SFRW-Chapter 142

Ch. 142 Sword God From The Ruined World

The large family gathering ended successfully.  

Despite being the first meeting, it was remembered by everyone as a good memory with more positives than negatives.  

Perhaps because of this, Seo Do-jun had to answer the question of when the next gathering would be held several times.  

Even if Seo Do-jun didn’t host the gathering, it seemed like those who had already bonded would exchange contact information and hold small get-togethers on their own.  

“I’m sorry about my father.”  

Hyun Joo-yeon sighed deeply, as if she wanted to hide in a mouse hole.  

Hyun Sang-wook had been by Seo Do-jun’s side the entire time, calling him ‘Mr. Seo Do-jun’ and offering him drinks while chattering nonstop.  

Worse, he treated Seo Do-jun’s grandmother as if she were his in-law, making Hyun Joo-yeon extremely embarrassed.  

But Hyun Joo-yeon wasn’t the only one who wanted to disappear.  

“I don’t have much to say about my parents either… I’m sorry.”  

Gloria also felt deeply apologetic toward Seo Do-jun because of her parents.  

Especially after her parents, fueled by wine, openly asked in front of everyone when they planned to get married, adding that they themselves had started with cohabitation, so it wasn’t a bad idea—shocking everyone present.  

If Patrick hadn’t hurriedly escorted his parents out of the party, who knows what else they might have said.  

Given the cultural differences, Gloria, who was already being cautious, felt a headache coming on.  

“It’s understandable.”  

Seo Do-jun reassured Hyun Joo-yeon and Gloria, but his mind was complicated.  

He was well aware that both Hyun Joo-yeon and Gloria had special feelings for him.  

It was a problem he’d have to address eventually, but now wasn’t the time.  

With Earth’s fate hanging in the balance, worrying about romance was the last thing on Seo Do-jun’s mind.  

‘If I were alone like before, maybe… But now that I’m responsible for Eun-young and my grandmother, I can’t afford to be reckless. If we ever find peace… then I’ll seriously think about it.’  

Of course, when that would be was anyone’s guess.  

“But are your parents really planning to immigrate?”  

At Seo Do-jun’s question, Gloria nodded, saying it was likely.  

Patrick had passed the Casserian Guild’s entrance exam.  

Though it was a narrow pass just above the cutoff, he had legitimately made it and was set to join as a member.  

With both Gloria and Patrick now active in South Korea, their parents decided on the spot to immigrate.  

“Living in South Korea will probably put Gloria’s mind at ease too.”  

Seo Do-jun fully understood and warmly welcomed Gloria’s parents’ decision.  

“If you need any help, let President Park Sung-wook know so we can discuss it.”  

Park Sung-wook not only handled all administrative tasks for the Casserian Guild with unmatched efficiency but also resolved the guild members’ difficulties.  

His role in managing the guild’s affairs made him as invaluable as any combat member, despite being non-combat personnel.  

Just as Gloria agreed and a few guild members approached Seo Do-jun to thank him, Park Young-gi rushed over urgently.  

“Guild Master! You need to see this!”  

Park Young-gi held out his phone and played a video from the beginning.  

The footage showed a massive rift zone, now as large as a dam.  

“That’s the entrance to Australia’s rift zone.”  

Three days ago, it had expanded dozens of times overnight, becoming the largest in the world and drawing media attention.  

For the first 10 seconds, nothing noteworthy happened.  

“What am I supposed to…?”  

“You’ll see now!” Park Young-gi cut in loudly.  

Exactly at the 15-second mark, the heavily fortified Gate began to slowly open from the inside.  

“It really was a Gate?”  

“And it opens from the inside?”  

“What’s coming out of there?”  

“Just how big is whatever’s about to come out?”  

Everyone tensely focused on the screen, but the video ended abruptly after 10 more seconds.  

“What? That’s it?”  

“Did it just show the Gate opening?”  

While shocking, the anticlimactic ending left them feeling oddly empty.  

“I think they edited the video because there wasn’t anything else… But something feels off.”  

Park Young-gi frowned, shaking his head in confusion.  

Just then, Seo Do-jun’s phone rang.  

It was Chairman Na Tae-hwang.  

“Yes, I’ll head over right away.”  

Responding to the urgent summons, Seo Do-jun instructed the guild members and immediately left for the Hero Association.  

Upon arrival, Deputy Director Min Hong-gi was waiting for him at the entrance.  

“I’ll escort you.”  

Matching Min Hong-gi’s brisk pace, Seo Do-jun quickened his steps.  

Click.  

As the door opened, Chairman Na Tae-hwang sat with a grim expression.  

“Welcome. I know you’re busy, but the situation is urgent. I hope you understand.”  

“Is this about the Australian rift zone?”  

At Seo Do-jun’s question, Na Tae-hwang nodded, as if confirming he’d seen the video too.  

“First, take a look at this.”  

He handed Seo Do-jun a tablet.  

The video played, showing the same scene Park Young-gi had displayed—until it continued past where the previous one had ended.  

“I’ve seen this part.”  

“No, this is different.”  

Patiently, Seo Do-jun kept watching.  

Unlike the edited version, this one showed what came next.  

To his shock, the figures emerging from the rift zone weren’t monsters—they were people.  

Their clothing was unlike Earth’s, and their appearances were slightly unusual upon closer inspection.  

Their ears were wide and long, their lower bodies short and stout while their upper bodies were disproportionately long, and their arms reached down to their knees, giving them an almost deformed appearance.  

The bigger issue was their numbers.  

“Current estimates say around 2,000.”  

A significant figure.  

“To prevent panic, the latter part of the video was cut from the public release. But I doubt it’ll stay secret for long.”  

Even Park Young-gi had found the abrupt ending suspicious.  

How many others would think the same?  

And how many would act on that curiosity?  

Hiding the presence of 2,000 beings was impossible.  

“Who are they?”  

Seo Do-jun had never seen such people, even in the ruined world.  

The unfamiliarity sent a fresh wave of tension through him.  

“They don’t speak our language,” Na Tae-hwang replied. “And they’re highly defensive, refusing to let anyone get too close.”  

“Does that mean they attack if approached?”  

“They use magic, and some can pull objects out of thin air.”  

Magic and spatial storage.  

These two traits alone made their origins impossible to guess.  

“I think I need to meet them in person.”  

Though they didn’t exist in his memories, he couldn’t rule anything out.  

‘Even Avarr and Vaitel were from my world.’  

These people might be the same.  

The ruined world had been vast, with countless primitive tribes living unnoticed.  

Their sudden appearance was too significant a variable for Seo Do-jun to sit back and wait.  

“Then I’ll contact the Australian Hero Association—”  

Just as Na Tae-hwang reached for the phone to arrange cooperation, it rang loudly.  

Seo Do-jun and the chairman exchanged glances, both sensing the same foreboding.  

“This is Na Tae-hwang.”  

His voice grew heavier as he listened.  

“…Let’s check the footage first.”  

After hanging up, he pulled up another video on the tablet and set it between them.  

The screen showed another massive rift zone—this time in the UK.  

A Gate as large as ‘Gate of Rising Benevolence’ (South Korea’s Treasure No. 1) slowly opened, revealing another group of humans.  

“The UK now.”  

These were different from the Australian group.  

Their skin and hair were reddish, and they were tall with imposing musculature.  

Averaging nearly 2 meters in height regardless of gender, their appearance was undeniably warlike.  

Clad in crude leather armor covering vital areas, they carried spears, swords, axes, and shields.  

The video changed again.  

“This is Indonesia.”  

Again, humans emerged from a massive rift zone.  

This group was notably obese, adorned with bones and animal remains.  

“They resemble totemic or shamanistic tribes,” Seo Do-jun observed.  

Na Tae-hwang nodded in agreement.  

The video ended.  

“Australia, the UK, and Indonesia.”  

The chairman looked at Seo Do-jun as if searching for a connection.  

“There’s one commonality: all three are islands.”  

“We think alike. Can this really be a coincidence?”  

Seo Do-jun had no answer.  

“I’ll head to Australia first.”  

Whenever Seo Do-jun acted, solutions followed.  

The Chairman’s eyes filled with trust.  

***  

Before Departure  

Just before leaving for Australia, Seo Do-jun received another update: humans had emerged from a rift zone in Japan.  

“Japan?”  

“About 2,000 people appeared from the Kanoya Rift Zone in southern Kyushu. According to the Japanese Hero Association, they resemble shamanistic tribes.”  

The mention of shamanism confirmed Seo Do-jun’s suspicions.  

‘They’re all tribes. Primitive ones untouched by civilization.’  

In the ruined world, such tribes had been numerous, some outright hostile to outsiders.  

‘If communication is possible, good. If not…’  

A deadly conflict would be unavoidable.  

“Another island. And like the UK and Indonesia, their numbers are around 2,000.”  

Three common factors: islands, numbers, and primitive tribes.  

The signs weren’t encouraging.  

“I should start with the closest location.”  

“Japan, then?”  

“Yes.”  

There was no need to travel far first.  

“Understood. I’ll notify the Japanese Hero Association. Contact me immediately if anything happens.”  

“I will.”  

Ending the call, Seo Do-jun headed straight for the nest—Casserian was the fastest way to travel.  

“Brother!”  

Eun-young, who’d been playing with Casserian, spotted him and sprinted into his arms.  

“Were you playing with Seri?”  

“Yeah! Brother! Seri and I made a new friend—”  

“Eun-young, I’m really busy right now. Can you tell me later?”  

Her face fell.  

“Okay…”  

Patting her head apologetically, Seo Do-jun mounted Casserian.  

“I’ll be back soon. Be good for Grandma.”  

In an instant, they were gone.  

Eun-young stared at the vanishing speck, murmuring:  

“I wanted to show you first…”  

She raised her palm, where a blue magic droplet swirled, morphing into a tiny, adorable seahorse.  

“Sorry… Brother is too busy to meet you.”  

The seahorse bounced cheerfully, as if saying it was fine.  

“Next time, I’ll introduce you properly! He’ll love you!”  

Giggling, she stroked its head gently.  

The seahorse stood still, content.