Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 143

Chapter 143: Hero of Kitakyushu （3）

Worship was a very unique skill.

Although the description said that a “target of worship” could be set, Eileen’s will was excluded from the background of Kang San being chosen.

“It’s not that I recklessly chose you as the target of worship without Kang San-nim’s permission. When I saw you safe and sound, Kang San-nim, the moment I breathed a sigh of relief, I heard a voice saying that you were automatically set as the target of worship. Perhaps the system judged you to be suitable as a target of worship.”

The effect of Worship.

It didn’t end with simply granting buffs.

In the Worship skill window, there was a section called Believers, where the number of people who believed in Kang San was displayed.

『Number of Believers: 28,521』

“The survivors that Kang San-nim saved this time, and their families. They accepted Kang San-nim into their hearts, and the number of registered believers has exceeded 20,000. If I use the Prayer skill, an additional buff of 0.001% will be applied for each believer. This means that with the number of believers already secured, an effect of 28% will be applied.”

The Prayer skill had direct and indirect buffs.

The direct buff was, as shown in Kitakyushu Square, a method where people directly prayed and gave strength. While its effect was dramatic, it had the drawback that people had to actually pray with Eileen.

The indirect method was independent of distance.

Just by having the heart to believe in Kang San, an additional buff was applied to the Prayer skill.

Of course, there was a limit of 300% to the stats increased by the buff, but if more believers were secured, the value of Eileen’s skill would be truly extraordinary. Kang San couldn’t refuse Eileen’s presence. In a situation where a Priest was already needed, Eileen’s skill was no different from a special privilege just for him.

Eileen said,

“When I was isolated in the Red Zone. I prayed every single day. I prayed that if you saved me from the pit of despair, I would accept God into my heart and serve him wholeheartedly. I never thought the Worship skill was a coincidence. The fact that I, and Kang San-nim, met like this is all God’s arrangement, and the sheer number of believers proves how noble a being Kang San-nim is. You asked if I wasn’t worried about the thorny path? Not at all. If I’m with Kang San-nim, I’ll pray even in a pit of fire. May blessings be upon the path that Kang San-nim walks.”

Why was it?

There was a strange sense of madness.

Three years in the Red Zone.

It was enough time for even a normal person’s mind to break down.

In the empty space that had formed in Eileen’s heart, the existence of Kang San had filled that hole as if God had descended.

“So, please accept us.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

“……This is the current situation.”

Kang San finished his long story.

Immediately after parting ways with the Eileen sisters, Kang San met with his younger teammates.

The story of Nakamura Genji and the Eileen sisters.

When he told them about their strong desire to join the party, Jo Han-byeol expressed their thoughts without hesitation.

“I agree. Their skills are impressive, but we can’t deny the fact that they are the positions our party needs. Especially in Nakamura Genji’s case, I heard that he blocked an S-rank Hunter, even if only for a short time, when Saito Shusuke went berserk. There’s no reason to refuse someone with that level of skill volunteering to join.”

“But the Worship skill… Is it related to the message that said, ‘You have become a believer’?”

Jeong Chan-woo’s words.

It turned out that the younger teammates had heard the message that they had become “believers” the moment the Worship skill was created.

It was something that everyone in Kitakyushu Square had experienced, but they thought it was simply a message due to the prayer and didn’t think much of it. They never imagined that it would continue to be connected to Eileen’s skill.

Yeon Woo-bin said,

“In many ways, I think it’s a very good situation for us. To be honest, I felt sorry that Kang San-hyung was taking on all the risks alone, but if Eileen-nim joins, we can relieve some of your burden. And above all, Worship is a fraudulent skill that gives buffs to only one person, and with that level of effect, we must have Eileen-nim as a party member even if she doesn’t want to.”

“Then I’ll take it that everyone agrees.”

“Yes!”

The situation was settled.

It was unanimously decided to accept the new party members.

They had inadvertently become a multinational party.

It started with lower-ranked Hunters from South Korea, but now there was one Japanese and two French people. Moreover, the fact that the average rank was B-rank was a very encouraging achievement.

Kang San said,

“And these are the Stat Stones I earned from this incident. Take them, everyone.”

“Huh?”

“Gasp.”

“All of this?”

The younger teammates’ eyes widened.

He had earned Stat Stones as a reward for the Trial, and he had also obtained several of the best Stat Stones that increased stats by 10 at once by defeating the S-rank Evil Spirit. At first, he considered using them himself. It would definitely be beneficial if he only thought about himself, but ever since his younger teammates had taken the risk with him, Kang San knew that the Stat Stones given by the Trial were a reward for his teammates, not himself.

That’s why.

Since Kang San had already received a tremendous reward of 200 stats on average, he shared the benefits with his teammates.

Jo Han-byeol waved their hands.

“This is too much. You did all the hard work alone, hyung.”

“No. From the moment you entered the Red Zone with my reckless decision, you all deserve your share. And I took enough and divided the rest fairly. So, if you consider me the leader of this party, don’t refuse and take it.”

“But…”

“Jo Han-byeol.”

“Yes.”

Although they refused verbally, the expressions of the younger teammates as they received the Stat Stones were bright.

Kang San was sincere.

From Korea to Japan, his younger teammates had been exposed to the dangers of the Trials that they didn’t have to face. Each time, they never complained and tenaciously overcame the Trials with Kang San.

They truly deserved this reward.

The younger teammates were laughing and chatting.

Looking at them, Kang San smiled brightly.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The next day.

Kang San and his party went out to subjugate monsters.

The Kitakyushu area was currently divided into three main groups.

The large-scale subjugation and rescue teams operated by the Japanese government were moving systematically to completely eradicate the monsters and rescue the survivors. This time, they showed their determination to truly solve the Kitakyushu problem. By pouring in human and material resources, they were achieving meaningful results every day.

Lastly, there were individuals.

Like Kang San’s party, the Japanese government guaranteed various benefits for individuals to subjugate monsters on their own.

Not only were taxes exempted, but they also provided support for materials needed for combat and rewards based on performance. They encouraged individuals to move not simply out of goodwill but based on practical benefits. Thanks to this, countless monsters were being killed in the Red Zone every day. Those who had been hiding in the fog could no longer withstand the attacks of humans.

“Ogre group ahead.”

It was Jessica.

As she, who had been moving stealthily, spotted the monsters, Kang San and his party prepared for battle.

Yeon Woo-bin attacked first.

As Yeon Woo-bin’s magic exploded first, the Ogres, blazing with fire, rushed towards them.

Fwoosh.

Boom!

Kyaaaaaak!

“Trial’s Shield.”

Kang San blocked the front.

The Ogres, their eyes bloodshot, swung their massive clubs, and as Kang San blocked them, Nakamura Genji immediately attacked the exposed opening. His sword tore through space. He cut along the Ogre’s muscle fibers before it could react, and as the Ogre staggered back, Jessica’s daggers and Jo Han-byeol’s arrows struck in succession.

Whizz.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

It was perfect teamwork.

As Kang San and Jeong Chan-woo blocked the attacks, the four-person dealer line intertwined and defeated the enemies.

The party’s attack power had increased dramatically.

In the past, they had relied solely on Yeon Woo-bin, but the cooperative attacks of Jo Han-byeol, Nakamura Genji, and Jessica didn’t miss a single momentary gap. The new party’s strength wasn’t just that. Eileen, positioned at the very back, gave blessings at the right time.

“Blessing of Superhuman Strength.”

Whoosh.

She gave a blessing to Nakamura Genji.

“Heal.”

Whoosh.

She used healing on Jeong Chan-woo.

Kang San had been enduring with only his own skills, but with the presence of a Priest, they had found overall stability. The Ogre group they encountered, guided by Jessica, numbered over a dozen. If it had been in the past, they would have definitely struggled against such a force, but it didn’t take them long to deal with them all.

Boom.

Rumble.

The last remaining Ogre fell.

Kang San thought.

‘It’s definitely different from before.’

Before coming to Japan and now.

The party’s strength had improved overwhelmingly, to the point where it could be described as a world of difference.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

One month later.

Kang San decided to wrap up his life in Japan.

Not only had he sufficiently coordinated the party in the Red Zone, but the Kitakyushu problem was also being resolved. There were no more monsters coming through the Gate, and a large-scale rescue operation had rescued a considerable number of survivors. It was time to leave. Kang San, who had to prepare for the S-rank Outbreak, needed enough time to prepare in Korea as well.

That evening.

When he expressed his intention to leave Japan, an unexpected person visited Kang San.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

It was Ito Kentaro.

Kang San responded calmly.

“I just did what I had to do.”

“If that’s the reason, then the Japanese government should have handled the problem in the first place. The problem in Kitakyushu, which festered while incompetent politicians turned a blind eye, would never have been solved if it weren’t for Kang San-nim. Look at the changes that have occurred because of Kang San-nim. We couldn’t persuade Priest from Italy for the past three years, but as soon as a political problem arose, we immediately received a meaningful response. That’s evidence of the bitter reality of Japan.”

It was funny.

Shimizu Hiroshi had said it was an unsolvable problem, but this incident proved that he hadn’t been doing his best all along. His political life was effectively over. At a critical juncture where he had to decide whether to ride the wave of public opinion surrounding Kang San or not, he had ridiculed the statistically improbable actions.

It was a blunder.

Even if the probability was low, he should have respected and supported the effort and sacrifice to save the Japanese people.

Of course, that didn’t mean Ito Kentaro considered himself a good person.

“I’m not actually that good of a person. Faced with the daily disasters, I, as an ordinary person, decided that I needed power to survive. That’s how I walked the path of a politician. Congressman Shimizu Hiroshi has a favorite saying. He says I’m a hypocrite. That’s right. When I helped Nakamura Genji save people, and when I prayed for Kang San-nim’s safe return this time, I acted knowing that it would help with public sentiment. Because that’s how I can implement the policies I want. Because that’s how I’ll have the power to create a world where even ordinary people can survive.”

He met Kang San’s gaze.

He didn’t bother wearing a mask in front of him.

“I received confirmation from the Prime Minister this time. Although we’re from different parties, he said he would support me as the next Prime Minister, riding the wave of public opinion. Do you know that? I’m someone who knows what to do to protect my meager approval rating. And Kang San-nim’s actions have played a significant role in creating the current public opinion. So remember this. Even if Kang San-nim leaves Japan, I will not forget my gratitude towards you. Even if it was an act intended as hypocrisy, I, as the Prime Minister, will speak about Kang San-nim while reflecting on the past.”

The connection with Kang San.

Ito Kentaro held onto it.

As a politician, he knew what was important.

“I, Ito Kentaro, promise you that Kang San-nim will always be treated as a state guest in Japan.”