Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 176

Chapter 176: The Rapidly Changing Tide （5）

Kim Chun-sik exited the building.

Outside, it was drizzling.

In the deserted space with no one passing by, he lit a cigarette and deeply inhaled the smoke.

“Huu━.”

“What are you going to do?”

It was Sergeant Park.

While Kim Chun-sik was meeting with Lieutenant General Lee Cheol-woo, the Special Forces members who followed Kim Chun-sik were waiting outside.

They agreed with Kim Chun-sik’s will.

In the first place, most of the people who were led by Kim Chun-sik and joined the Special Forces felt a great disappointment in the intentions of their superiors, just like Kim Chun-sik. They hadn’t risked their lives all this time to protect the powerful figures. If Kim Chun-sik made up his mind, they were willing to give up their status as soldiers.

Kim Chun-sik spoke.

“Yeong-min. The Commander asked me to stay. He said that from now on, he would make decisions that would never be shameful.”

Not Sergeant Park.

He called him by his real name, Park Yeong-min.

Although they had a superior-subordinate relationship as a commander and a member of the unit, from the moment Sergeant Park first called Kim Chun-sik “Hyung,” they became like brothers. The more they did so, the more strictly they observed etiquette in public. This was because they believed that if the system of the military collapsed, it could lead to danger in life-threatening situations.

Park Yeong-min received a cigarette from Kim Chun-sik.

Perhaps due to the weather, the lighter wouldn’t ignite, so he took Kim Chun-sik’s cigarette, touched the ends together, and inhaled the heat.

“So, are you going to believe that?”

“The Commander is not someone who would make empty promises. If he said that to me, he would surely make a choice that we could accept at least once.”

“Hyung. What if the same thing happens again?”

“Then we really have no choice but to leave. Actually, I know what you’re worried about. The military, as a group, cannot ultimately disobey the government’s orders, so even the Commander is nothing more than a mere soldier against the Blue House. If it were up to me, I’d quit the military right now and join the Guardian Guild. Kang San-nim would use us meaningfully, and we would be able to do what we want. But.”

This Outbreak incident.

He felt a lot.

There was a limit to what an individual could do to repay Kang San’s kindness.

“In the end, it’s the military that decides the defense of this country. If the military rots and fails to fulfill its role, a country in decline will eventually collapse. It’s meaningless for individuals to desperately struggle. So, I want to hope for the Commander’s last promise. If the military does its original role without being swayed by personal gain. If we can lead such a military.”

Their eyes met.

He smiled faintly.

“Even if the same situation as this time happens, wouldn’t the situation be much different then?”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kim Chun-sik went to see Kang San.

And he explained his situation.

“…For this reason, I’ve decided to remain in the military. But my thoughts are still the same. Even though I’m not a member of the Guardian Guild, if Kang San-nim continues to do what you believe is right, I, Kim Chun-sik, will support you until the end.”

A few days ago.

Kim Chun-sik expressed his desire to join the Guardian Guild.

Of course, it wasn’t a decided matter, but he asked for understanding in advance, saying if the conversation with his superiors didn’t go well, would it be okay? Kang San had no reason to refuse. Aside from their relationship in the past life, Kim Chun-sik was a sufficiently skilled individual on his own.

Kang San spoke.

“You’ve made a good decision. The military needs someone like Major Kim Chun-sik.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“No. I was truly grateful that you took risks for me.”

This situation.

While exchanging conversation, he felt a strange feeling.

Kang San had looked into Kim Chun-sik’s past life, but Kim Chun-sik didn’t seem to be aware of his past life at all.

Baek Hyun.

A boy whose family was exterminated by the Wudang Sect, one of the Nine Sects and One Clan, and who barely survived with the help of the Blood Demon Seo Mun-ho. According to his memory, he later joined the Sichuan Tang Clan. He was curious. Around the time Seo Mun-ho visited the Hebei Peng family’s banquet, what kind of life was Baek Hyun living? Would he have suppressed his anger and fully assimilated into the Sichuan Tang Clan, or would he be preparing something while sharpening his blade of revenge against the Wudang Sect?

He didn’t know.

Memories of his past life were granted irregularly, and there was nothing Kang San could know now.

Kim Chun-sik spoke.

“Kang San-nim. What I can clearly tell you is that from the day you saved my life and paid for my grandmother’s surgery, I vowed to live for you. When you do what you believe is right, I will respond to your call as soldier Kim Chun-sik, and when you need help for personal purposes, I will respond as individual Kim Chun-sik. Please remember that I am by your side.”

On Kim Chun-sik’s face.

Baek Hyun’s image was projected.

Somehow, he felt that Baek Hyun wouldn’t take his relationship with Seo Mun-ho lightly either.

Actually, Kim Myeong-min had visited a few days ago as well.

Kim Myeong-min, like Kim Chun-sik, couldn’t give up his Ranger duties, but said he would gladly help if the same thing happened again. He received goodwill in return. The things that had been forced due to Trials were piling up, and when he really needed help, they gladly returned the goodwill.

It felt like assimilation.

The dirty feeling he had when he met President Jang Beom-seok seemed to be getting better now.

Kang San smiled.

“I’ll remember that promise.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Meanwhile.

The atmosphere in the Blue House was very serious.

Chief Secretary Kim Mu-hyeok explained the series of situations with a calm expression.

“Based on what we’ve gathered so far, the number of people who have expressed their intention to join the guild newly created by Kang San is over a thousand, and among them, it has been confirmed that there are S-ranks Saito Shusuke and Misaki Akemi. The situation is not good. Now that Kang San is confirmed to be an S-rank, he has the power of a nation, considering only the S-rank forces.”

“Oh my.”

“Is Japan just going to leave that alone?”

“It seems that the Japanese government is making an exception for Kang San.”

Everyone murmured.

The members of the National Assembly gathered here knew how President Jang Beom-seok had maintained his power.

Protecting the powerful.

And stepping on the growing sprouts.

Even if people thought that President Jang Beom-seok wasn’t the best, the regime could only be maintained if there was no opponent to challenge him. That’s what happened with Lee Han-seong. When Lee Han-seong’s popularity was rising, there were whispers that he might be able to create a new Korea. And when he joined the Guardians, President Jang Beom-seok’s position became even more solidified.

Jang Beom-seok spoke.

“What about the other forces?”

“…On the surface, they seem to be following the order to ostracize Kang San, but looking at their attitude and atmosphere, we cannot rule out the possibility that they are not. What’s certain is that the Outbreak incident seems to have had a very big impact. Now that Kang San has proven himself to be an S-rank and formed a new force, the government’s orders don’t seem to be working meaningfully.”

“Puh-huh, really? That’s interesting.”

The atmosphere froze.

At the sight of President Jang Beom-seok laughing inappropriately for the situation, everyone just lowered their eyes and watched him.

Whenever this happened.

Something big happened.

It was the same with Lee Han-seong.

He said it was interesting and then snapped his fingers and told them to call all the media.

It was the same this time.

“Chief Secretary. Call Lee Han-seong right now.”

Screech.

He put his feet up on the table.

President Jang Beom-seok’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“I think there’s something that guy needs to do for this country.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

A few days later.

Kang San had busy days.

In order to maintain the guild, a dedicated space was needed, so he bought a small building in Seoul in its entirety. Financially, it wasn’t a problem. Thanks to Yu Jeong-yeong, he had enough financial leeway, and in this harsh world where monsters appeared every day, a 4-story building wasn’t that expensive.

And that evening.

An unexpected person visited the guild office.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Please come in.”

The other person was.

Lee Han-seong.

Kang San felt his expression harden involuntarily.

Recently, Lee Han-seong’s popularity had been rising as well.

Even though he arrived late at the scene, he not only defeated the Dark Lord with Kang San but also blocked the Dark Lord’s final attack with his body. When that fact became known, people praised him, saying that even though a new hero named Kang San was born, the value of the ‘original hero’ Lee Han-seong didn’t diminish.

On the surface, he was a person to be welcomed.

He forced a smile and led Lee Han-seong into the office.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“No, thank you.”

“If that’s the case.”

He sat across from him.

Looking at Lee Han-seong, he asked.

“What brings you here?”

“…What I’m about to tell you must not be disclosed to the outside.”

“Understood.”

“A few days ago, I was summoned by the Blue House. President Jang Beom-seok said that negative perceptions of the government were arising because of you, Kang San-nim, so I was told to interfere by any means necessary. For example, people who join your guild might be harmed. I said I understood at the time, but I decided that I couldn’t obey such an unjust order.”

He clenched his fists.

His devastated expression seemed to truly regret the situation.

“It was the same in the past. When I was called a hero by people, President Jang Beom-seok used every means to make me join the Guardians. People don’t know the truth. They just think that my choice to join the Guardians was simply a sacrifice for this country. But this time is different. I don’t want to make you, Kang San-nim, experience the same thing as me. So, what I’m saying is…”

It was chilling.

With the escalating emotions, Kang San had a bad feeling.

“Could you accept me? If I join the Guardian Guild, we can create the greatest guild ever, one that even the Korean government can’t touch.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was an unexpected proposal.

Lee Han-seong’s joining.

It would be a shocking event for the government.

Even though the Guardians had an S-rank Mage, the center that actually supported the Guardians was White Knight Lee Han-seong. His departure would be fatal for the government. Their reputation would plummet at once, and the Guardian Guild, which secured four S-ranks with Lee Han-seong’s joining, would certainly form a force that even the government couldn’t touch.

If he didn’t know about his past life.

He might have accepted the proposal.

However, to Kang San, who had experienced Lee Han-seong’s past, his past life, Lee Han-seong’s proposal didn’t sound appealing.

‘Is Lee Han-seong really the hero people think he is?’

Jang Beom-seok.

Lee Han-seong.

The relationship between the two is unclear.

But one thing is certain: if Lee Han-seong was truly a person worthy of the reputation of White Knight, his association with Jang Beom-seok wouldn’t make sense in the first place. Even in the brief encounters Kang San experienced, Jang Beom-seok was arrogant and coercive, and Lee Han-seong had accepted that relationship.

They were the same kind.

The same breed.

And after a thorough investigation, he heard a story that didn’t match his current reputation at all.

Moyeongcheon’s image overlapped with Lee Han-seong’s face.

Kang San had one question.

Was his current life.

The influence of his past life, or because he remembered his past life?

‘Revolution, Sun God Church. Besides them, am I really the only one in Korea who remembers my past life?’

“I have a question.”

“Ask me anything.”

Their eyes met.

He looked directly into the other person’s eyes, trying to read the truth beyond them.

If he remembered his past life.

“Do you believe in the existence of past lives?”

Lee Han-seong could be a more dangerous person than he thought.