Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Recruitment War （1）

It was an unfamiliar experience for Kang San.

Every time he took a step, surrounded by the crowd, hands popped out from all directions, offering him business cards.

“Drake Guild really wants to recruit Kang San-nim. How about we have a meal together sometime?”

“I’m from Flare. I’ve contacted you personally, but our feelings for Kang San-nim are sincere. Please, please contact us just once. If we meet and talk in person, you’ll see how much Flare wants you.”

“We are….”

“Newly established this time….”

It was chaos.

Test results?

There was no need to check.

Thanks to Yoo Jeong-yeong’s statement, Kang San, who boasted high value, showed his ability to pass the B-rank test in front of everyone. Those who had initially decided to recruit him couldn’t help but be thrilled. In the midst of the intense situation where they were pushing and shoving each other, Kang San stopped his steps when he spotted someone.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

It was Jeong Hye-mi.

When Kang San replied with a smile, she ignored the envious gazes and went straight to the point.

“I should have properly repaid you for the last time, but I’m sorry I couldn’t. I guess there must have been a reason why I couldn’t reach you for a few days. By any chance, can we move to a different place and talk privately? Judging from the current atmosphere, everyone seems to be thinking the same thing, but Cheonsang has also prepared a special offer for Kang San-nim. You won’t regret it.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I think I need some rest right now because I’m very tired from the test.”

“Ah, I see.”

If it were the usual Jeong Hye-mi.

She would have backed down.

Indeed, Kang San had fought a quite fierce battle, and it wasn’t Jeong Hye-mi’s style to push and force the other person. However, given the circumstances. And even for her, she couldn’t help but add more words due to her boiling desire.

“….Will we have a chance to talk someday?”

Just once.

Once was enough.

With that one meeting, Jeong Hye-mi intended to somehow persuade Kang San.

Kang San said.

“Yes, there will be.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kang San returned home.

Unlike Jeong Hye-mi, there were many people who clung to him in a messy way, but they had no choice but to back down at Kang San’s cold response. After all, they were people who wanted to recruit Kang San. If they unnecessarily worsened their relationship with Kang San, the results wouldn’t be good even if they met, so they promised to meet again later and took a step back.

Among them was Koo Jun-ho.

He cleanly conveyed his intentions.

“I’ll be waiting for your call.”

Thud.

He collapsed into a chair.

Then he played a YouTube channel on the internet.

The channel name was ‘Promotion Notifier’, which covered stories of Hunters who were promoted and were worth mentioning.

As expected, Kang San’s name was mentioned immediately.

『As a result of the B-rank test conducted this time, a talent that subscribers should pay attention to has appeared. He’s a person who has been in the news lately. The Kang San mentioned by master craftsman Yoo Jeong-yeong as his sponsor, and the same Kang San mentioned in an article by reporter Kim Min-yeong, is the main character. To be honest, everyone will be surprised. According to the information known, Kang San’s rank is D-rank, but how did he take the B-rank test? Don’t be surprised. It is said that he passed the C-rank, as well as the B-rank directly, through consecutive promotions.』

There were no secrets in this world.

As Hunters became celebrities and gained fame, interesting stories were immediately known to the world.

『And there must be a reason why we have 5 million subscribers. We have invited Nam Tae-joo-nim, who took the test with Kang San at that time, to this place!』

『Nice to meet you. I’m Nam Tae-joo.』

『Nam Tae-joo-nim. Can you explain the situation at that time?』

『Yes. In fact, at first, I didn’t recognize who Kang San-nim was. The notoriety of the B-rank test is so great that I was worried if I could pass this test by relying on him. But once the test started…. it was really amazing. Not only did he throw himself to save his teammates, but he also defeated the Vampire alone. Now that I’ve heard of Kang San-nim’s fame, I could understand at once why he gained fame.』

It was an interesting situation.

Nam Tae-joo, who had just talked with Kang San, was now showing his face on a YouTube channel and passionately explaining Kang San’s performance. In fact, it was an intended picture. Kang San allowed the test video to be broadcast in real time, and if so, the results had to be displayed.

Not C-rank, but B-rank.

From then on, they were classified as having special talents, so B-rank promotees always received a lot of attention from people.

This was a kind of kindling.

Riding on people’s word of mouth, the flames towards Kang San would grow stronger and stronger.

He had already received tremendous attention due to reporter Kim Min-yeong’s article and Yoo Jeong-yeong’s statement, but if he was recognized as a Hunter through the promotion test results, his value would be immeasurable. Kang San was not being arrogant, but he knew objectively that now was the time to increase his value.

That’s why he refused to meet Jeong Hye-mi.

It was premature.

If he met her first, it would look like a special relationship, and the picture Kang San wanted was everyone’s attention.

He waited.

For the rumors to spread more.

For everyone to be impatient.

A few days was enough for the value to be fully reflected.

Until then.

“….Let’s get some rest now.”

Pick.

Turning off the TV screen, Kang San took a break for the first time in a long time.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

A few days later.

Koo Jun-ho suppressed his rising irritation and looked at the person in front of him.

He was Im Chan-yeong.

Im Chan-yeong, regardless of whether the other person’s mood was bad or not, spat out his words with a rather angry face.

“No, does this make any sense? He passed the B-rank test at the young age of late teens, but the media doesn’t cover anything about this result at all. That damn Kang San, Kang San, Kang San. I understand that he’s great, but shouldn’t the management be promoting him more actively at times like this?”

That day.

Im Chan-yeong passed the test.

He certainly showed a lot of shortcomings, but the firepower that swept away the monsters in the latter half was evaluated to be in line with B-rank. Only Kang San and Im Chan-yeong were the passers. Im Chan-yeong thought that people would finally pay attention to him again for his achievements, but for the past few days, the media has only been talking about Kang San.

Actually, he was surprised by that.

On the internet, where he went in expecting praise, Kang San, who was an F-rank human shield, was portrayed as a completely new person.

According to reporter Kim Min-yeong’s article, he was a hero who practiced good deeds on a daily basis, and a key figure who held the key to the revolution started by master craftsman Yoo Jeong-yeong. In addition, he had the skills to pass the B-rank test, so he was definitely not someone who could be ignored like before. He himself acknowledged Kang San. While taking the test together, he realized how great Kang San’s skills were, but even so, he couldn’t accept this situation.

He felt bad.

Aren’t Kang San and himself separate?

Kang San became B-rank at the age of 26, now approaching his late 20s.

But Im Chan-yeong was not even 20 years old yet.

He thought he had the right to say this to Koo Jun-ho.

“If Daeyang doesn’t show me a satisfactory move, I have no intention of staying here. You know, right? That my contract period with Daeyang is only one year left. I can assure you, if I say I’m leaving Daeyang, there will be a line of places wanting to recruit me. You’re not so incompetent that you don’t know that, are you, Team Leader-nim?”

It was a blatant threat.

Im Chan-yeong had been making such threats whenever things didn’t go his way.

The effect was excellent.

A talent in which Daeyang invested a whopping 10 billion won.

Because the investment had already been made, they couldn’t ignore the result of losing Im Chan-yeong.

Even if Im Chan-yeong didn’t develop as much as expected, if they gave him to another place and his potential exploded, there would be no answer.

He was a kind of chicken rib.

Koo Jun-ho suppressed his anger and said.

“….Let’s take a break and talk again.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

On the rooftop of the building.

Koo Jun-ho, who came outside, lit a cigarette.

His junior, who followed him out, lit his cigarette and asked.

“….What are you going to do?”

“Well, I’m thinking about just scrapping him.”

“Scrap him!? You can’t do that to Im Chan-yeong, can you? Even the higher-ups say that he’s someone they invested 10 billion won in, and they want to save him no matter what.”

Koo Jun-ho puffed out smoke.

He also lit his junior’s cigarette and chuckled.

“That’s true. The problem is the result of this test. People highly evaluate that Im Chan-yeong finally passed the B-rank test, but I thought it was hopeless while watching the process. Im Chan-yeong used magic in the safest environment than anyone else this time. The main Tanker, Kang San, blocked all the attacks by giving up his body. There aren’t many opportunities in the world to work with such a Tanker. But how did Im Chan-yeong react? He was terrified and his response was slow, and at crucial moments, he cowered. He couldn’t think about what the right play was, and he showed a selfish side that only cared about himself. That’s the problem. A person’s nature doesn’t change. Im Chan-yeong’s rank is just a shell. He’s absolutely not worth that much.”

“Still, he’s B-rank….”

“That’s funny too. Do you think Im Chan-yeong passed with his skills? It’s a kind of reward. Since a huge variable occurred during the test process, the examiners applied a slightly lower hurdle. If it was the last test, Im Chan-yeong would have failed this time as well.”

Management Daeyang.

Koo Jun-ho’s position there was special.

A talent who started as an ordinary manager and quickly rose to the position of team leader.

So he, who was considered Daeyang’s ace, was ordered to deal with Im Chan-yeong’s problem this time.

Whether to promote him further or to abandon him.

The choice was Koo Jun-ho’s.

And Koo Jun-ho fell into deep thought at Im Chan-yeong’s protest.

“What about the thing I asked you to prepare?”

“The youngest will bring it soon.”

The youngest was no ordinary person.

The youngest, who happened to come up to the rooftop, brought the documents and handed them over.

“Here are the documents you requested.”

“Good work.”

Swish.

He received the documents.

Koo Jun-ho immediately checked the contents.

Actually, there was something bothering him.

It was the testimony of the people who took the test together, saying that Im Chan-yeong showed a rather aggressive reaction while dealing with Kang San. Kang San was the person Koo Jun-ho was betting his life on right now. He needed to check the relationship between Im Chan-yeong and Kang San.

Rustle.

Wrinkles increased every time he turned the page.

As expected.

There was a problem.

But the information the youngest brought was not just that.

“….What’s this?”

“It’s news I just checked. I thought it might be needed for this issue, so I prepared it right away.”

“Our youngest. You’re good at your job.”

Koo Jun-ho smiled.

The relationship between Im Chan-yeong and Kang San.

And a document mentioning the new news.

It was enough.

His head cleared.

Koo Jun-ho put out his cigarette and started walking.

“Let’s go and wrap things up.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Koo Jun-ho didn’t even sit down.

As soon as he faced Im Chan-yeong, who was waiting, he went straight to the point.

“I heard a strange story a while ago. They said you had trouble with Kang San-nim, is that true?”

“Th-that’s….”

He stammered.

It was a matter that pricked Im Chan-yeong’s conscience.

Before he knew Kang San’s skills, he showed a rather aggressive attitude, even protesting to the examiner to change his teammate. But perhaps it was because he realized that he was stammering. His face turned red and he got angry. Come to think of it, whether he had trouble with Kang San or not, wasn’t it an important issue in the current situation?

Im Chan-yeong said.

“What’s the reason for talking about that now? Hello. If you keep acting like that, I’m really going to leave Daeyang….”

“Yes, please do.”

“Huh?”

Im Chan-yeong’s eyes widened.

The immediate answer.

For a moment, he thought he had misheard.

But as if to refute Im Chan-yeong’s thoughts, Koo Jun-ho said with a cold expression.

“Let’s do it, terminate the contract. Why? Is it not the result you want?”