Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: 20. Showcase (1)
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The world was in an uproar.
Even as his name bounced around from mouth to mouth, Kang San judged the situation objectively, without getting carried away in the slightest.
'If an S-rank outbreak happened right now, would the people showing interest in me step up to help me on the front lines?'
The answer was no.
Of course, his name had spread even more than planned.
If it had only been the fame from helping Project B Team, that would have been one thing, but now Kim Min-young's article and Yoo Jung-young's statement had drawn excessive attention. But that was it. The points being emphasized weren't so much Kang San's personal value as the external perceptions of him and the influence he could wield over Yoo Jung-young.
Therefore.
If you dug into whether Kang San truly had talent worth that much, there'd inevitably be question marks.
The feat of holding off an A-rank Werewolf Lord?
In the end, it just meant he couldn't even compete with A-rank power.
Holding out had been his best, and if he kept developing into the distant future, he might one day match A-rank strength. The problem was, even then, it wasn't talent worth risking an S-rank outbreak for. Kang San had agonized over this endlessly at the stat training center and concluded he needed to prove he might reach the irrational realm of 'S-rank'.
Think about it.
S-rank talent.
His public image.
And Yoo Jung-young's endorsement.
Put those three together, and people would think he was worth the risk.
'This is actually the ideal situation. The interest people are showing me now is mostly from external factors excluding my actual skills. Especially with Yoo Jung-young's statement stirring up recruitment buzz, if I prove my value as a hunter too, their attitudes will turn proactive.'
The next six months.
He needed buildup.
A kind of showcase.
A public stage to prove himself in the disaster half a year from now, drawing even more attention.
The method was simple.
Kang San headed straight for the promotion exam hall.
On the way to the promotion exam hall.
Kang San sent a group text to Jo Han-byeol as representative.
Before diving into full raids, everyone should get their ranks re-evaluated.
Kang San himself, his team—everyone had skills surpassing their current ranks anyway.
It was time for re-evaluation.
Arriving at the promotion exam hall.
Kang San submitted his paperwork.
"...Ahem, this might be a bit tricky."
The staffer looked troubled.
He recognized Kang San immediately.
Not just from the name on the forms, but because the recent buzz made his face familiar enough.
But work was work.
Kang San had submitted paperwork the staffer couldn't accept.
"Consecutive promotion exams are only for those with substantial achievements. With your record, Mr. Kang, you qualify for C-rank, but not straight to B-rank. Why not take it step by step? Consecutive promotions aren't easy. The stamina drain is huge, and most people underestimate how steep the wall to the next rank is and charge in recklessly. You can build more achievements first—it won't be too late."
Friendly advice.
Liking Kang San, the staffer's words carried goodwill.
It wasn't wrong.
Charging in blindly could lead to accidents, and B-rank was indeed tough for Kang San now.
Kang San's average stats: 100.
B-rank average: 300.
A huge gap.
Yet Kang San was confident he could show something beyond stats.
'Securing C-rank is normal. I need to show the irrational beyond that.'
Time at the training center.
He believed in himself.
Believed what he had would work even in B-rank territory.
And if things went to plan, by the end of the exams, his value would skyrocket.
Kang San said,
"These are guaranteed by the Ranger unit. Does this qualify for consecutive promotion?"
"Hmm."
The staffer took the papers.
Kim Myung-min's signature caught the eye.
Rangers sacrificed much but wielded massive clout in official matters like this.
In the end.
"...With the Ranger commander's certification, yes. Understood. I'll stamp it, but please take care of yourself."
Thud.
The staffer stamped with a resigned face.
An hour later.
Kang San took the C-rank test.
It was a breeze.
Standard procedures, no issue for Kang San with C-rank stats.
[Kang San has passed the C-rank test.]
Overwhelming results.
With his C-rank certificate in hand, Kang San got a breather before the B-rank test. Normally, you'd be confined without outside contact, but heading to higher ranks changed that. As he stepped out for air, a familiar face entered his view.
"Mr. Kang!"
It was Jung Hye-mi.
She rushed over, speaking hurriedly like someone being chased.
"Why haven't you answered your phone? After the Project Team match, I called dozens of times—thought something happened since you were always busy. Anyway, skipping that, straight to the point. Heavenly Firmament is offering..."
"Mr. Kang! There you are."
Someone cut in.
Jung Hye-mi glared irritably, but Daeyang's Goo Jun-ho team leader flashed a sly grin.
"Looks like Jung Team Leader was trying to snag you first. Mr. Kang, hear Heavenly Firmament out, but talk to us too. We guarantee double—no, triple—their terms. As you know, Daeyang's backed by foreign capital, so our funding outstrips Heavenly Firmament."
"What the hell are you doing?"
"What do you think? Exactly what it looks like. You didn't think you'd recruit him without competition, did you?"
Sparks flew between their glares.
But talk halted.
More reps swarmed in after Jung Hye-mi and Goo Jun-ho.
"Mr. Kang, our guild..."
"Our management..."
"We'll offer better terms for sure. Please consider carefully..."
Chaos.
Kang San interrupted.
"Right now, I'm not discussing anything. As you see, I have the next promotion test. If you want to talk, wait till all tests are done and we'll go in order."
He turned and walked off.
No one grabbed him.
In this situation, no idiot would risk offending Kang San.
In the spot Kang San left.
Someone said,
"He mentioned promotion tests, right?"
"Yeah. Heard he passed C-rank already—going for B-rank?"
They didn't know the full story.
Rushed over hearing Kang San was at the exam hall, unaware of consecutive exams. Its implications weren't simple. If he failed, fine, but passing would force a massive revaluation of his worth.
"If he passes B-rank. Has anyone ever jumped from F to B so steeply?"
No precedent.
Just a year ago, Kang San was scraping by as F-rank. B-rank usually took years, or never happened. It was talent territory. Those talented enough for B started higher than F, so Kang San's rise was beyond abnormal—shocking.
Jung Hye-mi thought the same.
Flustered by his moves but quickly calculating.
'Kang San isn't reckless from what I've seen. Doing consecutive exams amid this hype means he's confident he'll pass. What's he thinking? He held off an A-rank Werewolf Lord, but witnesses said he lacked B-rank stats. And now B-rank after just six months?'
She bit her lip.
Glanced at Goo Jun-ho.
'Success or failure, his intangible value doesn't vanish. We might undervalue him for inefficiency, but his Yoo Jung-young ties and Project B win stand. Problem is success. B-rank conqueror with intangibles—what's the price?'
Same as any B-rank?
No.
She'd prepped A-rank terms for his D-rank days.
If his skills matched B-rank too, growth potential was incalculable.
A-rank terms wouldn't cut it.
Unprecedented perks needed.
Overkill might jeopardize her position, but her experience with Kang San gave certainty. Beyond ranks, he was special. With hordes interested, even top dog Heavenly Firmament was in the inferior spot now.
'Prep fully till tests end. Assume he passes.'
She moved.
Ignoring stares, Jung Hye-mi pulled out her phone.
Click.
"Connect me to Master now. I have approvals needed."
Kang San headed to the test hall.
A strange feeling hit him.
Normal tests topped at B-rank.
Once, not even E-rank—barely above his level—felt like an insurmountable wall.
Now.
Striding to B-rank test.
'If time rewound a year and offered the choice, would I accept the trials?'
A training center dilemma.
After days, he'd choose yes.
Accepting Azmun's trials glimpsed his past life as Blood Demon, but ignorance wouldn't have made life unhappy. If misfortune was inevitable, better the path of endless crises and growth like now. Unlike years stuck at F-rank before, now B-rank challenge in one year.
There.
Test hall arrived.
B-rank needs full roster to start.
Lucky for Kang San, it filled fast; he saw fellow testers.
Gathered in small groups.
They turned to him.
But.
'That guy...'
One face familiar.
Memory surfaced.
The genius who'd rocked Korea at 13 with C-rank.
And in a raid with Kang San by chance, treated F-ranks as subhuman, arrogant punk.
He spotted Kang San, face twisting.
"Fuck, what? Why the hell are you here?"