SFRW-Chapter 70

Ch. 70 Sword God From The Ruined World

“Ah, farewell! And please visit us again! We promise you the best service possible!”  

The manager bowed so deeply his waist seemed halved, his face filled with an irrepressible smile.  

Only after the customer exited did the manager straighten his back.  

The groveling, hand-wringing demeanor vanished without a trace.  

As the manager stood with shoulders squared and chin raised, employees approached, bowing obsequiously just as he had done, showering him with flattery.  

“You’re amazing!”  

“The best! Achieving months’ worth of sales in a single day!”  

“Thanks to you, we’ve topped national performance charts for the first time! The store’s incentive bonus will be huge, right? As expected of our manager!”  

Amidst the employees’ endless flattery, the manager puffed up like a king.  

“Why such fuss over this trifle? Back in my day…”  

As always when putting on airs, the manager launched into his oft-repeated tales of yore until ears burned.  

‘Finally, I can talk back to the wife! Muhahaha!’  

The manager, perpetually diminished before his money-obsessed spouse, felt elated at the prospect of wielding this windfall bonus to regain domestic authority.  

Several hours earlier  

A young man entered the perpetually empty store where only flies buzzed.  

“Eek! S-Seo Do-jun?!”  

Employees recognized him instantly.  

How could they not? Unless blind, anyone would know Seo Do-jun – the world’s top Hero constantly featured on TV and internet ads.  

The manager, pondering how to attract customers to his fly-infested store, saw the rainbow aura radiating from Seo Do-jun and knew instinctively: his savior had arrived.  

Brushing aside employees trying to swarm Seo Do-jun, the manager attached himself.  

“Hero Seo Do-jun, isn’t it? You labor day and night for humanity’s peace – such dedication! What brings you to our humble store?”  

“I need to purchase some combat suits, swords and shields. Do you have stock?”  

Seo Do-jun’s face showed no expectation.  

‘He came after checking elsewhere! Of course! He wants to buy immediately, not place orders!’  

The manager intuitively grasped Seo Do-jun’s situation – a divine blessing for his struggling store.  

“Plenty in stock! What products are you seeking?”  

“The very best combat suits, swords and shields.”  

“The… very best… ahem How many sets?”  

The manager barely contained his splitting grin.  

“Twenty sets immediately, more if available.”  

“…Excuse me?!”  

Not three or four, but twenty sets! With potential for more!  

The manager’s grin burst free.  

“W-we’ll check immediately! Assistant Kim! Fetch Hero Seo Do-jun our premium juice and… no! Actually, there’s excellent sushi nearby if you’re peckish?”  

The manager provided utmost service while coordinating inventory, begging neighboring stores to fill shortages.  

Thus, in one day, he sold the store’s most expensive 20 combat suit/sword/shield sets on the spot, plus promised 10 additional sets within three days.  

‘The biggest deal of my life!’  

The manager would never forget this day – not just the monumental sale, but conducting it with the world’s top Hero Seo Do-jun as lifelong bragging rights.  

“A present?”  

Eun-young stared spellbound at the pendant in its elegant case.  

“You must wear this always. Understood?”  

Seo Do-jun personally clasped the pendant around her neck.  

He infused it with magic to prevent removal and completed ownership recognition via the Soul Gem’s magic infusion into Eun-young’s body.  

Now, at any hint of danger, the Soul Gem would summon 10 Champion Death Knights for protection.  

Should even they perish, the gem would shatter, summoning Seo Do-jun directly – the Soul Gem’s second secret.  

Earth’s ultimate safety measure: primary defense by Champion Death Knights, with Seo Do-jun as final safeguard.  

“So pretty.”  

Eun-young adored the pendant, caressing it lovingly.  

Beautifully crafted, it held profound meaning as her first-ever necklace.  

Hugging the grateful girl, Seo Do-jun presented the matching second pendant to Grandma.  

“Why waste such finery on an old woman?”  

Despite her words, Grandma clearly fancied it.  

“My first proper gift for you. Matching Eun-young’s – only two exist worldwide. You must wear it always, even if unwilling.”  

“Same as mine! Grandma has the same necklace!”  

Eun-young’s delight doubled seeing their matching pendants.  

Seo Do-jun swiftly clasped it before more protests, similarly magic-locking it for tracking if stolen.  

“Thank you… truly.”  

Grandma clutched it gratefully, repeating thanks.  

“And starting tomorrow, I’ll treat your back.”  

“My back? You? Even hospital specialists gave up. Don’t trouble yourself.”  

Though Grandma waved it off, Seo Do-jun remained determined.  

Her improved stamina from herbal regimens and rare medicines acquired at Gold Market enabled proper treatment.  

“Just light massages – don’t expect much. I’ll stay at home with both of you for a while.”  

“Really?”  

Grandma beamed, clasping his hands warmly – her favorite news.  

“Big brother staying home forever?”  

“Right.”  

“Wahhh!”  

Eun-young jumped for joy.  

Their elation at his presence made Seo Do-jun reconsider family’s meaning.  

True to his word, Seo Do-jun remained home all day.  

He meticulously prepared rare herbal decoctions for Grandma’s back treatment, administering gentle massages while using magic to check blocked magic roads (meridians).  

With Eun-young, he began magic training disguised as meditation.  

In this world of rifts and gates, self-defense was essential for her safety. Fortunately, she followed instructions obediently, though Earth’s poor magic environment meant slow progress despite Seo Do-jun forcibly clearing her meridians.  

Other times, they strolled neighborhoods, sampled delicacies, and he indulged her daily plushie requests.  

After a week, proper back treatment commenced.  

“Today might sting slightly.”  

“I worry about you overexerting. I’m fine – don’t push yourself. Your massages have already eliminated my pain.”  

Her genuine improvement since his treatments began.  

“It’ll keep improving.”  

Reassuring her, Seo Do-jun emitted magic from his fingertips – minimal yet producing peculiar tingling coolness.  

Though appearing like a normal massage, the bone-deep sensation drew involuntary moans from Grandma.  

Meanwhile, Seo Do-jun’s meticulous magic control beaded his forehead with sweat.  

‘Her meridians are completely ruined.’  

Even in the ruined world, clearing and expanding meridians before magic training boosted efficacy.  

Though people are born with pristine meridians, without training, stagnant energy gradually blocks them.  

Unclogging adult meridians is challenging enough – let alone Grandma’s severely twisted, age-hardened blockage compounded by spinal curvature.  

Realigning them demanded immense effort even from Seo Do-jun, requiring substantial energy expenditure that risked exhausting Grandma.  

“Ugh… Seo Do-jun…”  

Seeing Grandma sweat in agony, Seo Do-jun halted treatment.  

“Hoo.”  

He exhaled, face drenched.  

“Very painful?”  

“Hurts… yet feels refreshing…”  

Grandma struggled to describe the paradoxical pain followed by strange invigoration and comforting warmth.  

“Drink this.”  

Seo Do-jun brought herbal medicine simmering in the kitchen – restoring vitality while preventing magic leakage.  

“Rest now.”  

Overcome by drowsiness, Grandma slept instantly – her even breathing signaling improving health.  

One month minimum, six maximum – recovery pace depended on her stamina.  

But Seo Do-jun’s perseverance guaranteed her back would suffer no more.  

***

“Satisfactory?”  

Park Sung-wook asked as Seo Do-jun nodded approvingly at the structure resembling Jeju’s World Cup Stadium more than the original Colosseum design.  

Walls stood significantly lower, and the planned full ceiling now covered just one-third.  

These modifications shortened construction time, leaving Park Sung-wook dissatisfied with the diminished grandeur compared to blueprints.  

But Seo Do-jun, viewing it solely as Guardians’ Lair, found no shortcomings.  

“This suffices.”  

Park Sung-wook’s face twitched at Seo Do-jun’s approval – he’d hoped for reconstruction demands to realize his original vision.  

“When will the house be completed?”  

Despite the lair’s readiness, immediate relocation was impossible with the residence and auxiliary buildings still under construction.  

“We’re maximizing speed, but three more months minimum.”  

Park Sung-wook longed for adequate time to build properly – nothing should be rushed for the world’s top Hero’s residence.  

Yet Seo Do-jun, indifferent to global attention, simply wanted completion ASAP.  

“Can’t the timeline be shortened?”  

“…Difficult.”  

Park Sung-wook couldn’t comprehend Seo Do-jun’s urgency – surely not financial given his wealth.  

Next dawn  

While most slept, Seo Do-jun revisited Guardians’ Lair.