Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Private First Class Kim Chun-sik （2）

This situation.

It was Sergeant Park who was rather flustered.

Because of their shooter and assistant shooter relationship, they had a lot of time to talk, and as such, he knew very well why Kim Chun-sik had joined the army. Life as a human shield. Enlisting in the hope of a stable job after his hospital bills were taken care of. A 30-year-old late bloomer, but Park liked his eagerness to live well and took special care of him.

But.

This is not right.

The image of Kim Chun-sik saying he couldn’t die and leave his grandmother behind was needlessly messing with his head.

“What the hell are you talking about? You’re really saying you’re going to follow me into that dangerous place?”

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous for Sergeant Park-nim to go alone?”

“It’s dangerous. Yeah, it’s going to be incredibly dangerous. But what are you talking about following me? Frankly, even if we have a senior-junior relationship, we’re ultimately just strangers. It’s not even an order from above, there’s no reason for you to risk your life.”

He shouted without realizing it.

He was frustrated.

He didn’t know Kim Chun-sik was such a reckless person.

He thought he would back down if he drew a line, but Kim Chun-sik showed an unexpectedly firm expression.

“Do you remember what I said? When I almost died against a Nol, another human shield risked his life to help me. That person and I weren’t close at all. Just strangers, so it wasn’t his business. No one would have blamed him if he’d ignored me and run away. But that person decided that as a human being, he couldn’t do that, and in that unbelievable situation, he managed to save me. Sergeant Park-nim. We’re not strangers, are we? If someone steps up for a complete stranger, isn’t it right for me to help Sergeant Park-nim? I want to say… In order to be worthy of the person who saved me, I want to live a life that’s not ashamed under the heavens. And when I meet that person again, I want to boast about how valuable my life has become because he saved it.”

His voice became increasingly agitated.

Kang San.

He engraved that name in his heart.

The one who saved him, paid his hospital bills, saved people in the Wangsimni incident, and disappeared without a trace.

An idol.

He looked up to him and wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Of course, it’s not that he wasn’t worried.

It’s not that he wanted to die for someone else, but Kim Chun-sik intended to join forces and survive together.

Just like Kang San did.

Just like he himself survived.

“…You really…”

Sergeant Park was speechless.

He was also confused.

Whether it was really okay to receive help, whether this was the right thing to do.

Countless thoughts tangled in his head, but Sergeant Park couldn’t refuse this situation.

It was about saving his family.

He needed help.

“Fuck it, I don’t know.”

He clenched his teeth.

Sergeant Park’s eyes changed.

“If we survive this and come back safely, Chun-sik. From then on, you’re not my junior, but my brother.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The location indicated by the location app.

It was 10 minutes north.

Normally, his younger sister should have been taking refuge in the shelter set up at a nearby elementary school, but she had stopped before crossing the intersection. It was some distance from the original operation area. The 2nd Company Commander had ordered them to advance from Wangsimni Station towards Sangwangsimni Station, but Sergeant Park and Kim Chun-sik had headed north.

“Be careful. They could pop out from anywhere.”

“Yes.”

The alley was narrow.

It was difficult for two cars to pass each other in opposite directions, and the two men watched their surroundings with their backs to each other.

Though their hearts were racing.

They didn’t rush.

Having lived as soldiers, they had witnessed countless times the disastrous consequences of haste.

And as expected.

Woof woof woof!

Kyaa!

A Nol suddenly jumped out from the alley.

Thanks to their preparedness, Sergeant Park reacted quickly.

Bang━!

Thud.

The Nol crashed to the ground in the same posture it had been flying in.

But knowing that it wouldn’t go down easily, Sergeant Park and Kim Chun-sik, without a word, frantically fired at the Nol’s vital points. They always had to be careful against monsters. Although modern firearms had been developed to counter monsters, the variable of not being able to properly penetrate their hides could always occur. Therefore, confirmation kills were an essential element in the lives of soldiers.

They dealt with a few more in succession.

Sergeant Park moved, finding shortcuts as much as possible, and fortunately, they were able to reach their desired destination without any major danger.

“…Gasp.”

The sight before their eyes.

Sergeant Park gasped.

A commercial building had collapsed in front of them.

It seemed to be the aftermath of a Link, and he could see a group of people hiding and trembling within the collapsed debris. If that was all, he would have rescued them. The problem was that dozens of Nols were roaming outside the debris, and that was a number they couldn’t handle with just the two of them.

They needed backup.

He made eye contact with Kim Chun-sik and was about to raise his radio when the situation suddenly changed.

Sniff.

Growl.

The Nols’ eyes glowed red.

They seemed to have caught a scent and were looking around, and the Nols’ sharp eyes turned towards the debris where the civilians were hiding. It was only a matter of time before their location was discovered. Sergeant Park’s eyes were filled with panic, not knowing what to do. Even if he requested backup immediately, it was uncertain whether they would help, and even if they did come immediately, it would take them 10 minutes to get there. If the Nols found the people, 10 minutes would be enough to kill them all.

A critical situation.

That’s when it happened.

Thud.

“Sergeant Park-nim. Request backup from command right now. I’ll try to buy some time somehow.”

Before he could even stop him.

Kim Chun-sik rushed forward.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

There was no special plan.

It must have been the same for Kang San.

It was clear that he hadn’t rushed in with the firm conviction that he could save his colleagues, but rather had acted instinctively.

He was the same.

Kim Chun-sik rolled a few spheres on the ground and then fired at the Nols approaching the debris.

“Over here, you fucking bastards.”

Bang.

Ratatatatat!

The Nols’ bodies flinched.

The bullets that struck them in an instant sent the Nols crashing down, and the other Nols reacted immediately to the commotion.

Kyaak.

Woof woof woof woof!

Dozens of them.

Red eyes focused all at once.

Kim Chun-sik’s heart sank, but he calmly sniped the approaching Nols one by one.

Bang.

Bang, bang, bang!

They didn’t go down immediately.

The blood spurting from their hides clearly indicated hits, but the bullets fired by a single person weren’t enough to wipe out the Nols. In the first place, a soldier’s firepower shines when there are many. Only when a large number of people concentrate their firepower at once can they turn a monster’s steel-like hide into a honeycomb.

Therefore.

It was a disadvantageous situation.

Kim Chun-sik retreated and finished the countdown he had been silently reciting.

‘3, 2, 1. Explode.’

Boom!

Rumble rumble rumble!

The spheres he had thrown earlier.

They were bombs.

A massive explosion engulfed the Nols, and in the thick cloud of dust that rose, Kim Chun-sik quickly climbed the debris. The opponents moved on two legs and were numerous. He took a position that was as difficult to attack as possible, and at the same time, he shot bullets into the foreheads of the Nols that emerged through the dust cloud.

Bang━!

The Nol staggered.

The Nol, which hadn’t died in one shot, turned its gaze towards Kim Chun-sik, and he could see them quickly climbing the debris.

Crack━

“Shit.”

His head moved, following his opponent.

As expected, it was impossible to deal with the enemies alone.

Far from achieving his goal of buying time, it seemed like he would just die a pointless death.

But at that moment.

Bang━!

Bang, bang━!

A loud noise came from afar.

It was Sergeant Park.

He had taken cover and started sniping, putting bullets into the heads of the approaching Nols with incredible accuracy. Although he had been flustered by Kim Chun-sik’s sudden, impulsive action, Sergeant Park quickly figured out his role. It was much more efficient to provide support while hidden like this than to reveal himself.

“Huff, huff.”

Kim Chun-sik caught his breath.

He could see the Nols swarming below.

He took the opportunity to replace the magazine and then started firing frantically again.

Bang.

Ratatatatat!

He still couldn’t understand it.

Back then.

Kang San was alone.

He himself was out of commission because he had collapsed, and the Mage had already disappeared after running away. Just a shield and a sword. How could a mere human shield think of risking his life? He himself was using expensive, government-issued guns and enhanced bullets, yet he was so out of breath, while Kang San faced those sharp teeth chattering in front of him head-on. That courage, that spirit of sacrifice back then. As a mere mortal, he couldn’t understand it at all.

It was the same now.

He absolutely didn’t want to die.

He didn’t have the slightest desire to die for someone else.

Just.

He accepted it.

Just like Kang San had done for him, he didn’t want to live the new life he had been given selfishly.

“Die, you fucking bastards!”

Bang bang bang bang bang!

His eyes were bloodshot.

10 minutes.

He just had to hold out for 10 minutes.

As he clenched his teeth and fired his gun.

“Watch out!”

Hook.

Crack!

With a sudden impact, Kim Chun-sik’s vision plummeted.

Thud!

✦✦✦✦✦✦

He fell to the ground.

His vision was blurry, and something was flowing in front of his eyes.

‘Is it blood?’

He staggered to his feet.

He grasped the situation belatedly.

Sergeant Park had warned him of the danger, but a Nol had quickly climbed the debris and struck the back of Kim Chun-sik’s head.

Growl.

Growl.

The Nols approached.

Even after all that commotion, only 4 or 5 Nols seemed to be dead. It was a natural result, of course. If everyone could handle dozens of Nols just by being given a weapon, the army’s recruitment rate would be even higher than it is now. In the end, there were limits, so everyone desperately tried to become stronger as Hunters.

Drip, drip.

Blood flowed.

Kim Chun-sik struggled to raise the muzzle of his gun.

He wasn’t going to die without a fight.

‘At least it’s fortunate.’

Suddenly.

He thought of his grandmother.

When Kang San saved him, he couldn’t die because he hadn’t been able to pay for his grandmother’s surgery. But now it was different. His grandmother had successfully undergone surgery. She had regained her health, and even if he died, he was a soldier, so she would receive a military pension. Wouldn’t that be enough to support her? When he thought that far, he felt that it wasn’t such a bad situation after all.

He made eye contact with Sergeant Park.

He shook his head at him, who was about to rush out to save him.

‘It’s not like we both have to die.’

Kim Chun-sik’s signal.

Sergeant Park ignored it.

He, who was determined to save Kim Chun-sik no matter what, froze on the spot at Kim Chun-sik’s next action.

Swish.

He picked up a bomb.

If he was going to die anyway.

He hoped it wouldn’t be a meaningless sacrifice.

The achievement of saving all the civilians because of him and killing all those damn demons who were coming to kill him. Thinking about it now, he was a truly inadequate and foolish person. Kang San, both when he saved him and during the Wangsimni incident, had shown that he was truly saving people, not just acting on a whim. It meant that his judgment wasn’t reckless, and that’s why he deserved to be recognized even more.

But look at him.

Against mere Nols.

Against F-rank monsters that some would consider insignificant, he was in a life-threatening situation just like back then.

‘That must be my limit.’

An inherent limitation.

He couldn’t overcome it.

It was the same even after becoming a soldier.

Tap.

Woof woof woof woof!

The Nols rushed at him frantically.

Unable to hold back any longer, he revealed his killing intent and tried to remove the safety pin from the bomb, ignoring Sergeant Park’s pleading eyes.

At that moment.

『Your physical abilities are enhanced due to Awakening.』

A completely unexpected.

Sudden change came over him.