Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Hero of Kitakyushu （4）

Treatment befitting a state guest.

It was an unexpected statement.

Especially if it was a statement from the person appointed as the next Prime Minister, the weight it carried was bound to be different.

In a situation where most people would gladly accept this, for some reason, Kang San was pondering the word ‘hypocrite.’

‘Is hypocrisy really a bad thing?’

Kang San was no different.

In the situation where trials were forced upon him, he had committed countless acts of hypocrisy.

While he had heartlessly abandoned those in need, outwardly he showed a calm demeanor as if he had done what was natural. The world called such a Kang San the Hero of Kitakyushu. Whenever they met Kang San, everyone would rush to shake his hand, and their smiling faces showed respect for him.

Kang San said.

“I don’t think hypocrisy is wrong.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Humans are selfish beings, created from birth to prioritize themselves. Looking back at the history of the world, there are heroes who were not like that, but we cannot guarantee that they did not hesitate even a little in their good deeds. What is certain is that most cannot. Therefore, I think that hypocrites are actually amazing. Even though they must have hesitated rationally, they suppressed their instincts and accepted sacrifices for others. Even if there are calculated intentions behind it, the fact that someone was helped by hypocrisy does not change.”

It was an unnecessary conversation.

Although he did not have such a deep relationship with Ito Kentaro, for some reason, he really wanted to have a conversation like this.

As if speaking to himself.

Kang San continued.

“If someone’s life has been helped by your policies, Councilman, that person will not care in the slightest whether you are a hypocrite or not. So you don’t have to belittle yourself. You may be able to commit hypocrisy when needed, but people will see the results you put out rather than the hidden truth behind them. And.”

If Kang San’s truth were to be revealed.

Would Kim Chun-sik think of Kang San as a hypocrite?

No.

Even if it was hypocrisy, his grandmother would not have been able to receive surgery if it weren’t for Kang San.

The starting point where Kang San began to be honest with himself was when he accepted that even hypocrisy could be good.

Therefore.

“If such hypocrisy accumulates and accumulates, someday people may call you a hero.”

To a hypocrite like himself, Kang San spoke his true feelings as if comforting himself.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was time to leave.

As he packed his things and left his room, the manager rushed out and handed him something.

“This is the money we collected together, all the staff members chipping in. We hope you will use it for good.”

“No, I can’t accept this.”

“Kang San-nim. There are many people in this hotel who have found their families thanks to you. We couldn’t do anything because we were worried that you might be uncomfortable during your stay, but please allow us to express our gratitude in this way. If you accept this money, we will remember this moment happily for the rest of our lives.”

“…Sigh. Alright.”

He accepted the money.

Seeing their sincere eyes, he couldn’t refuse.

As he went outside, being seen off by the hotel staff, ordinary people rushed towards him as if they had been waiting.

A well-built man handed him something.

“Here’s a top-grade potion set. Wherever you go, I’ll pray for your safety, Kang San-nim!”

A young woman also handed him something, not to be outdone.

“It’s a portrait of you, Kang San-nim! You may not remember because you saved so many people, but I captured the moment you saved me in this painting! Thank you. I will never forget your sacrifice and effort.”

He accepted them all.

People’s eyes, people’s sincerity.

He couldn’t possibly refuse.

Among them was an old woman in shabby clothes.

“Thanks to you, my son came back alive. It’s nothing special, but eat this when you’re hungry.”

It was a potato wrapped tightly in cloth.

It was still warm as if it had just been steamed, and Kang San smiled at the old woman, whose eyes were glistening with tears.

“…Thank you.”

The outpouring of people’s sincerity continued.

Some people gave him really expensive gifts, and a child even gave him his own snack as a gift. At first, he felt burdened. But as the manager said, if accepting the gifts would leave them with happy memories, he thought it wouldn’t be bad to accept people’s goodwill.

As a result, it took some time.

With the teleportation time approaching, the Kitakyushu police eventually stepped in to clear the way.

“Please step aside.”

“The hero has to go back now.”

“We understand the feelings of the citizens, but please understand so that our Kang San-nim can return safely.”

The bustling crowd.

Parted like the parting of the Red Sea.

And then, they shouted Kang San’s name from all directions, seeing him off as he left.

It was a strange feeling.

As the memories of his past life came back, he felt a considerable sense of dissonance.

‘In my past life, I was a murderer who killed people.’

Blood Demon Seo Mun-ho.

The starting point of the trial.

The memories of him killing people were still vivid, but Kang San focused on the sight in front of him, where people were shouting his name. This was his present life. If he hadn’t accepted the trial, it might have ended as a truly miserable life, but he was regaining the meaning of life by showing goodwill to those in need.

Now he knew.

His good deeds.

Were never forced.

The fact that there was hypocrisy to show goodwill proved that Kang San was a different kind of person from Seo Mun-ho.

It was good.

When he finally arrived at his destination, he bowed his head to the people seeing him off from afar.

And he said sincerely.

“…Thank you so much for welcoming someone like me. Even if I return to Korea, I will never forget your kindness.”

His companions bowed their heads with him in surprise.

A passionate cheer erupted.

That was Kang San’s last memory of Japan.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The hero has left.

Among the people who couldn’t leave, as if lingering on the afterglow, was Saito Shusuke, with his hood pulled down.

‘…Kang San-nim.’

Immediately after Kang San’s return.

Saito Shusuke had visited him separately to express his gratitude.

In fact, he wanted to ask Kang San to accept him, like Nakamura Genji and the Jessica sisters, but there was a reason why he couldn’t leave Kitakyushu.

It was because of guilt.

He, who had been the leader of the extermination squad at the request of Councilman Shimizu Hiroshi, had not only failed the mission but also caused a tragedy by being possessed by the evil spirit and killing people. Of course, people didn’t hold him responsible. Not only were there many people who had suffered from the special existence called the evil spirit, but it wasn’t something he had done of his own free will in the first place.

If Saito Shusuke was to be held responsible.

It was that he was too powerful for others to handle.

Nevertheless, he remained in Kitakyushu.

Even though stability was returning with the disappearance of the fog and the evil spirit, it would take at least several years to achieve true peace. Saito Shusuke took on that role. An S-rank force would be of great help in this matter, and he wanted to at least alleviate the guilt that remained in his heart.

This was the superficial reason.

It was a justification that stemmed from sincerity, but there was another reason he didn’t reveal to people.

‘Eileen-nim said. For Kang San-nim, we must secure more believers here.’

The moment the Worship skill was created.

Unlike most people who heard the message that they had become ‘believers,’ Saito Shusuke became an apostle. It was a change that occurred because he truly accepted Kang San. He recognized Kang San’s specialness in saving him from the evil spirit’s nightmare, and during the few days he prayed, he was completely immersed in that moment as if he would burn himself.

He was an amazing person.

Kang San’s sublimity, navigating the impenetrable fog alone, filled him with emotion just by remembering it.

‘The Japanese people still don’t know how much grace they have received. They were simply rescued and are grateful for it, that’s all. If the large-scale Link incident that plunged Kitakyushu into hell had spread throughout Japan, not just the south. How could we have survived then? An S-rank force like me? The Japanese government? They definitely couldn’t have solved it alone. The three-year nightmare is a clear example of Japan’s weakness.’

The world today.

Even if today is happy, tomorrow could turn into hell.

That’s when they needed Kang San.

Just as he had solved the Kitakyushu problem, he was a special being that could not be explained by common sense.

Therefore.

They had to worship Kang San.

They had to be more grateful and realize that Kang San’s grace was present in every moment of their daily lives.

Because only then could they reach out when needed.

Even Saito Shusuke, who had experienced countless crises as an S-rank Hunter, was shocked by the sight of Kang San shattering the nightmare. Blind faith was born. With Eileen as the subject of prayer, the object of worship, and Saito Shusuke, the apostle who showed strong faith, the unexpected skill ‘Worship’ was born.

Where Kang San left.

He recalled their last meeting, where he had maintained his dignity until the end.

“…I hope to see you again someday.”

He turned around.

Now, as an apostle, it was time to move busily.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kang San and his party arrived in Korea.

They immediately moved to the arrival gate, but as soon as they stepped outside, they faced a bewildering situation.

Click, click, click.

Click, click, click.

“It’s Kang San!”

“Kang San has arrived!”

Everything in sight.

Was swarming with reporters.

They rushed in unison, blocking Kang San’s path, and bombarded him with questions, thrusting microphones from all directions.

“What exactly happened in Japan?”

“I heard you saved countless people in Kitakyushu. You’ve also received attention in Korea for your heroic actions, so did you go there with the intention of saving the people of Kitakyushu from the beginning?”

“The Korean people are currently very interested in your actions. The Kitakyushu incident is a difficult problem that Japan has failed to solve for three years. It’s an international issue that the international community is taking seriously, so I’m curious how you, an individual, solved it.”

It was chaotic.

Even though he didn’t answer a single question, new questions kept pouring in.

Among them.

There were also strangely hostile questions.

“Kang San-nim, you officially acquired B-rank status before your departure. When the promotion test video was released at that time, everyone confirmed your skills, but even then, you didn’t have the ability to solve the Kitakyushu problem. Please answer. Is this incident somehow related to Japanese political issues? What are you trying to gain with your excessive and unrealistic achievements?”

They moved for now.

Reporters followed them like a tail throughout the move, but he didn’t respond hastily because he didn’t grasp the situation.

He got in the car.

Nakamura Genji clicked his tongue.

“…What in the world is going on?”

“I don’t know either. Just a moment.”

He took out his phone.

In a situation like this, only one person came to mind who could give him the answer.

Click.

“Reporter Kim Min-yeong. It’s nothing special, but…”

He explained the situation.

The situation with the reporters swarming him.

And their barrage of questions.

After Kang San’s explanation, Kim Min-yeong paused for a moment and then said in an embarrassed voice.

『Don’t misunderstand and listen. Actually, I reported on the Kitakyushu incident because I wanted to help you, Kang San-nim. I thought if public opinion was formed in Korea, we could send troops or put pressure on the Japanese government. But… because you solved the Kitakyushu problem on your own, the situation took a strange turn.』

Kang San’s actions.

Were not common sense.

A B-rank Hunter solving a difficult problem and returning home.

『Our country is a nation of onlookers, you know. Right now, all of South Korea is buzzing about you, Kang San-nim.』

For the past few months.

South Korea had been turned upside down because of Kang San.