Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 66

Chapter 66: F-rank Instructor-nim （1）

Temporary Instructor.

It was a thought process based on evidence.

Jeong Chan-woo had explained the reason for his growth, attributing it to Kang San’s advice and the post-raid and training reviews. That meant the teamwork that Jeong Hye-mi admired originated from Kang San. It was what Project B team currently needed.

And through the connection of a temporary instructor, they could secure a chance to recruit Kang San.

It was killing two birds with one stone .

Since it was a matter Jeong Chan-woo couldn’t judge on his own, he contacted Kang San and arranged a meeting with Jeong Hye-mi.

“You want to hire me as a temporary instructor?”

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean I expect a huge time commitment. Once a month, teaching Project B team about ‘teamwork’ periodically would be enough. I was truly impressed watching the test footage this time. I want the team I’m raising to have that kind of teamwork.”

“Do you think those people would want to learn from me? I have no reputation or experience in this area.”

“I’ll make sure that’s not a problem.”

“……Hmm.”

It wasn’t a bad offer.

It was just a part-time job, but Jeong Hye-mi said she would pay a lecture fee of 5 million won each time.

No matter how little meaning he placed on money.

Earning 5 million won for one lecture was a different matter.

If he were receiving regular payments from Yu Jeong-yeong, there would be no reason to allocate the time, but he was focused on seclusion training and had contacted him saying meaningful results would take some time. It was acceptable. However, the reason he wasn’t making a hasty decision was that he knew the intention behind this deal.

‘It’s for recruitment.’

It was a burden on his mind.

If he accepted the favor and gained her goodwill, it wouldn’t be easy to refuse when Jeong Hye-mi offered him a recruitment deal.

It was then.

“And I’ll give you access to Cheonsang’s vault . Of course, only once, and there will be restrictions based on rank, but I think this is the best offer I can make.”

Jeong Hye-mi’s words.

They had a significant impact on his decision.

Kang San wasn’t the type to make decisions based on emotions.

Taking what was offered was one thing, deciding where to go was another.

Kang San said.

“I’ll accept that offer.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Cheonsang’s vault.

There were many rumors about it.

Many said that Cheonsang had collected tremendous treasures in the vault, but the truth was that it functioned more as a warehouse to store the materials needed to run the management company. However, that didn’t mean the rumors were entirely false. Cheonsang had Hunters of various ranks, and the ranks of skills and items suitable for them also varied. If the lowest rank was F-rank, there were things worthy of being called treasures at the top of the vault.

When needed.

To those who needed them.

Providing pre-secured skills and items to enhance the abilities of those Hunters was Cheonsang’s method.

Cheonsang’s reputation was built that way.

Perfect support.

People were drawn to that reputation, that ability, and they formed a crowd, earning the title of Korea’s best management company.

“I’ll give you one as a down payment, and another when the 6th lecture is completed.”

It was Jeong Hye-mi’s proposal.

While maintaining the condition of 5 million won per lecture, she added a clause to provide an additional one when all the lectures were finished. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse. As soon as the contract was signed, Kang San followed Jeong Hye-mi and entered the ‘vault’ located in Cheonsang’s headquarters.

Security was extremely tight.

Passing through double and triple checkpoints, Kang San entered the place identified as the vault alone.

“……This is why Cheonsang is so highly regarded.”

Inside the vault.

Countless items were visible.

The area Kang San entered was the D-rank section, where items below D-rank and skills below 2-star were stored. Kang San didn’t pay much attention to the items. He could enhance them himself, and the value of Skill Stones was greater than that of items.

『2-Star（★★） Skill』

『Iron Armor』

1. Temporarily increases defense by 10%. （Cooldown: 5 minutes）

2. When receiving damage, 10% of the damage is reduced.

It was an upgraded version of Iron Man.

He liked it, but he didn’t choose it.

There were certainly a lot of skills.

Regardless of position, there were various mainstream and non-mainstream skills.

Since Cheonsang, with such resources, had put so much effort into creating Project B team, it was only natural that Jeong Hye-mi was shocked by the 55-minute result. That’s how investment worked. If there was input, there had to be output, but since the investment wasn’t small and the results were disastrous, he could understand Jeong Hye-mi’s mindset when she proposed the lectures.

He looked around for a while.

Then, he finally chose a skill.

『2-Star（★★） Skill』

『Thorn Armor』

1. When receiving damage, 10% of the damage is reduced.

2. When receiving damage, reflects 5% of the physical damage back to the attacker.

‘They have this?’

There was no reason to hesitate.

Although Thorn Armor was a passive skill, it was an essential skill that Tankers must learn among the 2-star skills. That’s why it was sold at a higher price than the average 2-star skill. It was practically a skill you couldn’t buy even if you had the money, but Cheonsang’s vault had several Thorn Armor Skill Stones.

He could picture it immediately in his mind.

Dozens, hundreds of monsters.

When surrounded by them, reflecting 5% of the physical damage would make a significant difference.

The possibility that monsters that wouldn’t die could die.

It was enough reason to choose it.

As Kang San chose Thorn Armor and came out.

“……As expected, you’re wise.”

As if she had anticipated it, Jeong Hye-mi showed a slightly bitter smile.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Meanwhile.

Project B team was in a rather subdued atmosphere.

In their dedicated dormitory, Min Yeong-gi checked the articles pouring in on his tablet PC.

『Project B team is a clear example proving that Cheonsang is no longer the Cheonsang of the past.』

━Just a year ago, when Cheonsang first announced the ‘Training Project,’ expectations were high for the talent they would produce. However, now that Project B team has achieved a dismal result of 55 minutes in the C-rank test, many are questioning Cheonsang’s capabilities. If they were the only team that passed the test, there would be room for excuses, but the sixth team to apply had a majority of E-ranks, yet they achieved a record of 40 minutes………… People say that true Hunters cannot be made. This result is a clear example of how much Cheonsang’s intuition has declined, and it’s also the reason why Hunters ranked B and above are highly valued.

It was devastating.

Min Yeong-gi covered his face with his hand.

“……Fuck.”

He was annoyed.

Although he was flustered by the variable, he managed to maintain a calm response and achieve the result of clearing the test somehow.

Fortunately, everyone except them had failed, so he thought there was at least some room for excuses. But after receiving treatment and returning to Cheonsang, he heard news like a bolt from the blue. The last team to take the test had cleared it in 40 minutes, a full 15 minutes faster than Project B team.

“Does this make sense? A party with three E-ranks, how can they be this much faster than us?”

“The team leader checked the video and said it was real, with no cheating involved.”

“That’s why it’s even harder to understand. How can they achieve 40 minutes?”

He recalled the events.

The floor collapsed.

It took about 5 minutes to rescue the Mage.

It was true that they wasted a lot of time, but after that, they calmly responded to the variables and solved the problems. Let’s say the sixth party responded well to the collapse. Then there should only be a 5-minute difference, but he couldn’t understand why there was an additional 10-minute difference.

It was humiliating.

This test.

They prepared really hard.

He could say that they worked harder than anyone else, so ironically, Min Yeong-gi couldn’t hide his feelings of devastation.

“……I wouldn’t feel this way if I hadn’t tried so hard. Even with Cheonsang backing us, we struggled so hard and still got 55 minutes. How amazing are those who are 15 minutes faster than us?”

The atmosphere sank.

He felt like drinking.

He had even refrained from alcohol for the test, but now he had no choice but to take out the beer he had stocked up.

Just as he was about to open a beer.

“The team leader wants to see you.”

At the team member’s words, Min Yeong-gi couldn’t bring himself to drink the beer.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was a bit.

No, it was a very difficult story to accept.

Min Yeong-gi asked again.

“So, you mean we have to learn teamwork from that Kang San guy?”

“That’s right.”

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

Jeong Hye-mi’s judgment?

He understood.

They had found a party with excellent teamwork, so if they adopted their know-how, Project B team would improve further.

The problem was the feelings of Min Yeong-gi and the rest of Team B.

The articles currently criticizing them were comparing Kang San’s party to Project B team, and Min Yeong-gi was suffering from an immense sense of defeat. He would have felt better if it were an opponent he could acknowledge. For example, if it were Project A team, he would have thought the result was plausible, but the opponent was a complete nobody he had never heard of.

And as she had just mentioned.

Until recently, he was an F-rank human shield.

He must be skilled since he passed the test, but completely abandoning his pride was a different matter.

Jeong Hye-mi said.

“I know. How you and all of Team B are feeling right now. But what you need to know is the undeniable fact that the test you prepared so perfectly for and still took 55 minutes, Kang San’s party cleared it in 40 minutes. Why? Does it seem like there’s some kind of cheating involved? I thought so too. But you won’t say that after experiencing it firsthand. These people have gained enough experience in the field, and they know better than anyone how to utilize it. Min Yeong-gi. Remember? When we announced the project and recruited volunteers, what did you say?”

“…….”

“Lee Su-chan, how about you?”

Min Yeong-gi couldn’t answer.

The Mage called Lee Su-chan was the same.

When Jeong Hye-mi recruited Project B team, she checked not only their potential but also their determination.

The reason why they absolutely had to become stronger.

“I chose you, and I judged that this is the way to become stronger. The instructor’s background, isn’t that less important than your sense of defeat, your goal?”

They couldn’t.

Object any further.

They knew it too.

If Jeong Hye-mi was going this far, this was a reality they had to accept.

Swallowing his irritation, Min Yeong-gi said.

“So, what do we have to do?”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Eventually.

Project B team accepted the offer.

It was because of their unique circumstances.

It was certainly a blow to their pride, but they not only had a reason to become stronger, but also a practical competitor in Project A team. If the gap between them widened significantly. Jeong Hye-mi would lose the competition with her brother, and Project B team would no longer receive support fueled by expectations.

They moved to a different location.

Jeong Hye-mi deliberately didn’t show them the test footage.

It meant they should feel and experience it firsthand.

The training ground they arrived at.

As Cheonsang had poured money into it, it was a place that was even larger and better equipped than the government’s training ground.

Kang San said.

“Although it’s temporary, I’m Kang San, who will be teaching you from now on.”

A face-to-face meeting.

It could have been an uncomfortable encounter.

But.

“……Huh?”

Team B’s Mage.

Lee Su-chan’s eyes widened.

At first, he wasn’t sure, but after confirming Kang San’s name and face, memories of the past resurfaced.

“Could it be, that human shield from back then?”

During his days as an F-rank human shield.

Lee Su-chan, who remembered one of the many raids Kang San had conducted, was someone who had experienced Kang San’s past.