Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 150

Chapter 150: Controversy （6）

The situation had changed.

Jeong Mun-cheol, who had been brusque from beginning to end, approached Kang San in a friendly manner as if nothing had happened.

“You’ve really worked hard. It’s human nature to find it difficult to believe rumors from overseas, isn’t it? That’s why there was negative public opinion, but I think you’ve sufficiently proven yourself through this duel. No, who would deny the achievement of S-rank when you single-handedly defeated a force equivalent to ten A-rank Hunters?”

He was a shameless man.

As if proving how he survived in the broadcasting industry, he slipped out without changing his expression.

Kang San was annoyed.

He was tired.

And perhaps because of the lingering emotions, his boiling murderous intent was expressed as negative feelings.

“This is live, right?”

“Yes?”

“Give me the microphone.”

Tak.

He snatched the microphone.

Regardless of how Jeong Mun-cheol reacted, he spoke clearly in an irritated voice.

“When I arrived in Korea, the video I received through an acquaintance showed ‘Host Jeong Mun-cheol’ publicly linking the Japanese government and me and criticizing us. The message was truly a sight to behold. The way it openly stirred up anti-Japanese sentiment, and the current situation with Drake Guild and Im Chan-yeong brought here. I think I understand why you have a reputation for only hosting third-rate broadcasts.”

“No, this guy…”

“I’m not finished yet.”

He turned his head.

He looked at the camera, which was still rolling, not at Jeong Mun-cheol.

“I’ll make it clear using this opportunity. It’s true that I dealt with an S-rank monster in Japan, but I have never once requested S-rank qualification based on that achievement. It was just luck. I happened to have an ability that was like a natural enemy, and I succeeded in something I couldn’t believe myself. Yet, the reason I accepted the S-rank test was because I judged the intention behind seeking me out to be malicious.”

Jeong Mun-cheol’s report?

It could be true.

But the moment Drake, Im Chan-yeong, and Project A team combined, he couldn’t help but doubt that intention.

“I won this duel. Some may say that it meets the S-rank requirements, but this is not a formal procedure, and I don’t think I actually have S-rank skills. Therefore, I will not accept the rank upgrade. If I think I’m worthy of S-rank, I’ll go to the Hunter Management Bureau and have them thoroughly verify whether I truly deserve it.”

It was a checkmate.

Jeong Mun-cheol reported that Kang San was greedy for S-rank.

But the situation of him refusing it even after proving himself meant that Jeong Mun-cheol’s report was wrong from start to finish.

He looked at Jeong Mun-cheol.

And then.

“From now on, at least check the exact situation before slandering me. I haven’t done anything particularly wrong to you, have I?”

Thud.

He threw the microphone right in front of him.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Immediately after the broadcast.

Public opinion went wild.

People were divided into two groups.

The first was public opinion criticizing those who had slandered Kang San.

━I knew it. It’s not the first time Jeong Mun-cheol has made malicious attacks.

━This is truly too much. Kang San returned after enhancing national prestige in another country, but in his own country, where he should be welcomed with open arms, they slandered him, saying he was trying to manipulate things to claim the achievement of S-rank. In fact, Kang San practically passed the S-rank test but refused it himself. Jeong Mun-cheol, Drake Guild, you should be truly ashamed.

━Jeong Mun-cheol, Im Chan-yeong, Drake. I’m now going to filter these three out and not trust them.

━By the way, Im Chan-yeong is heading downhill. He was once called a genius, but as expected, people should have good hearts.

People recognized who to blame.

Jeong Mun-cheol, who created the current situation, and Im Chan-yeong and Drake Guild, who responded to him, could not avoid criticism.

And the second group was people surprised by the unexpected result.

━No way, is Kang San this strong?

━He clearly passed the B-rank test just recently, how on earth did he win against A-rank Hunters?

━Kang San was humble on the broadcast, but in reality, it wouldn’t be strange if he was assigned S-rank. It’s certain now. Kang San was born with an unprecedented talent. People are focusing on the fact that Kang San passed the B-rank test, but what’s even more surprising is that just a year ago, he was an F-rank human shield.

Of course, there was some negative public opinion.

There was talk that he was too harsh for destroying Im Chan-yeong’s Circles, but it was quickly suppressed because the incident had started with Im Chan-yeong’s malice in the first place. And broadcasting companies couldn’t help but be sensitive to public opinion. Facing the backlash, A Broadcasting Company, where Jeong Mun-cheol belonged, immediately summoned him.

“How are you going to handle this situation?”

“I’m sorry. I’ll take care of it.”

“Take care of it? How exactly are you going to take care of it?”

“Well, I’ll publish an apology article saying I’ll do better in the future, and for the time being, I’ll lay low…”

Kwaang━!

“You incompetent fool. You haven’t grasped the situation yet, have you?”

The CEO threw whatever was in his hand.

Jeong Mun-cheol’s eyes widened.

This kind of thing…

It wasn’t the first or second time it had happened.

For broadcasting companies to air provocative broadcasts, there had to be some degree of permission from those in power.

But this kind of reaction?

When he looked at him with a betrayed expression, the CEO’s face contorted fiercely.

“Complaints from viewers? We can ignore that. The problem is that several groups have expressed their intention not to stand by if we don’t punish you properly. The Ministry of National Defense, the Medical Association, Cheonsang and Daeyang, and even the Japanese government. What on earth did you touch? They’re all making a fuss because you dared to slander Kang San!”

“Huh?”

Jeong Mun-cheol’s jaw dropped.

He didn’t know.

That there were people who would foam at the mouth when it came to Kang San.

Kim Chun-sik moved the Ministry of National Defense, Yeon Gyu-seong moved the Medical Association, Jeong Hye-mi moved Cheonsang, and Gu Jun-ho moved Daeyang.

And in the case of the Japanese government, the next Prime Minister, Ito Kentaro, openly spoke at a press conference.

Kang San is a benefactor of Japan.

And Korea should not slander him.

Even if Kang San had been defeated in the S-rank test, a catastrophic ending would have been unavoidable.

Only then did Jeong Mun-cheol realize.

The sin of touching the wrong person.

That he couldn’t avoid his downfall.

The CEO said fiercely.

“You’ve worked hard so far, but there’s nothing I can do. Clear out your desk today. We’re going to fire you and say it was your personal opinion, not the broadcasting company’s intention. Oh, you’re not harboring any other thoughts, are you? The moment you open your mouth and say it was the broadcasting company’s order or something, remember that it’s nothing for us to crush you.”

That day.

Jeong Mun-cheol quietly left the broadcasting company without anyone seeing him off.

It was a humble ending for a veteran of over ten years.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

At that time.

Kang San went to find Im Chan-yeong.

He was hospitalized, and as soon as he saw Kang San, he showed an angry expression.

“You cruel bastard. You should have just killed me. If you were going to destroy my Circles, you should have taken my life too!”

The loss of magic.

When he woke up in the hospital room and heard the news, he had a seizure, repeatedly fainting and waking up. It was that difficult a reality to accept. He was once praised as Korea’s greatest talent, but now, as a civilian, Im Chan-yeong was nothing more than a nobody.

The repercussions didn’t stop there.

As public criticism of Drake Guild intensified, the Master eventually stepped forward and apologized.

He expressed remorse for their rash actions and announced that they would expel Im Chan-yeong and Project A team, designating them as the ‘masterminds’ of the incident. He had effectively lost everything. If he still had the safety net of Drake, he could have somehow planned for his future, but there was nothing left for Im Chan-yeong.

Im Chan-yeong was beyond anger, he was on the verge of tears.

“…My life has been completely ruined since I met you. Why, why are you doing this to me!?”

He knew it himself.

That he was the perpetrator.

But if he didn’t do this.

If he didn’t shift the blame, he felt like he couldn’t live.

It was true that he had fallen into ruin after meeting Kang San.

The current situation.

“An enemy? That’s an interesting word.”

Kang San found it funny.

The reason he visited Im Chan-yeong?

It wasn’t to mock him.

There was something Kang San had to confirm.

“I’m curious too. What wrong did you do to me in your past life?”

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

“Are you really clueless? If you’re human, you should know that this is the result of your karma.”

He spoke vaguely.

He was testing the waters.

Whether he remembered his past life, whether he knew what wrong he had committed as Gwak Un-chan.

“Karma? What karma? What did I do wrong to deserve this!”

He showed no signs of remembering.

Im Chan-yeong’s expression only showed anger at the current situation, excluding any memories of his past life.

There was no other way to confirm it.

However.

Seeing Im Chan-yeong’s aggrieved reaction, a hot feeling surged in Kang San’s chest.

He leaned in and met his gaze.

“You want to know why I did this?”

Whether it was Gwak Un-chan.

Or Im Chan-yeong.

To Seo Mun-ho, to Kang San.

He was still trash.

“Why are you asking me that, you fucking bastard.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Returning to his accommodation, Kang San collapsed into a chair.

Thud.

“Ha━.”

He felt dizzy.

Complex emotions tangled in his mind.

Im Chan-yeong’s memories.

Seeing Seo Mun-ho’s situation from Gwak Un-chan’s perspective, Kang San couldn’t maintain his usual composure. Perhaps that’s why he acted aggressively. The words he spat out after snatching Jeong Mun-cheol’s microphone, and his reaction when he visited Im Chan-yeong separately. He expressed hostility beyond the level of retaliation he had received.

Kang San blankly opened his stat window.

『Kang San』

━Strength: 451

━Agility: 428

━Divine Power: 182

━Reaction Speed: 185

━Toughness: 202

━Mental Strength: 190

Strength and Agility.

They had increased by a whopping 100 compared to before.

Since Kang San hadn’t gone through any special step-up process, it was reasonable to assume that it was the effect of inheriting some of Seo Mun-ho’s abilities. A reward for sufficiently punishing Im Chan-yeong. It was incomparable to the rewards he received for helping others; he received a tremendous reward all at once.

The rewards didn’t stop there.

『Growth-type Skill』

『Blood Demon Art Five-Star』

1. Attack power temporarily increases by 5% each time an enemy is killed. （Can be stacked.）

2. When a thousand lives are taken, the rank of Blood Demon Art increases. （0/3000）

3. Attack power increases by 50%

『Conditional Skill（★★★★）』

『Blood Demon Sword Technique, Fourth Style: Lure Kill』

1. Only those who have mastered the Blood Demon Art can use the Blood Demon Sword Technique.

2. Lures the enemy to attack. Attack power and speed momentarily increase by 200% each, and attack power increases further by the amount of attack power stat accumulated through Blood Demon Art. Targets that ‘bleed’ from this attack cannot be healed for a certain period due to the bleeding effect. （Cooldown: 5 minutes）

The increase in Blood Demon Art.

And the Fourth Style: Lure Kill.

The development of Blood Demon Art meant that this skill was progressing in the right direction.

His mind was a mess.

When Kang San first learned of the existence of Trials, Azmoon, through Luca Bellino, demanded unconditional sacrifice. Jumping into danger to save Kim Chun-sik, giving away all the money he could call his entire fortune.

But now it was different.

Kang San had thought that sacrifice was the only way to clear his karma, but this incident completely refuted that.

‘What kind of situation am I in?’

He was once unaware of other people’s past lives.

He could accept that past lives existed, but he couldn’t imagine that there were others like him, living their present lives younger to clear their past karma. That was the only way to explain the contradiction. No matter how great a sin Seo Mun-ho had committed in his past life. Weren’t the national traitors, dictators, and murderers in the history Kang San knew also guilty enough to clear their past karma? It was fundamentally wrong for only him to be clearing his karma.

And now.

Im Chan-yeong’s case denied his previous thoughts.

Other people’s past lives also existed, and perhaps somewhere in the world, there was another being aware of their past life.

The S-rank Evil Spirit too.

Encountering that monster could also be inevitable.

The fact that he had the mental strength to resist the Evil Spirit, and that the reward for it was Memory Playback, could all be part of a larger plan.

“…What do you want from me?”

“Curious?”

“?!”

He was startled.

Luca Bellino was sitting right next to him, looking at him.

Her eyes were dreamy.

Luca Bellino, with her red lips, the same lips that told him to kill Im Chan-yeong, made a shocking statement.

“Then ask. I’ll tell you the truth, as much as you’re allowed to know.”