kang San-nim.”

Their eyes met.

The representatives of each country bowed their heads simultaneously.

“Please lead us.”

“Please lead us.”

“…What does that mean?”

Walter Lehmann raised his head.

“Revolution, Peng Mujeong, and even Sebastian. Kang San-nim single-handedly stopped those who tried to destroy humanity. That’s an undeniable fact, and currently, public opinion around the world strongly supports Kang San-nim. The large-scale Links are not over yet. In particular, the S-rank monster Baal that appeared in San Diego has been designated as a Transcendent being, and it is judged that it will not be easy to subdue even with S-rank forces. We need Kang San-nim’s strength. Please lead us and save this world.”

This current situation.

Kang San instinctively knew.

Even though Sebastian was dead, the thirtieth trial wasn’t over.

The continuing trials despite Luca Bellino’s absence meant that Azmoon was still testing him.

Then.

It was highly likely that the last trial was Baal.

Only by defeating Baal and putting an end to the large-scale Links would humanity regain peace.

‘Am I qualified to lead them?’

Not as a representative of a country.

But as an individual.

His contemplation was brief.

Kang San said.

“Alright. I will accept your request.”

“Thank you!”

“You made the right decision!”

The representatives’ faces brightened.

The answer to the question he asked himself was simpler than he thought.

Who is the most suitable person to step up and prevent the destruction of humanity in this world right now?

There was no one but himself.

He accepted that he was the one who would eventually stand on the front lines, block the monsters, and bear all the responsibility. Until recently, he had thought that he didn’t fit the image of a hero that people talked about. But it was different now. Stopping the Revolution, meeting Eric Roberts and defeating Peng Mujeong, and finally stopping Sebastian’s Rapture plan.

It was his judgment.

The situation was never easy and variables always arose, but Kang San always trusted his own judgment.

Now that he had overcome his Heart Demon.

Kang San knew he was qualified.

From now on, he wanted to move forward not by someone else’s coercion, but by his own will.

“We can’t forcibly conscript troops because the situation in San Diego is dangerous. Excluding the troops needed to ensure the safety of each country, we will voluntarily recruit people to join the Extermination Squad to deal with Baal. The qualification is to be at least A-rank or higher, and we will officially announce this to receive applicants. The deadline is six hours from now. Those who gather in San Diego within that time will face Baal with me.”

“Understood.”

This time.

Strong will was needed.

Facing a giant monster that couldn’t be handled by conscription, Kang San needed people who would risk their lives with him.

The desperate gazes looking at him.

Facing those gazes, Kang San spoke in an unwavering voice.

“I will stand at the forefront. And we will surely win.”