SFRW-Chapter 100

Ch. 100 Sword God From The Ruined World  

“What is your true reason?”  

At Chairman Na Tae-hwang’s request for a private meeting, Seo Do-jun sat facing him in his office.  

“The same purpose as establishing the Casserian Guild.”  

“World peace?”  

At Seo Do-jun’s nod, Chairman Na Tae-hwang studied his eyes intently.  

Had any ordinary Hero made such claims, he would’ve suspected insanity.  

But this being Seo Do-jun, Na Tae-hwang couldn’t make hasty judgments.  

Has Seo Do-jun ever shown personal ambition or lust for power?  

Not that the Chairman Na Tae-hwang could recall.  

While Seo Do-jun earned fortunes in America and Brazil, most funds went toward building his home.  

Some might call this excessive, but Na Tae-hwang – having witnessed money-corrupted Heroes – felt certain Seo Do-jun was different.  

Yet if Seo Do-jun harbored ulterior motives?  

Who stood to gain most from Gate closures?  

None other than Seo Do-jun himself.  

The man who casually hunted in level 3 rift zones would naturally acquire the most magic stones if all gates closed.  

Though only a decade old, magic stones had become indispensable to society.  

Closed gates wouldn’t revive the oil industry.  

‘Rather, magic stone prices would skyrocket.’  

New magic stone tycoons would emerge like oil barons of old.  

And Seo Do-jun would reign supreme.  

Was this his plan?  

Na Tae-hwang couldn’t discern Seo Do-jun’s true intentions.  

“What happens after closing all gates as you propose?”  

“We’ll close the rift zones too.”  

The immediate answer shocked the Chairman again.  

‘No greed for magic stones?’  

Closing both would make magic stones unobtainable.  

Did Seo Do-jun truly want this?  

“Why oppose magic stones so vehemently?”  

Seo Do-jun sipped coffee before responding.  

“I don’t oppose magic stones themselves. But maintaining gates and rifts as is… No one can handle the consequences.”  

His grave expression made Na Tae-hwang’s eyes widen.  

‘Extreme wariness?’  

That someone as formidable as Seo Do-jun could fear something so deeply astonished him.  

“What consequences warrant such caution?”  

“Humanity’s extinction.”  

“…Extinction?”  

Whether from shock or absurdity,  

The Chairman Na Tae-hwang’s face displayed indescribable astonishment.  

Yet Seo Do-jun offered no further explanation, merely drinking his coffee.  

Despite persistent questioning about evidence:  

“I can’t elaborate further at this time.”  

Revealing his past would sound like fantasy novel nonsense to the Chairman Na Tae-hwang.  

Even with Na Tae-hwang’s goodwill, expecting belief in such tales was unreasonable.  

The conversation stalled at Seo Do-jun’s silence.  

One thing was clear – Seo Do-jun didn’t advocate gate closures for personal gain.  

This confirmation alone made the meeting worthwhile to Na Tae-hwang.  

“Domestic opposition will be fierce.”  

“I’ve considered this.”  

“However much you’ve imagined – reality will exceed it.”  

Seo Do-jun’s resolute expression showed he wouldn’t yield, drawing a deep sigh from Chairman Na Tae-hwang.  

“Let me be clear – as Association Chairman Na Tae-hwang, I can’t endorse any individual’s agenda.”  

Seo Do-jun waited silently.  

“Personally? While gates provide immense value, I oppose repeating Japan’s tragedy. No commodity outweighs human lives.”  

The Chairman Na Tae-hwang downed his coffee in one gulp.  

“Officially, I must reject your proposal. Unofficially? I agree. That’s all I can say.”  

Seo Do-jun nodded and rose to leave.  

As he gripped the doorknob:  

“Even the strongest break under constant resistance. Sometimes detours prove wiser than head-on collisions. Sergei Konovalov could be your cautionary tale.”  

A smile touched Seo Do-jun’s lips at this parting advice.  

“Thank you for your counsel.”  

When the door closed, Na Tae-hwang exhaled deeply into the sofa.  

“Was this the right choice?”  

Uncertain, yet the die was cast.  

* * *  

“Cough… Gack!”  

Suppressed breath erupted with bloody coughs.  

“Damn it…”  

Yamaguchi Hiro’s bloodshot eyes stared ahead.  

The scene before him seemed unreal.  

Japan’s forces were being annihilated by mere A-rank Kowabiru monsters.  

Over 300 dead. Twice as many wounded.  

And worst of all…  

“Guh!”  

His calf bone exposed, flank gouged, left arm dangling – even he, an S-rank Hero representing Japan’s top three, bore such wounds.  

“Haah!”  

A sword wreathed in blue aura struck a Kowabiru’s skull – then stuck halfway.  

Normally it would bisect the creature cleanly.  

Not today.  

Yamaguchi chuckled bitterly at Kobayashi Shinzo’s stiff expression.  

“Keh… keh keh!”  

Despite repeated failures, Kobayashi persisted stubbornly.  

“SCREEEECH!”  

Another Kowabiru charged from Kobayashi’s right as his blade remained lodged.  

Kobayashi kicked off ground, yanking his sword free mid-air,  

Then plunged it toward the charging monster’s crown.  

Thunk!  

The blade penetrated only 30cm – insufficient to pierce the brain.  

The enraged Kowabiru bucked wildly to dislodge him.  

“HIYAAH!”  

Kobayashi drove the sword deeper through convulsions.  

Thud!  

The monster finally collapsed.  

“Phew…”  

Kobayashi exhaled, withdrawing his blade.  

He never imagined A-rank monsters could be this formidable.  

Now he understood Yokohama’s devastation.  

These weren’t A-rank Kowabirus. Not quite S-rank, but approaching it.  

And 300 strong.  

A catastrophe justifying Japan’s full mobilization.  

About 50 remained.  

The problem?  

“SCREEEEEECH!”  

One twice-sized leader exuded overwhelming menace.  

The reason Yamaguchi lay broken behind them.  

“Kobayashi-san. We need combined effort.”  

Mago Yosuke’s suggestion made Kobayashi’s brow twitch.  

Pride stung, but he nodded – the assessment was correct.  

Mago felt relieved at his pragmatism.  

“I’ll distract it. You deliver the killing blow.”  

Without waiting, Mago launched his twin scythes.  

Whooosh!  

Chained to his wrists, the scythes – his signature weapons – allowed both ranged and melee combat.  

Their speed surpassed thrown weapons, with devastating, unpredictable trajectories earning Mago the nickname ‘Grim Reaper’s Scythe’.  

Many Japanese Heroes cited him as their most troublesome opponent.  

Thunk! Thunk!  

The scythes embedded shallowly in the leader’s flanks.  

Mago frowned at the poor penetration but took satisfaction in drawing its attention.  

Snap! Snap!  

A wrist flick retracted the chains, withdrawing the scythes.  

Mago leaped, twisting mid-air to send his whirling scythes striking the creature’s back.  

Thud! Thud!  

This deeper penetration brought a smirk as he yanked the chains.  

The beast retaliated by charging like a cannonball.  

“Hup!”  

Mago barely avoided the lunge by jumping high, simultaneously slamming both scythes downward.  

Clang!  

The chains struck its face like tidal waves.  

Crunch!  

Force that could shatter boulders only made the monster stagger back.  

“…We need to re-evaluate its rank.”  

Mago shook his head, relentlessly bombarding the creature with his scythes.  

“SCREEEECH!”  

Despite the pummeling, the Kowabiru leader fixed bloody eyes on Mago.  

Like a predator awaiting its moment.  

As Mago paused to breathe, the creature…  

“HUUURK!”  

…dug its legs in and yanked backward violently.  

Mago gasped, bracing against the sudden pull.  

A fatal mistake.  

When the chains grew taut…  

BOOM!  

…the monster sprang forward like a released spring.  

“Ugh!”  

Mago barely crossed his arms in defense as…  

CRACK!  

…the chains shattered. His arms broke grotesquely as he flew backward.  

“GACK!”  

He cratered the ground, unconscious.  

As the beast reared to roar triumph…  

“HAAAAH!”  

Kobayashi’s blade – concentrated with blinding blue aura – pierced its forehead precisely.  

Even empowered by dark magic, no Kowabiru could withstand Japan’s strongest Hero’s full-powered strike.  

An inherent limitation of its A-rank origins.  

Thump!  

The leader collapsed without sound.  

“Mago Yosuke!”  

Kobayashi’s call was answered by Yamaguchi,  

Supporting the unconscious Mago:  

“He’ll live. Stop worrying.”  

Kobayashi exhaled in relief.  

The Yokohama-devastating, Tokyo-terrifying Kowabiru horde was finally eradicated.  

Yet…  

No remedy existed for Japan’s crushing silence and bitter defeat.