The Demon God Returns as a Max Level Player – Chapter 45

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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The immediate, material reward wasn’t bad either.

“Just for participating in the raid gate, we’ll give you 5 billion won in cash. And if you place within the top 3 inside the raid gate, we’ll give you an additional 10 billion won.”

Oh Kyung-hyun’s face was filled with confidence as he spoke.

It was no wonder, considering he was offering compensation worthy of A-rank hunters, among the highest-ranked, without any restrictions or conditions, simply for participating.

Furthermore, an additional 10 billion won would be paid if they placed within the top 3.

This was equivalent to giving the annual salary of an S-rank hunter all at once; it was truly an exceptional offer.

‘Even from our White Tiger’s perspective, this is a bit of a losing deal…’

Even for White Tiger, one of the five major guilds, it was a somewhat excessive offer for a B-rank hunter.

However, if it meant protecting their stock price, it was a bleeding they could endure. No, it could even be considered a gain.

Therefore, even with a somewhat excessive offer, they needed to recruit Lee Seong-joon, a skilled individual capable of securing at least a mid-rank placement, into the White Tiger guild.

“What do you think? I believe it’s a rather excellent proposition.”

Lee Seong-joon nodded.

“…It’s certainly not bad.”

Under the guise of joint affiliation, he could use the name of the association as well as White Tiger.

Moreover, the immediate cash payment alone was 5 billion won, equivalent to two years and six months of his current annual salary.

In a capitalist society, a large sum of money could make many things happen.

However, in the present world, there were things that couldn’t be obtained simply with money.

And what Lee Seong-joon currently desired was one of those things.

Something that couldn’t be obtained with money alone!

That’s why he needed to use Oh Kyung-hyun and the name of the White Tiger guild.

Lee Seong-joon, his expression stiff, asked, “An additional 10 billion won for placing within the top 3… Then if I happen to take first place, what can you offer me?”

Oh Kyung-hyun burst into laughter.

“What? First place? Hahaha! I didn’t know you had a sense of humor!”

Since he had previously explained that it was a competition among the five major guilds, he thought Lee Seong-joon was joking.

However, Lee Seong-joon’s eyes, which had posed the question, didn’t waver in the slightest. There wasn’t a hint of jest.

“…You don’t mean…?”

“I said I don’t like beating around the bush. What can you offer me if I take first place?”

The smile gradually faded from Oh Kyung-hyun’s face, replaced by a stiff expression.

“I know you’re outstanding, but you’re dreaming too big.”

Although Lee Seong-joon had grown at an unbelievable pace and demonstrated the ability to single-handedly defeat the Shadow Brothers, interpersonal combat and monster hunting were fundamentally different.

In fact, the five major guilds established optimal strategies for each monster and shared that knowledge with their affiliated hunters.

Therefore, the rookies from each guild participating in this raid had received sufficient training in monster hunting methods for months, or even years, and were fully equipped with artifacts that maximized their abilities.

However, since the offer was made so suddenly, there was no way Lee Seong-joon could have made such preparations.

‘Moreover, all the participants are rookies representing their respective guilds.’

They were all hunters called prodigies, possessing outstanding talent.

‘…Bridging that gap is impossible.’

Therefore, the previously mentioned condition of placing within the top 3 was more of a hopeful wish, a condition put forth to motivate Lee Seong-joon.

Realistically, their aim was 4th place; even just beating Hwan Sung, whom they would gladly tear to shreds, would be considered a satisfactory result.

Yet, Lee Seong-joon dared to talk about first place.

“I understand that excessive confidence is a characteristic of returnees, and it’s unavoidable, but if possible, facing reality calmly would be good for you.”

This raid was an event where talented individuals known as rookies of the five major guilds participated after thorough, long-term preparation.

Therefore, even with Lee Seong-joon’s outstanding talent, aiming for 3rd place or higher was inevitably difficult.

However, contrary to Oh Kyung-hyun’s thoughts, Lee Seong-joon’s eyes still didn’t waver.

Finally, Oh Kyung-hyun sighed and spoke again.

“Sigh… I didn’t want to dampen your spirits before the start, but in this raid, there’s Yoon Min-soo, a monster he personally raised…”

Oh Kyung-hyun tried his best to bring Lee Seong-joon back to reality, but Lee Seong-joon interrupted him without hesitation and asked,

“Who participates isn’t important. Just tell me what you can offer me if I take first place.”

Knowing that Lee Seong-joon wouldn’t stop asking until he received an answer, Oh Kyung-hyun responded seriously.

“Anything. If you truly take first place in this raid gate, I, Oh Kyung-hyun, swear on my name and the name of the White Tiger guild that I’ll give you anything.”

“You better keep that promise.”

“Don’t worry. I, Oh Kyung-hyun, am not one to go back on my word.”

Finally satisfied with the answer, a smile spread across Lee Seong-joon’s lips.

“Please send the raid gate strategy date and report to my phone. And lastly, when can we draw up the contract?”

“If your schedule allows, how about now? While we’re at it, we’ll add a special clause regarding the first-place reward you proposed.”

“Sounds good.”

“Then I’ll call someone right away.”

As Oh Kyung-hyun smiled and tapped his smartphone, a White Tiger guild member, who was on standby nearby, quickly ran over and handed him a contract.

Immediately, Lee Seong-joon meticulously scanned the contents of the contract, his eyes darting back and forth, and finally stamped his seal on the last signature line.

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The next day.

Lee Seong-joon sat on his bed, a smile he couldn’t hide playing on his lips. It was only natural.

Immediately after the announcement of the five major guilds’ rosters for the raid gate, the promised 5 billion won had been deposited into his account.

His cash assets had instantly reached a staggering 25 billion won.

‘With this much money…’

He could secure houses located in Mapo, Dongjak, Seongdong, and Jung-gu, close to the center of Seoul, the safest area in Korea. It meant he could live in a house with enhanced security.

It was an achievement he couldn’t believe he had accomplished just two months after returning to Earth. But Lee Seong-joon wasn’t satisfied with just this.

‘In this raid gate strategy… I will take first place.’

It wasn’t solely to receive the reward promised by Oh Kyung-hyun. Since participating in this raid gate strategy itself meant revealing his identity to the world…

‘I will clearly demonstrate my abilities.’

He would demonstrate them clearly enough to be imprinted on the minds of even the greedy fools blinded by their desires.

That way, they wouldn’t dare to touch him, Lee Seong-joon, nor his precious family.

Of course, Lee Seong-joon wasn’t displaying this confidence without any basis.

‘Using the bonus points, I will strengthen my lacking constitution.’

As repeatedly stated, to utilize Ascending Martial Arts, the harmony of mind, energy, and body was essential. Therefore, there was no need to worry about stat distribution.

‘Distribute evenly so that Strength, Agility, and Stamina, all related to the body, reach the same value.’

He allocated 6 points to Strength and Stamina and invested the remaining 7 points in Agility.

At that moment, the cells in his body began to wriggle, and his physique underwent a transformation.

His muscles tightened, his skin toughened, and he felt his senses expanding. A smile spread across Lee Seong-joon’s face.

‘Finally… the preparations are complete.’

He was ready to foster the growth of the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Art, the symbol of the Blood Demon.

Although the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Art possessed abilities worthy of being called a divine martial art, unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to properly utilize them until now.

The reason was simple.

‘If I had used the Blood Demon’s power directly… my body wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.’

His body, which had been nothing more than an ordinary first-class martial artist, was too fragile a vessel to handle the Blood Demon’s power; it would have been suicidal.

However, now that he had achieved a certain level of physical constitution using bonus points, things were different.

‘Although there are still some shortcomings…’

He was confident he could compensate for them with his past experiences and vast knowledge. There was no reason to hesitate any longer.

Lee Seong-joon immediately assumed a cross-legged position and took a deep breath.

“Huu…”

At that moment, as if waiting for this moment, the Blood Qi within his body began to spread throughout his entire system through his blood vessels.

He felt his muscles toughen, his bones harden, and his physical limits being surpassed.

Amidst that satisfying sensation, Lee Seong-joon recited the next verse of the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Art, which he had memorized.

‘Even if they possess a thousand different forms and appearances, none can defy the will of the Blood Demon, the lord and master of blood…’

The stable flow of Blood Qi suddenly converged in his heart.

Thump! Thump!

The violent Blood Qi, imbued with the power of Asura, surged uncontrollably, unable to contain its own strength. It felt as if someone was hammering his heart.

Lee Seong-joon gritted his teeth, maintaining his composure amidst that dizzying sensation.

‘…This is just the beginning.’

The characteristic of the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Art was its use of Blood Qi.

No, it wasn’t just the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Art.

The Blood Cult members, who manipulated Blood Qi, could utilize the blood within their bodies like internal energy, in addition to the energy residing in their dantian.

Therefore, the essential element for becoming a top expert within the Blood Cult, and the primary task for reaching the 5th stage of the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Art, the Blood Demon’s internal energy cultivation method, was to control one’s own heart.

Naturally, it wasn’t just empty words.

He had to control all movements, from muscle contractions to his heartbeat.

‘…Only then could I handle Blood Qi more perfectly.’

The foundation of the Blood Qi manipulated by Blood Cult members was blood.

Therefore, only by perfectly controlling the heart, which received and circulated the blood throughout the body, could they skillfully manipulate Blood Qi.

Of course, the process wasn’t easy. The heart was the most important organ in the human body. A single mistake could lead to excruciating pain and death.

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