Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 60

Chapter 60: A Nail that Sticks Out （2）

On one side of the testing ground.

A man in his 30s, wearing a hat pulled low, was on the phone with someone.

“How’s the atmosphere?”

『They’ve already surpassed 40 minutes, so everyone seems flustered. The press release was already prepared to promote Project B team’s status for clearing the test within 30 minutes, but the results are different from expectations, so there’s talk among the reporters.』

“A very good situation indeed.”

The man’s smile deepened.

His name was Gu Jun-ho.

He was the team leader of Daeyang Management .

In the Korean Hunter management industry, Cheonsang holds the overwhelming number one position, but for the past five years, a force has been closely chasing them. That force was Daeyang. They started with a massive investment of foreign capital, and in just five years, they were considered to be on par with Cheonsang.

Of course, it was Daeyang who spread those articles.

People who read the articles said that Daeyang couldn’t compare to Cheonsang, but if one or two out of ten agreed, it meant that Daeyang was truly formidable.

‘This project that Cheonsang is carrying out is meant to prove that they have the ability to nurture talent. If we let them succeed, they’ll become so far ahead that Daeyang won’t be able to catch up.’

Project A team.

Their success was the problem.

When they were assessed as C-rank, rumors spread that Cheonsang might really achieve something big.

That’s why he intervened in this matter.

Gu Jun-ho had brought in a test site official.

Since this was overseen by the government, he couldn’t interfere too obviously, but he could at least increase the difficulty of the test Project B team was taking. And he deliberately arranged for other parties to take the test as well. If only Project B team failed at a high difficulty, strange rumors could spread, so he created other examples of failure as well.

Even that could lead to gossip.

But unsubstantiated suspicions wouldn’t have any power anyway.

Gu Jun-ho looked at the busy Cheonsang officials and twitched his lips as if he was truly enjoying himself.

“I’m sorry, but it won’t be easy this time.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Jeong Hye-mi’s confidence was not unfounded.

Despite Daeyang’s deliberate interference, Project B team managed to pass the test.

『The record is 55 minutes and 19 seconds. You have passed the test.』

Although the judges’ evaluation remained, it was a better situation than the worst-case scenario of exceeding an hour.

“Are you alright?”

“Medics! Medics!”

Min Yeong-gi and the other team members.

They were in a terrible state.

Especially the main Tanker, whose limbs were torn in several places and covered in blood, and Min Yeong-gi, whose hair was disheveled and showed signs of exhaustion. One of the Mages was even limping, unable to walk properly. Cheonsang’s medical staff rushed in to treat them, as they looked nothing like people who had just passed a test.

“This is really fcking ridiculous.”

Min Yeong-gi’s face contorted.

The camera lenses, which he had initially enjoyed, now irritated him as he thought about them capturing this situation.

At that moment, someone approached.

“What happened?”

“……Team Leader-nim.”

It was Jeong Hye-mi.

He had nothing to say.

Since she had fully supported Project B team and brought in the media, they had to show definite results. But they failed to meet expectations. Min Yeong-gi explained the situation with a devastated expression.

“I don’t know what happened either. At first, I thought we were doing well, but suddenly, an unexpected variable occurred. Team Leader-nim, has there ever been a case in a C-rank group test where the ground collapses, specifically targeting the rear Dealers? Because of that, the Mages couldn’t use their firepower, and the situation became strange when a group of Green Spiders appeared that had to be dealt with using firepower. We managed to rescue the Mages while the Tanker held them off in the front, but even if it’s called a variable, this was a bit much.”

“The ground collapsed?”

“Yes. As far as I know, there has been no such case before. I heard that all the previous parties failed as well. Isn’t that strange?”

Jeong Hye-mi’s expression also became serious.

It was definitely strange.

Usually, the variables in the promotion test site don’t corner the test takers like this.

The geographical disadvantage is limited to blocking vision with darkness, and usually, the test takers’ breathing is evaluated with monsters that are difficult to deal with. That didn’t mean it was always the same pattern. Traps that evaluate immediate responses, such as stalactites falling, are also installed, but the kind of variable where the ground collapses is definitely difficult to deal with. From B-rank onwards, the difficulty level rises sharply, so he would understand if anything happened, but at least in the C-rank test, it was a trap that shouldn’t have appeared.

‘C-rank tests usually have some limitations. B-rank tests require the test takers to have at least C-rank skills to be eligible, but C-rank tests don’t. They don’t increase the difficulty excessively in case of a fatal accident. But if they prepared so thoroughly, it means that they configured it so that it wouldn’t exceed the difficulty of a C-rank test, but it would be difficult to pass with average skills.’

Outside the waiting room.

He could hear the reporters murmuring.

It seemed like he couldn’t just accept this result.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

She went to find the official.

And then she questioned the situation.

“This test. Don’t you think it’s a bit excessive? As far as I know, there has never been a case where such a variable was given in a C-rank test.”

“So what? Just because it was like that in the past doesn’t mean it has to be like that now, does it?”

The official’s reaction.

It was hostile.

As if he knew Jeong Hye-mi would come looking for him, he didn’t back down at all.

“This is why people are questioning the qualifications of Hunters these days. Hunters who are managed by management companies and grow comfortably show significantly lower skills compared to real Hunters who risk their lives in the wild, even if they have the same rank. Hello, Team Leader-nim. What do you think our job is? Rank is not just a symbol for granting wealth and honor, but it means that if you don’t have the skills that match the rank, you shouldn’t act up. So you don’t die needlessly because you received a high rank through an easy test.”

“……I’m not talking about exceeding authority. I’m pointing out that the difficulty of the test is unfair. The previous test, and the test before that. It definitely wasn’t this difficult, but as if you were waiting, you assigned a difficulty level today that made all the previous parties fail when our Project B team took the test.”

The official chuckled.

This was a tantrum.

It was a fight Jeong Hye-mi couldn’t win from the beginning.

“We did increase the difficulty a bit from this time. But this is not a personal feeling, but a decision made based on our own judgment that it should be done. And they passed anyway, didn’t they? The judges said that the individual evaluations were also at a passing level, so what are you so dissatisfied with?”

He wasn’t wrong.

They had actually decided to increase the difficulty of the promotion test from now on.

Not only for group promotions but also for individual promotions, the government’s position was that there should be a clear distinction between ranks.

It just happened to be implemented now.

The official’s logic was flawless.

‘It’s certain. Something’s going on.’

At first, she came because she needed a performance.

Jeong Hye-mi couldn’t just abandon Project B team, so she was thinking of releasing an article saying that they passed despite the abnormally high difficulty. It was a deliberate protest. She didn’t really think she could get anything meaningful out of it, but seeing the official’s reaction made her suspicious.

Someone must have ordered it.

Otherwise, there was no reason to increase the difficulty now and be so hostile.

‘Could it be my brother?’

No.

Even though the competition with her brother was getting fierce, he wasn’t a bad person who would belittle his sister.

Then.

‘Could it be Daeyang?’

Recently.

Daeyang had been pouring out negative articles.

It was suspicious enough, but it was still just suspicion.

Jeong Hye-mi said.

“……I’ll back down for today, but I’ll be watching. If any irregularities are found in the testing process, I won’t stand idly by.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The test was over.

The result was a pass.

But the aftertaste was bitter.

Jeong Hye-mi checked the articles pouring in on her phone.

『Cheonsang’s Project B Team, The Result is a Big Failure!?』

『What could be the problem?』

『55 minutes and 19 seconds. A result that is practically a failure!』

『Cheonsang’s Project B team, which was meticulously created by Cheonsang, passed the group promotion test but struggled greatly. This result has led to skepticism about Cheonsang’s capabilities. If a large management company like Cheonsang had prepared in earnest, Project B team would have received many benefits, but even then, a record of 55 minutes and 19 seconds is practically a failure. According to a promotion test official, the recent issue of low-quality Hunters is a problem, pointing out that………….』

It was a malicious article.

It had only been 30 minutes since the test ended, but seeing these articles pouring in, it was clear that there was someone behind this. And she suspected that the opponent was Daeyang. The only force that could benefit from undermining not only Project B team but also Cheonsang would be a competing company, not Cheonsang itself.

Jeong Hye-mi’s best response was to clean up the situation with supportive articles.

『Project B team passed despite the extremely high difficulty!』

『This test. It was definitely not at the C-rank level.』

『The government prepared a filter to screen out the ‘real’ ones, and only Project B team passed that standard!』

The response wouldn’t change the outcome significantly.

Anyway, it was a success, so it wasn’t a complete failure, but her original goal of receiving the spotlight and being recognized for her abilities had failed. The reporters had already left. Jeong Hye-mi wanted to leave like the employees who had returned to the company, but she couldn’t because of her schedule.

‘The result is obvious.’

The fifth group was currently undergoing the test.

Her younger brother, Jeong Chan-woo, would be taking the test soon, but she had long since abandoned any expectations.

Project B team also struggled.

Even though they were all D-rank and fully prepared for this test, they almost failed, so she didn’t think Jeong Chan-woo’s ragtag party could pass. It would be fortunate if they didn’t get hurt. She wanted to stop her brother from taking the test altogether, but there was no way to contact him now.

Contact was blocked to prevent cheating.

‘It would be better for you if you failed completely.’

Then.

She would have a reason to persuade her brother.

She was planning to advise him to stop doing strange things and grow steadily at Cheonsang with her help.

Family was still family.

Seeing as she was staying behind to take care of Jeong Chan-woo even in this unpleasant situation.

Just then.

『The record is 79 minutes and 10 seconds. You have failed the test.』

As expected.

The fifth party exceeded the time limit and failed without even receiving an individual evaluation.

Now it was the sixth.

The last test scheduled for today, and finally, it was her brother’s turn.