Chapter 144
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: 26. Hero of Kitakyushu (4)
National guest treatment.
It was an unexpected remark.
Especially coming from the man already nominated as the next prime minister, it carried an entirely different weight.
In a situation that most people would gladly welcome, Kang San found himself mulling over the word "hypocrite" for some reason.
'Is hypocrisy truly a bad thing?'
Kang San was no different.
Forced into endless trials, he had committed countless acts of hypocrisy along the way.
In his heart, he had ruthlessly abandoned those in need of help, yet on the surface, he acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world, maintaining a calm demeanor. The world called such a man the hero of Kitakyushu. Whenever he met people, they rushed over for a handshake, their smiling faces filled with respect for him.
Kang San spoke.
"I don't think hypocrisy is wrong."
"What do you...?"
"Humans are inherently selfish creatures, wired from birth to put themselves first. Looking back through world history, there are great figures who seemed different, but we can't be sure they acted without a shred of hesitation in their good deeds. The truth is, most people can't. That's why I actually think hypocrites are remarkable. Even when reason tells them to hesitate, they suppress their instincts and sacrifice for others. Even if there's some calculated motive behind it, the fact that someone receives help through that hypocrisy doesn't change."
It was unnecessary conversation.
He didn't have a deep relationship with Ito Kentaro, but for some odd reason, he felt compelled to say these things right now.
As if speaking to himself.
Kang San continued.
"If someone’s life is helped by your policies as a congressman, that person won't care at all if you're called a hypocrite. So there's no need to downplay yourself. People can commit hypocrisy when needed, but they'll judge based on the visible results, not the hidden truths behind them. And..."
If Kang San's true nature were revealed.
Would Kim Chun-sik think of him as a hypocrite?
No.
Even if it was hypocrisy, without Kang San, his grandmother wouldn't have gotten the surgery.
The point where Kang San began to feel at peace with himself was when he accepted that even hypocrisy could be a form of goodness.
Therefore.
"If that kind of hypocrisy piles up over time, someday people might even call you a great man."
To a fellow hypocrite like himself, Kang San spoke with sincere words of comfort.
Now it was time to leave.
As he packed his things and stepped out of the hotel, the manager came running with something in hand.
"This is money pooled together by our staff. Please, use it for something good."
"No, I can't accept this."
"Mr. Kang San. Thanks to you, this hotel has more than a few people who reunited with their families. We've held back all this time, worried you might feel uncomfortable, but please let us express our gratitude this way. If you accept this money, we'll cherish this moment happily for the rest of our lives."
"...Haa. Alright, I will."
He accepted the money.
Their sincere eyes made it impossible to refuse.
As he exited the hotel amid the staff's farewells, ordinary citizens swarmed him as if they'd been waiting.
A burly man handed him something.
"Here's a set of top-grade potions. Wherever you go, we pray for your safety, Mr. Kang San!"
A young woman quickly followed suit.
"It's a portrait I drew of you! You've saved so many people, you probably won't remember, but I captured the moment you saved me. Thank you. I'll never forget your sacrifices and efforts."
He accepted everything.
Their gazes, their sincerity.
He simply couldn't refuse.
Among them was an elderly woman in shabby clothes.
"Thanks to you, my daughter-in-law came back alive. It's not much, but eat it when you're hungry."
It was a potato wrapped tightly in cloth.
Steaming hot as if freshly boiled, and with tears welling in the old woman's eyes, Kang San smiled at her.
"...Thank you."
The gestures of goodwill continued.
Some offered expensive gifts, while a child handed over their own snack as a present. At first, it felt burdensome. But as the manager said, if accepting these gifts created happy memories for them, it didn't seem so bad to receive people's kindness.
Because of this, he was delayed.
With teleportation time approaching, Kitakyushu police finally stepped in to clear a path.
"Please step aside to both sides."
"The hero must return now."
"We know how you all feel, citizens, but please allow Mr. Kang San to leave safely."
The bustling crowd.
Parted like the miracle of Moses.
Then, from all directions, they chanted Kang San's name, seeing him off as he departed.
He felt dazed.
Memories of his past life surfaced, creating a profound sense of disconnect.
'In my past life, I was a murderer who killed people.'
Blood Demon Seomun-ho.
The starting point of his trials.
The memories of him slaughtering people were still vivid, but Kang San focused on the scene before him, where they shouted his name. This was his current life. Had he rejected the trials, it might have ended in mere unhappiness, but by extending kindness to those in need, he had rediscovered meaning in living.
Now he understood.
His good deeds.
Weren't entirely forced.
The mere existence of such "hypocritical" goodwill proved he was a different kind of person from Seomun-ho.
It felt good.
Finally arriving at his destination, he bowed his head to the people seeing him off from afar.
Then, with genuine feeling, he said,
"...Thank you so much for welcoming someone like me. Even as I return to Korea, I will never forget your hearts."
His companions bowed hastily alongside him.
Thunderous cheers erupted.
That was the last memory Kang San had of Japan.
The hero had left.
Among the crowd lingering, unable to depart due to the lingering afterglow, was Saito Shusuke, hooded and watching.
'...Mr. Kang San.'
Right after Kang San's return.
Saito Shusuke sought him out separately to express his gratitude.
Truthfully, he wanted to be accepted like Nakamura Genji or the Jessica sisters, but he had a reason he couldn't leave Kitakyushu.
A sense of guilt.
Tasked by Congressman Shimizu Hiroshi to lead the subjugation team, he hadn't succeeded—instead, he had been bewitched by the evil spirit and caused a tragedy, killing people. Of course, no one blamed him. Plenty had fallen victim to the unique entity known as the evil spirit, and it wasn't something he had done of his own volition.
If Saito Shusuke bore any responsibility.
It was that he was too powerful for others to handle.
Yet he stayed in Kitakyushu.
Even with the fog and evil spirits gone, bringing stability, true perfect peace would take years. Saito Shusuke took on that role. As an S-Rank force, he'd be a great help here, and it was his way of alleviating the guilt lingering in his heart.
This was the surface reason.
It stemmed from true conviction, but there was another reason he hadn't shared with others.
'Lady Eirin said it. For Mr. Kang San's sake, I must secure more believers here.'
The moment the Worship skill was created.
Unlike most who heard they became "believers," Saito Shusuke became an "apostle." It was a change born from truly accepting Kang San. He knew Kang San's uniqueness from being saved from the evil spirit's nightmare, and during those days of prayer, he immersed himself as if invulnerable.
He was extraordinary.
Just remembering Kang San's nobility—navigating the impenetrable fog alone—filled him with overwhelming emotion.
'The Japanese people still don't realize how great a grace they've received. They think it's just being saved and are grateful for that much. But what if the massive link incident that turned Kitakyushu into hell hadn't been limited to the south, but spread across all of Japan? How could we have survived? With S-Rank forces like me? The Japanese government? They absolutely couldn't have handled it alone. The three years of nightmare are clear proof of Japan's fragility.'
The world now.
One could be happy today, but tomorrow it might turn to hell.
That was the world they lived in.
When that time came, Kang San was needed.
Just as he had resolved Kitakyushu's crisis, he was a special existence beyond common sense.
Therefore.
They had to worship Kang San.
Be more grateful and recognize his grace in every moment of daily life.
Only then could they reach out when needed.
Even Saito Shusuke, an S-Rank hunter who had faced countless crises, was shocked by Kang San shattering the nightmare. Blind faith was born. Through Eirin as the object of prayer, the one to serve, and the apostle Saito Shusuke's strong belief, the out-of-the-ordinary skill "Worship" was born.
At the spot where Kang San had departed.
He reminisced about their final meeting, where dignity was maintained to the end.
"...Until we meet again."
He turned and walked away.
Now, as an apostle, it was time to move busily.
Kang San's group arrived in Korea.
They headed straight to the arrival gate, but as soon as they stepped out, they faced a bewildering situation.
Flash, flash.
Flash, flash.
"It's Kang San!"
"Kang San has arrived!"
Everywhere his eyes could see.
Reporters swarmed.
They rushed in all at once, blocking his path, thrusting microphones from every direction with a barrage of questions.
"What exactly happened in Japan?"
"We heard you saved countless people in Kitakyushu. You've been in the spotlight in Korea for your heroic actions before—did you go to Kitakyushu specifically to save its people this time too?"
"Korean citizens are very interested in your actions, Mr. Kang San. The Kitakyushu incident was a problem Japan couldn't solve for three whole years. It's an international issue that even global society is taking seriously, so we're curious how an individual like you resolved it."
It was chaos.
He hadn't answered a single question, yet new ones kept pouring in.
Among them.
Some questions carried a subtle hostility.
"Before departing, Mr. Kang San officially acquired B-Rank qualifications through proper procedures. The promotion test footage was released, and everyone saw your skills, but at that time, you didn't have the ability to resolve Kitakyushu's issue. Please answer: Is this incident connected to Japan's political matters? What are you trying to gain with such exaggerated and unfounded achievements?"
For now, they moved to another location.
Reporters trailed them like tags the whole way, but with the situation unclear, he refrained from responding rashly.
They got into the car.
Nakamura Genji clicked his tongue in amazement.
"...What in the world is going on?"
"I have no idea either. Hold on a moment."
He pulled out his phone.
In this situation, only one person came to mind who could give answers.
Click.
"Reporter Kim Min-young. It's about..."
He explained the situation.
The swarm of reporters.
And their barrage of questions.
After hearing Kang San's explanation, Kim Min-young paused before speaking in an awkward tone.
[Don't get the wrong idea. Actually, I reported on the Kitakyushu incident because I wanted to help you, Mr. Kang San. If I stirred up public opinion in Korea, they might send forces or pressure the Japanese government. But... you ended up resolving Kitakyushu alone, so things spiraled strangely.]
Kang San's actions.
Were beyond common sense.
A B-Rank hunter resolving a nightmare and returning home.
[Koreans love to spectate. Right now, the whole country is buzzing about you, Mr. Kang San.]
The past few months.
Korea had been turned upside down because of Kang San.