SFRW-Chapter 177

Ch. 177 Sword God From The Ruined World

“…Spear God?”  

-I’m serious! People are going crazy calling Seo Do-jun the Spear God now!  

Having been called the Sword God before, being suddenly referred to as the Spear God was unexpected.  

Seo Do-jun, lying on Casserian’s back while gazing at the sky, let out a soft chuckle.  

-When you showed them that spectacle of precisely throwing hundreds of spears, their reaction was only natural.  

As if that was difficult.  

If one just had enough magic to move hundreds of spears and the control ability to match…  

“Well, of course there’s no one else here who could do that.”  

-Huh? What did you say?  

“Just talking to myself. More importantly, how’s the situation in the civil war countries?”  

Seo Do-jun had expected Somalia’s situation to serve as sufficient warning.  

But.  

-Not good.  

“What do you mean ‘not good’?”  

Seo Do-jun’s brow slightly furrowed.  

-Despite clearly knowing about Somalia, there’s no sign of things calming down. If anything… it seems like they’re adding fuel to the fire?  

At Hyun Joo-yeon’s hesitant words, Seo Do-jun sat up.  

Casserian, who had been enjoying a rare nap, widened its eyes at the sharp energy emanating from Seo Do-jun and rolled its pupils nervously.  

“Adding fuel to the fire?”  

Perhaps because of Seo Do-jun’s tone, Hyun Joo-yeon’s voice through the phone became more cautious.  

Her explanation was simple.  

The civil war countries in Africa were becoming even more intense after Somalia’s incident.  

Some rebel forces, fearing Seo Do-jun’s blade might turn toward them, were going all out to finish their fights against government forces.  

“…These bastards…”  

Seo Do-jun barely swallowed the curse rising in his throat.  

-I’ve heard some government forces have already requested help from the South Korean Hero Association.  

He didn’t need to ask what kind of help they wanted.  

They wanted him to do what he did in Somalia.  

For Seo Do-jun, who planned to finish Somalia’s monster wave and head to Ethiopia, this was absurd.  

His interference in Somalia’s internal affairs despite the criticism was meant as a clear warning.  

A warning that regardless of their infighting, the monster waves should be top priority.  

It was such a powerful show of force – impossible to avoid or stop – that Seo Do-jun had been certain Somalia’s example would significantly impact most civil war countries.  

At the very least, he believed they would temporarily halt their wars to focus on the monster waves, or at least pretend to.  

But the opposite was happening.  

That it was having the reverse effect left Seo Do-jun with a look of disbelief.  

Humans are helpless against fear.  

Especially against an unstoppable force like Seo Do-jun, no one would willingly oppose it.  

Yet despite this clear demonstration of terror, they’re intensifying their wars against government forces?  

-It is strange. Given how impactful Somalia was, you’d think some rebel forces would at least pretend to negotiate truces out of fear…  

Hyun Joo-yeon also sounded like she couldn’t understand the current situation.  

-They’re acting almost like they’re following someone’s orders…  

“Someone’s orders?”  

At Seo Do-jun’s question, Hyun Joo-yeon laughed it off as something she just said without thinking.  

It was a natural response.  

The rebel groups in civil war countries were all different – from their conflicts with governments to political leanings. They weren’t groups that could uniformly follow orders from someone.  

However.  

“What if someone is coercing them?”  

-Coercing? Who could? That doesn’t make sense.  

Hyun Joo-yeon dismissed it as impossible, but Seo Do-jun’s face showed growing conviction beyond mere suspicion.  

“There must be something we’re missing. Check for unusual signs around rebel bases and strongholds in the civil war countries.”  

-All of them?  

“Every single one. And starting from before the monster waves appeared…”  

Seo Do-jun paused mid-sentence.  

The events in Mexico flashed through his mind.  

The rift zone that opened and wasn’t reported to the U.S. until 26 hours later. And Kerzaman’s suspicious behavior left too many unanswered questions.  

“Starting from when the Mexican rift zone opened would work. While we’re at it, let’s thoroughly investigate what Kerzaman was doing.”  

Though Seo Do-jun’s request was vast and difficult, Hyun Joo-yeon immediately agreed.  

After all, there were people – no, countries and agencies – specifically for this kind of investigation.  

They might already have much of the information, just missing the connection to the current monster waves.  

-I’ll call as soon as I hear from the U.S. Oh, you are eating properly, right?  

Hyun Joo-yeon subtly changed the subject, and Seo Do-jun smiled as he replied.  

“I’m not starving.”  

-That’s not what I’m worried about. You’re fighting monsters and now people too – you need to eat well! Preferably nearby…  

Listening to her nagging disguised as concern, Seo Do-jun lay back on Casserian.  

For now, just for this brief moment, resting like this was fine.  

* * *  

Many civil war countries awaited Seo Do-jun’s arrival, but as planned, after Somalia he headed to Ethiopia.  

Ethiopia too was suffering civil war, and Seo Do-jun’s show of force hadn’t worked there.  

If the whip doesn’t work, would words persuade?  

Seo Do-jun knew they wouldn’t. Especially with rebel forces who, knowing he was coming, intensified their terrorist attacks – there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell words would work.  

While destroying two rebel strongholds in Ethiopia…  

“…We…we heard there were orders. Actually, our leadership never wanted to recklessly attack government figures during the monster wave crisis. But rumors say they looked terrified, insisting we must wage total war against the government forces.”  

From a captured rebel commander trying to escape like a rat, Seo Do-jun heard potentially useful information.  

“Orders? There’s someone above your leadership giving commands?”  

“That’s just the rumor.”  

“Anything else unusual?”  

“W-what kind of thing are you asking about…?”  

“Anything.”  

At Seo Do-jun’s emotionless tone, the man bit his lip and frantically rolled his eyes, clearly anxious about what to say before starting to ramble.  

Most was meaningless, but…  

“…The drugs’ effects have definitely improved. One underling said only Mexico could supply this quality – that it’s top-grade stuff you can’t easily get elsewhere.”  

“Mexico?”  

“Yes! He specifically said it’s premium-grade Mexican drugs.”  

Mexican drugs reaching rebel forces?  

Many groups use drugs in warfare – as rewards or as ‘medicine’ to eliminate fear.  

While drugs can be bought with money, the sudden shift from low-quality to premium drugs among rebels was suspicious.  

Seo Do-jun heard a few other things, but nothing worth noting.  

“W-will you spare me now…?”  

“That’s not my decision.”  

As a commander-level figure, Seo Do-jun figured he’d have information valuable to government forces.  

-Mexican drugs… Top-quality ones at that – no way they’re getting those without Kerzaman’s involvement.  

At Na Tae-hwang’s words, Seo Do-jun nodded in agreement.  

“If my hunch is right, most African civil war rebels are probably using Mexican drugs.”  

-Are you suggesting Kerzaman is behind this?  

“Maybe.”  

At Seo Do-jun’s vague answer, Na Tae-hwang sighed, his thoughts clearly complicated.  

If Kerzaman was the mastermind, it would be simple. But if someone else was pulling the strings?  

From who it could be to their motives – it required too much speculation.  

Moreover.  

-I can’t fathom what they’d gain by further dividing countries already struggling with monster waves. Honestly, it makes no sense.  

For magic stones and monster byproducts?  

While he knew other nations and corporations allied with the African Union might target those from divided countries, they wouldn’t deliberately incite division.  

No, this much was certain.  

After the Casserian Guild declared their stance in South Africa, and especially after Seo Do-jun interfered in Somalia, that plan was completely foiled.  

The risk became unbearably high with no benefit to gain.  

Would the African Union and allies really take such reckless action for profit under these circumstances?  

Unlikely.  

It would be far safer and more effective to quickly handle monster waves before the Casserian Guild or Seo Do-jun arrived to claim the magic stones and byproducts.  

With no risk either.  

As Na Tae-hwang pondered, Seo Do-jun asked:  

“Still no word from the U.S.?”  

-Between your request and Africa’s worsening situation, I know they’re gathering information with all their resources. Give them a bit more time.  

“Understood. Please inform the local government I’m leaving them a ‘gift’ to pick up.”  

-A gift?  

Seo Do-jun took a photo of the bound rebel commander and sent it to Na Tae-hwang with their location.  

Over the next three days, Seo Do-jun and Casserian traversed Ethiopia’s vast lands (over ten times South Korea’s size), clearing monster waves and rebel forces.  

Then Seo Do-jun received a photo from U.S. intelligence.  

A man with cobalt-blue hair, blue eyes, and a mischievous expression.  

“…No…way…”  

Seo Do-jun’s face showed utter disbelief, his hand holding the phone trembling violently.  

[“Ah… If I’d absorbed that Eternal Ember, I could’ve cleanly burned away those disgusting monsters!”]  

[“Why fire magic? Because it’s flashy! Sure it smells, but burning them away cleanses their existence from this world!”]  

[“Of course! If we hold out, we’ll save the world! No way we’ll let monsters destroy it!”]  

[“…Damn, sorry Kassal. This is it. I’m out of magic… Honestly can’t go on…”]  

“…Kusak? That’s impossible…!”  

“They’re deciding the order. Either Rebley or Kusak will… Wait!”  

“Avarr mentioned Kusak… That Kusak is really the one I knew?”  

Seo Do-jun unconsciously bit his lower lip hard.  

Kusak had been one of his final comrades who fought monsters until death.  

Unlike the traitor Vaitel, Kusak was different.  

Having witnessed Kusak’s final moments with his own eyes, Seo Do-jun couldn’t believe the photo.  

A lookalike?  

Naturally, he doubted.  

But.  

The man in the photo resembled Kusak uncannily – from his gaze to his expression, identical to Seo Do-jun’s memories.  

With trembling fingers, Seo Do-jun made a call.  

“…Is this photo confirmed?”  

Perhaps noticing Seo Do-jun’s unusually tense voice, the U.S. intelligence head answered cautiously:  

-Confirmed.  

They wouldn’t carelessly hand unverified information to someone like Seo Do-jun.  

“…Where is he now?”  

-That’s…  

Unknown.  

When the reply came that his movements had disappeared like a magician’s trick despite normally being traceable, Seo Do-jun’s frown deepened.  

Earth’s technology far surpasses the ruined world’s.  

Seo Do-jun had been amazed enough by satellites tracking his movements to shake his head.  

Tracking individuals was one of its greatest strengths.  

Yet failing to predict his movements meant…  

One of two things.  

Either his camouflage skills could confuse tracking systems.  

‘Or he’s using teleportation magic.’  

Seo Do-jun leaned toward the latter.  

If it really was Kusak, warping his location with teleportation magic would be trivial.  

-We’ll contact you immediately if his location is found.  

Only after this firm promise did Seo Do-jun end the call.  

But he couldn’t stay idle.  

He’d already decided to head to Mali, where Kusak was last spotted.  

The monster waves were important, but if that really was Kusak…  

This was something Seo Do-jun absolutely had to verify.  

“Head west.”  

At Seo Do-jun’s command, Casserian began flying as always without protest since arriving in Africa.