SFRW-Chapter 96

Ch. 96 Sword God From The Ruined World  

“How could you leave us out? This is really disappointing! Hyun Joo-yeon, you’re really doing this too? What kind of relationship do we have? Couldn’t you at least give us a heads-up?”  

The first person to rush over upon hearing the news of Seo Do-jun establishing the Casserian Guild was none other than their next-door neighbor, Jung In-joo.  

Facing the fuming Jung In-joo, Seo Do-jun calmly countered, “You already have the Silk Flower Guild, don’t you?”  

“That’s right, sister. You’re the leader of the Silk Flower Guild. That’s why I didn’t say anything. I never meant to ignore you or make you feel left out!”  

Hyun Joo-yeon had also refrained from mentioning it because Jung In-joo was leading the Silk Flower Guild.  

And to add another excuse, after returning from Africa, Seo Do-jun had been handling matters so swiftly that Hyun Joo-yeon hadn’t had the chance to bring it up to anyone.  

“Fine. Let’s say that’s the case. Then, starting today, our Silk Flower Guild wants to merge into the Casserian Guild.”  

She hadn’t expected him to agree immediately, but…  

“That’s not possible.”  

She also hadn’t expected him to refuse outright.  

Hyun Joo-yeon was just as surprised.  

From Jung In-joo’s perspective, it was as if she was offering up the Silk Flower Guild—her everything—to Seo Do-jun, only to be rejected.  

“W-why not?”  

Jung In-joo glared at Seo Do-jun, her brows furrowed tightly.  

“Because to become a member of the Casserian Guild, you must pass the selection criteria.”  

“…And that criteria is strength, right? You’re saying the Silk Flower Guild members aren’t up to par?”  

Right, as if the Silk Flower Guild members would ever meet Seo Do-jun’s standards.  

For Jung In-joo, emotions beyond disappointment and resentment swirled inside her like a whirlwind.  

She wasn’t blaming Seo Do-jun, but an inexplicable sense of frustration brought tears to her eyes.  

However, Seo Do-jun’s next words made Jung In-joo’s expression shift to confusion.  

“I don’t consider the current level of the Silk Flower Guild members important. That’s not the selection criteria.”  

“Then what is the selection criteria?”  

Hyun Joo-yeon answered instead.  

“Character.”  

“Character?”  

Jung In-joo stared at Hyun Joo-yeon as if asking what she meant, but Hyun Joo-yeon hesitated, unsure how to explain.  

Seo Do-jun cut in bluntly.  

“There’s only one condition to become a Casserian Guild member: you must trust and follow me no matter the situation.”  

“…Huh?”  

Was this some kind of dictatorship system?  

Even so, Jung In-joo nodded immediately.  

“If that’s the selection criteria, then there’s no one in the world who fits better than the Silk Flower Guild members.”  

After the Brazil Rift closure operation, Seo Do-jun had become akin to a ‘religion’ for the Silk Flower Guild members.  

How many of them were ready to jump into a pit of fire at Seo Do-jun’s word?  

In truth, the ones most excited upon hearing rumors of Seo Do-jun forming a guild weren’t Jung In-joo, the guild leader, but the guild members themselves.  

Perhaps because of their connection in Brazil, the guild members had openly hoped to join Seo Do-jun’s guild, which had hurt Jung In-joo’s feelings.  

But upon reflection, she realized she would have wanted the same, so she had come to Seo Do-jun with an understanding heart.  

“We’ll see about that. Since preparations are underway, I’ll make sure you’re the first to take the test.”  

***  

A few days later.  

“Ideology test?”  

Jung In-joo couldn’t hide her bewildered expression at Hyun Joo-yeon’s words.  

“What kind of ideology test? Isn’t that something only the military or government agencies used to do in the past?”  

It was similar.  

A method of verifying a person’s ideology through numerous questionnaires.  

Though an outdated concept, it was still secretly used in many countries.  

While it was impossible to truly know a person’s heart, this method provided at least some objective insight into their thoughts.  

“It’s Seo Do-jun’s testing method.”  

“Wow… I’m speechless. This is unbelievable.”  

But if Jung In-joo had known Seo Do-jun’s initial plan, she would have been even more shocked.  

Seo Do-jun had considered creating a magic circle to judge people within it.  

He had even planned to recreate the situation from the ruined world where countless comrades had betrayed him to test their loyalty.  

However, creating a magic circle capable of controlling all senses required a significant amount of magic stones, and there was a risk of side effects, making it difficult for Seo Do-jun to decide.  

At that time, it was Park Sung-wook who suggested the ideology test.  

Seo Do-jun had him create numerous questionnaires about situations where humans might betray others.  

Some questions were outright betrayals, others were forced betrayals, and some even induced betrayal.  

A total of 150 questions were jumbled together.  

The first to take the test were none other than Hyun Joo-yeon and Gloria.  

‘I still feel like throwing up…’  

Hyun Joo-yeon shook her head, recalling the horrifying ideology test.  

In the end, Hyun Joo-yeon and Gloria scored exceptionally well.  

Even in the most extreme situations, they maintained the mindset Seo Do-jun desired most—willing to stake their lives to uphold human dignity.  

It wasn’t perfect, but Seo Do-jun believed this was the only way to gauge a person’s character in a short time.  

Thus began the ideology test.  

Jung In-joo and the 78 members of the Silk Flower Dance Guild took the test simultaneously.  

The sheer number of 150 questions was daunting, but the ambiguous phrasing and questions with no clear right answer strained the test-takers’ minds.  

After a grueling four-hour test, everyone collapsed onto their desks.  

“That was harder than the college entrance exam I took 12 years ago!”  

“What kind of test is this? My head is still spinning.”  

“I totally failed! I’m out for sure!”  

“Even if we retake this, it’s pointless!”  

“Who the hell made this test? What were they thinking?”  

Sighs, despair, and occasional anger filled the room.  

The mental exhaustion was worse than hunting a boss monster.  

Jung In-joo, her body drained of energy, looked at Hyun Joo-yeon, who had volunteered as the test proctor.  

“Hyun Joo-yeon, you took this too, right?”  

“Yeah. I almost threw up.”  

“…Ugh!”  

Some guild members, unable to calm their nausea, rushed out of the testing room.  

“Why on earth does Seo Do-jun insist on passing this test?”  

“He said it’s for the peace of the world.”  

“…What?”  

Jung In-joo suddenly wondered if this was like getting a nose ring from a madman in a blue country.  

Regardless, the ideology test concluded, and the results were announced.  

A total of 56 passed.  

Jung In-joo was among them.  

However.  

“Those who failed, unfortunately, cannot join the Casserian Guild.”  

Jung In-joo wanted to ask if Seo Do-jun was really that regretful, given how calmly he spoke.  

“Can’t they at least join as a sub-guild?”  

Jung In-joo wanted to somehow keep the failed members together.  

“It’s possible. But they’ll face discrimination and end up hurt. Are you okay with that?”  

The discrimination sub-guild members would face despite being in the same guild—who could endure that?  

“…I understand.”  

Jung In-joo wavered at the thought of having to cut out her own flesh and bone.  

Should she take responsibility to the end?  

She agonized endlessly before finally telling Seo Do-jun she needed time.  

Hyun Joo-yeon’s heart ached as she watched Jung In-joo leave the room, weaker than ever.  

“Sister will have a hard time.”  

“I suppose.”  

Parting ways with those she had been with for so long—no, having to cast them aside—was crueler than imagined.  

For most, it would be too difficult to even bring up.  

Seo Do-jun also pitied Jung In-joo.  

But he couldn’t accept those who failed the ideology test into the guild.  

Emotions are fleeting.  

Meanwhile, the harsh future ahead… no one could predict when it would end.  

Sometimes, one must be cold and cruel.  

In the ruined world, failing to do so had led to countless betrayals.  

Having vowed never to repeat that mistake, Seo Do-jun calmly accepted the current situation.  

“At least all the A-rank guild members who went to Brazil passed.”  

The 38 A-rank heroes who had gone to Brazil passed with decent scores.  

Seo Do-jun was quite satisfied, given what he had done for them.  

If Jung In-joo could console the failed members and resolve things well, the Casserian Guild would welcome 56 new members.  

“But even with 150 questions, couldn’t those who passed leak the answers?”  

It wouldn’t be easy, but it was possible.  

“I should discuss this with Manager Park Sung-wook.”  

***  

Two days later, Hyun Joo-yeon realized what she had done.  

The original 150 questions had expanded to 200, with five undisclosed question types shuffled in and altered formats—making it nearly impossible to leak answers.  

Naturally, with the test now 200 questions, the despair of future test-takers became even clearer to Hyun Joo-yeon.  

‘Why did I have to bring up answer leaks…?’  

She could only pray her name would never be linked to this disaster.  

***  

“Promotional video?”  

At first, Seo Do-jun didn’t find Park Chul’s proposal particularly appealing.  

“No company ignores promotion. The Casserian Guild is no different. Though it’s a guild, it’s obvious it will become the world’s top-tier guild. The only question is when. If it’s going to be number one anyway, wouldn’t it be better to get there sooner?”  

The mention of becoming the world’s number one guild swayed Seo Do-jun slightly.  

Though the guild was founded for Earth’s peace, holding the title of the world’s best would make any endeavor easier in terms of power and justification.  

While Seo Do-jun would do anything to prevent Earth’s destruction, wouldn’t it be better with people’s support?  

“The promotional video doesn’t need to be grand. Just a short message from Guild Leader Seo Do-jun calling for heroes to unite for humanity’s peace would have an unimaginable impact.”  

Rumors about the Casserian Guild were already spreading unofficially.  

Those in the know had been inquiring from overseas, even visiting in person.  

The fight to save Earth would require many people, and more applicants meant discovering hidden gems among them.  

Officially promoting the guild—the more Seo Do-jun thought about it, the more Park Chul’s proposal made sense.  

Seo Do-jun studied Park Chul.  

He could be quite helpful for promotion.  

“It’s worth considering.”  

“I knew it! Only King Seo Do-jun would think this way!”  

Park Chul kept calling him ‘King’, so Seo Do-jun warned him to stop.  

Despite that, Park Chul habitually slipped up before hastily correcting himself.  

“But if the promotional video is on the Seo Do-jun Channel, does that mean it officially becomes the Casserian Guild’s promotional channel?”  

“Of course! The Seo Do-jun Channel is naturally the Casserian Guild’s channel! That’s why I’ll work even harder to ensure no one—”  

“But how will people react knowing the Seo Do-jun Channel’s operator has no connection to the Casserian Guild?”  

“W-what do you mean…?”  

Was he being asked to hand over the channel?  

Park Chul’s mind went blank.  

After building the channel from scratch, having it taken away felt worse than being robbed at knifepoint.  

His legs trembled uncontrollably, and his clenched fists grew damp with sweat.  

Losing the channel was the worst-case scenario—but losing its identity was just as bad.  

For Park Chul, neither outcome was acceptable.  

But it was beyond his control.  

‘Is this how it ends…?’  

Tears blurred his vision.  

The talented staff he’d hired, the expensive equipment—all for the channel’s growth.  

The boasts to family, relatives, and friends meant nothing now.  

No matter how humiliating or pride-crushing, nothing compared to the loss of over a decade’s work as a streamer.  

Seo Do-jun was taken aback as Park Chul, after raising his voice, now teared up.  

“I didn’t realize joining the Casserian Guild was so repulsive to you.”  

Park Chul, wiping his tears with his sleeve, stared blankly at Seo Do-jun.  

“J-joining the Casserian Guild is repulsive?”  

“I wanted to recruit you to avoid misunderstandings, but I didn’t expect such refusal. Let’s drop this. As for the promotional video—”  

“Holy—! Damn it! Holy—! Ah, s-sorry! But did you just say you wanted me to join the Casserian Guild? For real? Truly? Seriously?”  

“That was the plan, but—”  

“Thank you! I’ll dedicate my life to you! You can treat me as a slave! Just call me Park Slave, Park Servant, Park Butler, Park Lackey—whatever! I’ll serve King Seo Do-jun with everything I’ve got! Loyalty, loyalty!”  

Streamer Park Chul became the Casserian Guild’s third ordinary member.