SFRW-Chapter 159

Ch. 159 Sword God From The Ruined World

“To be perfectly honest, if it weren’t for the Casserian Guild, numerous countries around the world would have fallen to the primitive tribes from another dimension.”  

At the panelist’s words, all attendees nodded vigorously.  

“Of course, there are places that lost their nations to the primitive tribes without receiving the Casserian Guild’s help.”  

The panelist who spoke made a regretful expression as he delivered the unpleasant news.  

“But the Casserian Guild’s combat personnel number only 65. Even now, under the leadership of Guild Master Seo Do-jun, all members are scattered across the globe, aiding nations in crisis. Who could possibly criticize them when they’re doing their utmost? If anyone dares to criticize the Casserian Guild, I won’t stand for it!”  

The panelist, seemingly agitated, slammed the table with a loud bang—but no one pointed out that his behavior was inappropriate.  

“Look at them now! The Casserian Guild, hoping for global unity, is encouraging nations that have overcome their crises to actively assist neighboring countries. They themselves move from nation to nation without rest, helping those in need! Earth! This world! It’s only because of the Casserian Guild that we’re enduring this crisis as we are now!”  

Cheers and applause erupted, and the panelist couldn’t hide his proud expression.  

Then, another panelist quietly spoke up.  

“I acknowledge that the Casserian Guild is doing its best and that many nations have overcome crisis thanks to them. However, we must pay attention to one fact.”  

Under the crowd’s expectant gaze, he continued slowly.  

“Why are only the Casserian Guild members so strong? Astonishingly, every member of the Casserian Guild displays power equivalent to S-rank or higher. Take Italy’s Matteo Albertini, for example—just five months ago, he was an ordinary A-rank Hero, yet now he’s acknowledged as stronger than Andrea Cannio, Italy’s top Hero. Doesn’t that seem strange? No, setting aside whether it’s strange or not, it’s clear that the Casserian Guild possesses something that rapidly enhances Heroes in a short time.”  

As the panelist paused, the listening crowd nodded in agreement.  

Merely joining the Casserian Guild results in an immediate reevaluation of one’s rank to S-rank due to the drastic power increase.  

Thus, many were convinced that the Casserian Guild—more precisely, Seo Do-jun—possessed some kind of special method.  

“And what exactly are you suggesting?”  

The panelist who had earlier vowed not to tolerate criticism of the Casserian Guild frowned as he asked.  

“The Casserian Guild’s method for rapid Hero growth. If they shared it with Heroes worldwide, a crisis like this would be no worse than a common cold. The Casserian Guild wouldn’t have to exhaustively deploy its members across the globe. Don’t you agree?”  

Seeing nods of approval from the audience, the panelist pressed on.  

“Don’t you think that’s shameless?”  

“Shameless?”  

“The Casserian Guild has a method to rapidly enhance Heroes? Fine, let’s assume that’s true. But why should they share it? How is this any different from saying Coca-Cola should share its recipe just because the whole world enjoys it?”  

“Are you seriously comparing Coca-Cola to world peace?”  

The other panelist scoffed openly, as if the comparison was absurd.  

“Does it sound forced to you? To me, demanding the Casserian Guild share their method sounds just as unreasonable. Any Hero who wants to grow stronger like their members can simply go knock on their door.”  

“But isn’t the problem that their entrance exam is notoriously difficult to pass?”  

“Exactly! Have you ever considered that passing their entrance exam might be the very qualification needed to learn their method? The Casserian Guild gives anyone the chance to take the test—as many times as they want. And if you pass, you gain access to whatever method they use. But just because the test is hard, you demand they hand over their secrets?”  

The panelist stared at his opponent with blatant disdain.  

“Do you think the world revolves around you? You refuse to put in effort or prove your worth, yet you demand what you want anyway…”  

Trailing off, he clicked his tongue and openly sneered. The other panelist’s face flushed red with anger.  

But he knew that insisting further would only make him look shameless, so he had no choice but to stay silent.  

That day’s discussion left the world fixated on one thing:  

The Casserian Guild undeniably possessed a method to rapidly enhance Heroes, and passing their entrance exam was the key to acquiring it.  

The guild’s notoriously brutal entrance exam once again began dominating the thoughts of Heroes worldwide.  

***

“Huh? Why… are you back already?”  

Seo Do-jun had returned just three hours after leaving for North Korea.  

In fact, it hadn’t even taken that long—his swift return left Park Sung-wook, Park Chul, and others bewildered.  

“I finished everything and came back.”  

“Ah…”  

That brief exclamation carried a mix of countless emotions.  

“How was the situation in North Korea?”  

Park Sung-wook, the first to regain his composure, looked genuinely curious.  

“I don’t think it’ll last long.”  

“Eh?”  

“The overall level of their Heroes is low, and those still holding power are remnants of the old regime. Whether internally or externally, there’s a high chance of major upheaval.”  

Seo Do-jun was certain.  

He foresaw North Korea soon facing a catastrophic crisis—either collapsing or suffering something equally devastating.  

“Hmm… If North Korea truly destabilizes as you say, or worst-case, the regime collapses… We must prepare thoroughly. The impact on our country won’t be small.”  

That much was obvious.  

But since it wasn’t Seo Do-jun’s problem to solve, he saw no need to elaborate further.  

Park Sung-wook would undoubtedly grasp the situation quickly and initiate discussions with Association Chairman Na Tae-hwang or government officials, even without detailed explanations.  

“Any notable incidents?”  

Seo Do-jun wondered if anything had happened in his absence.  

“The 7-Man Special Assault Team has no issues, but…”  

As Park Sung-wook glanced at Park Chul, the latter promptly spoke up.  

“The primitive tribesmen detained in Indonesia have all disappeared.”  

“Disappeared?”  

At Seo Do-jun’s questioning tone, Park Chul admitted he didn’t fully understand either.  

“Literally. The Indonesian government and Hero Association had them imprisoned in a secure location, but every single one vanished without a trace.”  

The Indonesian Hero Association, with government cooperation, had detained the tribesmen on Rote Island.  

The location was classified at the highest level—known only to top government officials, the Hero Association’s leadership, and select members of the World Hero Federation.  

Yet, they had vanished into thin air.  

“It wasn’t an escape. Stranger still, there’s no evidence of outside interference. It’s as if they just… disappeared from the spot.”  

Even Park Chul seemed skeptical, but since Indonesia had no reason to lie, he had no choice but to accept the report.  

‘Large-scale teleportation magic could explain it…’  

The problem was that none of the captured tribesmen were capable of such high-level magic.  

This implied an external force—someone powerful enough to teleport them out.  

‘And not just one or two, but so many at once?’  

Only an archmage could pull that off.  

“What about the tribesmen who emerged from Indonesia’s rift?”  

For now, the Indonesian Hero Association and military were holding their ground.  

“Anything else unusual?”  

“Nothing so far.”  

Park Chul’s reply was confident.  

He had anticipated Seo Do-jun’s questions and prepared accordingly.  

Finding no further inconsistencies, Seo Do-jun dropped the subject.  

“Keep monitoring Indonesia. If they uncover any clues, report to me immediately.”  

“Understood.”  

With a nod, Seo Do-jun left the monitoring room.  

***

Back in his office, Seo Do-jun retrieved the golden banner from his dimensional storage.  

This banner was imbued with the magic incantation to deploy an area shield.  

“Just as I thought—the banner itself is engraved with powerful wide-area shield magic.”  

Channeling magic, he confirmed it was the work of a high-tier archmage.  

Even in the ruined world, only a handful of archmages could inscribe such potent magic.  

“An incredible talent…”  

Seo Do-jun was deeply curious about the banner’s creator.  

“Making a hundred of these would have taken an absurd amount of time…”  

His eyes narrowed.  

This was the work of a single individual.  

No one else could replicate the exact same magic on identical banners.  

Which also implied the existence of someone commanding all 100 primitive tribes.  

Of course, that might not be the case.  

But Seo Do-jun’s instincts strongly suggested it was one person.  

“Was it the same being who freed the tribesmen in Indonesia?”  

Staring at the banner, Seo Do-jun considered it highly plausible.  

He immediately called Na Tae-hwang, the Hero Association Chairman.  

“I heard about North Korea. It couldn’t have been easy, yet you resolved it so quickly—thank you. This gives us significant leverage with the North.”  

Na Tae-hwang’s voice was bright.  

Given North-South relations, Seo Do-jun’s actions had clearly secured a major advantage.  

But Seo Do-jun, indifferent to politics, cut to the chase.  

“More importantly, I need to know something. I heard the tribesmen detained in Indonesia have all vanished. Is it the same in Japan?”  

“Japan? I haven’t heard anything from them… Hold on, let me check.”  

Soon, voices giving orders could be heard over the phone.  

“Just a moment. They’re checking now. But why ask about Japan’s detainees?”  

“I need to confirm something.”  

“I see. Ah, just got word—Japan’s detainees are still there.”  

“Is that so?”  

“Did something come up?”  

“Not yet. I’ll contact you if it does.”  

Though Na Tae-hwang wanted to talk more, Seo Do-jun ended the call.  

“If it’s the same being, why leave Japan’s detainees untouched?”  

Seo Do-jun wondered if his assumption was wrong.  

But the disappearance of Indonesia’s tribesmen nagged at him.  

It was the same in the ruined world.  

Even without logical explanations or concrete evidence, things that bothered him always turned into major problems.  

This time was no different.  

“Why specifically Indonesia?”  

Lost in thought, Seo Do-jun stared at the golden banner before standing abruptly.  

Sitting around pondering wouldn’t yield answers.  

“First, I need to go to Indonesia.”  

He would inspect the detention site, assist Indonesian Heroes against the tribes, and—while at it—settle his debt by convincing them to relinquish Heukho’s ownership.  

Decision made, Seo Do-jun moved swiftly.  

“I’m heading to Indonesia. Please inform their Hero Association and government.”  

Despite the sudden request, Na Tae-hwang chuckled and assured him it would be handled.  

***

Arriving at the Casserian’s Nest, Seo Do-jun found Eun-young feeding the Casserian.  

“Eun-young, what’s that?”  

“This?”  

In her hands was a hamburger.  

“You’re feeding it that?”  

“Seri loves hamburgers! Watch!”  

Tossing the unwrapped burger into the air, the Casserian snapped it up in one gulp.  

“See? She eats so well!”  

Eun-young beamed like a proud circus trainer.  

“Seri ate 30 burgers in one day! Amazing, right?”  

A Boss Monster with a fast-food addiction?  

Seo Do-jun couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.  

“Did you use your allowance to buy those?”  

“Hehe!”  

Of course, it wasn’t just the Casserian.  

Seo Do-jun could easily picture Eun-young splurging on her friends too.  

But who could blame her for treating those she loved?  

Patting her head, Seo Do-jun climbed onto the Casserian’s back—its eyes still glued to the empty burger wrapper.  

“Brother, where are you going now?”  

“Somewhere urgent. Wait at home with Grandma. I’ll be back soon.”  

“Okay! Be careful!”  

Waving back at her, Seo Do-jun held on as the Casserian’s massive wings unfurled, lifting them into the sky.  

Though they’d just returned from North Korea an hour ago, the Casserian—unfazed—began its second flight of the day, this time southward.