SFRW-Chapter 23

Ch. 23 Sword God From The Ruined World  

“Why are you being so stingy?”  

Hyun Joo-yeon, wearing dark sunglasses, frowned pointedly as she stared out the window.  

“Aren’t we practically family? Shouldn’t family share information freely?”  

At the suggestion that she should share information,Hyun Joo-yeon turned her head to look at the man sitting beside her.  

“Wasn’t Black Tiger Guild the one holding the most classified intel in the country?”  

Even as she retorted, asking if it wasn’t too shameless to talk about sharing information now, the man just chuckled.  

“You had something you wanted to know? Then you should’ve just asked. What is it? I’ll tell you everything.”  

At his casual reply, Hyun Joo-yeon was left speechless, exasperated.  

“Let’s be honest. Who told you the strategy to defeat the McCathians?”  

“Like I said, I just happened to figure it out. Don’t tell me you dozed off during the London briefing?”  

Most Heroes had been skeptical when they heard that the McCathians could be easily hunted using the red flower ants venom.  

It was only natural to doubt—how could anyone know the weakness of a newly discovered monster so precisely?  

Hyun Joo-yeon had considered this crucial from the start.  

She couldn’t outright mention Seo Do-jun or say he had told her, so she had meticulously analyzed the McCathians’s movements and behavior since it emerged from the rift zone, trying to connect it to the red flower ants venom.  

Eventually, she discovered that the McCathians actively avoided the red-flower ants’ territory and focused her briefing on that.  

Of course, the British Hero Association had also spared no effort in searching for the monster’s weakness, throwing far more manpower, time, and resources into it than Hyun Joo-yeon.  

But the gap between those who knew the answer (the red flower ants venom) from the start and those who didn’t could never be bridged.  

While hundreds failed, Hyun Joo-yeon succeeded alone—naturally, her reputation soared.  

“And you expect me to believe that?”  

The man, Kang Young-pyo, scoffed as if telling her not to joke.  

“If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”  

Hyun Joo-yeon, too, seemed to have nothing more to say and turned her head away.  

Kang Young-pyo glared at her with sharp eyes before suddenly letting out a soft laugh.  

“Well, if you lack skill, at least you’ve got analytical ability.”  

At his blatant mockery, Hyun Joo-yeon clenched the fist resting on her knee.  

Disgusting bastard!  

She wanted to punch that repulsive face, but she knew better than anyone how thoughtless that would be, so she held back.  

Meanwhile, Kang Young-pyo didn’t miss a single one of her reactions, his smirk widening.  

Yeah, all you can do is endure.  

Seeing Hyun Joo-yeon forced to hold back even under his provocation,Kang Young-pyo changed the subject.  

“Fine, if you don’t want to share intel, that’s your choice. But there’s something I should mention. Once I return to South Korea, I’ve got some business to take care of. And I’d prefer it if you didn’t interfere.”  

“What are you talking about?”  

“You know Seo Do-jun, right?”  

The moment Seo Do-jun’s name left Kang Young-pyo’s lips, Hyun Joo-yeon thought, It’s happening.  

“Don’t play dumb. You know him well, don’t you? You even busted up a prosecutor to get him released before coming here. Anyway, that bastard Seo Do-jun turned Kang Cheol-woo into a cripple. Oh, you saw that too, didn’t you?”  

As he spoke, a murderous glint flashed in Kang Young-pyo’s eyes.  

“Kang Cheol-woo started it. The attempted Gate murder contract, remember? And that day, too, he was the one who picked a fight with Seo Do-jun first.”  

“True. That idiot Kang Cheol-woo was blinded by petty cash and got what he deserved. But that’s between him and Seo Do-jun. As family, I’ve got my own role to play. Even if he’s a bastard who deserves to die, family is family, right? He’s still my cousin. If I do nothing, what will people think of me?”  

So you think revenge will make people respect you?  

The words rose to her throat, but Hyun Joo-yeon knew logical persuasion was impossible. Kang Young-pyo’s mind was already set on avenging Kang Cheol-woo.  

“Right. Even if he’s a bastard who deserves to die, family is family. Since you’re handling it as family business, I won’t interfere. Do whatever you want. I have no intention of getting involved.”  

Her tone—especially the way she emphasized bastard who deserves to die—was grating, but her unexpected compliance made Kang Young-pyo pause.  

Was their relationship not as deep as I thought?  

Hyun Joo-yeon had even destroyed a prosecutor to clear Seo Do-jun’s name. Kang Young-pyo had been certain they were connected somehow, so this reaction left him bewildered.  

Is she backing off because she’s scared of me?  

But he quickly dismissed the idea. She wasn’t weak enough to retreat out of fear.  

As Kang Young-pyo struggled to make sense of it, Hyun Joo-yeon casually muttered,  

“Not like I’d need to interfere anyway.”  

It was almost under her breath, but Kang Young-pyo heard it loud and clear—she had meant for him to.  

“What do you mean, no need to interfere?”  

When he pressed her, Hyun Joo-yeon brushed it off as a random thought and turned back to the window.  

What’s that supposed to mean? Why wouldn’t she need to interfere? Does Seo Do-jun have something up his sleeve?  

For the first time, Kang Young-pyo’s confident expression twisted, his mind now in turmoil.  

Seeing his reflection in the window, Hyun Joo-yeon allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.  

That smile lasted all the way back to South Korea.  

She could feel Kang Young-pyo’s occasional glances, but he no longer approached her like before.  

***

“Here.”  

Seo Do-jun stared at the shopping bags placed in front of him.  

At his questioning look, Hyun Joo-yeon immediately explained.  

“Gifts.”  

“Gifts?”  

“The black tea I tried at the British royal family was good, so I got some. These are for Eun-young and your grandmother, and this is for you, Seo Do-jun. I guessed the sizes, so I’m not sure if they’ll fit, but they should be wearable.”  

She handed him several large shopping bags emblazoned with the logo of a well-known British luxury brand.  

Seo Do-jun immediately checked the contents.  

“You could’ve waited until we got home—”  

Flustered that he’d open them right there, Hyun Joo-yeon trailed off, but Seo Do-jun didn’t care.  

Inside were plenty of clothes for Eun-young—dresses, skirts, jackets, sweaters, leggings, pants, even a trench coat. All in the brand’s iconic brown check pattern.  

The gifts for his grandmother were just as varied and looked expensive, befitting the brand.  

His own gifts were fewer in quantity but far higher in quality.  

The standout was a black lambskin trench coat that looked like it cost millions, maybe more. The shirts and pants to match were equally lavish.  

Yet, despite the expensive gifts, Seo Do-jun just pushed the bags aside.  

“Thanks.”  

Though Hyun Joo-yeon was the one who gave the gifts, she was also the one saying thanks.  

“I owe you for your help.”  

Seo Do-jun replied indifferently and sipped his coffee.  

“What you’ve done for me can’t even compare. So I wanted to give you a proper gift… How about a car?”  

To Hyun Joo-yeon, a real gift meant a car.  

“Tell me when you need one.”  

Since he didn’t feel the need yet, even a car didn’t excite him.  

“Just say the word anytime. I’ll get you whatever model you want. As long as it’s not a limited edition.”  

As Seo Do-jun nodded vaguely, Hyun Joo-yeon finally asked what she’d been wondering all along.  

“If I ask how you knew the McCathians’s weakness, you won’t answer, will you?”  

“Why should I?”  

As expected, Hyun Joo-yeon just nodded.  

She was burning with curiosity, but if Seo Do-jun wouldn’t answer, there was nothing she could do.  

Still, she was determined to uncover his secrets someday.  

“What are you planning to do now?”  

Knowing better than anyone just how powerful Seo Do-jun was, Hyun Joo-yeon was intensely curious about his future.  

She didn’t expect grand answers like for world peace or to help the suffering.  

Seo Do-jun had never shown himself to be that righteous or Heroic.  

“First, I need to buy a house.”  

“…A house?”  

The answer was so incongruous with someone of his world-shaking power that Hyun Joo-yeon’s face twisted in disbelief.  

“Don’t tell me you’re renting right now?”  

***

It hurts.  

My heart burns with pain, unbearable.  

“…Why… You…”  

Blood dripped from the hand gripping the blade.  

Black.  

They even poisoned it.  

But the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.  

“Because there’s no hope left.”  

The one who stabbed the dagger into my heart spoke calmly.  

He was one of my most trusted friends, someone I relied on through countless hardships. That made the betrayal even harder to accept.  

“…Vaitel… You… You turned?”  

“I’ve just accepted reality. Kasel, be honest—there’s no future for us. Right?”  

Yes, there’s no hope.  

But does that mean we should live as monsters instead of humans?  

“I just want to live. As a human, as anything… I don’t want to die meaninglessly.”  

“…And you think… Cough… Living like this is better?”  

“If it means surviving.”  

Vaitel’s eyes were devoid of emotion, and I could tell he meant every word.  

“Kasel, you’re the only one left. Once you’re gone… Everyone will finally accept that there’s no hope.”  

The pressure on the dagger increased, and though I knew my fingers were being sliced deeper, I couldn’t let go.  

If the blade moved even slightly, it would pierce my heart.  

“…Ghk…”  

“I won’t apologize.”  

Good. That would just be cowardly hypocrisy.  

I preferred this—Vaitel standing by his actions without shame.  

“Yeah. That makes it easier for me, too.”  

For the first time, Vaitel’s expression twisted.  

At the same time, a transparent barrier formed around him—but it shattered instantly under a single beam of light aimed at his skull.  

CRACK!  

The barrier broke just as Vaitel barely rolled away, his face now covered in blood.  

The blade had grazed him from forehead to lip.  

“…Cough! Cough!”  

Blood sprayed with every cough, but there was no time to care.  

By the time I pulled my sword from the ground, Vaitel had already retreated, dozens of fireballs now hovering threateningly around him.  

“You don’t really think you can beat me in this state, do you?”  

It wasn’t arrogance or overconfidence.  

Vaitel knew my strength better than anyone, so he just nodded.  

“Of course. That’s why I prepared this.”  

Before he even finished speaking, the space around us distorted, and dozens of portals opened.  

KWAOOOOOO—!  

GRRRRRRR—!  

SKREEEEEEE—!  

Monsters of terrifying power poured out, numbering in the thousands at a glance.  

“Kasel, no matter how strong you are, you can’t fight me and this many monsters in your condition.”  

At his words urging me to accept death, I laughed.  

“Let’s find out. Who dies—you or me.”  

***  

“….”  

Seo Do-jun gazed at the full moon hanging in the night sky.  

Even in the ruined world, there had been a moon just as big and bright.  

The environment was different, but the moon remained the same.  

“…Brother?”  

Rubbing her eyes, Eun-young stepped out of her room and spotted Seo Do-jun on the balcony. Still half-asleep, she wobbled toward him.  

“Why are you awake?”  

“Bathroom.”  

When she said she needed to pee, Seo Do-jun reached out and ruffled her hair.  

“Why are you out here, Brother?”  

“Had a dream.”  

“A dream? What kind?”  

The words ‘a bad dream’ rose to his throat, but Seo Do-jun answered differently.  

“A sad one.”  

“A sad dream?”  

“Yeah. One I never want to have again.”  

“Was it about Mom?”  

Eun-young sometimes cried after dreaming of their mother, whom she only knew from photos.  

Seo Do-jun just said, ‘Something like that’, then took her hand and led her to the bathroom.  

At that moment, the full moon flickered crimson—just for an instant—before returning to normal.  

The light was too vivid to be a trick of the eye, but it happened so fast that almost no one noticed.