Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Special Training （2）

Nearby cafe.

Jeong Hye-mi, facing Kang San, immediately got to the point.

“…This is the current situation. In two weeks, Project A team and Project B team will have a match, and the losing team, even if they remain in Cheonsang, will no longer receive support as a team. So, I’ll be honest. I need Kang San-nim’s help. Although it was a short time, Kang San-nim’s lectures definitely improved the quality of teamwork, and I saw the members of Team B actually improving. Of course, it’s different from the contract, but I’d like it if you could focus on teaching the remaining sessions for the next two weeks.”

This match.

It was really important to Jeong Hye-mi.

The disbandment of Project B team, which she had put her heart and soul into creating, meant that her position within Cheonsang would diminish.

That alone was enough reason to be desperate, but if the opponent was her older brother, Jeong Chan-hyeok, there was nothing more to explain. Her father would surely weigh the two siblings against each other. The continued existence of Project A team would be a factor that would detract from Jeong Hye-mi’s evaluation, and it wouldn’t be easy for her to accept that result.

She has made numerous achievements so far.

Even though Jeong Chan-hyeok joined the company a full three years earlier, Jeong Hye-mi’s abilities were recognized to the point that she caught up in an instant. However, she didn’t want to see all her hard work crumble so pointlessly. Although it was only a suspicion, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this match was intentionally pushed by Jeong Chan-hyeok.

It was always like that.

Even though they were siblings, Jeong Chan-hyeok had no boundaries when it came to competition.

Kang San said.

“Let’s do that.”

“The conditions are… Excuse me? You’ll just do it?”

“Yes. Initially, I promised to conduct the lectures, but I postponed them due to personal reasons. I think the fact that you waited is enough reason to repay you. However, I do have a condition.”

“Just say anything.”

Two weeks.

A surefire method was needed to improve Team B’s abilities during that time.

Also, now, preparing for the S-rank Outbreak, Kang San wanted to kill two birds with one stone if possible.

“Let’s change the teaching method a bit. Instead of the lecture format like before, I’ll personally bring a party and spar. For two weeks, I’ll be Team B’s opponent.”

Jeong Hye-mi was definitely someone easy to talk to.

Instead of prying, she accepted it without a word, saying that if that was the way the instructor wanted it, there must be a reason.

Team leader of Cheonsang.

It wasn’t a position she just got.

Kang San thought that if he had wanted to choose management, he would have preferred a manager like Jeong Hye-mi.

After parting ways with Jeong Hye-mi.

Kang San immediately met with Jo Han-byeol and the others.

“It’s been a while.”

“Hyeong-nim. Seeing you like this brings tears to my eyes.”

Jeong Chan-woo, as always, was being overly dramatic.

After a brief reunion, Kang San got to the point.

“I said it before entering the Stat Training Center, but I have a desire to rise to an even higher level than now. I realized how insignificant I am while dealing with the Werewolf Lord. You never know when or where a disaster that I can’t handle with my current abilities might occur, so it would be foolish to be satisfied with just a D-rank level. So, what I’m saying is, I’m planning to raid really hard for the next six months. If this plan is too much for you, I’d like you to tell me comfortably now.”

“I’m all for it.”

“Even if it’s tough, there’s nothing to worry about if we’re with Hyeong. And honestly, hasn’t it always been tough?”

“Hyeong-nim. What should we do first?”

The reactions of his dongsaengs.

A chuckle escaped his lips.

They were always blindly faithful.

At first, it could have been awkward, but as they overcame numerous trials, trust in each other was built.

In fact, Kang San couldn’t see any other party now.

They had already coordinated their teamwork through numerous raids, and based on his experiences, his dongsaengs’ talents were quite exceptional. And above all, they accepted the ‘trials’. For Kang San, who couldn’t just raid with anyone, his dongsaengs, who had already overcome countless crises with him, were inevitably comfortable.

His dongsaengs also.

If it was a dangerous situation anyway, they also wanted to be with Kang San, who would protect them reliably.

Kang San said.

“First, I received a request from Team Leader Jeong Hye-mi, so for the next two weeks, we’ll be facing Project B team and checking our teamwork. Of course, before that, we need to see what level you guys are at.”

Six months ago.

Kang San clearly warned them.

If they didn’t meet his expectations, they might not be able to continue together.

“Let’s move to another location and have a one-on-three match. If you haven’t changed from six months ago, what I said earlier will be null and void.”

They moved locations.

It was the premium training ground that Yeon Woo-bin and Jo Han-byeol mainly used, and they rented a part of the space for sparring.

The sparring would start in 30 minutes.

The three dongsaengs went into a strategy meeting.

“But do we really need a strategy meeting? Even if it’s Kang San-hyeong-nim, it’s a 3 vs 1 match.”

It was Jeong Chan-woo.

Even though he had watched Kang San’s gameplay countless times and truly acknowledged him, he couldn’t understand the current situation.

Think about it.

Kang San is a D-rank.

Of course, he possessed tremendous abilities that shouldn’t be classified as D-rank, but the opponents were two D-ranks and a C-rank mage. Even by simple calculations, it was a one-sided fight. Furthermore, the structure of a tanker holding the front while two dealers attacked from behind was clearly a fight that couldn’t be resolved by a single person.

Jo Han-byeol said.

“That’s why I don’t understand either. When you think about it normally, a tanker, of all positions, Kang San-hyeong, would be disadvantaged in a one-versus-many fight. It’s true that he has overwhelming abilities in the area of enduring and buying time, but the current situation is a completely different problem. Breaking through the defense and collapsing the rear dealers? We’re not that weak to be defeated by a single person.”

“I agree. We’re not the ragtag group we were when we first met, and we’ve built up synergy, so I think we have an overwhelming advantage.”

Jeong Chan-woo and Jo Han-byeol.

They were on the same page.

They thought logically and therefore judged logically.

Even if they overestimated Kang San, the fact that they were at an advantage didn’t change.

However, Yeon Woo-bin was different.

“…No, that’s not how we should think about it.”

“Do you think differently?”

“Yes. When my father conducted that ridiculous test before, Kang San-hyeong showed us something beyond just being a tanker. What other E-rank tanker in the world can display that kind of firepower? We’ve been raiding together for a while, but if Kang San-hyeong has been preparing something for six months, it’s bound to be beyond our imagination.”

Even Yeon Woo-bin wasn’t entirely sure.

What Kang San was thinking.

Although he knew that the three of them were clearly at an advantage, he stated that they wouldn’t let their guard down.

“Let’s do our best. So that Kang San-hyeong isn’t disappointed. And so that we can prove that our past efforts weren’t in vain. We can’t show him that three people can be helplessly defeated by one, can we?”

“Right.”

“Of course.”

Everyone nodded.

For the past three months.

Jo Han-byeol and his party had carried out nearly fifty raids.

They wanted to show Kang San their progress.

They wanted to show him that they hadn’t been slacking off either, even though they didn’t know what Kang San had been doing.

Swish.

On the training ground.

They stared at each other from a distance.

It was already a situation where Kang San was at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, but being distanced from the start made it even more unfavorable for him.

Kang San said.

“Sparring starts when the timer signals. The victory condition is the opponent’s surrender. Okay?”

“Yes.”

“Then get ready.”

Kang San lightly stretched.

Meanwhile, the numbers on the electronic display timer rapidly decreased.

『3』

『2』

『1』

Ding━!

Thud.

Kang San kicked off the ground.

He was fast.

It was a movement that instantly closed the distance, but Jeong Chan-woo blocked Kang San’s path, firmly gripping his shield.

‘Right side.’

He saw the direction.

He tried to block it with his shield, but the sword suddenly snaked around.

Whizz.

“!?”

Clang━!

He instinctively raised his arm.

He would have been seriously injured if he had been even a little bit late, and Jeong Chan-woo, who had thought they were at an advantage, was startled awake. He had never missed an attack like this in all the raids they had done. With the follow-up attack coming in immediately, Jeong Chan-woo gritted his teeth, activating ‘Iron Man’.

Clang.

Clang, clang, clang!

He blocked the front.

Kang San couldn’t pass Jeong Chan-woo without exposing his back.

In the complex and tangled situation, an arrow was fired, aiming for a gap.

“Focused Shot.”

Thud.

Whoosh.

It was a close call.

Kang San turned his head, deflecting the attack, and immediately increased the pressure on Jeong Chan-woo.

Clang!

Clang, clang, clang!

Jeong Chan-woo moved frantically.

If it seemed like he was attacking the right, he’d attack the left. If Jeong Chan-woo tried to block the left and changed his stance, he’d instantly dig into the space and aim for his waist. Jeong Chan-woo was breathless. He could barely keep up with Kang San’s increased speed. The only fortunate thing was that Jeong Chan-woo’s abilities had increased significantly compared to before. Seeing that Jeong Chan-woo was struggling more than expected, Jo Han-byeol quickly provided support.

“Continuous Fire.”

Clang.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

Arrows were fired.

If Jeong Chan-woo raised his shield, they aimed for Kang San’s chest, avoiding Jeong Chan-woo.

If Jeong Chan-woo retreated step by step, the arrows sliced through the air, aiming for Kang San’s legs as he followed.

Their teamwork was seamless.

Not only did Jo Han-byeol fire arrows at the right time and place, but Jeong Chan-woo, even while being pushed back, accurately judged where Jo Han-byeol would fire his arrows. He was clever. They blocked one person with the synergy of two, and even created a situation for the mage to prepare his magic. They didn’t make the mistake of being complacent just because it was a one-versus-many fight.

“Chain Lightning.”

Crackle, crackle.

Yeon Woo-bin generated electricity.

Instead of high-circle powerful magic, he deliberately chose magic that would bind Kang San’s feet and be difficult to avoid.

Arrows flew in at the same time.

They targeted a single person.

Their interlocking synergy showed their intention to bring down Kang San.

But at that moment.

Thud.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

Kang San displayed strange movements.

He dodged the exploding lightning and the arrows fired from all directions by a hair’s breadth.

Even though arrows passed right in front of him and lightning emitted a bright light, Kang San’s eyes didn’t waver at all. As if they could never hit him. In the chaotic and confusing situation, he didn’t reduce the pressure on Jeong Chan-woo, and instead, by getting close to Jeong Chan-woo, he spread the impact of the attacks to him.

“Ugh.”

Stagger.

Jeong Chan-woo frowned.

He hadn’t expected this.

Seeing Kang San swinging his sword at him, he tried to grab him once, intending to withstand the attack.

“Iron Armor.”

Woong━!

He increased his defense.

He held out his shield, blocking the path.

Swish.

Kang San disappeared.

He hurriedly turned his head to the other side.

But even this time, Kang San was nowhere to be seen.

“Huh?”

Kang San’s target wasn’t Jeong Chan-woo from the beginning.

Jeong Chan-woo was tricked by the feint.

He showed a slight delay in reacting to the movement that guided his direction, and instead of choosing aggro with Guardian Shield, he made the decision to block once with Iron Armor. It was a logical decision. In a situation where Jo Han-byeol and Yeon Woo-bin’s attacks were focused, it was hard to imagine that someone would deflect them all and make a move to lure him in. Naturally, in that situation, taking down the tanker at the front first was the logical progression based on Jeong Chan-woo’s experience.

Whizz.

The wind blew.

Kang San brushed past.

And a voice came from behind.

“Block it━!”

In front of Jo Han-byeol, who widened his eyes, Kang San, who had somehow infiltrated the space, was swinging his sword.