Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Private First Class Kim Chun-sik （4）

The battalion commander appeared.

As the 2nd Company Commander and the soldiers immediately saluted, Major Choi Seong-jae raised his hand as if accustomed.

“Ah, yes. You’ve been working hard.”

“Not at all, sir.”

“But what’s going on?”

“Well, sir. Actually…”

The 2nd Company Commander explained the situation.

Sergeant Park’s family was in danger, and he had deserted with his subordinate. Fortunately, reinforcements arrived in time, but if they had been even a little late, they could have lost two soldiers, he said, making the atmosphere serious.

“…For that reason, I intend to make an example of them.”

“Why?”

“Sir?”

“Why make an example of them? It seems to me that our boys have done something truly commendable.”

The 2nd Company Commander blinked.

The reason he reacted sternly to the soldiers was because of military law, but also because if the battalion commander questioned him, he wouldn’t be able to bear the full responsibility alone. Major Choi Seong-jae has a subtly strict personality. He naturally assumed that the commander would lean towards disciplinary action, but the smiling commander showed no discomfort.

“I was the same when I was young and hot-blooded. Military law is like the heavens and should never be violated, but there are always exceptions on a chaotic battlefield. I wouldn’t have been any different. If your family is in danger, you have to run to them first. One of the reasons we serve as soldiers is because we want our families to live in a safe world. They’re amazing. If they ended up saving them, sometimes it’s okay to judge by results rather than process.”

The 2nd Company Commander was quick-witted.

He immediately understood what the battalion commander was saying.

“That’s right, sir. If our soldiers hadn’t helped, many people would surely have been killed or injured.”

“Then let’s wrap this up…”

He turned his gaze.

He looked at Kim Chun-sik.

He had heard that this Private Kim Chun-sik had saved people.

“Private Kim Chun-sik?”

“Private First Class Kim Chun-sik.”

“This battalion commander is truly proud to have a soldier like Private Kim Chun-sik under my command. I’m glad. You returned safely.”

He pulled Kim Chun-sik into a hug.

Kim Chun-sik had a bewildered expression.

Beyond Major Choi Seong-jae.

Kim Min-yeong’s lips twitched, and Kim Chun-sik could only guess that she had done something.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kim Min-yeong’s intentions were quickly revealed.

They had a short exclusive interview, and Kim Chun-sik concluded by talking about his situation with some embellishments. Issues like unauthorized departure were agreed to be omitted from the interview beforehand.

“Congratulations. I heard it’s a one-rank special promotion? So, are you Corporal Kim Chun-sik now?”

“…That’s what happened. But why did you help me? I don’t intend to tell you the clues just because you did this.”

The other party’s intentions.

It wouldn’t have been simply for the sake of the article.

Kim Chun-sik reacted a bit sensitively to the thought that she was trying to win his favor to find out about Kang San.

Kim Min-yeong smiled.

“Well, it would be a lie to say I have no desire to get clues. But you don’t need to be so wary. Until Corporal Kim Chun-sik willingly speaks up, I won’t try to force you to give me clues.”

“You mean it’s pure goodwill?”

“Yes.”

She looked away.

People were busily moving about, quickly erasing the traces of the Link incident.

“The world is like that. Ever since this sudden, absurd disaster began, things like death and betrayal have become a natural part of daily life for people living in this world. Even now, someone’s family is dying, and people say it’s natural to give up being human in the name of survival. That’s why I can’t just stand by when I see someone like you. You’re not like them. You haven’t lost your emotions yet. People need to know that someone like you exists, and only then will they realize that it’s wrong to follow only their instincts like animals.”

Swish.

She took something out.

It was a cigarette.

“Would it be okay if I smoke one?”

“Yes.”

She put the cigarette in her mouth.

She lit it skillfully and took a deep drag.

People portray her with a good image, but she was far from being such a great and good person.

“Just accept it. Even if this situation is uncomfortable, someone will look at you and have hope. Ah, you said you think of that Kang San as your benefactor, right? Just like you said in the interview that you changed your mindset because of that incident, someone will see you as that ‘Kang San’ person.”

Why?

Because of her appearance.

Kim Chun-sik felt the urge to talk about Kang San.

He thought she would be able to tell people how great Kang San is without any lies.

But he barely managed to hold back.

Everything related to Kang San…

…is not his decision to make.

Kim Min-yeong smiled and turned to leave.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Kim Chun-sik’s case.

It became a real-time issue.

People who saw the article showed interest in Kim Chun-sik.

━Amazing.

━For an F-rank to face dozens of Nols alone, it would have been practically suicide. What was he thinking? Is this true military spirit? If it weren’t for him, the damage would have been enormous.

━Look at the interview. ‘I once had my life saved by the help of another person. I, too, don’t want to turn a blind eye to the difficulties of others.’ Isn’t that really cool? It’s because of soldiers like him that we can be safe.

It wasn’t a huge issue.

Kim Chun-sik’s name was mentioned once along with the controversy surrounding the shelter imbalance, and a positive atmosphere was created within the military regarding Major Choi Seong-jae. Thanks to this, Kim Chun-sik received a one-rank promotion as well as a bonus. In many ways, it was a very good thing for Kim Chun-sik, but left alone, Kim Chun-sik couldn’t hide his somewhat complicated expression.

“…What the hell is happening to me?”

Just a moment ago.

He checked his stats.

The physical improvement due to Awakening showed the change at a glance.

『Kim Chun-sik』

━Strength: 30

━Agility: 30

━Reaction Speed: 12

━Toughness: 10

Objectively, very poor stats.

But compared to before, it was an astonishing growth.

『Kim Chun-sik』

━Strength: 18

━Agility: 15

━Reaction Speed: 12

━Toughness: 10

Strength and Agility.

The two basic stats had almost doubled.

If Kim Chun-sik’s original ability was F-rank, his strength and agility had reached the level of E-rank. He was so surprised that he searched the internet for similar cases. But no matter how much he searched, there were no cases of such dramatic growth, and Kim Chun-sik couldn’t help but be bewildered by the situation.

He had given up on life as a Hunter.

Such an unbelievable thing happening to him.

And a skill that seemed to be the cause of all this was also created.

『Awakening』

1. Stats increase when certain conditions are met.

An unhelpful explanation.

His head hurt.

A feeling that he couldn’t be entirely happy about, but not entirely dislike either.

Kim Chun-sik decided to stop thinking about it.

No matter how much he thought about it, he wouldn’t find the answer, and…

“Do you have a moment?”

Sergeant Park came looking for him.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was a strange relationship.

Just a few hours ago, they were in a senior-junior, mentor-mentee relationship, but Sergeant Park spoke respectfully.

“…This is something not many people know, but I don’t have a father. It’s not a sad story about losing my family to monsters, but that damn man had an affair and left home when I was young. So, I’m the only man in our house. The reason I joined the army, even though I didn’t even get an F-rank in my Acquired Awakening, was to support my mother and younger sister. I’m the head of the household, and I didn’t want to send my mother and sister out into this dangerous world.”

Swoosh.

Their eyes met.

Sergeant Park fought back the tears welling up.

“Thank you so much.”

“…It’s so awkward when you suddenly speak formally like that.”

“No. Didn’t I make it clear? If I make it back alive, I’ll treat you as my older brother from now on. I wasn’t just saying that. And now, with the special promotion, we’re both Sergeants if you just consider rank.”

“I guess so.”

He smiled awkwardly.

He couldn’t refuse when he was being told this much.

“Then, I’ll speak comfortably.”

“Yes, I like that too. And from now on, I’ll follow your orders unconditionally, hyeong-nim. If hyeong-nim tells me to jump into a pit of fire, I’ll jump in with you, and even if you make a judgment that doesn’t make sense, I’ll believe in you.”

“No, you don’t have to go that far…”

“Hyeong-nim. Many soldiers have a high opinion of you because of this incident. Everyone knows it’s impossible to deal with dozens of Nols with just one rifle. Hyeong-nim, you did something that not just anyone can do. More than anything, your words were really impressive. You said you received help from a stranger you’d never met before, so you want to live your life in a way that makes your benefactor proud of you, because of that life you gained. I feel the same way. I’m going to live my life in a way that makes hyeong-nim proud of me.”

It was a strange feeling.

Was this how Kang San felt?

When he saw people being grateful to him, did Kang San also feel this sense of fulfillment?

It wasn’t bad at all.

That’s what goodwill is like.

When pure goodwill is returned, it gives a satisfaction greater than any offering.

Kim Chun-sik smiled.

“Alright, let’s do well from now on.”

“Yes, hyeong-nim!”

Back then, they didn’t know.

Sergeant Kim Chun-sik.

How that life, which should have ended miserably, would change due to a single encounter.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The Kim Chun-sik incident.

It was an incident that people who watched the news would know about, but it was just one of many incidents that most people would forget about.

Kang San was the same.

The incident in Wangsimni.

Kim Chun-sik giving an interview.

He didn’t know about any of that, just focusing on his own life.

Whoosh.

Bang!

A giant club fell from above.

As Kang San blocked the Orc’s attack, Jo Han-byeol reacted even without any signal.

Whoosh.

Thwack!

Kreeek!

Focused Shot.

Jo Han-byeol’s arrow accurately pierced the Orc’s vital point.

He had been waiting for the opportunity that Kang San would create, and as soon as he saw it, he perfectly executed the attack.

The pattern of the battle continued in the same way.

Kang San took the lead in forming the defensive line, and Jeong Chan-woo covered the spaces that opened up according to Kang San’s movements. And Jo Han-byeol and Yeon Woo-bin practiced finding the right timing for their attacks. In fact, their coordination wasn’t this good in the previous battles. Thinking that they had been running the party inefficiently, Kang San took some time to conduct a training program.

And so.

Thud━

They defeated the last Orc.

As they successfully completed several raids recently, the party’s coordination was rapidly improving.

Kang San spoke.

“Now it’s clean without any unnecessary movements. What do you think? About trying the thing I mentioned last time.”

“…Will it be okay?”

“I think it’s possible.”

Yeon Woo-bin looked worried.

It was understandable.

The thing Kang San mentioned.

It was the strategy for the C-rank dungeon, the Ant Cave.

“As you know, with D-rank Woo-bin here, we need to clear a C-rank dungeon to achieve a recognized accomplishment. Coincidentally, we suffered a lot in the Ant Cave during our first encounter. I think if we overcome the trials of the Ant Cave, the ability of this party will be fully recognized. And if Woo-bin meets the C-rank clear condition, we can challenge the ‘Group Promotion Test’.”

The Promotion Test isn’t just for individuals.

It’s also possible as a group, and Kang San was thinking of taking the test with his party.

He felt that he could pass the D-rank or higher test with his individual abilities, but the superficial rank was meaningless to the current Kang San. His skill tree couldn’t solve all problems on his own. He needed comrades to protect, comrades who could unleash strong firepower, so he wanted to develop together with them by accompanying them as much as possible.

The Ant Cave.

It was suitable for stepping up.

After much deliberation, the three, including Yeon Woo-bin, nodded.

“Okay.”

“Let’s do it.”

“I trust you, Hyung-nim.”

The situation had changed.

The moment when the C-rank Ant Cave, which they had considered an unbearable disaster, was now accepted as their next goal.