Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Spotlight （4）

The location was changed.

Yu Jeong-yeong decided to work in a public space, and the reporters watching him had suspicious looks in their eyes.

“…Was that just now… really real?”

“There’s no way.”

At his colleague’s words.

One reporter shook his head.

He wanted to believe it as much as possible, but the result he had just witnessed was far beyond the realm of common sense.

“He turned an F-rank longsword into a D-rank. The fact that the attack power went up from 3 to 12 doesn’t just mean that Yu Jeong-yeong has simply started a new technological revolution. It means a great revolution will take place. If he can continuously show the results he just showed us, what do you think will happen to the world?”

“It’ll be chaos.”

“Right, the world will be turned upside down. You know, those Hunters risk their lives for just 1 or 2 attack power. But if a blacksmith who can greatly increase the stats of items appears, people from all over the world will flock to Korea.”

This was irreplaceable.

Unique.

Something only Yu Jeong-yeong could do in the whole world.

No matter how hard he tried to think rationally, if it was true, its value was immeasurable.

The reporter looked back at his colleague.

“So, focus and record this situation. Whether it’s true or not. If it’s not true, it’ll be a huge issue as the lie of the century, but if by any chance it’s true…”

His eyes wavered.

Kang San or whatever.

None of that mattered now.

“We’re witnessing a historical moment.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

He could hear the murmur of the people.

It wasn’t an appropriate space for Yu Jeong-yeong to work, but Yu Jeong-yeong calmly finished preparing to work.

‘Why on earth did Kang San-nim teach me this technique?’

At first, he didn’t think deeply about it.

He was fascinated by Kang San’s technique, and because he was sincere about this work, he had asked Kang San to teach him without hesitation.

But now.

His thoughts were complicated.

Kang San’s technique produced effects beyond his imagination, and he would probably soon become a rich man with astronomical wealth. It wasn’t an expectation, but a certainty. Even though Yu Jeong-yeong had spent his entire life in a blacksmith’s workshop, he wasn’t stupid enough not to know the value of his skills.

This incredible technique.

He had practically received it for free.

Kang San had added that it would be beneficial, that they would share the profits, but even if he only received 10%, it was entirely advantageous for Yu Jeong-yeong. If Yu Jeong-yeong before meeting Kang San was just another cog in the machine, working the same as everyone else in the blacksmith’s workshop, now he had become a pioneer.

That’s why he always wondered.

From the moment the work achieved a certain level of results, he would fall into thought as he looked at the overwhelming outcome.

And now, some of his questions were answered.

‘He was just that kind of person. Someone who gives of himself and doesn’t hesitate to make sacrifices for others. Kang San-nim must have judged that teaching me this technique would be better for the world than monopolizing it himself.’

Didn’t the master of the blacksmith’s workshop say it?

Kang San’s actions.

They were truly shocking.

The fact that he risked the danger of an E-rank Link to save people, that he saved a complete stranger and gave away all his possessions out of concern for an old woman’s plight – as Kang San’s past good deeds were highlighted one by one, there was more and more talk about him. At first, it was definitely his skill in leading Project B team to victory that was highlighted, but now there was a question mark attached to Kang San as a person.

Did people know?

That such a Kang San had taught him this technique.

That he acknowledged his own shortcomings in handling steel, and willingly shared his technique and chose to improve.

It was goodwill.

There was no other way to describe it.

That’s why Yu Jeong-yeong wanted to repay him sincerely.

To prove that the choice of selecting him out of so many people was not a mistake.

In this world where people said goodwill was foolish, that it was meddling, he wanted to prove that sometimes it wasn’t.

He set the stage.

It was the stage for proof.

Yu Jeong-yeong had already practiced this situation countless times.

As he lit the forge with familiar hands, surprisingly, the noise of the reporters clamoring disappeared at once.

Hwar륵.

Hwar르르르륵.

He was immersed in the flames.

As Yu Jeong-yeong calmly exhaled, the surging flames climbed up around him like snakes, awaiting his command. Yu Jeong-yeong had already entered a new world. He had become accustomed to handling intangible forces, so after finishing the appropriate preheating, he vigorously struck the red-hot sword.

Kaang━!

Sparks flew.

He was engrossed.

From then on, he hammered away like a madman.

He didn’t even think about the presence of other people in this space, he was only captivated by himself, the steel, and the flames.

Kaang!

Kaang, Kaang!

Silence fell.

Everyone watched.

For 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours.

His writhing muscles didn’t stop their explosive hammering.

The heat was so intense that the reporters backed away, but Yu Jeong-yeong, engulfed in flames, showed no fear. At some point, some reporters started to look dazed. Although no skills were being used in front of their eyes, a scene that was impossible to accept with common sense was unfolding.

The realm of the extraordinary.

A scene that people who gained abilities through the System and developed through the System’s explanations couldn’t understand at all.

Time passed.

The sun set, and darkness fell.

No one left.

More precisely, they couldn’t leave.

Didn’t one reporter say it?

If Yu Jeong-yeong’s words were true, they were witnessing a historical moment.

Then finally.

Thud.

Silence fell.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

“Ha.”

He let out a deep breath.

His evenly exhaled breath became irregular as he gazed at the sword with shaking eyes.

‘I succeeded.’

It was a masterpiece.

Among all the results he had produced so far, he had created something more perfect than anything else.

He turned around.

He opened his mouth towards the blankly staring reporters.

“Before starting the work, I clearly showed you the stats of this sword in front of you.”

As Yu Jeong-yeong said.

He had revealed the stats to the reporters.

At that time, the stats they confirmed were as follows.

『Two-Handed Sword Imbued with the Will of a Giant』

『D-rank』

『Attack Power +21』

『Special Effect: Powerful Strike』

It was a good item.

If he put it on the market right now, it was an item with stats that could easily fetch tens of millions of won.

If the item Yu Jeong-yeong had worked on before was only F-rank, he intentionally proceeded with the work on a higher-ranked item. That’s why people showed wavering eyes. If the F-rank example was ultimately a result at a lower rank, from now on, it was a higher realm where a meaningful difference could actually be made.

Therefore.

The situation was different.

Everyone focused on Yu Jeong-yeong’s words and actions.

“And this is the result I produced in front of you.”

『Two-Handed Sword Imbued with the Soul of a Giant』

『C-rank』

『Attack Power +42』

『Special Effect: Powerful Strike』

“Wow.”

“Gasp.”

“Is this even possible?”

Exclamations erupted from among the reporters.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Before enhancement.

The sword’s attack power was clearly 21.

But the stats shown now were a whopping two times higher than before.

Of course, in the F-rank, it showed a fourfold increase, but no one expected that this time it would show the same level of results. It’s just two times in words. If the actual increase was 9 in the previous result, now it’s a result of an increase of 21. The reporters weren’t stupid enough not to know what this meant.

Papapapat.

“How is this even possible?”

“Is there a special skill that enhances items?”

“What are your future plans?”

It was turned upside down.

People who had looked at him with suspicious eyes completely broke down the walls of caution and threw questions at him one after another.

That scene.

Yu Jeong-yeong looked at it calmly.

This is not a glory that he can fully enjoy alone.

This is not a situation created by his own ability.

‘Kang San.’

Just one person.

He had to repay him.

At first, he thought it would be enough to repay him by simply earning a lot of money, but it was unfair that this glory was not shared with him at all. And at that time, Kim Min-yeong’s article had a great impact. In the content of the article proving what kind of person Kang San was, Yu Jeong-yeong wanted to add a few more lines.

Yu Jeong-yeong said.

“There’s something I want to say first.”

Attention was focused.

Everyone listened attentively.

“I mentioned in an interview before that there was someone who sponsored me to acquire the current technology. To be honest, I wouldn’t exist without him. You ask what my future plans are? I will clearly state it here. I intend to actively utilize the technology I have and accept many requests. With the money earned, I will improve the treatment of blacksmiths and invest in technological development to create a positive virtuous cycle. The problem is, as you saw today, it takes a considerable amount of time to enhance one item, and this is not a technology that can be easily learned even if I teach it to others. Then, I have no choice but to accept requests selectively. It may seem materialistic, but I intend to accept them sequentially, either those who have a definite reason to enhance the item or those who offer me the best conditions.”

This statement.

The purpose didn’t end here.

Yu Jeong-yeong poured oil on the already burning flames.

“And the final decision to accept the request will be made by ‘Kang San’-nim, who sponsored me.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

A few days later.

Kang San felt at ease for the first time in a while.

‘How long has it been since I’ve had this kind of peace?’

Come to think of it, even after receiving Azmoon’s trials, he didn’t think he had ever been this relaxed before.

It was always a continuous struggle.

Before the trials, he had desperately struggled to overcome his unfortunate life, and after receiving the trials, he had no time to breathe before the trials came crashing down. Recently had been the most painful. Even during the 900 days of rest, in a limited space, Kang San hadn’t slept properly and had pushed himself to the limit.

And now.

Though it was for his plan, Kang San had gotten enough rest.

His head was clear.

If he had been swept along by sudden trials and resolved the situation in front of him, now he had a slightly clearer idea of what to do.

‘For the next 6 months, I have to expose myself as much as possible.’

If he turned on his phone.

He would be flooded with calls.

As expected, Cheonsang and Daeyang would show the most interest, and Kang San intended to hold his own showcase to attract even more attention. That was the primary plan. In order to create the kind of picture Kang San had in mind, he needed to not only improve himself but also build himself up in a way.

The preparations were complete.

Now that he had finally gotten enough rest, Kang San turned on his phone.

But.

Buzz.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz.

His phone was ringing like crazy.

Cheonsang, Daeyang, and other management companies.

That was within his expectations.

But there were dozens of times more calls than that, and Kang San’s eyes widened.

“…What is this?”

Only then did he realize.

That in just a few days, more had happened than he thought.