Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 132

Chapter 132: The Mystery of the Red Zone （4）

This situation.

It didn’t make any sense.

Seeing the members of the Liberal Protection Party gathered in secret, Shimizu Hiroshi asked again.

“…How is this even possible?”

“We are also quite puzzled by the situation. According to our findings, Kang San was recently promoted to B-rank. Although he showed excellent performance at the time, he is still at the level of a newly promoted B-rank, and it is normal for him not to be able to survive in the Red Zone. However, rescue operations continued throughout the night. This cannot be explained by objective power.”

“Damn it. What is that guy thinking, causing this uproar?”

His head hurt.

Kang San’s rescue activities.

Japanese public opinion was already boiling.

Powerful individuals flocked to Kitakyushu to save Kang San, and it was a huge, undeniable movement.

Moreover.

“Sir. This incident is being highlighted in Korea as well. Apparently, this guy Kang San has done this kind of thing more than once. If Kang San dies like this without proper rescue efforts, we cannot avoid international condemnation.”

“Actually, I received a call a little while ago, asking for support in Kang San’s rescue activities from wealthy individuals in Korea with whom I have had connections. He is definitely not an ordinary guy. If we treat this as just an individual’s death, it could become a serious problem.”

Kim Min-yeong’s article.

Yeon Gyu-seong and Jo Kang-rae’s contacts.

They were definitely effective.

The members of parliament rushed to emphasize the seriousness of the situation.

Shimizu Hiroshi fell into deep thought.

‘The part I can’t understand the most is the benefit that Korean can gain from rescue activities. Is it simply a sense of justice to save people? No way. If that were the intention, it would have been right to rescue people at the beginning, return to Kitakyushu, and then move with a rescue team. But now he’s moving alone recklessly, blocking information. As if blaming us for not doing anything all this time.’

He chewed on his lips.

At first, he treated him as just a foreigner.

But if hundreds of people were rescued because of Kang San.

And if there are thousands of families of those rescued, and countless Japanese citizens watching them.

He can no longer be classified as just a foreigner.

Korea and Japan.

Even though the two countries have a complex historical relationship, they had no choice but to look at Kang San, an individual, in a special way. Shimizu Hiroshi is not stupid enough to fail to read the flow. If he had been swept away by an uncontrollable current, he had to make the most of this situation from now on.

He spoke to his aide.

“Where is the Prime Minister now?”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

That afternoon.

The Japanese government issued an official statement.

『I sincerely apologize for not revealing the truth about the Red Zone until now. Currently, a miracle is taking place in the Red Zone, where a single individual of Korean nationality is doing what even the Japanese government could not do. While we are naturally quite ashamed of this incident, we have decided that simply standing by and watching would be a mistake, and we have belatedly formed a rescue team to save Japan’s benefactor. Therefore… we ask for the support of the Japanese people.』

They subtly shifted the point.

They covered up their mistakes by appealing to the situation as if they had no intention of rescuing them before, but it was an unavoidable situation. And of course, the Japanese people cheered. This was because the Japanese government not only announced the rescue for showmanship but also sent a force that was sufficiently acknowledged.

Japan’s S-rank Hunter.

Saito Shusuke, who wields a spear and is classified as a representative Hunter of the 2nd generation, took on the role of leader of this rescue team.

Immediately after the government announcement.

Saito Shusuke arrived in Kitakyushu.

Before he could specifically grasp the local situation, Nakamura Genji, a government official in the area, had completed all preparations.

“Here is the list of people who have volunteered for the rescue team.”

“Thank you.”

He glanced at the other person.

Nakamura Genji’s face.

It was very familiar to Saito Shusuke.

‘The leader of the Yain-dae was here. This is an interesting situation.’

He swallowed his laughter.

As he flipped through the list, Saito Shusuke’s eyes shone.

“…Are you saying that all these people volunteered?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

This time.

The government spared no support.

In addition to Saito Shusuke, elite troops and as many as twenty mages specializing in mental magic were deployed to counter possible evil spirits. But the names of those who volunteered for the rescue team were not easy either. There were countless B-ranks and below, and a considerable number of A-ranks were visible.

Of course, among them.

Nakamura Genji’s presence stood out the most.

His talent was so special that he would have been called the next S-rank if he hadn’t disappeared.

‘Shimizu Hiroshi’s request is to rescue Kang San and return without overdoing it. With this much power, it should be possible.’

The problem in the south.

He had no intention of solving it all.

First of all, the primary goal is to extinguish the fire caused by Kang San by rescuing him.

Saito Shusuke shouted.

“From now on, we will reorganize our ranks and enter the Green Zone in two hours.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Thud━!

Crack.

It was a chilling sound.

Along with the sound of bones breaking, Kang San rolled on the ground in a terrible state.

“Ugh.”

He didn’t even have time to groan in pain.

When he roughly lifted his head, he saw the Minotauros rushing towards him.

Heeiiiing━

Bang.

Thud thud.

They tangled as they were.

He rolled on the ground several times, and the rough attack of the Minotauros, which boasted the highest stats among B-ranks, hit Kang San. His body shook every time it stomped. If his body had been in good condition, he would have easily dealt with the opponent, even after defeating the A-rank Werewolf Lord. But not now. With his breath catching in his throat, the Minotauros’ attack felt more threatening than ever.

Whoosh.

Kwaang━!

The ground shattered.

Kang San didn’t miss the gap and dug into the Minotauros’ arms.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, Third Style.”

The current distance.

It was dangerous.

Even knowing that, Kang San had no choice but to choose the most powerful attack.

“Explosive Kill.”

Kwaang!

Kwarururururung.

Kreeeeeeek!

The Minotauros screamed.

It struggled in pain as it dug into its flesh, and Kang San clung to its massive body and desperately thrust his sword in. Dizziness washed over him. He wanted to drop his sword as the world spun around, but he gritted his teeth and swallowed his disgust. Whenever he wanted to give up on life, he recalled his desperate past.

‘…I can’t die like this.’

Eventually.

Stagger.

Thud━

He brought down his opponent.

At the sight of the collapsed Minotauros, Kang San, who had collapsed, let out a rough breath.

“Gasp, gasp.”

The cooldown for Healing Aura was also returning.

Kang San opened his inventory with trembling hands.

He grimaced at the last remaining potion, but poured it all in without hesitation.

Gulp gulp.

Clink.

“…Shit.”

Now there were no more potions.

The current situation.

He was in the middle of his twenty-second trial.

The problem was that barely an hour had passed since the 24 hours he was given, and this had happened.

‘Is this really the end?’

I don’t know.

If he was really in danger of dying, he was going to give up everything and go back.

The moment he tore the Teleport Scroll, he would lose everything he had gained from the trial, but at least he would be able to save his meager life. But human greed was never easy to give up. Even if he died like this, Kang San couldn’t bring himself to let go of the grain of sand called hope that he held in his hand.

Stagger.

He struggled to his feet.

He had to go.

He had already experienced enough through past trials to know what kind of difficulties he would face if he delayed even a little.

How long had he been moving like that?

Swoosh.

Swoosh swoosh.

Fog rose.

It was originally a foggy space, but it felt strange, as if it were a living creature moving through his body. He stopped walking for a moment. Feeling strange, Kang San held his breath and looked around.

‘Something’s there.’

That was when it happened.

『You are caught in the status effect ‘Nightmare’.』

Suddenly, the world turned upside down.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Memory intertwined.

‘Where am I?’

As if my head was filled with fog, past memories became hazy.

What my name is.

Why I was here.

I couldn’t remember anything.

All that the current ‘me’ could know was that a cruel massacre was unfolding before my eyes.

“Kyaak━!”

“Ack!”

People were dying.

Monsters appeared, tearing apart and devouring human bodies, and an indescribable feeling bubbled up at their cruel murderous acts. I had to stop these heinous demons. I couldn’t just stand by and watch as innocent people were killed.

At that moment.

『Kill.』

Inside my ears.

A turbid voice seeped in.

『Kill those demons. Innocent people are dying because of them. Kill, kill, kill!』

It was the right thing to say.

Like the voice of unknown origin.

I had to kill the demons.

The moment I tried to move like that.

Suddenly.

I stopped walking.

“…What is this.”

This situation.

I felt a sense of familiarity.

The collapse of the mind like this is not something that can be experienced normally.

But Kang San was different.

When he fell into Qi Deviation, the world was completely jumbled up, and even then, he fell into the abyss due to the imposed emotions just like now. And at that moment. Kang San overcame it with his own mental strength.

His eyes became clear.

And as he caught something beyond the fog.

『…How on earth!』

Crash!

The nightmare shattered just like that.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Meanwhile.

The rescue team quickly crossed Yellow and entered the Red Zone.

Kyaak━!

“Block them!”

The notoriety was not a lie.

Fog obscuring vision.

Monsters rushing from all directions.

The rescue team showed coordinated movements.

They backed each other up and dealt with the monsters they encountered one by one.

And among them.

Of course, the outstanding one was Saito Shusuke.

“Oh my.”

“It’s an A-rank Twinhead Ogre!”

Thud.

Thud thud.

A-rank.

A monster in a realm that ordinary Hunters cannot reach.

The moment it reached right in front of them, Saito Shusuke’s spear, which had suddenly shot out, cut through the air.

“One Point.”

Thud━!

Kuuurururung.

A single blow.

With an attack that accurately penetrated its head, the Twinhead Ogre collapsed without being able to put up a fight. Thanks to this, the rescue team gained momentum. In the first place, they were selected mainly from the elite, and with the S-rank Saito Shusuke at the forefront, even the Red Zone couldn’t stop the rescue team.

‘It’s going smoother than I thought. But it can’t be this easy.’

A series of situations.

Saito Shusuke was not complacent at all.

He heard the truth about the south.

How an S-rank like himself died.

Why the Japanese government, after countless subjugations, finally made the disastrous decision to stop.

It wasn’t a situation to be excited about.

It was just the beginning, and the real danger hadn’t hit yet.

“We’re picking up the pace from now on.”

He had to rescue Kang San quickly.

One order from Shimizu Hiroshi took precedence over the survivors who might be left in the Red Zone.

But that was when it happened.

Fwip!

“Aaack! Takashi, what the hell are you doing!”

“You crazy bastard!”

A sudden scream.

A member of the rescue team, called Takashi, blew off the head of a colleague who was walking ahead.

And that.

“Ack!”

“Stop him, stop him!”

“Are these bastards crazy!”

In an instant, it began to spread like wildfire throughout the entire rescue team.