SFRW-Chapter 139

Ch. 139 Sword God From The Ruined World

“How did it go?”

Hyun Joo-yeon rushed toward Jung In-joo as she entered the training room, asking about her meeting with Jang Seong-ho.

“It was a complete mess, of course.”

Jung In-joo couldn’t suppress her triumphant smile.

“What? What happened?”

“What happened was…”

BAM!

Just a few months ago, Jang Seong-ho wouldn’t have considered Jung In-joo his equal.

The very idea of sitting face-to-face with her was unimaginable back then.

Now their positions had completely reversed.

“You dare say that…to me!”

Jang Seong-ho’s anger made his words stumble, knowing he couldn’t speak down to Jung In-joo anymore.

Pfft-

Jung In-joo barely concealed her smirk.

Jang Seong-ho’s pupils trembled at her audacity.

‘Insolent…!’

In the past, even with her strong personality, Jung In-joo would have flinched at his rage.

Now she stared back unblinking, completely unfazed.

Jang Seong-ho recognized this demeanor – the composure only true strength could bring.

The same composure he himself had always shown.

‘Damn it!’

Though his pride was wounded, reality was cold.

Jung In-joo was now vice-guild master of the globally influential Casserian Guild, officially recognized as S-rank after evaluation.

“After criticizing the Closure bureau, now you act magnanimously offering to help close Gates? How does that make sense?”

Her icy tone twisted Jang Seong-ho’s expression.

“We…we want to share the Closure bureau’s burden…”

Jung In-joo cut him off with a headshake.

“You misunderstand. We’re not burdened at all.”

Jang Seong-ho exhaled deeply, avoiding her rhetorical trap.

“But the public thinks differently! People live in fear of random Gate explosions! Shouldn’t relieving that fear be the Bureau’s true purpose?”

Jung In-joo internally scoffed at his sudden populist act. 

‘You’d make a third-rate politician.’

“How unexpectedly civic-minded. But your logic fails – if citizens come first, Gate closures should be prioritized, no?”

She mocked his hypocrisy – raging when asked to share magic stones, yet now claiming civic duty.

“Those…are rightful rewards for Heroes risking closures!”

“Citizens first, but fair compensation too? Fine. But that applies when we request help. Offering aid while demanding payment?”

Jung In-joo laughed openly at the absurdity.

“Ever heard this story? Neighborhood thugs demanding protection money to ‘safeguard’ businesses. Why does that come to mind?”

Jang Seong-ho’s face burned red, knowing how pathetic he sounded.

“Our stance remains unchanged. Join Gate closures only if you surrender 90% of magic stones.”

As Jung In-joo stood to leave, Jang Seong-ho finally exploded:

“You expect us to accept these outrageous terms? Do you think the public will stay silent when they learn how Casserian Guild monopolizes magic stones?!”

“Dirty motives? That’s you.”

“What?”

“Listen, Jang Seong-ho. Don’t mistake the public for fools. Think they’ll side with you after a few words? Test it. See whose side public opinion takes.”

Humiliated and trembling, Jang Seong-ho crossed the line:

“You think Seo Do-jun’s bastard ass gets whatever he wants? Don’t make me laugh! Trash stays trash – no wonder you lowlifes flock together! Commoner scum like you can’t escape your filthy nature no matter how hard you try!”

SLAP!

Jung In-joo’s palm struck Jang Seong-ho’s cheek with brutal force.

The impact snapped his head sideways before he even registered the hit.

“…You crazy b-!”

“Humiliated by a lowly commoner? Then fight me properly. I’ll skin you alive.”

Her smiling eyes radiated deadly intent, freezing Jang Seong-ho’s retort.

Pure instinct told him – she might be stronger now.

“It’s always been like this. Privileged trash like you abandon country and people when crisis hits. Those who truly sacrifice? Commoners like us. So…one more ‘commoner’ insult and I’ll shut that mouth permanently.”

As Jung In-joo raised her hand, Jang Seong-ho flinched back.

“Pathetic coward. Scared shitless.”

Tap tap

She mockingly patted his stinging cheek before striding out, visibly satisfied.

* * *

“So that’s what happened.”

Hyun Joo-yeon asked if there’d be consequences.

“None. He was terrified. Golden spoon bastard’s never faced real opposition before. Probably throwing a tantrum at subordinates right now.”

Even so, he wouldn’t dare challenge her or Casserian Guild.

Why?

Fear.

Men like Jang Seong-ho grow passive when facing true power, terrified of losing their privileges.

“If he does come at you like I worried, even better. I’ll make my name properly known. Can’t have the vice-guild master treated like some clerk! I want my moment too!”

Hyun Joo-yeon clicked her tongue at her childish whining.

“What? Want to join the Big Four?”

“Ooh! Why not make it Five Siblings? Casserian Five protecting Earth! Hahaha!”

Though Hyun Joo-yeon called it tacky, Jung In-joo started humming while considering who to include.

As predicted, Jang Seong-ho took no action despite the humiliation.

Time passed swiftly.

Soon, South Korea became the first nation to close all Gates.

While citizens cheered, jobless Heroes protested their sudden unemployment.

Leading them?

“Jang Seong-ho? That bastard’s completely lost it.”

Jung In-joo scoffed at his desperation.

Why hadn’t she seen his true nature before?

Back then, as a privileged S-rank leading South Korea’s top guild, he’d been untouchable to someone like her.

The realization hit – she’d truly succeeded.

Not just slapping the great Jang Seong-ho, but daring him to retaliate.

“I do understand their position though. With Gates and rift zones gone, Heroes lose their place.”

“Returning to pre-monster times.”

“And us?”

“We’ll live normally, I guess.”

Even as she said it, Jung In-joo doubted ‘normal’ was possible anymore.

“Pre-Hero times were better. And who knows? If all Gates disappear worldwide…maybe our powers vanish too. Like mirages in the desert.”

Considering this, Jung In-joo watched Seo Do-jun training another recruit intensely.

“But would the Guild Master lose his power too?”

Unlike Heroes who gained abilities through awakening, Seo Do-jun’s power stemmed from magic techniques.

If Heroes lost power from magic disappearance, could a magic technique master retain his?

“Who knows? Maybe some of us will remain.”

Hyun Joo-yeon’s words sparked an idea.

“Then we’ll become Earth’s defense force! Casserian Guild protecting global peace! Sounds awesome!”

* * *

Unlike Gate-free South Korea, other nations slowed their closure efforts.

As magic stone supplies dwindled with fewer Gates, problems emerged.

With rift zones mysteriously quiet despite monster overpopulation, opposition grew against rapid closures.

While Gate industries were inevitably doomed post-closure, the transition proved too abrupt without proper alternatives.

Experts agreed – while closing monster threats was right, magic stone-dependent industries needed replacements.

“Troubling. News said our government’s magic stone reserves last only three more years…Electricity is the immediate concern. Restarting nuclear plants isn’t easy, nor is returning to coal.”

Magic stones – ‘gifts from gods’ – had provided immense clean energy surpassing nuclear output.

Cheap electricity fueled industrial prosperity and comfortable living worldwide.

Now this golden age is ending.

For Heroes who benefited most, a dark era approached.

“That Hero who killed himself three days ago…he cursed the Guild Master, right?”

“Quiet. The mood’s already bad because of that.”

“Why would that bastard curse the Guild Master before offing himself? And just a D-rank? How much could he have earned from Gate hunting anyway?”

“More like barely above F-rank.”

“Ha! So according to him, Gates should stay open for his livelihood, public safety be damned?”

“Can’t completely blame him. With rift zones locked and Gates closed, many Heroes face real survival fears.”

“Survival my ass! Hero security firms are booming! The government’s creating Hero police units and civil service positions! Even construction sites preferentially hire Heroes! They just want easy money like before!”

“True, but civilians complain Heroes are stealing their jobs too.”

“Tough! Heroes risked lives against monsters – some understanding is warranted.”

“People think differently.”

As Hero unemployment became a social issue, resentment toward Seo Do-jun grew daily.

Not that he cared.

Future industries? Hero welfare?

These were concerns for after surviving Earth’s impending crisis.

The real worry was rift zones – undoubtedly overpopulated yet strangely silent.

“If all rift zones unleash waves simultaneously…”

Seo Do-jun shuddered at the apocalyptic scenario.

Millions would die, with economic recovery taking decades.

At Chuncheon Rift Zone’s still-locked entrance, Seo Do-jun pondered deeply.

He’d personally inspected rift zones in China and America – the two nations maintaining monster waves intentionally.

With their cooperation, he’d searched for connections between rift zones or clues to the lockdown.

Finding nothing, he’d left empty-handed under their strict no-closure terms.

“How much has synchronization progressed?”

Frustratingly, Seo Do-jun couldn’t gauge the real-time percentage.

This uncertainty made him increasingly anxious, though he hid it well.

“Something’s definitely happening…”

After one last look at the impenetrable entrance, Seo Do-jun turned away.

About an hour after his departure –

BZZZZZT!

Powerful magic currents erupted from the rift zone entrance.

The portal’s edges began to change into black.