Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 128

Chapter 128: People Who Have Lost Hope （7）

Nakamura Genji ran urgently.

He, who usually had a poker face, couldn’t hide his emotions as his expression was fully revealed.

‘How in the world……!’

Three years in this place.

Not a single survivor returned through normal means.

People who managed to escape the Red Zone were invariably caught and devoured by the predators of the Yellow Zone, leaving behind only traces of their existence. That’s why he had protested and appealed to the government. He argued that only by completely subjugating the Yellow Zone and stationing troops there could they rescue those who had somehow survived.

Of course, he failed every time.

The voice of a mere civil servant, no matter how powerful, could not reach the top.

How long had he been running?

He saw a group of people in the distance.

Nakamura Genji, who had arrived at the scene, first confirmed if this situation was ‘real.’

“Are you truly survivors from the Red Zone!?”

“Yes. We were in the Red Zone until a short while ago and managed to escape through a Teleport Scroll.”

It was Jo Han-byeol.

When Jo Han-byeol stepped forward as a representative, he felt an indescribable emotion.

“There are survivors who survived that chaos. I’m relieved. Truly, I’m relieved.”

Every night.

Nakamura Genji had nightmares.

After three years, survival was practically slim, and he wished that someone, anyone, could prove that hope had not yet vanished. After three years, he finally encountered a meaningful signal. The fact that a group of survivors had returned meant that there was a possibility that more people were still alive.

Nakamura Genji said.

“Could you perhaps explain the situation in detail?”

“Well, that…….”

He moved to a separate location with Jo Han-byeol.

Jo Han-byeol explained the situation.

Starting with Jessica’s case, and Kang San’s remaining behind.

Nakamura Genji showed a surprised expression at the series of events.

“So, you’re saying he’s alone in the Red Zone now?”

“Yes. That’s why we need to prepare a rescue team quickly.”

“Why would he do such a reckless thing…….”

The person Jo Han-byeol mentioned.

He recalled Kang San.

He was someone who entered the country just a month ago, but he was memorable due to his somewhat unique aura.

But to think that he had a special ability to find survivors even in the ‘Red Zone.’

It was a gift from heaven.

If Kang San returned, it seemed like he could use him to find traces of his family, lost three years ago. A boy born in Kitakyushu. Nakamura Genji, who had grown up and hadn’t been in frequent contact with his family, abandoned everything he had achieved for the sole purpose of finding his family. If Kang San’s ability was truly real, he was prepared to do anything to protect him.

“I understand. I’ll prepare a rescue team.”

He turned around.

Whether it was by urging the Japanese government.

Or by using other methods.

By any means necessary, now was the time to prepare the best forces for Kang San’s return.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

News of the survivors.

The Japanese National Assembly was in an uproar.

At the hastily convened meeting, Shimizu Hiroshi, a prominent member of the Liberal Protection Party, said.

“What do you all think of this matter?”

“Shouldn’t we send a rescue team immediately?”

“These are survivors who returned after three years. If we don’t take immediate action, the problem could become serious.”

Several members of parliament.

They showed worried reactions.

Kitakyushu was already being mentioned as Japan’s most sensitive issue, and the existence of survivors meant that they couldn’t predict how the fire would spread. Logically, it was the right judgment. The Japanese government should actively send troops, but Shimizu Hiroshi, who was even being mentioned as the next Prime Minister, had a different opinion.

“What if, let’s say, we trust that Korean whose identity isn’t even guaranteed and launch an operation, only to fail the subjugation again? Don’t you all know? Three years ago, the reason the Japanese government’s large-scale subjugation attempt ended in a shocking annihilation was not only due to the damned fog in the Red Zone but also because of the evil spirits that bewitch people’s souls.”

“Ahem.”

“That’s true, but…….”

It was a hidden truth.

The fog that makes you lose your way?

It was certainly dangerous.

But it was a problem that could be solved eventually if they took the time, and the real threat was the presence of an unidentified evil spirit. Something presumed to be an S-rank monster possessed people’s minds. The fact that Japan’s S-rank Hunter, who was dispatched to rescue the survivors, massacred his own subjugation team and stabbed himself in the heart was a secret known only to key government figures.

If the truth was revealed.

Public opinion would be shaken.

People would be terrified by the shocking outcome, and the fact that an S-rank Hunter had died would be cited as evidence to undermine Japan’s power from the outside. So they kept it a secret. Unable to reveal the government’s incompetence, they made lame excuses about being unable to resolve the issue and kept postponing it.

Of course.

Not everyone shared the same opinion.

Ito Kentaro, a member of the Peace and Happiness Party and a political heavyweight like Shimizu Hiroshi, said with a fierce expression.

“It doesn’t matter whether there’s an S-rank monster beyond the fog or any other monster. Hasn’t an Awakened finally appeared who can resolve the fog we’ve been talking about as an excuse? And yet you’re hesitating? It’s unacceptable not to send a subjugation team in this situation. What are you afraid of? Criticism from the public, scrutiny from the international community, these are problems we can deal with after we’ve tried to save our own citizens.”

“It’s not something you can talk about so easily. What if we stir up the Kitakyushu hornet’s nest and can’t handle it?”

“Still, there are things we must do.”

The two men.

The political giants clashed fiercely.

It was a familiar situation in the Japanese National Assembly, and Shimizu Hiroshi’s voice, representing the Liberal Protection Party that produced the current Prime Minister, naturally carried more weight.

“The problem of Southern Japan, the area designated as the Red Zone, is not something that can be solved in a day or two. The entire Japanese economy could be shaken. We’re talking about a problem where we might have to sacrifice the lives of more Japanese people for people we don’t even know are alive. So, we can’t act rashly. For now, let’s just observe the situation.”

He drew a firm line.

It was a recurring situation.

The issue had been raised for three years, but as always, the Japanese government couldn’t move beyond the option of inaction.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

At that moment.

Kang San moved cautiously.

The next designated destination was about an hour away, but the most important part was to eliminate as much risk as possible. He used the Hide Scroll he had prepared for this occasion. It was a top-grade scroll that muffled even his scent and footsteps,

and he moved while avoiding combat with monsters as much as possible.

Growl.

Monsters were everywhere.

From a certain point, B-ranks were common, and even A-ranks were not uncommon, indicating a high density of monsters.

‘If my presence is detected, I’m definitely dead.’

His heart turned cold.

Even if he had brought his younger siblings along, he didn’t think he would have succeeded in rescuing anyone against this many monsters.

Eventually.

He arrived at the scene.

He confirmed from a distance, and like Eileen’s village, he saw what appeared to be the entrance to a cave.

The problem was that monsters were moving towards it.

Thump, thump.

It was a Twinhead Ogre, an A-rank monster.

Considering the Ogre horde following him, it was a number he could never handle alone.

All sorts of thoughts crossed his mind.

Should he give up?

Even if the Trial was important, he didn’t know what would happen if he fought recklessly.

‘Fuck, fuck, fuck.’

He swallowed his disgust.

Fortunately, the current him was completely different from when he first entered the Yellow Zone.

Stats increased through successive Trials.

He was getting stronger.

Kang San gripped his sword.

As expected, he couldn’t give up like this.

‘I’m supposed to stop the S-rank Outbreak anyway. If I’m going to give up at this point, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.’

He took a breath.

If he couldn’t avoid it.

He had to face it head-on without hesitation.

His life, which had been precariously shaken every day, had always produced the best results with bold action.

Just then, the Ogres discovered the cave entrance.

Whoosh━

He deactivated Hide.

And then.

“…Fuck, it’ll work out somehow.”

He walked towards the monsters, step by step.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Slam━

Nakamura Genji roughly slammed the phone down.

It was the same this time.

The Japanese government said they would send troops, but it was definitely not the best force they could offer.

Grit.

“Damn bastards.”

Reinforcements without S-ranks.

It was a subjugation that failed even after sending an S-rank Hunter, so how could they solve the problem with just that level of commitment? He couldn’t understand it at all. Politicians were ultimately there to take care of the people’s livelihood, but the issue of the Kitakyushu area was not mentioned, as if it were taboo. As if touching it would cause a massive explosion that would engulf all of Japan, they had started to ignore the existing problem at some point.

His stomach churned.

In the end, he picked up the phone again.

This time, it wasn’t his superiors.

『It’s been a while.』

“Shuhei. I have a favor to ask.”

『That hurts. After three years of no contact, all you have to say is a favor? So, what’s this favor?』

“Gather the Yain-dae here in Kitakyushu. If you lend your strength, I’ll give you anything you want. Anything I have, even my life. Whatever it is, everything.”

『…….』

On the other side of the phone.

Silence lingered.

The place where Nakamura Genji once belonged.

Those who called him their leader felt a considerable sense of betrayal at his sudden declaration of withdrawal.

Later, after hearing about Nakamura Genji’s whereabouts, they all seemed to understand. At least it wasn’t betrayal. They accepted on a human level that their leader had his own reasons for leaving.

『30 minutes. Okay?』

“Thank you.”

『Just keep your promise.』

Click.

The call ended.

Nakamura Genji caught his breath.

An hour had passed, but the government hadn’t responded, and there was no news of Kang San, who should have returned by now. He was incredibly anxious. He thought he had finally found a glimmer of hope, but his heart pounded as the situation unfolded differently than expected.

He prayed to the heavens.

That Kang San was alive.

That he would return safely.

That’s when it happened.

There was a commotion outside.

‘Could it be?’

Nakamura Genji rushed out.

He could see new people appearing from the brightly glowing orbs of light.

He was overjoyed.

Hope was revived.

But.

“……Where is Kang San-nim?”

No matter how much he looked, he couldn’t see the face he remembered anywhere.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

His younger siblings were also surprised.

When Jo Han-byeol didn’t see Kang San, he grabbed a survivor and asked.

“Where’s the person who saved the survivors? Where is he?”

Perhaps because he shouted.

The survivor was startled and couldn’t answer.

When he calmed down and asked again, the survivor finally realized the seriousness of the situation and spoke what he knew.

“Well…… After dealing with all the monsters, he gave us Teleport Scrolls and told us to return to Kitakyushu first. So I asked why he wasn’t coming with us, and he said that he had identified other survivors nearby, so he was going to continue the rescue operation. He said that if the people waiting for him asked, to tell them that’s what happened and not to worry.”

“Huh?”

“What does that even mean!”

Jo Han-byeol was shocked.

Behind him, Nakamura Genji, who had overheard the conversation, raised his voice.

He clearly said he was only going to confirm the location of the village.

But Kang San not only rescued the people alone but was also continuing a new rescue operation.

‘Is he planning to rescue people by himself?’

His eyes wavered.

The series of events.

This was truly an unexpected development.